Travel & Tourism

You can rent your own ski chalet-style lodge – with an Irish pub in the garden

AND a tiki bar.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th April 2025

Nothing screams Alpine Lodge quite like a game of darts in an Irish pub, eh? And at this staycation you can have that apres-ski combo for yourself.

Oh, and your own Irish pub in the garden is just the beginning – if you rent this lodge you also get your own Tiki Bar too.

Chalet du Lac is a boutique home themed around the ski chalets of Val D’Isere in the French Alps, including oak-clad walls, sheepskin throws, and retro ski paraphernalia on the walls.

With five bedrooms for up to 10 guests, and a beautiful kitchen-living room area complete with log burning fireplace, the insides are impressive in their own right.

But the outside will really knock your socks off… even without those snowy Alpine views.

Chalet du Lac overlooks Rudyard Lake on the edge of the Peak District National Park, from a sunny south-facing terrace.

That terrace is also home to a private sunken hot tub so you can soak in those views while having a soak of your own.

Chalet du Lac comes with its own Irish pub. Credit: Airbnb
Chalet du Lac comes with its own Irish pub. Credit: Airbnb
It also has a Tiki bar
It also has a Tiki bar
It also has a Tiki bar
It also has a Tiki bar
Hot tub at Chalet du Lac
Hot tub at Chalet du Lac

And to the rear of the property you’ve got your own Tiki Bar, decorated with multicoloured festoon lighting, bright flowers and both indoor and outdoor seating.

As if one novelty themed bar wasn’t enough, there’s also an Irish bar inspired by Dublin’s legendary Temple Bar.

The sizeable space is kitted out with everything from Guinness barrels to a huge TV screen, plus a pool table, dartboard and log burner.

You’ll also have access to your own wood-fired pizza oven.

Guests can make the most of their position near the lake – the property also has a kayak for exploring the water, with direct access to the lake.

You can find out more about Chalet du Lac and book a stay HERE.

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Featured image: Airbnb

Travel & Tourism

Manchester is getting a £2m highways maintenance ‘blitz’ to fix the roads ready for winter

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester is getting itself a £2m highways maintenance ‘blitz’ to fix up the roads across the region ready for winter.

Manchester City Council has confirmed that the maintenance work is due to take place throughout this month to ensure Manchester roads are ‘future-proofed’ for the next decade and more – and this will, crucially, include things like resurfacing.

It comes after the Council spoke to Mancs earlier this year, and residents declared that they wanted roads and pavements ‘up to standard’ and for them to stay that way, so as part of the Council’s commitment to this, a large-scale £2m resurfacing programme is set to run throughout September, with 53 roads due to be improved. 

Ahead of winter, and the inevitable wet and cold weather it brings – which is the cause of a large number of issues to the road network – these upcoming works are to put a protective barrier in place ahead of time to nip potential future issues in the bud.

The work being carried out will take place in two stages – first will be the surface dressing stage, before the sealing stage, also known as the ‘Kiely Lock’ process, finishes it off.

Manchester is getting a £2m highways maintenance ‘blitz’ to fix the roads ready for winter / Credit: MJ Richardson (via Geograph)

“We know that the cold and wet of winter puts additional stress on our roads, add in freezing temperatures and we have a recipe that can make short work of the road surface,” commented Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment, and Transport at Manchester City Council.

“This is why we’re mobilising now to ensure that we can protect as many roads as possible, which not only saves the taxpayer money in the long term, but also makes our journeys quicker and safer.

“Over the past year we have invested heavily in improvements to our highways network as we know from our residents’ feedback it’s one of the issues most important to them.

“We are confident that this programme of works will be a net positive for our residents and I’d like to thank them ahead of time for their patience as we futureproof our roads for the coming decade.”

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The planned improvements will start on Tuesday 16 September, and will continue though until Saturday 27 September, and some disruption is to be expected, so do plan ahead.

You can find the full list of roads being resurfaced here.

Featured Image – Manchester City Council

Travel & Tourism

‘Mass disruption’ expected as Greater Manchester Bee Network bus drivers prepare to strike this month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

‘Mass disruption’ is expected on the Bee Network this month as thousands of bus drivers are set to stage strike action.

2,000 workers who are employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester, and First Bus Rochdale – all of which are firms among those that make up the bus part of the Bee Network – will walk out in a co-ordinated strike amid an ongoing pay dispute.

Unite the Union says all the firms are ‘highly profitable’ and it’s therefore ‘disappointing’ that workers are being denied a fair wage.

At Stagecoach, around 1,000 drivers based across the Oldham, Stockport, and Middleton depots have rejected a pay offer of 3.5%, and 1,000 Metroline Manchester members will also do the same after turning down an ‘unsatisfactory’ below-inflation pay offer.

Workers at both Metroline and Stagecoach believe the offer doesn’t address years of low pay they’ve recieved, especially given the ongoing cost of living crisis.

‘Mass disruption’ is expected on the Bee Network this month / Credit: TfGM

Then, over at First Bus Rochdale, 110 members have rejected this year’s pay offer of 6%, as they feel this does not go far enough to address the fact they’ve had years of being paid less than their counterparts at other companies, and are still the lowest paid in the region.

Stagecoach, Metroline, and First Bus Rochdale, part of First Group PLC, are all firms which have seen a rise in profits in recent years.

Given the number of drivers and companies involved in the upcoming strikes, Unite says ‘travel chaos’ is expected – with many delays and cancellations of services in Manchester and the surrounding areas.

2,000 drivers are set to stage strike action / Credit: TfGM

It’s also expected to impact several events on in the city centre, including Manchester United v Chelsea at Old Trafford, comedian Peter Kay’s gig at the AO Arena, and singer Tom Grennan’s concert at Co-op Live.

“With so many drivers across the Bee Network walking out at once, this will be a highly disruptive strike that will bring parts of Greater Manchester to a standstill,” admitted Unite regional officer, Colin Hayden.

“We know residents will be disappointed to hear of potential action, but this is entirely the fault of the employers involved and our members feel they have no choice but to walk out to make their voices heard.

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“Unite remains open to negotiations with the bus companies who need to return to the negotiating table with an improved offer.”

Strikes will take place this month from 19 to 22 September.

Featured Image – TfGM

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