It might look like a shipping yard dropped into a car park in north Manchester, but Pollard Yard is in fact a community shopping space where you can get a birthday card, a vinyl record and a tattoo all in one spot. I’m in!
This community retail location sees vendors selling their products and services directly from industrial-style shipping containers, making for a quirky and eccentric shopping experience.
Nestled betweenAncoatsand New Islington while being only a couple of minutes’ walk from Holt Town tram stop, it’s a lively hub of retail therapy which everyone can easily access.
There are a wide range of shops and small businesses perched in this small and innovative retail village and unfortunately we can’t list them all.
So here are a few highlights of the independent businesses you can visit at Pollard Yard.
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Pollard Yard – The Guide
Vinyl Fetishes
Vinyl Fetishes – Pollard Yard’s LGBTQIA+ owned music shop with its many pop offerings.The selection at Vinyl Fetishes specialises in pop releases.The vinyl racks stacked with some of the greatest musical releases on vinyl at Pollard Yard.Credit: The Manc Group
In September, Pollard Yard welcomed Vinyl Fetishes, a record shop catering towards pop and R&B records that may not be as readily available in other suppliers.
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It comes as no surprise that they’re also home to various editions of Charli XCX’s iconic ‘Brat’ album, including its extended edition and remix variants, that is until savvy shoppers like yourselves snap them up.
The owners are keen to interest more people in pop music that’s pressed onto vinyl even recently running a competition for Kylie’s new album ‘Tension II’, promising the first six customers a bottle of her very own ‘Kylie prosecco’.
The Lucky Pig Tattoo
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The Lucky Pig Tattoo shop where you can get tatted from an industrial shipping container.The cozy setup awaiting the next tattoo lover and their newest design at Pollard Yard.Credit: The Manc Group
Ever wanted a tattoo but needed reassurance from a friendly face? Well fear not, because over at The Lucky Pig Tattoo, they don’t have one friendly face but four to assist you with your next piece of body art.
Megan, Zena, T.A.K and AJ make up this tattoo parlour family and although the containers may be on the small side, they’ll always have room for some more creative visitors welcoming artists to host guest spots for a few days throughout the year.
This time last year, The Lucky Pig Tattoo gave customers the opportunity to get some spooky Snoopy designs tatted at their Halloween flash day.
The Letter Arty Shop
The seemingly never-ending card selection at The Letter Arty Shop.Pollard Yard’s answer to a celebratory occassion – The Letter Arty ShopA wide range of printed designs made right here in Pollard Yard.Credit: The Manc Group
If you suffer from decision paralysis you’re going to spend a while in The Letter Arty Shop picking out a greetings card. Their Christmas collection sees these paper greetings in foil, letterpress, typography and even 3D form.
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The latest collection from this gift accompaniment shop is titled the ‘Obvious Cards’ range and it’s as simple as putting pen to paper (sorry).
These cards are in-your-face with writing like ‘Christmas Card’, ‘Valentine’s Card’ and ‘Thank You Card’, I think you get the gist of it…
Nusole Services
A wall full of trainers looking clean and fresh at Nusole – Pollard Yard.Stacked – Trainers galore at this footwear laundry retailer in Pollard Yard.Credit: The Manc Group
This next vendor is an absolute must for keeping your kicks shiny and new and with rain forecast pretty much 90% of the time inManchesteryou’re going to need to call them up.
Marketed as a premium footwear laundry brand, this company are giving your shoes some much needed TLC, while keeping your outfit game unmatched.
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They scrub up most shoes, especially their most requested clean LV Runaways, even providing services for Manchester City youth player Jaden Heskey.
Good Thing Coffee Co.
One of the finest focaccia creations at Good Thing Coffee Co. Pollard Yard. The barista and bar set up at Pollard Yard’s coffeehouse – Good Thing Coffee Co.Additional outdoor seating for Good Thing Coffee Co. guests at Pollard Yard.Credit: The Manc Group
After some amazing deals like a focaccia sandwich for £8 or a coffee and a cake for £5.50, then this should be next on your cafe checklist.
You can fully immerse yourself in a selection of hot drinks, focaccia and sweet treats or get your order delivered to straight tp your car if you want your foodie fix on the go.
This coffee shop even hosts its own club nights at the yard! It’s a good thing this place is a coffee spot as these collaboration events can run until 12am.
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For Your Consideration…
Hoopin ‘N’ Lootin
While it seems like everyone is falling in love with american football at the moment, whether you’re watching it for the game or for the modern day Romeo and Juliet , Tight end player Travis Kelce and pop legend Taylor Swift, Hoopin ‘N’ Lootin are obsessing over another american sport, basketball.
Supplying Mancunians with all their sporting apparel needs, stocking basketball jerseys from greats such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Where better to buy your basketball essentials from than a dedicated fan, after all shop owner Elliot even has the NBA tattooed on his thigh to commemorate his recent trip to the game in Paris last January.
So whether it’s your first time discovering this fascinating shopping site or you’ve been before, make sure you’re not a stranger to Pollard Yard, after all there really is something for everyone.
Featured Image: The Manc Group
News
A Greater Manchester town could be set to get a train station for the first time in 60 years
Emily Sergeant
It’s been a whopping six decades, but the residents of one local town could soon be able to hop on a train out of there.
That’s because a planning application for a brand-new £32 million station in Golborne – which would connect the Greater Manchester town, in the Wigan borough, to the rail network for the first time in more than 60 years – has been submitted to Wigan Council, meaning connectivity is finally one step closer to becoming reality.
In case you didn’t know, Golborne currently has no direct bus, train, or tram services to Manchester, and Leigh is the biggest town in England without a rail station, while the wider area is the largest and most-populous area in Greater Manchester not connected to the rail network.
The milestone aims to boost access to jobs and opportunities for people in the town and the wider Wigan borough.
NEWS: Greater Manchester on track with plan for first new rail station in over 20 years. 🚉
✅ 90%+ public consultation support for Golborne station in Wigan ✅ Planning application in to @WiganCouncil ✅ Local area improvements and walking and cycling links
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the Golborne station scheme forms part of a wider ambition to bring eight commuter lines into the Bee Network by 2028 – of which “significant investment” has been put into.
The application includes plans for a new accessible two-platform rail station, including step-free access throughout with a footbridge across the tracks and lifts to both platforms, a new hourly service between Wigan and Manchester Victoria, and onwards to Stalybridge, an improved town centre car park, and also new walking and cycling links to the town centre.
The submitting of the proposals comes after nearly 3,000 people had their say on the station earlier this year, with more than 90% of respondents supporting the plans.
A CGI of what the proposed new Golborne station could look like, if plans are approved / Credit: TfGM
If the plans are approved by Wigan Council, work on the site should begin in 2026, according to TfGM, with the new station scheduled to open in 2027.
Mayor Andy Burnham called the submitting of the proposals a “transformative step” for the region.
“It has taken a huge effort to get us to this point,” he explained. “But we have finally reached a major milestone on the journey to reconnect Golborne to the rail network for the first time in over 60 years.
“The proposal is based on extremely sound evidence and huge progress has been made with a planning application being submitted and overwhelming support from local residents.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Police issue statement after remains of young baby found in Salford field
Daisy Jackson
Police have issued a statement after the remains of a young baby were tragically found in Salford yesterday.
Emergency services were called to the scene near Ashtons Field after a dog walker made the shocking discovery.
The baby – who is being called Baby A – has not yet been identified and police are now investigating ‘who this baby could be, how long they have been here, and how they have sadly died’.
GMP are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward so they can ‘find answers for this baby’.
Chief Superintendent Neil Blackwood held a press conference near the scene on Ravenscraig Road last night.
He said: “Tragically, today, we have found what we believe to be the remains of a young baby on Ravenscraig Road, near Ashtons Field in Little Hulton.
“We have a scene in place, and you will likely see an increased presence of officers in the local area while we carry out enquiries to understand the circumstances.
“At this stage, we are following several lines of enquiry, and we are working with local partner agencies to understand who this baby could be, how long they have been here, and how they have sadly died. We are now calling this baby, Baby A.
“All of this is extremely sensitive, and this investigation needs to be handled with the utmost care it deserves, and it is going to take time.
GMP press conference after remains of baby found in Salford
“We know that this news will devastate our communities, and while we do not have all the answers to these questions yet, I want to reassure residents that we will do all we can to find out what has happened here. The most important thing for us right now is to find answers for this baby and I would urge anyone who has any information at all to get in touch with us.
“Even the most minor detail could be crucial to our investigation. If you have seen anyone in the area over the last few days, or know who the parents could be, please call us as soon as you can.
“As soon as we are in a position to confirm further details about the circumstances, we will do so.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 1319 of 20/11/24. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Thomas Melia -
29th October 2024 
