Tower on stilts proposed for Manchester city centre – but people worry it will ‘squash’ historic pub
A 26-storey tower built on stilts has been proposed for Manchester city centre. If it goes ahead, it will tower over the historic Briton's Protection pub.
A new 26-storey tower built on stilts has been proposed in Manchester city centre, on a small plot of land next to the Briton’s Protection pub.
The proposed site for the new tower is currently a small car park, with space for around half-a-dozen cars.
If the build goes ahead, Apex Tower will deliver 72 apartments on the corner of Albion Street and Great Bridgewater Street.
It’s very early days yet – property development company Arrowsmith is seeking feedback from members of the local community before submitting any planning applications.
But CGIs of the tower have been released, revealing that the majority of the 26-storey tower will be positioned on stilts, towering over the Briton’s Protection building, which dates back to the early 1800s.
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The majority of the tower would be built above the pub, with the help of huge columns. Credit: Arrowsmith.
The plans also include a smaller building sandwiched between the pub and the Jury’s Inn Hotel.
Arrowsmith says it would take a ‘sensitive’ approach to preserving the Grade II-listed pub and its beer garden.
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A quote on their site states: “To respect and allow the existing Briton’s protection to be seen as a stand alone building, the taller building is cut back over three storeys, so the pub is seen in its own right.
“At the upper levels the building will overhang and create newly enhanced public realm, supported by columns.”
The plot of land the proposals cover. Credit: Arrowsmith
It continued: “The Apex Tower proposals will enhance, rather than impact, the pub.”
The Manchester Central branch of CAMRA wrote: “This proposal is absolutely horrendous! We all need to raise concerns about it. Manchester already has far too many high rise, empty buildings we do not need any more.”
The Guardian’s North of England editor Helen Pidd said: “I’ve seen some awful buildings chucked up in Manchester over the last decade but allowing this monstrosity to overshadow the Briton’s Protection would rank among one of the greatest crimes against architecture and civic history (RIP the sunny beer garden).”
On Reddit, one person said: “Shocking that are squeezing a flat into what’s essentially a wide piece of pavement.”
Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
News
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Daisy Jackson -
19th November 2021 
