Manchester’s popular shopping event for students is returning for 2023, with massive discounts in shops across the centre.
Organised by Manchester Arndale and Manchester BID, the MCR Student Social is back and promises to be bigger than ever before, with live entertainment, competitions, games and experiences joining the huge discounts available all across the city centre.
Taking place on Thursday 28 September, from 12pm until 7pm, the MCR Student Social will be a chance for the city’s new and returning students to snap up big discounts.
There’ll be discounts of up to 30% off in more than 120 stores for students within the Manchester Arndale and across the city centre, including Levi’s, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Monki, JD, Mango, Superdry, Kick Game, Jack & Jones, Office and Schuh.
On top of that, hospitality venues including Urban Playground (where you can have a go at ITV’s hit show The Cube), Immersive Gamebox, Archie’s, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Hut and Barburrito will have up to 50% off.
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Free entertainment on offer will include Bonkers Bingo, where you choose your balls at random from the roaming bingo box for a chance to win a whole host of prizes, and Roaming Roulette, where you can win prizes for correctly guessing the weird and wonderful items inside a mystery box.
Soundtracking the whole thing, naturally, will be The Manc‘s DJ Truck, where our very own Dean will be playing the finest hip-hop, funk and party anthems throughout the day.
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Monki will have a ‘Ballnado’ machine installed where you have to catch as many balls as possible in 30 seconds.
On Market Street, the Entertainment Zone will have even more games and giveaways, from Skiddle, Urban Playground’s The Cube, Lush, Pure Gym and more pitching up to say hi.
Meanwhile, the Food Zone will have special offers, samples and prizes from PizzaLuxe, Franco Manca and more.
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You can hear demonstrations, advice and guidance from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Oliver Cookson Foundation, HSBC and Recycle for Greater Manchester in the Info Zone.
There’ll be loads happening inside stores too. Find live DJs in Decent Cuts and win prizes or get goody bags in the likes of Schuh, Blue Banana and McDonald’s.
The MCR Student Socialwill take over the city on Thursday 28 September between 12pm-7pm.
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
Police appeal after man seriously injured in Northern Quarter stabbing
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a stabbing in the Northern Quarter left a man seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, on Tib Street near Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene and the victim, a man in his 20s, taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Thankfully his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
No arrests have yet been made and officers are now appealing for witnesses to assist with enquiries.
DI Geoffrey Machent, of the City of Manchester Division, said: “At around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, we were called to reports of a stabbing on Tib Street.
“A man was subsequently taken to hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening or life-changing. He remains there for treatment.
“At this time, we do not believe the incident presents any threat to the wider public or local businesses operating in the area.
“Neighbourhood officers will be deployed to provide reassurance in the locality over the coming days, including our newly formed Piccadilly Gardens team.
“We would like to appeal to the public for any information, or anyone who witnessed this incident, to please come forward.”
If anyone has information regarding this stabbing in the Northern Quarter, contact police by calling 101, or via the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
Daisy Jackson -
21st September 2023 
