The time has finally almost arrived for tens of thousands of Mancs to take to the streets for the Great Manchester Run 2022.
The huge race – both a 10km and a half marathon – will take place on Sunday 22 May, 2022.
The route will once again weave past some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks, with dozens of entertainment zones along the way to motivate runners along to the finish line.
Here’s what you need to know – whether you’re running or just cheering on from the sidelines – for this year’s Great Manchester Run.
ADVERTISEMENT
What roads will be closed for the Great Manchester Run?
Several roads in the city centre, including parts of Deansgate, Peter Street, Portland Street and Oxford Street at points over the weekend.
Some streets will close as early as Saturday, too, to allow for access to ready the running route.
ADVERTISEMENT
You can see the full list of road closures, and the times they’ll be closed, at manchester.gov.uk.
What time does every wave start running?
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
The event village and information point will open from 7.30am, ready for half marathon runners to assemble from 8am.
The red and blue waves for the half marathon will start at 8.30am (with a group warm-up 10 minutes prior), followed by the elite wheelchair start at 9am.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then it’s over to the main event, the Great Manchester Run 10km race.
Elite women will start at 11.15am, elite men and the orange wave will set off at 11.30am, the white wave at 11.47am, the green wave at 12.30pm, and the pink wave at 12.47pm.
Every group of runners will have their own assembly times and warm-ups too – check here for yours.
How do I get to the Great Manchester Run?
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
With so many roads closed for the event, the best way to get into town is with public transport.
TfGM will help you to plan your journey, but the closest tram stop to the start line will be St Peter’s Square, or Piccadilly Gardens for some waves.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s also close to Oxford Road train station and only a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly.
There’s a map of the route below to help you get your bearings.
What do I do with my bags and possessions?
The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
The race organisers have helpfully arranged 18 baggage buses where you can drop your things off before you start running.
There are six for half marathon runners and a dozen more for those taking on the 10km – just fill in the baggage label included in your race pack and secure it to your bag.
You’ll need your run number to access the bus. Runners are advised not to leave valuables in bags, although there are security staff present.
ADVERTISEMENT
Route map and entertainment zones
The Great Manchester Run is popular for its fast and flat route – but also for the party that takes place all the way round.
This year’s entertainment zones will spur runners on with everything from water pistol breaks to a live DJ, as well as a new apres-run zone at the end.
The route itself will begin in the city centre before heading out to Old Trafford, along the water at Salford Quays, and back to Deansgate.
Featured image: Supplied
Manchester
Skof, Manchester’s most hotly-anticipated restaurant, confirms opening date and menu prices
Daisy Jackson
A restaurant with a serious Michelin pedigree is set to open in Manchester very soon, as chef Tom Barnes readies to launch Skof and gives a glimpse into its menu.
Tom’s impressive CV includes time spent at L’Enclume, the three-Michelin star Lake District restaurant widely considered one of the best in the world, and he’ll bring that same farm-to-table ethos to the city centre with his debut restaurant.
Skof will be taking over a historic building in the NOMA neighbourhood, right by Manchester Victoria, with an official opening date now locked in.
Skof is set to launch on Wednesday 29 May, with bookings going live today and tables available all the way through to 14 September (and likely to fill up fast).
Tom Barnes has also teased what’s to come on his menu, with two different tasting menus available.
Skof will have a 12-course tasting menu priced at £120, and a 15-course menu for £165 – plus a £50, four-course lunch offering.
The restaurant will be owned and operated by Tom but falls under Simon Rogan’s UMBEL Restaurants group, and he’ll be weaving in new suppliers as well as using daily deliveries of produce grown specifically for him from Simon Rogan’s Our Farm in the Cartmel Valley.
He’ll be using small-scale suppliers such as Cinderwood Market Garden in Nantwich and Lake District Farmers to fill his exciting menu of home-grown dishes.
The first set of menus will include dishes like roasted Sladesdown duck, peach leaf, Ibis celeriac, and wholemeal bread; Berkswell cheese sable biscuit, crushed broad beans, whipped roe, and bronze fennel; and a lightly set custard, served with Hen-of-the-Woods mushrooms, truffle, and mushroom dashi.
Tom Barnes with the team outside Skof, a new restaurant opening in Manchester in May which has confirmed its launch date and menu prices. Credit: Supplied
There’ll be a lot of thought that goes in to the drinks pairings too, working with restaurant manager Sean Oakford and assistant restaurant manager Max Lawrence (both ex-L’Enclume), on a range of drinks options to include alcohol-free or mixed-alcohol pairings, or matching wines to go with the menu.
Tom has also collaborated with Manchester brewery, Track to create Sidney, a light and refreshing beer intended as an alternative to kick off the meal.
Tom Barnes said: “It’s been a long time coming, so I’m excited to be able to finally release our reservations. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on and to return some of the incredible hospitality I’ve received from the people of Manchester.
“With Skof, my purpose is to create an incredible experience that focuses on great quality ingredients but above all, puts a smile on peoples faces.”
Skof will open in Manchester’s NOMA district on Wednesday 29 May.
Manchester City start work on next phase of stadium expansion, hotel, museum and more
Danny Jones
Manchester City have officially started work on the next phase of their ambitious stadium expansion plans which will see their capacity increase and the wider Etihad Campus transformed into a ‘best-in-class entertainment venue’.
Planning permission for the Etihad Stadium update was secured back in July 2023 and the club has confirmed that the first steel beams have now been installed after arriving in recent weeks.
The £300 million project will not only see the Etihad’s capacity climb from 53,400 to over 60,000 but, as previously detailed, the City Football Group‘s plans also entail the creation of a brand new club shop and museum, an integrated 400-bed hotel as well as an updated fan zone set to house around 3000.
With the initial steel framework now in place, not only has ground now been broken 12 months on from full arrival and just in time for the club’s 130th birthday, but they’re already making fast progress.
Today marks a year since we applied for planning permission and twelve months on, the Etihad Stadium expansion is starting to take shape. 🏟️
Man City and CFG issue update on £300m stadium and Etihad Campus expansion.
Man City fans can expect to see the number of seats jump up in time for the 2025/26 season, with the bulk of the stadium expansion and other renovations taking place around the North Stand – the tier facing opposite the brand-new Co-op Live Arena, which faced setbacks this week.
In addition to the other main leisure attractions, once completed, the newly expanded stand will also boast a sky bar and stadium roof walk above the upper tier, giving fans and tourists the chance to enjoy unique views of the pitch and the Manchester skyline.
Drawing parallels to Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, which was finally completed back in 2019, this will see City once again trying to assert themselves at the forefront of modern football experiences.
Moreover, with neighbouring Co-op Live arriving as a joint venture between the CFG and Oak View Groups, the Etihad Campus is perfectly poised to achieve the owners’ goal of becoming a “world-class, all-year-round entertainment venue”.
Those working on the Manchester City stadium expansion (Credit: Tom Barton via Man City)
Importantly for the East Manchester district, the stadium infrastructure project will also bring job opportunities and economic growth to the area, with the club insisting they want to build on their “long-standing investment and commitment to its local community”.
As per an official press release, it is estimated that approximately 890 full-time roles will be created during the construction phase alone and even more are expected to be delivered once Manchester City’s new hotel, museum, sky bar and dedicated fan zones are finished.
Speaking at the site, Managing Director of Manchester City Operations, Danny Wilson, said: “It’s been an exciting few months with the arrival and installation of the first steels and fantastic to see the development and progress of the build in recent weeks.
“This project has been designed with our fans at its heart and demonstrates our commitment to creating one of the most memorable fan experiences in world sport. Fans will have the opportunity to extend their matchday by joining us at the new covered fan zone, visiting the museum, or staying at the hotel… The next evolution of the campus is well underway and it’s great to mark the progress being made.”
Daisy Jackson -
18th May 2022 
