News

Metrolink disruption expected this weekend due to ‘essential engineering works’

And that's even without throwing Storm Babet into the mix.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th October 2023

Mancs are being told to brace themselves for Metrolink disruption while “essential engineering works” are carried out on several lines.

Maintenance will be taking place over a number of weekends in late October and early November, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed – with works to renew points, and replace tracks and concrete kicking off this Sunday (22 October) at Cornbrook.

The works being carried out at Cornbrook are expected to have a knock-on affect, and impact services across the network.

Following that, track repair work will then also take place on the Bury and Rochdale lines over the weekend of Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, and during this time, TfGM has confirmed there will be no tram service between Bury and Whitefield, or Freehold and Rochdale Town Centre.

Replacement bus services will be laid on at all affected stops to ensure people are still able to make their journeys as usual on these dates.

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TfGM has apologised for “any inconvenience” that may be caused to travellers.

Speaking ahead of the essential engineering works beginning this weekend, Danny Vaughan, who is the Head of Metrolink at TfGM, said: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience these essential works may cause people to people travelling on these dates, however, it’s important we maintain and improve the network so it continues to provide a reliable and safe service to all our customers.

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“We have a comprehensive replacement bus service across all affected dates, so people can still get to and from their intended destinations.

“I’d encourage passengers to monitor our website and social media channels for the latest information and advice.”

Manchester Metrolink tram workers may strike over Parklife weekend.
Metrolink disruption is expected this weekend due to ‘essential engineering works’ / Credit: Matthew Cassidy (via Unsplash)

Mr Vaughn insists these engineering works have been scheduled to “minimise disruption during the week”, and adds that TfGM will be doing “everything we can” to make journeys as easy as possible for passengers.

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These essential engineering works over the next couple of weekends are parter of what TfGM has called a “comprehensive” programme of renewals and enhancements in order to “maintain and improve” the tram network heading into festive season – which is, of course, always one of the busiest times of the year for travel.

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For all the full details of Metrolink works and bus replacement services, you’ll want to head on over to the TfGM website here.

Featured Image – Mangopear Creative (via Unsplash)

News

Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group

Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.

Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.

Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.

Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.

The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.

They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”

In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.

Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.

Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group

CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.

“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”

Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.

One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”

Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”

Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

‘The average cost of a pint’ in the UK by region, according to the latest data

Danny Jones Danny Jones the average price of a pint in the UK by region

Does it feel like pints keep getting more and more expensive almost every week at this point? Yes. Yes, it does, and while you can’t expect a city as big as Manchester to be one of the cheapest places to get one in the UK, we do often wonder how it compares to other parts of the country.

Well, as it happens, someone has recently crunched the numbers for us across the nation, breaking down which regions pay the most and the least for their pints.

The data has been examined by business management consultancy firm, CGA Strategy, using artificial intelligence and information from the latest Retail Price Index figures to find out what the ‘average cost of a pint’ is down south, up North and everywhere in between.

While the latest statistics provided by the group aren’t granular enough to educate us on Greater Manchester’s pint game exactly, we can show you how our particular geographic region is looking on the leaderboard at the moment.

@the.manc Just trying to walk home and the Northern Quarter keeps tempting me in for a pint. 🙈 #themanc #manchester #mcr #northernquarter #spring ♬ original sound – The Manc

The average price of a pint per region in the UK

  1. Wales – £4.21
  2. North East – £4.28
  3. Northern Ireland – £4.42
  4. Scotland – £4.42
  5. Yorkshire and the Humber – £4.42
  6. North West – £4.42
  7. West Midlands – £4.42
  8. East Midlands – £4.42
  9. East England – £4.56
  10. South West – £4.93
  11. South East – £4.94
  12. London – £5.44

That’s right, we Mancunians and the rest of the North West are technically joint mid-table when it comes to the lowest average cost of a pint, sharing the places from 3rd to 8th – according to CGA, anyway.

Powered by consumer intelligence company, NIQ (NielsenIQ) – who also use AI and the latest technology to deliver their insights – we can accept it might seem like it’s been a while since you’ve paid that little for a pint, especially in the city centre, but these are the stats they have published.

Don’t shoot the messenger, as they say; unless, of course, they’re trying to rob you blind for a bev. Fortunately, we’ve turned bargain hunting at Manchester bars into a sport at this point.

Happy hour Manchester – The best drinks deals in the city centre
We might not boast the lowest ‘average’ pint cost in the UK, but we still have some bloody good places to keep drinking affordable.

London tops the charts (pretends to be shocked)

While some of you may have scratched your eyes at the supposed average pint prices here in the North West, it won’t surprise any of you to see that London leads the way when it came to the most expensive pint when it came to average cost in the UK.

To be honest, £5.44 doesn’t just sound cheap but virtually unheard of these days.

CGA has it that the average cost of a beer in the British capital is actually down 15p from its price last September, but as we all know, paying upwards of £7 for a pint down that end of the country is pretty much par for the course the closer you get to London.

Yet more reason you can be glad you live around here, eh? And in case you thought you were leaving this article with very little, think again…

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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