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.
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Shot (via SCFC)
Sport
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Danny Jones -
19th July 2024 
