A garage can often be forgotten about and used solely to store cars and other items that rarely get used in a far-from-convenient manner.
If you’re a motor enthusiast who is regularly tinkering with your vehicle, an unorganised garage can make going about your hobby more difficult than it needs to be.
Following these simple steps can help you give your workshop a makeover, allowing you to get the most of your passion for cars.
Have a clear-out
As mentioned, garages are often used to store items that rarely get used – if at all.
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Clearing everything out gives you a clear idea of the space you’re working with, enabling you to better visualise how you want everything to set out.
If you’re unable to find a place to keep any items that you no longer want in the garage, you could try to sell them to raise funds for your renovation or place things in temporary storage while you decide what to do.
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When the garage is empty, it’s the perfect time to give it a good clean too!
Start on the interior
Once everything’s clean and tidy, you can measure up and decide how best to set your garage up.
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You might decide the floor could do with levelling out or maybe just a simple paint job. It’s also a good time to consider where would be best to place your workbench and how to arrange the space around it.
Shelves will be hugely important, so find a place you can put them up safely. You won’t want them above a car, for example, as anything that falls off could cause significant damage to your vehicle.
Get the right tools
A workman is often only as good as his tools, so it’s important to make sure you get as much value for money when it comes to getting all the gear you need for your garage.
You’ll want to tick off the basics like gloves, car ramps, torque wrenches and an impact driver. If you’re renovating your garage ahead of a big project, you might want to consider an engine crane too.
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Make the most of storage
Whether you’ll be working with tools you already had or will be investing a lot of money in new equipment, it’s paramount you store them safely.
If purchasing a used tool chest, inspect it closely for any rust and ensure all the drawers still operate smoothly. If it’s portable, purchasing some anti-slip mats can help keep the contents of your storage unit safe too.
A pegboard is also exceptionally useful in a garage, giving you easy access to the tools you use the most. This will help keep your newly renovated garage feeling fit for purpose for the long term.
News
Full list of Manchester restaurants set to add an extra £1 to bills to tackle homelessness this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
A handful of local restaurants will be adding an extra £1 onto every bill over the festive season to help fight street homelessness.
As November arrives, the temperatures begin to start dropping, and the nights set in a little earlier, people in Greater Manchester are once again able to give back while they dine at some of the best restaurants the region has to offer in the run up to Christmas, as the successful StreetSmart fundraising initiative is back for another year.
This year, 15 fantastic restaurants have come together to support local homeless charities as the campaign launches today (1 November).
Manchester independents such as Proloco, Erst, Ezra & Gill, Stretford Canteen, and Blue Eyed Panda are among those taking part in the campaign this year, alongside several city centre chain restaurants such as Lina Stores, Tampopo, Banyan, Manahatta, and San Carlo.
Now in its 29th year, StreetSmart works by each participating restaurant adding an extra £1 to every bill they deliver throughout November and December, with all of the money raised going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.
Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas / Credit: Supplied | Rifqi Ali Ridho (via Unsplash)
Since launching in 1998, the campaign has raised over £16.2 million to support charities across the UK, providing practical help, from meals and emergency accommodation to healthcare, training, housing advice and routes towards finding a permanent home.
The StreetSmart team says it’s determined to deliver another record-breaking year in 2026, and provide much-needed support to the services that help some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
Manchester restaurants taking part in StreetSmart 2026
Proloco
Hache MCR
Bar Posie
SAMPA
Blue Eyed Panda
Ezra & Gill
Erst
Little Seeds
Lina Stores
Stretford Canteen
Hawksmoor
Manahatta
San Carlo Bottega
Tampopo
Banyan Bar & Kitchen
“The festive period can be an incredibly tough time for the vulnerable people in our community,” explained Glenn Pougnet, who is the Director of StreetSmart.
“StreetSmart provides a simple way for people to help some of our city’s most in need. Giving back whilst dining out at Christmas is what StreetSmart is all about, and we’re thrilled to have so many restaurants already taking part.
“Every £1 added to a bill adds up and makes a huge difference.”
Featured Image – John Carey (Supplied)
News
‘Groundbreaking’ new police team launches on Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world
Emily Sergeant
A ‘groundbreaking’ new policing model aimed at making the Bee Network one of the safest public transport networks in the world has launched.
Described as being ‘pioneering’, the first-of-its-kind approach – named the Transport Policing and Crime Command (TPACC) – will bring Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) even closer together to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour, and safety issues across the region’s transport network.
So, how will it work then? Well, according to TfGM, the command will ‘effectively establish’ the Bee Network as GMP’s eleventh policing district.
It will bring together up to 300 personnel, including new police officers, who are all involved in keeping the network safe and providing greater reassurance to passengers travelling across the region.
Efforts to keep passengers safe on buses, trams, active travel routes, and roads across Greater Manchester will be ‘strengthened’ through the new team – improving co-ordination in response to incidents, and helping to reassure communities.
A ‘groundbreaking’ new police team has launched on the Bee Network to make it one of the safest in the world / Credit: TfGM
The new team will also incorporate the existing Roads Policing Unit within GMP that includes specialist functions such as the Central Ticket Office, the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, the motorbike unit, the Commercial Vehicle Unit, the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, and more.
Overall, the key focus of TPACC is to:
Increase public confidence on safety across the transport network
Reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and criminality across the transport network
Increase the number of users of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester
The launch of TPACC is said to represents ‘the next phase’ of Greater Manchester’s commitment to creating a ‘safer, more secure, and more welcoming’ transport network for everyone who lives, works, and travels across the region.
“I want a world-class Bee Network where everyone feels safe,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“Our new dedicated transport policing command will bring together more than 300 police and safety officers, with high-profile patrols across our roads and the Bee Network. It means a stronger presence in our communities and faster action when people need help.
“TPACC will also crack down on dangerous driving to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads, which have devastating consequences for families and communities.”
The Manc -
21st July 2021 
