A luxury train journey costing £440 per ticket, where passengers walk a red carpet to board, will depart from Manchester this year.
A ride on board the Northern Belle often includes a seven-course dinner, champagne, and on-board entertainment.
The prestigious train, rated by Conde Nast as one of the top 10 in the world, has seven Pullman carriages, each one decorated by master craftsmen in a 1930s-style.
It’s a seriously luxurious experience, with tickets costing anywhere between £295 and £695 per person – which, to be fair, isn’t even that much more than a last-minute ticket on an Avanti train to London…
Trips promise to take in some of the most scenic stretches of Britain’s railways.
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The Spirit of Travel lunch departs from Manchester Victoria and snakes its way past Rochdale, Hebden Bridge and Brighouse.
On board, passengers sink into plush armchairs with crisp white tablecloths on the tables between them.
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On board the Northern Belle. Credit: Facebook, Northern Belle
Within minutes, liveried stewards crack open the champagne and guests get a chance to browse the menu created by celebrated chef Matthew Green.
As passengers are whisked through the British countryside, seven fine dining courses are served to their tables, alongside complementary fine wine chosen by Northern Belle’s own sommelier.
Condé Nast Traveller magazine named it in the top 10 train journeys in the world, beating the iconic Flying Scotsman.
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They wrote: “It’s all about the food – and the scenery, but mostly about the food – on this lovingly-restored train which zig-zags its way across the countryside.
“The meal services are exquisite, offering fine dining crafted mostly from UK suppliers so you can enjoy classic British fare as the heaths, meadows and dales roll on by.”
There are two different journeys on the Northern Belle that will depart from Manchester Victoria in the coming months.
One is the aforementioned The Spirit of Travel Lunch on Friday 21 April, priced at £375 per passenger.
Then on the same day is the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Lunch, with a menu from Matthew Green again but with Laurent Perrier champagne served to couples on board.
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Northern Belle’s website says: “So relax in your elegant surroundings and gaze out the picture window, watching the passing scenery unfold and contemplating the gastronomic journey ahead.”
Huge line-up revealed for Leeds International Festival of Ideas
Sophie Smith
The 2023 line-up for Leeds International Festival of Ideas has been released, and it’s all taking place in a brand new venue.
The huge event will bring together some of the most thought-provoking speakers of our time and is well worth the trip across to our neighbouring city.
Taking over the Leeds Playhouse will be a diverse programme and educational discussions, The Hoot reports.
Giving a glimpse of what we’re in store for this year, LIFI has announced the first of its highly-anticipated speakers.
Best-selling author and mental health campaigner Ruby Wax will be bringing her unique brand of humour to the festival as she takes the audience on her journey to address the importance of mental wellness.
Ruby Wax is “thrilled to be a part of the line-up”. / Image: Supplied
The author, performer and activist is excited about joining the festival: “Leeds International Festival of ideas 2023 looks really exciting and I’m thrilled to be part of the line-up this year. I can’t wait to visit Leeds again and take audiences on my journey to mindfulness.”
Steven Bartlett, perhaps most notably known as the podcaster Diary of a CEO, co-Founder of Social Chain, and also as an investor on Dragon’s Den, amongst other business endeavours, will be taking to the stag to share an insight into ‘how he spots the next big thing’.
Steven Bartlett will be telling Leeds how he ‘spots the next big thing’. / Image: Supplied
Bringing an insight into representation and inclusivity in the media, reality TV star and LGBTQ+ activist Bimini, will also be a key speaker at the International Festival of Ideas.
And this is just the beginning.
The four day festival promises to host a programme of panels and keynotes which focus on topics such as grief, political systems, womxn’s health inequalities and self-sufficiency, among others from Wednesday 27 September – Saturday 30 September 2023.
Bimini is bringing a wealth of knowledge to LIFI23. / Image: Supplied
And what better venue than the Leeds Playhouse?
The award-winning cultural hub was recently recognised at the UK Theatre Awards as the Most Welcoming Theatre in 2022. With a mission to seek out the best companies and artists to create inspirational theatre in the heart of Yorkshire, Leeds Internationals Festival of Ideas, will be joining the long list of exciting productions, festivals and events that Leeds Playhouse have hosted over the past 50 years.
Martin Dickson, Leeds International Festival of Ideas has commented: “We are thrilled with the programme we are bringing to the city for LIFI23, built on the outstanding success of last year, we think it is our strongest speaker line-up yet.
“We’re also hugely excited to be presenting the festival at the incredible Leeds Playhouse, on of the most famous theatre venue in the city, a privilege and an honour.
“LIFI23 will once again address some of the most important social issues affecting us all, taking them on over 4 inspirational days across 11 events and shining an outspoken light on Leeds, projecting the city once again as a bold, innovative thought-leading city.”
The full lineups and tickets will be available from Tuesday 4 April but in the meantime those wanting to grab tickets are encouraged to visit the Leeds International Festival of Ideas website to sign up for announcements and ticket updates.
Marriott to open new 12-storey aparthotel in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A stylish new aparthotel is opening in Manchester city centre, with new images released of the Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly.
With 155 modern studios and one-bedroom apartments sprawled over 12 floors, it promises to be ‘the first aparthotel of its kind in Northern England’.
The pet-friendly rooms come with perks like well-equipped kitchens, smart TVs, and views of the city skyline.
Set to open in May, the new longer-stay hotel will be located on Laystall Street, between Piccadilly Station, Ancoats, and the Northern Quarter.
The Residence Inn by Marriott will be Marriott International’s first extended stay property in the north of England, but the fifth Residence Inn property in the UK (the others being in London and Scotland).
There’ll be a mix of sleek and spacious studios and one-bedroom suites, 25 of which will offer baths. More than half the rooms will have sofa beds, designed for younger visitors or groups.
Residence Inn by Marriott Residence Inn by Marriott The lounge at Residence Inn by Marriott The restaurant spaceResidence Inn by Marriott The bedroomsInside an apartmentResidence Inn by Marriott
The rooms and communal areas will be decorated in warm, neutral tones and come with a fully functional kitchen, including microwaves, single ovens, two-ring hobs, refrigerators and dishwashers, and cookware. They also all have Smart-TVs.
Self-service communal laundry facilities are available on site and open at all times, with other communal areas including lounge areas, outdoor seating areas, and a coffee shop with a grab-and-go section.
When it comes to food, you can start your day with a delicious complimentary breakfast or make use of their bespoke grocery delivery service.
Residence Inn by Marriott will have a 24-hour fitness centre, with high-spec cardio, resistance and free weight areas.
Two retail spaces have been incorporated into the building’s design, which are independently accessible from the hotel and are available to let.
Residence Inn Manchester Piccadilly general manager, Mustapha Henini said: “We are incredibly excited for the opening of Residence Inn in Manchester Piccadilly. This city is inviting, and our new hotel offers the perfect space for those looking for a spacious stay.”
PHH UK Advisor, Morris Katri, said: “The Ancoats and Piccadilly areas have seen significant redevelopment and investment over recent years, with Residence Inn set to add to the offering available further.
“This hotel will enhance the community with its unique long stay offering and beautiful interiors, plus bring more jobs to the area, boosting the centre’s economic growth.”
Daisy Jackson -
27th January 2023 
