A number of essential retail and hospitality outlets have remained open in two of the region’s largest shopping centres under Tier 4 restrictions.
Greater Manchester was placed into Tier 4 restrictions following the second official review of the UK government’s system last Wednesday, which has seen all Greater Manchester residents told to “stay at home” and not leave / be outside of their home except for specific purposes.
All hospitality and non-essential retail has thus closed – except for takeaway, drive-through or delivery services – as well as all indoor leisure and entertainment venues having closed too.
But a selection of businesses in Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre have remained open.
This “partial opening” of the two shopping centres is permitted under Tier 4 restrictions to provide visitors with a range of services deemed essential.
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Manchester Arndale
Manchester Arndale is currently open to provide access to a number of essential retail services.
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Additionally, a selection of retailers have also chosen to provide a Click & Collect service, and a number of food outlets are also offering takeaway and delivery services in line with Tier 4 regulations, with the mall asking shoppers to consume takeaway food and drink outside the centre as sitting inside the centre is not permitted.
Shoppers are encouraged to check the website of the stores they wish to visit as opening times may vary.
In line with government guidelines, visitors are required to wear face coverings upon entry to the centre, and in all stores and communal areas throughout, except fo those with medical conditions and disabilities who are exempt to the rule, along with children under the age of 11.
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Customers will also be required to wear face coverings when ordering takeaway food and drink from shops.
The list of shops and hospitality businesses currently open in Manchester Arndale are:
Aldi
Apple (Click & Collect)
Argos (Click & Collect)
Arndale Market
Boots
Cafe Nero (Takeaway Only)
Chopstix (Takeaway Only)
Costa Market Street & Winter Garden (Takeaway Only)
Currys PC World (Click & Collect)
Euro Change Lower & Upper Mall
Five Guys (Takeaway Only)
Greggs Lower & Upper Mall (Takeaway Only)
Hasty Tasty (Takeaway Only)
Holland & Barrett
i Smash
Krispy Kreme (Takeaway Only)
KFC (Takeaway Only)
Lush (Click & Collect)
McDonalds (Takeaway Only)
Metro Bank
Nespresso (Click & Collect)
Newspoint
Next (Click & Collect)
Over the Rainbow
Pandora (Click & Collect)
Post Office
Poundland
Rymans
Specsavers
Starbucks (Takeaway Only)
Subway Upper Mall (Takeaway Only)
Superdrug
Timpson
Taco Bell (Takeaway Only)
Vision Express
Vodafone (Takeaway Only)
WH Smith
Wilko
You can find more information via the Manchester Arndale website here.
Manchester Arndale
Trafford Centre
The Trafford Centre is also “partially open” as Greater Manchester kicks off the new year in Tier 4.
The shopping centre will be giving customers access to essential services including pharmacies, opticians and the M&S Foodhall, and several food outlets will also be staying open to offer takeaway, as well as Click & Collect, and virtual services.
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Mirroring that of Manchester Arndale and according to government regulations, face coverings must be worn at all times – unless exempt – and all food and drink must be consumed outside the centre.
Opening times of each store may vary.
A statement on the Trafford Centre website writes: “We’ve always put the safety of visitors and staff first and we’d like to say an enormous thank you to our customers for doing their part and our amazing staff for keeping The Trafford Centre clean and safe.”
The list of shops and hospitality businesses currently open in the Trafford Centre are:
Boots
M&S Food
Superdrug
Holland and Barrett
Vision Express
Optical Express
WHSmith
Archie’s
Barburrito
Burger King
Costa
Five Guys
Frankie & Benny’s
Gourmet Burger Kitchen
Greggs
Haute Dolci
KFC
Krispy Kreme
McDonalds
Millies
Pizza Hut
Slim Chickens
Starbucks
Tampopo
Tru Street
Three entrances to the Trafford Centre will remain open in Tier 4 – the lower entrance next to Debenhams, the entrance next to Namco Funscape, and the lower entrance next to John Lewis.
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You can find more information via the Trafford Centre website here.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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A tribute festival in memory of Mani from The Stone have been announced
Danny Jones
After plenty of talk and rumours ever since his passing, a tribute festival in memory of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield will honour the late great Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player later this year.
Despite various organisations and regional residents having observed their own memorial services following his death on 20 November 2025, the city and Greater Manchester as a whole made it clear that they wanted to carry out a more dedicated form of remembrance.
And we couldn’t agree more.
Deciding to remember him in the past best way possible – by celebrating one of his greatest loves and legacies: music – ‘Manichester’ festival will be held this spring.
Hosted in partnership with Madchester.com and simply dubbed as “a tribute to a true Manc legend”, names both new, old and current will be joining the inaugural Manichester lineup.
Organised by the website and iconic Manchester streetwear brand GIOGOI, not to mention being “blessed by Mani’s family” directly, artists playing will range from those who were lucky enough to have played with him or, like us all, were simply left inspired by his unforgettable basslines.
As well as a ‘AAA headliner’ still yet to be confirmed, there are some serious legendary names on here, both local and beyond; at the minute, the roster of acts is looking like this:
Manichester 2026 lineup
Cast
Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order)
The Kowloons
A “specially assembled core band” featuring Aziz Ibrahim (The Stone Roses), Rowetta, Simone Butler (formerly Primal Scream) and Mick Rossi (Slaughter and The Dogs)
Dave McCabe (The Zutons)
Baz Fratelli (The Fratellis)
Zak Starkey (Mantra of the Cosmos)
Steve White (ex-Oasis drummer)
Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers)
However, as they have teased in the announcement, “that’s just the start”, and with more names incoming, many are already trying to guess who the headliner could be. Some have even suggested Ian Brown himself might get up on the stage…
As per an official statement, key artwork for the event comes from the one and only and equally influential Stone Roses guitarist, John Squire, whose new designs will feature on flyers, limited-edition physical tickets and other promotional materials.
Manichester will take place on Saturday May 30, doors open 2pm.
Most importantly, all the proceeds from the special one-off in memoriam show will go towards Mani’s and Imelda’s twin boys, Gene and George – and who knows? This could be the start of a brand-new annual festival spawned in the name of a very special Mancunian.
GIOGOI added: “Manchester is the best city in the world, and we do things differently here. This is Manchester showing up. This is Madchester showing love. This is ‘Manichester’.“
Taking place on Saturday, 30 May and held at Diecast on Ducie Street in Manchester city centre from 2pm, it’s sure to be a momentous ocassions with thoughts of Mani and his family looming large in everyone’s minds.
The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
The Manc -
4th January 2021 
