City Centre

Burger King confirms April Fool’s dish is real and going on the menu

Whatever next?

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 3rd April 2023

After a weekend of intense speculation, Burger King has revealed that its April Fool’s dish is actually real and is going on its menu from today, Tuesday 4 April 2023.

Initially revealed by the burger chain on April Fool’s day as a wind-up, it’s since been revealed that the Burger King x Doritos mash-up – a juicy chicken strip coated in crushed Doritos tortilla chips with a dusting Chilli Heatwave flavour – is very much going to happen.

Having initially teased fans with the announcement of a Chilli Heatwave chicken fries on 1 April, Burger King sent chicken fries fans to meltdown over whether the new dish was real or not.

Sharing a post to social media on Saturday morning, the brand simply wrote: “The world isn’t ready. ​ Introducing Doritos Chilli Heatwave Chicken Fries”, followed by the flames emoji.

Image: Burger King
Image: Burger King

Know-it-all fans were quick to pile on in the comments, with one person writing: “Probably would’ve been better to announce this on any other day than today.”

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Another person said: “Checks date… hmm. Would actually be pretty good if real though!”

A third wrote: “April 1st of course” whilst a fourth commented: “This would be a pretty mean April fools joke.”

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Now, after causing a frenzy across social media – including the launch of a poll that saw thousands vote on whether the flame-grilling experts should really bring them to life – Burger King has finally confirmed the hot new side is no joke after all.  

Now that the prankster’s holiday is out of the way, Burger King has let on that eagle-eyed fans should’ve known it was being serious as it had been dropping a series of ‘secret hints’ over the past week to confirm the spicy new launch.

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From post-it notes cheekily signed by ‘Burger King’s Chicken Fries’ appearing in Doritos advertising to comments on social media from Burger King and Doritos literally affirming the dish was real, for those looking closely the special’s existence was never in doubt.

Verified

Ignore the date, promise they’re real. Available in portions of 6, 9 or 20!

Featured image – TripAdvisor

City Centre

Greater Manchester’s Christmas crime rate is one of the highest in the UK, according to study

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

New research has revealed the UK regions that should expect to see a spike in crime over the festive season this year… and it’s pretty grim reading for Mancs.

That’s because Greater Manchester has been identified as a so-called Christmas crime ‘hotspot’.

For several years running now, our region has unfortunately found itself near the top of the list when it comes to seeing the highest rates of crime over the Christmas holidays, and according to a recent study conducted by ADT, 2024 is unfortunately no different.

With what’s supposed to be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ only a few days away now, home security experts have decided to analyse crime rates from December 2020-2022, and have highlighted the percentage difference in crime during the festive period in a bid to reveal where ‘Christmas crime’ is most prevalent.

Cleveland Police still has the highest reported crime rate in 2024, according to the study, with approximately 147.7 recorded crimes per 1,000 population, and more than 5,000 police reports of burglaries in early 2024 – with ONS data revealing 79% of which were residential burglaries.

/ Credit: Wikimedia Commons | Aurelio Arantes (via Unsplash)

West Yorkshire Police also stays in second place, with crimes in the county having risen by 20% in 2024, going from a crime rate of 111.61 in December 2021, to 133.8 crimes per 1,000 population by March 2024.

And then, we have Greater Manchester.

Once again, Greater Manchester Police ranks third for the areas with the highest crime rates in England and Wales, with 129.7 crimes per 1,000 population. 

ADT’s research this year found that theft offences accounted for almost a third of all crimes committed in our region by March 2024, while residential burglaries and shoplifting had over 16,000 reported accounts, respectively.  

Top 10 Christmas crime ‘hotspots’ in the UK for 2024

RankPolice force areaCrime rate per 1,000 population
1Cleveland Police147.7
2West Yorkshire Police133.8
3Greater Manchester Police129.7
4West Midlands Police125.9
5Merseyside Police119.0
6South Yorkshire Police116.7
7Humberside Police108.1
8Durham Police101.8
9Gwent Police101.8
10Metropolitan Police100.2

Home security expert Michele Bennett, who is ADT UK’s General Manager, has shared some tips on how best to deter uninvited guests from your home during the Christmas period, and says it’s “important to remain vigilant” at this time of year by enhancing your home security.

“This will ensure you and your loved ones have a safe and enjoyable holiday experience,” she explains.

“Several proactive measures can be taken to deter intruders throughout the holidays, including installing visible security measures such as smart alarm systems or burglar alarms, with visible cameras and alarms display signs that indicate your home is highly protected.

“Also, secure your doors, windows, and other potential entry points with strong locks and deadbolts… and indoor and outdoor lighting is a good option to maintain a lived-in appearance by using smart plugs connected to lights, motion-sensing cameras, and video doorbells in and around entrances and other key areas of your home to make it less attractive to burglars.”

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“The combination of these measures can drastically improve your home’s security,” Michelle concluded.

“As the appearance of an active and protected home is crucial to deterring potential intruders during Christmas and throughout the year.”

Featured Image – ADT

City Centre

Full list of road closures announced for Manchester’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Road closures will be in place as Manchester city centre prepares for its spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

Once the hustle and bustle of Christmas dies down, Boxing Day has been and gone, and we enter the time where nobody knows what day it is, everybody then begins waiting for New Year’s Eve to arrive, and for 2025 to bring new beginnings and a fresh start.

And case you missed it, Manchester City Council confirmed last week that Manchester will be celebrating the occasion with a bang.

Spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display confirmed for Manchester

Last year was the first year since 2019 and post several COVID lockdowns where Manchester city centre hosting one of its famous fireworks displays that “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new”, and it went down a huge success with residents and visitors alike – so it makes sense that it would return again for 2024.

Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited to the “fun-filled event” this Tuesday 31 December from 10pm.

This year’s end of the year celebration marks the first time St Peter’s Square has been used for the New Year countdown event, and also the first time that New Year fireworks will be let off from the roof of Manchester Central Library.

Spectacular New Year's Eve firework display confirmed for Manchester
Spectacular New Year’s Eve firework display confirmed for Manchester. Credit: Unsplash, Chris Curry

Around 20,000 people are expected to attend the free to head on down to.

You can expect “high spirits and party tunes” throughout the night in the run-up to the midnight countdown and fireworks – which will end at 12:30am.

The Council says that, in order to ensure “a safe and celebratory event for all”, security staff will be keeping a close eye on revellers to minimise any disruption and allow everyone to see in the new year together.

To best accommodate the event and everyone attending, the following road closures and parking suspensions have been confirmed:

Road closures

From 7:30am – 2pm

  • Peter Street westbound (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
  • Peter Street eastbound (Deansgate to Lower Mosley Street)
  • Oxford Street (Peter Street to Portland Street)
  • George Street (Oxford Street to Dickinson Street)
  • St James Street (Oxford Street to Dickinson Street)
  • Bale Street (Lower Mosley Street to Hall Street)
  • Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street)

From 9pm – 2am

  • Lower Mosley Street (Windmill Street to St Peter’s Square)
  • Princess Street (Cooper Street to George Street)
  • Back George Street (Princess Street to Dickenson Street)

Parking suspensions

From 8am on 29 December – 6am on 2 January

  • Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)

From 6pm on 30 December – 6am on 1 January

  • Oxford Street (Lower Mosley Street to Portland Street)
  • Lower Mosley Street (Windmill Street to St Peter’s Square)
  • Princess Street (Cooper Street to George Street)
  • George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
  • Back George Street (Princess Street to Dickenson Street)
  • Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
  • Southmill (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
A number of road closures and parking suspensions will be in place / Credit: Unsplash

Portaloo toilet facilities, including accessible toilets will be available on site and the Lloyd Street public toilets will remain open until 1 am.  

Hot drinks and food will be available on site, but alcohol is not permitted.

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There will be no tram services through St Peter’s Square from 8pm on 31 December until the end of the fireworks display.

Full details of Metrolink service and accessible shuttle buses can be found here.

Featured Image – designecologist (via Unsplash)

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