Style

5 Manchester clothing boutiques to have on your radar in 2021

If you want to combat the lockdown blues with some retail therapy, these local rising stars have got you covered.

Daisy Bradbury Daisy Bradbury - 8th January 2021
The Norah Store

After the turbulent year of 2020, we don’t blame you if you’re ready to reinvent your style and feel happier within yourself for the year ahead.

But doing so can be a challenge in itself, especially with the shops being closed yet again due to the country’s third national lockdown.

But on the plus side, there are some hidden gems within Manchester’s fashion scene that are offering the hottest new styles to take on 2021.

It’s more important now than ever to support our local businesses, and these up-and-coming clothing boutiques are definitely ones to keep on your radar this year.

The Norah Store

We’ll definitely be seeing more slow fashion and eco-conscious alternatives make their way to the forefront in 2021, and one of the brands pioneering this in Manchester is The Norah Store.

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The team at The Norah Store moved into a new studio space between Christmas and New Year, promising lots of exciting launches including a new collection that we can expect to see in March.

From whimsical patterned socks to elegant dresses, this boutique is Manchester’s one-stop-shop for all of the latest styles that will be lifelong treasures in your wardrobe.

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Be Diddy

Be Diddy

With many retail venues closed, finding outfits to fit your rapidly growing toddlers and children can be harder than ever.

But Be Diddy is a Manchester-based brand transforming the idea of old, tired hand-me-downs by curating an adorable collection of vintage garments for babies. You’d never be able to guess that these clothes are pre-loved!

All of their items are incredibly cute and cosy, leaving your toddler on top of the trends in a pair of Carhartt dungarees or a vintage jacket.

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They also offer a buy-back scheme which is a great way to return garments that your children have outgrown and try out some of their latest pieces and styles.

Their first clothing drop of 2021 is on January 15, so make sure you stay tuned on their Instagram page for a chance to bag some of these adorable creations.

Hoyden

While their boisterous and quirky clothing was a massive hit in Manchester, this year will see Hoyden get a complete makeover.

After deciding to leave their Afflecks store in favour of a home studio and discontinuing the previous product range, it’s clear that the brand will be completely reinvented in 2021.

Olivia Denny, the creator of Hoyden, is promising bigger and better things for this funky feminist boutique, but we will have to keep an eye out during 2021 as her vision is still completely under wraps.

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Nordic Muse

Nordic Muse

If you want to inject some simplicity and serenity into your home and wardrobe this year, look no further than Nordic Muse.

The brand has recently closed their doors and are moving into a new space on Tib Street in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter – when the pandemic permits, that is.

This change in location is just one of many exciting things to come for Nordic Muse in 2021, so if you are in the market for some Scandi-inspired homeware or elegant jewellery, this is one to remember.

Jeneral Store

Jeneral Store

A splash of colour and brightness is definitely something we could use in our lives and wardrobes right now.

Jeneral Store is home to a decadent selection of vintage finds and handcrafted accessories in a cheerful colour palette that is perfect for the transition into spring (maybe it’s a bit early, but we’re certainly ready for some sunshine).

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After the difficult decision to close down their Depop and Asos Marketplace platforms due to their overwhelming popularity, Jen is now dedicated fully to growing the Jeneral Store website and creating some gorgeous items for our wardrobes.

If you’re like us and not ready to part with the scrunchies trend, this is an absolute must-see!

Style

The 11 best and most popular gyms in Manchester, ranked by price

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

You do not need to wait for January to get your body moving again – there’s no time like the present.

The trick to sticking with your health kick is often to find the right routine for you, and when it comes to exercise, finding the gym that will make you feel supported as well as pushed physically is key.

There’s no shortage of brilliant gyms here in Manchester, from the do-it-yourself commercial gyms to the fitness facilities manned by highly-qualified trainers who will guide you every step of the way.

Whether you’re a fancy girl who needs fancy facilities to coax you into the gym, or you’d rather get your head down and save some cash, we’ve got you covered.

Here are 11 of the best to try in 2024 – and how much it’ll cost you.

Ultimate Performance – prices are bespoke and available on request

Ready to transform your body or lay the foundations for lifelong health, and feeling pretty serious about it?

Ultimate Performance is the gym in Manchester to join if you want to stick to your plan and achieve whatever goals you set yourself, from fat loss to muscle building to general health, with some of the world’s best personal trainers coaching from here.

The transformation photos of previous and current U.P clients speak for themselves – you will get results here.

You can find out more or enquire here.

Barry’s Bootcamp – up to £308/month (for unlimited)

Barry’s is the gym loved by all the famous LA-dwelling beautiful types, and first opened here in Manchester in 2018.

Workouts take place in the ‘red room’, where rows of benches, dumbbells and treadmills promise a total body workout.

It’s now a global phenomenon, with gyms everywhere from the USA to the UAE to Australia to Mexico.

It ain’t cheap though – memberships start at £125 per month, which gets you eight classes, or you can book a drop-in class for £20. The most expensive membership will set you back £308. Check out all the offers here.

Blok – £205/month for unlimited

Blok in Manchester has a mix of classes and is one of the city's best gyms
Blok in Manchester has a mix of classes and is one of the city’s best gyms. Credit: Blok

This gym is genuinely very beautiful, taking over a corner of the historic Ducie Street Warehouse.

It’s another one with three different studios to choose from – you can do pilates and yoga, take on full-body strength-focused or boxing workouts, or try out barre and cardio exercises.

There are top-notch changing rooms for getting refreshed in afterwards too.

Unlimited membership is £205 a month, but if you’re happy to commit to a set number of classes there are cheaper packs available too. Check it out here.

Form – £168/month

You will not find a nicer or more supportive group of trainers than the ones who work at Form – you also won’t find any who take away your ability to walk up stairs quite so efficiently.

As well as one-to-one training, they offer their ‘reload’ programme with small groups training together at their New Bailey Street gym, and the best pilates and yoga classes in town at their Reset gym on Marble Street.

Form promises a longterm change to your life – this is no flash-in-the-pan fitness phase.

Memberships start from £168 a month and we promise you get a lot of bang for your buck. Find out more at formmcr.com.

F45 – £165/month

Manchester gyms - F45
Credit: F45

First created in Australia, there are now more than 1,000 F45 studios all over the world, creating what it claims is the most innovative fitness gym on the planet.

Each 45 minute session blends cardio and HIIT-style workouts for ‘sweat-dripping, heart-pumping fun’.

The circuits in the Manchester gyms will kick your ass, in a good way.

It’s £165 a month if you commit to six months, otherwise you’re looking at £195 a month – check it out here.

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Zeno Training Clubs – £99/month

Hero Training Club gym in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Hero Training Club gym in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

With four different fitness studios to choose from, Zeno (formerly known as Hero) offers a little something for everyone.

You can seriously test your cardio in their spin studio or in the Athletic studio (where you can also take on boxing classes), push your strength in the Stronger studio (which are basically like small group PT sessions), or reset a bit in the Rejuvenate studio. There’s also an open gym upstairs.

Zeno has some of the best facilities in the city – seriously, there are more squat racks in here than in some of the biggest commercial gyms – and a bloody lovely group of trainers to guide your every move.

Memberships start from £99 a month, and there are class bundles available too. Find out more at herotrainingclubs.com.

TRIB3 – £79/month

TRIB3 is one of the best gyms in Manchester
Credit: TRIB3

This ‘next-level fitness studio’ follows a pretty similar modal to V1BE, but factors in assault bikes (ouch) and has classes with a more tailored focus.

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There are three different TRIB3 classes to choose from – upper body and core, lower body, and full body – broken down into three zones of treadmill, resistance and intensity.

It’s proving to be a very popular option for Mancs.

Unlimited memberships are £79/month but there are loads of other options too. Find out more at trib3.co.uk.

V1BE – £59/month

V1BE is one of the best boutique gyms in Manchester
Credit: V1BE

It’s all about the cardio at V1BE, Manchester’s boutique gym group that will literally display your heart rate on a giant screen for all to see.

Most workouts are spread between sprint sessions on the treadmills and weighted circuits on the floor, but they also have STR1KE classes that factor in some intense boxing drills.

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You will be sweaty, you will get competitive with yourself, and you’ll definitely love it (once the hill sprints are over).

Membership starts from £59 a month (that’s for open gym access and six classes), or you can go all-in for £79 a month. Find out more here.

Nuffield Health – £51/month

Nuffield is one of Manchester's biggest gyms, with its own pool
Nuffield is one of Manchester’s biggest gyms, with its own pool

What makes Nuffield Health so extraordinary of all the gyms in Manchester is that is has a real life swimming pool, which is quite a luxury in a city centre as crammed as ours.

The gym has an army of treadmills and bikes, plus a functional fitness room, a free weights room, and several different studios.

There are also physiotherapists and personal trainers based here to help you build the healthiest body possible.

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It’s £51 per month, or you can go off-peak for £43 a month. Sign up at nuffieldhealth.com/gyms/manchester-printworks

JD Gyms – £19.99/month

With a rapidly-growing number of gyms nationwide, it’s easy to see why JD Gyms are becoming more and more popular – and it’s got a lot to do with the price.

Their gym in Manchester city centre has more than 300 classes a month, a sauna, and literally hundreds of pieces of strength and cardio equipment.

There’s a large free weights zone, a sprint and sled track, bootcamps, boxing, and personal trainers.

Basic membership is £19.99 a month, which includes classes, but for £25 a month you can also get 10% off at JD Sports online and use any of their gyms nationwide – find out more here.

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PureGym – £12.99/month

PureGym has several gyms around Manchester
PureGym has several gyms around Manchester. Credit: PureGym

Oh well all know PureGym, let’s be honest.

As one of the country’s biggest gym groups, they’re famed for being cheap and practical, with 24-hour opening times.

Facilities are very good for the price and there are four PureGym gyms in Manchester city centre alone. You just have to get used to their weirdly futuristic beam-me-up-Scotty entrance vestibules.

You can get a membership from just £12.99 – find out more at puregym.com/city/manchester.

Read more about all things sport in the North here.

Featured image: The Manc Group / Reset by Form / PureGym

Style

Viral beauty brand Morphe suddenly shuts ALL UK stores including Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Morphe has announced the sudden closure of all its UK stores. Credit: Publicity picture

Cult beauty favourite Morphe has suddenly shuttered the doors to all of its stores across the UK, including here in Manchester.

The brand has had a large presence in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre since late 2019, opening to huge crowds at the time.

But this week, the doors to its make-up store in the city centre (as well as its six other locations across the UK) have closed.

The viral brand will continue to trade online and as a concession in other stores.

Many have taken to social media to criticise the way the physical store closures have been handled, with dozens of staff members saying that they were made immediately redundant with ‘no notice’.

Some stores have also already been cleared of stock, with reports that some of the viral Morphe products are already being sold off at beauty outlets.

The LA-born brand was created in 2008 ‘among the artists and influencers’ and was originally famed for its brushes before branching out into other make-up products, like its cult favourite colourful eyeshadow palettes.

At the height of its popularity, Morphe was behind sell-out collections with the likes of Jeffree Star, James Charles and Jaclyn Hill.

Morphe in Manchester Arndale has closed, along with its six other beauty stores in the UK. Credit: The Manc Group
Morphe in Manchester Arndale has closed, along with its six other beauty stores in the UK. Credit: The Manc Group
Morphe opened in Manchester Arndale in 2019. Credit: Publicity picture
Morphe opened in Manchester Arndale in 2019. Credit: Publicity picture

In a statement, the company said: “Forma Brands has made significant progress over the last year positioning our business for growth by focusing on our flagship Morphe brand largely through our wholesale and e-commerce operations.

“During that time, our owned Morphe stores in Europe, which have consistently provided an extraordinary experience for our customers, faced disproportionately high store rent obligations.

“We have therefore made the difficult decision to close our seven UK and one Amsterdam retail locations. This move aligns with our strategy to prioritize and expand our successful wholesale and e-commerce operations, similar to our model in the U.S. We also facilitated an ownership transition of our UK wholesale and e-commerce businesses, which will operate as FORMA BRANDS UK LTD., effective immediately.

“We are immensely grateful to our incredible store teams for their dedication and passion over the years and are working to support them through this transition.

“Due to store closures, impacted store team members were made redundant immediately. In recognition of their dedication, the parent company Forma Brands LLC has provided goodwill payments to all affected employees, equivalent to an enhanced redundancy package.”

Read more

Featured image: Publicity picture

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