City Centre

Workers at major Manchester city centre hotel to strike this bank holiday weekend

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Workers at one of the most prominent hotels in Manchester city centre are set to strike this bank holiday weekend.

Workers at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and its bar venue The Refuge, who are members of the union Unite, will take 24 hours of strike action on Saturday (29 August) in what is said to be a ‘long-running dispute’ over union busting.

The strike day chosen by the workers is the second day of this year’s Manchester Village Pride, and is historically the most lucrative day of the year for their employer.

This is because Kimpton Clocktower is located very close to the Pride Parade route, and for several years has been a very popular location for people attending the festival, and even runs a number of Pride events itself.

Unite says that for months now, workers at the Kimpton Clocktower – which is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group UK (IHG) – have been asking for formal union recognition to improve conditions after raising several issues with management, but IHG UK has refused this and instead ‘targeted’ the union for its actions.

ADVERTISEMENT
Workers at a major Manchester city centre hotel are set to strike this bank holiday weekend / Credit: Rebecca Hope Photography (Supplied)

Previous strikes have already taken place this summer, apparently causing ‘financial hits’ to the business in the process – with the bar being forced to close early at several events as there were not enough staff to cover them.

“A strike on Kimpton’s most profitable day is entirely of its own making,” commented Unite regional officer, Alison Treacher. “Throughout this dispute, Kimpton Clocktower management have treated its loyal workforce with contempt and our members have shown they will not stand for it.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There is still time to avoid this highly disruptive strike action, but that relies on IHG changing tack by listening to its members and giving them the union recognition they have long been calling for.”

Read more:

This dispute is said to be the first ever hospitality strike in the North West.

Unite is currently running a petition demanding that IHG UK stop targeting union activists, recognise the Kimpton workers rights to have their grievance heard collectively, and support their union recognition campaign.

Featured Image – LJK Photography (Supplied)

City Centre

Full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Manchester Pride

The full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Village Pride this weekend have been released.

Manchester Village Pride is a beloved celebration of LGBTQ+ life in Manchester, known for bringing thousands of people into city centre every August bank holiday weekend for four fun-filled, glitter-covered, disco-driven days… and although 2026 may look a little different to usual, you can always count on the city to welcome everyone in.

Every year, the lineup offers a wide range of activities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join together and celebrate, as well as provide opportunities to advocate for equality, engage families and young people, and celebrate queer arts and culture.

This year’s event is set to kick off this Friday 28 August and round out on bank holiday Monday (31 August).

And of course, for the celebrations to all take place as safely and seamlessly as possible, a number of road closures and restrictions will need to be put in place, and Manchester City Council has now published a list of everything you need to know.

It’s advised that anyone making their way into and around the city centre this weekend use other modes of transport – such as buses, trams, and trains.

But for those who need to drive, you’ll want to pay attention to this list before setting out on any journeys.

Manchester Pride’s statement in full after performers say they’ve still not been paid
Manchester Village Pride bosses have shared a stat about the cost of the 2026 lineup
The full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026 has been released / Credit: The Manc Group | Supplied

Saturday 29 August

All roads in this list will be closed from 6am to 7pm:

  • Liverpool Road (Water Street to Deansgate)
  • Wollam Place (30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
  • Potato Wharf (Castlefield Hotel entrance to Liverpool Road)
  • Old Medlock Street
  • Lower Byrom Street (40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
  • Duke Street (Rice Street to Liverpool Road)
  • Stone Street (Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street)
  • Barton Street (Bridgewater Street to Tonman Street)
  • Southern Street (Bridgewater Street to Liverpool Road)
  • Bridgewater Street (Collier Street to Deansgate)
  • Tonman Street (Liverpool Road to Longworth Street)

Saturday 29 August

All roads in this list will be closed from 9am to 7pm:

  • Deansgate (Trafford Street to Peter Street)
  • Quay Street (Little Quay Street to Deansgate)
  • Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street)
  • Camp Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
  • St James Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
  • Jerusalem Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
  • Marron Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
  • Watson Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
  • Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
  • Mount Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
  • Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
  • Lower Mosley Street (Windmill Street to Oxford Street)
  • Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street)
  • Chepstow Street (Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street)
  • Portland Street (Oxford Street to Abingdon Street)
  • Princess Street (Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street)
  • Whitworth Street (Beaver Street to Fairfield Street)
  • Samuel Ogden Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
  • Sackville Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
  • Fairfield Street (Whitworth Street to London Road)
  • Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Aytoun Street)
  • Back Acton Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
  • Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)

Bus lanes will also be suspended on Bridge Street from Gartside to New Bailey Street, Whitworth Street West from Deansgate to Albion Street, and Portland Street from Princess Street to Newton Street, on the Saturday (29 August) too – running from 6am to 7pm.

Read more:

Featured Image – Supplied

More City Centre

City Centre

Manchester crowned UK’s best-value stag do destination for 2026

City Centre

Man charged with rape of 17-year-old girl near Piccadilly Gardens

City Centre

Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches