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.
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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.
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Chalet du Lac comes with its own Irish pub. Credit: AirbnbIt also has a Tiki barIt also has a Tiki barHot 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.
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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.
Further disruption expected as more bus strikes announced across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Further disruption is expected as even more bus strikes have been announced across Greater Manchester this autumn.
It comes after the strikes set to place this month from 19 to 22 September were announced a couple of weeks back, and now a second round will take place towards the end of this month and going into early October.
In case this is the first you’re hearing of the upcoming industrial 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 – are due to 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.
More strikes have been announced on the Bee Network this month / Credit: TfGM
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.
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.
2,000 drivers are set to stage strike action over two different periods / Credit: TfGM
The second round of strikes will now take place from from 30 September to 2 October.
Speaking ahead of both sets of upcoming strikes, Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “These companies are very profitable but are putting greed over their hardworking members of staff.
“Further strike action will be extremely disruptive, however this is a dispute entirely of the bus companies’ making and they could solve it easily by coming back with a better deal.
“Our members involved in the dispute have Unite’s complete support.”
Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden, added: “The strikes this week as well as the further action we have called will cause travel chaos in Greater Manchester. However, it is entirely the fault of the employers involved, who have failed to address the issue of low pay and reward their staff accordingly.
“Unite is not afraid to escalate to more strikes, which will only intensify going forward.
“It is time for the employers to make an offer that is acceptable to our members to resolve this disruption.”
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
The latest on Therme Manchester opening date as construction finally begins on huge wellbeing resort
Daisy Jackson
The build of Therme Manchester, which is set to be the UK’s largest wellbeing resort, is finally underway, with a loose opening date announced.
The construction phase of the massive spa project begins this month – when it completes, it will be made up of 10 pools, 15 waterslides, sustainable gardens and a diverse range of restaurants and cafes.
The entire thing will be kept at a balmy 33ºC all year round using advanced technology, with warm water lagoons, botanical gardens and palm trees giving the site a real tropical feel.
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025 – it’s now up to £450m and is scheduled to complete for the end of 2028.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Last week, a Beyond Groundbreaking event was held at the site of the new wellbeing resort near the Trafford Centre, bringing together local leaders, partners, and community members.
There, it was announced that Therme Manchester is set to create around 2,500 direct construction jobs, as well as 650 staff positions to operate the resort when it opens.
The business has already supported initiatives across the city, including the Manchester Marathon, NHS programmes and cultural events.
The latest on Therme Manchester opening date as construction finally begins on huge wellbeing resort
Therme Manchester is setting out to have a ‘significantly lower’ carbon footprint than other spa experiences, helped along by locally-sourced materials, and innovative construction methods such as air source heat pumps and on-site 3D printing.
As well as state-of-the-art swimming and thermal bathing areas, there’ll be spa and fitness zones, immersive digital art, sustainable gardens and a diverse range of restaurants and cafes.
Professor David Russell, Therme UK CEO said: “Today marks the official beginning of a once-in-a-generation project for Manchester and the North West.
“Therme Manchester will be a place for everyone – a unique destination where wellbeing, sustainability, art and culture come together. Our vision is to make a lasting positive impact: creating jobs, supporting communities, and helping people live healthier, happier lives for years to come.”
James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters said: “We’re thrilled to have reached this pivotal moment as work begins on site at Therme Manchester.
The site of Therme Manchester in Trafford
“It marks the culmination of years of close collaboration between Peel Waters and Therme Group, an extraordinary partnership built on shared values and wanting to deliver the very best for our community.
“From our very first meeting, we knew Therme’s vision would be transformational, and together we’ve worked tirelessly to get to this moment and start the build of this world-class wellness destination in TraffordCity.
“Therme Manchester will be a true gamechanger not just for TraffordCity, but for Greater Manchester and the North. It will regenerate a key site, create thousands of jobs, and deliver a landmark experience that promotes health, happiness, and connection.
“We’re very proud to be part of a project that will completely redefine leisure and wellbeing in the UK and Europe.”
An aerial view of how Therme Manchester will look
Neil Martin, Chief Executive at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We are proud to be Construction Manager for Therme Manchester, a project that aligns with our commitment to sustainability, technical excellence and making a meaningful difference to communities.
“We look forward to delivering this world-class destination that will transform wellbeing and benefit TraffordCity and the wider region for generations to come.”
A spokesperson from Trafford Council said: “The Therme project is fantastic news for Trafford, and I am delighted that construction work has started on this one-in-a-lifetime scheme. The resort will attract millions of visitors each year and will provide hundreds of construction jobs and full-time jobs for the borough.
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“Therme Manchester is a fantastic, visionary development and it supports several of our key commitments – helping provide a thriving economy, improving health and wellbeing and regenerating a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location.”
Daisy Jackson -
20th April 2025 
