Molly-Mae Hague has this morning announced that she has been appointed Creative Director of PrettyLittleThing for the UK/EU.
She has described it as “the biggest move in [her] career so far”.
The ex-Love Island star and influencer – who has millions of followers on social media – has been working with Manchester-based fashion brand PrettyLittleThing as a UK ambassador since her first clothing collection was released back in 2019.
PLT was also one of the first fashion labels Molly-Mae worked with as an influencer before she found fame on the ITV reality show.
In a statement announcing her appointment as Creative Director on Instagram this morning, Molly-Mae said: “I’m beyond ecstatic to announce that I am the new Creative Director of PrettyLittleThing for UK/EU.
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“This is the biggest move in my career so far and I can’t explain my gratitude to my favourite brand in the world for trusting me with this role. PLT have had faith in me from the very start and to now be a Director within the business feels like a complete dream come true.
“I hope you’re all ready for my visions to come to life within this incredible brand.”
Molly-Mae has been teasing her new role to fans throughout the week.
The announcement comes after she shared with her followers on TikTok that she had treated herself to an 18-carat £37,000 Cartier bracelet, which features 204 diamonds, to celebrate “signing the biggest deal of my career”.
The purchases generated widespread conversation on social media yesterday, with the topic trending on Twitter and many keen to find out the nature of “the biggest deal”.
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Alongside confirmation of her appointment as Creative Director, Molly-Mae also unveiled her first exclusively-designed collection since stepping into her new role, adding on Instagram: “To celebrate this huge news, I’m bringing you without a doubt my best collection to date.
“I’ve worked on this collection now for so long and I’m beyond proud of it – I can’t wait to see you all in it.”
✨PrettyLittleThing By Molly-Mae✨ Our girl is BACK with her newest collection of the ULTIMATE ‘fits designed by @mollymaehague 💛 We’re also super excited to announce that Molly is officially our brand new Creative Director for UK & Europe 🤩👏
“This felt like a natural fit for us as Molly has been a huge part of our PrettyLittleThing journey and she is so invested in the brand,” said Umar Kamani, CEO at PrettyLittleThing.
“We wanted to explore different avenues together and bring her on board as more of a creative, where she can work closely with our team and be involved in our wider strategy across the UK and Europe over the next 12 months.”
Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down
Daisy Jackson
Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.
The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.
A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.
Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.
Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.
Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).
It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.
The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.
Banyan in Spinningfields has shut downThe note in the window of Banyan
But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.
The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.
“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.
“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”
Council seized £4.3m worth of counterfeit goods from Manchester’s streets in 2025
Emily Sergeant
A whopping £4.3 million of counterfeit goods were seized from Manchester’s streets in 2025, the Council has revealed.
Now that 2025 has come to end, Manchester City Council has announced that its Trading Standards Team seized and destroyed more than 43,500 counterfeit items in the last year – ranging from everything like fake handbags, trainers, and jewellery, to electronic items, sportswear, children’s toys, sunglasses, and much more.
Through ‘exemplary partnership work’ with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the Council says this criminal industry has taken a ‘substantial hit’ over the past 12 months.
It’s also estimated that the goods seized would have lost the industry up to £43 million.
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, said the Council hopes this action ‘sends a message that we will not tolerate this harmful trade.’
The Council seized £4.3m worth of counterfeit goods from Manchester’s streets in 2025 / Credit: GMP
“The counterfeit industry was substantially embedded in our communities, but through their diligence and the support of our valued partners we have driven away some of the worst offenders and are beginning the process of regenerating the areas of Manchester that were long blighted by this sort of crime,” she added.
It’s not just counterfeit goods that’ve been targeted either, as a substantial push was also made throughout the year to crack-down on the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco.
In total, 316,625 cigarettes – which is equivalent to nearly 16,000 individual packs – were seized by the Council and police.
258kg of hand rolling tobacco was also seized, as well as more than 18,000 illegal vapes that don’t comply with UK laws or regulations.
Detective Chief Inspector Melanie Johnson, who is the lead coordinator of Operation Machinize for GMP, says the police takes any information it receives about counterfeit trading ‘very seriously’.
“We will continue to investigate all aspects of this criminality to protect our communities from the harms of illegal products.”
Emily Sergeant -
26th August 2021 
