When it comes to derby days, there’s an inevitable rivalry accompanying the whole thing – and here in Manchester, we think it’s fair to say that the element of competition is fiercer than most.
So, ahead of the big match on 14 January, digital travel company Booking.com has decided to open a special ‘Half-and-Half House’ – and no, we’re not talking about a colourful community-based offender programme for released prisoners.
This is a half-red, half-blue holiday home, constructed especially for fans who may not see eye to eye when it comes to football and located slap-bang in the middle of Manchester’s two iconic football stadiums on First Street.
Built to champion the city’s diversity, its price even nods to the very first Manchester derby in 1881 – with the house available to be booked for a night’s stay this Thursday for just £18.81.
Credit: Booking.com
Booking.com
Created to celebrate a rivalry which makes Manchester such a special destination, the custom-built, half-red, half-blue house highlights how the city’s passion for football brings people together and signals that healthy rivalry can be fun.
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The Half-and-Half House also celebrates the opening of Booking.com’s new Trips headquarters right here in Manchester.
Having had a presence in the city since 2005, Booking.com has a strong affection for Manchester and the people who live there, and designed the house to recognise Mancunians’ passion for football, as well as everything else which personifies the city.
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Matthias Schmid, Senior Vice President of Booking.com’s Trips Division, said: “Whenever Mancunians travel the globe, often the first thing they are asked is whether they are a ‘red or a blue’. They are brought together by their love of football.
Image: Supplied
“There’s a warmth and vibrancy in Manchester that is unrivalled anywhere else in the world. Even in rare circumstances of apparent division, there is always an underlying unity. Manchester is one, no matter which side you’re on.
“We’ve called this city home for some time, and now have the second biggest Booking.com office in the world here, with a fantastic team from over 70 different countries coming together to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.
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“With Manchester making this all possible, we naturally wanted to create a buzz around the city and celebrate the people who live here.”
Journalist and author Andy Mitten, Editor of the iconic United We Stand magazine and an expert on the cultural impact of football in Manchester and author of a book on derbies around the world, said: “The Manchester derby is one of the biggest in world football and it’s the fans who are at the heart of making it such a spectacle, be it at the stadium or watching from around the globe.
“The derby is tribal, but most Reds have mates who are Blues and vice versa. We may have different loyalties in football but it’s the fans who help make the derby what it, bring the atmosphere and make Manchester such a great football city and place to visit.
“So many people around the world associate the word ‘Manchester’ with football and the derby is when it all comes to a head. Both sets of fans can’t be happy at the end of the game, which adds to the tension and excitement in the build-up…”
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With the red and blue house set to be removed soon after full time of the derby, Booking.com is donating the vibrant celebration of the city to Manchester’s Scouts for use at its Worsley camp.
The one-night Manchester Half-and-Half Experience is available for a lucky pair of bookers on 12 January, 2023. The stay will become bookable exclusively on Booking.com on 11 January 2023 at 10am.
The room will be secured on a first come first serve basis. You can book your stay HERE.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani gives thoughts on Andy Burnham running for Prime Minister
Emily Sergeant
Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has given his thoughts on Andy Burnham’s intention to run for Prime Minister.
In case you missed it, after it was announced last Friday that Andy Burnham had clinched the victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231, he then went onto announcing his intentions to run for Labour Party leader, and therefore Prime Minister, after Keir Starmer confirmed he would be stepping down.
Greater Manchester‘s next Mayoral Election has also been announced, given that Burnham is now not eligible to stay in the role – with the date set for Thursday 30 July and candidates frequently being announced.
Talk of Burnham’s chances of running the country have been around for months now, but have ramped up considerably over the past week of course in the wake of his by-election win.
It’s fair to say that for much of Andy Burnham’s time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was up there as one the most famous Mayors in the world… but over the past year, he’s arguably had to hand that unofficial title over to Zohran Mamdani, the current Mayor of New York City.
Mamdani is considered to be a democratic socialist, and campaigned for things like progressive, affordability-focused platform, supporting fare-free city buses, universal child care, city-owned grocery stores, a rent freeze on rent-stabilised units, additional affordable housing units, and a $30 minimum wage by 2030.
He has also expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights, comprehensive public safety reform, and tax increases on corporations and those earning above $1 million annually.
Mamdani was elected Mayor of New York City last October, and was officially sworn in on New Year’s Day at the start of this year.
Since then, he has successfully – very successfully, in fact – made a name for himself around the world, and has even managed to deliver on a good chunk of what he set out to do in his campaign, seeing many calls for him to become President one day.
Oh, and he’s also a massive (and very knowledgeable) football fan – an Arsensal fan, to be precise, but football in general really.
Appearing on BBC’s Football Daily podcast this week to talk about his love of the sport as the US currently hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mamdani was also asked to give his thoughts on Andy Burnham and his upcoming run to be Prime Minister.
“I don’t think anything comes with ease at that kind of a level,” Mamdani started out in response to host Mark Chapman’s question.
“I do think they are very important skills because many people have lost faith in Government, the place they earn that faith back, they decide to trust again, is at the most local level. That’s where they see what it’s like to have a Government that delivers for them.
“And if you’re able to respond to people, whether it’s in Greater Manchester or New York City, it is at the heart of what people are looking for for any kind of politics.
Mamdani then closed out his thoughts by questioning: “I don’t think he’s an Arsenal supporter though?” and when the hosts clarified that Burnham is an Everton fan, Mamdani responded: “Well at least you can respect that someone has suffered.”
He concluded: “No but like, I like it when I meet someone who’s a fan of a team that hasn’t just won and won and won.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Trendy Ancoats wine bar Blossom Street Social to close after six years
Emily Sergeant
Trendy neighbourhood wine bar Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after nearly seven years serving the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social first opened its doors back in 2019, just months before the country – and the res of the world – was plunged into the COVID-19 lockdowns, but despite all the challenges during the early days, this wine bar went on to become a true staple of Ancoats life – hosting events, exhibitions, wine tastings, and everything in between.
But now, the owners have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close, saying they’ve ‘danced our last dance, played our last record, and poured our last glass of wine in Ancoats.’
Announcing the news in a statement to social media this week, Blossom Street Social said: “Blossom Street Social closes its doors after six and a half years at the heart of the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after six years / Credit: The Manc Group
“When we opened in 2019, just months before the world changed forever, we couldn’t possibly have imagined the journey ahead. Through lockdowns, uncertainty and everything that followed, we somehow managed to build something that became far more than a wine bar.
“Wine was always at the heart of what we did, but so were the conversations, the music, the art and the community that grew around it.
“We’ve hosted tastings, exhibitions, launches, celebrations, social sessions and countless memorable nights. We’ve introduced people to wines they’d never tried before, watched friendships form and shared in some truly special moments.
“We’ve watched first dates become engagements, engagements become marriages, and couples return with babies in tow. We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, new homes and countless milestones alongside you. We’ve shared conversations, laughter, music and moments that mattered from our little corner of Ancoats. We will never forget them.”
The team then went on to thank ‘every customer, artist, DJ, supplier, collaborator and friend’ who became part of their story.
The owners also gave a special thank you to the staff members who stayed ‘to the very end’ and ‘showed up when it was hard’, admitting that they couldn’t have done it without them all.
Georgina Pellant -
11th January 2023 
