Work to bring the UK’s first city-based wellness resort in Manchester closer to a reality has taken a huge step forward this week.
It has been confirmed that plans to start work have progressed with preparations to clear the current EventCity site in Trafford, as developers Peel L&P submit plans to Trafford Council to demolish the 28,000 sq m former conference and exhibition space on Barton Dock Road to make way for the £250 million flagship Therme Manchester resort.
Dubbed an ‘urban oasis’, the resort – which is opposite the Trafford Centre, and is being built by Therme Group – will feature a whopping 35 water slides, 25 pools, and 30 saunas and stream rooms across the 28-acre site.
It’ll also be home to the UK’s first all-season beach with real lapping waves.
ADVERTISEMENT
Therme Group is known for its state-of-the-art wellbeing destinations, and has seen phenomenal success with similar resorts across Europe over the past 20 years.
Therme Manchester will be the UK’s first city-based wellness resort / Credit: Therme Manchester
Therme Manchester is set to be the first-of-its-kind in the country, and will combine water activities with wellbeing treatments, art, nature and technology to create a “unique experience never before seen in the UK”.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pools at the resort will be both indoors and outdoors, and over 1,500 palm trees will be planted to create a tropical feel.
Made up of several domed glass structures, the tropical environment will also feature wave simulation pools and exotic palm tree relaxation areas, along with warm-water lagoons, botanical gardens, swim-up bars, and therapeutic mineral baths, and, in true Manchester style, there are also plans for rooftop beehives too.
It’s hoped that the honey from the local bees can be used in recipes at the on-site restaurants, as well as in spa treatments.
ADVERTISEMENT
Therme Group says the development will “significantly boost economic growth” in the Greater Manchester region, and will create 1,200 jobs and over £4.5 billion economic impact.
📣 Plans have been submitted by @PeelLandP to demolish the former EventCity to make way for the c.£250m flagship @ThermeGroup#Manchester development.
We can't wait to welcome Therme Manchester, the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort. 🏝️
Peel L&P’s Executive Director of Development James Whittaker says it’s an “attraction like no other”.
He said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be making preparations to bring the UK’s first resort of this kind to TraffordCity for people of all ages to enjoy.
“It will attract visitors and investment from across the globe to TraffordCity and the wider city region and we’re proud to be the host venue for such an exceptional development with a strong focus on sustainability, health and wellbeing.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The 28-acre site will feature 35 water slides, 25 pools, and 30 saunas and stream rooms / Credit: Therme Group
Richard Land – Chief Development Officer at Therme Group UK – added: “We are delighted to have reached this critical stage with Peel L&P, which marks the beginning of on-site works for Therme Manchester.
“An iconic project for the city as well as for the entire UK, this milestone confirms the arrival of Therme in the North.”
Construction is set to begin in 2023, with a build time of approximately two years.
Featured Image – Therme Group
News
Major Manchester gig WILL be going ahead after band cancels prior dates
Thomas Melia
An upcoming gig in Manchester is still scheduled to go ahead even in light of recent high-profile cancellations of previous dates.
After a string of UK tour date cancellations, The Last Dinner Party, an all-female indie band, are ready to continue with the remaining shows including the upcoming event in Manchester.
Their breakout hit ‘Nothing Matters’ and accompanying album ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’ set them off to a very good start in the music industry and won them their very first BRIT for ‘Rising Star’ this year.
But during their scheduled gig in Lincoln on 28 September, upon entering the venue fans were left feeling ‘uncomfortable and disrespected’ with a security policy at the show which led to many male fans being searched by staff at the venue.
The London-based indie rock band released a statement saying these security checks ‘would not have been implemented had we been made aware of them in advance’.
Unfortunately, the gig was cancelled while fans were in the venue and a show in Cardiff got the axe shortly after too, this time ‘due to illness’.
Their headlining dates for Birmingham and three other UK cities were also cancelled after receiving medical advice, but now they’re back and fighting stronger than ever.
An official statement recently shared on the band’s instagram read: “We want to express how truly sorry we are to have missed the shows this past week and how grateful we are to you all for supporting and understanding whilst we take the time needed to feel better.”
The Last Dinner Party Manchester gig WILL be going ahead. Credit: @thelastdinnerparty on Instagram.
In this, The Last Dinner Party updated fans that they’re excited to play Dublin feeling “revitalised” which commences tonight and if all goes well they will be gracing the crowds of Manchester at the end of the week.
The Last Dinner Party are set to perform their fifth Manchester gig and second show at O2 Victoria Warehouse on 11 October just three weeks since their last stint in our city.
Tickets for The Last Dinner Party’s upcoming Manchester show are still available and onsale here.
Manchester City win watershed case against Premier League over sponsorship rules
Danny Jones
Manchester City have landed an early blow in what is set to be a long and arduous series of legal proceedings over the coming months as they have won a case against the Premier League over their rules around sponsorship and related party transactions.
The current English champions, who have won a record four Premier League titles in a row, launched legal action against the division back in June after claiming that their restrictions around Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules and sponsorships were unfair and unlawful.
Now, as it turns out, an independent panel of three retired judges ultimately concluded that the rules were unlawful and, at least in part, contrary to the Competition Act 1998.
The details of the case are obviously numerous and complex but, in short, it has been found that Man City were unfairly blocked from moving forward with two huge sponsorship deals earlier this year.
BREAKING: Man City has won their legal challenge against the Premier League's Associated Party Transaction rules, which surrounds commercial deals between clubs and their related companies 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ZevrXvOOhd
Although the outcome has been somewhat debated by the league itself, it was decided that the imposed regulations were unfair and “discriminatory in how they operate, because they deliberately excluded shareholder loans.”
Issuing a statement following the decision, the Premier League said they “welcome the Tribunal’s findings, which endorsed the overall objectives, framework and decision-making of the APT system”, adding that it also “upheld the need for the APT system as a whole and rejected the majority of City’s challenges” while reiterating that the rules are necessary for their “financial controls to be effective”.
They went on to add that “the decision represents an important and detailed assessment of the APT Rules, which ensure clubs are not able to benefit from commercial deals or reductions in costs that are not at Fair Market Value (FMV) by virtue of relationships with Associated Parties.”
Meanwhile, the City Football Group responded to the news in a series of bullet points, insisting that the “Premier League was found to have abused its dominant position, […] had reached the decisions in a procedurally unfair manner” and that they will now have to “restate the fair market value of two transactions entered into by the Club.”
Safe to say people have noted quite a distinct difference in tone when it comes to statements from the two parties regarding associated parties and their transactions with clubs but, nevertheless, it’s a victory for the Manc club could have a huge knock-on effect regarding how much teams can spend in the future.
Quite a contrast in wording between the statements from Man City (left) and the Premier League (right) on findings related to Associated Party Transaction rules. pic.twitter.com/H3QkHlwMGM
The Premier League have also reassured that two particular aspects of the existing rules that didn’t fully comply with the Competition Act will be rectified promptly and will be “conducting a process that can allow the league and clubs to enact those specific changes quickly and effectively”.
Not only does this mean that CFG is likely to restart conversations with the two blocked parties – one being the Etihad Group and another with a bank based in Abu Dhabi – but that other clubs could now potentially look into further lucrative sponsorship deals, although ‘fair market value’ will still be assessed.
You can read page 164 of the document which summarises the full Tribunal HERE.
Meanwhile, the still outstanding case against Man City over their 115 charges regarding FFP breaches has now begun, though a decision is still a ways off.
Emily Sergeant -
6th September 2022 
