Travel & Tourism

A new design-led hostel with rooms from £41 has opened in the Northern Quarter

A right bargain.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 9th January 2026

A new hostel has launched in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, with rooms starting from just £41.

The staggeringly affordable new accommodation comes from Malacuna, which already has similar sites across Spain and Portugal.

The European brand has now taken over a prime building in the Northern Quarter, just off Stevenson Square, which used to be home to Hatters Hostel.

The Hilton Street hostel features 37 rooms and 132 beds, from private rooms to shared dorms with four, six or eight beds.

These spaces at Malacuna are promising ‘design-led accommodation that doesn’t compromise on style, location or social atmosphere’.

ADVERTISEMENT
A new design-led hostel with rooms from £41 has opened in the Northern Quarter
A new design-led hostel with rooms from £41 has opened in the Northern Quarter

With Manchester now attracting 2.6 million overnight visitors annually, demand for accommodation is surging – especially around major events such as Parklife festival, gigs at Co-op Live and the AO Arena, and football.

And now visitors will finally have somewhere to stay that won’t break the bank, with beds from £41 per night in one of the most sought-after corners of Manchester.

ADVERTISEMENT

Malacuna is set directly above Wilson’s, a 200-capacity bar and restaurant, and is open now.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Travel & Tourism

The beautiful woodland walk and tearoom with a magical past

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Wizard Tea Room

There are few places in Cheshire where history, folklore and good food come together quite as perfectly as Alderley Edge.

Best known for its dramatic sandstone escarpment, sweeping countryside views and ancient copper mines, the National Trust beauty spot has inspired myths for centuries.

And at the heart of it all, after a beautiful woodland walk, sits a charming tearoom whose name is woven into one of the area’s most famous legends.

The Wizard Tearoom is the perfect place to begin – or end – the National Trust’s popular Wizard’s Wander, an easy circular route that explores woodland paths, old mining remains and the legendary sites that gave Alderley Edge its magical reputation.

According to local folklore, first published in 1805, a mysterious wizard guards an army of sleeping knights hidden beneath the Edge, waiting to awaken when England needs them most.

Steeped in character, the tearoom itself occupies a building dating back to the 16th century and has become something of a destination in its own right.

Today it’s run by aunt-and-niece team Rachel and Harriet, who have created a welcoming spot for walkers, families and anyone looking to slow down and enjoy the surroundings.

You reach the tea room via a beautiful walk through Alderley Edge
You reach the tea room via a beautiful walk through Alderley Edge
Ice cream from the hatch at the Wizard Tea Room
Ice cream from the hatch at the Wizard Tea Room
Outside the tea room
Outside the tea room
The Alderley Edge Wizard's Wander walk
The Alderley Edge Wizard’s Wander walk
Pimms and a slice of cake
Pimms and a slice of cake
A huge tray of pastries
A huge tray of pastries

With outdoor seating overlooking one of Cheshire’s most scenic beauty spots, the menu stretches from hearty breakfast baps and relaxed lunches to traditional scones with clotted cream and jam. During the warmer months, a refreshing Pimms is just as tempting as a cup of tea after a woodland stroll.

There’s also an ice cream hatch at the front, making it easy for visitors to grab a cone before setting off on the trails or while enjoying the picnic area nearby.

The owners are passionate about supporting local producers. Ingredients are sourced from nearby suppliers wherever possible, from locally produced honey to cakes baked by Baked by Bean, giving visitors a genuine taste of Cheshire alongside the spectacular scenery.

The tea room has also grown into a community hub, hosting regular events including pottery painting sessions and open mic nights.

Outside the gates, the Wizard’s Wander offers a gentle one-mile adventure through some of Alderley Edge’s most intriguing landmarks. Along the way walkers pass old mine workings, dramatic viewpoints including Stormy Point, the mysterious Devil’s Grave and the famous Golden Stone.

Whether you’re visiting for the legends, the countryside or simply a slice of homemade cake after a walk, it’s easy to see why this corner of Cheshire continues to cast its spell on visitors.

Combining centuries of history, enchanting folklore and warm hospitality, the Wizard Tearoom proves that sometimes the best adventures end with tea and cake.

You can see the full walking route on the National Trust website HERE.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Travel & Tourism

Scissors, toy guns, and baseball bat among 100+ items confiscated by security at Manchester Airport

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Airport has revealed a shocking list over 100 items confiscated by security staff in just one morning.

And honestly, you won’t believe some of the things people have tried to take on a plane.

With schools across Greater Manchester having now broken up for the summer holidays, and families getting ready to jet off on their holidays, Manchester Airport is urging all passengers travelling over the next six weeks to make sure they know the hand luggage rules before boarding the plane, after more than 100 items recently had to be confiscated by security in one morning alone.

12 pairs of scissors, 10 toy guns, seven corkscrews, four knives, two loose chisels, a pair of pliers, and even a baseball bat were among the items forming part of the shocking confiscation haul.

On top of this, security also confiscated dozens of cosmetic products, drinks bottles, and food items like multipacks of yoghurts.

Scissors, toy guns, and a baseball bat are among 100+ items confiscated by security at Manchester Airport / Credit: Manchester Airport

Although new 3D scanning technology has been installed at both of Manchester Airport’s terminals now, making the process smoother overall, those travelling during the busy summer period are reminded that attempting to bring non-compliant items through airport security causes delays for themselves and for others.

Airport security bosses are encouraging people to reacquaint themselves with the rules for hand luggage before packing for their journey.

“We’re proud of the role we play in getting people’s journeys off to the right start, and more than 97% of our passengers are getting through security checks in under 15 minutes,” commented Sakib Mahmood, who is the Security Duty Manager for T2 at Manchester Airport

All if these items were confiscated in just one morning / Credit: Manchester Airport

“But each time we have to pull a bag aside for a manual search it can take several minutes, and that can quickly start to add up and create delays.

“The range of items confiscated here in just a few hours shows what our security officers are up against every day, but when it comes to working out what is restricted and what is not, we know some items are more obvious than others.

“If you take a moment to reacquaint yourself with the rules before packing your hand luggage, it can save you lots of time when you get to Security, and avoids you losing items like water guns or bottles of suncream that you want to take on your holiday with you.

Read more:

“In many cases, items like these which may fall foul of hand luggage restrictions can be taken in your hold luggage, so if in any doubt, pack the item in your suitcase rather than your carry-on bag.”

Featured Image – Manchester Airport

More Travel & Tourism

Vintage 125 Inter-City train passing through Greater Manchester August 2026

Bury

An iconic vintage train is set to pass through Greater Manchester this summer

People on a bus

News

Andy Burnham extends Greater Manchester’s £2 bus fare cap across England

virtual reality experience manchester city centre

Art & Culture

A new interactive VR space experience by the Smithsonian is coming to Manchester

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches