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.”
Manchester Oxford Road station could close for more than two years for a major refurb
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s major central train stations could be set to close to the public for more than two years.
Hundreds of trains pass through Manchester Oxford Road each week, but that could soon be set to change, as Network Rail has today launched a public consultation on plans to carry out major upgrades at the station in a bid to “deliver improvements” for passengers and the wider rail network.
Upgrades include longer platforms, track and signalling improvements, and even the construction of a new station footbridge.
Proposed track layout and signalling improvements would reduce congestion by removing conflicting train movements, while overhead line equipment would also be upgraded, as well as over 900m of new track being laid.
Accessibility would also be improved throughout the station, with the proposed new footbridge increasing movement space for passengers and new lifts allowing step-free access to all platforms.
🛤️Big plans for Oxford Road!
Swipe through to see what’s in store for the future of Manchester’s transport➡️
Wider resurfaced platforms, and improvements to existing lifts are also planned.
Network Rail says the aim of the public consultation is to “give everyone the opportunity to review outline proposals” and to “provide their views” so that these can be taken into account and inform further design.
Feedback is being invited on all scheme elements – such as design, construction, and the impacts of the scheme on the rail network, environment and community.
Manchester Oxford Road station could close for more than two years for a major refurb / Credit: Northern
Speaking on the consultation as it launched today, Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We have said for a long time that Oxford Road Station is in need of a range of improvements from easing the congestion, increasing capacity, improving reliability and ensuring that the station is accessible for all commuters.
“Any future development will be a long-term project but infrastructure upgrades like these are essential if we are to continue growing Manchester as the leading city of the North.”
The first round of consultation will run up until 28 February, both online via the feedback form available at here, as well as at two drop-in events at Friends’ Meeting House, on Mount Street in the city centre, on Saturday 1 February from 11am-4pm, and Monday 17 February from 2pm-7pm.
A second round of consultation is due to take place before the end of 2025, and once both consultations have been considered, Network Rail is looking to submit the applications needed to build the scheme next year.
Featured Image – Network Rail
Travel & Tourism
80% of drivers say they regularly see people ‘excessively speeding’ on UK roads
Emily Sergeant
80% of drivers say they regularly see people ‘excessively speeding’ on UK roads, new data from the RAC has revealed.
After the Government‘s road casualty statistics showed that ‘exceeding the speed limit’ was sadly a contributory factor to a total of 304 (21%) fatal collisions in 2023, the RAC spoke to 2,691 drivers to gather their experiences about driving on roads nationwide as part of its annual Report on Motoring for 2024.
82% of drivers surveyed noticed others breaking the limit excessively on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, while 80% said it was also a common occurrence on 30mph or 20mph roads.
In comparison to previous years, the sharpest increase in speeding figures was found on 20mph roads, where 50% of drivers said they have frequently or occasionally broken the limit – which is up from 46% a year ago, and 36% from 2018.
It’s motorways where drivers admit to breaking the limit more often than on any other type of road, however, with 58% admitting to going above 70mph in 2024.
80% of drivers say they regularly see people ‘excessively speeding’ on UK roads / Credit: Don Sniegowski (via Flickr)
Figures also showed that many appear to see the speed limit as a target, with seven in 10 drivers (72%) saying they try to drive as close to the speed limit as possible, while 55% believe there is a culture among UK road users where it’s acceptable to break the speed limit.
“It’s concerning that our research indicates excessive speeding has become so commonplace because the consequences are very severe,” explained RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis.
“It is particularly worrying that so much excessive speeding observed by drivers appears to take place on 20mph and 30mph roads, as this is where the greatest number of vulnerable road users are, such as pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter riders.
“We badly need to bring an end to excessive speeding to keep us all safe.
Daisy Jackson -
9th June 2023 
