Waterloo Road has boosted Greater Manchester’s economy by a staggering £6.5 million, according to the BBC.
The British high school classic has seen strength after strength following the new BBC reboot.
Waterloo Road first reached our TV screens in 2006, where we saw Salford’s-own Chelsee Healey burst onto the scene as the fiery Janeece Bryant, a disruptive but loveable student who always found herself getting into trouble.
Since then, the school-based drama has gone on to see 14 seasons and more than 200 episodes, with an eight year interval in between, befoore returning to our screens again in 2023.
And with a new season dropping just yesterday (10 September), the love for the show certainly isn’t over yet.
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The show has been filmed in Greater Manchester since airing, with three seasons retreating to the Scottish lowlands of Greenock in Scotland.
The first seven series of the TV drama were filmed in the former Hill Top Community Primary School in Rochdale, with the filming location for the most recent season taking place at a former Manchester College building in the city centre.
In new statistics provided by the BBC, it was revealed that the production of the first three new series generated more than £9.5 million for the broader North West area, and at least £6.5 million for Greater Manchester’s economy alone.
“It’s a series that helps nurture and champion local talent and directly supports the economy in the North West,” commented Charlotte Moore, who is the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, “and it’s also part of a much bigger story.
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“The BBC now invests more than 60% of its TV budget outside of London – supporting hundreds of production companies and suppliers.”
You can catch Season 14 of Waterloo Road on BBC one every Tuesday at 9pm, or all episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer here.
Featured Image – BBC
Boroughs
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 10 – 16 November 2025
Emily Sergeant
Another autumnal week is here, and there’s so much to look forward so as the festive season fast approaches.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas across Greater Manchester, as there’s now dozens of light trails, festive events, and, of course, Manchester Christmas Markets having just got underway for 2025, so of course there’s lots to be getting up to throughout our region this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2025
Manchester City Centre
Monday 10 November – onwards
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s that time of year once again… Manchester Christmas Markets are here for 2025.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites now lining the streets of our city this year.
Visitors can tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 here, and check out the full round-up of drinks prices from all the traders here.
Skate Manchester 2025 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2025, ready for families, friends, and festive fun seekers to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas, Skate Manchester is festive staple in Cathedral Gardens, and skaters can expect to glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink for another year.
This year, there’s also a giant turbine by Octopus Energy that’s partially-powering the rink too, and you can skate around it while enjoying the ski scene in the globe.
Land of Lights at Gulliver’s World / Credit: The Manc Group
The magical Land of Lights has returned to Gulliver’s World once again.
After proving to be a huge success the past two years, the one-mile trail showcases a huge array of lanterns and displays, creating a wondrous, wild, and magical atmosphere that’s suitable for all ages, and this year, there’s even some new additions.
Alongside returning favourites, visitors can now experience all-new lanterns filled with light and colour inspired by the wonders of nature.
The legendary Disney Store is now back in our city.
‘A Most Magical Christmas’ has landed at Selfridges Exchange Square and Trafford Centre, and both of the stores have been transformed into winter wonderlands – with limited-edition Disney favourites, pin badges, plush toys, and of course, the famous headbands.
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There’s even Selfridges x Disney toys too, with the Winnie the Pooh range in iconic Selfridges yellow. Plus, you can take your gifts home in Disney branded bags.
Welcome to Tangerine – the new multi-purpose food, drink, entertainment, and leisure destination that’s just opened up opposite Salford Central.
There’s resident kitchens, a live music hall, an arthouse stage, a speciality martini bar, and so much more. Plus, upstairs there’s even a cosy cheese and wine lounge area… tis the season, after all.
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Get ready to dance on the tables, enjoy great food, and sip on some signature crafted cocktails.
Find out more about this new opening here.
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The Teepee
Oast House
Monday 10 November – onwards
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The Teepee / Credit: The Manc Group
The Oast House’s popular teepee draped in twinkling lights is back for the festive season.
Complete with two roaring fires, twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws, The Teepee is made up of four tents joined together to create a huge open hub, complete with a stage area for guests to dance the night away in festive spirit.
It’s all sounding set to be a popular spot for locals and those who’ve finished a hard day at work during the autumn and winter months.
Chester Zoo has, once again, teamed up with entertainment giants Sony Music to deliver this year’s Lanterns and Light spectacle.
Over the past couple of years, Lanterns and Light has proved to be such a success that it’s developed into one of the North West’s biggest and longest-running festive light trails, and all profits from the event support the zoo’s charitable mission to prevent wildlife extinction.
And 2025 is set to be absolutely no different.
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This year’s trail will see the zoo transform into a spectacular winter wonderland with colour-changing forests, glowing animals, show-stopping puppets and, brand-new for this year, a host of new immersive installations.
Find out more and book your tickets to Lanterns and Light 2025 here.
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Yuletide 2025
Tatton Park
Saturday 15 November – onwards
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Yuletide at Tatton Park / Credit: Tatton Park / Emma Croman
One of winter’s top events, Yuletide, is returning to Tatton Park Gardens this weekend.
The magical winter adventure will once again bring a glittering light trail and theatrical, immersive performance to the famous beauty spot.
This unique fusion of Christmas light trail and winter family festival is now in its third year, and will debut brand-new features and performances for 2025. As visitors wander the Yuletide event, they’ll be treated to everything from sparkling light installations to impressive fire juggling shows.
The Manchester Derby in a Barclays Women’s Super League campaign will be kicking off this coming Saturday, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most tightly contested in some time – with multiple Lionesses and international stars on show.
Set to be an unmissable meeting between the two heavyweights of the female, the 1:30pm kick-off leaves plenty of time for added fanfare before and after either whistle.
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Not only will there be fun games at half-time for the little ones and lots of live entertainment, but there’ll also be a wide range of food and drink around the concourse, so you just know it’s going to be a great day out.
Things are getting all festive in Stockport, as more than 50 free shows and hundreds of performers descend on the town centre.
Back by popular demand to kick off Christmas in style, Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday will be returning this weekend for a one-day festival packed with magical street theatre, banging brass bands, carnival fun, and loads more.
Hundreds of captivating performers will take over Stockport for the day, with another new lineup for 2025 promising something for the whole family.
Did you see that Manchester’s libraries are set to become ‘warm spaces’ with free hot drinks and WiFi this winter?
After millions of local residents have visited the ‘stigma-free safe spaces’ to escape and take refuge from the cold each year since they were first introduced in 2022, Manchester City Council has decided to reintroduce its popular ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ scheme once again this year.
All 22 of Manchester’s public libraries are, once again, taking part in the scheme this time around.
Free hot drinks, WiFi and internet access, data SIM cards, and newspapers are just some of the things people can make the most of inside these ‘warm spaces’, as well as get access to information, advice, and extra signposting to other support services they made need in the city.
Summer may be over, but guess what? Now that autumn is well and truly here, that means we get to wear layers, cosy up in our favourite places, and eat heartwarming plates piled high with all the major food groups.
Whether you want the likes of Banyan’s bottomless Yorkshire puddings bigger than your head, or swapping your meat out for a pie (you heard us), we’ve got something to suit everyone… you can even get dog roasts too, if you ask The Refuge nicely.
Check out our top 25 best places to head to for a perfect roast in Greater Manchester here.
Roast dinners / Credit: The Manc Group
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Roast dinner not your thing? Well how about an autumnal pizza menu instead.
The Northern Quarter’s legendary Neapolitan pizzeria Ciaooo has just released its autumn menu, and it’s everything we’ve been missing and more.
Think that signature thick crust, but topped with classic faves such as lasagne, boscaiola, and the spicy ‘King’ (which is one for the heat lovers out there). Also did we mention there’s a garlic bread fully-loaded with an entire wheel of camembert?
To make it even better, Ciaooo will be offering 30% off for the first week of November, so book in and get your pizza fix for less.
Both of those not really your bag? Well here’s our October food round-up for all the inspiration you could ever need.
How is it November already? Time really does fly when you eat good food.
Cosy season is well and truly here, and with things getting colder and colder outside, our dishes of choice are getting hotter and hotter.
We feasted again last month, on everything from savoury pastries, and steaming noodles and broths, to spooky sweet treats, and everything in between… we really were eating good in October.
Okay, last chance – did you know its National Pad Thai Week?
Well technically, it’s only National Pad Thai Day (7 November), but over at Tampopo, you can sample this special dish all week long.
For 28 years, Tampopo has been perfecting Thailand’s national dish since first opening in Albert Square right here in Manchester all the way back in 1997, and now it’s serving up its best version yet at a bargain price.
You can enjoy Tampopo’s legendary Pad Thai for just £5 up until Friday 14 November.
Featured Image – Totally Stockport | Yuletide | Manchester City Council
Boroughs
Greater Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Dozens of local restaurants will be adding an extra £1 onto every bill over the festive season to help fight street homelessness.
People in Greater Manchester are once again able to give back while they dine at some of the best restaurants the region has to offer in the run up to Christmas, as the successful StreetSmart fundraising initiative is back for another year.
This year, 26 fantastic restaurants have come together to support local homeless charities as the campaign launched this past Saturday (1 November).
Manchester independents such as Mana, Erst, Climat, 10 Tib Lane, Ezra & Gill, Tartuffe, and Blue Eyed Panda are among those taking part in the campaign this year, alongside several city centre chain restaurants such as Lina Stores, Tampopo, Banyan, Manahatta, and San Carlo.
StreetSmart works by each participating restaurant adding an extra £1 to every bill they deliver throughout November and December, with all of the money raised going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.
The funds raised by StreetSmart in Greater Manchester this year will support the crucial work of organisations such as CentrePoint, which funds Independent Living Advisors for young people, and Real Change Manchester, which plugs into the existing homelessness charities to provide that extra boost of funding that makes all the difference.
The StreetSmart team says it’s determined to deliver another record-breaking year in 2025, and provide much-needed support to the services that help some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas / Credit: Supplied | Rifqi Ali Ridho (via Unsplash)
“The festive period can be an incredibly tough time for the vulnerable people in our community,” explained Glenn Pougnet, who is the Director of StreetSmart.
“StreetSmart provides a simple way for people to help some of our city’s most in need. Giving back whilst dining out at Christmas is what StreetSmart is all about, and we’re thrilled to have so many restaurants already taking part.
Thomas Melia -
11th September 2024 
