Travel & Tourism

Manchester Airport opens another section of new Terminal 2, with Joe & The Juice and LEGO

Another milestone for the airport.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th July 2025

Manchester Airport’s transformation of Terminal 2 has hit another milestone this week, with the opening of a new section of the departure lounge.

The airport’s 10-year, £1.3bn Terminal 2 transformation project has been opening in several impressive phases, more than doubling its overall size.

The new section of the redeveloped Manchester Airport Terminal 2 is home to six new shops and foot outlets, including viral favourite Joe & The Juice, and a LEGO store.

Also opening this week are a new Starbucks, Upper Crust, Pandora, and Rituals.

The extension to the terminal first opened in 2021, with work to bring the existing building up to the same standard now almost complete.

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Later this year, there’ll be more new openings to look forward to, including Chanel, Grindsmith by WH Smith, a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar, and the Great Northern Market – a food court with a selection of street food options.

More than 70% of the airport’s passengers will use the new facilities, and Terminal 1 will close when the project is completed later this year.

Last year the terminal extension claimed a prestigious, UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award recognising its outstanding design.

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Manchester Airport opens another section of new Terminal 2, with Joe & The Juice and LEGO
Manchester Airport opens another section of new Terminal 2, with Joe & The Juice and LEGO

Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “It’s wonderful to see more of our new-look Terminal 2 opening to the public, further enhancing the world class passenger experience that this terminal offers.

“We have a busy few months ahead of us as we finish this transformative 10-year project.

“We’re proud to connect the people of the North with the world, and these new facilities will allow them to travel in the style befitting a major international hub, while also creating a striking first impression for visitors to our region.

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“Manchester and the North are woven through the fabric of this terminal building, from the worker bee and honeycomb motif in the terminal’s design, to the many Northern brands operating shops and restaurants in our departure lounge.

“We’re thrilled to see the last pieces of the project coming together and we’re sure the 70 per cent or so of our passengers who will use the final product will be as pleased with it as we are.”

Richard Jackson, Retail Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re pleased to welcome so many exciting brands to our new-look Terminal 2. These brands are household names and leaders within their markets, with a reputation for quality, which makes them a perfect fit for the experience we are creating here.

“I look forward to working with them and with the brands due to open units later this year, as we put the finishing touches to the terminal.”

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Featured image: Instagram, @manairportuk

Travel & Tourism

Northern Rail have announced their latest flash sale with train tickets available from just £2

Danny Jones Danny Jones Northern Rail train tickets flash sale

Finally, we’ve got some good news on the train lines once again, as Northern Rail has just announced the return of their fantastic flash sale, which sees literally millions of discounted tickets made available to the general public.

With the last promotion from Northern having delighted Brits up and down the country, the train company are once again offering affordable tickets, with prices starting from just £2.

The only catch is that you’ve got just a few days to make the most of the savings.

Confirming the flash sale across the Northern Assist social media accounts, the rail operator has now detailed both start and end dates, as well as the valid travel dates.

Sharing more details in a full press release, Northern has revealed that a whopping three MILLION £2 tickets are now up for grabs.

The 2025 Northern flash sale began at 8am this Tuesday, 30 September, with thousands of train journeys having already been booked.

A full list of all the routes with cut-price tickets on until Thursday, 2 October can be found HERE.

According to Northern, the top destinations with the most tickets available in Northern’s Flash Sale are as follows:

  • Manchester and Manchester Airport
  • Leeds
  • Bolton
  • Preston
  • Manchester Airport
  • Blackpool North
  • Shipley
  • Rochdale
  • Stockport
  • Bradford
  • Sheffield
  • Wigan Wallgate
  • Hebden Bridge
  • Blackburn
  • Meadowhall
  • Liverpool Lime Street
  • Skipton
  • Wilmslow
  • Doncaster
  • Ilkley
  • Hull
  • Wakefield Westgate

Although it remains an ever-essential network and the UK’s second-largest national rail service, the PR around Northern isn’t always positive when it comes to efficiency, quality and reliability.

Their estimated 2,650 daily lines across more than 500 stations often come under fire, especially in comparison to public transport down towards the capital.

Andy Burnham calls for ‘efficient and reliable’ public transport as he slams Northern rail services

With all that being said, the arrival of the latest Northern flash sale is a much-needed plus for the firm.

Commenting on this week’s flash sale, Northern’s commercial and customer director, Alex Hornby, said: “With three million tickets up for grabs, there’s something for everyone in Northern’s Flash Sale.

For our existing customers, it’s the perfect opportunity to visit somewhere new, and hopefully, we can encourage those who don’t currently use the train to give it a try.

We believe the Flash Sale will inspire everyone to explore everything our fantastic region has to offer, from bustling cities to the countryside and stunning coastlines. Customers will need to book early to avoid disappointment – once they’re gone, they’re gone!” You can grab your tickets online NOW.

Once again, the Northern Rail flash sale runs for just three days and closes this Thursday, 2 October, with tickets valid for travel strictly between Monday, 6 October and Friday, 24 October 2025. 

Tickets can be bought on Northern’s app, online, at ticket offices and on ticket machines in stations managed by Northern – please make sure to check terms and conditions.

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Featured Images — Publicity picture/El Pollock (via Geograph)

Travel & Tourism

Planned bus strikes across Greater Manchester have now been suspended

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The second round of bus strikes planned across Greater Manchester this week have now been suspended.

It comes after the first set of disruptive strikes took place from 19 to 22 September, and the next lot were set to be carried out from tomorrow (Tuesday 30 September) until this Thursday (2 October) – but they have now been called off.

In case this is the first you’re hearing of the upcoming industrial action, 2,000 workers who are employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester, and First Bus Rochdale – all of which are firms among those that make up the bus part of the Bee Network – were due to walk out in a co-ordinated strike amid an ongoing pay dispute.

Unite the Union says all the firms are ‘highly profitable’ and it’s therefore ‘disappointing’ that workers are being denied a fair wage.

Planned bus strikes across Greater Manchester’s Bee Network this week have been suspended / Credit: TfGM

At Stagecoach, around 1,000 drivers based across the Oldham, Stockport, and Middleton depots have rejected a pay offer of 3.5%, and 1,000 Metroline Manchester members will also do the same after turning down an ‘unsatisfactory’ below-inflation pay offer.

Workers at both Metroline and Stagecoach believe the offer doesn’t address years of low pay they’ve recieved, especially given the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Then, over at First Bus Rochdale, 110 members have rejected this year’s pay offer of 6%, as they feel this does not go far enough to address the fact they’ve had years of being paid less than their counterparts at other companies, and are still the lowest paid in the region.

Stagecoach, Metroline, and First Bus Rochdale, part of First Group PLC, are all firms which have seen a rise in profits in recent years.

2,000 drivers were set to stage strike action over two different periods / Credit: TfGM

But now, Unite the Union confirmed today that strikes will be suspended whilst it ballots members at First and Stagecoach on a revised offer.

It’s hoped that staff at Metroline will also agree the same approach today, meaning that all buses across Greater Manchester will run as normal this week.

“We’ve been working throughout the weekend, doing everything in our power to bring the negotiations between bus operators and union colleagues to a fair resolution,” explained Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.

“This is positive progress and we’re pleased that union colleagues have now agreed to suspend strike action to ballot their members, so we encourage staff at Metroline to do the same, in turn averting any strike action taking place this week.

“I have been clear that we support the aims of the unions – bus drivers deserve a better deal. But it has to be delivered in way that’s affordable and sustainable for the Bee Network.

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“We’re hopeful that agreements can be reached between operators and unions to conclude the pay negotiations.”

Featured Image – TfGM

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