Council plans 14 weeks of ‘free fun’ for children across Greater Manchester this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.

Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme launches this week – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.

Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.

Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.

Activities will be running in 32 parks across Manchester all summer long.

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The programme launches as Manchester celebrates being officially recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City, reinforcing the city and Manchester City Council’s commitment to ensuring every child has the chance to ‘play, thrive, and enjoy’ their local community.

Sessions are set to take place rain or shine, so even if the classic rainy Manchester weather returns, children can still have fun.

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It is suggested that younger children are accompanied by a parent/carer if they attend any of the organised events.

“We’re really lucky in Manchester to have lots of beautiful parks and open spaces and want our children to be able to get outside and enjoy them,” commented Councillor Basat Sheikh, who is the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council.

“Our expanded Parktastic programme this year is even bigger and better.

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“[This] means even more opportunities for youngsters in the city to go along to their local park, maybe try something new, have fun, meet friends and even make new ones.”

Find out everything happening this summer here.

Featured Image – Artem Kniaz (via Unsplash)

Legendary buffet restaurant could close as plans for ANOTHER Deansgate hotel are revealed

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Legendary buffet restaurant could close as plans for ANOTHER Deansgate hotel are revealed

Plans have been revealed for another hotel on Deansgate – and if it goes ahead, it could mean Manchester’s legendary buffet restaurant may close.

Maybrook House stands on a prominent corner in the city centre, where Deansgate crosses with Blackfriars Street.

It’s functioned as offices for years, but now there are proposals to change the building into a ‘vibrant, high-quality new hotel’.

If it goes ahead, the new hotel would provide 240 rooms as well as a new bar and lounge spaces.

Plans for the new Deansgate hotel include a two-storey extension on top of the building, which would bring it to an eight-storey building (still well below the height of neighbouring structures, like the 20-storey Treehouse Hotel).

The team working on the new hotel have said that its design will ‘respect the character of the surrounding area while improving the appearance and experience of the building’.

Other plans include repainting the existing brickwork, refurbishing the concrete panels, and installing more efficient windows.

As for the cafes and restaurants already occupying Maybrook House, most will be able to stay – the plans say that the ground-floor occupiers can remain in place throughout the construction period.

But if it all goes ahead, Cosmo, the world buffet that has been here for almost a decade (and was previously Red Hot World Buffet) would need to vacate the premises.

Maybrook House said: “We recognise that Cosmo is a valued and well-established venue in the city, and are engaging with them directly.”

A hotel operator for the building hasn’t been announced yet, but they said that they are ‘currently in advanced discussions with a prestigious hotel operator’.

You can see more on the proposals HERE.

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Featured image: Maybrook House

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