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Tier 3 restrictions come into force in Greater Manchester today. Here’s what you can and can’t do.

But with Tier 3 restrictions imminent, Greater Manchester residents are now determining what they can and cannot do once new measures become law at 00.01 BST.

The Manc The Manc - 22nd October 2020

Greater Manchester has officially moved into Tier 3 today – with the toughest measures being imposed on the region at 00.01 BST on October 23.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and his local leaders have dedicated the past two weeks to fighting the government for an improved financial package for the region – which is being recategorised in the ‘very high’ risk alert level.

Greater Manchester MPs had previously refused to enter Tier 3 without more support, tabling several discussions with the government that all resulted in deadlocks or abandonment.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that he would be forcing Greater Manchester into Tier 3 without a deal; but on Wednesday told the Commons he’d be giving the region £60m to distribute across all ten boroughs.

Now, with Tier 3 restrictions imminent, Greater Manchester residents are wondering what they can and cannot do once new measures become law at 00.01 BST.

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Here’s what you need to know.

Which areas are affected?

The measures cover every borough in the Greater Manchester area.

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After midnight tonight, Tier 3 restrictions will apply to:

  • Manchester
  • Bolton
  • Bury
  • Stockport
  • Tameside
  • Trafford
  • Wigan
  • Salford
  • Rochdale
  • Oldham

What will close in Tier 3?

Gabriella Clare Marino / Unsplash

Several types of businesses must shut under Tier 3 restrictions. These include:

  • Pubs and bars – according to the government, these venues “can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant” ie serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal.
  • Casinos
  • Bingo halls
  • Betting shops
  • Adult gaming centres
  • Soft play areas

All hospitality must stop trading at 10pm.

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Delivery, click and collect and drive-through services are allowed to continue after 10pm in Tier 3.

Hospitality venues in ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas do not need to close at 10pm, but must not serve alcohol after that time.

Currently, gyms, leisure centres, libraries, community centres and places of worship are set to remain open in Greater Manchester.

Can I meet with friends and family outside my household in Tier 3?

Brooke Cagle / Unsplash

In most cases, no.

In Tier 3, there is a total ban on household mixing – indoors and outdoors in private gardens.

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There are exemptions for meeting one other adult in your ‘support bubble’.

However, you can continue to meet people you do not live with in groups of six or less in certain outdoor public spaces like parks, beaches, countryside, forests, public gardens, allotments, outdoor sports courts and facilities, and playgrounds.

The government has warned that meeting in larger groups carries the risk of big penalties – including £200 for a first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

Anyone found involved in organising an illegal gathering of over 30 people can be fined £10,000.

Can I play sport in Tier 3?

Abigail Keenan / Unsplash

Yes.

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The government has announced exemptions to the Rule of Six for certain sporting events. These include:

  • Elite sportspeople for competition and training
  • Outdoor exercise and dance classes
  • Organised outdoor sport and licensed outdoor physical activity
  • Indoor organised sport for disabled people, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s

Are weddings permitted in Tier 3?

Samantha Gades / Unsplash

The government has confirmed that weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can take place in COVID-secure settings or outdoors provided guests are restricted to 15 people.

Receptions are banned.

People living outside of Greater Manchester can travel into the area to attend a wedding, but they must not meet with another household in a private home or garden or stay overnight.

Are funerals allowed in Tier 3?

Mayron Oliveira / Unsplash

Funerals must only take place in COVID-secure venues or in public outdoor spaces.

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A maximum of 30 people can attend.

Wakes are limited to 15 people and must not take place in private homes.

Can I travel in and out of a Tier 3 area?

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The government is strongly advising against travelling in and out of Greater Manchester whilst the region is under Tier 3 restrictions.

The official advice is for people to avoid the region where possible. If anyone needs to visit Greater Manchester, they should “reduce the number of journeys [they] make.”

Entering the region is still allowed for work/education purposes.

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Commuters are also being urged to walk or cycle if possible to reduce congestion on public transport.

Visitors are also being told not to meet people indoors or stay overnight in Greater Manchester.

Residents can travel to hotels and other guest accommodation within the region, but only with people in their households.

You can read the full list of Tier 3 restrictions for Greater Manchester on the government website.

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Manchester’s 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness raises a whopping £50k for ‘A Bed Every Night’

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness fundraising tally

This city can stand up and pat itself firmly on the back after this year’s 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness raised a whopping £50,000 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.

Manchester, you truly are incredible.

Returning for the sixth time last week, the 2024 edition of Manchester’s annual fundraising 24-hour relay event was a bumper year and then some, as not only did they cruise past their initial target of £25k but there were records all over the place for distances covered and attendance.

With well over 1,000 runners from all over the region descending upon host venue Freight Island and the city centre route at various different points during the 24 hours, we can well and truly say us Mancs ran our absolute socks off for a crucial cause.

Starting from 12pm on Wednesday, 13 November and running until noon the next day, those involved completed a total of 40 consecutive laps with some of those taking part barely stopping for even a moment’s rest in between each one, no matter how dark, cold or painful it got.

Translating to the equivalent of 1,666 beds for those in the Greater Manchester homeless community and counting, the team – comprised of 86 volunteers, hugely supportive overnight security staff and countless runners – managed to generate nearly double the amount of donations raked in last year.

If you want more context, prior to the 2024 event, The 24 Hour MCR Run had raised approximately £52,807.99 over the course of its entire first five years, meaning they’ve basically just matched that overall tally in just one day – albeit a very long one.

The frankly ridiculous tally couldn’t have been reached without help from donation-boosting sponsors AutoTrader and Together Co. (as well as help from Accenture and Mistral), but even without those additions, it was still by far and away the most successful year in the event’s history.

Countless runners booked time off or got laps done on their lunch hours, with many even coming after work on the Wednesday to then return and put in even more graft the following morning before their shift. Simply inspirational stuff.

Volunteers and run leaders like Marv Lucas, Shomak Chakrabarti, Jay Orris, Molly Glenister-Doyle and many others each smashed 100km or more; even The Manc managed to rack up 110k between us.

The 24 Run Against Homelessness
The Manc doing their bit
manchester 24 hour homeless run
Runners doing their 5k laps of Manchester city centre
running event freight island
Still hundreds there come nightfall
andy burnham speaks at charity running event in manchester
Burnham gave a rousing and emotional speech
(Credit: The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness)

One Chorlton Runner, 55-year-old Ian Sharpe, set the men’s record with a simply staggering 150k, while Natasha Barclay smashed the women’s record with an unbelievable 117k just 10 days after running almost the same distance at The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness‘ debut event in Birmingham.

Joining for the busy 7pm, when hundreds of people from Greater Manchester-based run clubs, local businesses and more lined the steps of Freight Island, Mayor Andy Burnham was in attendance and admitted that the immense turnout brought “a tear to the eye.”

Labelling the ever-growing initiative a prime example of “Greater Manchester in action” and community engagement at its finest, it was visible to see how taken aback he was not only by the sheer number of runners but by how much the event has grown since its inception.

Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity (GMMC) CEO, Dr Fran Darlington-Pollock – who also put in some laps herself along with members of her team – was equally blown away by the 2024 event.

Talking to The Manc, she said: “The 24 Hour Run raises vital funds to support our flagship scheme, ‘A Bed Every Night’ (ABEN), providing far more than just a bed for the night but vital wrap-around support to help get people back on their feet.

“No one should have to spend a night on the streets, particularly as we head into the colder, harsher months. Raising funds for ABEN helps to get us closer to a point when we can say we have truly eradicated the need for rough sleeping.” Safe to say a big dint was put in the problem this month.

Read more:

Speaking on an overwhelmingly successful 24 hours, co-founder Tom Lewis said: “I’m genuinely overwhelmed with the support we received for this year’s event and the Manchester running community and local companies coming together to help make a real impact in the region.

“As for the future, we plan to come back bigger than ever each year. We’ve set an ambitious precedent by doubling our fundraising total for the last few years, which could mean we’re looking at £100,000 next year. At the moment that seems like a dream, but I said the same about £50,000 and here we are.

“Also, expansion into London would be amazing and after launching The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness in Birmingham earlier this month, the goal is for it to reach Manchester levels too.”

It goes without saying that raising this much money for such a vitally important problem in the space of 24 hours is phenomenal and we couldn’t possibly be any prouder of all those who took part.

The supplementary JustGiving page is actually still active for 2024, so you can still donate if you want to add to that already huge sum but, for now, well done to everyone and we’ll see you next year.

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

Featured Images — The 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness

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Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.

Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.

A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.

It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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