Man City star Ilkay Gündogan steps in to help save local cafes and restaurants
The midfielder is inviting fans to bid on a selection of prizes - such as Meet & Greets, match-worn shirts and signed boots - with all funds raised going towards Manchester’s cafes and restaurants.
Manchester City’s Ilkay Gündogan has stepped in to help local hospitality during its time of need – launching an online auction to generate vital extra funds for the sector.
The midfielder is inviting sports fans to bid on a selection of prizes – such as Meet & Greets, match-worn shirts and signed boots – with all funds raised going towards helping Manchester’s cafes and restaurants.
The footballer, now in his fifth season at the Etihad, announced the fundraiser on Wednesday (January 28) evening.
He stated: “Over the last few years I spent a lot of time in the city’s many wonderful cafés and restaurants.
“During this time, I have met so many great people who tell me how difficult the situation has become for them in the last weeks and months due to the lockdown.
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“I want to use the initiative to support people during this challenging time and at the same time offer fans the opportunity to buy something special at auction.”
Various items will be available to bid on until late spring 2021 – with Gündogan revealing there will be “many more to come” in the weeks ahead.
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Greater Manchester Nighttime Economy Adviser Sacha Lord called the gesture “absolutely incredible”.
“Yet again, a Manchester footballer coming to the rescue and helping a sector on its knees. Inspiring both on and off the field,” he stated.
“A City United.”
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German international Gündogan swapped Dortmund for Manchester back in 2016 – becoming manager Pep Guardiola’s first City signing for an estimated fee of £20 million.
The midfielder has since gone on to make 116 Premier League appearances for the blues, scoring 22 goals.
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
The Manc -
28th January 2021 
