Feature

These Mancs play games for a living: GGRecon is Manchester’s best Esports publisher

Esports isn’t just a US game, with Manchester’s best esports publisher, GGRecon, situated right here in the city centre.

The Manc The Manc - 30th July 2020
Jake, left and Chris, right, with Fred Done

For many people, when they think of the hub of esports activity they are transported to the glitz and glamour of huge US-based tournaments, with thousands of screaming fans watching their heroes battle it out on their favourite game in an effort to win potentially millions of dollars.

The last thing you’d imagine is that an esports publisher would be based right here in Manchester. Unbelievably, an up-and-coming website named GGRecon is making waves in the industry, with the help of a familiar face. 

The website was launched back in December 2019, after the man behind Betfed, Fred Done, invested in a scrappy young Manc lad who’d been working for him since 2013 – Chris Young. 

Chris had started off in Betfred’s customer services department, but had worked his way up to Head of Product. He introduced massive changes in retail to overall grow revenues across the group from millions to tens of millions. After Fred decided that he wanted to make Manchester’s best esports publisher, alongside his other sport-focused website – funnily enough called The Sportsman, he decided that Chris had proved he was the person for the job. 

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

GGRecon takes the title of Manchester’s best esports publisher due to the fact that it’s really an untapped market here in the buzz of media outlets. We have word-class talent all over our great city, but only one that is focused solely on esports. The team, which only consisted of two people back in December, has now grown to 14 people. 

With an average age of 25, the team is certainly young. In fact, their Head of Operations is 22 years old. Jake Bannister founded the company alongside Chris after working his way up from being a shop manager for William Hill at just 19, before moving to Betfred. An esports fan from the age of 16, it was always a passion point for him. 

GGRecon’s editorial team has experience from other Manchester-based media powerhouses such as LADbible and Social Chain, but also Digital Spy, Esquire, BBC, Sky News, and Radio Times. 

Their video team is a mix of former-UNILAD staff, as well as brand-new gaming talent, with a combined total of over 20 years’ experience in social media and video editing. 

Photo by Hala AlGhanim on Unsplash

They have been making waves in the industry, recently being made media partner for a VALORANT invitational, covering the tournament with bespoke articles, videos, and other content. 

The company is currently working on a brand-new website, which will take inspiration from other sporting sites. There will be a widget that shows current tournaments, former tournaments, and upcoming ones, similar to how football sites format their games. 

GGRecon is also moving into a new office in the next few months, with a state-of-the-art gaming room. There will also be a studio dedicated to live-streaming the latest games, and daily news content. 

If you’re a Manc into esports, make sure you keep an eye on these guys. They’re changing the game.

Feature

Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and more near Greater Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

There’s a million-pound Victorian-style mansion that has 10 bedrooms and its own personal swimming pool just outside of Greater Manchester.

Just like the childhood nursery rhyme, “There were three in the bed and the little one said… there’s another seven beds, roll over!” or at least that’s how they remember it in this character property.

Located in Warrington, less than an hour away from Manchester city centre, this property is a semi-detached Victorian property built in 1860, with 10 bedrooms and its own private swimming pool, all spread across four floors.

As soon as you enter the foyer, your eyes are drawn to the sleek silver chandelier before you notice the grand staircase, which feels like a piece of living history.

Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market)

The ground floor hosts two of a whopping 10 bedrooms alongside a teal-toned farmhouse-style kitchen and that extremely impressive swimming pool with its own built-in projector.

In the kitchen, the focal point is the large wrap-around kitchen unit, which is accompanied by a variety of hanging lights and a big central island.

On the way to the swimming pool, there are a handful of lockers identical to those found in a leisure and as you enter the room, your eyes are drawn to the island-inspired feature wall.

Venture upstairs to the first floor and you’re greeted by five spacious bedrooms with one having its own en-suite while the rest share a main bathroom.

Each of these bedrooms follows a completely different design style, with the largest following a muted grey palette with pops of yellow thanks to the artwork and bed accessories.

The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market

As you go upstairs again, you’ll find (you guessed it) even more bedrooms, three to be exact, with the standout

The stand-out of this second floor is the navy-walled bedroom with a vintage vanity unit, patterned floor-to-ceiling curtains and a similarly dark-blue rug to match its four walls.

Another flight of stairs and you’ve finally reached the top of this property, and there’s an LED-lined ceiling and a neutral bedroom colour scheme of greys, whites and everything in between.

There are various amenities nearby, including three schools and three train stations… for if you get fed up of strolling around your four-floored ten-bed, swimming pool-owning mansion.

Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market

We know this property may not be in the price range and might not be affordable for a lot of readers, ourselves included, but we can dream, right?

You can check out this Victorian mansion and flick through even more pictures of this property – Snooping never hurt anybody? Official site HERE.

As always, make sure to check out The Manc‘s property page to check all the other stunning structures currently on sale/in progress across Greater Manchester and in the nearby North West.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Supplied via On The Market

Feature

Beat-Herder Festival 2025 – a magical weekend of music, madness, miniature worlds and more

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson The Beat Herder Festival 2025 review

Some festivals give you good music. Some give you great crowds. And a very rare few create a world so immersive, you forget you’re even at a festival; the cult favourite Beat-Herder Festival does it all – and then some.

Tucked into the Ribble Valley countryside in the Lancashire town of Clitheroe, The Beat-Herder Festival isn’t your average weekend of tents and tunes.

It’s a handcrafted, mind-bending wonderland built by a small crew of dreamers who clearly love what they do and want you to feel the same.

Whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth, the moment you step through the gates, you know you’re in for something special

Beat-Herder Fest 2025 | Review

First up: the stages

There’s no main path here – just winding routes and secret cut-throughs that lead to 16 beautifully designed stages, each with its own vibe.

The Main Stage delivered as always, from high-energy daytime sets like Beatles Dub Club to headliners like the legendary Fabio, Grooverider and long-time collaborators, The Outlook Orchestra, which brought the field to life each night. 

Then there’s Hotel California, not just an Eagles reference but a site where you could catch a full-on rave in a wild west saloon, as well as The Parish Church: a gothic fairytale where choirs turn into choons and the altar doubles as a DJ booth.

One of the weekend’s highlights came tucked inside The Beat-Herder Working Men’s Club, where The Clone Roses had the entire crowd bouncing with their uncanny tribute to The Stones.

When ‘I Am the Resurrection’ dropped, it was hands-in-the-air euphoria; a true pinch-me moment. Ian Brown might as we have been on the stage, the way the crowd were going wild. 

And it wasn’t just music. The Working Men’s also hosted ‘Beat-Herder’s Got Talent’, which is a chaotic and charming mix of poetry, dragon dancing, comedy sketches and more. Heartfelt, hilarious and very Beat-Herder.

Truly immersive worlds

Venture deeper into the wonderful world of Beat-Herder and you’ll find entire miniature towns within the festival. There’s a literal high street, complete with its own tattoo parlour, barbers, a swap shop and even a secret swimming pool.

where is beat-herder fest?
Credit: Andrew Whitton (supplied via Beat-Herder)

We’re not going to disclose its location, but let’s just say if you find a dodgy-looking wooden gate and hear splashing on the other side – knock twice and bring a towel…

Late-night mayhem

As the sun went down, the party really came to life. The Beyond Tunnel was your portal to new dimensions, opening out into a maze of secret stages and psychedelic visuals.

From psytrance at The Sunrise Stage, to bassline chaos at The Laundrette and candy-coloured chaos at Bubba Gumma, it was a rabbit hole of sound you never wanted to leave.

Then there was The Temple – a fire-breathing stage that became a haven for breakbeats, jungle, techno and house. Tim Reaper’s set here was a standout for us – fast, furious, and euphoric.

And just when we thought the night was over, we found ourselves at a secret 3am b2b set with Tim Reaper and Samurai Breaks that blew us away – two talented DJs that had the crowd wanting even more despite the sun quite literally rising on the next day.

Another hidden gem was The Ring, an intimate open-air arena where we caught Jungle pioneer Goldie, alongside Sheffield’s own Silva Bumpa and Soul Mass Transit System for a bass-heavy b2b set that rattled your bones and lit up the crowd.

Then there’s The Factory – a steel-clad rave bunker pumping out electro, acid and heavy techno deep into the night. Dancing inside while the rain pelted the tin roof added a layer of gritty industrial magic – proper spine-tingling stuff if you’re into that sweaty, underground energy.

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes Fowler’s Garage: a chaotic, petrolhead fever dream of a stage where you can literally dance on top of cars. DJs spin sets from inside the vehicles, cooking up a storm from the front seat while the crowd parties on the roof.

It’s unhinged in the best way possible and one of the most unique spaces you’ll ever rave in.

Power and the people

What really makes Beat-Herder feel different is the people. There’s an unspoken code of friendliness here – everyone’s up for a chat, a laugh, or a spontaneous dance. You could spill your pint and end up making a friend for life. That kind of energy is rare, and Beat-Herder wears it like a badge of honour.

The merch stand has that signature hand-crafted feel. All of the merch is hand-printed, with designs that feel like proper collector’s items rather than throwaway souvenirs. We spotted punters proudly repping Beat-Herder tees from as far back as 2012 – testament to how deep the community pride runs here.

Even on the way out, with vans and cars getting stuck in the mud, everyone mucked in to help push – proof that the Beat-Herder spirit sticks with you long after you’ve left the gates. Just a bunch of lovely people all getting together to have a good time and make memories for life. 

beat herder 2025 review
lancashire music festival
beat-herder review
Credit: Andrew Whitton

Fantastic fancy dress

Saturday brought the iconic fancy dress theme – this year, the letter G. And wow, did people go for it. Giraffes towered above the crowd, Gnomes danced in groups, Gardeners handed out seed packets, and one hero turned up as ‘Garbage’, wearing an actual dustbin with a lid strapped to his head. We laughed for a full five minutes.

Final thoughts from the fields

Even though Beat-Herder was slightly scaled down this year due to budget cuts, it never once felt like anything was missing. If anything, it brought a tighter, even more magic-filled experience. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the atmosphere are still unmatched – a reminder that this isn’t just a festival. It’s a fully fledged world of its own.

If you’re looking for something different – stick this one at the very top of your list. But be warned: once you’ve been, you’ll never stop going back.

Tickets for next year go on sale on Thursday, 31 July, and you can be ready to grab your tickets HERE.

You can guarantee you’ll see us at back-to-back Beat-Herder Festivals again in 2026.

beat herder lineup
The Beat Hearder music Festival 2025 review
Credit: Supplied

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Andrew Whitton (supplied)

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