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Metrolink to run pilot letting dogs on trams for the first time since 1992

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 21st April 2022

In what could be a game-changing move for Manchester’s dog owners, Metrolink has said it is looking to run a trial later this year allowing dogs to ride its trams.

The trial will allow dogs to take journeys on the tram with their owners, unconditionally, for the first time since the network was launched in 1992.

Trialling dogs on the tram was one of Andy Burnham’s pledges as Metro Mayor, now TFGM has confirmed it is working with the mayor to try and make it happen soon.

Whilst the exact details of the scheme are yet to be revealed, a spokesperson for TGFM has said that the network is looking at the possibility of running a pilot later this year.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “A pilot scheme allowing non-assistance dogs on Metrolink was a manifesto commitment made by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, and we are currently working with the mayor’s office to explore the possibility of running a pilot scheme on the tram network later this year.

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Image: The Manc Group

“The details of the pilot, such as when it will take place and for how long, have yet to be confirmed, but further information will be released when these details have been finalised.”

Good boys and girls are currently allowed to travel on buses and trains in Manchester, but not on the Metrolink – with the exception of assistance dogs and pets being taken to/from the PDSA charity in Old Trafford.

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Justifications for retaining the ban today include concerns regarding passenger safety, fouling, damage to trams, animals’ behaviour, delays and people with allergies.

For the majority of Manchester’s dog owners (and dog lovers), the whole thing seems rather silly.

Read more: Why can’t my dog travel on the Manchester Metrolink?

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There’s been a number of campaigns over the years to lift the ban, but we think that now – following a series of lockdowns where more people than ever have gone and got themselves a furry friend – is the time to make it happen.

Seemingly, Metrolink is now getting on board too – with a little push from Andy Burnham.

Feature image – The Manc Group / Commons Wikimedia

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A big US fast food chain said to be ‘much better’ than McDonald’s is coming to the UK

Danny Jones Danny Jones Carl's Jr. coming to the UK 100 locations Manchester

Fast food fans, feel free to get excited and potentially add another name to your rankings because a big US burger-driven brand hailed by many as ‘better’ than McDonald’s is coming to the UK. The rumours are true: Greater Manchester could very soon get a Carl’s Jr.

Carl’s Jr. is an American chain best known for chicken sandwiches and its trademark ‘charbroiled’ beef patties such as menu favourites like the ‘Famous Star’. You can even get star-shaped chicken nuggets.

First opening back in 1941, it’s very nearly as old as Maccies itself and although its profile is much smaller than that of the iconic golden arches, there are many who still firmly believe that it serves a superior product than the global conglomerate.

Well, hopefully soon you’ll be able to decide for yourselves as Carl’s Jr. is set to face off with McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Popeyes and all the other franchises that have made their way across the Atlantic over the last half a century or so – and it’s coming to Wales first.

In an announcement made via Restaurant Online, Carl’s Jr.’s country manager under parent company BRG (Boparan Restaurant Group), David Moffat said: “We’re looking at a steady rollout with a target of 100 restaurants plus in four years.

“We’ll open a number of corporate stores that we’ll retain as we go along and we’ll also be going into the sub-franchise market, which we hope to begin actioning towards the end of the year. We’ve had a lot of interest from big group franchisees already.”

Named after founder Carl N. Karcher, who set up the very first iteration of Carl’s Jr. after moving from his hometown of Ohio to California and purchasing a hot dog cart for $326, the brand then opened as a drive-in BBQ in January 1945 before opening its first real restaurants in 1956.

Although both he and his wife Margaret have long since passed away, there is a huge family lineage that has carried on the name and it’s only gotten bigger with each decade that’s passed.

So what separates it from its biggest and most dominant competition? Well, not only do lots of American diners swear by their charbroiled burger recipes over McDonald’s big a part of the Carl’s Jr.s over Maccies campaign front is said to come down to the chips – especially as they also do waffle fries.

Put simply by one user on X just last month, he believes “Carl’s Jr is the best fast food burger”. Current day Carl’s in the States now boasts everything from the classic burger and chicken to sandwiches, milkshakes, sides and desserts to a sizeable breakfast menu.

However, Moffat clarified that “the UK will probably have the smallest menu outside the US, which will be focused on the core products: burgers, chicken and fries. You’ve got to look at it culturally and in a way that ensures the brand has a broad, diverse appeal.”

For context, as well as five sites in Europe, there are locations in: Australia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Judging by the endless expansion, Carl’s Jr. was always going to come to the UK, it was just a matter of when. This move was actually confirmed back in May 2024, when they reached a master license agreement with BRG to bring the brand to Britain, as well as the Republic and Northern Ireland.

carl's jr.s burgers
big mac
They have 1,600 restaurants in 25+ countries around the world to Maccies’ 41,800. Choose your fighter… (Credit: Carl’s Jr./McDonald’s)

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The first UK Carl’s Jr. restaurant in Cardiff is set to open in the St David’s shopping centre in April and a second site is due to launch somewhere in the south – you would presume London but who knows? – in time for the summer.

With that in mind, and given Manchester is the second city after London as well all know (sorry, Birmingham, we’ll die on this hill), you can expect at least one of the 100+ Carl’s Jr. locations to pop up somewhere in 0161.

However, before we get ahead of ourselves, we want to know if any of you have tried the chain before and do you agree that it’s ‘better’ than Maccies?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Aditya Oberai (via Wikimedia Commons)/Ernesto Andrade/Willis Lam (via Flickr)

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Full list of Greater Manchester primary schools offering free breakfasts from next month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

More than 30 primary schools in Greater Manchester will be offering free breakfast clubs from next month.

You may remember that the Labour party announced on the final day of its Conference in Liverpool back in September 2022 its intent to give every child in England a free breakfast to start their school day, if the party was successfully elected, as prior to this, only schools in disadvantaged areas of the country could apply for a 75% subsidy to run a breakfast club.

And now, it seems that intent is becoming a reality.

That’s because from the start of next month, a total of 750 schools across all nine regions of England will be the first to kick-off a historic ‘breakfast club’ programme, forming a central part of the UK Government‘s ‘Plan For Change’.

All primary aged children in early adopter schools will be able to access a free breakfast, as well as at least 30 minutes of free childcare every day, in a bid to help support parents getting into work by dropping their children off half an hour earlier.  

Schools are encouraged to offer healthy, varied, and nutritious breakfasts for children.  

By making sure that no child starts school hungry, the Government says this landmark scheme also has an important role to play in its commitment to ‘remove the stain of child poverty’, as out of the 180,000 children who will benefit in the early adopter schools, around 67,000 of them attend schools in what would be considered deprived areas.

Greater Manchester primary offering free breakfasts

Bolton

  • Lever Edge Primary Academy
  • St Paul’s CofE Primary School, Astley Bridge
  • Devonshire Road Primary School
  • Kearsley West Primary School
  • Gilnow Primary School
  • Forwards Centre

Bury

  • Radcliffe Hall Church of England Methodist Primary School
  • Emmanuel Holcombe Church of England Primary School
  • St John with St Mark CofE Primary School

Manchester

  • Oasis Academy Harpur Mount
  • Manchester Communication Primary Academy
  • Crowcroft Park Primary School
  • Pike Fold Primary School
  • St Agnes C of E Primary School

Oldham

  • Richmond Academy
  • Greenhill Academy
  • Alt Academy
  • Westwood Academy
  • Northmoor Academy
  • Whitegate End Primary and Nursery School
  • St Agnes CofE Primary School
  • Greenfield St Mary’s CofE School

Rochdale

  • Bamford Academy

Salford

  • St Joseph the Worker RC Primary School
  • New Park Academy

Stockport

  • Outwood Primary School

Tameside

  • Greenfield Primary Academy
  • Hawthorns School

Wigan

  • St Mary and St John Catholic Primary School
  • Bickershaw CofE Primary School
  • St Stephen’s CofE Primary School

The schools were chosen from across England to ensure that the scheme ‘tests and learns’ from a variety of locations – including those that do not currently run a breakfast club – and all will receive funding to cover food and staffing costs.

Breakfast clubs have been shown to boost children’s reading, writing, and maths by an average of two months, according to the Government.

“Free breakfast clubs sit right at the heart of our Plan for Change, breaking the link between background and success for families all over the country,” commented Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, ahead of the clubs’ rollout next month.

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“Breakfast clubs can have a transformative impact on the lives of children, feeding hungry tummies and fuelling hungry minds, so every child begins the day ready to learn.”

Featured Image – gov.uk

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