With international travel still somewhat off the cards this year amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many seem keen to explore everything the British Isles has to offer, so the team of editors at the travel arm of the renowned media company have joined forces to give their opinions on the best UK cities to hit up in 2021.
Ten of the country’s cities have been singled out for praise in the list, with Manchester proudly taking the fifth spot.
Each of the cities have been given a tagline that encapsulates the best they have to offer, and Manchester has been named “the foodie city” after being said to have upped its culinary game over the past few years.
Explaining why Manchester has been awarded fifth place on the list, Rick Jordan from the team of editors at Condé Nast Traveller, said: “Recent openings include Dishoom, the four-storey Ivy Spinningfields, with a rare rooftop bar and separate Asian restaurant, and Mana, from ex-Noma chef Simon Martin, with reindeer moss and bark on the menu.
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“And one of the region’s most switched-on vegan restaurants, Allotment, recently moved here from nearby Stockport – a town that has just unveiled The Produce Hall in its Victorian market (and remains a foodie destination for the wonderful, tasting-menu-only When The Light Gets In)”.
As well as shouting out the region’s extensive selection of eateries, a number of the city centre’s finest hotels and accommodation options have also been highlighted.
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“The city’s recent biggest openings include the Dakota Manchester hotel, dressed in designer black near Piccadilly, with a seriously grown-up bar and restaurant and terrace views of the canal, and Ducie Street Warehouse, on the edge of the Northern Quarter – a former goods warehouse that’s also home to Native Manchester hotel,” Rick Jordan added.
While it’s always great to hear that people love Manchester as much as we do, where should Mancunians be heading for their city staycations this year?
Taking the top spot on Condé Nast Traveller’s city break list for 2021 is “the wide-awake city” of Glasgow, with its wide-open outdoor spaces, architecture and full-throttle nightlife singled out to “steal your heart” this year.
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The “screen-favourite city” of Belfast takes the second spot, while “the independent city” of Bristol and “the architectural city” of Cambridge take the third and fourth spots to round out the top five.
Fellow northern cities Newcastle and Liverpool also proudly feature in the top 10.
You can read the list in full via the Condé Nast Traveller website here.
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‘Hairy men’ needed to play soldiers in returning major fantasy TV series
Thomas Melia
A huge TV series has issued an urgent casting call for, very specifically, ‘hairy men’ to play soldiers.
The exact show hasn’t been named in the casting call, but it’s definitely a major returning fantasy, and is reportedly House of the Dragon, the hit Game of Thrones spin-off.
This big on demand show is set to start filming in just two months’ time, meaning anyone considering shouldn’t wait to apply.
There are a list of key characteristics candidates should have if hoping for this role, including a great work ethic and a professional attitude, something all Mancs like to think we have.
The job description states that no prior acting experience is required, one of the only other things you need to be good at is waking up early (well that’s me out).
Most importantly, headhunters are looking for individuals to take on that have one big factor in common… lots of hair.
On the official website where you can submit your headshots and photos, you will find a mood board filled with ranging hairstyles that fit the desired look the show is going for.
Most of the pictures on the site range from long curly locks to big bushy beards – it’s a shame Santa will be back in the North Pole by now.
All candidates must have grown-out hair, ‘overgrown scruff to longer beards’, this means no short, back and sides, or any ‘modern fades’ as stated by the casting team.
If the rumours are true and this turns out to be a shoot for House Of The Dragon, it would be great to see even more Northern talent feature in this show.
It wasn’t too long ago that fans and Mancs alike realised that actor Olivia Cooke, who plays Lady Alicent Hightower, was a local lass herself, born not too far away in Oldham.
One final and important note is that anyone who is likely to apply must make sure they’re 18+ and have a right to work in the UK.
Filming will take place across North Wales and the South East from March onwards, with rate of pay roughly £140-£300+ per day (depending on hours worked).
To apply for a chance to feature in the returning major fantasy series, you can do so by visiting the site HERE.
Greater Manchester set to be battered by ‘impactful’ heavy rain and wind this week
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is set to be battered by some heavy rain and wind this week, according to the Met Office.
While things have seemed surprisingly more settled for the time of year over the last week or so, with clearer skies and chilly winter mornings being fairly commonplace, all that will change very soon, as the Met Office has forecasted that the UK is set to be battered by some ‘impactful’ heavy rain and strong winds as the week goes on.
Low pressure systems will bring a more ‘unsettled’ spell of weather, with a severe weather warning for wind issued for certain parts of the UK.
Today is expected to be filled with grey skies and light rain here in Greater Manchester, with cloud covering much of the rest of the country, and other outbreaks of rain elsewhere, whereas on Wednesday, the focus of rain will shift to southern England instead.
The weather looks set to turn more unsettled during the forthcoming week 🌧️ 🌬️
Thursday is where it’s set to take the biggest downturn though, as a front bringing heavy rain moves eastwards through the day, and it’s us here in North West England that are expected to see the highest accumulations too, with 20-30mm could falling over the hills, and some hill snow even possible over the Scottish mountains too.
A deep area of low pressure will also have ‘deepened rapidly’ by Thursday, bringing ‘strengthening winds’ to western parts of the UK along with it overnight, followed by more heavy rainfall.
Greater Manchester is set to be battered by ‘impactful’ heavy rain and wind this week / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday,” explained Chris Almond, who is the Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist.
“Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night, with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.
“We have issued a Yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings.”