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Photos: Manchester comes back to life as shops and businesses reopen

It's a significant day for the city of Manchester as its non-essential shops and businesses begin to reopen after three months of closures.

Sam Ridgway Sam Ridgway - 15th June 2020

It’s a significant day for the city of Manchester as its non-essential shops and businesses begin to reopen after three months of closures.

From 9am this morning the general public began filtering back into town after being unable to visit their favourite shops since March, and by 11am, it could have been a sunny Saturday afternoon on Market Street and surrounding areas.

The day began with queues forming outside big hitters such as Primark and Selfridges, while shops such as Apple and Sports Direct started to generate small queues inside the Arndale – which has been nothing but a shortcut for people visiting the city centre over the last few months.

Market Street is also playing host to plenty of buskers today, boosting the atmosphere after weeks of a deafening quiet.

There is now no shortage in places to shop, with every non-essential business being given the green light for business as usual, providing they are ‘COVID-ready’. Here’s a full list of the businesses that have opened their doors today.

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Photos and videos have also been making their way online today as social media users attempt to soak in an atmosphere they haven’t been exposed to since the beginning of 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/themancuk/videos/571523630219094/?xts%5B0%5D=68.ARB30EQqUaHcrV1EflDI0QtFJlY9hKaONbZnydb4OokzJj77JmmVOOis54rosXUFxK1RuSKk6ryZzSFnWgsw63bidlnZP6gCgI9ofRR1TfWXIC2dV_XawvgXwoU_D-fboCmC0gXIMfudIsj7STss3a20yjjgdloGF_kSqsdJwTfgXS-s428F258Tqnh4PeLBE77G2PRMa_rT_FW2c0jeamsaMtJAoP2rr3jk_-d7tS88lHLRlqih9fWDWA9HijkF_QWFAv3uhLATsROth32ALrxOJchktnv6JZXt_TXmsNMMj8Ns5toUnkCJt9OhgrNsq0pHi4FYbp9_u8zO2aoDOnBjE4ra_UisHVTdyAqQ&tn=-R

Below is a gallery of photos taken between 11am and 11:30am this morning, showing the city centre just two hours into its reopening in what now feels much like a post-pandemic world.

More to follow as the city centre, and the UK in general, begins to open back up.

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Greater Manchester restaurant speaks out after being paid a visit by Nigel Farage

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Vault 2 in Denton has issued a statement after being paid a visit by Nigel Farage. Credit: The Manc Group

A restaurant in Greater Manchester has issued a lengthy statement after it was paid a visit by Nigel Farage on his campaign trail.

Vault 2, a family-run business in Denton, has said that it’s been bombarded with negative messages since the Reform party leader was photographed inside the restaurant.

Farage had made appearances at a number of local businesses in Tameside, alongside the party’s candidate, Matt Goodwin.

Vault 2 stressed in its statement about Nigel Farage that it is ‘a restaurant, not a political platform’, adding: “We hold no prejudice toward anyone – regardless of political views, race, background, creed, or beliefs. Everyone is welcome through our doors, and anyone may privately hire our venue. That has always been the case and will remain so.”

The restaurant also clarified that it was not a hosted event that Farage attended, nor were they endorsing or supporting him by allowing him to ‘call in’.

Vault 2 added: “It is genuinely upsetting, after everything we have done – and continue to do – for this town, to receive accusations of favouritism or messages saying you’ll never visit us again based on this.”

The restaurant then said that it takes ‘no political stance, shows no favour, and aligns with no party’ – though critics have pointed out that its Facebook page had shared a Reform post just before making this statement.

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Inside Vault 2
Inside Vault 2 last year
Food at Vault 2
Food at Vault 2
Vault 2 has issued a statement about the Nigel Farage visit. Credit: The Manc

Vault 2 signed off its statement by saying: “Whether you vote left, right, centre, or not at all — you are welcome here. Food first. Hospitality always. Thank you x.”

One person commented on the post: “If your doors are open to fascists, then your doors are closed to their targets. I sincerely hope your business suffers for it.”

Another said: “How can you ‘create a welcoming space’ if you welcome people whose aim to create the exact opposite.”

And someone else said: “This would be more believable if you weren’t liking Reform posts on Facebook. If you take no political stance and align with no party, maybe don’t like posts about Goodwin from your business account. We see you.”

But several people showed support for Vault 2, with one writing: “Well said – shame on those sending negativity – the keyboard warriors need to take a break and disappear!”

Vault 2's statement in full addressing the visit from Nigel Farage. Credit: Instagram @vault2_barandbistro
Vault 2’s statement in full addressing the visit from Nigel Farage. Credit: Instagram @vault2_barandbistro

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Ticket requests are now officially open for Harry Styles’ one-night-only Manchester gig

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The time has come – the ticket request system for Harry Styles’ one-night-only gig in Manchester is now live.

In case you hadn’t heard, it was announced on Wednesday evening after much speculation that Harry Styles would be making a return home to Manchester for a one-night-only ‘intimate’ gig at Co-op Live to celebrate the release of his fourth studio album next month.

Styles is set to share Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally with the world on Friday 6 March – and it’s that very same night he’ll be taking to the stage in Manchester.

Although little is known about what to expect at the gig, the poster for the event does state that there’ll be a ‘special performance of the album’, so it seems fair to say that Manchester will be the first to hear the new set of songs in full live.

And if all of that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, the tickets are only £20 per person.

But, of course, there is a bit of a catch, as this isn’t your regular online queuing up for tickets scenario, this is a ‘ticket request’ system instead.

So, like us – and literally every other fan in the vicinity of Greater Manchester and beyond this week – you’re probably wondering what a ‘ticket request’ system is… what does it look like? How does it work? Basically, what the heck is it? Well, we’ve done a bit of digging around to get to the bottom of it so you’re not left too much in the dark.

According to Ticketmaster’s website, if an artist is running a ticket request, they’ll invite fans to request tickets so you don’t have to compete in a first-come, first-served sale.

This means you can take your time to review the available options and request the right tickets for you.

All you need to do is tell Ticketmaster which shows you’re interested in, the type of ticket you want, and your payment details. Then, if the tickets you request can be fulfilled, your card will be charged and you’ll get emailed instructions to access them in the Ticketmaster App.

Unfortunately, as much as we’d love it to be the case for everyone, submitting a request doesn’t guarantee you tickets – it really is just luck of the draw.

To request tickets, you’ll need to follow these three simple steps:

  1. Visit the Harry Styles request page
  2. Select which shows you’re interested in and the type of ticket you want
  3. Add your payment details
Harry Styles will be performing at the BRITs in Manchester
Harry Styles ticket requests are now live / Credit: Johnny Dufort (Publicity Picture)

Ticketmaster will then send you a summary email that details the tickets you’ve requested. Your card won’t be charged at this time, but they may charge a temporary £1 authorisation to your card to validate your request.

A maximum of two tickets per person can be requested, which has been set to allow for as many fans as possible to get tickets.

Now, here’s the crucial part – you will need to submit your request for tickets while the window is open until Sunday 8 February at 11pm GMT. After the request window closes, you’ll get a second email by 11:59pm GMT on Tuesday 10 February confirming whether or not your request has been fulfilled.

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It’s as simple as that.

All that’s left to do now is provide you with the link here and send you on your way… oh, and may the odds be ever in your favour.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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