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.
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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.
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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.
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“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
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Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.
The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.
To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.
This is coming from a wire fan but no club deserves to be left in the dark even longer than they already have done it’s nothing but a disgrace to the sport of rugby those owners and the court should be ashamed of themselves.
Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.
“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.
Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.
Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).
“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”
More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.
Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.
“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.
“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”
You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?
‘Christmas chaos’ on the cards as Manchester tram drivers vote on staging strike action next month
Emily Sergeant
There could be major disruption to festive travel in Greater Manchester next month, as hundreds of tram drivers are currently voting on whether to strike.
Almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.
The drivers – who are members of the union, Unite – all work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester – and they operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
As it stands, the drivers’ shift patterns currently mean they have to work 450 hours over a 12-week period, which results in some having to work 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern.
Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments, and this is said to be causing safety concerns around fatigue.
‘Christmas chaos’ is on the cards as Manchester tram drivers are currently voting on staging strike action next month / Credit: TfGM
Drivers say they concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks, but after raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is ‘no funding available’ to support any ‘meaningful’ improvements to working patterns.
Instead, management has asked drivers to start work earlier – which Unite says is only ‘adding insult to injury’.
The ballot is set to close on 11 November, and if drivers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could then begin in late November, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the region during the busy festive shopping period – particularly coinciding with Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, known for attracting millions of visitors to the city each year.
“Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously,” commented Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden.
Emily Sergeant -
11th October 2021 
