A new community of “lifestyle-led” apartments in one of Manchester’s most up-and-coming neighbourhoods is launching this week.
The apartment images and CGIs of the vibrant development have also just been released too.
The Castings is a brand-new ‘Build To Rent’ community of 352 apartments in Piccadilly East, which is often touted as one of Manchester‘s next-generation neighbourhoods.
The development – which is owned by CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT), also known as the owners of the famous The Lowry hotel – is “bringing new life” to the up-and-coming neighbourhood near Manchester Piccadilly station with its range of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.
Viewings of the show apartments will be ready to book from this week, all before the development is then set to open its doors to residents in June.
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The Castings is a brand-new ‘Build To Rent’ community of 352 apartments / Credit: Supplied
Sitting at the heart of an area steeped in rich industrial history, the development’s name, The Castings, has been chosen to pay homage to its past, and derives from pouring molten metals and other materials into moulds.
The design-led apartments are also inspired by these industrial shapes, flowing forms, and molten textures, according to developers.
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As well as the hundreds of stunning apartments, the new lifestyle-led development will also feature a wellness studio and gym, a games room, private dining spaces, a roof terrace, and a co-working hub too – with a collection of food and drink, and retail businesses set to open for both residents and anyone in the surrounding city centre area.
The development will become a focal point of the up-and-coming Piccadilly East neighbourhood once it opens / Credit: Supplied
The Castings will become a focal point of Piccadilly East once it opens.
Not only was it named by The Sunday Times as one of the best places to live last year, but Piccadilly East – which is conveniently-adjacent to Ancoats, New Islington, and the Northern Quarter – is already home to some of Manchester’s most popular food, drink, and live entertainment venues, and is soon to welcome the highly-anticipated Co-op Live arena, too.
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“In just a couple of months, we’ll be welcoming residents into our new community,” The Castings community manager, Dave Evans, commented ahead of viewings of the show apartments launching this week.
The new lifestyle-led development will also feature a gym, games room, co-working hub, and more / Credit: Supplied
He continued: “The focus for The Castings has been to create much more than just apartments, it’s a whole new lifestyle, with the best service and living experience that Manchester has to offer.
“Piccadilly East is a really exciting area to be part of, as it’s the next generation of Manchester, and following on from the footsteps of Ancoats, we hope to help create the next bustling creative hub in the city.”
Viewings of The Castings’ show apartments are due to begin from Monday 18 March onwards, with prices expected to start from £1,150 per month for a Studio, £1,250 per month for a one-bed apartment, £1,525 per month for a two-bed, and £2,175 for a three-bed apartment.
With the first residents able to move into the apartments from June, you can now register your interest, book a viewing, and find out more on The Castings website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2024 
