Well, it’s been a year already and it’s only just September. There’s been riots, elections, celebrity breakups, it has been A LOT and I’m knackered. With so much going on in the world and trying to find time to eat, sleep, socialise, clean the house and remember to breathe, we all deserve a little escape to unwind.
Less than an hour from Manchester sits the wonderful Three Horseshoes Hotel & Spa, where you can relax in a spa, AND kick back in an award-winning pub all in one place.
With a whole host of treatments to choose from and their waterwheel room with an ice cold plunge pool, sauna and steam room, all with an extra dose of history, it is the perfect place to relax your mind and muscles.
On arrival, the staff are incredibly welcoming, a sense of calm ripples through the space making you feel instantly relaxed.
Our room wasn’t ready just yet so we were guided into the spa space and handed fluffy towels and robes to relax in.
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There is a fun ‘service button’ when you want a drink or something to eat and everything is brought to wherever you’re relaxing.
Outside are a number of comfy seats to recline in and there is a hot tub pool to relax in.
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On our visit the weather is warm and the sun is shining intermittently, perfect for sitting outside.
We could order breakfast, lunch and cocktails to the spa (which we did, obviously) and it feels like such a treat. Everyone feels like a VIP.
Ham hock and fondue sandwichBlue cheese and mushrooms on toast
We indulged in a ham hock and fondue sandwich, and blue cheese and mushrooms on toast from their light bites section, both of which were delicious. The cocktails were divine and there was plenty to choose from and spoil yourself with.
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The spa has a giant water wheel which harks back to the building’s history and heritage and doubles up an one of the initial ‘treatments’ as part of the experience.
Guests are encouraged to go through a cycle of cold and hot experiences, starting with a drench from the water wheel, before moving into the stone bath steam room.
There is a jazzy contraption that lifts hot stones and dumps them into cold water, flooding the room with steam to help relax your muscles.
Inside the spa at the Three Horseshoes hotel in Leek. Credit: The Manc Group
After 15 minutes of heat you then jump (probably don’t actually jump, it is slippy) into the ice cold plunge pool, which as you might have guessed, is freezing.
I lasted significantly longer than my other half but it was definitely a battle after being so warm.
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They have the Farmers Sauna which is delightful post plunge pool. All of the spa spaces are designed with the history of the building and area in mind which makes the space feel extra special.
We had the opportunity to try out the Beach Hut experience which replicates a sunrise to sunset to give you a heavy dose of vitamin D while you relax in the nice warm sand without fear of being harassed by seagulls.
The beach hut experience in the spa at Three Horseshoes. Credit: The Manc GroupThe beach hut experience in the spa at Three Horseshoes. Credit: The Manc Group
Being by the seaside in the middle of Staffordshire is an odd experience for the senses but we really enjoyed it. We also both had a mixed massage and facial, where we talked through our skin type needs and then lay back and let the masseurs knead our backs like bread dough.
Our room was incredibly cosy. We had a four-poster bed and I’d let the team know that it was our wedding anniversary so they made the space extra special.
We had a gorgeous little hot tub in our private garden which was perfect to relax in before going across to the pub for dinner.
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Bedrooms at Three Horseshoes. Credit: The Manc GroupA private hot tub with a hotel room. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Three Horseshoes country inn. Credit: The Manc Group
The Three Horseshoes country inn is an award winning restaurant with loads to choose from and the products are all sourced locally. There are stunning views of the Staffordshire peaks for you to enjoy while you dine.
In the winter it will be the perfect spot to sit by roaring fires and getting cosy with pals.
You can get a roast every day of the week between 12-2 and all day on a Sunday which sounds ideal to me.
We had to try their famous sponge pudding which was delicate and fluffy, served with gallons upon gallons of custard. Their limoncello tiramisu was the perfect balance of tart and sweet (and a little bit boozy). Breakfast is also served here buffet style, which is how breakfast should always be served in my humble opinion.
So if you’re looking for a reason to escape the rat race, then the Three Horseshoes in Leek is the place for you.
Manchester Airport announces six traders moving into new Terminal 2 food hall
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Airport has announced the six food and drink traders that will be moving into a new food hall that’s part of the new-look Terminal 2.
The terminal has been going through a major £1.3bn transformation, the next phase of which will include a first-of-its-kind market hall-style food and drink offering.
There’ll be six street food kitchens positioned around a central dining area in the Great Northern Market – and Manchester Airport bosses have now announced what will be on the menu.
The new Terminal 2 market hall will include a Nashville Hot House serving buttermilk chicken and other Southern comfort food; The Black Iron Grill with smash burgers and loaded fries; and Kouzina, with Greek and Mediterranean-inspired street food.
There’ll also be Mexican food from La Casita, pan-Asian dishes from Palms Cafe, and Napoli Street Pizza.
Those kitchens are all inspired by some of our city’s finest street eats, but there’ll be a proper local face too – Gooey will be selling sweet treats including their legendary cookies and doughnuts here.
The new announcement comes from Manchester Airport’s Retail Director, Richard Jackson, speaking on the airport’s official podcast Manchester: Your Airport, MAN.
Richard said: “The Great Northern Market will be Manchester Airport’s own market hall – six kitchens in one, more than 1,000 square metres and 500 seats.
Manchester Airport has announced the six food traders moving into its new food hall. Credit: Supplied
“It’s going to be a real hit with the Manchester crowd. Whatever you want, there’s something for everyone – and there will be a takeaway option as well, so you can eat in this huge 500-seat market hall area with plenty of seating, or you can just grab something to take on your flight.
“As you can imagine, it’s a very complicated build because we’re not just doing the one kitchen, we’re doing six, but it’s coming along well and we’re really excited to share it with our passengers.”
Jake Ansbro, co-founder of Gooey, added: “Gooey was born in Manchester, and the city has supported us from day one. Opening at Manchester Airport feels like a dream next step — a chance to share a little bit of what we do with people travelling across the world.
“We’re so excited to be part of The Great Northern Market celebrating Manchester next to some other amazing operators.”
The Great Northern Market will be one of more than 20 new shops and restaurants opening in T2 as part of the second phase of the transformation programme.
Once complete, the project will more than double the size of Terminal 2 and turn it into Manchester Airport’s main hub, with Terminal 1 set to close.
Greater Manchester among first to get ‘confusing’ rail fares replaced by two simpler options
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is among the first UK regions to have the current ‘confusing’ range of rail fares replaced by two simpler options.
As it stands, more than a dozen different fares are currently available for journeys on certain train routes, including many which restrict customers to travelling on a particular service or with one train operating company.
But from early next month, all that is set to change.
As of Sunday 7 December, anyone who buys a ticket from any operator on the day they’re travelling between two of the 96 railway stations in Greater Manchester will be offered the following options – ‘anytime’ or ‘off-peak’.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says the new system aims to make ticketing ‘simpler’ and prices more ‘transparent’, so passengers can trust they’ve got the best value for money.
Greater Manchester is among the first to get ‘confusing’ rail fares replaced by two simpler options / Credit: TPE
All single journeys will be half the price of return trips, which means the average train fare in Greater Manchester will fall by 5.6% overall.
Other types of tickets will still be offered to those who book in advance.
The introduction of the two options are part of the Government’s UK-wide transformation of fares in a bid to make them easier to understand and make journeys more ‘seamless’.
As mentioned, Greater Manchester will be one of the first areas in the country to introduce this type of rail fare reform, and TfGM says it will star to ‘pave the way’ for contactless payments and the already-announced integration with the Bee Network from December 2026 onwards.
BIG NEWS
On 7/12/25, GM sees the biggest change to rail services for 30+ years.
A new fairer, simpler fare system will come in across our 96 stations.
🐝 Singles will be half the price of returns 🐝 Tickets will be valid on any operator 🐝 Average fare will fall by 5.6%
It’s said that more than half of train journeys (52%) will be cheaper, with savings of up to £1.50 on some trips, and as many as 4,000 customers saving money, while on the remaining 48% of journeys, customers will see a slight price increase, but for most of these (85%), it will be a rise of 20p or less.
“For too long, confusion around the complicated web of tickets has been a barrier to people choosing the train,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.
“We’ve seen that making public transport more affordable and simpler boosts passenger numbers, with more people than ever boarding our yellow buses and integrated tap and go payments with our tram network.
“These simpler fares are a stepping stone to bringing rail into the Bee Network in December 2026, joining up trains with buses, trams, and active travel for an integrated public transport system like those enjoyed by other global cities.”
Kristen MacGregor-Houlston -
6th September 2024 
