News

Footage shows Greater Manchester engulfed in biblical thunderstorms last night

Following yet another day of sizzling weather, Manchester became engulfed in a thunderstorm when the sun went down.

The Manc The Manc - 13th August 2020
Florian Olivo / Unsplash

People captured some incredible images and videos of the thunderstorm grumbling and zapping its way above Greater Manchester last night.

After yet another day of sizzling summer weather, the region became engulfed in a thunderstorm when the sun went down; with lightning wriggling its way through the night sky.

Residents across the city and wider boroughs snapped pics of the storm from the refuge of their houses – turning the Manchester Twitter feed into a dazzling sound and light display.

Just look at some of this footage.

Amazing stuff.

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https://twitter.com/BenjaminWareing/status/1293339770228178944?s=20
https://twitter.com/jessicaloux_/status/1292963073226153985?s=20
https://twitter.com/fabulouskirk/status/1293347791880806400?s=20

This might not be the last we’ll see of the lightning, either.

A Yellow weather warning for thunderstorms remains in place in the region.

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According to the Met Office, storms could continue to strike Greater Manchester right through the next few days and beyond the weekend, persisting until Monday 17 August.

Be sure to visit the website to stay up-to-date with the latest forecasts and warnings.

News

Mancs advised ‘do not travel’ today amid MAJOR region-wide train disruption

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Mancs advised 'do not travel' today amid MAJOR region-wide train disruption

Passengers across the North West are being told not to travel today, after a power failure triggered major disruption across the region.

A vast number of trains have been cancelled in and out of Greater Manchester due to the failure at Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC).

The disruption started earlier this afternoon but is expected to continue across all operator routes until the end of the day.

Now, rail operators are issuing ‘do not travel’ notices, and ticket acceptance has been put in place across all Bee Network buses and Metrolink services.

A statement shared by Manchester City Council: “Due to a power failure at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC), there is major disruption on the rail network across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and the Midlands.

“Delays and cancellations are expected on all operator routes across Greater Manchester until the end of today (Thursday 6th August). Rail operators have issued a do not travel notice with travel advice and the latest information HERE.

“Ticket acceptance is in place on all Bee Network buses and Metrolink services across Greater Manchester.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

All Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations across the UK are closing down

Danny Jones Danny Jones All Brewers Fayre and Beefeater pubs closing across UK

It looks to be the end for not one but two of Britain’s best-known and long-running restaurant franchises, as Brewers Fayre and Beefeaters will be closing down all of their locations.

Dating back to the mid-1970s, there will soon be none left anywhere in the country

The pair of recognisable chains, owned by parent company Whitbread PLC – who also own Premier Inn, hence why they usually come as a joint package – have nearly 200 sites across the UK, but they are already in the process of a wholesale shutdown.

News of the impending closures first began circulating back in April, but now the process is said to be fully underway, with multiple Greater Manchester names on the chopping block.

With roughly 3,800 staff set to be made unemployed as part of the major restructuring by Whitbread, the job cuts will see approximately 12% of their workforce laid off from a total of around 30,000.

One local duo due to face the music is the soon-to-close Stable Gate in Denton and Wheatlea Park in Wigan – both of which are Brewers Fayre branches.

89 of the brand’s boozers have been given until early September (some dates may vary) to shut up shop and hold not just their last orders, but their final dinner service full stop.

The rest of the venues closing next month are Beefeater pubs, including the Heaton Park one in Crumpsall, The Quay House at Salford Quays, and the Whitgate Inn over Oldham way.

As for others nearby, Macclesfield’s Springwood Park is also set to close.

The older of the two British mainstays is Beefeater, which was founded by Whitbread back in 1974 when they opened their first pub, The Halfway House, down in Enfield.

Brewers debuted up North in ’79, with a maiden watering hole called The Farmers Arms in Preston, before going on to open several locations around Lancashire and eventually nationwide.

Most of you will likely have visited or at the very least passed one of those food and drink spots in your time, and while they may be more associated with hotels and service stations these days, they still served as regular haunts for plenty of people who will no doubt be gutted to see them go.

Speaking of services, another big name is expanding further into the North West.

Work on Greater Manchester’s very own ‘Tebay-style’ motorway service station is finally underway

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Featured Images — Stephen Middlemiss/P L Chadwick/Geograph

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