Retail shops across Manchester are preparing to open for the first time since March this morning (15 June).
Non-essential stores have been gathering dust for the best part of three months due to the ongoing pandemic, but the government has given owners the green light to welcome back customers from today – provided they make premises “COVID-ready.”
Shoppers heading out to the likes of the Trafford Centre and Market Street today will need to prepare for a rather different experience.
A wide variety of social distancing measures will be intact across all stores, including floor markings, one-way systems, till screens and contactless payments.
Large queues are expected.
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Those travelling to shops today via train, tram or bus must also wear a mask – with face coverings mandatory on public transport from 15 June.
Masks are not compulsory in stores.
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Many big brand names are back in action from this morning, and whilst a large number of stores have confirmed they’ll be operating as early as 9am, opening times do vary depending on branch, so be sure to visit their website to confirm.
Here’s a list of the major stores reopening in Manchester from 15 June.
Wikipedia
Stores currently open in The Trafford Centre include:
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Abercrombie & Fitch
Beaverbrooks
Bodyshop
Clarks
Ernest Jones
F Hinds
Foot Asylum
Footlocker
Game
Goldsmiths
H&M
Hollister
Hugo Boss
Indulge Fragrances
Jack and Jones
Kids Cavern
Lovisa
Lush
Marks & Spencer
Michael Kors
Miss Selfridge
Nespresso
Next
North Face
Pandora
Primark
River Island
Samsung
Scotts
Selfridges
Skechers
Sunglass Hut
Superdry
Ted Baker
Tessuti
Timberland
Timepiece Watch Repairs
Topman
Topshop
Vans
WHSmith
Zara
According to the Trafford Centre website, KFC, McDonald’s and Spud U Like will also be open for click & collect and takeaway services.
Steven Haslington / Geograph
In the Arndale Centre, the current list of stores set to open as as follows:
Archies
Auntie Anne’s
Beaverbrooks
Bobo Tea
Body Shop
Boost Juice Bar
Boots
Build-A-Bear
Burton
Card Factory
Chisholm Hunter
Deichmann
Dorothy Perkins
Dune
EE
EE – Market Street
Eurochange
Evans
Five Guys
Footasylum
Footlocker
Fuel Juice
G Star
Game
Gap
H&M
Holland & Barrett
HMV
Home Sense
Hollister
Hotel Chocolat
Imzi
In Time Watch Services
iSmash
Jack & Jones
JD Sports
Kenji
KFC
Over the Rainbow
Lego
Lindt
Luke
Lush
MCR Souvenir (Post Office)
Metrobank
Miss Selfridge
Mobile Technicians
Natwest
Newspoint
Next
O2
Pandora
Pastiche Couture
Paul’s Hair World
Pret a Manger
Rituals
River Island
Ryman
Samsung – Market St
Scotts
Shoezone
Sock Shop
Subway (Winter Garden)
Superdrug
Specsavers
Starbucks
Swatch
Tablites
Tessuti
The Fragrance Shop
The Perfume Shop
Timberland
Timpsons
TK Maxx
Topshop/Topman
Trespass
TSB
Vans
Vision Express
Waterstones
WH Smith
Wilko
Yankee Candle
Yours
Zamblya Wellness
New Cathedral Street Stores:
Burberry
Hugo Boss
Michael Kors
Paul Smith
Ralph Lauren
Ted Baker
Zara
Reiss
Anthony O’Neil / Geograph
Several stores in The Royal Exchange are also reopening, including:
Scribbler
Jenny Jones Jewellery
Swiss Watch Shop
Nigel Rayment boutique
Designer Exchange
Amaranth natural health & beauty
The Body Shop
The Whisky Store
Fjallraven
Michael’s coffeehouse in the Arcade is offering drinks to go, whilst Vertigo plant-based eatery and TGI Fridays are currently working with delivery partners. The Remedy Kitchen is already open for collection and Meal Plans.
News
Fresh warning issued about swimming in Salford Quays amid bank holiday heatwave
Daisy Jackson
A new warning has been issued reminding people of the dangers of swimming in Salford Quays – even with such warm weather.
Salford City Council issued a warning over the late May bank holiday weekend urging people to stay out of the water.
It comes just two weeks after two people were rescued from the water and rushed to hospital with hypothermia.
And last summer, tragedy struck in Salford Quays when 16-year-old Kalen Waugh – who was last seen struggling in the water while swimming with friends – was found dead in the water.
People are now being reminded that the warm weather doesn’t mean that bodies of water like rivers, lakes and reservoirs are warm enough to swim in.
Salford City Council said: “Even in a heatwave open water in Salford Quays, rivers, lakes and reservoirs is always cold.
“The risk of drowning through cold water shock is real. Please stay out of the water unless taking part in an organised activity and stay safe.”
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) says there are three stages that your body will go through if you experience cold water shock.
The first is a gasp for breath followed by rapid breathing (hyperventilation).
They then say: “At the same time as your breathing goes out of control, your blood pressure shoots up as your body tries to keep your blood warm by moving it towards the middle of your body (this is why you go pale when you’re cold).
“Once your breathing is back under control, this is your window to get out of the water before the further effects of cold water shock kick in.
“As your muscles cool, your strength, endurance and muscle control reduces to the point when you can’t swim any longer so can’t rescue yourself. The point at which you can’t swim any more is called ‘swim failure’, and if you haven’t got out of the water or managed to get hold of a buoyancy aid (like a lifejacket) by this time, you will drown.”
The RLSS issues the following advice if you do fall into cold water.
First, keep your mouth away from the water until you have your breathing back under control, you can do this by rolling onto your back and floating or paddling to stay at the surface.
Then, don’t waste any time and swim towards an exit before your muscles start to cool, or swim towards something that will help you to stay afloat whilst you are calling for help.
Finally, once you are out of the water re-warm yourself as soon as you can to avoid hypothermia.
Temperatures across Greater Manchester are set to hit highs of 22 degrees this week as we head into yet more days of sunshine and warm weather.
Featured image: Unsplash
News
Manchester house goes on sale with life-sized ‘sex doll’ in pictures
Georgina Pellant
A two bedroom house has gone up for sale in Manchester, and the appearance of a surprise guest in its listing pictures has got the city talking.
The mid-terrace family home in Blackley looks completely normal at first, priced at a modest £160,000.
Completely normal, that is, until you spot the stiletto-wearing life-sized doll reclining in front of a bed underneath the stairs.
Wearing a fitted red dress with her legs akimbo, the lifelike doll has been spotted by eagle-eyed property hunters on the lookout for a bargain.
Reclining on what appears to be either a chaise lounge or a put-up bed in a ‘rest area’ under the stairs, the lifelike mannequin appears to be wearing fishnet stockings underneath her bodycon dress.
Image: Henstock Property Services
Image: Henstock Property Services
Accessorised with a wide-brimmed hat and teeteringly-high stilettos, the appearance of the doll in the listing photos has caught attention online and led some online to wonder whether she comes with the house.
Elsewhere, the property briefly comprises an entrance hallway, lounge, kitchen, two good-sized bedrooms, downstairs WC, shower room and modern conservatory.
It also boasts a decent-sized outdoor area with a paved terrace area overlooking a green park.
The property listing description reads: “Henstock Property Services are pleased to market this 2 bedroomed mid terraced family home set in this popular location within 3.5 miles of the City Centre.
“The living accommodation briefly comprises; entrance into hallway, lounge, downstairs WC and rest area, modern fitted, conservatory, 2 bedrooms and a shower room.”
The Manc -
15th June 2020 
