The Manchester craft beer festival will return to Mayfield Depot this summer, bringing with it hundreds of different brews from across the globe.
Following a successful debut last summer, the festival will take residence in the former warehouse this summer – taking place across Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July.
Bringing together great music, beer and street food under one roof, the festival will take place across three sessions: 6pm-11pm on Friday, 11:30-4:30pm Saturday and 6pm-11pm Saturday.
With a line-up of world-class breweries, beer fans will be able to sample everything from sours to IPA’s, lagers to imperial stouts at this year’s event.
Image: Manchester Union Lager
Run by the team behind Bigfoot Festival, music will come from the likes of UK jungle legend Goldie, soundsystem and radio DJ Norman Jay MBE, and electronic musician and composer David Holmes.
For £55 a ticket, guests will have access to unlimited beer throughout their chosen five-hour session. On top of that, they’ll also be given a special festival beer glass to take home and access to the festival’s pop-up street food kitchens.
Manchester breweries Manchester Union Lager, Black Jack, Track, Marble, Pomona Island and Beatnikz will all be in attendance, as well a host of top-tier breweries from further afield.
Further breweries confirmed to attend so far include Mondo, Timothy Taylors, North Brew Co., Brixton, Brew York, Vocation, Pastore, Alpha Delta, The Kernel and Burnt Mill.
Image: Pomona Island
And for those who are after something other than beer, there’ll also be stalls from Tappd Cocktails, Jim & Tonic and Ascension Cider.
The festival will also play host to the North West’s finest chefs, restaurants and popups taking stalls for the weekend – including a brand-new fire-pit cooking concept, which will see guest chefs take turns to serve up their own BBQ takes.
Speaking on the festival’s return, co-founder of We Are Beer, Greg Wells said: “After such a warm welcome last year, it was no question whether we’d return to Manchester.
“The city is home to many incredible breweries so it’s great to be able to bring everyone together to celebrate their contribution to the craft beer community!
“As well as local legends and newcomers, we’re excited to showcase international favourites and breweries from all over the UK.
“There’s really going to be something for everyone – beer lovers and even non-beer lovers, foodies, music heads, for those wanting a learning experience or simply a memorable night out! We’re very excited to be back.”
Police issue response and update after ‘shocking’ BBC documentary on The Moors Murders airs
Emily Sergeant
A response and update has been issued by the police after a new documentary on The Moors Murders aired on the BBC this week.
The Moors Murders: A Search for Justice is a two-part documentary series that takes a look back at what is, undoubtedly, one of the most heinous crimes in British history more than 60 years after it happened in the hopes of discovering new evidence and finding answers to the questions that are still left open.
The show aims to document the six decades of suffering that the victims’ families endured in the case that shook the nation.
A synopsis for the two-part documentary series on the BBC website reads: “The Moors murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, were sentenced to life in 1966 for killing three children. In fact, they had killed five children, and 12-year-old Keith Bennett has never been found.
Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett / Credit: GMP
“But now a team, including author and film-maker Duncan Staff, former murder detective Martin Slevin and forensic archaeologist Professor John Hunter, has examined past investigations, rediscovered files and delved into Ian Brady’s archive.
“They reveal possible grave sites, uncover critical material and perhaps help to solve a case that’s remained open for nearly 60 years.”
The first episode of the documentary aired on BBC Two on Wednesday night (30 July), and the next episode is due to hit TV screens next Wednesday 6 August at 9pm – with more ‘revelations’ and ‘newly uncovered evidence’ expected to be presented.
Public interest in the case has hardly been lost over the past six decades, but given the recent attention the documentary has brought, this has led Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to issuing a statement and update on their ongoing investigations, and assuring that the case is still very much open and and being looked into.
Myra Hindley and Ian Brady – the serial killers behind the Moors Murders, including Keith Bennett / Credit: GMP
“Greater Manchester Police’s investigation into Keith’s disappearance has remained open since 1964,” the statement begins.
“While visible searches have paused over time, with the most recent taking place in 2022, an investigation team within our Major Crime Review Unit, continues our work to find the answers Keith family deserves.”
GMP confirmed that most of the case’s investigative activity continues ‘outside of public view’, revealing that this is done in the hopes that further evidence relating to this case can be uncovered.
The Moors Murders: A Search for Justice is currently airing on the BBC / Credit: BBC
The update continues: “We are in regular contact with Keith’s family, who are central to any action we take. They are kept updated on the ongoing lines of enquiry – some of which, could be jeopardised by public disclosure, and no further comment on these matters will be given.”
Police say they remain ‘very interested’ in any information that could lead to the discovery of Keith.
“We will be seeking to obtain, review, and establish the relevance of all the information held by the documentary team,” GMP’s statement concludes.
The second part of The Moors Murders: A Search for Justice will air on BBC Two next Wednesday 6 August at 9pm.
Featured Image – GMP
News
New free app launches to help people find the best nature spots in and around Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new free app has launched to help people find, discover, and visit nature on their doorstep.
Wildling is aiming to be a simple one-step solution to the growing mental health crisis and the urgent need to care for the natural world.
By helping people visit nature more easily, and giving them tools to truly connect with it at this same time, Wildling is well on its way to supporting personal wellbeing and the joy of easily discovering nature across the UK, all while nurturing a sense of care and action for the planet.
Supported by partners including the RSPB, Marine Conservation Society ,and Forestry England, and backed by advisors and environmentalists like Ben Goldsmith, Eden Project founder Tim Smit, and Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden, the new app brings the UK’s wild spaces and hidden green spots together in one place.
A new free app has launched to help people find the best nature spots in Manchester / Credit: Kitera Dent | Robin Worrall (via Unsplash)
Featuring more than 1,500 locations across the country, from coastlines and woodlands, to nature reserves, the app also includes a wide range of tips to help you make your time in nature easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful.
The app has been created with the input of research carried out by the University of Derby, based on responses from more than 68,000 adults across England over two years.
The study found that people who spend time in nature every day report up to 22% greater life satisfaction, 17% higher happiness, and an average uplift of around 19% in overall wellbeing, compared to those who rarely go out.
Regular time in nature was also found to have a ‘striking’ effect on pro-environmental behaviour too, according to the survey.
Wildling was created by impact entrepreneur Ant Rawlins who wanted to make accessing nature ‘easier’ for everyone.
“We wanted to give people the tools to engage with nature by making it genuinely easy to visit, by showing them nearby nature places and giving them everything they need to make it happen,” says Ant Rawlins commented.
Wildling connects Mancs to the outside world and all it has to offer / Credit: Sol Stock (Supplied)
Ant said the study shows that spending more time in nature just a nice idea, it makes you happier, increases your satisfaction with life, lifts your overall wellbeing, and encourages you to look after the world around you.
“That’s exactly why Wildling was created,” he concluded.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd March 2022 
