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Greater Manchester urged to ‘check before you travel’ as Storm Goretti sets in tonight

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 8th January 2026

People in Greater Manchester are being urged to check before they travel as Storm Goretti prepares to bring chaos this evening.

In case you weren’t aware, yellow weather warnings for snow have been put in place for parts of Greater Manchester – including Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, and Stockport – from 5pm this evening until around midday tomorrow, and additional amber warnings are even in place from 8pm tonight for some neighbouring areas like Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

As a result, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), is understandably warning locals that there could be disruption to journeys this evening, including by rail, trams, buses, and on the roads.

Trams on the Oldham, Rochdale, and Ashton lines are most likely to be disrupted by the weather, as are buses in the north and east of the region, TfGM has warned, and due to the expected impact, no trains will run on the following routes from 6pm this evening:

  • New Mills Central – Sheffield (no trains between Manchester & Sheffield)
  • Hazel Grove – Buxton
  • Guide Bridge – Glossop/Hadfield

Train ticket acceptance will be in place on the 237 and 341 bus services tonight and tomorrow to help passengers get to where they need to be, although disruption could be on the cards here too, once again.

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All train routes are planned to reopen after midnight on Saturday morning.

Interchanges, platforms, and crossings across the region are being treated with grit and anti-icing measures to make sure they are safe to use, and TfGM has confirmed that ‘ice breaker’ trams are also ready to be deployed to keep overhead lines clear of ice so trams can keep moving.

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For those driving this evening, TfGM is also urging people to take extra time and make sure you are driving ‘appropriately’ for the conditions.

Train tracks in the snow
Greater Manchester is urged to check ‘before you travel’ as Storm Goretti sets in / Credit: rawpixel

Speaking ahead of Storm Goretti’s arrival, Danny Vaughan, who is TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, said: “We are expecting Storm Goretti to hit Greater Manchester as we head into the evening peak travel time and we are urging everyone to check their plans before they travel, leave extra time and if possible to consider if they can make their journey before 5pm before the storm hits.

“Working with our partners and operators we are ready to respond to the storm and help to keep Greater Manchester moving.”

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He also warned commuters that there may also ‘be an impact on journeys’ tomorrow morning, so if you are planning to travel, then it’s advised to check before you do so.

Read more:

All travel information and live Storm Goretti updates can be found here.

Featured Image – Flickr

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Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down

Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.

The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.

A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.

Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.

Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.

Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).

It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.

The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.

Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down
Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down
The note in the window of Banyan
The note in the window of Banyan

But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.

The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.

“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.

“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”

Banyan continues to operate at the Corn Exchange.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Council seized £4.3m worth of counterfeit goods from Manchester’s streets in 2025

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Cheetham Hill Raids

A whopping £4.3 million of counterfeit goods were seized from Manchester’s streets in 2025, the Council has revealed.

Now that 2025 has come to end, Manchester City Council has announced that its Trading Standards Team seized and destroyed more than 43,500 counterfeit items in the last year – ranging from everything like fake handbags, trainers, and jewellery, to electronic items, sportswear, children’s toys, sunglasses, and much more.

Through ‘exemplary partnership work’ with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the Council says this criminal industry has taken a ‘substantial hit’ over the past 12 months. 

It’s also estimated that the goods seized would have lost the industry up to £43 million.

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, said the Council hopes this action ‘sends a message that we will not tolerate this harmful trade.’

Rochdale counterfeit goods
The Council seized £4.3m worth of counterfeit goods from Manchester’s streets in 2025 / Credit: GMP

“The counterfeit industry was substantially embedded in our communities, but through their diligence and the support of our valued partners we have driven away some of the worst offenders and are beginning the process of regenerating the areas of Manchester that were long blighted by this sort of crime,” she added.

It’s not just counterfeit goods that’ve been targeted either, as a substantial push was also made throughout the year to crack-down on the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco.

In total, 316,625 cigarettes – which is equivalent to nearly 16,000 individual packs – were seized by the Council and police.

258kg of hand rolling tobacco was also seized, as well as more than 18,000 illegal vapes that don’t comply with UK laws or regulations. 

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Detective Chief Inspector Melanie Johnson, who is the lead coordinator of Operation Machinize for GMP, says the police takes any information it receives about counterfeit trading ‘very seriously’.

“We will continue to investigate all aspects of this criminality to protect our communities from the harms of illegal products.”

Featured Image – GMP

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