New service set up to support Greater Manchester pubs and clubs
A new Night Time Economy Office has been launched in Greater Manchester as part of a mission to support the region's pubs and clubs ahead of reopening in 2021.
A new Night Time Economy Office has been launched in Greater Manchester as part of a mission to support the region’s pubs and clubs ahead of reopening in 2021.
Spearheaded by Night Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord, the NTE Office is set up to provide employers and employees with answers to questions surrounding funding, licensing, training, mental health and business innovation.
The NTE Office has partnered with “a range of organisations” to support the sector – which is hoping to reopen fully within a matter of months.
The government’s current roadmap for relaunching the economy dictates that outdoor hospitality venues can welcome back customers from April 12.
Indoor pubs and restaurants can resume service on May 17.
Nightclubs and live music venues are scheduled to reopen on June 21 – more than fifteen months after originally closing their doors.
In the weeks ahead, the Night Time Economy Office will act as a ‘signposting service’ for people in the industry – with staff contactable via email and Twitter.
Lord stated: “The Prime Minister’s roadmap has provided some much-needed clarity and even hope for those working in Greater Manchester’s night time economy but there is still a long way to go and months until businesses can even partially start to open their doors again.
“That’s why we are launching this service. We want to make sure employers and employees can access the support they need and get answers to their questions and make sure as many as possible can open again later this year.
“Whether they want to ask about licensing, training or employment, mental health support or business innovation we will work to provide bespoke support quickly to those working in or running a business in the night time economy.
“The night time economy represents 10% of the whole UK workforce so it’s not just vital for the individual people and businesses but also Greater Manchester as a whole that we support them through the pandemic and beyond to reopen as quickly and safely as possible.”
The wider sector has also called on the government for “additional clarity” following the announcement of the roadmap.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), commented: “The sector urgently needs additional clarity on reopening and critical financial support from the Chancellor if we are to avoid economic and social damage that will last a generation.”
To contact the Night Time Economy Office, go to @NTEOffice on Twitter and send a direct message or email [email protected].
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Drake postpones massive Manchester gig set to take place at Co-op Live
Daisy Jackson
Drake has postponed one of his scheduled shows at the huge Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
The rapper has already performed two nights at the venue and was set to return on Monday for a third concert.
But with just 24 hours to go, organisers have announced that the show has been postponed due to ‘unforeseen logistics’.
Ticket-holders were notified of the cancellation via email from Ticketmaster.
A statement said: “Due to unforeseen ferry schedule and travel logistics, tomorrow’s performance in Manchester on July 28th has been rescheduled.
“The good news is that Drake will now perform in Manchester on Tuesday, August 5th, and it’s set to be an unforgettable night.
“All tickets remain valid for the new date – we can’t wait to see you there!”
Cheers Drake, cancelling Manchester show the day before, and rescheduling for the day I go on holiday 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/0D7pJjlLGd
The Canadian hitmaker has just come off the back of three very impressive nights at one of the biggest music events of the year, Wireless Festival, and is now embarking on a tour of the UK and Europe.
Drake has solidified his position in the rap field, dropping bangers from 2006 and since then, he’s gone on to have some of the most streamed tracks of all time with ‘One Dance’ and ‘God’s Plan’.
The postponed Drake concert will take place at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Tuesday 5 August.
US rising star Reneé Rapp announces huge Manchester arena gig as part of European tour
Emily Sergeant
Reneé Rapp has just announced a European leg to her upcoming tour, and she’ll be stopping off in Manchester for a huge arena gig.
In just a few short years, Reneé Rapp has become a star… and her star is only rising higher.
At just 25-years-old, the critically-acclaimed musical theatre and TV actress has pivoted to become an undeniable pop sensation and film star – and an iconic figure in interviews too… which isn’t a job, but it should be – after landing her breakout role as Regina George in the Mean Girls musical on Broadway back in 2019.
Even though she chose to reprise her role as Regina George in the 2024 movie adaptation of the Mean Girls musical, since 2022, Rapp has largely turned her attention to her solo music career.
Reneé Rapp will be performing at Manchester’s AO Arena next March / Credit: Supplied
2022 saw Rapp release her debut EP, Everything to Everyone, before she then went on the channel her raw talent and authentic voice even further, and release her first full-length studio album Snow Angel in 2023.
Both 2024 and 2025 have been big musical years for Rapp too – so much so that she has now amassed more than 1.4 billion streams and counting across her entire discography.
An already-successful 2025 is about to become even more successful, as Rapp’s second album, Bite Me, is expected to be released on 1 August, and she’s also heading out on a highly anticipated US tour from late September through to late October.
Following on from her US tour, Rapp has today announced that she’ll be heading across the pond to Europe in the new year, and will be making her way over to Manchester to take to the iconic AO Arena stage in March 2026.
Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris are just some of the other cities Rapp will be visiting before Manchester, ahead of closing out the tour at London’s Wembley Arena.
Reneé Rapp will be playing a huge gig at the AO Arena in Manchester on Wednesday 18 March 2026 as part of the ‘Bite Me Tour’, and tickets officially go on sale next week – with both pre-sales and general sale available.
The Three+ presale will begin on Wednesday 30 July at 10am, and the AO Arena presale will start on Thursday 31 July, again at 10am, before general sale launches on Friday 1 August at 10am.
The Manc -
26th February 2021 
