There’s been another update in the eagerly-anticipated arrival of Soho House in Manchester, with the global members’ club brand confirming membership price.
The luxury hospitality business is set to open its first Manchester house in the old Granada Studios building.
When it opens, Soho House Manchester will span five floors and will include a gym, events space, bars, a restaurant, bedrooms, a live music space, and that very exciting rooftop pool.
New images have been released of the site, showing what the 23 bedrooms within Soho House will look like when it opens in late 2023.
As well as those, there’ll be 133 more bedrooms in the neighbouring Mollie’s Motel, Bar & Diner, also being built on the Granada Studios redevelopment in St John’s.
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For the first time, those interested in a Soho House membership in Manchester can see what it will cost them, with applications now open.
If you just want to use the Manchester site, it’ll cost you £1,800 per year.
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Or to access 41 Soho Houses across the globe, membership will cost £2,750 per year – with discounts available for under-27s.
Bedrooms at Soho House Manchester
That price at Soho House Manchester will give you and up to three guests access to the House, daily member event programming, and access to the members-only gym.
The extensive gym, featuring a free weights area, studio space, steam and sauna, a balcony with casual seating, vanity areas and lounge spaces, will be situated on the first floor.
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The main members’ club will be up on the eighth floor, with a casual bar and lounge area, a more formal dining space run by head chef James Lord, an indoor pool lounge area, and an outdoor rooftop pool with sunbeds and a bar.
A spiral staircase leads to the next floor, where there’s a late-night bar and live music space overlooking the pool.
Soho House Manchester. Credit: SuppliedThe gym at Soho House Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The 23 bedrooms on the sixth floor are designed for Soho House, from cosy rooms to large suites, plus an 80 sq metre private apartment.
Its interiors will be inspired by Old Granada Studios history – this iconic building did host The Beatles’ first ever televised performance, after all – with bespoke and vintage furniture in 1950s and 1960s styles.
Soho House threw a lavish party earlier this week to celebrate its arrival in the city, with a three-course dinner served on the Parklife main stage.
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Soho House & Co CEO Andrew Carnie said: “Bringing Soho House to other cities in the UK has always been something we’ve wanted to do and, as a Mancunian, I’m particularly proud to be coming to Manchester.
“Nick and the design team have worked hard to create a space for our members that preserves the heritage of the Granada Studios building, while introducing a rooftop pool terrace and floor to ceiling windows on the top floor. The view of the city is going to be amazing from there and I can’t wait for members to experience it.”
Thousands of elderly and disabled people to get free 24-hour bus travel across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled people in Greater Manchester are set to benefit from round-the-clock bus travel for free.
Currently, as part on an ongoing pilot scheme, people with a Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)-issued concessionary travel pass have free unlimited travel on Bee Network buses between 9.30am and midnight during the week, and all day on weekends and public holidays.
The rule was lifted in August on a trial basis for a month, meaning older and disabled residents in Greater Manchester had access to unlimited free bus travel any time between the allocated hours.
During the August trial, more than 100,000 journeys were made by older and disabled people – with up to 6,000 people a day making use of the pilot.
But now, after proving to be a huge success, the pilot is being extended even further, so that 400,000 eligible residents will now get free bus travel 24-hours a day, seven days a week, starting from 1 November.
If you travel with a TfGM-issued concessionary travel pass, from 1 November you’ll be able to use it on #BeeNetwork buses before 9.30am as part of a second month-long trial.
As well as free early-morning bus travel, during the trial starting in November, eligible residents will be able to board the Bee Network’s night buses for free too.
TfGM says allowing concessionary pass holders to travel at any time will ‘better connect’ them to healthcare, leisure, and retail opportunities.
“The last trial in August was a brilliant success, which saw more than 100,000 journeys made by our older and disabled people before 9.30am,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
“We are now carrying out this second trial, at a busier time of year, to see whether we can safely remove the restriction permanently and help our older and disabled people to get to work, go shopping, and get to medical appointments.
“We want the Bee Network to be the best public transport system possible and this means it needs to support all of our residents and communities to make the journeys they need to make and use the bus more.”
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
Dunham Massey – The corner of Greater Manchester with unbeatable autumn landscapes and one of nature’s great spectacles
Daisy Jackson
Dunham Massey is one of the North West’s proudest gems, a National Trust site that’s home to both a magnificent Georgian manor house and a beautiful deer park.
But there’s something to be said for the way it comes into its own as autumn rolls around, when the grounds are blanketed in red and orange leaves and a mist lies low over the lawns.
This is a perfect spot to escape into autumn properly, with a perfect mix of heritage, fresh air and scenery (as well as a pumpkin spice latte in the cafe afterwards).
As we creep further into the autumn months, autumnal bulbs will begin to bloom in the Winter Garden, leaves will rustle underfoot, and bright colours will transform the landscape.
When we hear ‘Dunham Massey’, most of us will think of the resident herd of fallow deer who still graze on the grounds of the former medieval deer park.
Those who explore the park on foot this autumn may catch a glimpse of breeding or ‘rutting’ season, one of nature’s great spectacles, where the bucks fight for their pick of the does.
Expect these amazing beasts to be roaring and bellowing at each other and showing off their fully grown antlers, with the bucks parallel walking and sizing each other up – and potentially clashing over the nearby females.
The best time to see the deer rutting at Dumham Massey is early in the mornings, when the park is quiet.
Also honouring the deer is the Stags in Bradgate Park sculpture, a silver masterpiece dating back to 1855, which was previously believed to have been lost forever and melted down.
Deer resting on the lawn at Dunham Massey. Credit: Arnhel de Serra
Now back on display at Dunham Massey and reunited with the silver collection, it portrays two rutting red deer stags and was commissioned by George Harry Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford in an act of love and rebellion.
It was a symbol of locking horns with the Cheshire society that shunned him over his marriage to Catherine Cox – a woman who was considered beneath him by Victorian high society.
The silver centrepiece was crafted by royal goldsmiths and was seen as a masterpiece at the time, going on to be exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1862 and the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867.
Elsewhere at Dunham Massey this autumn you’ll find the unique ORIGIN deep listening art installation, which connects visitors to the mansion and gardens through sonic landscapes and visual artistry.
Designed to soothe and rejuvenate, ORIGIN explores the powerful themes of life’s cycle and the human connection to nature.
Dunham Massey is accessible by public transport, with regular buses running from Altrincham and Warrington.
And you can claim 10% off in the ice cream parlour, cafe and restaurant when you show a valid bus ticket.
Find out more about Dunham Massey and what’s on offer this winter HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
9th June 2023 
