In celebration of their ‘new look’, beloved Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk are giving away free pints of their iconic pale ale across various locations tomorrow, including right here in Greater Manchester.
So much for ‘it’s grim up North’ — don’t think so, mate.
The legendary independent brewery, based in the Yorkshire town of Holbeck, has been serving up its iconic beers across the North since 2013 and you don’t have to go far to find some of their creations on tap around here either.
Their most famous pale ale ‘Faith’ is now arguably the best core pale ale in the country and is the cornerstone of their lineup that helped make them a household name that we all know and love. Better still, you can get your hands on a few free ones this Wednesday (20 February).
Their new look.The classic Northern Monk pint being given away for free.Credit: Northern Monk/The Hoot Leeds
As per The Hoot, the brewery has recently been developing a ‘new look’, changing their logo and re-branding ahead of the ‘the next chapter for Northern Monk’.
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Whilst still undoubtedly recognisable, they’ve had a bit of a refresh — much like their pints (wahey!) — and we’ve got to say they’re looking very smart indeed.
So, in celebration of this, they’re feeling rather generous and are giving away a total of 1200 free pints of Faith across 12 different venues in the UK tomorrow.
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Available from 5pm onwards and for one day only, we know where we’ll be heading after work.
Some sage advice for people looking to enjoy the freebies there, as well.
Yes, it’s as simple as that: head to any of the venues from 5pm on Wednesday, 21 February and there’ll be a whopping 100 pints of Northern Monk in each ready to be handed over to you lovely lot.
It’s strictly one per customer but you’ll hear no complaints from us — a free pint is a free pint.
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The Manchester venues areas follows:
Northern Monk Refectory, Tariff Street – Northern Quarter
Trof, Thomas St – Also NQ
Folk, Burton Road – West Didsbury
Announcing the news to social media, Northern Monk said: “Times they are a-changin’… As we enter our 11th year, we’re embarking on the next chapter of Northern Monk. You’ll see some changes unfold in the coming months; join us as we begin to turn the pages.” We’ll cheers to that.
“We’re planning a few parties to officially ‘launch’ the new look. Across 12 different venues on Wednesday 21 February. There’s a free pint of Faith in it for you…”
They’ll also be giving away pints at venues in Bradford, Leeds, Sunderland, Glasgow and London.
So whatever you’ve got planned for 5pm tomorrow, cancel it and head to any of these cracking spots and cheers to Northern Monk’s new look.
Trailer released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed all across Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The first trailer for a new romcom that’s set and filmed all across Manchester has been released.
The film, titled Finding Emily, tells the story of a lovesick musician, played by Spike Fearn, who meets his dream girl on a night out, but ends up with the wrong phone number, and so teams up with a driven psychology student, played by Angourie Rice, in a bid to find her.
Together, the unlikely duo spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film – which is directed by Alicia MacDonald, and based on a screenplay written by Rachel Hirons – is produced by Working Title Films, is set in the fictional Manchester City University, and is due to be distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures across the UK and internationally this spring.
The talented ensemble cast groups together big names like Minnie Driver with rising stars like Ella Maisy Purvis, Yali Topal Margalith, and Kat Ronney, as well as other established actors including Timothy Innes and Nadia Parkes.
Filming took place in Manchester between August and September 2024.
The two and a half-minute trailer has been shared with the world today, and when we say it’s a Manc film, we mean it… we quite literally lost count of how many of our city’s famous locations can be spotted in just the trailer alone.
The trailer has been released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed in Manchester / Credit: Universal Pictures & Focus Features (via YouTube)
There’s everything from Manchester Central Library and Piccadilly Records, to Canal Street and the Gay Village, the Northern Quarter, the Crown & Kettle pub in Ancoats, and even the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square featured for all to see, alongside what’ll, presumably, be dozens of other famous locations.
Oh, and not to mention, if you keep your eyes peeled when watching the trailer, you can even see a small clip of Stockport band Blossoms playing a gig in there too.
Finding Emily is set to be released in cinemas across the UK on 22 May, before it debuts in the US on 28 August.
Featured Image – Matt Squire / Focus Features
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Man jailed following series of ‘violent’ knife attacks in Wigan town centre last summer
Emily Sergeant
A man has been sentenced this week following a series of ‘violent’ knife attacks in Wigan town centre last summer.
Charles McMurray, of Satchel Close in Wigan, appeared at Bolton Crown Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of Section 18 wounding with intent, threatening a person with a bladed article, and threats to kill following a distressing incident in Wigan town centre last summer.
The court heard that McMurray arrived on Wallgate at around 6:33am on 9 August 2025 before entering a taxi office, where he stabbed two men without warning.
The victims fled, and McMurray pursued them towards the town centre.
McMurray then went on to threaten a passer‑by at Wigan bus station and held a knife to the man’s stomach. A short time later, he located the injured victims on Standishgate and assaulted one of them again. Following that assault, he chased after another member of the public with the knife shouting that he was going to kill him.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers arrived shortly after 6:50am and found McMurray in possession of the knife, before he was subsequently quickly arrested at the scene.
McMurray has now been sentenced to nine years and nine months behind bars, which police say is a ‘testament to the brave victims’ who gave their accounts.
Speaking following McMurray’s sentencing this week, Detective Constable Harris from Wigan CID, who led the investigation, said: “This was an entirely unprovoked attack which left multiple victims requiring hospital treatment. McMurray is a dangerous and violent offender who is now safely behind bars.
“Knives have no place on our streets, and we hope today’s sentence shows just how seriously we take knife crime. Our communities should feel safe where they live and work, and we are committed to tackling knife crime to ensure no family has to face their loved ones being harmed.
“It is a testament to the brave victims who not only endured this attack but had the courage to provide detailed accounts together with the impact this has had on them, that we have been able to ensure McMurray has been brought to justice.”
Danny Jones -
20th February 2024 
