Pre-millennium Manchester is unrecognisable to the city that exists today.
Back then, there was no Beetham Tower, no Spinningfields, no flats bumping their heads on the clouds hanging above New Islington.
Everything has changed in the past twenty years – and various architects, developers and politicians have rightly enjoyed credit for turning our region into one of the world’s most exciting places to live.
But LOFT is something of an unsung hero in the assembly of the Manchester skyline.
As Manchester began to blossom with brand new flats, apartment, blocks, offices and student accommodation in the early noughties, a man named Benjamin Hall created LOFT – which became the place to go to furnish interiors.
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Two decades on, Benjamin and his hundred-strong team are continuing to add style to Mancunia with their brand new store in Northern Quarter.
Beginning as Buy-To-Let Furnishings with a single van in 2003, LOFT has kept pace with Manchester and grown almost in parallel – expanding into a nationwide provider for high quality furnishings and interiors.
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The company now employs 135 people full-time – with dedicated departments that cater for landlords, agents, student accommodation providers and BTR developers.
The LOFT Shop on High Street, which opened in February, is an exciting addition to Manchester city centre – with different deals available almost every day of the week.
These include ‘Sofa Sunday’ where customers can receive 10% off all sofas, ‘Accessories Tuesday’ (buy two cushions get one half price). We love this one; ‘Dine With Us Wednesday’ – offering 15% discounts on dining sets. ‘My Favourite Chair Thursday’ includes 10% discount on all armchairs, and at the end of the week there’s ‘That Friday Feeling’ – with discounts on bed frames and mattresses.
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Shoppers can benefit from free delivery, assembly and installation with purchases (along with next day delivery available).
High-end furnishings come at affordable prices – with expert team members on hand in-store to offer insightful design advice.
LOFT has thrived by staying in tune with market trends – which have changed rapidly and dramatically during Manchester’s revival, whilst also remaining rigidly committed to its original core values.
Their promise is simple: All new furnishings come delivered, assembled and installed; and any old items are removed, replaced and recycled.
The LOFT Shop on High Street has been designed with the community in mind; offering trendy, characterful furnishings for the everyday home.
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LOFT is continuing to play a huge part in the rejuvenation of Manchester, which it has done for over 17 years.
Now, the team is all set for another chapter.
You can check out LOFT’s new shop at 26-28 High Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1QB.
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation opens in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation has opened its doors in Manchester for the first time.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
The label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, where its neighbours include American Vintage and ME+EM.
Inside, the store is laid out simply, with single sample-size items on display, but a full range of sizes available to try on.
And you can browse the full Reformation collection on huge interactive screens in the front of the shop.
Take a look inside:
Reformation is now open in ManchesterPart of Manchester’s beautiful new Reformation storeReformation loafersInteractive screens so you can browse the full Reformation collectionZebra print mules
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Business
Wetherspoons introduces new phone rule at all UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’
Emily Sergeant
JD Wetherspoon has announced a major new phone rule in all its sites across the UK after customers complain of being ‘driven nuts’.
The pub chain – which has nearly 800 branches across the UK – announced earlier this week that it has made the decision to ban people from playing music or videos out of their phones, and from taking calls on loudspeaker.
The ban, which has been introduced effective immediately, follows a rising number of complaints from customers about the noise – with owners saying sounds from smartphones and tablet computers had become an ‘increasing problem’ in recent years.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, says he wants Wetherspoon pubs to be ‘an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation’.
Wetherspoons has introduced a new phone rule at all its UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’ / Credit: Allan Rohmer (via Unsplash)
A formal statement from the company announcing the ban reads: “Following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations, Wetherspoon has asked customers to switch their phones to silent or to use earphones.”
Tim Martin added: “In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.”
Wetherspoon’s ban follows a YouGov poll conducted last year questioning public opinion on a proposition made by the Liberal Democrats of introducing fines of up to £1,000 for ‘headphone dodgers’ who play music out loud on buses and trains.
62% of people, on average, said they would back this move if it was introduced.
The poll, which surveyed 6,815 British adults, found that almost three-quarters of those over 65 would support the fines, while those aged between 18 and 24 were split 47% to 43% in favour of it.
Early public reactions to Wetherspoon’s ban appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
The Manc -
1st January 2020 
