Which businesses in Greater Manchester need the most support in Tier 3 Lockdown?
The year of trials and tribulations continue in Greater Manchester, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock announcing the region remains in Tier 3 following the end of the December 2 national lockdown.
The year of trials and tribulations continue in Greater Manchester, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock announcing the region remains in Tier 3 following the end of the December 2 national lockdown.
While the actual numbers of infections continue to drop, this increased safety measure aims to further contain the COVID-19 spread, to save as many lives as possible.
Of course, this comes with difficulties to daily lives and businesses to which we are growing increasingly, and disappointingly, accustomed.
So, what do you need to know, and which businesses need the most support?
Tier 3 Lockdown
For simplicity’s sake, people in Greater Manchester should understand the following about Tier 3:
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Most hospitality venues will have to remain closed, except for those which offer delivery and takeaway services.
Hotels and other forms of accommodation such as backpackers and Airbnb locations must remain closed. The only exception for these businesses is those which remain open for work purposes with customers who cannot return home.
Outdoor sports will open in Tier 3, though spectators will not be allowed until the alarm level is lowered to Tier 2.
Meeting socially with others that do not live with you or who exist outside of your support bubble is not allowed.
In terms of supporting the community in Greater Manchester, the unfortunate truth is that, outside of government support, there is often little that the average person can do. The big exception here is the delivery industry, which could benefit from your involvement if it is financially viable to do so. The same could be said about outdoor sporting arenas, where some groups might find it helpful to rent out spaces. Again, this only applies if within your budget, as there’s little point propping up others if it causes you crippling issues.
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Looking towards a more positive side, there are some ways in that alternative businesses are thriving with wealthier established names taking a temporary back-seat. For example, brick and mortar casinos in Greater Manchester are taking another hit from their digital rivals. These are wealthy enough that they won’t feel the hit from lockdown, while online casinos could see appreciated growth. There are a lot of different casinos here with a variety of different games and bonuses, so their time in a bigger spotlight will be much appreciated.
Otherwise, it could be a good idea to save your money until lockdown shifts into a lower tier. When businesses do start opening up again, they’re going to need your continued support. This could help many of them get back on their feet with a much-needed injection of cash, so keep this in mind.
At this point, we can only hang on, abide by the rules set by the government, and continue to support businesses and each other as best we can.
The end is coming, and sooner than you know, we should be able to get this whole thing behind us.
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The cheapest Christmas Markets in the world for mulled wine have been revealed
Daisy Jackson
The most affordable Christmas Markets for drinking mulled wine have been revealed – and Manchester is nowhere in sight.
With Christmas markets across Europe preparing to welcome millions of visitors, festive fans looking to enjoy a warming cup of glühwein without breaking the bank might want to take note of the latest findings.
Festive experts at Christmas Tree World have analysed mulled wine prices at Christmas markets around the world to discover where visitors can enjoy the seasonal favourite for less.
Topping the rankings is Brussels’ Winter Wonders, where mulled wine is available for as little as £2.14 – about a third of the price of a mulled wine at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Cologne Cathedral Christmas Markets and Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik share second place, with starting prices of just £2.56.
Other European favourites also feature prominently in the rankings. Budapest’s Christmas Market at the Basilica takes fourth place, with mulled wine costing £3.19, while Prague’s Old Town Square Christmas Market comes in sixth at £3.55.
Germany makes another strong appearance, with Dresden’s Striezelmarkt and Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt (which handily just launched new direct flights from Manchester) both offering mulled wine for £3.85.
Meanwhile, Vienna’s Christmas World rounds off the European entries in ninth place, with prices starting at £4.28.
For those planning a festive adventure further afield, Tokyo’s Christmas Market also makes the top five, with mulled wine costing £3.22.
However, not every destination offers such a bargain. Across the Atlantic, New York City’s Winter Village takes the title of the most expensive market in the study, with mulled wine costing a rather less festive £11.74. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket isn’t far behind, charging £8.80.
Manchester Christmas Markets start on Friday 6 November – we’ll see how our prices stack up then.
Sir Ian McKellen pays emotional tribute to long-time friend and fellow northern actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Emily Sergeant
Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, following his death.
Sir Patrick Stewart – who was born and bred in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and is best-known for his theatre work alongside an illustrious 60-year screen career, taking on prominent roles in franchises such as Star Trek and X-Men – sadly passed away at the age of 86, with his death being announced publicly yesterday evening (29 October).
And now, his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Ian McKellen, has paid tribute.
Sir Patrick and Sir Ian shared the stage together countless times over their decades-long careers, but also famously starred alongside each other in the X-Men franchise, and subsequent Marvel movies, as Charles Xavier/Professor X and Magneto.
The tribute, shared across Sir Ian’s social media platforms, reads: “Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions.
“My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek’. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did, for not just his devoted Trekkies, but film and theatre audiences who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.
“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin.
“But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”
The Manc -
16th December 2020 
