Chester Zoo has announced that it will have to close for the safety of its animals, as Storm Pia is set to bring strong winds across the north west today.
The popular tourist attraction says it’s now working to get in touch with people who had booked an experience at the zoo, including school visits and the ‘Dine with Santa’ experience.
A yellow weather warning is in place for large parts of the UK, including Greater Manchester and Cheshire, until 9pm on Thursday 21 December.
Storm Pia has been named by the Danish Meteorological Institute and is expected to cause travel disruption.
Chester Zoo has taken the decision to close the zoo today, Thursday, to look after all the animals kept there as well as to keep the public safe.
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They wrote: “It’s going to be a bit windy out there tomorrow, so we’re going to have to keep the zoo closed on Thursday 21 December for the safety of our staff, visitors and the animals under our care.
“If you have booked tickets to the zoo for tomorrow then we’ve automatically extended them until the end of June 2024 (this includes pre-booked tickets as part of our ‘kids go free’ offer).
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“You don’t need to do anything, just turn up to the zoo anytime with your confirmation and enjoy your day! If you’ve booked on to an experience, school visit or Dine with Santa, our team will contact you directly.”
Chester Zoo’s Lanterns & Lights festive light trail is expected to run as normal as the weather calms down in the afternoon, but ticket-holders are advised to check the zoo’s social media pages at midday for an official update.
The zoo then added: “We’re really, really sorry for causing any disruption to your plans but we hope you understand. Our team of conservationists will, of course, be at the zoo making sure the animals are tucked up and cared for with their favourite treats.”
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⚠️ Yellow weather warning UPDATED⚠️
The yellow wind warning end time has been brought forward, and the warning impact level has been updated
It also said an official update on reopening the zoo would be shared soon.
The Met Office has said its yellow weather warning for wind may bring the following:
Some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport expected
Some short term loss of power and other services
Coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves
Delays for high-sided vehicles on exposed routes and bridges
❗️ZOO CLOSED THURSDAY 21 DECEMBER❗️
It's going to be a bit windy out there tomorrow, so we’re going to have to keep the zoo closed on Thursday 21 December for the safety of our staff, visitors and the animals under our care.
Kendal Calling turns 21 in fine form with a brilliant bunch of headliners – and that was just the start…
Danny Jones
Oh, what a long weekend we had at Kendal Calling 2026, our fourth consecutive visit to the beloved festival proclaimed as ‘the favourite’ by many across the North West, and forever ‘the best’ if you hail from in and around Cumbria.
Now 21 editions into its run, the Penrith party down in Lowther Deer Park has gone from being a cult classic among natives in and around the Lake District a couple of decades ago, to one celebrated all over – and for good reason.
Apart from delivering stellar lineups year in, year out, it’s also one of the most family-friendly festivals you’ll ever come across.
But having said that, they still know how to kick a party into gear when the sun sets…
With The Kooks, The Cribs, Manchester up-and-comers Spangled, Oldham’s very own Tim Burgess, and many more opening up the party on Thursday night, they hit the ground running early doors.
Speaking of the turf, the wider arena was nice and dry this year, with punters only being treated to very short showery intervals, and most overnight.
Having the perfect conditions obviously helps, but we will say that Kendal Calling remains one of the brave few that powers in through regardless of the weather.
Nevertheless, we didn’t have to worry about it for KC2026, and maybe it’s just recency bias, but the entire festival site somehow looked prettier than ever, especially soaked in all that sun.
The dappled rays coming through trees over in the ‘Lost Eden’ definitely made the Woodlands stage as special as we’ve ever seen it – including those magical neon nights – and we even got to chat with Yorkshire lass Ellur ahead of her spellbinding set out in the forest.
Still surprising people more than two decades in
Lots caught us by surprise this year, such as Dutch indie pop group Son Mieux (our new obsession, by the way), as well as Fletchr Fletchr, who we now believe really need to be seen live to truly appreciate every aspect of their huge potential.
And then there was rising Sunderland star Tom A. Smith (again, over in the Woodlands), who joked he was “never there” after filling in on short notice at the same festival he first played when he was 12.
Fair to say he’s come some way since then, and you won’t find many more electric performers from this very confident, talented and still very young man.
But nothing more so than the surprise acoustic set starring the legendary Pete Doherty ahead of The Libertines’ main stage slot later that day, which we had to sprint across the fields to just about catch after hearing about. We had to climb up the side of a window to get the view of those that beat us there.
This year, we also thought we’d go around and ask those who know it best just what makes it so special, and more importantly, what keeps them coming back. Here’s what they had to say:
“I’ve been five times over 11 years. I’m Cumbrian-born but based in Manchester, so there’s always the pull to travel back home for it, and I’d definitely come more if I could. First memory that pops into mind is seeing The Vaccines when they were just getting big, and now over a decade on I got to see them on the main stage all these years and albums later – really full circle.
“One of the best parts about it is just how much there is on; back when I first started coming, they still were spotlighting local bands like Colt 45, but they just so happened to be on the same bill as Snoop Dog – and now I’ve seen everyone from Tom Jones and the Sugarhill Gang to The Darkness and now Biffy.
“Despite the festival growing in size and in terms of the acts that flock to it now, it still feels like one that looks after smaller names; it’s still got that wholesome, all-ages feel, and can be enjoyed for lots more than the music. I’ve definitely grown a new appreciation for everything it has to offer as I’ve gotten older.”
Nick, 32, from Dearham
The LathumsBiffy ClyroRed Rum ClubDeaf Havana, and SO many more…Credit: Audio North
We also asked another seasoned veteran of the annual summer fest how they’d sum it up in as few words as possible, to which they responded: “Nature, variety and (at times) questionable weather.”
Once again, we’ve definitely had wetter ones in the past – it is the North of England after all – but the music gods were smiling down on us all weekend long, and that extra dose of vitamin D definitely helped keep us going.
More personal highlights include closing headliners Wolf Alice, as well as Circa Waves and Groove Armada on the final night, as we somehow managed to catch a bit of all three, not to mention Deaf Havana, who drew their loyal crowd of passionate fans and gave us one of the best sets of the whole weekend.
And then, of course, there was ‘Biffy… F***ing… Clyroooo’. The Manc arm of the Audio North team were lucky enough to catch the Scottish gods at their huge headline gig at Co-op Live, but BOY did jumping around in a sea of people from all over as confetti, streamers, fireworks, and literal fire hit even harder.
With Kendal, Tramlines, Parklife, Beat-Herder, and Neighbourhood Weekender all under our belt already this year, we feel truly blessed to be in what is undoubtedly one of the best periods for live music festivals we’ve known; you can check out some of our other reviews down below.
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Other than that, all we have left to say is thank you to Hanglands and the KC crew as always for having us along, and we’ll catch you in the fields the same time next year. Over and out.
9 amazing lesser-known destinations you can fly to from Manchester for less than £100
Daisy Jackson
Planning a holiday – especially during the school summer break – can be a daunting and expensive process.
Demand over the summer months can see prices on flights and accommodation rocket, especially to popular holiday destinations.
Which is why Manchester Airport has published a list of lesser-known destinations which you can still fly to this summer, with flights from less than £100.
As well as hidden gem destinations, there are a few holiday hotspots like Ibiza and Mallorca on the list.
Manchester Airport serves more than 200 destinations worldwide, and airport bosses have now dug through that whopping list to pull together some of the best deals, as well as sharing some tips for securing the best deals during peak season.
Manchester Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Turner said: “Here at Manchester Airport we are proud to connect the North to the World – with a bigger and better route network than any UK airport outside London.
“What that means in practice is better choice and value for our passengers – so they can still get great deals even during the summer holidays when prices to lots of destinations tend to rise.
“We fly to lots of lesser-known destinations that other airports don’t, so there are a lot of bargains to be found. But because we also offer more flights each day to some of Europe’s top destinations, that helps keep prices down too.”
Here are nine lesser-known destinations you can fly to from Manchester Airport this summer.
Skip the busy Amalfi coast or popular summer cities like Florence and Rome, and instead head to Rimini, on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
This beautiful destination – a brand-new addition to Manchester Airport’s network – is famed for having miles of sandy beaches, a picturesque old town, and a marina.
It’s also home to Italia in Miniatura, a model village-style attraction where you can see Italy’s most famous sites in a small scale.
Direct flights start from £58pp return with Ryanair in August
Girona
Manchester to Girona flights start from £75pp return. Credit: Lucas Gallone on Unsplash
Head further north along the Costa Brava coast from Barcelona and you’ll find Girona, a city that’s emerging as a new family favourite in Spain – and which you might recognise as a major Game of Thrones setting.
As well as the beaches and tapas that have made the European country so popular for decades, Girona boasts the pretty whitewashed town of Cadaqués, the home of Salvador Dali for more than 50 years.
You can visit his former home, now a museum, before heading back to resume your tapas crawl.
Flights start from £75pp return, based on TUI trips in August
The South of France always feels like it should a very luxury destination, but it is more than possible to visit parts of this beautiful part of the world for less.
You can fly from Manchester to Beziers, the gateway to France’s Languedoc coast, where you’ll be spoilt with 120 miles-worth of golden sandy beaches, port town, and fishing villages.
The towns of Agde and Sete are popular places to stay for exploring the coastline and the inland vineyards nearby.
You can fly from £80pp return with Ryanair in early August
You already know Majorca and Ibiza, but did you know that Menorca remains the least-visited of the three big Balearic Islands?
That means that even in the height of summer, you’ve a good chance of finding quiet beaches and waterside restaurants.
If you can tear yourself away from the crystal clear waters, make sure to visit Cuitadella, a winding Medieval town with a brilliant food scene.
Ryanair flies direct from £45pp
Faro
From Faro you can access the beautiful Algarve. Credit: Ioana Mohanu on Unsplash
Faro serves as a gateway to Portugal’s hugely popular Algarve, which has much more to it than golf clubs and lively nightlife strips.
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Faro itself is a charming town with great local restaurants, but head along the coast to find tonnes of family-friendly resorts, lively towns, and beautiful dramatic coastlines.
The weather is usually pretty blissful down here, too.
There’s so much to discover of Spain, and one lesser-explored region singled out by Manchester Airport travel exports is Santander.
Located on the north coast and the Cantabrian Sea, this is where you’ll find charming landmarks like a 13th century cathedral, and an Old Town packed with pintxos bars.
You can also relax on the iconic El Sardinero beach, a popular surfing spot.
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AND if you hate the crushing heat of summer, this is the spot for you – it’s generally cooler than other parts of Spain at a delightful 25ºC even in the height of summer.
Direct flights in August with Ryanair start from £75pp return
Heading back to France again, this time to the country’s second-largest city which makes for an excellent city break.
Formerly an Ancient Greek colony, you’ll still find incredible ruins near the city’s port, surrounded by fine dining restaurants, museums and galleries.
Get out of the city and you’ll be able to explore the Calanques National Park, where stony beaches nestle into narrow bays beneath the cliffs.
Direct flights start from just £59pp return with Ryanair
Yes, like the olives. But this sometimes-overlooked destination on the Greek mainland has a lot more to it than that.
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Standing on the tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, Kalamata dates back nearly 3000 years and has an Old Town, a medieval castle, and masses of Ancient Greek sites to explore.
You can really mix up a city break and a beach break here – split your time between historical sites, family-run tavernas, and the nearby two-mile-long Bouka Beach.
EasyJet will get you there from £76pp return
To save money when booking your holiday flights this summer:
Check prices regularly – and if you see a deal you like the look of, don’t hold off. Travellers are booking later this summer, so last-minute deals are there to be had – but don’t cut it too fine.
If you know you love the seaside resorts of Spain, or the whitewashed villages of Greece, expand your horizons and look at parts of the country you haven’t visited before. Manchester Airport flies to dozens of destinations in these countries and if you’re willing to be flexible on where exactly you go, you might nab a better deal.
Working parents will tend to book a calendar week or two off work during the school summer holidays and theferore they tend to want to fly at the weekend, or as close to is as possible, to maximise their time away. As such, you could save significant sums on your flights if you’re willing to travel between Tuesday and Thursday.
Daisy Jackson -
21st December 2023 
