The Medlock, the new 401-room hotel beside the Etihad Stadium, has officially opened its doors this week.
The landmark new hotel is part of the Medlock Square entertainment hub, also home to the Brickworks market hall, a roof walk and zipline experience, and an all-new Manchester City museum experience.
Set just steps from both the Etihad Stadium and the Co-op Live, The Medlock by Radisson Blu is a modern new hotel with affordable rooms, striking design details, and state-of-the-art technology.
It’s also set to be the largest hotel in central Manchester, with a mixture of room sizes and suites.
There’s also the ‘crown jewel’ of the hotel, its penthouse suite, a two-storey, two-bedroom suite designed for high-profile stays, private dinners, and VIP celebrations.
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And still to come will be 10 bedrooms with pitch views across the Etihad Stadium.
The design of the hotel pays homage to the 19th-century gasworks, local green spaces, and historic waterways that once defined the site, and its name comes from the river that flows beneath it.
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You’ll see details like textured grey walls and cages around the pillars as a nod to the historic Bradford Colliery that once stood on this land.
Inside the two-storey suiteKitchen-diner in the suiteThe private terrace
From the lobby, guests are greeted with an overhead digital reflective feature that syncs with match days and event nights, plus digital check-in pods, low-lounge banquettes, and a statement staircase.
The 401 guest rooms start from £120 a night, decorated in soft tones, warm timber, and ambient lighting, with music-inspired design features like rug patterns inspired by retro audio equipment and bathroom tiles reminiscent of recording studio acoustic walls.
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Every room includes GRIND coffee machines and pods, Vimto bonbons, signature Medlock mattresses created in partnership with Silentnight, and bespoke artwork by local artists (Paul Crudgington, a fine art photographer; James Cochrane, a Manchester street photographer framing light, shadow, and human presence since 2016; and Steve Longbottom, a Manchester exhibiting artist exploring how people connect with place).
Elsewhere in The Medlock, there’s a 24-hour Technogym fitness centre with cutting-edge equipment and virtual personal training options.
The entrance to The Medlock hotelBlend at Medlock SquareThe hotel’s gym
There are two food and drink offerings inside The Medlock, too – Blend, a cafe by day and wine bar by night; and Three Rivers Brasserie and Bar, a sophisticated all-day dining experience focused on British produce and warm, polished service.
Richard Pearson, general manager of The Medlock, Radisson Blu Hotel, said: “We’re incredibly proud to officially open the doors to The Medlock, as it takes centre stage as the beginning of the story of Medlock Square.
“We’ve created a hotel that feels uniquely Manchester, right at the heart of one of the UK’s most exciting destinations. Whether guests are visiting for football, music, business, or to experience the city, we want The Medlock to be more than somewhere to stay – we want it to be the place where every Manchester experience begins with a brilliant welcome.
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“I’m incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. They’ve shown real grit to bring The Medlock to life, backed each other every step of the way, and poured their heart and energy into creating something special.
A bedroom at The MedlockThe entrance to The Medlock hotelThree Rivers restaurant
“This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests and share the warmth, spirit, and sense of community that makes The Medlock feel like home. This is a milestone day for the evolution of Manchester as we continue to shape its next go-to destination.”
Joep Peeters, Chief Operating Officer Franchise EMEA at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “The opening of this flagship hotel represents a defining moment for both Manchester and the team behind it. Whether visitors are here for a football match, a concert, a conference, or just to explore Manchester, both the hotel and its location offer guests an experience unlike anywhere else in the UK.
“The property reflects the city’s character: welcoming, energetic and proudly authentic, and we are thrilled to welcome it into the Radisson Blu portfolio.”
Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK – this is why
Emily Sergeant
A list of the top 10 most affordable cities in the UK has been revealed, and Manchester has made the cut for one very specific reason.
On a bit of a budget? Aren’t we all.
The cost of living crisis has been raging on for quite a few years now, and unfortunately, despite how much we all wish for it to, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down – with prices for everyday items, especially typical fridge and cupboard stables, shooting up by the day, even though supermarkets are showing efforts to prevent it.
And it’s the noticeable price increases in groceries that led delivery insurance provider, Street Cover, to uncover which UK cities don’t strain your food shopping budgets too much just yet.
As it was found that food and non-alcoholic drinks inflation reached 1.3% this past summer, a new study has revealed that Sheffield is officially the most affordable city in the UK, with several other northern locations on the list.
Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK / Credit: MCC | Aldi
The study compared the 2026 Grocery Index for the largest UK cities with the UK average, as well as available 2025 Grocery Indices, to track the changes in food affordability.
The cities are ranked by the index difference from the national average – which is 67.3 – but the report also uses direct monetary values for a grocery basket to provide some additional context too.
Manchester took sixth place on the list, with an average grocery basket price of £23.08, while some of the other northern cities in the top 10, besides Sheffield at number one, include Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle.
Top 10 Most Affordable UK Cities For Groceries
Sheffield
Milton Keynes
Liverpool
Reading
Newcastle
Manchester
Leeds
Bristol
Cardiff
Southampton
As the only other North West city in the top 10, Liverpool may have come in third place overall, but the study found that the grocery bill here is the smallest in terms of actual monetary numbers – with it setting shoppers back £22.08 for a regular supermarket basket, which is a whole £1 cheaper than in Manchester.
“Data shows households in the North East of England have the lowest average food spend in the country, around 11% below the UK average, while Yorkshire sits 6.6% below,” Al Taylor, who is the Head of Street Cover, commented on the study’s findings.
“Sheffield’s position at the top reflects lower property costs for retailers, less competition from premium chains, and a supermarket landscape dominated by value-led options.
“The practical implication for household budgets is significant – the difference between budget and premium shopping can easily be £1,000 or more per year for a family, which can be spent on other things or saved for future plans.”
Featured Image – Aldi
Travel & Tourism
Travel warning issued as tens of thousands to descend for Manchester Half Marathon
Daisy Jackson
A travel warning has been issued ahead of the Manchester Half Marathon this weekend, with tens of thousands of runners and spectators expected to arrive in the city.
People are being urged to plan their journeys ahead of time, with significant road closures in place from the city centre as far out as Sale.
Road closures – and subsequent bus diversions – will also affect parts of Stretford, Chorlton, Trafford, and surrounding areas.
Around 32,000 people are expected to take part in the Manchester Half Marathon this Sunday, with thousands more coming out to cheer the runners on.
Transport for Greater Manchester is advising people that the Bee Network trams will be the best way to get around over the weekend.
Extra trams will be operating to provide as much capacity as possible.
Road closures and bus diversions will start on Saturday 3 October and continue until the actual race day on Sunday 4 October, lifting fully by 8.30pm.
Tens of thousands of runners and spectators will descend on Manchester for the half marathon
Earlier this year, the Manchester Marathon led to a record-breaking day for Metrolink trams, with the highest number of passengers ever recorded on a single day in the network’s history.
Whether running or cheering, people are advised to use the Bee Network app to plan their journeys and are strongly encouraged not to drive within the affected areas.
Steve Gilholme, Head of Events at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The Manchester Half Marathon is another one of those special occasions where the people of Greater Manchester and beyond come together, with thousands of people taking on the challenge and raising money for good causes, while many more will line the route to cheer them on.
“This does mean the city centre and especially trams will be incredibly busy so please plan ahead and give yourself extra time to make journeys.
“The Bee Network app and website will be the best places to get the latest travel information and tap and go contactless payments are the quickest and easiest way to pay.”
You can see all the road closures for the Manchester Half Marathon HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
10th September 2026 
