Andy Burnham has vowed to “keep fighting” to make sure train station ticket offices don’t permanently close.
In case you’re not quite up to speed, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has been leading a campaign group of four northern mayors who are taking legal action over the proposed closure of train station ticket offices in England, after the government-run Rail Delivery Group (RDG) unveiled plans back in July back to “bring station staff closer to customers” by moving them out of ticket offices and onto platforms and concourses instead.
Around three out of five train stations in England currently have a staffed ticket office, but all that could change moving forward, with just under 1,000 of them earmarked to close – including at some of the UK’s busiest stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly.
In a letter penned to Transport Secretary Mark Harper to express his discontent at the proposed closures, the Greater Manchester Mayor also called for an “immediate suspension” to rail operator Northern‘s process.
He claimed he had “no other option” but to take legal action.
Andy Burnham vows to ‘keep fighting’ to stop train station ticket offices closing / Credit: RDG
But now, after a consultation on the proposed closure of ticket offices has officially come to an end, Mr Burnham has joined his fellow mayors – the others of which are Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, and Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard – they calling for “the right thing to be done by stopping the plans now” in a joint statement.
“The train companies initially tried to push the closure of ticket offices through, under the radar,” the Mayors’ joint statement reads.
“But together, we made them listen.
🗣️ “There is still an opportunity here to do the right thing and stop these plans now. In the meantime, we stand firm, and we will keep fighting.”
Andy and other England mayors issue joint statement as consultation to close almost all ticket offices ends https://t.co/BIBDA03UZ3
— Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (@MayorofGM) September 1, 2023
“Our legal challenge resulted in the operators extending the consultation process, addressing unfair accessibility issues and producing Equality Impact Assessments which are vital in assessing the plans [and] this meant that more people were able to have their say on the plans – and may otherwise have remained unheard.
“The law is clear that operators cannot close parts of stations without following the clear procedure set out in the Railways Act 2005.
“This procedure has still not been followed and the process of our legal challenge with the train firms around this remains ongoing.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the call to #SaveTicketOffices. 🙏🏻
You would think even this Government will now have to listen and drop the plans.
If they don’t, you’ve given myself and other Mayors a clear mandate to continue with our legal challenge. 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/6cVLZjogxG
“Closing ticket offices will hit the most vulnerable hardest [and] at a time when we need more people using the railways, these plans would have the opposite effect.
“All eyes are now on Transport Focus to see how they respond to the hundreds of thousands of responses that we believe they have received, as there is still an opportunity here to do the right thing and stop these plans now.
“But in the meantime, we stand firm – and we will keep fighting.”
Featured Image – RDG
News
Seven Manchester parks and cemeteries have been named some of the best in the UK
Emily Sergeant
A handful of parks in Manchester have once again been handed coveted awards and named among the best in the UK.
It may be on your radar that for several years running now, green spaces in Greater Manchester have deservingly been recipients of the prestigious Green Flag Award – which is an internationally-recognised honour given annually to the parks and cemeteries that have ‘attained a high standard of green space’.
And 2025 seems to be absolutely no different, with the region coming out on top once again.
Green Flag Awards are granted by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy each year to recognise accessible green spaces that set ‘an international benchmark for management’.
Every site recognised through the scheme is assessed by experienced judges who judge the parks using eight criteria.
The criteria includes environmental management, biodiversity, landscape and heritage, community involvement, marketing and communication, and management to make sure it’s a safe and secure place for visitors of all ages.
2025 has been one of Manchester’s most successful years, as Manchester City Council has revealed this week that Blackley, Gorton, Philips Park, Manchester General, and the Southern Cemeteries have all been given the Green Flag Award, as well as both Alexandra Park and Heaton Park retaining the important title too.
Seven Manchester parks and cemeteries have been named some of the best in the UK / Credit: Geograph (David Dixon) | Wikimedia Commons | Alexandra Park
The awards shed light on the range of groups, volunteers, and staff who devote themselves year-round to the maintenance and upkeep of these areas.
“I am so proud of everyone whose work led to our retention of this prestigious award,” commented Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods.
“Parks and cemeteries play a hugely significant role in the ebb and flow of our daily lives and I am so pleased to see our colleagues and stakeholders rewarded in this way.
“Whether it is the friends-of groups which play an important role in the running of Alexnadra Park, to the business owners that help people enjoy our green spaces, to our partners who help us put on events and attractions all year round, these Green Flags are something everyone should be proud of.”
Featured Image – Alexandra Park
News
The best deals and offers in Manchester city centre for the 2025 graduation season
Danny Jones
Forget festival season or even Oasis mania, it’s graduation time – same time every year, and we still feel a warm and fuzzy inside every time we see our round as punch smartpants in their silly hats, so we thought we’d celebrate them with a round-up of the best related deals and offers in Manchester.
You’re welcome, big brains.
Whether you studied at the University of Manchester, MMU, Salford Uni or otherwise, make no mistake: this is YOUR moment in the spotlight and you deserve to soak it all in, every last drop.
So, without further ado, here are some of the best graduation offers and deals Manchester city centre has to offer this year.
2025 Manchester graduation deals and offers | 2025
Starting off on Canal Street, MAYA is offering all graduates a complimentary drink of their choice upon arrival, plus the bonus of a complimentary bottle of fizz for food bookings of three guests or more.
2. Tender at Stock Exchange Hotel – Central
It’s a similar story over the tender Restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Niall Keating, inside the Stock Exchange, who is handing out free glasses of bubbly when booking a table.
Credit: Press shot (supplied)
3. The Cut and Craft – Central
Cut and Craft are serving a special graduation set menu consisting of three courses and a glass of prosecco for £50 per person (pp), available all day from Monday to Friday throughout July.
4. Hello Oriental – Circle Square and Trafford Centre
Hello Oriental diners and Class of 2025 members can raise a toast to their own success with either a free bubble tea, dessert – ‘Taiyaki’ soft serve or indulgent ‘Crème Brulée Bingsu’ – or a glass of prosecco when showing the graduation certificate or a photo of you in your hat and gown.
Complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon champagne (yep, the real good stuff) as well as an exclusive graduation set menu: two courses for £25 pp, or three for £30.
6. Zouk – Oxford Road Corridor
Free welcome drink with any main, sharing platter, or set menu item. You can choose from their brand-new summer special ‘Zouk Sunrise’ cocktail, an ‘Ocean Love Colada’ mocktail, a glass of Prosecco, or a soft drink. In fact, every guest gets a soft drink when adding ‘graduation‘to the booking notes.
Credit: Supplied
7. Electric Shuffle – Deansgate
Another free glass of prosecco is coming your way when booking a shuffleboard table during the 2025 graduation season.
8. The Lowry – Salford
If you’re someone staying over at The Lowry Hotel for graduation day this month, you will receive a bottle of champagne in your room completely gratis, as well as half-price bookings on a second bed and breakfast room for your loved ones/anyone with you for the big day.
There’ll also be discounted parking, not to mention 15% off all food and drinks, and gift vouchers for graduates to enjoy three small plates and a glass of prosecco.
Sexy Fish’s limited graduation menu is priced at £55pp and is available until 25 July, and comes with a congratulatory glass of bubbles. But that’s not all…
10. The Alan – Central
Joining forces with the stylish seafood restaurant, graduates can now enjoy an exclusive ‘dine and stay’ package starting from £195. Find out more HERE.
11. The Laureate at Hyatt Manchester – Oxford Road Corridor
Speaking of staying over, anyone rooming at the Hyatt Manchester over on Booth Street West can also grab themselves a bespoke celebratory cocktail.
12. Albert’s – Castlefield and Didsbury
Careering over to Castlefield, Albert’s Shed has a three-course set menu for £45pp, which includes a sparkling elderflower fizz cocktail. You can also opt to eat and drink just a tram ride or short drive away at their Didsbury location.
Celebrating a massive milestone in Manchester, Australasia’s ’15 for 15 years’ deal isn’t technically a graduation special, however, at just £15 for a main course and a drink (or £18 with a glass of wine, prosecco or beer), you’d be a fool not to consider this spot for your post-graduation celebrations.
14. The Black Friar – Salford
Not too far from here, you’ll find the beautiful Black Friar bistro and pub, which is offering a free bottle of prosecco to anyone who books a table at the venue this graduation season. Sorted.
Credit: The Manc
15. 20 Stories – Spinningfields
Across the other side of Spinningfields, 20 Stories’ July graduation menu promises two courses and a glass of fizz for £29pp, or three for £34pp. Available every Monday to Friday from 12-3pm, as well as Mon-Thurs between 5:30 and 6:30pm throughout July.
16. Podium – Deansgate
Down the road at Beetham Tower, a.k.a. Hilton Manchester, graduates eat completely free when three paying adults book to dine. You can reserve a table now and also grab a free ‘Gin-ovation’ cocktail from the Cloud23 sky bar (a fair) few floors upstairs.
The Rrefuge restaurant inside the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is keeping things nice and simple: a free glass of prosecco to the star of a table when mentioning graduation during booking.
18. Tattu – Spinningfields
Two-course graduation lunch menu for £32.50pp, or dinner from £44.90, as well as a complimentary cocktail for the graduate, and a special scroll that may or may not contain a special golden ticket inside, which could contain one of several prizes.
Credit: The Manc
19. Fenix – St John’s
At the back end of Spinningfields, Fenix is also offering a two-course graduation lunch menu for £32.50pp, which comes with a complimentary glass of prosecco; if you want to dine in the evening, it’s the same number of courses, only with proper champagne instead and for £44.90.
As part of the Permanently Unique hospitality group, they are also offering the scroll and a potential golden ticket opportunity.
20. The Ivy – Spinningfields
The Ivy is serving up a stunning three-course graduation menu, which ends with their signature seasonal special ‘Graduation Chocolate Bombe’ dessert, for £35.95pp. You also get a memorable keepsake to take home, and that’s all we can tell you.
From Spinningfields to the edge of Salford, Manchester bottomless brunch favourite Menagerie is offering a celebratory lunch and drink for £15.95pp, between 12 and 5pm, with a complimentary drink for you and your party when adding ‘Graduation‘ in the booking notes.
22. Browns Bar and Brasserie – Central
Browns are also pulling out the stops with a very reasonably priced three-course graduation menu for £39.00pp, which also comes with a complimentary glass of champagne for the graduate.
This one only applies to Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) graduates, but the value couldn’t be overlooked; get 20% off the bill when you book a table for 6 or more people and pre-book using code ‘graduation‘ and bring proof of your graduation from Man Met.
24. CitySuites – Central
Second to last is CitySuites, who also quietly boast arguably the best overall graduation celebration package of all: a bottle of prosecco, a £10 Selfridges voucher, £30 credit per night to spend in their on-site bar and restaurant, as well as full access to the spa pool, breakfast, robes, parking – the lot.
Available until 3 August, this one is perfect for those based out of town. You can book HERE.
And the last of our Manchester university graduation offers and deals is up there with the cream of the crop: The Midland. You can get 15% off their ‘Excellence’ afternoon tea package (£55.00pp).
Whatever you opt for, you deserve it – congratulations to all of you!
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2023 
