News

Manchester will host the first ever international beer and cider brewing festival

It will come to Depot Mayfield in 2024.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 4th September 2023

Manchester is set to host the first-ever international Brewing & Cider Festival, it has been revealed.

Set to take place in March next year, the two-day ticketed event will showcase the best beers and ciders from around the world.

It is being organised by the world’s most historic international beer and cider competition, The International Brewing & Cider Awards – a 137-year-old organisation known as the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world.

For the past decade, the event has been held at The National Brewery Centre in Burton-Upon-Trent, but as of 2024, it will relocate to Depot Mayfield – offering. a rare opportunity to taste a vast range of award-winning local, national, and international beers and ciders.

For the first time in its 137-year history, the Awards will be accompanied by a public festival – something that represents a significant milestone in the Awards’ commitment to promoting and supporting the brewing and cider industries. 

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Founded in 1886, The International Brewing & Cider Awards takes place every two years and has been the gold standard in rewarding the passion and craftsmanship of breweries and cidermakers across the world.

The Awards are judged by a panel of worldwide judges, who are all practicing brewers and cider-makers considered experts in their field.

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This one-of-a-kind Festival aims to bring together beer and cider enthusiasts, industry professionals and the general public for a weekend filled with great beer and cider, live music, and mouthwatering street food.

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Speaking on the event Ruth Evans MBE, Director of the International Brewing & Cider Awards and organiser of the Festival, said: “We are thrilled that, 137 years into our history, we are hosting our first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival and bringing our world-renowned Awards to Manchester.

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“The International Brewing & Cider Awards is the most historic international competition of its kind, and it is important that we innovate and expand, and our move to Manchester and the introduction of our Festival is part of that evolution.

“The city has a rich history in brewing and an up-and-coming cider scene making it a fitting location for our expansion. Our ethos has always been to support the brewing and cidermaking industry on a not-for-profit basis and celebrate the best beers and ciders from around the world, providing the recognition they truly deserve.

Read more: There’s currently FIVE MILLION train tickets across the North for sale from just 50p

“The Festival provides a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the incredible talent of brewers and cidermakers and to share their passion with the public. The move to Manchester also allows us to forge valuable new partnerships with local organisations and community stakeholders, as well as extend the knowledge and appreciation of a win at the competition. 

“We hope this festival becomes a tradition, opening to the public once our Awards concludes on the Friday – this is a hugely exciting time for us and we are very excited to be descending on Manchester in March.”

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Tickets to the International Brewing & Cider Festival will be available for purchase from November on the official festival website here.

Featured image – Wikimedia Commons

News

Avanti West Coast staff set to strike on major days over festive period

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike on some major days over the festive period, it has been announced.

Train managers who are members of the RMT Union will stage industrial action on New Year’s Eve and 2 January 2025 after “overwhelmingly rejecting” the train company’s “inadequate proposals” on rest day working arrangements.

On top of this, strikes will also go ahead on Sundays between 12 January and 25 May too.

According to the union, up to 400 members are involved in the dispute with Avanti, and 83% of those voted against a suggested deal.

Strikes were previously planned for 22, 23, and 29 December as well, but they were suspended last week after a suggested agreement was put to a referendum of RMT members.

Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike on several major days over the festive period / Credit: Avanti West Coast

“Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums,” explained an RMT spokesperson. “Sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.”

In case you weren’t familiar, Avanti’s West Coast Main Line operates six routes along the west of the UK, including from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, as well as services from London to other major cities such as to Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Holyhead, Wrexham, and Liverpool.

Avanti has warned its customers that the strikes will likely cause “significant disruption” on the West Coast Main Line.

The train operator took to X to assure that its plans will be confirmed “as soon as possible”.

“The RMT union has announced strike action affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, along with all Sundays from 12 January to 25 May 2025,” the statement reads on X.

“We’re looking at how this industrial action will impact our services and we’ll confirm our plans as soon as possible.”

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson also added in response to the industrial action being called yesterday: “We’re disappointed our train managers who are RMT members have voted to decline the very reasonable, revised offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and avoid inconveniencing our customers.

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“We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”

Featured Image – Avanti West Coast

News

Full list of Christmas opening hours at all UK supermarkets 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, and M&S are among the supermarkets to adjust opening hours at stores across the UK during the festive period.

As Christmas is fast approaching, most of us will have already started to stock up on food and drink for the big day ahead of time, but with so much to prepare for, it’s pretty easy to forget something important – which tends to leave us running to the shops before 25th.

While some have probably opted for home deliveries or Click & Collect services, others still prefer to shop in store.

To help you make sure everything is sorted, we’ve pulled together a list of all the major supermarket opening hours over the festive period, so grab your bags for life and get your shopping list at the ready, because Santa is on his way and he’ll be expecting his annual dose of mince pies.

Here’s a roundup list of supermarket opening hours.

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Tesco

Shoppers are being advised to check the Tesco Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local, as different branches may be operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.

Here’s a rough guideline:

  • Monday 23 December: 6am – 12pm
  • Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
  • Christmas Day: CLOSED
  • Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
  • Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
  • New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
  • New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm

Check the opening times for your local Tesco store here.

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Sainsbury’s

Just like Tesco, Sainsbury’s will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, as well as being closed on Christmas day, but shoppers are encouraged to head to the retailer’s Store Locator to find out the opening times for their nearest branch.

  • Monday 23 December: 6am – 10pm
  • Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm
  • Christmas Day: CLOSED
  • Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm
  • Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
  • New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
  • New Year’s Day: 8am – 8pm

You can check the opening times for your local Sainsbury’s store here.

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Asda

Following along the same lines as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Asda shoppers are being advised to check the Asda Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local store, as different branches are operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.

Here’s a rough guideline:

  • Monday 23 December: 5am to 10pm
  • Christmas Eve: 5am – 7pm
  • Christmas Day: CLOSED
  • Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
  • Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
  • New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
  • New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm

Check the opening times for your local ASDA store here.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and more have adjusted their opening hours for the festive period / Credit: Tesco

Morrisons

Morrisons is open throughout the festive season, just like its other competitions, and will only closing on Christmas Day, but hours will vary so you’ll need to check the opening times for your local.

  • Monday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
  • Christmas Eve: 5am to 7pm
  • Christmas Day: CLOSED
  • Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
  • Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
  • New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
  • New Year’s Day: 9am to 6pm

Check the opening times for your local Morrisons store here.

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Aldi

Aldi stores across the UK are set to close of the three major festive bank holidays this year, meaning doors will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with reduced hours in operation on the days surrounding it.

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Here’s what you need to know:

  • Monday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
  • Christmas Eve: 7am – 6pm
  • Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
  • Friday 27 & Saturday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
  • Sunday 29 December: 9.30am – 4pm
  • Monday 30 December: 8am – 8pm
  • New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
  • New Year’s Day: CLOSED

You can find out more about the supermarket’s decision to shut up shop on the three festive bank holidays this year here.

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Lidl

Lidl has released a list of its festive opening hours, and just like Aldi, will also be closing most of its stores on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, but you’ll want to check Lidl’s website to find out more information.

  • Monday 23 December: normal hours
  • Christmas Eve: normal hours
  • Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
  • Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
  • New Year’s Eve: normal hours
  • New Year’s Day: CLOSED

Check the opening times for your local Lidl here.

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Co-op

Just like many other retailers on this list, Co-op’s opening times vary from store to store over the festive period, but the retailer has confirmed it will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day – with all branches closed on Christmas Day across the UK as a standard.

Shoppers are being urged to check the Co-op Store Finder for the opening hours for their nearest branch here.

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M&S

Once again, M&S is another retailer where festive opening hours differ from store to store, so it’s best to check your local branch specifically, but what we do know is that all stores across the UK will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.

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  • Monday 23 December: 6am – 10pm
  • Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
  • Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
  • Friday 27 & Saturday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
  • Sunday 29 December: 11am – 5pm
  • Monday 30 December: 8am – 9pm
  • New Year’s Eve: 8am – 7pm
  • New Year’s Day: CLOSED

Check the opening times for your local M&S store here.

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Featured Image – Morrisons

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