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Manchester Marathon – road closures, route map, and everything you need to know

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 1st April 2022

The Therme Manchester Marathon will take over the city once again on Sunday, with tens of thousands of runners pounding the pavements between the city centre and Altrincham.

The huge running event – the second-largest in the UK – has now returned to its usual April dates after a bit of a shuffle last year.

Elite and amateur runners will all come together to tackle the 26.2 course, which will also be used for the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers.

The Manchester Marathon is particularly popular because of its flat route that will see many runners gunning for their PB.

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To make room for this massively popular sporting event, there’ll be road closures in place across Greater Manchester.

Here’s everything you need to know, whether you’re runner, resident or going along to cheer people on.

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When does the Manchester Marathon start?

The Manchester Marathon is set to take place this Sunday, April 3, though there are different start times for all runners.

The official start wave times are below.

Runners will assemble at the bag drop near Old Trafford Cricket Ground before heading to the start line.

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What is the Manchester Marathon route map?

The city centre section has had to be rerouted slightly due to roadworks (story of Manchester’s life), but the route is still 26.2 miles.

It goes from Old Trafford, through the city centre, then down through Stretford and Sale to Altrincham before it comes back on itself via Chorlton.

There are activity points all the way along the route to spur people on with everything from samba to live choirs to cheerleaders.

What road closures will be in place?

Several roads around the marathon route will be closed on Sunday – both spectators and runners are advised to use the Metrolink to get around at the weekend.

Some streets will close as early as Saturday morning, and remain shut until late on Sunday.

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Make sure you plan ahead before you travel anywhere – there are full maps and helplines on the Manchester Marathon website.

Where to get a well-earned pint after the finish line

There will never be a pint that tastes quite as good as the one you drink after running an entire actual marathon.

You’ve really, really earned that drink (but please do rehydrate on non-alcoholic drinks too).

Cloudwater will be giving away free beer to all finishers at their taproom in the city centre, which is surely enough of a pull to head back into town.

But you’re also only a couple of tram stops away from the brilliant Stretford Foodhall, or there are a handful of fuss-free pubs around Old Trafford itself.

Featured image: Paul Currie, 07796 146931, www.paulcurrie.co.uk

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Nao at New Century, Manchester – A room full of 1,000 ‘Happy People’

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Attending a Nao gig is worth waiting ‘Another Lifetime’ for… especially when she performs directly from the venue’s bar.

As someone who has followed this artist for quite a few years, finally getting to see her do what she does best on stage and not through a screen is immense.

Last time she stopped off in Manchester she graced Albert Hall, this time she’s opted for another historic venue, New Century. Nao clearly knows how to choose her venues wisely.

Recently, the Nottingham star released her album Jupiter. So recent in fact, that it only reached our ears two weeks ago. The Manchester crowd certainly did their homework, knowing every lyric off by heart.

The first taste of this LP skyrocketed into our ears in October when the singer-songwriter dropped ‘Wildflowers’, so it’s only fitting this marks the opening of this setlist.

This single’s accompanying music video saw her swarmed in a field of red-hue wild grass and it’s made its way to our vibrant city, decorating the Manchester stage.

Nao live at New century Manchester, this March
Nao performing at New century Manchester, this March
Credit: The Manc Group

To follow this, she plays two tracks both taken from her other planetary project Saturn. ‘If You Ever’ is a great fire-starter ahead of a cracking night of live music.

It’s almost like someone flips a switch as the audience immediately understands the assignment, feeling every rhythm in their body, rapping The Lumineers name-dropping ‘Make It Out Alive’ verbatim.

Nao with fans at New century Manchester, this March
Nao dancing with fans at New century Manchester, this March
Credit: The Manc Group

Four songs in and ‘Happy People’ gets a turn at exciting the crowd. This uplifting and guitar-plucking number is one you can’t help but move to and New Century proves just that.

Nao’s personality flutters over the wild grass adorning the stage and radiates into the flurry of fans. One of these fans has travelled all the way from Portugal and ‘Tommy’, the Manchester legend, who’s attended every city centre tour date, both of which Nao pointed out.

When the 37-year-old star sings her two Mura Masa produced bangers, that bouncy floor at New Century isn’t ready for what’s about to unfold.

Initiating the two-track ensemble the “Woa woa woa woa woa” filled, ‘Complicated’, excites and emits an electric energy, definitely helped by Nao’s necessary yet unexpected dance break.

Nao's intimate set at New century Manchester, this March
Nao was incredible at New century Manchester, this March
Credit: The Manc Group

With the second anthemic instalment of the night ‘Firefly’, Nao sings, “Just say you’ll be my firefly” and with vocals this hypnotic, the crowd would do anything she asked of them.

An encore usually means giving a three minute rendition of your biggest hit. Well for Nao this isn’t enough. Instead she takes things one step further, climbing onto the venue’s bar for a stripped back version of ‘Another Lifetime’ and after those vocals my legs were liquid jelly.

Ending the night on even more of a high, Nao sings ‘Drive and Disconnect’ a standout in her discography and a much-loved track, proved by the fact she brings fans on stage to close the night with her.

Nao on top of the bar at New century Manchester, this March
Nao's encore live from the bar at New century Manchester, this March
Credit: The Manc Group

Don’t meet your idols, they say, but when your idol is even better live than on her studio recordings, it’s hard to stay away. Thank you Nao for blessing Manchester once again and me for the very first time.

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Featured Image: The Manc Group

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Sabrina Carpenter at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for Short ‘n’ Sweet tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Sabrina Carpenter is bringing her live show to Manchester, as the blonde bombshell’s Short ‘n’ Sweet Tour heads to Co-op Live.

Ex-Disney actress turned worldwide phenomenon, Sabrina Carpenter is jetting her way up and down Europe to embark on the second leg of the massive tour.

The Pennsylvania native has been a consistent face for pop culture, through her ‘Nonsense’ outros and her various ‘Juno’ positions which end with the risqué lyric, “Have you ever tried this one?”.

From ‘Espresso’, ‘Taste’ to ‘Please Please Please’, it comes as no surprise that this singer had the UK’s Official Charts in her fingertips, racking up 20 weeks at the top spot last year.

Whether it’s the blonde bangs and curls or her old Hollywood glamour, Carpenter has captivated global audiences and now she’s ready to take on the music capital of the North, Manchester.

The ‘Feather’ singer has chosen Co-op Live, the newest live music entertainment venue in the city boasting a 23,500 capacity as the sweet spot for her new tour.

If you’re lucky enough to be heading down to see Sabrina Carpenter in Manchester, here’s everything you need to know.

Sabrina Carpenter UK tour dates

  • Thu 6 March – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sat 8 March – London, UK – The O2
  • Sun 9 March – London, UK – The O2
  • Tue 11 March – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Thu 13 March – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Fri 14 March – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live

Sabrina Carpenter tickets for Co-op Live gig

As expected, all the tickets for this two-show event have been snapped up and I think you’d have to use your ‘Sharpest Tool’ to try and prize them from the hands of any loyal Sabrina fans.

There’s always the possibility that some final tickets may get released up to a few hours before, however there are no guarantees. Eager fans can check out the Ticketmaster official site HERE. (Just in case).

However if you’re willing to drop a couple of £100’s, there’s one ticket on fan to fan resale site Twickets in the region of £430!

Sabrina Carpenter setlist

There’s no ‘Slim Pickins’ around here as Ms. Carpenter has done her absolute best to condense her vast discography into a ‘Short ‘n’ Sweet’ eighteen track array of career highlights.

  • Taste
  • Good Graces
  • Slim Pickins
  • Tornado Warnings
  • Bed Chem
  • Feather
  • Read your Mind
  • Fast Times
  • opposite
  • Sharpest Tool
  • because i liked a boy
  • Coincidence
  • Nonsense
  • Dumb & Poetic
  • Juno
  • Please Please Please
  • Don’t Smile
  • Espresso

What are the stage times for Sabrina Carpenter in Manchester?

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning concertgoers can be safe knowing they’ve heard Carpenter’s hits and still be able to get tucked up under the covers for that all important beauty sleep.

Doors for ‘The Short ‘n’ Sweet Tour’ are scheduled for 5.30pm with a kick off time of 7pm with support from one of the UK’s finest indie talents, Rachel Chinouriri.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

Getting there by car and parking

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If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue but this must be pre-booked ahead of time and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day – though estimates will obviously vary:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

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Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the boke all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

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Featured Image: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

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