Bosses at Therme Group have now revealed that the resort – which will be named Therme Manchester, and has been dubbed an ‘urban oasis’ – will feature a whopping 35 water slides, 25 pools, and 30 saunas and stream rooms across its 25-acre site.
The resort is the first-of-its-kind in the country, is due to be double the size of the group’s Bucharest site, and will combine water activities with wellbeing treatments, art, nature and technology to create a “unique experience never before seen in the UK”.
The pools at the resort will be both indoors and outdoors, and over 1,500 palm trees will be planted to create a tropical feel.
Made up of several domed glass structures, the tropical environment will also feature wave simulation pools and exotic palm tree relaxation areas, along with warm-water lagoons, botanical gardens, swim-up bars, and therapeutic mineral baths – and, in true Manchester style, there are also plans for rooftop beehives too, with the hope of using honey from local bees in recipes at the on-site restaurants as well as in spa treatments.
The ‘urban oasis’ will feature a whopping 35 water slides and 25 pools / Credit: Therme Group“Therme Group is based on a belief that wellbeing should be accessible for all.” / Credit: Therme Group
Water-based fitness, yoga, and pilates classes will also be on site – along with a range of bars, cafés, and restaurants serving snacks, light bites, and an à la carte service.
At the heart of the development will also be a spectacular 10,000sqm rose-shaped botanical garden, which is said to represent the national flower of England.
Costs for the project are expected to total £250 million.
Stelian Iacob – Senior Vice President of Therme Group Worldwide and CEO of Therme Group UK – claimed the park “will transform life for city residents and people further afield, creating a fun and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all.”
Therme Manchester is on track to open in 2023 / Credit: Therme Group
Richard Land – Chief Development Officer of Therme Group UK – added: “Therme Group is based on a belief that wellbeing should be accessible for all [and] the events of 2020 have shone a light on the necessity of this mission, especially for those in cities [so] Therme Manchester will redefine city wellbeing, enhancing mental and physical health through an experience based in water and nature.
“It will offer a unique holiday at home, that acts as a catalyst for healthy lifestyles.”
Bosses say the development is still on track for a 2023 opening, although building work remains at a preliminary stage on the site, and expect to welcome over 1.5 million visitors to the Manchester site once open.
Featured Image – Therme Group
News
Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light
Daisy Jackson
The chance to live in Manchester city centre’s newest park (and one of its only green spaces) has taken a step closer, with plans for new Mayfield Park homes given the green light.
879 apartments have been approved this week, which will have ‘the ultimate front garden’.
The Mayfield district has been undergoing major changes in the last few years, including the redevelopment of Depot Mayfield (into Freight Island, plus a music venue for events like Warehouse Project) and the opening of the beautiful Mayfield Park.
And now hundreds of new one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes will be added to the area, as well as a 40% increase in the size of the park.
The plans for the first homes at Mayfield Park were met with unanimous approval by the City Council’s Planning Committee.
The residences will span across four buildings, with low-rise elements peppered in amongst the taller blocks, and will also be home to restaurants, cafes, and health and wellness facilities.
A new tree-lined road through the development will enhance walking and cycling connectivity from east Manchester into the city centre.
More than 880 jobs will be generated during the construction phase, plus 120 full-time jobs when operational.
Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light. Credit: Assembly Studios
The proposals suggest that the apartments will contribute £2 million annually in Council Tax and a major £10 million boost to local businesses through increased spending.
The high-quality homes are designed by Studio Egret West and shedkm, designed to reflect the industrial heritage of the area, including distinctive arches.
20% of the first phase of homes are intended to be classed as affordable housing and will be prioritised for key workers in Manchester.
Henrietta Nowne, Development Director at Landsec, representing The Mayfield Partnership, said: “For the first time, Mancunians will have the ultimate back garden within the award-winning Mayfield Park.
“An opportunity like this hasn’t existed before in Manchester. Since starting on site earlier this month, there’s real momentum building as we continue to grow a green, healthy and connected district in the heart of Manchester.”
The approval marks the next chapter of the continued transformation of the Mayfield district near Piccadilly Station, led by Manchester City Council, TfGM, London Continental Railways (LCR), and Landsec.
Revenue from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council is set to earmark almost £250,000 to support grassroots music venues in the city.
Following on from the success of the city’s huge summer of music, which in recent weeks has seen hundreds of thousands of fans converge in the city to see massive names like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Charlie XCX, Elbow, and Robbie Williams, as well as other talents like Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender still yet to come.
Oh yeah, and there was also that small matter of Oasis reuniting for five nostalgia-drenched gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park earlier last month.
Over the course of the summer, it has been estimated that Manchester will have attracted a whopping 1.3 million music tourists, which is being described as a ‘tremendous’ boost for the city’s economy as a whole, especially the hospitality industry.
Revenue made from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ this summer is to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues / Credit: Eldhose Kuriyan | Joshua Hanson (via Unsplash)
These huge events are also generating income for the Council too, either by being hosted in the city’s largest parks with commercial arrangements for their use, or through the business rates paid by major venues – and it’s this income that has been earmarked to go towards supporting grassroots music venues throughout the city.
As well as reinvesting part of this revenue into parks and greenspaces, the Council is planning to set aside £245,000 to be made available in financial support for Manchester’s grassroots venues.
While exact details are in the process of being finalised, the intention is that the scheme will be administered by the Music Venue Trust to ensure that the money gets to where it is needed as ‘quickly and effectively’ as possible.
It’s estimated that Manchester will have welcomed 1.3 million music tourists before summer’s out / Credit: Nathan Mullet (via Unsplash)
“Manchester is a big noise in the music world,” commented Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, “and this summer, all eyes have been on the city as we’ve hosted some huge concerts and seen unprecedented success in our large venues.
“But while the biggest gigs might dominate the headlines, we know they are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem, with grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow.
It's been a BIG summer of music in Manchester.
We've got pioneering plans to use money raised by some of the biggest gigs to support our grassroots venues – a vital ingredient of the city's amazing music scene: https://t.co/8ekQN7AmGBpic.twitter.com/MpVWpeHqbk
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 31, 2025
“We know that across the country, grassroots venues are struggling. That’s why we want to ensure that our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events.
“We’re blessed in Manchester with an array of great smaller venues.
Emily Sergeant -
11th October 2021 
