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.
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
19th July 2024 
