News

Manchester city centre gym forced to close for repairs following New Year’s Eve flooding

They're currently assessing the damage and attempting to drain their facilities.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 3rd January 2025

A city centre gym has been forced into temporary closure after it was flooded following heavy rainfall on Greater Manchester on New Year’s Eve.

While lots of people were toasting the end of 2024 earlier this week, many other residents and local businesses woke up to a less-than-ideal way to start the new year as flooding plagued the likes of Stockport, Altrincham, Bolton, central Manchester and more.

A whole section of the Bridgewater Canal over in Dunham Massey, Cheshire and here in the city centre, the flow caused various sections bits of waterside path to disappear completely underwater.

Naturally, being a very canal-centric district, Castlefield ended up being one of the most heavily affected areas and, unfortunately, The Y Club gym and health centre saw much of their facilities flooded and have had to close for drainage and repairs.

The gym and health club said in a lengthy post on social media: “Overnight, the Y Club was impacted by severe flooding, which has affected the ground floor, including the swimming pool, changing rooms, gym and fives courts.

“This is devastating news for our staff, members, and the entire Y Club community. Our immediate priority is to address the situation and begin the process of reopening the affected areas. The floodwaters will need to subside before we can safely begin repairs and restoration efforts.”

Explaining that various rooms will be out of action for a more significant period, they have made plans to relocate the majority of their gym equipment into the sports hall – mostly unscathed in comparison – to allow for gym members to still make use of the facilities.

The message on Instagram goes on to read: “As a result of this, the Y Club will remain closed until Wednesday, 7 January. We will continue to provide updates on when specific areas of the club will be ready to reopen.

“We understand how important the Y Club community is to all of you, and we share in your frustration. Please know that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to restore the club and get things back to normal as soon as possible.”

sports activities y club manchester
The sports hall where gym equipment facilities are being moved. (Credit: The Y Club Manchester website)

“Any questions you may have please contact the club via email [at] [email protected]. Thank you for your patience and support during this challenging time.”

We’re sure we speak for everyone when we say we hope they get back on their feet in time to reopen properly next week and that the damage/repairs aren’t too costly.

Y Club is located right next door to the Castlefield Hotel and although the two Liverpool Road buildings are attached, there has luckily been no word of flooding in the latter as yet.

The gym was the only popular Manchester destination to have been hit with the watery scenes either, as student favourite bar and nightclub Joshua Brooks was forced to close on New Year’s Eve after their basement room – which sits precariously just above the canal – unfortunately flooded as well.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Y Club (via Instagram)

News

New ‘postboxes of the future’ are being rolled out across the UK

Danny Jones Danny Jones Royal Mail installing new futuristic postboxes

The Royal Mail is starting to roll out its line of so-called “postboxes of the future” across the UK this year, including right here in Greater Manchester.

It has been dubbed the most important and noticeable transformation to the classic British postbox in its entire 175-year history.

The national postal service teased the modern-day upgrade earlier this year, but the revolutionary new upgrade was officially announced this week, with Royal Mail ushering in a new era of digitally-driven units that should make many lives a lot easier – at least in theory.

Although they might look pretty identical to the iconic red boxes since before the turn of the 19th century have used up and down the country, there are marked differences between the new and the old ones.

new solar post boxes great britain
Credit: Royal Mail

The biggest change made to the Royal Mail’s soon-to-be standard design is a digitally activated drop-down drawer, which will be able to fit parcels as big as a shoebox, hopefully saving us Brits on a fair few trips to the post office.

You will be able to scan a barcode via the updated Royal Mail app to activate the drawer for larger items; meanwhile, there will be a separate slot for letters and smaller packages.

Additionally, the new range of high-tech postboxes will also be solar-powered, helping the public limited company chase its ‘green’ targets.

Now owned by parent firm International Distribution Services (IDS) – who also oversee Parcelforce Worldwide – following the UK government’s approval of its historic sale to Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský at the end of 2024, the group as a whole is undergoing a significant overhaul.

Britain’s new solar postboxes were first trialled back in April in four towns located throughout the Hertfordshire region: Letchworth Garden City, Ware and Hertford. A fifth was later installed in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, too.

Despite being quickly considered a success on the whole, the initial design featured an entirely black top, with polls of civilians and Royal Mail themselves agreeing that keeping them red all over was more in keeping with the brand.

It’s like the old school phone box, isn’t it? We can’t picture it any other way.

Speaking in a statement, the Royal Mail‘s managing director of ‘out-of-home and commercial excellence’, Jack Clarkson, said: “We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before.

“This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces. There are 115,000 postboxes in the UK located within half a mile of 98% of addresses, making them by far the most convenient network of parcel drop-off points in the UK.

“Our message is clear – if you have a Royal Mail label on your parcel, and it fits, put it in a postbox and we’ll do the rest.”

The new generation postboxes are now being made permanent in the same locations, with Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester next.

Keep your eyes peeled on the streets as they’ll soon be making a debut in your area.

Read more:

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

Featured Images – Royal Mail (publicity pictures)

News

Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 opening date announced – including Albert Square return

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Christmas Markets are merely months away, and the opening date and important details for 2025’s return have been announced.

It’s official… holidays are coming, and the countdown is on.

Just as we do every year, the Greater Manchester public has been eagerly awaiting news of when the city’s iconic Christmas Markets would be making a comeback for the 2025 festive season.

But now, Manchester City Council has announced that the famous wooden huts will be lining Manchester‘s streets once again from the first week in November, and for the first time in six years, Markets will also be returning to Albert Square.

Where to find the cheapest drinks at the Manchester Christmas Markets, from beer to mulled wine
2022 Manchester Christmas Markets
The Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 return date has officially been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr

Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bring thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and to soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.

While restoration work has been carried out on the city’s Grade I-listed Town Hall building, markets have been spread all across the city centre in recent years, instead of the central hub being in Albert Square – but this year, some of the festivities will return to where they belong.

More than 200 stalls will also be spread across nine other sites throughout the city centre.

Markets will take over 10 major locations across the city centre / Credit: Manchester City Council

Promising to be plenty on offer for seasonal shoppers of all ages, 2025 will see the iconic wooden ski chalet market stalls take over King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, and Cathedral Gardens, as well as Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens as usual.

Dominating a twinkling seasonal skyline on Albert Square will be an enormous 50-metre-high ferris wheel, as well as an enchanting vintage carousel for children, and other Christmas fairground-style attractions. 

The new ‘A Taste of Christmas’ event will be open on Albert Square until Sunday 4 January 2026, bringing the space back into the heart of the city’s countdown to Christmas festivities and staying open throughout the festive season for families to enjoy into the new year.  

2022 Manchester Christmas Markets Guide
Councillors are going all out to make Manchester the world’s number one Christmas city / Credit: Manchester City Council

“We’re going all out this year to make sure that Manchester is the number one city for Christmas – not just in the UK, but in the world,” commented Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council.

Cllr Karney also teased that there are a few other ‘Santa surprises’ to come that we can expect to be announced in the coming weeks.

He concluded: “In the meantime, dust off your baubles, un-twirl your tinsel, and get ready – Albert’s back.”

Read more:

Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 will officially open across the city on Friday 7 November and close on Monday 22 December.

That is except for A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square, and the stalls at Cathedral Gardens – which will remain open throughout the Christmas period until 4 January 2026.  

Featured Image – Flickr

More News

Business

Feel Good Club becomes Manchester’s latest independent cafe to announce ‘heartbreaking’ closure

Mayor Andy Burnham statement update after Salford Red Devils RFL meeting

News

Greater Manchester Mayors deliver update on Salford Red Devils situation

A Metrolink tram in Manchester city centre

Boroughs

Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network progress after £6m funding boost

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches