Independent food, drink and retail neighbourhood Hatch MCR has now reopened doors just in time for Christmas shopping, haircuts, and takeaway services.
As England’s second national lockdown comes to an end, and Greater Manchester enters into Tier 3 restrictions as part of the UK government’s new “tougher” three tiered regional system, Hatch will be bringing an alternative festive shopping experience to the city centre with all of the neighbourhood’s excellent local and independent businesses opening their doors ahead of the festive period.
The site has been transformed from urban summer escape, to cosy winter wonder-village and offers a unique, twinkly and festive shopping experience nestled underneath Mancunian Way.
Hatch will be open on Tuesdays – Saturdays from 12-8pm.
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As well as Christmas shopping, Hatch’s friendly neighbourhood grooming salons – Portland Barbers and Industry – will also be open to take care of that all-important post-lockdown, pre-Christmas haircut.
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And independent street food will be on the menu too, with a slimmed-down Tier 3 collection of traders opening for takeaway, including inventive sandwiches by Ate Days a Week, Asian street food by Fuku, fabulous takeaway wine by Vin-Yard, Sicilian street food by Tarricrii, vegan dishes from Herbivorous, Vietnamese street food from Hanoi 75, and Cyprian cuisine from Mezze.
All takeaway food can be ordered and collected here.
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The rest of the Hatch crew is gearing up to be back after the next regional tiered review, when it is hoped that the whole destination will reopen for the full Hatch experience.
As Manchester strives to get Christmas back on track, the Hatch teams are encouraging everyone to shop local this festive season and reward loved ones with something unique and extra-special under the tree by supporting local businesses at the same time.
Hatch MCRHatch MCR
With Small Business Saturday coming up this weekend – Saturday 5th December – Hatch is also set to reward customers shopping from any of the destination’s indie traders by handing out Hatch gift vouchers as spot prizes.
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The vouchers will be assigned completely at random throughout the course of the day, with £100 worth given away, and all shoppers need to do to be in with a chance of winning a voucher is to buy local and independent at Hatch on Saturday.
Hatch is also proud to be part of the 50 Windows of Creativity trail, with a mural by Caroline Dowsett having taken over one of the units.
Speaking on the reopening of Hatch MCR, Andrea George – Director of Retail at Bruntwood Works – said: “Hatch has been transformed into a gorgeous, cosy winter wonder village and all our retailers, hairdressers and takeaways are open and ready for the festive period.
We are open Tuesday – Saturday allowing customers plenty of time to come along and support local independent businesses in a safe environment.
“Our businesses have worked extremely hard to be able to open their doors safely within Tier 3 restrictions and we’re all looking forward to welcoming shoppers back to Hatch for Christmas shopping.”
You can find more information and COVID-safe procedures ahead of your visit via the Hatch MCR website here.
103 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED
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The same team behind the annual Alton Towers run is bringing a new race to Flamingo Land
Danny Jones
Following the success of Run Alton Towers, the same team is bringing a brand-new running event to another Northern attraction with the first-ever Flamingo Land race.
Knowing how popular its forerunner is (pardon the pun), this one is already well on course to sell out.
The inaugural Alton Towers run first took place in November 2021, and now half a decade later, RunThroughUK – the biggest and fastest-growing race organiser in the country – is recreating the format over at Flamingo Land.
Landing next month, the beloved UK theme park and zoo will be joining them in holding two different distances, and you can still be part of it.
Hosted within the grounds of the wider Flamingo Land Resort, the unique route takes participants through the zoo, passing plenty of incredible animals, before continuing through the theme park alongside some of its biggest rides and amusements.
Located in Kirby Misperton up in North Yorkshire, they will be holding both 5-kilometre and 10km runs around the venue.
With the promotion and sporting events company having already comfortably proved they can hold a slick and seamless running event throughout the 500-acre plot, there’s set to be even more jam-packed sights to see as you jog zip through the slightly smaller and multi-purpose park.
As always with RunThrough dates, runners of all abilities are welcome; whether you’re chasing a personal best or simply looking for a different kind of race route, you’re sure to have a memorable time.
And yes, for those wondering: just like with its Staffordshire counterpart, you do get to stay and enjoy all the rides, wildlife and more as part of your entry fee afterwards.
Even better still, not only will every runner be treated to accurate chip timing, a fully marked course, enthusiastic marshals and support from spectators, but you also get a unique finisher’s medal.
Oh yeah, and you get all of your race pictures for FREE, as is standard with RunThrough events. Belter.
With race day not far away, the final places are filling fast for what promises to be one of the UK’s most unique new running events – not to mention one we fully expect to become another annual addition.
Taking place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, you can secure your bibs for the 5/10k running race HERE.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via RunThrough)
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New BBC series based on bestselling book to film in Manchester with big-name actors
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC series based on a bestselling book is set to begin filming in Manchester.
The new series, titled You Are Here, is described as being an ‘honest, witty, and tender’ love story based on David Nicholls’ critically acclaimed novel of the same name – with the author having also written the eight-part adaptation set to be directed Lenny Abrahamson, who is best known for BBC‘s cult-classic miniseries Normal People, and the Oscar-nominated Room (2015).
Set along the Coast to Coast walking trail from the Lake District to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, You Are Here tells the story of Marnie and Michael.
When a mutual friend throws them together, Marnie and Michael unexpectedly find themselves setting off on an epic walk.
Against the odds, they end up on the brink of a relationship that neither was looking for, but might be exactly what they both need.
Treading the tricky path from loneliness to love, Marnie and Michael go coast-to-coast across the stunning English countryside, navigating an undeniable attraction along the way that is just as exhilarating as it is terrifying.
📚 Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen lead the cast of You Are Here, adapted from David Nicholls' best-selling novel
Producers say the series is about finding a connection when you least expect it and overcoming the obstacles of midlife.
Set to be filmed across Manchester and the Lake District, it has been announced that respected actors Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen will take on the lead roles of Marnie and Michael.
“I’m so delighted to be working on You Are Here with Element, the BBC, Starz, and Lenny, whose work I’ve admired for many years,” commented David Nicholls.
“And Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic.
“The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that’s our ambition here too – to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion.
“We can’t wait to bring Marnie and Michael’s journey to the screen.”
Featured Image – Juankr and Josh Wool (via BBC Press Office)
Emily Sergeant -
3rd December 2020 
