One of Scotland’s best-loved eyewear brands is expanding, and has picked Manchester as the location for its first-ever English store.
IOLLA may originally be known to Mancunians for designing Tommy Shelby’s specs in the hit BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, but now, following success in its native country, the innovative glasses brand is bringing a fresh take on eyewear retail to the shopping and fashion scene in our city centre, and will be opening its doors in St Ann’s Square.
The independent brand has introduced a new way to buy eyewear by offering affordable, quality glasses and sunglasses for a single price point.
What makes IOLLA different to many other high street glasses labels is that the brand prides itself on keeping its pricing “simple and honest” by refusing to include any hidden costs or added extras – which means that prescription lenses and coatings are all included within the standard £85.
On top of that, IOLLA showrooms are known for allowing customers to browse, try-on the collection, and place their orders in a fun and relaxed environment.
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When the new IOLLA Manchester store opens in early August, customers will get the chance to experience an in-store ‘styling session’ with an IOLLA eyewear expert – who will use their expertise to help people find the perfect pair.
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As IOLLA doesn’t offer eye tests, customers planning on visiting the showroom are encouraged to have their prescriptions to hand before placing their order through the digitally-enabled platform, either in person or online.
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All of the brand’s glasses and sunglasses are handmade, uniquely-designed, and built to last by using the best-quality components and materials available.
IOLLA guarantees there are several styles of its glasses to suit everyone, meaning that customers can develop their very-own ‘eyewear wardrobe’ full of multiple pairs of eyewear that is unique to their own personal style and taste.
Innovative glasses brand IOLLA is bringing a fresh take on eyewear retail to Manchester / Credit: IOLLA
“We are incredibly excited to be launching our first store outside of Scotland, and where better than Manchester?,” said Stefan Hunter – CEO at IOLLA.
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“One of the fashion capitals of the UK – and the perfect launch location for IOLLA south of the border.
“We can’t wait to bring our range of high quality, affordable glasses to the city, including our MacDonald frames, inspired by Tommy Shelby’s glasses worn in series five of Peaky Blinders. We know Manchester has a link to the show already, so feel confident that they’ll be a popular choice with locals.
“With an enormous range of frames and colours, we guarantee that there are several options for everyone.
“This will enable you to find plenty of styles handpicked for your own personal look.”
The Scottish brand will be opening its first showroom in England in St Ann’s Square next month / Credit: IOLLA
IOLLA Manchester is opening on St Ann’s Square in the heart of the city centre in early August, with exact dates to be confirmed, so keep your eyes peeled.
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You can find out more and shop the brand before it opens here.
Featured Image – IOLLA
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Craig David to take to the stage at iconic racecourse for outdoor summer gig
Daisy Jackson
Craig David has been added to the star-studded line-up for this year’s The Jockey Club Live summer series, which takes over racecourses across the north west.
The singer, whose career launched 23 years ago with his debut album Born To Do It, will be taking to the stage with his live band at Haydock Park on Saturday 24 June.
Craig’s impressive career has included an astounding 23 UK top 40 singles, nine UK top 40 albums and over five billion streams worldwide, plus multiple BRIT Award and Grammy nominations.
He’s also the proud owner of four MOBO Awards and three Ivor Novello Awards.
The star catapulted back into the charts in recent years with a string of chart hits that have filled dancefloors.
Craig is the talent behind the legendary TS5 parties, which combine old school anthems with R&B, garage, and bashment, alongside plenty of contemporary hits.
Craig David. Credit: Publicity picture
He’s part of the bill of huge outdoor concerts announced for The Jockey Club Live, which also includes Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Pete Tong, and an epic Faithless DJ set from Sister Bliss.
Molly Dingwall, general manager at Haydock Park Racecourse said: “Craig is one of the icons of the UK music industry and a real voice of a generation – we’re so excited to have him at Haydock Park this Summer for a show that’s sure to be a highlight!”
Craig David said: “From my TS5 shows in Ibiza to sets at festivals like Glastonbury, there is nothing quite like an outdoor summer show! I can’t wait to bring the party to Haydock Park in June with my live band – bring it on!”
The Jockey Club Live events blend an exciting evening at the races with spectacular live music, in some of the most beautiful and iconic racecourse settings in the world.
Tickets for Craig David at Haydock Park on Saturday 24 June are on sale now, priced from £36.25 for adults and £16.80 for children.
A huge free festival is coming to Kampus with frozen margaritas and canal-side pizza
Georgina Pellant
A huge free festival is coming to Kampus over the Glastonbury weekend, bringing the party vibes to the heart of the city centre.
Promising canal-side pizza from NY slice bar Nell’s, also famed for their 22″ pies, plus a prosecco van, a cocktail pop-up from Manchester Gin’s Three Little Words in the Bungalow and loads more, it’s set to run from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June 2023.
With huge outdoor screens in amongst the lush Kampus gardens broadcasting Glastonbury’s sets live throughout the weekend, the party will kick off on Friday with pizza slices and cocktails from Kampus’s waterside spritz bar.
Saturday will take things up a notch with live music from Manchester’s talented The Untold Orchestra, who will celebrate 40 years of Glastonbury headliners with their own orchestral renditions of classics from Bowie to Jay Z and Diana Ross.
Sunday will end on a quieter note, promising a day of family fun with Born To Be Wild Child decamping to the garden with craft tables and festival headband making, all set to the soundtrack of rock and roll hits.
There will also be free prosecco samples from the Delevigne sisters’ brand Della Vite, served direct from their pink vintage car ‘Penelope’.
Image: Nell’s at Kampus
Image: Nell’s at Kampus
Speaking on the upcoming festival Antonia Lallement, from Nell’s, said: “This is our first Kampus Fest and it’s all about bringing true festival vibes to the heart of Manchester.
“We’re decking out the Kampus garden to capture the bohemian magic of the UK’s favourite live events and flooding the space with music for the whole weekend.
“Manchester is full of music lovers and we want to give people a fun, city centre alternative to the real thing! We’ll be serving up slices to keep people going throughout the weekend and can’t wait to see people getting involved.
“Kampus has got to be one of the best outdoor spaces in the city. We felt it only right to put on a big summer block party come rain or shine.”
Abbie Duthie, from Three Little Words, added: “Glastonbury is an icon of the cultural calendar and we’re beyond excited to be staging Kampus Fest, bringing all the highs of the festival experience to Manchester, minus the mud of course.
“We’ll be serving our signature drinks canal-side for those whose ‘go to’ is summer spritzes and cocktails in the city over warm beer in a field! Kampus will be alive all weekend with great food and drinks, live music and festival vibes taking centre stage.”
Kampus Fest is free to attend from Friday 23 June – Sunday 25 June.
The Family Fun Day event on Sunday for youngsters requires reservation, with £2 tickets available to book in advance here.
Emily Sergeant -
21st July 2022 
