A brand-new festive hub has been announced for Manchester city centre, where you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
There’ll be a whole host of new experiences to check out in the new St John’s district, just a stone’s throw from Spinningfields.
A major new attraction here will be Winter Assembly at Courts Club, which will be home to the city’s newest, fully independent ice rink, plus karaoke huts and festive film screenings.
Courts Club is a new social venue that opened this summer, combining basketball, tennis, boules, beer, light bites and a slice of the beach all in one place.
But from 8 November, it’ll be taken over by On Ice, who previously operated the Spinningfields ice rink, offering a premium alternative to the family-friendly ice rink down at Cathedral Gardens. Tickets are currently only £12 and on sale now here.
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Once you’ve finished sliding around on the ice there’ll be food including winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials and more.
If you prefer to keep your feet on non-slippy ground, there’ll be a ‘Chalaoke huts’, where you can cosy up in a log cabin with your own private karaoke machine.
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Courts Club will be home to an independent ice rink in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedChalaoke huts at Winter Assembly at Courts Club. Credit: Supplied
There’ll even be open fires where you can toast marshmallows and a giant Christmas tree to add to the festive atmosphere.
And Winter Assembly at Courts Club will be screening Christmas classics like Love Actually and Home Alone.
Elsewhere in the St John’s creative district, The Dome – previously only accessed by those ‘in the know’ – will be open to the public.
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This rooftop dome space will be transformed into a winter oasis that will feel like stepping inside a giant snow globe, with a programme of weekend events and a full bar (plus the option to book the whole thing out for parties up to 200 guests).
The snow globe-like festive edition of rooftop space The Dome. Credit; Supplied
And The Lawn Club’s festive yurt will be back, filled with sheepskin blankets, an installation made up of Christmas decorations, twinkling lights, and DJs.
There’ll be festive food, boozy hot chocolates and winter warming cocktails.
The party will run into the early hours on Fridays and Saturdays, plus there’ll be a festive bottomless brunch running from 10 November.
All three exciting additions – the ice rink and Chalaoke at Courts Club, the snow globe bar at The Dome, and the festive yurt at The Lawn Club – come from Shiko Group.
Government launches £442m drive to get rough sleepers off streets before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas.
Learning from ‘innovative’ approaches put into place during the pandemic, the Government has announced that new accommodation will be rolled out across England this winter, as well as offering practical help with housing, health, and other needs to support people to build a more stable life for themselves in the future.
The new commitment to offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas, along with boosted funding, reflect Andy Burnham‘s national drive to make ‘real change’ and get everyone playing their part in ending rough sleeping.
Not only will these plans change the lives of rough sleepers, but it’s also said they will have huge benefits for the country as a whole.
Research from homelessness charity Crisis suggests that by preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year, taxpayers could save around £370 million.
The Government has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas / Credit: Number 10 Press Office | Jon Tyson (via Unsplash)
As well provisions to get people off the streets, and the intensive ‘wraparound’ support, the newly allocated funding will also help local areas deliver more than 1,000 ‘settled’ homes over the next three years, it has been confirmed.
Areas facing the greatest pressures will receive the largest share of support.
Working alongside councils, Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action to end rough sleeping, and will be tasked with making decisions that are right for their communities to deliver help where it’s needed most.
The Prime Minister says he ‘won’t accept’ rough sleeping any longer. He commented: “No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station, but we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.
“That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping, and it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas. We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again. But it needs all of us.
“Government will put the money in, but I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.
“Let’s get people out the cold, and let’s bring back hope.”
Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)
Christmas
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
Daisy Jackson -
16th October 2024 
