A brand new mobile barber app for customers in need of a trim or hair professionals looking to expand their client base has recently launched in the Greater Manchester area, and it’s so convenient we can see it spreading across the country in no time.
While mobile hairdressers have, of course, been a thing for a long time now, we’re yet to come across an application that wraps the service all into one like some kind of Deliveroo/Uber-esque barber service — until we came across Appacut, that is.
Started by two local barbers, Michael Lawes and George Newbery, Appacut is the mobile haircut app that not only gives customers a convenient new way to book a trim, but also provides barbers and hairdressers with a new platform to source their own customers directly.
The best part of all is that neither party has to stick to the often frustrating opening times of regular barbers; both the customer and the person giving the haircut can book a visit at home, in their office or whatever other setting works best for them.
After trying it out for ourselves, we can confirm the whole thing was super easy.
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You simply open the app and search for local hairdressers by location, availability and the specific services on offer, then once you’ve found a mobile barber or hairdresser you look like the look of, you select a time and location that works for you — all with the press of a button.
Once you’ve chosen your ‘Appacutter’, they must then confirm the booking to complete the process and your appointment will be booked. Simple as that.
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As for barbers and hairdressers looking to join the app and find a new revenue stream of their own, hair professionals easily sign up, list their services and availability; share pictures from their portfolio and previous reviews, all while setting their own prices and workflow
At home……and in the office.
This ability to book haircuts virtually anywhere has the potential to truly revolutionise the way consumers use hairdressers and barbers, and the same goes for those in the trade looking to find more flexible ways to interact with their customers.
Rather than taking time out of their day to travel to a high street or a busy barbershop, people can now squeeze this essential service into a lunch hour, a relaxing day at home, or even at out-of-hour times. Trust us, these lot have already been flooded with plenty of late-night appointments.
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The fact that customers can shop around for the best mobile barbers and hairdressers in their area with photo evidence and honest reviews right at their fingertips will also ensure a reliable and value-for-money service.
Appacut has just launched across the Greater Manchester area but the people behind this project are ambitious and don’t want to stop until this brilliant and highly convenient new service goes nationwide.
Speaking about their vision for the future, co-founder Michael said, “Appacut is all about convenience. A traditional visit to a barber shop or salon can take a huge chunk out of a person’s day.
“We’ve all fallen victim to needing that ‘last minute trim’ be it for an event, holiday or something you forgot about, so we’ve designed Appacut to take the time and stress out of this essential task”. They’re also striving for the same accessibility for people working in the industry too.
“Local barbers and hairdressers are finding it increasingly difficult to make a profit when energy costs and rents continue to soar”, says Michael. “By switching to a mobile working model that requires no permanent premises, our Appacutters are enjoying an unprecedented level of economic freedom and being their own boss”.
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“A big thanks goes to our all-star team of app and web developers on hand and working directly with barbers, hairdressers and customers, listening to feedback and ideas to make sure we provide as good-a-service as possible.”
You can download Appacut for iOS or on Google Play now. New users can even get a 10% discount on their first haircut by using the code ‘CHEEKYSIGNUP‘ and, so long as you’re fast enough, you can even get a completely free haircut by quoting ‘CHEEKYMANCTRIM‘. How’s that for convenient?
Rochdale’s incredible fire festival will bring blazing sculptures and fiery displays to town this month
Daisy Jackson
Rochdale will be filled with dazzling pyrotechnic displays later this month when the Ignite Fire Festival returns to town.
The spectacular free event will see the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town Hall – which reopened to the public earlier this year – transformed with fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations.
The smash hit event debuted last year, attracting more than 10,500 people, and this year’s will be even bigger with three nights of magical family entertainment.
And the festival will culminate on the Sunday with the Rochdale Christmas lights switch-on.
Ignite Fire Festival comes from Walk the Plank, the outdoor arts specialists behind some of the UK’s biggest and best outdoor arts events, who have called upon artists and pyro technicians to create the many installations on show.
Between 5pm and 8pm each night, visitors will be able to walk past fire-based sculptures like goblets of fire, a daisy chain of flaming flowers, a fire bird with blazing eyes, and smaller birds circling a flaming nest – to name just a few.
There’ll also be sculptures that twist, flap and erupt with balls of fire, and ‘In The Balance’ will be a festival highlight, where rotating globes of flame seemingly defy the laws of physics.
Ignite Fire Festival is back in Rochdale this month. Credit: Supplied
Each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the UK’s top talent including Flame Oz – a thrilling fire dancing and juggling show.
There’ll also be performances from Liverpool’s Bring the Fire Project, local favourites Skylight Circus Arts, and street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus.
Visitors should look out for Drum Machine, a 20-strong drumming collective, The Fire Man Dave performing a live fire show with fire eating and juggling, and Astro Aliens, a trio of cosmic beings that will entertain all ages.
The incredible event, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, is set to take place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 November.
Ignite Fire Festival takes place in the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town HallThere’ll be performers as well as pyrotechnic sculptures. Credit; SuppliedIgnite Fire Festival is back for a second year. Credit: Supplied
After exploring the gardens, you’ll be able to pick up hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks served each night.
On Sunday, Father Christmas will be in town to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm in front of the town hall.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Last year’s Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On was a fantastic event and an instant hit with audiences from across Greater Manchester.
“It’s an exciting and unique event and the perfect addition to our big switch-on, providing family entertainment across the weekend.”
Mark Bailey, founder and owner of sponsor Trade Centre UK added: “Our partnership with Ignite Fire Festival and the Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On is a fantastic opportunity to give back to a community that has welcomed us so warmly.
“At Trade Centre UK, we believe in more than just selling cars; we believe in being part of the fabric of the local area. Supporting events like this, which bring people together to celebrate in the heart of Rochdale, aligns perfectly with our core values of community and connection.”
The event is free, and no tickets are required. Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.
Find out more and plan your visit to Ignite Fire Festival HERE.
Science and Industry Museum to transform into immersive ‘Light Lab’ as part of 2024 festive events programme
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most popular museums will be transformed into an immersive ‘Light Lab’ for the festive season.
As the temperatures begin to drop and Christmas creeps closer, this is your chance to escape the cold and brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour, as the Science and Industry Museum has now unveiled its upcoming festive events programme.
You can also explore a gaming extravaganza, and be engrossed by festive-themed science shows at the city centre-based museum this December.
Back by popular demand, after enchanting visitors of all ages in previous years, the museum’s free Light Lab will be making a return for 2024 – with everyone invited to discover the secrets of light through illuminating activities, special shows, and immersive experiences.
The Science and Industry Museum will transform into immersive ‘Light Lab’ this winter / Credit: Jason Lock (via Science Museum Group)
As Greater Manchester is known for its grey winter days, a series of illuminating experiments will bring colour to your lives in the interactive Light Lab, where you can explore a hall of mirrors, discover how to bend light, and even take a dance break in the rave room, before taking a journey from the Sun back to the Earth during special science shows led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers.
You’ll be able to discover how light travels through our atmosphere, explore the science of solar flares, and even marvel at a mesmerising display of the Northern Lights – with real NASA footage of the Aurora Borealis.
If all that exploring has got you tired out, then you can slow things down in the Recharge Retreat and get comfortable with a picture book, or explore the relationship between colour and mood and why nature is so important to our health.
You can escape from the cold, and learn a thing or two while you’re at it / Credit: Science Museum Group
But if you’re looking for a change of pace, you can also enjoy the museum‘s ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, to immerse yourself in a whole host of different digital worlds by working your way through five decades of video games, or learn about how what we eat can have a huge effect on our brains and bodies at the Operation Ouch! exhibition.
Then, for something a little different all together this festive season, you can grab a ticket for the first of the 2024 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures being screened live at the museum on Tuesday 10 December, ahead of the broadcast on the BBC.
The Winter Holiday Programme at the Science and Industry Museum runs from 14 December 2024 through to 5 January 2025.
Danny Jones -
27th July 2023 
