It’s been a long three months in lockdown and you’ve lost all hope of that all-inclusive three week holiday in Benidorm with auntie Karen and the kids.
Getting leathered by the pool and spending two days sweating on the toilet because of a dodgy buffet prawn is now a thing of the past after the coronavirus pandemic has more or less squashed all hope of a classic ‘Brits abroad’ jolly – and the very few that will actually hop on a plane this summer and head to sunnier pastures will likely have a very underwhelming experience in a post-lockdown world.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
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Some of your best childhood moments are more than likely memories from the UK. Breaking your ankle on a Blackpool beach sand dune after kicking over your little sister’s crap sand castle; learning to tread water in the Caribbean-esque August-seas of Cornwall; or exploring rock pools in Porthdinllaen while punching holes in your feet.
The UK has so much to offer, and a staycation here can be just as much fun as spending 800 euros on tiny San Miguel bottles for 14 days straight – trust me, I know.
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That’s why you need to make 2020 the year of domestic tourism and plan a staycation of your own while you have the chance.
The British Isles has some of the world’s most stunning places to visit – whether that’s our huge coastline, friendly beaches, beautifully chaotic cities, or unmatched countryside – and once the coronavirus lockdown is loosened some more, British tourism is going to need your help. Seriously.
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The UK has some of the most highly rated getaway destinations in the world and our self-catering is unmatched. So for those a little worried about holidaying this year, you really do have everything you need on your doorstep for a peaceful, socially-distant, break from a reality that has taken its toll on all of us over the last few months.
In a recent survey, 70% of Mancunians said they would book a holiday despite the publicity surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak… It seems people’s propensity to travel and book holidays is still there if there is a great deal to be had.
Debbie Flynn, managing partner at Finn Partners Travel, said: “Whilst undoubtedly the situation is hitting the industry hard, our research tells us that Brits are unlikely to give up their holidays if the price is right.
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“We are encouraged by the results which clearly show the resilience of the British traveller who is motivated to continue to travel by great deals and discounts.”
And there really are plenty of great deals out there.
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According to Visit England, hotels across the UK are talking about opening with 30-per-cent occupancy so they can maintain social-distancing, and while pubs get rid of all the old, rotting beer and order in new stock, hotels will need to make changes to communal areas and food outlets will want to work out new procedures.
By then, most of the country’s famous parks and gardens will have swung open their gates and The National Trust is planning on having its tea rooms outside rather than inside historic buildings.
There is a lot to look forward to, all without having to think about sitting next to someone with a bad chest on a packed budget airline flight.
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You really can’t beat Britain, and this is the year to discover that for yourself.
So while destinations such as the Cotswolds, Bath, Devon and the Lake District are prepping tirelessly to put in place the measures for you to visit, why don’t you stick your thinking cap on and start planning your next UK staycation.
Magaluf can wait.
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The inflatable floating obstacle course you can splash around on near Manchester
Daisy Jackson
There’s a giant inflatable floating obstacle course less than an hour from Manchester, where you can slide, jump, and fall straight into a lake.
At Wild Shore Delamere, you can tackle obstacles like monkey bars, the ninja-jump, the tyre run, and a giant 3.8 metre-tall inflatable tower, all floating on the surface of the picturesque lake.
The adventure hub opened back in 2019, offering families a chance to play on Delamere Lake, or try new watersports right here in the North West.
Let’s head to that inflatable Aqua Park – even as a full-grown adult, this is one of the silliest afternoons you can imagine.
Squeeze yourself into a wetsuit then launch yourself into the lake, ready to clamber all over a course that is essentially a gigantic floating bouncy castle.
The trickiest part is managing to stay on your feet as you slip and slide your way around the course in your 50 minute session – but really, where’s the fun in staying on your feet?
Monkey BarsThe Ninja JumpThe Tyre RunThe Figure EightFeatures of the Aqua Park at Wild Shore Delamere
While you’re on the lake, you can also try other activities like the Ringo, which whips you up and down the water on a huge inflatable, while the operator seems dead-set on flinging you off.
As well as the inflatable Aqua Park, there’s the Aqua Chimp ropes course for the more gymnastic types, plus wakeboarding, paddle boarding, and open water swimming.
Wild Shore Delamere has also added a new sauna this year, which overlooks the water – you can enjoy contrast therapy, switching from the warm sauna to the lake itself.
Wetsuits and life vests are included, so all you need to pack is a swimsuit, towel, and a bit of reckless abandon as you crash beneath the surface.
Paddle boards at Wild Shore DelamereThe sauna and cold plungeThe RingoAqua Chimp
Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
Just weeks after the closure of its iconic, 16-year-old Italian restaurant in the Corn Exchange, the family behind Salvi’s have revealed a brand-new concept.
And this time, the reins are being handed over to the next generation.
Salvi’s founder Maurizio Cecco has helped to shape Amò, but it’s all the brainchild of his daughter, Sienna.
Sienna will run the business out of a unit up on Deansgate Mews, serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza sandwiches, tubs of tiramisu, and two-for-£10 spritzes.
The deli aspect of the original Salvi’s has been carried over to Amò too – you’ll find shelves almost to the ceiling filled with Italian pasta, wine, olive oils, pistachio spreads, and more.
Sienna has grown up in restaurants, with her parents launching Salvi’s when she was just two years old.
She said she wants the space to be a livelier, fresher version of the Italian restaurant that has been so loved by Mancs for so many years.
Sienna outside AmòFresh pasta dishesInside Amò by Salvi’sTheir viral frozen crema di caffeLemon granitaInside Amò by Salvi’sTiramisu pots
Amò, which is Neapolitan slang for ‘my love’, will have loads of fresh Italian dishes, including arancini, gnocchi, and hearty pasta plates.
At lunchtimes, guests can order from a £10 lunch menu, with dishes changing daily depending on the best produce the kitchen can get – it could be a pizza sandwich with proscuitto and tomato, a spicy pasta, or a gnocchi bake, always served with your choice of soft drink.
With its position on Deansgate Mews, Amò basks in the sunshine at lunchtimes.
And while it’s definitely a different concept to the original Salvi’s, Amò looks set to carry the family’s Italian food legacy into its next generation.
Sam Ridgway -
30th June 2020 
