Event organisers have issued a hot weather alert ahead of Oasis’ long-awaited return to Manchester this weekend.
Manchester is all set for a sensational summer of sound, and as more than 300,000 music fans prepare to descend on our city from tomorrow as a little-known band called Oasis (sarcasm detected) reform for the first time in over a decade.
With the Gallagher brothers staging five nostalgia-drenched gigs at Heaton Park starting this Friday (11 July), event organisers have now announced some very important information for gig-goers.
Hot weather alert issued ahead of Oasis Live ’25 Manchester gigs / Credit: Simon Emmett (Publicity Picture)
But one of those all-important details that everyone heading to Heaton Park this Friday or Saturday needs to have on their radar is the weather – that’s right, the ‘suuunshhhiiiiiiiiine’.
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In case you weren’t aware, both the Met Office and UKHSA has already issued heat health warnings for much of the UK – with temperatures warming up more as the week goes on, and heatwave criteria expected to be reached in parts of the UK by the end of it.
Here in Greater Manchester, it’s forecasted that we could be seeing highs of 30°C tomorrow (Friday 11), and similarly again on Saturday with highs of 29°C.
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Our third heatwave of the summer is coming this week. But which areas will it affect, and how long will it last? 🌡️
“With very hot weather forecast on both Friday and Saturday, please stay hydrated,” event organisers issued ahead of the gigs this weekend.
“You will be permitted to bring a sealed bottle of water up to 500ml. This must be collapsible plastic. Solid plastic, metal etc containers will not be permitted on the grounds of safety. Bottles with broken seals will be emptied. There is free water to refill your bottle on site.
“Wear sunscreen. You will be permitted to bring in a small bottle 200ml or under and protect yourself from the sun overall. You can also wear a hat, we know the legendary bucket hat will be making an appearance, so you’ll fit right in.”
Trafford Centre begins months-long refurb of its iconic The Orient foodhall
Emily Sergeant
A new era for The Orient is on the horizon, as the Trafford Centre has begun its months-long refresh of its iconic foodhall.
Forming part of its ongoing commitment to ‘enhancing the visitor experience’, the Trafford Centre is investing in a major refresh of seating and customer facilities within The Orient – creating a more vibrant and welcoming environment for guests to eat, meet and relax.
Works are now underway and will be delivered in phases over the coming months.
Improvements are being carried out in phases to minimise disruption to shoppers, while creating a more comfortable and contemporary dining environment at the same time.
The refreshed area will increase seating capacity by more than 60%, introducing a range of new seating styles in the process – including banquettes, family-friendly tables, accessible seating for guests with mobility requirements, and dedicated areas equipped with phone and laptop charging facilities.
The Trafford Centre begins months-long refurb of its iconic The Orient foodhall / Credit: The Manc Group
Inspired by The Orient’s longstanding maritime heritage, the design takes cues from a contemporary cruise liner, and the space will also feature upgraded furniture and enhanced lighting, alongside flexible areas designed to encourage visitors to spend more time in there.
There’ll also be modern furnishings and a ‘refreshed’ colour palette to create a brighter and welcoming environment.
“The Orient is one of the most popular destinations within Trafford Centre, welcoming millions of visitors each year,” a Trafford Centre spokesperson said on the refurb.
“This investment reflects our commitment to continually improving the experience for our guests, creating a more modern, comfortable and social environment where visitors can meet, dine and spend time together.
“The improvements will not only significantly increase seating capacity but also deliver a much more flexible and accessible space for all visitors to enjoy.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Uber has officially started trialling driverless taxis in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… driverless taxis have hit the streets of Manchester.
As the leading transportation company looks to bring robotaxis to other major cities around the UK, it has been confirmed that a trial of autonomous vehicles is now underway in Manchester – with the services being operated using the technology of Uber’s partner firms, Pony and Verne.
Uber said it was ‘excited’ to take this first step toward ‘making this technology accessible’ to people across the UK.
The three companies first collaborated on the deployment of a commercial robotaxi service back in March of this year, combining Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system, Uber’s global mobility platform, and Verne’s service ecosystem and operational framework.
At this time, there has been no official application to launch passenger services in Manchester, according to The Guardian.
However, posts on various social media platforms – such as X, LinkedIn, and Instagram – by each of the companies this week have confirmed that trials are underway in the city.
“New technologies play an increasingly important role in the growth of our city region,” TfGM said. “But they need to be introduced responsibly, safely and with real thought about what it means for our residents.
“Safety will always be our top priority, and we will need strong assurances that no vehicles will operate on our roads that pose any risk to residents.”
Manchester, we’re on our way! Today, we’re announcing that we’re partnering with @Verne_robotaxi and @PonyAI_tech to pilot autonomous vehicles in Manchester. Building on our service together in Zagreb, Gen-7 Robotaxis are now testing in Manchester.
We’re excited to take this first step toward making this technology accessible to people across the UK. 🇬🇧
“By bringing together Pony.ai’s proven autonomous driving technology, Verne’s operational and market expertise, and Uber’s global platform, we’re taking an important step toward making autonomous ride-hailing available to more riders in more places.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th July 2025 
