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.
Gary Lineker set to leave BBC this week following more controversy
Danny Jones
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Former footballer and veteran presenter Gary Lineker is set to leave the BBC earlier than expected following further political controversies and social media backlash.
Lineker has been butting heads with the presenter for a couple of years now, being suspended by the national corporation back in March 2023 for his comments about language used by the Conservative government, and has continued to take issue with certain aspects of their news coverage.
He has since gone on to share a further video expressing his regret over what he called an “honest mistake”, as well as confirming that he will be making a premature exit from the BBC.
As you can see in the clip above, he says: “I apologise unreservedly for the hurt and upset caused,” insisting that he didn’t see the emoji in question
Lineker is now expected to leave following his final Match of the Day programme this weekend after having already confirmed he would be leaving the role after 26 years at the end of the season.
The ex-English footballer was set to present the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, but given the latest furore, he will be stepping away ahead of schedule.
Having gradually wound down his work with networks like TNT Sports (previously BT Sport) and the BBC in recent years, he has been slowly shifting his focus to his own Goalhanger Podcasts company, which includes several popular audio formats under The Rest Is… brand, including his own flagship The Rest Is Football show.
He goes on to add that he’s “stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all my life.” Since the most recent Israel-Palestine conflicts began, he’s been particularly outspoken on the events. One recent interview with the BBC itself sparked plenty of discussion online.
Gary Lineker, "What's going on there (Gaza), the mass murder of thousands of children is something we should have an opinion on"
Amol Rajan, "The BBC needs to be impartial about it"
Lineker reiterated that he would never “knowingly share anything antisemitic” and removed the problematic post as soon as he was made aware.
Nevertheless, the BBC and director general Tim Davie have been facing pressure to address the situation ever since it happened, with many calling for the household name to be sacked.
It seems the ex-Everton, Leicester, Spurs and Barcelona player has made the decision for them.
As he goes on to conclude, despite expressing gratitude regarding his relationship with the BBC, he feels the “time is right […’ to go our separate ways.”
“Wildfires can spread quickly and cause devastation to the land and wildlife on it,” explained GMFRS’s wildfire lead and national tactical adviser for wildfires, Ady Taylor, “so it’s vitally important that people call 999 as soon as they think they see a fire.”
He continued: “We want people to enjoy the countryside and moorland we have in Greater Manchester, but… [we] remind people to always act responsibly while out enjoying these environments.
“This means no BBQs, fires or fireworks – as they can easily result in wildfires.”
On Wednesday 14 May 2025, a teenage boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and interviewed by police in relation to the incident, and then the following day on Thursday 15 May 2025, another two boys were also arrested – with each of the three having now been released on bail pending further enquiries while investigations are ongoing.
Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a large moorland fire in Bury / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Detective Inspector Andy Wright, from GMP’s Bury district, added: “The moorland fire is being investigated as arson following information from a witness and enquiries we have made.
“We have managed to apprehend three teenagers in relation to this incident, all of them have been bailed following interviews with our officers.”
GMP and GMFRS is reminding Greater Manchester residents that if they see a fire in the countryside, they need to report it immediately, leave the area as soon as possible, and dial 999, and if you witness illegal activity in relation to the fire, then you can report it to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
“Fires can have such a devastating effect, and we are lucky that this has not caused a significant amount of damage, or cost lives,” Detective Inspector Andy Wright concluded.
Daisy Jackson -
21st September 2023 
