The groundbreaking new Manchester gym offering free membership for a year
Inside is an indoor running track, a 20-metre sled track, CV garden, performance room, free weight area, resistance equipment, assault course – with monkey bars, rope regain and cargo net, full free motion cable suite, and a climbing wall – a first for a gym in Manchester.
A brand new gym is coming to Manchester – offering a “fitness sanctuary to restore, re-energise and revive”… along with a full year’s membership for one lucky winner.
GSquared Health Club is set to open in January in the vaults of Royal Exchange Arcade – boasting 12,000sq ft of training space.
Inside is a running track, a 20-metre sled track, CV garden, performance room, free weight area, resistance equipment and an assault course (with monkey bars, rope regain and cargo net, full free motion cable suite, and climbing wall) – a first for any gym in Manchester.
Launched by Royal Marine Commando-turned-Personal Trainer Andy McGlynn, this state-of-the-art fitness space takes a “multi-faceted approach to fitness and wellbeing” – with some of the best exercising resources anywhere in the city.
The venue will have a luxurious front of house – with members able to book sports rehab massages and get their kits freshly laundered.
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Members will also have direct access to The Remedy Kitchen – Manchester’s first and only free-from café concept in the city.
CEO McGlynn said: “I knew that Manchester had to be the first location for the first GSquared Health Club, which I believe is set to be a gamechanger for the fitness industry. We are shaking up the norm to become one of the world’s leading health club brands.
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“Taking all the learnings and experiences from the fitness industry as a whole, I wanted to create strengths from the recurring issues that often let members down. For example, our new site is substantial enough in size to accommodate a club membership in excess of 3,000 members, but it will actually be limited to 800, meaning that members will never have to wait for equipment – it will be a much better experience all round.
“We’ve also created a unique, 7-part, optional, introductory screening for members, known as ‘YouSquared’. It’s arguably one of the most in-depth, diverse, accurate, informative, educational and useful yet non- invasive member experiences of any gym in the world, and I take that statement seriously.”
GSquared Health Clubs also plans to support the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on a long-term basis with a seven-figure contribution every year – with the facility’s aesthetics (aquarium, garden and stone) showcasing a “gentle connection to nature.”
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Membership tiers available at GSquared Health Clubs include: Executive at £95 per month; Platinum at £150 per month; and Platinum Plus at £225 per month.
Memberships can be purchased by contacting [email protected] or by calling the membership team on 0161 669 4562.
To be in with a chance of winning a year’s full membership to GSquared – head over to The Manc Instagram.
Sport
A Greater Manchester run club is taking on a 24-hour ‘Everest’ memorial and charity challenge
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester run club is set to take on an impressive 24-hour feat of endurance dubbed the ‘Everest’ challenge later this week, and it’s all for charity.
Yes, running on behalf of not only a nearby organisation but also in memory of a beloved native, this deeply moving event will see the group of Trafford runners going up and down hills for a whole day.
We’ve seen the huge growth of the flagship Manchester 24-Hour Run Against Homelessness over the past half a decade – which has now spread to multiple other cities – and it’s great to see similar formats springing up across the region.
Set up by Batch Running Club, who are based in Altrincham, the Everest challenge gets underway this coming Friday and will run (pun very much intended) into the weekend.
Sharing a lengthy post on social media, they wrote: “On Friday, 5th June at 6pm, our amazing running club will begin a 24-hour challenge running backwards and forwards over Moss Lane Bridge near Tesco in Altrincham.
“Our goal? To cover the equivalent elevation of climbing Mount Everest — at least once, maybe even more! We’re taking on this challenge to raise much-needed funds for Trafford Carers Centre in memory of the wonderful Jim Edward Parsons.
“A couple of years ago, as a running club, we chose to support Trafford Carers because of a personal connection within the Batch family. Bards, owner of Batch Bottlestore, saw first-hand the incredible support Trafford Carers gave his mum, Kirsty, while she cared full-time for his stepdad Jim.
“Their help made a huge difference during an incredibly difficult time and ensured Kirsty never felt alone in her role as a carer.”
Unfortunately, Jim sadly passed away last December, and so in an effort to honour his life and support the crucial care network that has not only aided local families but touched so many other lives in the process, they’ll be taking on the ‘Big Tesco Hill’ for 24 hours straight. WOW.
As the poster would suggest, it runs right past the main Alty Tesco. (Credit: David Dixon via Geograph)
Having been lucky enough to enjoy the downhill version of that very same hill as part of the Manchester Marathon, we can only imagine how difficult it is running back up it in the other direction…
Encouraging people to come along and join, or even just come along and support as volunteers and/or cheer on from the sidelines, they’re hoping to complete as many laps as time will allow and, more importantly, raise as much vital funding as possible.
They signed off by adding: “This charity is incredibly close to our hearts, and Jim will always remain at the centre of why we continue supporting Trafford Carers.”
We hope 2026 is just the first of what will become a worthwhile annual fitness fundraiser; you can donate to the charity run HERE.
Counselling with Trafford Carers Centre
Counselling is an opportunity for you to explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive and confidential setting. Our trainee counsellors are here to help you through this process without judgement or giving advice. pic.twitter.com/AkaaAROaO4
Stockport County are hosting huge World Cup screenings at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County are set to host one of the biggest World Cup screenings in Greater Manchester this year, with the nearby football club opening up their very own ground at Edgeley Park to host some huge watchalong parties.
And before you ask, no – you won’t be watching from the pitch, sorry.
Still, a dozen large TVs, loads of great street food and free-flowing drinks, not to mention plenty of stadium-level atmosphere, we’d absolutely call this the next best thing.
With the 2026 World Cup and a whole summer packed with sporting tournaments coming up, ‘The Hatters’ will be creating their own home camp to help cheer on the national squad.
As you can see, while you won’t quite be out of their on the turf for yourselves, and outrageous ‘scam’ ticket prices mean even fewer England supporters will likely be flying out to watch the boys in person, the Stockport side will be doing their best to create a proper good crowd.
Taking over the County Courtyard – the team’s dedicated social hub for before and after games, which opened back in 2022 – the local League One side will be turning this into a Three Lions fan zone for each and every game they play in the tournament.
Fingers crossed they give us plenty of rounds to witness, eh?…
Anyone who’s been to Edgeley Park‘s County Courtyard or simply even seen the scenes online will know how busy this place can get on a matchday, so just imagine what it will be like with the big screens showing the all-important games.
With resident cult figure ‘Chef John’ cooking up street food scran inspired by the cuisine and cultures that will be hosting this year’s World Cup, and a special, not to mention brand-new, US-inspired beer in collaboration with natives Runaway Brewery, it’s a great lineup – we just pray Thomas Tuchel matches it.
Credit: Publicity pictures (supplied via Stockport County Football Club)
Doors open at 6pm for all fixtures, and The Courtyard will remain open until midnight; with tickets starting from just a fiver for the group stage, you’d be foolish not to at least consider it.
If England do make it through to the knockouts, each following fixture will obviously be shown on the box, too, with tickets then rising to £10 per game (Edgeley Park is also a fully cashless venue).
You can find out more information about what will be on offer and find the ticket link right HERE.
As for Stopfordians and regular season ticket-holders, they’ll no doubt be gutted to hear that manager Dave Challinor has now departed SK3 after a hugely productive five-year stint – here’s hoping a great World Cup can help lift some spirits.
Memories that will last a lifetime 💙
We wish Dave and his family every success in the future – they will always be welcome back at Edgeley Park 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZxcH5Keag9
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) June 1, 2026
The Manc -
24th November 2020 
