The largest ‘adult festival for LGBT communities and lifestylers’ in Europe has been forced to cancel this year over fears that correct social distancing measures could not be adhered to amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
You think that’d just go without saying at this point though, right?
The Aurora Festival was to be held in a secret location in Worcestershire this weekend – between Thursday and Sunday – with hundreds registered to attend, but the team behind the festival said in a statement that they were not prepared to offer a “poor replica” of the event this year.
Confirming the cancellation of the festival via its website and Facebook page, Aurora Festival said: “It is with great regret that we have made the decision to cancel Aurora Festival 2020.”
“This is a decision that has been discussed and agreed by the Aurora committee, after a lot of thought and deliberation, looking at the practicalities and considering the safeguarding of all our wonderful customers.”
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“The impact of COVID-19 has already affected ticket sales.”
AURORA LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL 2020 CANCELLEDIt is with great regret that we have made the decision to cancel Aurora…
“There is also the potential for vendors and suppliers to withdraw at any time, due to illness or self-isolation, leaving us with a space to fill at short notice or more likely, not at all.”
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“We pride ourselves on providing the best, independent, Lifestyle Festival in the UK, giving our customers an experience to remember. We are not prepared to offer you all, an experience that is a poor replica that does not reflect the true essence and standards of Aurora.”
“We will use this time to look after ourselves and each other and see where this virus takes us.”
This year would’ve been the seventh annual Aurora Festival held in the UK.
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Tickets are reportedly sold at the cost of £170 for a couple and attendees are usually only told the exact location just 48-hours in advance in order to keep it under wraps.
Last year, according to the Mirror Online, the three-day event boasted large sex hammocks and Wild West themed nights.
The Aurora Festival closed out the statement vowing to return “bigger, fresher and virus free” in 2021.
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You can get FREE sandwiches in Manchester this weekend – but only if you have certain names
Emily Sergeant
Hungry Mancs can help themselves to free sandwiches this bank holiday weekend… but there’s a bit of a catch.
You can only get yourself a sandwich if you have one of these particular names.
We’ve been enjoying some absolutely stunning sunshine across Greater Manchester and much of the UK over the past couple of months, and nothing says sunny days more than taking a packed lunch or grabbing a meal deal and taking it to your local park or greenspace for a picnic.
This is why Pret A Manger has decided to make picnics easier for those who are lucky enough to have a certain type of name.
This late May bank holiday weekend, the popular high street coffee shop chain will be dishing out hundreds of free sandwiches across the UK – including here in Manchester – to anyone whose name happens to start with ‘Nic’.
That means people called Nick, Nicholas, Nicola, Nicole, Nico, Nicolette, and plenty of others could be in with a chance of some free feasting over these next couple of days.
You can get FREE sandwiches in Manchester this weekend / Credit: Wikimedia Commons | Supplied
Here in Manchester, it’s the chain’s Portland Street site, just off Piccadilly Gardens, that’s participating in the free giveaway this weekend, and there’ll be 50 sandwiches a day given out, so you’ll need to be quick if your name starts with ‘Nic’ and you’re feeling peckish.
The offer is only limited to Pret’s freshly-made sandwiches, and unfortunately excludes baguettes, wraps, or rye rolls… but free food is better than no food, after all.
All you’ll need to do to grab a freebie is show your ID at the tills of participating stores this Saturday (24 May) to prove your name, and you’ll get to walk out with your lunch in hand, all without having to spend a penny.
Manchester’s Portland Street Pret A Manger will be giving out 50 free sandwiches to ‘Nics’ this Saturday, and they’re on a first-come-first-served basis.
Featured Image – Eaters Collective (via Unsplash)
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BBC needs adventurous Mancs to take part in next series of Race Across the World
Emily Sergeant
Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? This might just be your calling then.
The BBC is currently casting for the next series of Race Across the World.
The BAFTA-winning hit show is currently airing to thousands of viewers each week, but with the next series now in the works, producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea – and that includes Greater Manchester residents.
With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic Mancs are being encouraged to take part.
On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.
BBC is looking for Mancs to take part in next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC
Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions.
But, as producers are keen to point out, “the physical journey is only half of the story”.
That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.
“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.
Applications for the massively-popular show are now open / Credit: BBC
“Maybe you’re looking to change something in your life? Or are keen to share the journey with someone special like a family member, best friend, or someone you’ve lost touch with. You may even have a very personal reason for wanting to travel at this time in your life or explore a particular part of the world.”
Fancy it then?
Applications for the third series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 6 July 2025, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.
Emily Sergeant -
30th June 2020 
