Manchester

The Arndale Market is reopening today after fire and water damage last week

Lunch times are saved!

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 16th November 2023

Manchester’s beloved Arndale Market will finally reopen today, almost a week after it was shuttered by a fire.

Shoppers were evacuated from the centre on Friday afternoon with a large presence from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue.

Many of the street food traders and small businesses within the Arndale Market suffered water damage when the fire triggered the sprinkler system.

Witnesses reported seeing fire crews ‘sweeping out water’ from the Arndale Market.

It’s been shut ever since while essential repair works and cleaning was taken out.

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And now Manchester City Council has confirmed that all but two traders will be able to reopen today.

Cllr Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Thanks to some quick repair works by our teams this week we are pleased to confirm that the Arndale Market will reopen today (Thurs 16 November) following a fire last weekend.

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“The sprinkler system has been reactivated and the space has undergone a deep clean – and all but two businesses will be able to start trading again immediately.

“The remaining two units have some outstanding repairs which are being managed by the Council and they will be supported to open as soon as possible.

“Safety is always paramount for both visitors and businesses alike, and we’d like to thank traders again for their patience during this time.”

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Traders who had been closed by the fire included Rack, Little Piece of Bahia, Takoyaki Master, Dunkin Burgers, Hong Thai, Pancho’s Burritos, and Zorba’s.

Over the years, the Arndale Market has also launched plenty of local restaurant ventures, from Salt n Pepper to Viet Shack to Wholesome Junkies.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Manchester

Manchester ranked among the worst UK cities for throwing away food at Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new survey has ranked Manchester among the worst cities in the UK when it comes to throwing away leftover food at Christmas.

If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that a lot of food gets consumed during Christmas time, but unfortunately, what then comes along with that, is a lot of food getting thrown away too – with a new study revealing that British families are expected to bin nearly £300 million worth of festive food this year alone.

And sadly, Manchester has been named one of the top festive food waste hotspots.

Ahead of the festive season, leading electricals retailer, AO.com, is on a mission to help Brits cut back on their food waste, as 54% of Mancs have admitted to chucking out leftovers.

The survey found that, on average, a British family spends £136 on their Christmas food shopping, but 11% of that goes to waste.

This equates to a whopping £292,822,360 in Christmas food waste in total this year.

With almost 78% of survey respondents saying they would prefer to have their meals at home during the Christmas period, rather than dining out, the research uncovered that a quarter of Brits often throw away their Brussels sprouts, while one in 10 even admitted to binning everyone’s festive favourite, pigs in blankets.

Manchester has ranked among the worst UK cities for throwing away food at Christmas / Credit: Freepik | Flickr

Other northern cities ranking alongside Manchester in the not-so-coveted list of highest festive food waste offenders include Newcastle and Sheffield.

The capitals of London, Edinburgh, and Belfast also feature.

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The news that Manchester has been named a festive food waste capital comes after a shocking study, also by AO, revealed back in August that Mancs throw away more than £1,000 of ‘freezable’ food every year too.

Featured Image – gpointstudio (via Freepik)

Manchester

The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for New Year’s Eve

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

One of the UK’s most popular new club events and pioneering ‘day rave’ is returning to Manchester this New Year’s, featuring founders Jon and Vicky McClure, as well as some very special guests.

The Line of Duty star and Reverend and the Makers frontman started the parent-friendly event back in January of this year as an alternative day out for those looking to have a party and still manage an early bedtime. Since then it’s gone on to become a real phenomenon and is only getting bigger.

With Vicky swapping UK dramas and crime thrillers for the discotheque and ‘Big Jon’ switching lanes from his usual rock, indie and alternative roots to favour timeless dance tracks to still get people up on their feet, Day Fever has gone down a storm all over the country.

With their first year coming towards a close, they now look set for arguably their biggest day rave to date as Day Fever will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve for their final hurrah of 2024 right here in Manchester city centre – and no, you don’t need to be able to stay up until midnight.

The two McClures – unrelated, by the way, they just share a name and a fantastic taste in music – and the rest of their crew will be partying between 3-8pm for a much more tame and friendlier night (day) out, commanding the decks alongside some other special guests.

Not only does this alternative way to party promise a more responsible curfew, meaning clubbers don’t have to worry about missing the last train home but it’s also geared towards over 30s whilst still being super inclusive.

This day-time clubbing event is designed to reminisce on the old days and all those dance-filled memories of evenings spent out on the tiles, just minus the late-night finish – and hopefully the hangover but that’s down to you really, isn’t it?

In their words: ‘There’s no dress code, no egos—just pure positivity’; there’s nothing we love to hear more than the sweet relief of not having to get dolled up for a big night when we just can’t be bothered.

With New Century Hall hosting the Day Fever once again for their first-ever NYE party here in Manchester, along with two other events being held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Birmingham, you can get all your partying done way with plenty of time to get cosy in bed before the calendar turns over.

Just in time to watch Jools Holland’s famous Annual Hootenanny, as they put it.

Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin Compston
Vicky McClure leading the dance routines

This is guaranteed to be an evening to remember for everyone in attendance, especially when you’re joined by stars of stage and screen who will be powering you through with some proper dance bangers as they have done all year long.

The New Year’s Eve party isn’t just the last dance of the year either, it’s also effectively the prequel to next year’s raft of shows as Day Fever has already announced more than a dozen big dates in January and February.

This batch of 2025 dates sees the gang taking on lots of other cities, including North West neighbours Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull over in Yorkshire, two Newcastle shows and plenty more.

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So, if you’re feeling those clubbing blues, that pesky seasonal affective disorder or just still not booked up for NYE 2024, why not make the most of this day-time opportunity?

Tickets for both the New Year’s Eve and the rest of their 2025 events are available on the official Day Fever website HERE.

Oh yeah, and help get Rev to Christmas number one – it’s for a good cause and they deserve it!

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

Featured Images — Publicity Picture via Supplied

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