Apparently, more than a third of British mums consider gin and tonics their favourite spirit mixer. As such, it seems only fitting that a bar in Manchester is going to be handing them out for free this Mothering Sunday.
In celebration of Manc mums and everything they do, Manchester bar and arts venue HOME will be giving out complimentary goblets of Agnes Arber Gin and Marlish English Tonic Water on 19 March.
The hub of contemporary theatre, film, art and music has partnered with the award-winning distillers to offer all visiting mothers a glass of the good stuff for one day only.
To enjoy a drink on the house, all mums need to do is turn up and ask – although it is advised they don’t leave it too late, as drinks will be poured on a first-come, first-served basis.
Image: Agnes Arber Gin
Image: HOME
Located on First Street, HOME is known for hosting cool events and pop-ups throughout the year as well as running interesting exhibitions and screening some of the world’s best contemporary and independent films.
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With five cinemas, two theatres, and 500 square meters of gallery space, it is one of the few arts organisations to commission, produce and present work across film, theatre and visual art – and it’s right here on our doorstep.
This Mothering Sunday in Manchester, culture fans will find five very different art exhibits on display from artists such as solo filmmaker Chris Paul Daniels, whose work explores the theme of identity through clips of cultural traditions, procession and ceremony.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a mixture of new films, prints, photographs, painting and sculptural works from artist Nick Jordan; a brand-new solo exhibition exploring the impact of gentrification and the lack of affordable housing in our city from Tara Collette; and an immersive installation from Parham Ghalamdar bringing together new paintings in oil, ceramics and animation.
Cinema fans, meanwhile, can pick from a raft of different film screenings including Llenos de gracia, the story of a rebellious nun who arrives at a boarding school to take charge of an unruly bunch of orphan boys and changes lives with a make-shift football team.
With so much going on at HOME, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon on Mother’s Day and – if you ask us – the offer of a free gin and tonic only sweetens the pot.
Canal Street cordoned off after ‘suspicious chemicals’ reported at hotel
Daisy Jackson
Canal Street and several other streets in the Gay Village in Manchester have been cordoned off this afternoon.
Greater Manchester Police are attending reported of a smell that’s believed to be chemicals coming from a hotel room in the area.
There’s a huge emergency services presence in the area, including vehicles from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, and the North West Ambulance Service.
Police have confirmed that they have detained a man who is believed to have been the occupant of the hotel room.
The hotel itself has been evacuated while the material is examined.
Thankfully, no one has been injured in the incident that has shut down part of Canal Street today.
Emergency services vehicles at the scene on Canal StreetThe cordon in place on Canal Street
GMP said in a statement: “We are currently searching a hotel room at a premises on Canal Street, Manchester. This follows a report of a smell – currently believed to be chemicals – causing suspicion.
“A man, believed to be the occupant of the room, has been detained and is currently in custody.
“As a precautionary measure, the hotel has been evacuated while specialist resources examine the material and conduct further enquiries.
“No-one has been injured and we are working to establish the full circumstances. We thank people for their patience as we continue with our work.”
England football fans warned as ticket scams skyrocket ahead of World Cup
Emily Sergeant
England football fans are being warned to remain vigilant, as ticket scams skyrocket ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup merely weeks from officially kicking off in the North America and Mexico on 11 June, football fans are being urged to guard against scams, as newly-released data from Lloyds has revealed that football ticket scams increased by more than a third (36%) during the current Premier League season.
The findings – which are based on thousands of scam cases between October 2025 and March 2026 – showed that fraudsters focused heavily on popular teams such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
Fraudsters also repeatedly targeted supporters looking for tickets to some of the most in-demand football matches in the UK, which is why, with the upcoming World Cup set to be one of the most speculated sporting events of the year, scam warnings are being issued.
It’s anticipated that fraudsters will target the big-name fixtures and attempt to exploit international demand, according to Lloyds.
England football fans are being warned as ticket scams skyrocket ahead of the World Cup / Credit: Picryl
On average, it was revealed that victims lost £215 during the current Premier League football season, but some fans even paid thousands of pounds for ‘season tickets’ or VIP seats that never existed.
Hopeful football fans are expected to pay much more for expensive World Cup tickets, meaning the potential loss for victims could be ‘devastating’.
As scammers know demand for World Cup tickets will be huge, it’s expected that they will mimic the methods seen in club level scams – including fake listings on social media, pressure to act fast, and requests for bank transfers.
“Fraudsters thrive on urgency and target fans looking for hard to get tickets for big name fixtures,” explained Liz Ziegler, who is the Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds.
“Most of the football ticket scams we see start on social media, before the criminal moves the buyer onto WhatsApp and insists on a bank transfer to pay. It’s incredibly convincing, and we don’t want fans to lose their money trying to support their team.
“We’re urging supporters to stay alert and stick to official ticketing channels.”
Ahead of the World Cup, Lloyds and the Home Office have teamed up to take action to protect fans by highlighting how criminals will try to exploit the excitement – with Lord Hanson adding: “Our new fraud strategy sets out how we will use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle criminal operations, bring fraudsters to justice and strengthen support for victims.”
Georgina Pellant -
28th February 2023 
