Manchester City Council is urging members of the public to put “safety first” as the city reopens ahead of the busy festive period.
Council leaders are asking that all visitors to the city centre continue to “adhere to COVID-19 regulations”.
The advice arrives as England’s second national lockdown amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has come to an end today, and a return to the government’s new “tougher” three tiered regional system has commenced, with Greater Manchester entering into Tier 3 restrictions.
It also comes as non-essential retail stores reopen under Tier 3, allowing people to get their Christmas shopping done ahead of the big day.
This festive season we reflect on 2020.
The cancelled plans, the video calls, the community spirit.
We may have been apart, but this year more than ever we've come together.
— Manchester City Council #StaySafe❤ (@ManCityCouncil) December 2, 2020
New “Welcome Back Manchester” signage has also been installed across the city centre – taking an appropriate festive theme as the national lockdown comes to an end – but they carry serious reminders for people visiting to plan their journey, keep their distance, wash their hands, and wear a face covering where necessary to do so and where social distancing cannot be upheld.
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To ensure shoppers can remain safe while working through their Christmas lists, more uniformed COVID Marshals are on hand in busy shopping areas – such as Market Street – to manage crowding issues quickly and efficiently.
And these marshals will also be stationed around district centres across the city to ensure our high streets are as safe as possible.
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Pavement widening schemes across the city, which were installed following the first national lockdown earlier in the year, will remain in place, along with the road closures that were put in place at the same time, meaning parts of Deansgate, and Thomas Street and Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter will continue to be closed to traffic.
This is to support the hospitality industry – especially once it can fully reopen – and to help pedestrians maintain their distance while in the city centre.
Manchester City CouncilManchester City Council
Speaking on the city’s safe reopening, Cllr Pat Karney – spokesperson for Manchester City Council – said: “Lockdown in the winter months has proven a very different prospect to summer, and we know people will be raring to get out and get their Christmas shopping done.
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“Supporting local businesses at this critical time of year is really important, but we do need to remain cautious and following safety guidelines is as crucial as ever.
“COVID has not gone away.”
“You will see more COVID marshals in the city centre to keep us safe and manage crowds, and road closures will still be in place to give pedestrians more room to distance.
“And remember to wash your hands regularly, and wear a face covering.”
You can find more information regarding COVID safety measures over the festive period via the Manchester City Council website here.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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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 -
2nd December 2020 
