A brand new rental development that’s bringing the ‘co-living’ concept to Manchester city centre is nearing completion, as Square Gardens launches a show apartment giving a look inside its beautiful spaces.
The scheme between First Street and the Mancunian Way will provide more than 1,772 new homes, and will boast one of the largest outdoor green spaces in the city.
There’s a mixture of accommodation options too, from shared three to five bed co-living apartments to one-bed and studio apartments.
The co-living concept means that you can rent your own en-suite bedroom within a shared apartment. Renting a whole apartment solo can be intimidatingly expensive, so co-living is a much more accessible way to get yourself a foothold in the city centre.
It works much like student halls, but with considerably less alcopops (unless you’re still into those…)
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The spaces have been carefully designed to maximise space too, and come fully furnished.
One of the bedrooms in a co-living apartmentOne of the bedrooms in a co-living apartmentOne of the double bedrooms in the co-living apartments at Square Gardens in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupBedroom options in Square Gardens’ co-living apartments. Credit: The Manc Group
Each en-suite room has huge wardrobes, under-bed storage and desks with more built-in storage.
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The apartments boast high specification living spaces with light, fresh and contemporary design with beautiful furniture pieces. Features include integrated appliances, comfortable living spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the southern side of Manchester city centre.
Then if you do want your own space completely to yourself, there are one-bedroom apartments and studios where you have your own kitchenette, bedroom and bathroom.
Each monthly rental fee includes all your utilities, super-fast WiFi, and access to the shared amenities across the neighbourhood.
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CGIs of how Square Gardens will look on completion. Credit: SuppliedCGIs of how Square Gardens will look on completion. Credit: SuppliedCGIs of how Square Gardens will look upon completion. Credit: Supplied
Square Gardens amenities for residents include a gym, wellness centre, and co-working spaces.
There are also lounges, a cinema room and a private dining area that you can book.
And the whole development is being built inside what will be the largest private landscaped garden in Manchester at 2.5 acres – which as those of us who already live in the city centre know, is a huge selling point.
There’ll be a series of community events, activities and clubs held for residents of Square Gardens, all year round.
The co-living kitchen inside the apartmentsCo-living shared apartments at Square GardensCommunal areas in Square Gardens’ co-living apartments. Credit: The Manc Group
Square Gardens is set to be the largest co-living development in the UK when it opens this September.
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The first phase of the Square Gardens development, known as Acer, is where the show apartment is located and is now available to view.
McDonald’s just celebrated this year’s MONOPOLY game with a giant prize dome on Market Street
The Manc
McDonald’s has been celebrating the return of its legendary MONOPOLY game promotion with a visit to Manchester.
If you were passing through the city centre on Tuesday you might have noticed a giant dome, like an inflatable snow globe – and if you were wondering what it was all about, we’ll tell you.
This was the McDonald’s MONOPOLY game dome, which visitors could climb inside and try to catch flying ‘peelies’.
If you could catch enough, there were big prizes up for grabs, including limited-edition McDonald’s MONOPOLY game hoodies, t-shirts, keyrings, and McDonald’s very own MONOPOLY board game.
Also up for grabs were vouchers such as £50 Prezzee Gift Cards, £70 off Jet2Holidays, £50 off Merlin Short Breaks, and £100 Virgin Experience Day.
And even if you didn’t manage to beat the dome, there were free vouchers (Monopoly Game at McDonald’s promotional ‘cash’) which could be swapped for McCafé® hot drinks or a small portion of Fries at a nearby restaurant.
And of course, that meant you still got a chance to play the normal MONOPOLY game promotion, peeling off your ‘game piece’ to reveal a prize – which have also been announced this month.
This year’s McDonald’s MONOPOLY game promotion features a top prize of £100k cash for three lucky customers, with other cash prizes including £5k for 60 more potential winners.
McDonald’s just celebrated this year’s MONOPOLY game with a giant prize dome on Market Street in Manchester
There are also £2,000-worth of Jet2Holidays for 90 winners, train credits with TrainPal, more than 300 Merlin Annual Passes for four, hundreds of LG OLED TVs from Currys, and thousands of £100 Virgin Experience Days.
There’s a 1 in 4 chance to win a prize on every pack, ranging from menu items all the way to those big cash prizes.
Other prizes include a MONOPOLY Lifesized experience for two, exclusive merch, and the limited-edition boardgame.
The MONOPOLY game promotion has been running under licence from Hasbro at McDonald’s since 2006, featuring instant win prizes as well as Property Codes which can be scanned and banked in the app.
In the app, customers can see Grimace race around a 3D game board, with 30 different outcomes – property cards (with prizes if you complete a set), chance cards (where you can win prizes), the Community Chest (which leads to MyMcDonald’s Rewards Points) and a £200 cash prize if you pass ‘Go’.
*The MONOPOLY Promotion at McDonald’s UK 2025 is only available to players aged 18 and over
adidas announces major in-store rewards in Manchester to celebrate the launch of iconic Superstar trainers
Daisy Jackson
adidas has reintroduced one of its most iconic trainers – and will be offering some unbeatable rewards in-store in Manchester to celebrate.
The pioneering sportswear brand recently relaunched the cult classic shoe, the adidas Superstar.
The adidas Superstar trainers, as if they need an introduction, combine an iconic shell toe with a choice of black or white leather, and of course the three-stripe branding.
They’re cool, they’re timeless, they’re high-quality and they’re a go-to in any footwear collection.
And if you head out to grab a pair this weekend in Manchester, there are some serious rewards up for grabs.
At the adidas Manchester store, you’ll be able to get a free welded bracelet or an ear piercing, as well as shopping while DJs spin records all weekend.
The adidas Superstar trainerInside adidas Manchester ahead of this weekend’s Superstar event
The celebration of the adidas Superstar will take place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September.
On Saturday, between 11am and 6pm, there’ll be jewellery welding by local artist Linked & Locked, plus DJ sets from Savannah Hayward (12-2pm) and DJ Polly (3-5pm).
You can also claim the free permanent jewellery or piercing if you buy a Firebird jacket.
This celebration in the new Manchester adidas store will make you feel like a superstar, with a memento as permanent and timeless as this legendary trainer.
Now reintroduced as ‘the original icon’ for FW25, a major new adidas campaign has been faced by an all-star cast that includes Olivia Dean, Jude Bellingham, and Stormzy.
It’s the shoe that’s made for the one who builds crowds instead of joining them.
There’ll be more activations to come, too, with a range of exciting drops, including Drama Call x Superstar and ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MUFC, on the way.
There are big plans on 1 October for the ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MUFC launch – watch this space.
Daisy Jackson -
20th March 2024 
