Sachas Hotel in Manchester, part of the Britannia group, has a bit of a reputation.
It ranks 125th of 126 hotels in the city on TripAdvisor (The Merchants on Back Piccadilly ranks worst if you were wondering), averaging out at 2.0 out of five.
Reviewers have described it as ‘horrible’, ‘absolutely awful’, and even ‘hell’, with frequent complaints about rooms that are boiling hot.
And the one time one of our staff members stayed there, all he had to say was: “Not great to be fair… when I got there someone was getting f**gered in the foyer.”
But when you look at Sachas in Manchester on paper, it’s got a lot going for it.
There’s an art deco interior complete with a big chandelier, it’s in a prime location right on the edge of the Northern Quarter and Market Street, and it’s one of the city’s most affordable hotel options.
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There’s also the option to host your wedding here, and that’s a bit of a bargain too.
Sacha’s Hotel in Manchester, where you can get married for less than £1,000. (Credit: Booking.com)
In what might be one of the best-value wedding packages in the city, Sachas Manchester will throw you a full do, complete with a three-course dinner for your guests, a bucks fizz reception, and an evening buffet – for less than a grand.
The infamous hotel’s silver package comes in at £999 and also includes things like your table linens, cake stand and cutting knife, a private lounge bar for cocktail hour, and a red carpet welcome.
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Your wedding reception can take over the Washington Suite, with the option to have a civil ceremony here too.
Not fancy enough?
Can we tempt you with Sachas in Manchester’s £1499 GOLD package, which also gets you a stay in the ‘gorgeous bridal suite’, a full English the next morning, extra space for guests, tea, coffee, a stage, and a complimentary balloon arrangement?
Because nothing screams ‘just married’ like a complimentary balloon arrangement.
STILL not posh enough? Let’s dive into the £2500 Platinum Package, shall we?
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Now you’re in the Lincoln and Madison reception street, with an extra function bar, a changing room, chair covers (sashes are an extra 50p per chair), a bottle of prosecco for the happy couple, and the hire of the ceremony space.
The standard wedding space can accommodate 50 to 250 guests, but you can spill out into an extra room and fit up to 550 guests in.
So if you’re newly engaged and looking for a wedding venue in Manchester, maybe Sachas is the one?
Just watch out for the f**gering guests in the foyer on your way out…
The surprisingly luxurious caravan park that’s the perfect place for a Peak District getaway
Daisy Jackson
We probably all have fond memories of caravan holidays as a child, frolicking around the British countryside before tucking up on a squeaky single bed – and as fond as those memories may be, they don’t exactly scream *luxury*.
But the times are a-changing, and so are UK holiday parks, with many caravans and static homes now kitted out just as beautifully as any premium lodge or Airbnb.
You’ll find some such caravans at Newhaven Holiday Park, which sits right at the heart of the Peak District and is perfectly placed for exploring some of the area’s best attractions.
The platinum lodges here feature sizeable living spaces – a lounge, fully-equipped kitchen, and dining room (again, unlike your childhood holidays where you’d just fold away the table) – alongside three bedrooms, two of which have en suite bathrooms.
The design details are premium, like matte black bathroom fittings, pale wood details, and plush carpets.
The huge living space and kitchenNewhaven Holiday ParkAn en suite bedroom in the platinum lodge
But really, the best thing about staying at Newhaven Holiday Park is that it lands you right on the doorstep of some of the Peak District’s best bits.
Within seconds, you’ll find yourself surrounded by rolling hills dotted with sheep and pheasants, and within a short drive you’ll be strolling around the beautiful grounds of Chatsworth Estate, currently ablaze with autumn colours.
If you’re feeling peckish after your walk, head a short distance along into the charming village of Baslow, and to Charlotte’s of Baslow, a lovely cafe serving treats like soup in a bread bowl, apple crumble oats, and açai bowls.
Pastries at Charlotte’s of Baslow
You’re also not far from the village of Bakewell, home of the Bakewell Pudding (visit the higgledy-piggledy The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop for a potted history of the pudding and its sibling, the Bakewell tart).
The village is also packed with local independent bakeries, delis, cafes, shops, and more.
On your way back to Newhaven Holiday Park, swing by Tagg Lane Dairy, an ice cream farm making its own award-winning gelato, with flavours like apple pie, and pineapple chilli cheesecake.
Tagg Lane DairyBakewell villageThe Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop
If you’re looking for a great base in the Peak District, without blowing the budget, definitely don’t overlook a caravan stay.
You can see more and book your stay at Newhaven Holiday Park HERE.
No trams to run on THREE major Greater Manchester lines for two weeks this month
Emily Sergeant
Widespread disruption is expected, as no trams will be running on three major Greater Manchester lines for two full weeks.
As the next phase of the ongoing £150m investment into Greater Manchester’s tram network gets under way later this month, it has been announced that essential improvement work is set to be be carried out on three major Metrolink lines across the region in a bid to make the network ‘safer’ and ‘more resilient and reliable’ for years to come.
From Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November, tram improvement works will take place at Deansgate-Castlefield, and Trafford Bar.
Additional works will also take place in the city centre during this time, allowing Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to keep closures of the tram network to a minimum.
During the dates above, no trams will run on the Altrincham, Trafford Centre, and Eccles lines.
No trams will be running on three major Greater Manchester line for two weeks this month / Credit: TfGM
A number of shuttle bus services will the running over the course of the two-week closure – with services arriving every 10 or 15 minutes, depending which line it’s on, and you can find a full list of these here.
Services operating on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines will terminate at Firswood, and from Firswood, passengers will then need to board a replacement bus service to continue their journey into the city centre.
Services operating on the Rochdale line will terminate at Exchange Square, it has also been announced.
Services will resume on these lines from start of service on Monday 2 November.
However there will be some minor route changes through the city centre in place from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November, so it’s important to check your journey before you travel.
Daisy Jackson -
5th January 2024 
