Author: Sahin Alom

Firework displays are set to return to Manchester’s green spaces after a seven-year hiatus, marking a major shift in the city council’s approach to community events and signalling what many residents see as the end of a long period of austerity. The return of Manchester fireworks was confirmed in late November, with free, council-organised displays planned from Bonfire Night 2026. The move restores a tradition that once drew more than 150,000 people a year to parks across the city, including Heaton Park, Platt Fields and Wythenshawe Park. A Long Awaited Comeback For generations of families, November meant gathering in local…

Few figures in British entertainment have sustained influence across comedy, theatre, television and public life quite like Griff Rhys Jones. More than four decades after first reshaping satirical television, he remains a trusted cultural voice whose work continues to resonate with audiences across the UK. From a Manchester perspective, where intelligence and authenticity matter more than noise, Griff Rhys Jones has always stood apart. His career has never relied on gimmicks or controversy. Instead, it has been built on craft, curiosity and a clear respect for the audience. A Career Formed by Craft and Observation Griff Rhys Jones emerged during…

When the lights dim inside Aviva Studios and four vast walls burst into colour, Manchester audiences don’t just see an exhibition they see something familiar. The sold-out return of Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) has reinforced what many in the city already feel David Hockney Manchester is not a passing headline, but a cultural relationship that keeps renewing itself. Hockney’s work may span Yorkshire lanes, Californian swimming pools and operatic stage sets, yet Manchester responds to it in a distinctly local way. This is a city that recognises artists who carry the North with them, no matter…

Suella Braverman has formally defected from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, delivering one of the most significant political shocks of the year and accelerating a realignment already being felt across Manchester and the wider North. The former Home Secretary announced her decision at a London rally, ending three decades of Conservative membership and becoming the third Tory MP to cross the floor this month. Reform UK now holds eight seats in Westminster, a small number on paper but one that carries growing symbolic weight as voter loyalties continue to fracture. While the move was unveiled in the capital, its…

Manchester: Andy Burnham is once again at the centre of national political attention today after the resignation of a senior Labour MP triggered a by election in Greater Manchester and renewed debate over whether the mayor could return to Westminster. The decision by Andrew Gwynne to step down as MP for Gorton and Denton has opened a rare parliamentary vacancy in one of Labour’s traditional heartlands. Almost immediately, the development prompted speculation that Andy Burnham could seek selection, potentially ending his time as Greater Manchester mayor and re entering national politics. However, senior Labour figures are understood to be divided,…

Do you find yourself searching for cheap holidays on your lunch break? Do you dream of exploring Paris on a romantic city break with your partner? Or maybe you want to relax on a beach in Spain. Travelling doesn’t need to be expensive. With direct routes expanding from Manchester Airport and airlines competing hard on price, you can make your travel dreams a reality. Why Mancunians Are Travelling More This Year Airlines have restored capacity that disappeared a few years ago, which means more seats and lower fares if you stay flexible on dates. When you compare airport options, mix…

Feeling fed up when travelling to work? Adopting a few simple changes could revolutionise how you approach the daily commute. Here’s how you can transform your journeys so they’re an easier and more enjoyable part of your day, not wasted time. Stay up to date with local transport In the summer, the government announced plans to more than double investment in local transport in England’s city regions to develop local tram and train infrastructure and launch zero-emissions buses along new optimised routes. You could soon have a choice of new or revamped public transport options for your commute, all designed…

At 1am on a Saturday, the queue outside Hidden stretches past the old Strangeways skyline. Phones stay in pockets. Nobody is rushing. They are here to disappear into bass-heavy rooms until morning. That scene captures Manchester nightclubs in 2025 music-first, unpolished, and deliberately resistant to gimmicks. While other UK cities chase bottle service and social-media gloss, Manchester’s clubbing culture remains rooted in sound systems, DJs, and collective energy. It is not louder than London or cheaper than Leeds, but it is more serious about what happens on the dancefloor. Why Manchester Nightclubs Still Matter Nationally Manchester has repeatedly ranked among…

Manchester’s beauty retail landscape shifted noticeably when Sephora arrived in the city, first opening at the Trafford Centre in May 2024 before launching a second location inside the Arndale in August 2025. For a city long dominated by Boots, Space NK and Selfridges, the global beauty giant promised something different. Exclusive brands, social media driven product launches, and an in-store experience that had previously seen shoppers queue overnight in other UK cities. After months of observing both locations, speaking with customers, and comparing how Sephora Manchester fits into the city’s established beauty ecosystem, a clearer picture has emerged. This is…

The Mark Carney speech Davos delivered at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday cut through the usual optimism of the Swiss gathering with a stark message. The international rules-based order has suffered “a rupture, not a transition”, and the consequences for the UK economy and city regions like Greater Manchester could be profound. Speaking just a day before US President Donald Trump’s scheduled Davos appearance, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described a world in which great powers increasingly weaponise trade, tariffs and supply chains. For Britain, navigating fragile post-Brexit trade relationships, the warning landed at a sensitive moment. Why the…