Things To Do

Ex-Hacienda DJ whose clients include Russell Brand launches yoga studio in Manchester

His clients have also included members of The Stone Roses

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th February 2023

A former Hacienda DJ has launched a very different business venture in Manchester, opening a new yoga studio.

Matt Ryan, whose clients have included famous faces like Russell Brand, members of The Stone Roses and English Premier League footballers, has taken up a space on Duke Street.

Matt has previously taught yoga all over the globe and opened studios in London and LA, and is now bringing his ‘yoga for everyone’ style to his home city.

He hung up his Hacienda headphones back in the 2000s after years behind the decks at the Hacienda and Home nightclubs.

Matt then spent months immersed in the world of Ashtanga yoga in Mysore in India, and is now holds an Astanga yoga level 2 qualification.

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YogaMCR has taken shape in a new studio space on Duke Street, just of Deansgate.

Matt Ryan’s new yoga studio in Manchester, YogaMCR. Credit: Supplied

It promises to focus on the basics of yoga, helping its members to build both strength and flexibility, either with an accessible stretch session or more advanced yoga practices.

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Classes will take place daily with morning, lunchtime and evening workshops which are suited to all levels.

Matt said: “Having travelled the world for 20 years teaching Ashtanga Yoga to people of all walks of life, I felt it only right to come back to where my yoga journey initially began.

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“Returning to Manchester is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I can’t wait to teach Mancs that yoga can be for everyone, it doesn’t have to be just for people looking to find themselves within but for anyone wanting to be fitter, more flexible and stronger in mind and body.

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“Come and stretch out, you’ll definitely feel better for it, that I can guarantee.”

Yoga Manchester will open on Monday 20 February at Space at the Mill, Wellington Mill, Duke Street, Manchester, M3 4NF. 

For more information and to book classes visit: yoga-manchester.co.uk

Featured image: Supplied

Things To Do

Chester Zoo named best zoo in the UK thanks to more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

It’s official… Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2024.

Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world – but now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.

The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Based on millions of online reviews, the new ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.

Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024 / Credit: Chester Zoo

According to Chester Zoo, the “wonderful news” means that, as a conservation charity, it can continue its work with countries across the world to “help all animals survive and thrive”, as well as provide expert care to the 37,000 animals who currently call the zoo their home.

The zoo has also thanked its visitors for all their continued support each year, as this allows to “keep making a difference”.

“With every admission ticket, membership, animal adoption, or experience purchased, you are contributing to our mission of preventing extinction,” Chester Zoo said in a statement.

Speaking on the coveted new TripAdvisor title, Jamie Chirston, who is the CEO at Chester Zoo, says he’s “over the moon to be named the best zoo in the UK”, adding in a statement that: “It’s an incredible achievement and especially pleasing given it’s based on thousands upon thousands of genuine reviews and opinions.

“It’s a real seal of approval from our visitors, and testament to every single one of our dedicated, hardworking, and talented staff that make our conservation zoo the wonderful place it is.

“Every time someone walks through our gates, not only do they enjoy all kinds of wildlife experiences and a have great day out, but they’re also contributing to the vital conservation work we carry out here and around the world, and that’s why, as a not-for-profit conservation zoo, this top TripAdvisor ranking means such an awful lot to us.

It’s all thanks to more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings by visitors on TripAdvisor / Credit: Chester Zoo

“It’s confirmation that we’re getting things right for our visitors, [which is] especially important as, together, we’re preventing extinction and making a real difference for wildlife.”

The UK’s best zoo isn’t the only title Chester Zoo has claimed this month either, as TripAdvisor has also listed it as the eighth-best zoo or aquarium to visit in the whole of Europe too.

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So it double congratulations are in order – and they couldn’t be more well-deserved, right?

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

Things To Do

A new ‘high-tech’ shuffleboard bar is coming to Manchester city centre

Danny Jones Danny Jones new shuffleboard bar coming to Manchester city centre

A brand-new ‘high-tech’ activity bar dedicated to shuffleboard is coming to Manchester and it sounds electric – pun very much intended.

Electric Shuffle, the glamorous sister site to nightlife favourite Flight Club, is coming to the city centre later this year and it’s set to be just the second to open outside of London.

After opening their third location in Leeds back in 2022, the team behind two of the best activity and games bars in the UK are bringing their shuffleboard expertise to Manchester in time for the summer.

Promising addictive and high-energy games, semi-private shuffleboard areas dotted around a stylish art-deco-inspired central bar, an impressive cocktail list and a mouth-watering menu, the aim is to make sure you don’t need to spend the night anywhere else, with a resident DJ on-hand all night too.

So what makes it ‘Electric Shuffle’?

You can find bars with shuffleboards all over town these days, but what sets this one apart? Well, they market their offerings as ‘supercharged shuffleboard’ that uses state-of-the-art camera vision technology to track and score every puck, much like the sensors used on Flight Club darts boards.

Again, like their big brother, the games also capture guests’ best moments with live shareable replays, and can seamlessly integrate up to 32 players – or up to 150 players at once for corporate events. Now that sounds like the kind of chaos we’d love to see.

There are four immersive and fast-paced games to choose from, each designed for team-play while still giving individuals their glory. Games include Eclipse, which sees players aiming to slide and land their puck on (or as close as possible) the target between the middle two zones of the board.

Then there’s Equaliser, which challenges players to land their puck in the zones at the far end of the table to get the highest score. As for the bar side of things, they’ve got that all worked out too.

electric shuffle manchester
games bars deansgate
Credit: Supplied

Food and drink for all times of day

If anyone’s been guilty of screaming down the roof of one of these activity bars before, you’ll know that like most shuffleboard is best played as a team sport and that group mentality transfers over to the food and drink selection too.

We’re talking small plates, big sharing pizzas, as well as an epic and extensive cocktails menu – all of which will be coming to Electric Shuffle Manchester.

From staple dishes already proved popular at their Leeds venue such as buttermilk chicken bites with ranch and BBQ dips, spiced cauliflower wings with red pepper tapenade and jalapeño green salsa, big sourdough pizza paddles, loaded fries and more, think big picky tea only levelled up.

As for the booze (it is a bar after all), they’re known for signature cocktails with a twist, like ‘Salted Caramel Euphoria’ – a take on the espresso martini – frozen options for those balmy summer nights and big sharing ones served in a trophy cup. And don’t worry, they’re not only for the winners.

Oh yeah, and they’re also bringing their brunch deal to our shores. Available on Saturdays and Sundays for two hours, guests can enjoy a bottle of Prosecco each and unlimited pizza from start to finish. Costing £35 for 60 minutes of shuffleboard and another hour around the table, it’ll be one of the best value bottomless brunch deals in Manchester.

electric shuffle bottomless brunch
shuffleboard bars in manchester city centre
Credit: Supplied

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You’ll have all this and more to get stuck into when Electric Shuffle lands on Deansgate in a couple of month’s time.

While we’re not giving you an exact address just yet, we can confirm that Manchester’s newest shuffleboard bar is set to open on 21 June and will take up an 11,400 sq/ft space to become their biggest site in the county, capable of hosting up to 450 people. Now that’s how you make an entrance.

CEO, Steve Moore, who co-founded Electric Shuffle and Flight Club alongside Paul Barham, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to bring Electric Shuffle to Manchester. We have loved our time in Manchester so far and the welcome that Flight Club has received over the past five years has been incredible…

“From couples’ date nights to corporate events and everything in between, Electric Shuffle is a place that is built for friends by friends, and we can’t wait to show everyone in Manchester what we’ve been working on”.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

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