The memorial is a living garden that has been built beside Manchester Cathedral, featuring a marble halo engraved with the names of the victims of the Manchester Arena attack.
The cathedral itself will hold prayers that include acts of remembrance at 8.45am, 10.30am, and 5.30pm, with the names of all 22 people killed read out.
Manchester Cathedral will be open all day for people to light candles or take a moment of quiet reflection.
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Its bells will toll at 10.31pm, marking the exact time of the attack on 22 May 2017.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester will attend the 5.30pm prayers and will lay flowers on the Glade of Light afterwards on behalf of the city.
Floral tributes in previous years at Manchester Victoria. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
At nearby Victoria Station, which stands directly beneath the foyer where the atrocity took place, silences will be held at noon and at 10.31pm.
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The station announcer will read out the names of those who lost their lives, and the railway chaplain will read prayers.
Floral tributes will be laid in the station and a memory book will be available for people to leave thoughts and reflections on the anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack.
The 22 May will also see the return of the Great Manchester Run, with thousands taking on 10km and half-marathon races through the city’s streets.
A minute’s applause will be held ahead of The Great Manchester Run. Credit: Supplied
A one minute’s applause has been arranged at each starting wave of the run, to ‘honour the memory of those who lost their lives, acknowledge the courage of everyone affected and recognise the remarkable spirit shown by the city in the aftermath of the attack’.
The Great Manchester Run 2017 took place just six days after the attack and was a powerful showcase of Manchester’s resilience.
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Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “22 May 2017 is one of the darkest days in this city’s history. It’s hard to believe that five years has passed since those terrible events.
“We will never forget those whose lives were so cruelly taken, or those whose lives were changed forever that day.
“But nor should we forget the remarkable spirit shown in the aftermath of the attack as the city came together in solidarity, compassion and a refusal to give in to hatred and fear. Love proved stronger.
“The fifth anniversary of the attack will have a personal meaning for every one of us. Our thoughts remain with all those who were impacted by that evil act. But however they wish to do so I would encourage everyone in the city to take some time out during the day to remember and reflect.”
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Those who have been impacted by the tragedy and need support are able to access the Greater Manchester Resilience Hub on 0333 0095071 or by email to [email protected]. The hub is open 9am to 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 9am to 7pm on Wednesdays and 9am to 3pm on Fridays.
Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development reveals plans for FOUR new food and drink openings
Daisy Jackson
Gary Neville’s landmark St Michael’s development has revealed a major new food and drink arrival – actually, FOUR new arrivals.
The huge site in the city centre has announced that acclaimed restaurant group Pasture will be opening four different food and drink destinations here, including a new era for the Sir Ralph Abercromby pub.
Pasture will also have a flagship restaurant on the ground floor of the 43-storey St Michael’s tower, operate the W Lounge hotel bar, and breathe new life into the much-loved historic pub that has stood here long before the development began taking shape.
Pasture has partnered with Relentless Developments and Salboy to bring its food and drink offering to the huge city centre scheme.
The group will take over the much-loved historic Abercromby pub, which is being sensitively restored as part of the development, as well as Terrace, an outdoor dining destination serving a Mediterranean-inspired, all-day menu.
Together, the four concepts will bring a varied hospitality offering to St Michael’s, adding to the restaurants and bars already operating at No.1 St Michael’s such as Circolo Popolare and Chotto Matte.
Founded in 2018 by chef-owner Sam Elliott, Pasture began in Bristol and has since expanded into Cardiff and Birmingham, becoming known for its expertly prepared meat, lively atmosphere and commitment to provenance.
St Michael’s will welcome Pasture to ManchesterSt Michael’s new food and drink offering will also feature an outdoor terracePasture is coming to Manchester
Speaking about the announcement, Sam Elliott said: “Manchester is a city with a huge personality, a strong independent spirit and a real passion for great food, so bringing Pasture here is incredibly exciting.
“St Michael’s gives us the opportunity to create something that goes beyond a restaurant, with four distinct destinations that each have their own identity while sharing the same values around quality, provenance and memorable experiences.
“From our signature open-fire cooking at Pasture Manchester and Mediterranean-inspired all-day dining at Terrace, to the atmosphere of W Lounge and the much-loved character of the Abercromby, we’re looking forward to becoming part of the city’s dynamic hospitality scene.”
Gary Neville, director of Relentless Developments, said the restaurant group was exactly the kind of operator the team wanted to attract to St Michael’s.
“When we started St Michael’s, our ambition was to create a destination in the heart of Manchester that genuinely reflects the energy, confidence and character of the city.
“Pasture is exactly the kind of operator we want to attract. Sam and his team have built something special, and bringing four distinct concepts into the scheme will add another layer of quality and personality to what we’re creating here.”
The announcement forms part of the second phase of St Michael’s, which also includes 75,000 sq ft of premium office space, a 162-room W Hotel and 217 W Residences within the 43-storey tower.
No opening dates for the four Pasture venues have been confirmed yet.
Inside Counter, Manchester city centre’s newest restaurant with beef croissants and Vimto trifle
Daisy Jackson
Manchester has a brand-new restaurant right in the city centre, where modern British cooking shines.
Counter comes from acclaimed chef Andrew Sheridan, who just weeks ago launched Arcadian over in Didsbury – and now he’s continuing to put his stamp on Manchester with this newest launch.
Taking a spot in a new building off South King Street, the space itself is dominated by huge elm trees that line the restaurant as a centrepiece, as well as a looming metal face sculpture.
And at the top of it all is an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs at work, creating meat- and fish-forward plates.
Expect stand-out dishes like a flattened croissant topped with beef tartare, loaded flatbreads, and huge sharing dishes like a roasted duck sharing platter, and wagyu ribeye.
There are also not-so-subtle nods to Manchester on the dessert menu, with a Vimto 1908 trifle that’s bringing together Vimto jelly, baked yoghurt, vanilla sponge, blackcurrant, raspberry and custard; plus The Manchester Glory that layers vanilla custard, raspberry, coconut ice cream, banana, toasted coconut, whipped mascarpone and cherry.
The beef tartare croissant and carrot flatbreadA huge duck sharer from Counter restaurant in ManchesterGrilled lamb chops
The new restaurant, which comes from Open Restaurant Group, will officially open its doors on Monday 9 November, with 60 covers.
The best seat in the house is at the chef’s counter, where diners can look directly out onto the pass at the kitchen in action.
And the best section on the menu has to be the grill, with plates like the satay spatchcock chicken, turbot steak, and sides such as gravy fries with beef dripping, and mac and cheese brulee.
Andrew Sheridan, chef and co-founder at Open Restaurant Group, said: “For us, great cooking isn’t about sticking to rules or defining food by where it comes from. It’s about taking the best flavours, textures and ingredients from around the world and bringing them together in ways that surprise people.
“We start with great produce, take inspiration from different food cultures and have fun with it, creating dishes that are bold, playful and full of flavour.
“Manchester is creative, loud and full of character, and we wanted Counter to reflect exactly that. It’s a place where great food meets a sense of occasion, without ever taking itself too seriously.
“Whether you’re joining us for lunch or dinner, we want Counter to feel like a natural part of the city, somewhere you come back to time and time again.”
Daisy Jackson -
17th May 2022 
