Iconic landmark bar and restaurant The Refuge at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is gearing up for Christmas already.
And the team has just announced a magical-sounding programme of winter events.
Bringing together numerous choirs from across the region, as well as hosting a new Edwardian winter fair and bringing in guest town criers, the bar and restaurant will be bringing back its magical Christmas Carol celebration for 2021.
Launching on Friday 12 November, The Refuge Christmas Carol will start the countdown to the festive season with a special launch event featuring a star performance from The Hallé Ancoats Community Choir.
It’s also rumoured that a special guest will be making a cameo in disguise as a Town Crier, although more clues as to who that might be are yet to be revealed.
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The Refuge has just announced a magical-sounding programme of winter events this year / Credit: The Refuge
Following on from its launch, further events programmed in over the build-up to Christmas include a festive fancy dress competition for dogs in its heated, undercover courtyard (28 November), and an Edwardian Christmas fair across two weekends (5 and 12 December).
The Edwardian Christmas fair will welcome a host of traders including vintage clothing from Top of The Town Vintage, music-inspired prints from HollieGraphik, contemporary homeware and accessories from Deadstock General Store, homemade homeware from Northern on the Run, jewellery and digital artwork, plus special accessories form artist and stylist Mariel Osborn.
There will also be a fine local selection of craft beer from local brewers Manchester Union Lager, plus more surprise special guests still to be announced.
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There will also be Christmas wreath making workshops held every Thursday in December from 6.30 pm at the bar, that are held in collaboration with the hotel’s in-house florist Giraffe Flowers.
A festive cocktail and mince pie, and all materials are included in the ticket price of £70.
Over two weekends, The Edwardian Christmas fair will welcome a host of traders and so much more / Credit: The Refuge
There’ll also be an epic line-up of DJs carefully selected across the festive season, including Refuge residents, DJ Sant on 20, 21 and 22 December, plus many more still to be announced.
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On top of all this, the restaurant will be serving up delicious Christmas dinners throughout the period – including on Christmas Day for those who don’t fancy doing the cooking (or the washing up).
To find out more, head over to The Refuge’s website here.
Featured Image – The Refuge
News
Police appeal for information after pedestrian killed on Mancunian Way followed earlier welfare concern reports
Emily Sergeant
Police are continuing to appeal for information after a pedestrian was killed on Mancunian Way during the early hours.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that the shocking incident occurred at approximately 12:50am on Friday 31 October when it was reported that a Volkswagen Passat had collided with a man in his 20s.
Sadly, the collision was fatal and the pedestrian died at the scene.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 40s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Following the incident, subsequent police enquiries have established that a call was made to the force shortly after midnight which reported concern for a man walking on the carriageway, and GMP says it believes the man in that report was the man who was involved in the fatal collision.
Officers were sent out as ‘high priority’ to carry out an extensive search of the surrounding area after the report was made, but it was said that they couldn’t locate him.
#UPDATE | Officers are continuing to appeal for information following the fatal collision on Mancunian Way this morning.
We have referred ourselves to the IPOC after reports that the victim was possibly spotted on the carriageway earlier that morning.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) October 31, 2025
Due to this earlier report, GMP has confirmed that it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look into its response to the search.
The victim’s family is aware, have been updated, and they are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is still appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward, and are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV footage, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area in the moments leading up to the incident.
“This is a tragic incident for all involved and we express our deepest condolences to the family of the man who has lost his life, and whom we are doing our utmost to support at this time,” commented Sergeant Andrew Page.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of the 31/10/25, or by using the ‘report tool’ or LiveChat function on the GMP website – www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Geograph
News
Stockport paedophile who abused teen girls in early 2000s handed five extra years in prison
Emily Sergeant
A prolific paedophile who ‘groomed, exploited, and coerced’ teenage girls in the early 2000s has had his sentenced extended.
It was reported on back in June that Christopher Oates, from Stockport, was brought to justice after he subjected vulnerable girls to what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) referred to as a ‘campaign’ of violence and sexual abuse 20 years ago.
Oates was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old, and two counts causing / inciting a child aged 13-17 years to prostitution.
He was originally sentenced to 13 years in prison for all his crimes.
But now, following a successful appeal by GMP, working with the survivors and the Crown Prosecution Service, to take the ‘unduly lenient’ sentence to the Court of Appeal, Oates has now been handed an extra five years in prison.
Paedophile who abused teenage girls twenty years ago has sentenced extended by five years after successful appeal
We’ve worked with the survivors and the CPS to take Christopher Oates’ unduly lenient sentence to the Court of Appeal. pic.twitter.com/4yfgjpWxCN
His sentencing increase comes after the 45-year-old groomed one of the survivors from when she was just 14 years old, by providing her with a false sense of security, paying her compliments, and pretending to be her boyfriend, all before he proceeded to ply her with drugs, gifts, and affection, and using the trust and control he gained to persuade her to start sex work on the streets of Manchester.
When the teenage victim began to doubt his intentions and asked to go home, Oates dragged her down an alleyway, violently attacked her, and threatened her with a gun, stating: ‘You do as I say, you’re mine now,’ commanding her to go to her ‘spot’.
It was this incident that prompted the teenager to confide in her mother and support services, and from here, found the strength to move forward with her life, while still courageously supporting the police investigation.
From this investigation, detectives were then able to identify a second teenage victim, a 17-year-old, who Oates also coerced into sex work.
Speaking on Oates’ sentencing increase, DI Eleanor Humphreys, who was a senior investigating officer for this case, said: “We join both victims in expressing our relief and delight that the Court of Appeal has reviewed Oates’ lenient sentence and increased it by five years.
“Oates will now rightly serve consecutive sentences for both victims, meaning that his time behind bars reflects the totality of his offending against both women – whose lives he has so badly impacted.
“We will not relent in ensuring child sex offenders are brought to justice and face the full consequences for their horrific crimes.”
Georgina Pellant -
20th October 2021 
