An interesting new study has seen Manchester named as one of the best cities in the UK for sober students.
There’s no denying that the stereotypical student experience has a bit of a reputation for its hardcore drinking culture, but nowadays, recent studies and trends have shown that there’s an ever-growing number of young people who are opting to stay away from alcohol – especially when they’re studying at university.
It obviously makes sense then, that when it comes to picking which university to spend their next three years at, drinking culture could be something that some students are keen to consider before sticking an application in.
So, which universities actually offer the best environments for sober students then?
In a bid to get to the bottom of this, student housing provider, This is Fresh, has carried out a new study and analysed the 20 UK universities, which are home to the largest numbers of students, to find out which have the highest number of societies where drinking is not part of the specified culture
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The numbers of pubs and bars in the area, and the support services available for students who may be struggling with the drinking habits and their mental health, was also taken into consideration during the study.
Manchester has been named the best city in the UK for sober students / Credit: Pixabay
And Manchester has claimed the joint top spot on the list.
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Tying with the Scottish capital of Glasgow, the University of Manchester has been named the best city in the UK for sober students.
While it may be a little surprising, especially due to the fact that both of these universities are in cities where drinking culture is generally a focal point, these two institutions were actually found to be the most well-equipped for students looking for activities that don’t involve alcohol, and on top of this, they’ve also been commended for providing a wide range of support services for those who may want to reach out for help with their drinking habits.
Top 10 universities in the UK for sober students
University of Manchester
University of Glasgow
University College London
King’s College London
University of Edinburgh
University of Leeds
Nottingham Trent University
University of Nottingham
University of Bristol
Coventry University
Sure, drinking culture may be big in Manchester, with a total of 1912 bars that are accessible from the university’s campus and student hub areas, but there’s also plenty of support for sober and sober-curious students too, to counteract this.
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The University of Manchester was found to have 415 sober societies, and 33 support services available to students.
University College London (UCL), King’s College London (KCL), and the University of Edinburgh round out the top five, while the fellow Northern city of Leeds also features in the top 10, as does Nottingham, Bristol and Coventry.
Featured Image – University of Manchester
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Morrisons has launched a nationwide search for its first-ever Chief Doughnut Tester
Emily Sergeant
Today is National Doughnut Day, and to celebrate, Morrisons is on the look-out for one sweet treat fan to take on a new role.
That’s right – today (5 June) is National Doughnut Day, and Morrisons is officially on the hunt for the nation’s ultimate doughnut devotee with the launch of its brand-new (and delicious) role, The Chief Doughnut Tester – with all glaze enthusiasts, sprinkle connoisseurs, and jam-filled aficionados urged to get applying.
The search is on to crown one lucky fan who’ll take on the dream job of taste-testing their way through the supermarket‘s range of doughnuts.
The Chief Doughnut Tester is more than just a title, Morrisons says it’s ‘serious business’.
Morrisons has launched a nationwide search for its first-ever Chief Doughnut Tester / Credit: Morrisons
The new hire will be tasked with taste-testing doughnuts before they hit the shelves, giving verdicts on new flavours and textures, all in the name of research.
The role will also involve teaming up with Morrisons’ internal doughnut-expert team to develop new and limited-edition treats that’ll be in stores next year.
Crowned as the nation’s definitive doughnut authority, the selected winner won’t just earn the title of Chief Doughnut Tester, they’ll also receive the ultimate of sweet perks – a year’s free supply of Morrisons fresh doughnuts, which the retailer sells more than 1.1 million of weekly.
Aspiring Chief Doughnut Testers can apply on the Morrisons website here, by filling in a short 200-words about why’re the ideal candidate.
Applications close at midnight tonight (Friday 5 June), so you’ll need to be quick.
Featured Image – Annie Spratt (via Unsplash)
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First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
9th January 2024 
