During the pandemic, we all got pretty used to drinking and dining on the pavemens and roads as bars and restaurants expanded their outdoor seating in line with social distancing.
Those rules might be gone now, but the continental outdoor set-up proved really popular here in Manchester leading n recent weeks to numerous calls from hospitality bosses to bring it back across the city.
Now, in a boon for Manchester’s hospitality businesses, it looks like temporary rules enabling pubs, cafes and restaurants to expand their outdoor areas during Covid-19 are going to be made permanent.
Image: Common
According to reports in The Telegraph. al fresco drinking and dining are now set to become law as part of the government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
Businesses will be able to apply for al fresco licenses to extend their outdoor space, and pubs could be able to have an off-license extension granted allowing them to sell takeaway pints and meals – something that became a bone of contention for many publicans during the pandemic.
ADVERTISEMENT
Having recently launched a petition to make the temporary licensing laws for hospitality permanent, Black Milk cafe owner Andy Young described the move as ‘great news’.
Image: Black Milk Cereal
“Manchester council have always been wonderfully supportive with pavement seating” he added.
“We are now working with residents, local councillors like Adele Douglas and other businesses to pedestrianise and greenify our little corner of North Quarter as much as possible.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We can’t wait to serve cocktails, shakes, and bakes in the Manchester sun!”
“It saved a lot of businesses and more importantly a lot of jobs over the pandemic and as we discussed we’re still suffering from a hangover which has been said by people like Sacha Lord could take up to five years.”
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality, has also reacted posituively to the news and said it will ‘bring life back to high streets and towns’.
‘It is something that customers have really liked’, she added.
Feature image – The Manc
City Centre
A big battle of the bands is happening in Manchester this week – and it’s all for charity
Danny Jones
A massive battle of the bands event is happening in Manchester this week, and it’s helping raise money for crucial grassroots organisations.
Better still, it’s happening at one of our favourite venues in the city centre: Band on the Wall.
Now, the beloved Northern Quarter institution hosts all kinds of live music throughout the year, so they’re no strangers to events like a battle of the bands competition. Teaming up with homegrown charity Forever Manchester and some other well-known faces, this is set to be a big one.
This brand new event will see local businesses and employees come together to form a band for one night only, to see who is the best of the best up on stage. Who knows? You could be about to see the best-kept secret…
Yes, Manc worker bees are banding together (quite literally) to form the exclusive super group and will be judged by a panel of audiophile aficionados.
It doesn’t matter whether you work in the industry, you do office admin or work in a cafe all day long; at the debut ‘Forever Manchester Rocks‘ competition, consider yourself a music god in the making.
The live on-stage battle is open to pre-existing bands who have already played together, but we’ll confess, we’re looking forward to seeing what those cobbled together specifically for this contest are going to sound like.
Finalists not only have the opportunity to perform at the most iconic venues, but the winners of this year’s competition will claim the inaugural ‘Manchester Business Rocks Legends’ trophy, as well as being invited to play the annual Forever Manchester Birthday Party at the Kimpton Clocktower in February.
Once again, the best part of this new battle of the bands event at Band on the Wall is that it’s all for the greater good, with important funding being generated for local community groups – a cause that both pursue with 24/7, 365 days a year.
If you’re interested in a last-minute sign-up, the rules for entering the competition are as follows:
A majority of band members must work at the same company or in the same industry
Covers or originals welcome – just bring your best 15-minute set
You bring the instruments and tunes – the backline, PA and sound engineer will be provided
Acts will be judged on talent, energy, crowd reaction, showmanship and amount of money raised.
Nick Massey CBE, chief exec at Forever Manchester, said: “As a region famed for its musical prowess, entrepreneurial spirit and its sense of community, Forever Manchester Rocks just made total sense to me as our next big occasion.
“It is a battle like no other, and we’re calling for businesses across the region to trade their KPIs for killer riffs to show us how they shine on stage… And it’s all in support of a fantastic cause, with the money raised helping to fund vital community initiatives in the Greater Manchester region.
“We can’t wait to see colleagues from across the region unleash their hidden talents and bring that Manchester energy to Band on the Wall on 10 December!”
For those looking to come along this Wednesday (10 Dec), you can grab your tickets HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Billy Weaver (supplied)
City Centre
Stereophonics at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
It might not be an ‘Indian Summer’, but it’s definitely a Stereophonics winter as they’re playing out in UK venues including Co-op Live, Manchester.
Beloved 90’s Welsh rockers Stereophonics are returning to Manchester for the winter season, and if you ask us, it feels like Christmas has come early.
Known for their massive tracks like ‘Dakota’, ‘Have A Nice Day’, ‘Handbags And Gladrags’ and more, this four-piece has been powering us through life for the past three decades.
Their latest album Make ‘Em Laugh Make ‘Em Cry Make ‘Em Wait dropped back in April, and fans will be eager to hear singles from this LP like ‘There’s Always Gonna Be Something’ and ‘Seems Like You Don’t Know Me’.
Stereophonics come to Co-op Live, Manchester on 12 December (Credit: James D Kelly)
Now, Kelly, Richard, Adam and Jamie are playing a string of arena shows across the UK, and they’ve decided to stop off at Manchester’s largest indoor entertainment venue, Co-op Live, too.
Gig guide | Stereophonics Co-op Live
Stereophonics UK tour dates
We’ve highlighted all the Northern dates for you.
Sat 6 December – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Utilita Arena
Sun 7 December – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
Tue 9 December – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live
Wed 10 December – Glasgow, UK -OVO Hydro
Fri 12 December – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sat 13 December – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Tue 16 December – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
Thu 18 December – London, UK – The O2
We were lucky enough to catch them in Yorkshire earlier this month, and they did not disappoint. You can read our full review HERE.
Are there tickets left for Stereophonics in Manchester?
The staple rock band are visiting every stretch of the UK, stopping off for one night only in Manchester on 12 December before they close out in London and the ever-impressive The O2.
Well, we hope you ‘Have a Nice Day’ and an even better one after we tell you that tickets to Stereophonics’ upcoming arena date in Manchester are still available HERE.
Stereophonics setlist
Vegas Two Times
I Wanna Get Lost With You
Have a Nice Day
There’s Always Gonna Be Something
Do Ya Feel My Love
Pick a Part That’s New
Hurry Up and Wait
Superman
Geronimo
Maybe Tomorrow
Colours of October
Local Boy in the Photograph
I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio
Rewind
Mr. Writer
Seems Like You Don’t Know Me
Mr and Mrs Smith
Fly Like an Eagle
The Bartender and the Thief
100MPH
Traffic
C’est La Vie
Dakota
What are the stage times for Stereophonics in Manchester?
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can rock out all night long to these Welsh lads without wondering if it ’Maybe Tomorrow′ or not.
There’s no official support act listed, but when this current run of UK shows is labelled the No Hit Left BehindTour, Stereophonics will more than likely be rocking out on the stage for a pretty lengthy amount of time, as you can see by the setlist.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
ADVERTISEMENT
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
ADVERTISEMENT
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Georgina Pellant -
11th May 2022 
