The next phase of Dock 5, a new riverside development in Ordsall, will see 152 new homes unveiled.
The new £53m neighbourhood is named after Salford’s former docklands and will eventually consist of 394 apartments and townhouses.
When it completes this autumn, there’ll also be a state-of-the-art gym, a cinema room, co-working spaces, and dining options, all within walking distance of Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK.
Dock 5 includes an expansive piazza of landscaped gardens as a nod to the area’s past as a Victorian botanical garden.
Residents at Dock 5 in Salford. Credit: Supplied
ForLiving’s development is part of Ordsall’s ongoing multi-million pound transformation into a waterfront community.
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The second phase will open up more homes to renters, after the first 121 apartments were snapped up in just two weeks last October – and viewings are available to book now.
Any profits from Dock 5 will be reinvested back into the local community, with a priority to help end homelessness locally.
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Promising to be an ‘oasis of city living’, each home pitches itself as a calming and stylish space where residents can work, live and play.
The team at Dock 5 says the green space, combined with its riverside location, will entice residents outside to make the most of long summer evenings spent relaxing and exercising outdoors.
Residents and locals have already been able to take part in yoga sessions and prosecco and pizza nights, put on by small local businesses. There are barbecues on the cards for this summer.
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Inside a Dock 5 home. Credit: Supplied
Mark Edwards, strategic lead at ForLiving, said: “Throughout Dock 5’s development, our future residents’ wellbeing has been a key focus for us. We’ve really tried to approach it from all angles – whether mental, social or financial – and facilitate that with beautiful surroundings and social events.
“We’ve put people at the heart of every decision we’ve made here, which has helped us add in those extra touches which will make lives easier – like parcel lockers, cleaning services, an on-site gym coming later in the year and even pet-walking services.
“We’ve been blown away by the interest from local people, university grads, creatives and professionals who are keen to benefit from quality, modern homes that bring city living at prices people can afford.
“We also know that people are increasingly passionate about being socially conscious, so they feel really reassured when they learn about ForLiving’s wider commitment to invest profits back into the community and to help build new schemes to tackle homelessness.”
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Rents at Dock 5 range from £853 for a one-bedroom or £1083 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park is offering 50% off tickets over half term
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s newly-opened indoor activity park is offering families the chance to visit for half price this spring holidays.
In case you missed it, Salford was chosen by Oxygen Activeplay as the location for its next venture, an officially opened the doors to its newest state-of-the-art equipment facility above bustling food hall Kargo MKT, inside the former site of I’m a Celebrity Jungle Challenge down at Quayside MediaCity in mid February.
Since opening to the public, Oxygen MediaCity has already been helping lots of local families stay active and have fun at the same time.
Following a £2.5 million investment, the new park features more than 30 trampolines, a mega-air bag, a high ropes course, a ‘Rollglider’ aerial ride which flies over the facility, and Oxygen’s signature illuminated sensory experience ‘Excite Tunnel’, along with even more “epic” activities.
A series of optional games and dance parties are also on offer during each play session, and the new Manchester park also hosts ‘Peaceful Play’ sessions designed for neurodivergent guests, who prefer a calmer and quieter playing environment, as well as there being a ‘Toddler Venture Zone’.
A cafe serving drinks, snacks, and meals also overlooks the park, so once you’re all bounced out, you can recharge with a full feast from the new menu before heading home.
Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park is offering 50% off tickets over half term / Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
And thankfully, once schools are out for the spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, families can get themselves one of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Easter Holiday Pass, which gives pass holders the chance to visit the park on any five days of the two-week break – including on weekends and bank holidays – for 60 minutes of ‘Open Play’.
For a limited time only, you can save some pennies and take advantage of a half price offer and get your hands on an Easter Holidays Pass for only £30.
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
12th April 2022 
