Manchester’s newest hotel, The Medlock, will officially open its doors beside the Etihad Stadium later this year – and they’ve just revealed brand-new images of how things will look.
The new 401-room upscale hotel has unveiled new CGIs and opened up bookings, allowing people to book an overnight stay from as early as October 2026.
The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, is set to open in partnership between Manchester City and Radisson Hotel Group.
And that’s not the only development happening over at the Etihad Campus – there are also plans to open a museum experience, restaurants, and loads more, all of which will be revealed throughout the coming year.
The name of the hotel is inspired by the River Medlock that runs beneath the area and connects it to the city centre.
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Radisson Blu is designing the space to have nods to Manchester’s industrial heritage and unique Mancunian touches throughout.
The Medlock will feature a be a premium penthouse suite among its 401 guest rooms.
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Rooms at The MedlockThe gym space at The MedlockNew CGIs of the hotel beside the Etihad Stadium
And guests will have on their doorsteps the Co-op Live arena, the Etihad Stadium, the Joie Stadium, and plenty more.
The hotel will be operated by industry-recognised hotel management company, Valor Hospitality.
Richard Pearson, General Manager of The Medlock, said: “Today marks a key milestone as we unveil The Medlock’s brand and full look and feel.
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“Inspired by our location, the identity celebrates the character, energy and spirit of the place we call home: Manchester. With bookings officially open, it’s an exciting step as we move closer to opening later this year.”
Adela Cristea, Chief Development Officer UK, Ireland & Nordics at Radisson Hotel group, added: “It’s exciting to see the hotel progress and reach this important stage, with bookings now open for guests from October onwards.
“Together with Manchester City Football Club we are creating a global flagship property within a world-class destination which will offer an exceptional experience for visitors coming to the city for business, leisure and events.”
The booking system for The Medlock is now live and you can book a stay HERE.
The cosy Peak District pub serving a pick’n’mix sausage and mash menu
Daisy Jackson
There’s a Peak District pub that’s turned one of Britain’s most beloved comfort foods into a full-on pick’n’mix.
Tucked away in the postcard-perfect village of Castleton, Ye Olde Nags Head is serving up a fully customisable menu of sausage and mash dishes.
We’re talking near-endless combinations of proper pub grub.
You start by choosing your sausages from a daily rotating selection (not a sentence you hear every day, but we’re into it).
Expect classics like Cumberland alongside more adventurous options like venison and mustard, or even wild boar and orange, plus a veggie sausage daily.
Then it’s onto the mash – you can go for flavours like cheese and onion, wholegrain mustard, or even black pudding mash.
Classic cumberland, mustard mash, and mushroom sauceVeggie sausage with cheese and onion mash and classic gravyTucking in
To finish? A choice of rich, hearty gravies and sauces to bring it all together, whether that’s a classic onion gravy, a peppercorn sauce, or a creamy wild mushroom sauce.
And if that wasn’t enough, you can even upgrade your bangers and mash pick’n’mix by having it all served inside a giant Yorkshire pudding.
Ye Olde Nags Head is a historic 17th-century pub, with a roaring fire in every room and cosy bedrooms upstairs.
Inside Ye Olde Nags Head pub in the Peak DistrictYe Olde Nags Head pub is near Mam Tor
It’s one of those flagstone-floored, beamed-ceilinged, mismatched-furniture type pubs that welcomes everyone in every state, whether you’re caked in mud from a hike or popping in on a coach tour.
Another of the pub’s specialties is the Derbyshire Breakfast, a hearty plate of sausage, smoked bacon, black pudding, free range egg, grilled tomatoes, field mushrooms, baked beans and fried bread.
The pub also offers takeaway breakfast butties, so you can use it for both a pre-hike stop and a post-hike pint.
Given it’s just minutes from the ever-popular Mam Tor hike, this is one pub you’ll definitely want to add to your next Peak District day out itinerary.
The hillside farm in the Peak District making its own ice cream
Daisy Jackson
Did you know there’s a 300-year-old farm in the Peak District serving up some of the freshest ice cream you’ll ever taste? And yes, you can meet the cows that made it while you’re there.
Welcome to Hope Valley Ice Cream, a family-run gem where things are kept refreshingly simple: happy cows, proper farming, and seriously good ice cream.
Set in the heart of the Peak District countryside, this place is about as wholesome as it gets.
The ice cream is made on-site in the farmhouse, literally just metres from where the dairy herd are out grazing.
You can watch the animals, wander around the farm, and then tuck into a scoop or three perched on a milk pail stool, or a picnic bench (or even a decorative tractor).
Hope Valley Ice Cream has some amazing seasonal ice creams, like lemon curd, elderflower, and blackberry, alongside all the classics and a rather delicious tiramisu.
You can grab a cone, sit down with a coffee (again, made with milk from the nearby cows), or go all in with a freshly-made waffle if you’re feeling fancy.
Takeaway tubs from Hope Valley Ice CreamYou can get a mini pail of ice creamMeet the newborn calves at Hope Valley Ice CreamTuck into your ice cream on a milk pail stoolHope Valley Ice Cream
And if you’re the type who really loves ice cream? You can actually order a full pail of it, with four huge scoops plus whipped cream and sauce.
The farm itself is run by the Marsden family, who’ve been working this land for generations. It shows in everything – they’ve created a place that feels genuinely welcoming, not just another tourist stop.
Beyond the ice cream, you’ve got plenty of reasons to stick around. There are calves (including the newest tiny arrivals), plus donkeys and pigs to say hello to.
Whether you’re heading out on a hike or just fancy a drive into the Peaks, this is one pitstop that’s absolutely worth it – and honestly, it’s worth the trip on its own.
Daisy Jackson -
9th February 2026 
