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?
Autotrader and viral food brand SpudBros are opening their first jacket potato drive-thru
Daisy Jackson
Autotrader has teamed up with SpudBros, the UK’s viral jacket potato trader, to open the first jacket potato drive-thru in Manchester.
The UK’s largest automotive marketplace is working with the SpudBros duo on the new Autotater drive-thru, where the duo will be handing out free jacket spuds – and which can also value your car in less than 10 seconds.
You’ll be able to visit the one-of-a-kind drive-thru for one day only next month, picking up a baked potato from an exclusive menu that includes the Autotater (a twist on a classic loaded spud) and the Curry In A Hurry (SpudBros’ signature garlic chicken curry).
You’ll also be able to tune into the Spud FM radio with SpudBros co-founders Jacob and Harley. Autotrader and SpudBros have teamed up for the drive-thru experience off the back of new research that has shown 44% of UK drivers have no idea what their car is actually worth.
The same research has also revealed that half of those surveyed are unsure how to determine the value of their car.
So now Mancs will be able to have their car instantly valued in less than 10 seconds, by Autotrader’s award-winning valuation service*, simply by visiting the Autotater drive-thru on 12 February.
Autotrader will be dishing out free valuations, to help ensure car owners don’t get small potatoes for their car and are empowered to choose when it’s the right time to sell.
Autotrader and viral food brand SpudBros are opening their first jacket potato drive-thru
This will be the first drive-thru for SpudBros, a brand which grew a traditional jacket potato van into a national sensation, finding viral fame on TikTok.
With a cult following of more than 4.8m people on TikTok and Instagram, the pair are now bringing their trademark energy offline for a drive-thru window with free spuds.
Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Autotrader said: “We know no one loves admin, which is why we want to make it easier and quicker for people to find out the true value of their car, in under 10 seconds.
“There’s something fun about that moment of surprise when you finally see what your car is really worth. Once you have that information, you can decide what to do next – whether that’s selling, upgrading or simply showing off to your mates.”
Jacob and Harley Nelson, the founders of SpudBros commented: “This is a big one for us. We’ve fed people across the country and even internationally, and Manchester is one of our most requested visits, so this is a really exciting opportunity.
“We love doing things that get people talking, and we also love cars, so teaming up with fellow Northern brand Autotrader lets us serve up something new that we feel passionately about – a free spud, a car valuation, and telling the story through social media.”
The Autotrader drive-thru will open in Manchester on 12 February, at Depot Mayfield. Tickets will be available through a draw on the Autotrader website for a limited time only.
To be in with a chance to get on the guestlist and for more details on the event, head HERE, and to join the millions who value their car free with Autotrader, visit HERE.
You can also follow @autotraderuk on Instagram for the latest updates.
*Highly Commended Winner of the 2025 Car Dealer Power Award in the Used Car Valuations category.
MediaCity’s massive Vue cinema has had a comfort upgrade with new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats
Emily Sergeant
Manchester cinephiles are now able to enjoy the latest movie releases in ultimate comfort.
That’s because, over at the popular MediaCity Vue cinema complex, 75 brand-new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats have been installed across seven screens, offering film fans what is, quite literally, the chance to sit in the best seats in the house.
Each seat provides the very-best view of the big screen and comes with a host of premium features.
Some of these exciting premium features include extra-wide armrests and a personal table for snacks and drinks, your very-own beverage cooler, which is ideal for films with a particularly long run-time, and even a back and legs that recline independently, so you can find the most relaxing viewing position possible.
Vue currently has 93 state-of-the-art cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland, totalling more than 850 screens – and the Quayside cinema is the latest to benefit from upgraded seating.
Ultra Lux seats have arrived at Vue Quayside Manchester / Credit: Vue Gallery / Supplied
This means that anyone heading to the cinema to see some of the latest and upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash, Marty Supreme, The Housemaid, Fackham Hall, Wicked: For Good, and so many more, can experience comfort like never before.
“We have invested in bringing Vue’s best seating option to our venue and are excited for our customers to enhance their experience on their next visit,” commented Darren Tinsley, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Quayside.
“It is truly the best way to immerse yourself in a film and to have the most comfortable experience.”
Tickets for Vue Manchester Quayside start from £6.49, with upgrades to Ultra Lux from £3 on selected tickets.
January is a month where the temperatures are colder, the days darker, and the social batteries a little lower, so it couldn’t be a better time to lose yourself in the power of cinema – and treat yourself to an Ultra Lux experience.
You can book tickets to upcoming films online by visiting myvue.com.
Danny Jones -
27th July 2023 
