Travel & Tourism

New images released of Etihad Stadium hotel The Medlock, as bookings open

It will stand beside Man City's home ground.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 9th February 2026

Manchester’s newest hotel, The Medlock, will officially open its doors beside the Etihad Stadium later this year – and they’ve just revealed brand-new images of how things will look.

The new 401-room upscale hotel has unveiled new CGIs and opened up bookings, allowing people to book an overnight stay from as early as October 2026.

The Medlock, a Radisson Blu hotel, is set to open in partnership between Manchester City and Radisson Hotel Group.

And that’s not the only development happening over at the Etihad Campus – there are also plans to open a museum experience, restaurants, and loads more, all of which will be revealed throughout the coming year.

The name of the hotel is inspired by the River Medlock that runs beneath the area and connects it to the city centre.

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Radisson Blu is designing the space to have nods to Manchester’s industrial heritage and unique Mancunian touches throughout.

The Medlock will feature a be a premium penthouse suite among its 401 guest rooms.

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Rooms at The Medlock
Rooms at The Medlock
The gym space at The Medlock
The gym space at The Medlock
New CGIs of the hotel beside the Etihad Stadium
New CGIs of the hotel beside the Etihad Stadium

And guests will have on their doorsteps the Co-op Live arena, the Etihad Stadium, the Joie Stadium, and plenty more.

The hotel will be operated by industry-recognised hotel management company, Valor Hospitality.

Richard Pearson, General Manager of The Medlock, said: “Today marks a key milestone as we unveil The Medlock’s brand and full look and feel.

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“Inspired by our location, the identity celebrates the character, energy and spirit of the place we call home: Manchester. With bookings officially open, it’s an exciting step as we move closer to opening later this year.”

Adela Cristea, Chief Development Officer UK, Ireland & Nordics at Radisson Hotel group, added: “It’s exciting to see the hotel progress and reach this important stage, with bookings now open for guests from October onwards.

“Together with Manchester City Football Club we are creating a global flagship property within a world-class destination which will offer an exceptional experience for visitors coming to the city for business, leisure and events.”

The booking system for The Medlock is now live and you can book a stay HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

Travel & Tourism

Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.

In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.  

TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.

While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.

Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM

So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.

The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.

“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.

“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.

“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”

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TfGM will now work with local Councils across the region to agree the details and implement the scheme this year.

Further details are set to be announced in due course.

Travel & Tourism

Plans approved for huge new purpose-built ice arena and events space in Trafford

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Plans for a new purpose-built ice arena and event space at TraffordCity have officially been approved this week.

Marking what is said to be a ‘major milestone’ for Greater Manchester‘s leisure and sports offering, the new 3,000-capacity TraffordCity Arena approved by Trafford Council will feature state‑of‑the‑art ice skating and ice hockey facilities, and a flexible event space designed to host a wide range of entertainment and community activities.

According to plans, Planet Ice is set to be the new venue’s ‘anchor tenant’ and it will become one of the brand’s largest venues in the UK.

Located on the former Soccer Dome site, adjacent to The Snow Centre, Trafford Golf Centre, David Lloyd, Fives Soccer, iFLY, and The Padel Club, this new arena is predicted to further strengthen Trafford‘s position as the UK’s leading leisure destination.

The new arena will offer year-round ice activities, lessons, and staking sessions, alongside premium hospitality experiences like family dining, bars, leisure, and VIP areas.

But on top of the that, the new venue has been ‘designed with versatility in mind’, so it will also host concerts, screenings, and a range of immersive experiences, all with the hope of creating a ‘dynamic’ destination for visitors.

The project is being developed by ICITIES in partnership with Peel Waters – the latter of which has cleared the site to enable future leisure developments.

The approval of the new ice and multi-use events arena comes after work has now commenced on the £450 million Therme Manchester wellness resort, also in TraffordCity, which is predicted to become one of the most advanced destinations of its kind in Europe.

The new arena is expected to deliver ‘significant’ economic benefits to the region, developers are saying, by contributing both construction roles during the build phase and the more than 50 permanent operational jobs once it opens – including in hospitality, event management, and leisure services.

Ice hockey
Ice skating
Plans have been approved for a huge new purpose-built ice arena and events space in Trafford / Credit: April Walker | Joao Viegas (via Unsplash)

Due to the increasing popularity of ice sports, Trafford Council believes the new arena will bring a significant number of new visitors annually to the region, boosting the local visitor economy, driving further investment into the area, and also benefit surrounding businesses and leisure attractions too.

“As Planet Ice enters its 30th year, we’re delighted to see planning permission granted for this landmark project,” explained Heath Rhodes, who is the Chief Operations Manager at Planet Ice. 

“Demand for ice facilities in the North West continues to grow, and this arena will help meet that need while delivering first class amenities for visitors.

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Peel Waters has confirmed that contractors for the project will be announced very soon, with construction even expected to begin as early as spring 2026 and an estimated build time of around 12-15 months.

Featured Image – ICITIES & AEW Architects

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