After thunderstorms, heavy downpours, and dropped temperatures over the past week, Greater Manchester is set to welcome another heatwave.
While it may already feel like a lifetime ago, Greater Manchester joined much of the country in basking in glorious sunshine as temperatures soared to highs of 33°C mid-July, with the hottest day of the year so far recorded on two separate occasions.
And in just a matter of weeks, we’re set to do it all again.
The Met Office has already predicted that a 14-day heatwave would arrive in the UK later this month, and now weather forecasters have revealed that an African plume is expected to bring soaring temperatures into the high 20°Cs once again.
Forecasters are predicting that temperatures will be higher than average, as current unsettled conditions become warmer.
Weather outlook forecaster Brian Gaze told The Express that: “There are tentative signs of an improvement in the middle third of August [and] high pressure may build towards the UK from the Azores, but there is a lot of uncertainty about this.”
Revealing that while the first half of August is likely to be more mixed, with showers or longer periods of rain but also warm and fine spells, he said that warmer temperatures will come towards the end of the month, adding: “If it happens, temperatures in southern and central areas could climb towards the upper 20°Cs, and in the north the mid 20°Cs.”
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“The driest weather will probably be in the south and east,” he continued, “but a heightened risk of heavy showers or thunderstorms means local variations could be large.
“Temperatures should be above average when aggregated over the period as a whole [but] showery spells of rain are still probable, particularly in the north and west.”
Forecasters have predicted temperatures will be higher than average, as current unsettled conditions become warmer / Credit: Pxfuel
He’s not the only weather expert to predict glorious sunshine, as Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey also predicted that “hotter spells” to develop as we get into August, adding: “The start of the month is expected to remain changeable, with temperatures most likely close to normal for the time of year or slightly below.
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“During the second half of the month there is a tentative signal for more settled conditions to develop with high pressure becoming slightly more likely.
“If this does occur, we could see drier conditions.”
The BBC’ s long-range forecast currently predicts unsettled weather for the next few weeks.
Featured Image – Flickr
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Manchester crowned UK’s best-value stag do destination for 2026
Emily Sergeant
Prague, Amsterdam, Benidorm, and now… Manchester?
Jetting off to some of Europe’s cheapest capital cities for a boozy night out with your mates before tying the knot is pretty common-place in the world of stag do culture nowadays.
But some new research has now revealed the UK cities that deliver a legendary last hurrah without the price tag, or the need to hop on a plane.
Chillisauce, the UK’s leading hen and stag organiser, has analysed 81,000+ recent group bookings alongside survey feedback from 4,738 stag groups, cross-referenced against live 2026 travel fares, accommodation, and pint prices.
To devise its top 10 list, real price data has been blended with verified group satisfaction to guarantee stags and their pals the best experience.
With the pull of a major city with music, sport, food, and nightlife without London prices, Manchester was crowned the best-value city for a stag do in 2026 overall.
Manchester has been crowned the UK’s best-value stag do destination for 2026 / Credit: Manchester City Council | shawnanggg (via Unsplash)
The average pint runs a little higher in Manchester than the smaller cities on the list, but groups rated the sheer scale and quality of the night out well above the cost, calling it ‘much more affordable than the South of England’ and ‘cheaper than London’.
For a weekend in Manchester, research found that the average cost per person includes £86.36 for accommodation, £36.66 for an activity, £25.08 for a drinks package, £29.35 for a meal, and the average pint coming in at £6.
“We send thousands of groups to Prague, Amsterdam, and Benidorm every year,” said Robyn Davis, Head of Stag and Hen at Chillisauce,”but Manchester keeps delivering nights out that groups tell us beat their expectations.
“There are also those only-in-Manchester touches too, like catching a match at Old Trafford or the Etihad on the same trip.
“Groups describe the locals as up for a laugh and the whole city as ‘built for a stag weekend,’ with a huge number of them already planning to go back, which is the real test of a great destination.”
Other northern destinations on the top 10 list include Newcastle, Leeds, and Liverpool.
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off
Emily Sergeant
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off.
Okay, so it’s not technically closing down per se, but the current LOFT premises off Hyde Road near Piccadilly will officially close doors on 30 September, as the business consolidates its operations and relocates to its newly completed headquarters over at Trafford Park.
Unlike a typical closing-down sale, the stock isn’t old or unwanted. Instead, it’s a live snapshot of LOFT’s day-to-day business, and everything must go.
LOFT is known for furnishing properties across the build-to-rent, student accommodation, co-living, private rented, and social housing sectors, and that constant turnover naturally generates surplus – whether it be project overstock, end-of-line pieces or discontinued items making way for new collections.
The move over to Trafford Park is said to be a moment to clear the warehouse ‘completely’ and start the new chapter with a clean slate.
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off / Credit: Supplied
This means that everything, from sofas and beds, to dining sets, armchairs, and home accessories, must go before the move, with prices already reduced by 50 to 70% below RRP.
Benjamin Hall, who is the Founder and CEO of LOFT, says this is the ‘biggest and best value’ sale the company has ever offered.
He explained: “As we settle into our new home at Trafford Park, we want a completely clean slate. Whether you’re a homeowner after a one-off bargain, or a landlord, agent or developer furnishing multiple units on a budget, there has never been a better time to visit.”
Emily Sergeant -
2nd August 2021 
