One of Manchester’s best-loved ice cream brands, Lazy Sundae, has announced the permanent closure of Northern Quarter site.
Opening its doors on Tib Street back in May 2021, and bringing sunshine and colour to the heart of the Northern Quarter, Lazy Sundae became beloved dessert spot along the way, famed not only for its adventurous ice cream flavours, but also it selection of bubble teas, and jiggly Japanese souffle pancakes.
Having proved so popular since opening the Northern Quarter site, Lazy Sundae went from strength to strength, and was soon able to open a second site.
The closure of Lazy Sundae’s original site was announced on the same day that another iconic Manchester burger joint, Almost Famous, sadly shared that it was also closing all of its sites in Manchester – both in the Northern Quarter, as well as inside Great Northern Warehouse – and Leeds with immediate effect.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lazy Sundae’s statement reads in full: “With a heavy heart, we have to share that Lazy Sundae has closed its doors on our NQ site. The reasons were beyond our control after facing landlord difficulties.
“Northern Quarter is where our dreams of sharing travel inspired ice cream with everyone was born. We remember the days running up to the grand opening post lockdown were filled with both excitement and anxiety.
“At one point, J was convinced no one would even like ice cream, but the Manchester community really showed up for us. We had no idea how many of you would share our passion for flavours from our culture and childhood.
ADVERTISEMENT
“To everyone who has visited our little corner on Tib Street with family, friends and fur babies – we are forever grateful. Watching you all enjoy what we have put so much time in creating has brought us incredible joy. (Sorry for all the awkward stares whilst you lick ice cream!) We have made some wonderful friends and memories.
“Saying goodbye to this space is heartbreaking for us, but we are excited for a new chapter.”
The owners closed out their statement by declaring that the Northern Quarter closure “isn’t the end of Lazy Sundae” only a goodbye to “where it all began”.
“Follow us on our journey to finding a new home for the community to enjoy and share our love for travel inspired ice creams and desserts,” the statement concluded, before thanking Manchester “for the support” throughout the years.
Lazy Sundae remains open inside Manchester Arndale.
A short train ride away to Cheshire, and being a big Man United fan basically counts, if you ask us.
Yes, Warrington’s very own Luke Littler has been named on the shortlist for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year, quite literally 12 months from his previous nomination.
Littler, who is still only 18, did go on to win the 2024 Young SPOTY last December – a very decent consolation prize following his blockbuster debut year or so – but he has been tipped as a bookies’ favourite this time around.
He’s also been voted for that award again this year, so you’d hope he’d be walking away with at least one of the trophies, though it’d be far from his only one of late.
Since then, the young sporting prodigy has gone on to win all but two of the 10 PDC majors, including two Premier League Darts titles.
In fact, if you want to look at how his arrival onto the senior professional darts circuit breaks down, you can take a gander at the frankly staggering stats behind his breakthrough down below.
As you can see, other nominees include former Manchester City Women’s star Chloe Kelly and Lioness, Hannah Hampton; rugby union and national team member, Ellie Kildunne, F1 favourite Lando Norris, as well as Irish golfer, Rory McIlroy (not for the first time).
We’ll confess we’re very much biased and backing local lad Littler – sue us.
The other Young SPOTY nominees for 2025 include another rising England star in Michelle Agyemang and Northern Superchargers cricket talent, Davina Perrin.
Being hosted over at MediaCityUK in Salford once again, voting will take place during the show on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer on Thursday, 18 December.
Manchester residents urged to have their say on want they want the Council to invest in next year
Emily Sergeant
Residents in Manchester are being urged to have their say on what they want to Council to invest in next year.
Manchester City Council has this week launched a consultation for its upcoming 2026/7 budget, and is asking the people of Manchester what their priorities are for investment in services in the new year.
For those who hadn’t heard, the Government is introducing fairer funding for Councils, which recognises that areas with more challenges need more money – Manchester being one of them – and although final details of the Council’s financial settlement will not be received until later this month, it does mean that it’s anticipated there’ll be more funding available than previously expected.
As well as protecting vital frontline services with the upcoming budget, the Council says it will also have some scope to invest in ‘making Manchester better’.
Whether this would be improving street cleaning services, supporting youth services and community groups, extending library opening hours, or a variety of other services, the Council says it’s aiming to build on the strong progress made in recent years.
While extra funding will make ‘a very real difference’, the Council says it still has a duty to plan carefully and ensure its impacts are maximised.
Ongoing value for money and service transformation measures will work to reduce and avoid costs, as it ‘makes sense’ to do this anyway – but crucially, every pound saved will be reinvested in services.
Manchester residents are being urged to have their say on want they want the Council to invest in next year / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
“How we allocate budgets for our services has long been guided by what Manchester people have told us about their priorities for themselves, their families and friends, their neighbourhoods and their city,” explained Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, who is the Executive Member for Finance at Manchester City Council.
“As we begin to build back, restoring some of the things which had to be cut previously and looking to the future, we need to hear people’s views again.
“These will shape the final package of proposals for 2026/27.”
Council Leader Bev Craig added: “Crucially, the fact that we will get a three-year financial settlement from Government rather than year-by-year settlements as has previously been the case, means we can plan ahead with real confidence.”
Want to take part in the consultation? The consultation is now live and runs until 5pm on 28 January 2026. You can either find out more and complete it online here, or paper copies of the consultation are also available in libraries across the city.
Emily Sergeant -
28th January 2025 
