A fleet of mobile barbershops has landed in Greater Manchester, offering haircuts, beard trims and a safe space to talk about mental health.
TRIM-IT is the UK’s first app-powered mobile barbershop service, and after first launching in London has now made its way up north, partnering with a network of local barbers.
You can order a barber to your home, office or even the gym using the app or the website, with a fully heated barbershop-on-wheels coming straight to you.
Each one-on-one experience, with a barber of your choice, includes a full service and complimentary product, depending on stock.
TRIM-IT’s barbers are offered mental health training
As well as helping local barbers to build their own businesses, TRIM-IT has partnered with men’s personal care brand Harry’s, who stock the mobile barbershops with products and connect TRIM-IT with Shout, a support service that provides mental health training to the barbers.
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It means that you can get a fresh trim, wherever you are in Manchester, as well as a space where you can open up.
Richard, one of TRIM-IT’s barber partners, said: “Manchester being my home and birthplace, knowing how amazing Mancs are as people, I knew they would love this concept and embrace it so much.
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TRIM-IT has built a network of barbers in Manchester
“Barbering is such an amazing service – to give one person a service where they can relax, take the stresses of day to day life off their shoulders.
“Get to the end and they almost become a different person with a smile on their face, feel great about themselves and to just be able to cheer someone up or just give them a good conversation.
“Giving something back has been something that I wanted to do and have done in the past in terms of trying to give back a little bit, especially around this time of year because I know a lot of lads do struggle.
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Each of the mobile barbershops is fully heated.
“Personally, I went through some difficulties when I left the military myself, I really struggled with a lot of things, so basically when I moved back to Salford the Royal British Legion helped me out quite a lot and did quite a lot for me so being in a position where I can give back now is a big thing.”
Another barber partner, Abdul, said: “It’s not just a barbershop, it’s a place I like to make people feel safe, comfortable and relaxed.
“I’ve always found speaking to a stranger about mental health is easier than a family member.
“I’m all ears and my barber van door is alway open for those struggling to speak out.”
Christmas can be a difficult time of the year for many people – Shout is a 24/7 text message support service where you can talk to a trained volunteer.
Text ‘MATE’ to 85258 to start a conversation.
And if you want to speak to your barber from the convenience of a mobile barbershop, you can book an appointment through booking.trimit.app.
Featured image: TRIM-IT
Style
There’s a studio in Manchester with welded jewellery and a build-your-own-necklace charm bar
Daisy Jackson
An independent jewellery studio in Manchester is tapping into the welded jewellery craze, offering customisable permanent bracelets, necklaces and loads more.
Aureli is the brainchild of Georgina Dunn, and as well as these increasingly popular welded pieces, is offering a charm bar where Mancs can build their own charm jewellery.
The studio is tucked away on Chapel Street, a stone’s throw from Manchester city centre.
Inside the space, you’ll find shelves full of different chains, from dainty links to chunkier rope styles, all available in gold, silver, rose gold or even mixed metal – you choose your poison.
These can then be cut to measure and welded to your person, either as a bracelet, an anklet, a ring or a hand chain.
You can add in tiny charms, like letters, birth stones, and symbols, for a piece of jewellery that’s truly unique to you and that will stay with you.
Terrified of commitment and getting a piece of jewellery literally welded to your body? No stress – Georgina can also add on tiny clasps so that you can take your treasure off whenever you like.
And for fans of chunkier, more statement pieces, you can also book a workshop in the Aureli charm bar.
Georgina fitting a welded braceletGeorgina Dunn, owner of AureliYou can have welded anklets tooAureli offers welded jewellery in ManchesterYou can customise your welded jewellery at the studio in ManchesterSome of the chains on offer at AureliThe charm bar at AureliThe beautiful Aureli studio in Manchester
Here, there are hundreds of playful charms to pick from, like enamel-coated colourful fruit, metal cowboy boots, cherubs, hearts, pearls, and LOADS more.
Georgina can then talk you through the process of hand-fixing each charm to your chosen piece of jewellery, whether you’ve gone for a chunky necklace, a bracelet, or a phone charm.
Georgina has a fashion background and says: “I always knew I wanted my own brand, I just didn’t feel like clothing was the right choice.
“I’d always made my own jewellery as a hobby and had a friend who’d seen permanent jewellery in Australia – so decided to bring that concept to Manchester.”
Two years ago, she started trading at The Makers Market around Greater Manchester, while still working full-time as a teacher.
Aureli absolutely took off, and she’s now appeared in Vogue magazine as well as at events for brands like Sephora and BPerfect.
Aureli is located on Chapel Street in Salford and you can find out more HERE.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra announce Manchester gig among just a handful of UK dates on European tour
Danny Jones
One of our favourite live acts we’ve ever seen is coming back to Manchester as Unknown Mortal Orchestra are set for a stunning return to the city – and at one of our most beloved venues, no less.
The New Zealand psychedelia-infused rock and indie outfit may not be on everyone’s radar just yet, but the genre-bending outfit is comfortably up there with some of the best we’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in the flesh.
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, in the States, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) is fronted by multi-instrumentalist and visionary experimentalist producer, Ruban Nielson, who first began the project on his own over a decade and a half ago.
Closer to a three-piece these days, you won’t find many bands that boast a collection of such varied and talented musicians, and they’re heading to Albert Hall.
As detailed by Albert Hall themselves, this show is also just one among a very small handful of dates here in the UK as part of their run of shows across Europe.
Other shows include one on the night following their Manchester gig over in Yorkshire, which our friends at The Sheff will no doubt be buzzing about, as well as on opening night at Barrowland in Glasgow ahead of a four-show residency in London.
Dubbing their work as nothing short of “psychedelic mastery” (we couldn’t agree more), the iconic live music space will be welcoming them early next year after landing on the mainland continent.
Other stops on the 2026 Unknown Mortal Orchestra European tour include Lithuania, Latvia and Poland; Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Paris.
Now consisting of Nielsen, bassist Jacob Portait, and often Ruban’s brother as well as fellow singer-songwriter, musician and engineer, Kody Neilson – also known for his work with The Mint Chicks, Opossom, Silicone and more – all of whom are as talented in the studio as they are on stage.
They also happen to have one of our favourite Tiny Desks of all time.
Sorry, but this HAS to be up in there in the top 10.
The London residency already looks to be in high demand, so you can bet their only date here in Manchester and at a venue like Albert Hall will sell out extremely fast.
As well as an entirely instrumental outing earlier this year, UMO also dropped their latest EP entitled CURSE back in June, and it’s fair to say it’s some of the most ‘out-there’ material to date.
If you haven’t listened to it yet and are just expecting more art-poppy indie bops like ‘Hunnybee’, you couldn’t be more wrong…
Unknown Mortal Orchestra play the Albert Hall in Manchester on Friday, 27 March, and you can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.
The Manc -
20th December 2021 
