In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Sir Richard said he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren, adding: “I don’t want to do 60-hour weeks and 12-hour days.”
Driven by Labour values and commitment to his city, @SirRichardLeese has been a phenomenal council leader and a credit to Manchester. He’s shown what Labour in power can deliver. We’re all grateful to him for what he’s achieved and I wish him all the best for the future. https://t.co/77QaRTCPjn
The former teacher and youth worker has been part of Manchester city council since 1984, and at its helm since May 1996 – just one month before the IRA bombing at the Arndale.
In the immediate wake of the bombing, Sir Richard was a driving force behind Manchester’s restoration. This, among many other things, is what led to his knighthood in 2006.
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In May 2017, he was appointed deputy mayor of Greater Manchester under the leadership of Andy Burnham and in that same month, together with Andy, led the city through the horrific period following the Manchester Arena attack.
Announcing his resignation, he said his “commitment to the city and the city region remains undiminished”.
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“It has been an enormous privilege to serve the people of Manchester over this period of time and my heartfelt thanks goes to the thousands of people who have worked with us over the last 25 years.”
Mayor Andy Burnham also posted, stating: “PMs apart, it’s hard to think of a politician on local or national stage who’s made more of a real-world impact than Richard Leese.
“Manchester is today a city transformed from the one of my youth and Greater Manchester is immeasurably stronger. From us all, Richard – thank you.”
Manchester
A tiny tiramisu hatch is opening in Ancoats this week
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new dessert spot is set to open its doors (or should that be windows) in Ancoats later this week.
Layr is a new business that is selling just one thing, and doing that one thing really well – tiramisu.
The tiramisu hatch is set to open on Thursday 29 January, with a menu of three different tiramisu flavours, each served individually portioned.
This new addition to Ancoats will be serving freshly-made, alcohol-free, Halal desserts, starting off with a classic tiramisu where sponge is soaked in espresso, then layered with vanilla marscapone and cocoa dust.
Layr has also created a new matcha tiramisu, where the sponge is soaked in matcha instead of coffee.
And completing the menu is a pistachio Layr, with pistachio marscapone, nuts, and pistachio sauce.
Layr’s tiramisu hatch on Radium Street is the latest dessert spot to open in this corner of Ancoats, in a building that’s become a bit of an incubator for sweet treats.
Pistachio tiramisu from the Layr dessert hatchA trio of tiramisu
The building is perhaps most famous for launching The Flat Baker, who operated out of a corner unit for years before becoming too successful and jumping down the road with their own proper bakery and cafe.
Layr also neighbours Baby Mayhem, famed for its extravagant doughnuts, including its bakes topped with ice cream ‘spaghetti’.
Layr will be open from 5pm until 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and from 4pm until 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade will make its way through the city centre once again next month.
As Manchester gets ready to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 – which officially begins on Tuesday 17 February and runs through to Tuesday 3 March – and mark the ‘Year of the Horse’, the iconic Dragon Parade will be making its grand return to the streets of our city centre, and bringing a spectacular show of colour and light along with it.
In case you’re unfamiliar with what the Dragon Parade is all about, it’s the focal point of the city’s annual Lunar New Year celebrations – and it’s a real spectacle, to say the least.
The parade is known for attracting thousands of visitors from all across the region each year.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
Celebrations officially kick off on Saturday 14 February this year, and as the headline of the festivities, the popular parade is set to take place the day after (Sunday 15 February).
Once again, organisers are expecting visitors in their thousands to turn out and watch as the famous 175ft Chinese dragon weaves its way through the city’s main shopping streets.
Official timings and plans for the parade are yet to be announced by the Council, but if previous years are anything to go by, it’ll likely kick off from around midday, starting on the junction of Oxford Street and George Street, and then make its way along Portland Street before concluding in Chinatown for a final performance on Princess Street.
Chinese New Year festivities will take place over a full weekend / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
There’ll also be even more cultural celebrations and activities to get involved with throughout Lunar New Year over in Manchester’s popular Chinatown – with live stage performances, traditional lion and dragon dances, and loads of stalls serving up tasty and authentic street food.
And to top it all off, we’ll also soon see the return of Manchester’s famous traditional red lanterns dotted up above all around town too, adding colour to dark winter days.
As always, this year’s celebrations have been organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and Manchester City Council.
Featured Image – Chinese NY Manchester (via X) / CityCo
The Manc -
8th September 2021 
