We think you’ll be hard-pressed to find another place that combines basketball, tennis, boules, beer, light bites and a slice of the beach all in place, but Courts Club have somehow managed to cram all of those into one exciting spot.
Opening to the public on Friday, 19 July, Courts Club is the brand-new social venue from the Shiko Group (the same team that brought you Lawn Club, Side Street Studios, Foley’s and more), which has somehow thrown together court sports, a bar and a beer garden without it feeling shoehorned in.
The concept might sound a little contrived at first glance but after sampling it for ourselves, we can confirm it all just works and this place feels not only like a fun new place to keep active, but a unique little hideaway tucked behind a couple of Spinningfields skyscrapers.
Honestly, come on, when have you ever stumbled across a place like this in the city centre before?
As you can see, the latest addition to the gradually blossoming St John’s district located just down the road from the main Deansgate strip is a sports club up on paper, but it only takes five minutes to realise that it’s much more than that.
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Beyond the squeaky clean multi-purpose surface that doubles as both a basketball and a tennis court, you’ll find a little sandy pitch to play boules, tunes, deckchairs and benches aplenty to sit with a drink when the sun’s out, as well as a large beer hall stacked with a great selection of soft and alcoholic drinks.
There are even two big tellies, one inside and one out, which would have been the perfect spot to watch the Euros or Wimbledon but will certainly be where we try and catch the Olympics this year. It almost feels like someone picked up a bit of Miami or LA and dropped it in the middle of town.
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Shiko has routes in Manchester and in one of our sister cities, Leeds, so it’s no wonder they’ve nailed yet another cool venue to meet people, enjoy activities or just kick back and relax – they’re pros at this kind of stuff.
Speaking of kicking your feet up and chilling, the food and drinks selection here is another big plus, with fresh pastries, salads and sandwiches to fuel for a game of doubles, lots of refreshing tins of fizzy pop to keep you going, and refreshing beers, wines or spritzes to reward yourself after sinking a three-pointer.
In fact, if you fancy your chances shooting from deep, they’re giving away £500 to the first person who can shoot a bucket from half-court by the end of July. The race is on.
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The menu is also looking excellent, with super light and seasonal sandwiches, salads a cheeky little cheese toastie (because why not?) or just a combo of a few bits if you fancy a munch of everything.
We can honestly see ourselves spending just as much time sitting back, soaking up some rays with an Aperol and watching people play as we can actually running about ourselves, and that’s exactly why we like the vibe here so much already. Give it a try for yourselves and you’ll see what we mean.
Sale Sharks have acquired another new signing ahead of next season as they have secured the services of Jacques Vermeulen.
Oh yeah, and in case you didn’t know, he’s a very big lad…
The 30-year-old South African will be joining the second group of Sharks in his career, having previously played for Durban’s Hollywoodbets team of the same nickname based back in his home country.
He made his move to the Gallagher Premiership back in the 2019/20 campaign and after spending six years with the Exeter Chiefs, Vermeulen is now set to swap Sandy Park for Salford.
𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙭 💥
Jacques Vermeulen is joining our pack for the 25/26 season #SharksFamily!
Capable of being deployed at lock or along the back-row, the Paarl-born rugby union player has been labelled one of the best in his position that the league has seen in recent times, having made over a century of appearances for the Chiefs, who won their second title the season he arrived.
Joining Alex Sanderson’s side on a two-year contract after spending six years at Sandy Park, he will make his way to the Salford Community Stadium next season, following the arrival of Nathan Jibulu.
Towering above many other players at a whopping 6’6″, not only is he massive in stature but the Premiership heavyweight is known for his work rate and aggression, as well as being no stranger to grabbing a try or two.
Speaking via an official club announcement, Vermeulen said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Sale Sharks. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the club’s structure and incredible fan base, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.
“I already have some good friends in the squad, which will make the transition even smoother, and I truly believe this team has the talent and ambition to achieve big things.
“I’m excited to contribute and give my all for the club, and I can’t wait to get started. Sale Sharks are a very physical outfit and that suits my style of play.”
Sharks Director of Rugby, Alex Sanderson, went on to add: “Jacques has been one of the most consistent performers in his position in the league ever since he arrived at Exeter.
“His enthusiasm is infectious and he’s always been a nightmare to play against and someone we’ve had to target. He’s one of those players you want on your team because of his unparalleled, unrelenting physicality and work-rate.
“He’s a real enforcer, his ability to repeat physical actions is second to none and he’ll complement what we’ve already got. He can play anywhere across the back five but I think there’s more to come from him and that’s really exciting.
“He already has plenty of good mates here, so I have no doubt he’ll fit right in. We’re all buzzing to get him here.”
With fan-favourite Raffi Quirke also signing a new deal recently, the Curry brothers still running the flanks and George Ford looking on top form too, the Sale Sharks are looking strong going into 2025/2026.
Greater Manchester’s very own Nathan Aspinall has finally done it: he’s won his first European Tour Trophy and ended a two-year wait for a title.
‘The Asp’ is back on the up.
33-year-old Nathan Aspinall broke onto the Development and Challenge scene over a decade ago and has had an up and down time in professional darts ever since, including a career-threatening injury back in 2022, but he’s remained a fan favourite underdog throughout that time.
That being said, the room was fully behind as he broke the duck. Here’s how it happened:
ASPINALL IS THE CHAMPION! 🏆
Nathan Aspinall beats Ryan Joyce to win his first European Tour title!
Notching a thrilling televised win against Ryan Joyce, currently ranked 26th, the world number eight from Stockport made felt like not just a statement victory but a comeback of sorts, showcasing some of the impressive form that saw him emerge as such a promising talent in the first place.
He won his inaugural PDC Pro Tour title back in 2018 and his first World Series of Darts title at the US Darts Masters a year later, but he’s had to wait for his moments in the years since; in terms of a big title win on the Euro Tour, Aspinall was the first to joke “it only took me 10 years!”
His last piece of silverware came in July 2023 when he won his first World Matchplay title and dropped to the oche floor in a similarly emotional fashion, but the subsequent drought has felt like an eternity for the Stopfordian and his loyal following of fans.
The Asp led the entire match, breaking Joyce’s throw to take a 4-1 lead before ultimately going on to win 8-4 at the European Darts Trophy final in Göttingen, Germany on Sunday night.
He flexed some serious muscles and showed some resilience to do so, including an absolute peach of a 170 checkout that will go down as one of the best of the year – we don’t care if it’s only March.
Checkout of the year easily if he goes on to win the title. The big fishhhhhh 🎣
It wasn’t the only ‘Big Fish’ he pulled off either, having managed the same feat against veteran Gary Anderson in the semis, a moment he said had his hands shaking, let alone making it to the final.
Speaking after the crowd-pleasing conclusion and his maiden Euro title win, Aspinall said: “For me, personally – can I swear? It’s been a s*** few years for me. This is what I needed, it was a big win.
“It makes me believe in myself that I’m still good enough to compete with these boys. Because of the situation I’ve been in over the last few years with the injuries and the dartitis, this is probably my proudest moment.
The crowd were unbelievable. The support I got was amazing. This honestly means so much to me. Roll on [Michael] van Gerwen on Thursday night [in the Premier League of Darts].” He also told PDC of his struggles with ‘dartitis’ – a phenomenon that continues to confound players and viewers alike.
He signed off with a typically amusing moment, adding: “Honestly, [one] final word for this crowd, you guys are unbelievable and if anyone wants to buy me a pint at the bar, I’ll see you later.”
Danny Jones -
19th July 2024 
