City Centre

New Manchester hotel above Asha’s with all-gold Bollywood suite confirms opening date

Forty-Seven will open inside the historic Grade II-listed Lancashire House on Peter Street this August

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 15th August 2023

Forty-Seven, the new Manchester luxury boutique hotel from Kro Hospitality, has confirmed the date it will open inside Peter Street’s Grade II-listed Lancashire House.

The swanky new hotel, which will boast a total of 32 bedrooms including 13 individual suites (one all in gold), will officially open its doors in the city centre on Friday 18 August.

Amongst its breathtaking new suites will be The Asha’s Suite, an opulent choice inspired by the Bollywood star of stage and screen, Asha Bhosle, which will provide a sense of royalty with gold touches throughout.

The Signature Duplex Suite, meanwhile, will house split-level luxury living with its own stunning larger lounge, high bar and comfortable seating, whilst The Signature Suite is perfect for a special stay or a longer visit, featuring divided spaces for sleeping and living.

asha's hotel 47
Image: Supplied

When the hotel opens this Friday it will also be home to the award-winning Asha’s Restaurant, which will provide room service, breakfast and dining for events, and the new bar The Peterman – a cosy cocktail lounge where guests and city dwellers can mingle together as they sip on handcrafted signature cocktails.

Promising high-end luxury with rooms artfully created to match the luxurious settings of Asha’s restaurant underneath, those staying at Forty-Seven can expect a palette of velvet, fine linens, and even a pillow menu for guests to tailor their own perfect night’s sleep.

The hotel has also hired a ‘sleep fixer’ and installed Bluetooth speakers with sleep noises to make sure that guests get the most out of their stay, to ensure that there are no surprise disturbances in the night.

Speaking on the new opening, Forty-Seven’s general manager Ryan Thompson said: “It will be a delight to welcome guests into the hotel, where each stay promises a personalised guest experience in a setting like no other.

asha's manchester opening hotel
Image: Supplied

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“With the utmost consideration of service at every level, we have paired a sophisticated city retreat with an impeccable food offering from Asha’s Restaurant, which will provide room service, breakfast and dining for events.

“Meanwhile, The Peterman serves high-end signature cocktails in a stylish hideaway.”

With everything on its doorstep – such as theatres, nightlife, shops, and Manchester Central Convention Centre – Forty-Seven is set in the heart of the bustling city centre, providing guests with the ultimate base for making forty-seven memories in Manchester.

For more information, or to sign up for exclusive offers, head to www.fortysevenmanchester.co.uk.

Featured Image — Supplied

City Centre

UKHSA issues health advice following huge fire at derelict Manchester city centre mill

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Hotspur Press aftermath

The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is just one authority to release a statement following a derelict mill in Manchester going up in flames yesterday.

One of Manchester’s most historic landmarks has been left destroyed this morning after a huge fire erupted at the now-derelict Hotspur Press building, which is beside Oxford Road train station, late yesterday afternoon (Monday 23 June).

Thick black smoke clouds could be seen for miles over the city centre from around 4:30pm onwards and into the evening, as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that a total of 20 fire engines from across Greater Manchester were at the scene, tackling the blaze – which it said had spread to three floors of the building.

Around 180 residents in two neighbouring apartment blocks were evacuated, and had to either be put up at hotels, or stay with family and friends overnight.

Train lines were also blocked throughout the night at Oxford Road station after smoke and flames billowed onto the tracks, but as of this morning (Tuesday 24 June), National Rail said all lines had reopened, but did however warn commuters to expect ‘residual disruption’ to services throughout the morning.

Now, the morning after the fire with much of it extinguished, some wider road cordons have been lifted around the Whitworth Street West area, however many do still remain in place, and a significant police and fire presence can also be seen.

Appealing to any local residents or members of the public who were in the vicinity of the scene of the fire yesterday, including those spectating as smoke billowed, a spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a statement offering some advice and guidance: “The general advice is people should remain out of the smoke. Smoke is an irritant, it can make people’s eyes and throat sore.

“Some substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes. Respiratory symptoms include coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, sputum (phlegm) production and chest pain.

“Chemicals in the smoke can worsen existing health problems like asthma. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication, such as inhalers, as usual.”

The statement then concluded by urging anyone who may have concerns about the smoke’s impact on their health to contact NHS 111 service, either online or over the phone.

Hotspur Press aftermath
Hotspur Press aftermath
Health advice has been issued following a huge fire at a derelict Manchester city centre mill / Credit: Jonathan Boswell (Submitted)

Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, has also issued a statement following the major incident.

“We’ve been working closely with emergency response colleagues following the major fire incident at the Hotspur Press building,” her statement begins.

“Evacuated residents are now being supported at a nearby rest centre. 

“A cordon remains around Cambridge Street along with local road closures, and we thank people for taking fire service advice to avoid the area while crews continue to work at the site. Those living nearby should also continue to keep windows and doors shut to avoid smoke.

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“A final thank you to the city’s emergency personnel for their ongoing efforts, acting quickly to keep the fire under control and keeping our residents safe.”

Featured Image – Jonathan Boswell

City Centre

Science and Industry Museum unveils ‘summer of senses’ programme with dozens of FREE activities

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The Science and Industry Museum has unveiled its programme of free activities for the summer, and it looks set to be a ‘summer of senses’.

With the summer holidays right around the corner, and schools across Greater Manchester and beyond set to be out in a couple of weeks time, parents and carers will likely be looking for ways to keep the kids educated and entertained at the same time, especially if the unpredictable Manchester weather continues to show itself.

Even better if the activities are suitable for mini Mancs of all ages, and you don’t have to break the bank too much either.

As always, this is where the Science and Industry Museum comes in.

By far one of the best places to escape the hustle and bustle with your little ones in the city centre, the Science and Industry Museum has got a spectacular summer holiday programme packed with all sorts of things to be getting up to.

At the heart of it all, you can explore the world of senses inspired by the museum’s latest exhibition, Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You.  

With events running from 19 July to 31 August, whether it’s disco dancing around a giant brain, unveiling the science behind optical illusions, or journeying through a giant ear canal, there’s something for everyone during the museum’s ‘sense-sational’ summer.

The Science and Industry Museum has unveiled its ‘summer of senses’ programme / Credit: Science Museum Group

The ‘Bogie Lab’ is where all the action’s happening, as it will be full of sticky surprises for visitors wanting to explore more about their sense of smell.

Interactive workshops will aim to inspire future scientists by giving them the chance to unearth the ‘brilliance of bogies’, and visitors can get hands-on with this ‘magical mucus’ by creating their very own pot of snot to take home.

Our senses of sight and sound will also be examined in a brand-new interactive Explainer experience, unpicking optical and audio illusions that ‘bamboozle’ our brains.

Stay tuned as there’s also set to be another live appearance from presenter of Operation Ouch!, Dr Xand, due to be announced soon.

If learning about the senses isn’t really your bag though, then you can explore five decades of play in the ultimate gaming experience, Power Up instead, and discover just how far computer games have come over the years.

There’s dozens of free activities happening across the six-week holidays / Credit: Science Museum Group

“We’re celebrating the summer by exploring the snotty science behind Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You,” commented Tash Camberwell, who is the Interpretation and Content Developer at the Science and Industry Museum.

“With activities from disco dancing to exhilarating experiments and brain boggling illusions, you won’t want to miss this summer of fun.

“Everyone is welcome for six weeks of family fun celebrating our amazing bodies, how our brilliant brains see the world, and the surprising significance of snot. We’ve got brains, we’ve got bogies, now all we need is you.”

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Free museum tickets, plus charged-for tickets for Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You and Power Up, can be booked now. 

Find out more and get tickets online here.

Featured Image – Science Museum Group

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