News

Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club is SAVED after Greater Manchester rallies behind local institution

'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.'

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 28th November 2024

Fantastic news as long-standing Greater Manchester institution Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club has officially been saved from closure.

It’s an early Christmas miracle.

Just a few days out from what would have been endgame for them, after being threatened with closure just over six weeks ago, Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club has officially hit its fundraising target and has been rescued from the brink.

Announcing the news on Thursday, 28 November, they confirmed that their doors will be staying open and their important community efforts aren’t going anywhere.

The iconic Manc venue has served as one of the most cultural sites in the entire region, helping lay the foundations for countless important figures in music, sport, art and more.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s no exaggeration to say that its influences are quite literally woven into the fabric not only of Salford but Manchester and the 10 boroughs as a whole, having hosted names like John Cooper Clarke, nurturing future footballers such as ‘Busby Babe’ Eddie Colman, and perhaps most famously being the location for The Smiths‘ iconic Queen Is Dead photoshoot.

Their motto throughout the course of their full century and two decades worth of serving the local area has always been to ‘Brighten Young Lives and Make Good Citizens’, and so it shall remain.

ADVERTISEMENT

After being given notice amid rising costs, energy bills and a general lack of funding back in October, the community and recreation centre was given until the end of November to raise a whopping quarter of a million pounds and thanks to the incredible efforts from thousands of generous souls, they managed it.

With Northern bands like locals Rolla, The Courteeners, former Smiths frontman Morrissey, songwriting legend Graham Nash and many other artists helping raise funds through charity gigs and sizeable contributions, not to mention countless Salfordian volunteers taking time out of their everyday lives to get behind the crucial cause, Greater Manchester truly showed its best face.

The club – which not only helps provide everything from vital sports provision for Greater Manchester clubs and safe after-school outlets to children, to practice spaces and away days which for those less fortunate might be their first-ever trip outside of their hometown – also released the short but moving fundraising film seen above, which certainly helped get extra eyes on the crucial community initiative.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although there were some big benefactors and local businesses that got behind the project, it was regular people like you who helped spread the word and all those who donated even just a few quid that sealed this victory.

Greater Manchester can hold its head very high and be more than proud of itself.

The fundraiser is now past its £250,000 target and is now sitting on more than £273k, but donations are still being welcomed to help keep the institution afloat if you’d like to donate HERE.

God knows how many lives they’ve saved over the years — long live Salford Lads’ and Girls’ Club!

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

News

The Greater Manchester high street that now has THREE great wine bars in a 200m stretch

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Prestwich has become a wine bar hub in Greater Manchester

A popular suburb of Greater Manchester seems to be having a bit of a wine bar moment – and for once, we’re not talking about Stockport.

Prestwich has a buzzing little food and drink scene, and just this week has welcomed a brand-new wine bar.

That brings the total number of wine bars in the village to three – and they’re all in just a 200m stretch of the high street.

The latest addition is Cellar Door, headed up by siblings Ben and Sarah and sitting side-by-side with acclaimed neighbourhood restaurant The Pearl.

Cellar Door joins long-standing favourite Whole Bunch Wines (formerly known as Grape to Grain) and the new-ish Chin Chin, which comes from the same team behind Elnecot in Ancoats.

And beyond that, The Pearl has a ‘wine window’ where they’ll pass your drink out to you to drink on their pavement bistro tables.

If you much prefer a decent glass of wine instead of a pint, Prestwich is becoming the new hotspot for a bar crawl.

Read on for more on each of these brilliant independent businesses.

Cellar Door

Cellar Door is the newest wine bar to open in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group
Cellar Door is the newest wine bar to open in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group
Cellar Door is the newest wine bar to open in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group

The newest wine bar on the Prestwich high street is Cellar Door, opened just this month by brother and sister Ben and Sarah.

It’s their first project together and is stocked with more than 200 different wines, plus plenty of beers (including some local names), selected batched cocktails served ice-cold, and a menu of nibbles too.

Spanning two floors, there’s a sunny balcony upstairs for sunnier days, but in the meantime, get cosy in a booth with a glass of something from their VAST vino collection.

See more HERE.

427 Bury New Road, M25 1AF

Whole Bunch Wines (fka Grape to Grain)

Grape to Grain wine shop in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group
Whole Bunch Wines (formerly Grape to Grain) wine shop in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group
Whole Bunch Wines (formerly Grape to Grain) wine shop in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group
Whole Bunch Wines (formerly Grape to Grain) wine shop in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group

An ‘off licence with a difference’, Whole Bunch Wines (which used to be known as Grape to Grain) is Prestwich’s original spot for a wine.

Almost a decade old now, Whole Bunch Wines has a proper enomatic wine machine which means you can have a glass of their chosen bottles each week (without committing to a full bottle – though no judgement if you do want to do that too).

They also have a counter stuffed with cheese, meat and fresh bread so you can customise yourself a deli board.

There’s not much better than grabbing a bottle to take away from Whole Bunch, then changing your mind and cracking it open sat on one of the barrel tables outside instead.

1 Church Lane, M25 1AN

Read more: Manchester’s most exclusive restaurant, serving omakase sushi to just four customers a week

Chin Chin

Inside Chin Chin wine bar
Inside Chin Chin wine bar

Last but definitely not least on this mini wine crawl around Prestwich is Chin Chin.

ADVERTISEMENT

This lovely spot comes from the team behind Elnecot, who initially opened it as Dokes Pizzeria (but then Rudy’s opened up opposite and honestly, who can be arsed) before pivoting it to be a wine bar.

There’s jazz vinyls playing, an enormous selection of rotating wines, a smart interior of tiled tabletops and moody red paint, and – a weekly highlight for locals – Sunday Sessions with roast dinner-inspired sandwiches and £4 pints.

449A Bury New Road, M25 1AF

Read more: Prestwich wine bar Chin Chin now serves roast dinner sandwiches

Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Manchester City hit with backlash from season ticket holders after ‘divisive’ North Stand update

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City fans angry backlash over being moved out of their seats North Stand stadium expansion plans

Manchester City have shared a new update on the impending North Stand expansion and concourse upgrade, but the most recent reveal has been met with plenty of backlash from supporters set to suffer the consequences.

The Etihad is currently undergoing a major transformation that will see numerous new facilities added to the wider campus experience – most notably the increased capacity of the North Stand, which will make room for a further 7,000 or so fans.

Back in March, the club revealed the official brand partners for their upcoming on-site hotel, which will also accompany a new sky bar and rooftop stadium walk experience as part of the wider plans, but while adding more seats and things for matchgoers to do sounds good on paper, it’s come at a cost for many.

Reacting to the news of social media, many regular fans are now set to be forced out of their seats to make way for more hospitality sections at the end of the stadium, meaning the post has proved ‘divisive’ to say the least.

As you can see, both Blues, neutrals, and even rivals alike are expressing their shock and disappointment in not only the decision but the manner in which the announcement was made.

One person said on X: “You turfed me and hundreds of others out of our seats four seasons ago when you dug them up for digital signage. We were all split up and had to scrape around for new seats. Had enough of all the new rules and digital tickets/transfers. I sit on my sofa now and save £3k.

Reply in the comments underneath the response, a Manchester United fan added: “I don’t like City, but this is something I can stand with [fans] on.”

Even well-known online commentators like ‘HLTCO’ (Hopkin Looking To Curl One), a.k.a. Dan Cook – a notable Crystal Palace die-hard – shared his two cents online.

“Man City season ticket holders are being told that they’re being permanently moved from the seats they’ve had for years to accommodate a new corporate seating area”, he wrote, adding: “This is the sort of thing that fans everywhere have to push back against; these clubs see us as a nuisance.”

In terms of what the stadium overhaul looks like, the latest CGIs show the first proper glimpse of the new ‘Cross Bar’ that will “offer a relaxed, social atmosphere” for around 300 fans, as well as the new ‘City Hall’ concourse area, which will cater to around 500 punters both on game-days and beyond.

You can take another close look down below.

As detailed in the full statement on the club website, they have insisted that they will be supporting those “may need to move seats ahead of the commencement of the 2026/27”, clarifying that no one will need to be relocated to accommodate the Cross Bar, specifically.

They go on to add: “We understand that relocating seats may be unsettling, and we are here to support these fans”. They have promised things like a “priority relocation window” and, most crucially, a guarantee that they won’t have to pay more to sit in what is typically a more expensive stadium block.

However, while they have also assured that people will be able to move groups of seats so as to stay around their friends, as explained by a user above, this is easier said than done and ticket uncertainty remains a big concern among the fan base.

What do you make of the latest Etihad Stadium news, City fans?

Manchester City supporters groups call on club and fellow fans to ‘make their voices heard’
Man City fans have been vocal about their seats, the ‘Flexi Gold’ saga and much more.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — David Wilson (via Flickr)/CGIs (via mancity.com)

More News

Art & Culture

A first look into the highly-anticipated TV soap crossover ‘Corriedale’ has just dropped

Westlife announce huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming 25th anniversary tour

News

Westlife announce huge 25th anniversary tour, including an arena show in Manchester

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepping down from Strictly Come Dancing

Art & Culture

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman to step down from Strictly Come Dancing

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches