The UK is set for a washout this weekend with heavy rain to put a damper on ‘Super Saturday’.
The Met Office believes that between 35-50mm of rain is expected to fall.
This unfortunate turn in weather comes as many pubs, bars and restaurants, are once again able reopen to the public on 4th July – dubbed ‘Super Saturday’.
Brits up and down the country are expected to flock to their locals, but Saturday’s wet weather may mean that some indoor venues could struggle to implement necessary social distancing measures as intended if people ditch outdoor spaces to move inside for shelter.
‘Light rain’, with average highs of 18°C and lows of 14°C, is predicted on Saturday across Greater Manchester.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Met Office spokesperson, Nicola Maxey, stated that although the rain will lessen during the evening on Saturday, low cloud and drizzly conditions are highly expected continue through to Sunday.
Speaking to PA News, she said: “Saturday will see more unsettled conditions, with showers beginning in the west during the morning which will begin to move across to the east. While it won’t be unusually wet for the time of year, some areas in the east could become particularly heavy for an hour or two in the mid-morning to early afternoon.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“Pushing in after that will be a spell of drizzly downpours and some low cloud which will hang over the UK for the rest of the day.”
Although Wednesday is the first day of a new month, July will begin on a similar note to how June ended – changeable and rather unsettled!
Mostly cloudy for many areas to begin the day with some showery rain in places ☔, but sunny spells developing, especially in the south ?️. pic.twitter.com/fiYmddkeZF
A spokesperson from JD Wetherspoon, which plans to reopen all 750 of its venues on Saturday, said: “The weather is out of our control, but our pubs tend to be three times larger than others so we are not worried about people being inside our venues.”
“We can’t predict what the weather will be like in England, but we have faith that our customers and staff will be as safe as possible.”
ADVERTISEMENT
A spokesperson for Stonegate Pubs, which owns The Slug and Lettuce chain, said: “Throughout our pubs and bars, we are implementing clear, safe socialising measures both inside and across our outside spaces. We are encouraging customers to pre-book and all bookings work on a time-limit which enables us to manage capacity and customer expectation.”
“Should the weather be inclement, we will work with our customers on a common-sense approach, accommodating where we can those that have had to move from outside areas.”
“Most customers are likely to check the weather and be prepared for the expected short spells of rain or drizzle.”
For more information regarding weather in Greater Manchester and the North West ahead of the weekend, visit the Met Office website here.
Trending
Lee Rigby’s son is raising tens of thousands for charity in honour of his dad
Danny Jones
Jack Rigby, the son of soldier Lee Rigby, is raising an absolutely huge amount of money for charity in memory of his father.
Rigby, a former Royal Fusilier who served in Afghanistan for three years, was tragically murdered by extremists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale outside the Woolwich Barracks in May 2013 and now, over a decade after his death, his son is hoping to raise as much as possible in his honour.
His dad was 25 when he was killed and Jack himself was only two-years-old at the time. Now 13, the inspiring young man set out on his fundraising journey earlier this year, completing a marathon on behalf of Scotty’s Little Soldiers back in May, a military bereavement charity.
Setting himself the goal of reaching the ‘Scotty’s March’ £10k target — i.e. hoping to raise a £1,000 for each year since his passing — Jack and his family have been blown after the fundraiser has already amassed over £55k in donations.
Thank you to @DailyMirror for helping Scotty Member Jack Rigby to boost his fundraising for other bereaved military children just like him. https://t.co/qNnMgcCF9a
With the goalposts now being moved to £60,000 after Jack and his mum Rebecca’s efforts have led to nearly £55k in contributions to the specialised bereavement organisation to support grieving military children and young people up to the age of 25.
Writing in his post when the fundraiser was first set up, Jack said, “This year marked the 10-year anniversary, it’s never easy but this year felt even harder for some reason. To help me through this year I have been concentrating on raising funds and awareness for Scotty’s Little Soldiers…
“This [has] really helped me to concentrate on something positive at a very difficult time while helping this amazing charity“, an intitiave he has been a part ever since he was a young child, adding that he named his dog Scotty in tribute to their important work for military families across the UK.
It was only earlier this year that the teenager spoke out about his father for the first time having already smashed his fundraising target before he had even run his marathon.
Speaking in an exclusive with the Mirror, who have decided to double his total donations to £100,000 as part of a Pride of Britain GoFundMe campaign, Jack says that the “It helps to know [he’s] not the only one in [his] situation and that there’s people [he] can reach out and talk to”.
As for mum, she said: “Jack was so excited to see the amount grow and seeing how much each donation made him smile meant the world to me. He and I read all the messages of support and were thankful for them all. We honestly couldn’t believe how kind and generous people were being.”
Featured Image — Gov.uk/Jack Rigby (via Scotty’s Little Soldiers)
Trending
You can now stay at Shrek’s Swamp on Airbnb — yes, really
Danny Jones
Are you a Dreamworks fan or perhaps an onion/ogre enthusiast? Well, you can now book to stay at Shrek’s Swamp in a land far, far away… and it’s completely free!
‘What are you doing in my swamp?!’ is something that Shrek may roar at you as you lay your weary head in his humble abode this autumn but now, thanks to Airbnb, you’re actually welcome to stay there.
So, if you’re thinking of treating yourself to a getaway, forget the romantic vistas of Rome, say nay to the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast and revel in the mud-laden, moss-covered surroundings of Shrek’s very own swamp instead.
For those looking to live out their swampiest childhood fairytale dreams, Airbnb is giving you the opportunity to escape to the Scottish Highlands and embrace your ogre-like tendencies.
Credit: Airbnb
Bookings for this special stay open on Friday, 13 October at 6pm and, if you’re lucky, up to three of you will be picked to enjoy a two-night swamp stay at absolutely no cost to yourselves from 27-29 October. A nice pre-Halloween treat.
You’ll need to make sure you have a good rating on Airbnb to stand a chance of being chosen and, if you are, you can expect the following:
To relax in the ambience of ‘earwax candlelight’
Kick your feet up with a parfait (everybody likes a parfait!)
Swap stories around the fire until late in the night
Enjoy a stack of freshly made waffles in the morning
And, of course, enjoy the ultimate privacy of Shrek’s trusted outhouse (you know the one)
The Airbnb website also states: “To honour good childhood memories that last a lifetime, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to HopScotch Children’s Charity, which provides some of Scotland’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children with respite breaks through nurturing and dynamic holiday trips.”
Guests must also note that the shower and toilet facilities are located 20 metres away from the swamp and that those chosen to stay must make their own travel arrangements to and from Scotland.
Might we suggest a fairytale-style horse and carriage shaped like an onion? No reason…
To find out more and to place your booking on 13 October, visit the Shrek Swamp listing on Airbnb.
The Manc -
2nd July 2020 
