A brand-new gym and spa has opened inside one of the most luxurious hotels in Manchester city centre today.
King Street Townhouse’s new purpose-built gym and spa facilities are tucked away inside the four-star hotel’s historic Grade-II listed Italian Renaissance building as part of the upper King Street conservation area, and they’re set to bring an “elevated fitness and wellbeing experience” to the heart of the city centre.
Having officially opened its doors to the public today, the new King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa has its sights set on being a destination for “unforgettable” spa experiences.
Designed by EPR Architects, the spa is decked-out in a soothing palette of calming neutrals and natural materials like timber, marble, and stone to “evoke a sense of deep relaxation and calm”, and designers say each area has been crafted with luxurious wellness in mind.
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The new Gym and Spa Salt Cave / Credit: King Street Townhouse
The spa includes four treatment rooms, a thermal suite, a eucalyptus steam room, and an ice fountain, as well as heated loungers, a relaxed dining room in the calming spa lounge, and also boasts a full treatment menu.
The “unrivalled” treatment offering includes bespoke treatments that are exclusive to the hotel from leading skincare and wellness brands ESPA and Perricone MD.
And one of the stand-out new features has to be the immune-boosting Himalayan salt cave.
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The new Spa Lounge / Credit: King Street Townhouse
One of the exclusive new spa treatment options is the ESPA Rebalance & Restore Ritual – which is said to be an uplifting massage featuring salt stones, a rose quartz facial, scalp massage and salt inhalation to leave the body, skin, and mind feeling “re-balanced and radiant”.
As mentioned, King Street Townhouse has partnered with Perricone MD to create a range of bespoke specialist spa treatments in a UK-exclusive.
This means that hotel guests will be the first in the country to get the chance to experience the brand’s targeted and results-driven facials, advanced techniques, and holistic approach to skin health like never before.
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The new Spa Sauna / Credit: King Street Townhouse
The hotel’s new state-of-the-art gym facility has also been designed to help guests enhance their physical and mental wellbeing.
There’s four specially-designed workout zones for cardio, functional, strength, and free weights to give guests a choice of fitness equipment to suit all strengths and abilities, so no matter whether you fancy doing a quick 10-minutes on the treadmill, or a full HIIT workout and weights session, there’s facilities for everyone’s needs.
King Street Townhouse says its wants its new Gym & Spa to provide a “distinctive experience” to suit people of all lifestyles and wellness routines.
The relaxing Spa Lounge also offers a balanced menu of both light and nutritious food and drinks all day-long, as well as plenty of indulgent treats to tuck into – with a range of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options too.
The new Gym / Credit: King Street Townhouse
“We are delighted to announce the opening of the new King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa,” said Viki Tahmasebi – CEO at THG Experience.
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“The carefully-curated space touches upon all aspects of wellbeing to offer a place to unwind, recharge and fully escape from the stress of the everyday.
“Not only does the new expansion offer an elevated wellness destination in the heart of the city, but it also enhances our ‘home away from home’ experience for our hotel guests.”
The new King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa is now open.
Spa facilities are open to both residents and guests, and while gym facilities are exclusively open for hotel residents for a limited time, membership options are launching later in 2022.
Featured Image – King Street Townhouse
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Crown Paints hit with more than 100 complaints over new ‘misogynistic’ and ‘offensive’ advert
Emily Sergeant
A Northern-based paint company has been hit with more than 100 complaints over its new TV advert, which has been branded “offensive”.
Crown Paints – which is based in Darwen in Lancashire – released the advert in question earlier this month, and through a cast of actors, singers, and spoken word performers, it tells the story of a young couple named Hannah and Dave.
The couple were said to have met at an illegal rave, and are now expecting their first child together.
Lyrics from the advert’s jingle include: “Now a baby’s coming and they don’t know what it is. Hannah’s hoping for a girl, Dave’s just hoping that it’s his.
“They’re happy that their spare room’s no longer grey because there’s a baby on the way.”
Since its release and airing on TV screens across the UK, an Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) spokesman said it had received 150 complaints about the advert – which it is “currently assessing to determine if there is a potential problem under our rules and, if so, whether there are grounds for further action”.
The ASA says the majority of complaints are mainly focused on whether the content in the advert is appropriate to be shown on television, as well as many taking to social media and calling it out for being “totally derogatory” towards women.
Comedian Jennie Eclair was one of the more prominent figures to complain to Crown Paints on social media earlier this week, tweeting: “Hey Crown Paints, get that offensive baby ad off air – what were you thinking!!!? What on earth possessed you?”
Hey @crownpaints get that offensive baby ad off air – what were you thinking !!!? What on earth possessed you?
Author and podcast host, Daisy Buchanan, was one of the many people to welcome Eclair’s tweet and say in response: “I honestly thought it was me being mad”.
One viewer took to Twitter and said: “Totally derogatory of women, questioning her fidelity. Take it off because it won’t sell much paint.”
Others said it was “offensive”, “misogynistic”, and a “serious error of judgement”.
Crown Paints then responded to Eclair’s tweet saying: “Our ads are intended to give a humorous account of our characters’ stories. We appreciate that people have differing tastes when it comes to humour and whilst the ad has been broadly well received, we apologise if the remark has caused offence to anyone.”
But Eclair still said she felt that the advert “set up a scenario that implies a woman has possibly conned a man into fatherhood”.
It’s terrible also who was having illegal races four years ago? I thought they belonged to the 90’s – basically you’ve set up a scenario that implies a woman has possibly conned a man into fatherhood – check out the responses on my time line – it’s about 98% anti
Following both the growing online backlash, and the 150 official complaints about the advert, Crown Paints has issued a formal statement addressing the claims.
A spokesperson said: “This ad is one in a series that is intended to celebrate special moments in life in a humorous way.
“The characters of Hannah and Dave are shown to be in a happy relationship and preparing for their new arrival. There are no negative connotations intended from any of the lyrics and whilst the ad has been broadly well received, we recognise that people have differing tastes in humour.
“We apologise if any of the lines have caused offence.”
Featured Image – Crown Paints
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Experts warn that Flying Ant Day is imminent and it could be ‘any day’ now – but what is it?
Emily Sergeant
Gardening experts are warning that the annual phenomenon known as Flying Ant Day is right around the corner, and it could be “any day” now.
With temperatures having been soaring in Greater Manchester over the past couple of days, as the UK experienced the second heatwave of the summer, pest controllers were warning that an influx of “sugar-crazed” wasps was likely to come with the warm weather – but now, it turns out the wasps aren’t the online insects we need to brace for.
Flying Ant Day is apparently on its way too, and it could be here before we know it.
As a thunderstorm warning now in place for much of the country, with heavy rain, wind, and general stormy conditions forecast set to bring potential flooding, damage to buildings, and disruption, the change in weather could also bring flying ants.
Post-heatwave is usually considered to be the ideal time of year for the creatures fill the air in swarms, according to experts, but while the annual occurrence is called Flying Ant Day, most of the time, it isn’t just a one-day thing.
But what actually is Flying Ant Day? What should we be expecting? And is there any way to make sure flying ants don’t get inside our homes?
What is Flying Ant Day?
To sum it up simply, Flying Ant Day – which is scientifically referred to as nuptial flight – is a natural annual event that sees countless of the flying insects take to the skies in a bid to avoid the heat.
It marks the day or time of year where virgin queens mate with males to start new colonies.
While it’s impossible to predict an exact day for the annual occurrence, there have been warnings that 2022’s Flying Ant Day could take place any time from 15 August, so we’re already a day overdue and it’s worth keeping an eye out.
Flying Ant Day – which is scientifically referred to as nuptial flight / Credit: Flickr
What are the experts saying?
“Most of us have been enjoying the heatwave, but while we’ve been making the most of the sun, a storm has been brewing,” explained Chris Bonnett – founder of Gardening Express.
“There is no specific day for Flying Ant Day, it’s usually just around mid to late August and it typically happens after a heatwave [and] the reason for this being that ants prefer humid weather and they use this time to get on the lookout for a new home and whilst that’s all well and good, it becomes a real nuisance for those of us who enjoy spending time in our gardens and outdoors.
“Ants in the UK aren’t dangerous, but they can be extremely irritating.”
How can I stop flying ants getting into my home?
Gardening Express has also given a handful of top tips to keep flying ants outside and stop them from entering into our homes.
Emily Sergeant -
11th July 2022 
