Brides and grooms-to-be can now celebrate their special day with an alternative wedding experience at Manchester’s quirky shopping emporium Afflecks Palace.
The iconic labyrinth famous for vintage fashion finds, tattoos, piercings and just about anything kooky, has secured its marriage licence.
The matrimonial licence comes in time to celebrate Manchester Pride Festival, where this year’s theme is Queerly Beloved to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of marriage equality in the UK.
Phil Tragen
Now fans and frequenters of the indoor market can say ‘I do’ at intimate and inclusive ceremonies with up to 30 guests.
Five spaces are currently being made available and can be dressed and adapted for a perfectly unique and alternative place to tie the knot.
Couples can get hitched in the Japanese culture inspired Animaid Cafe, have photos taken in front of the poster wall, have a spiritual or witchy wedding with incense and spell books, enjoy an ice-cream inspired wedding at Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, or in the Afflecks Cafe with a burger and fries on the side.
Phil Tragen
Brides and grooms can also find their perfect outfit all under one roof at the independent treasure trove of Afflecks Palace. There will even be an opportunity for couples to have matching wedding tattoos at The Studio.
The newly weds can ensure their guests are fed some good grub with a pizza reception from Crazy Pedro’s downstairs.
A one-stop independent and alternative wedding day department store awaits for the most spectacular, individual and memorable weddings.
Phil Tragen
AJ Martyn, General Manager at Afflecks, said: “Afflecks has always been a place that embodies love in all its forms, creative freedom and equality – as well as a welcoming, safe space for all.
“The LGBTQ+ community has forever been at the heart of our emporium and we’re excited to celebrate this year’s Manchester Pride theme and 10 years of marriage equality by opening our doors to ALL couples who may be looking for an inclusive, creative, and unique space in which to say ‘I Do’.
“We’ve always believed that love is love and we can’t wait to welcome couples to our independent emporium and help them create an alternative day of their dreams at Afflecks.”
Manchester restaurant, bar & grill Embankment Kitchen is celebrating its fourth birthday, where diners will receive a scratch card to win a variety of prizes throughout October.
Celebrations kick off on Wednesday, October 4th at the sophisticated venue, located in the CitySuites Aparthotel, and will continue throughout the entire month.
The birthday month will feature live music every Thursday, a special birthday cocktail menu, and the chance to win some big prizes too.
Embankment Kitchen Manchester
Diners also receive 25% off* their food bill, throughout October, every Tuesday to Saturday (*This offer is for the a la carte menu only).
Guests could also find themselves sipping on free beer, prosecco and cocktails, or even enjoying a meal on the house – all to be won on the Embankment birthday scratch cards.
The live music features a range of talented artists performing throughout the evening, from duos covering modern songs to the fabulous gypsy jazz band The String Beans.
Embankment Kitchen Manchester
Embankment’s special birthday cocktail menu includes the Peach Blossom Bellini, made with Grey Goose Vodka and Baron de Marck Champagne, with notes of Peach and Rosemary.
Sip on the delightful A Toast To 4, made with Beefeater gin, strawberry and lemon flavours and topped with Baron de Marck Champagne.
The EK Sour is made with Havana 7, Disaronno, Lemon, Pineapple, and the Birthday Bubbles cocktail is made with Tanqueray 10, Aperol, Passionfruit, Lemon, Soda – perfect for the celebration.
Embankment Kitchen Manchester
Guests who chose to dine at Embankment Kitchen throughout October will receive a scratch card with one of the below prizes:
15% off food (*Food only. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer or set menu)
Free beer or prosecco
Free cocktail
Free starter or dessert (*When dining with a main)
Your meal on Embankment – x2
To book a table and celebrate with Embankment and be in with the chance to win great prizes, click HERE.
Rishi Sunak announces at the Tory party conference that the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the HS2 is to be scrapped.
The Prime Minister made a key speech at the conference held in Manchester city centre where he confirmed the rail line will stop in Manchester but from Birmingham it will switch onto using the existing West Coast Mainline track.
This means the high speed route, to connect the north with the south, will no longer exist, effectively confirming days of speculation.
BBC
After being introduced by his wife, Akshata Murty, as a ‘wonderful father, my best friend, your prime minister’, Mr Sunak thanked both his wife and the audience.
Speaking live from Manchester, Mr Sunak called HS2 the ‘ultimate example of the old consensus’.
The Prime Minister then said he’s cancelling ‘the rest of the HS2 project’ – which means everything outside the London to Birmingham leg, and is currently under construction.
He then said he ‘will reinvest every single penny’ saved from HS2 – £36 billion pounds – into hundreds of new transport projects in the North and in the Midlands, as well as across the country.
BBC
He went on to say that the north would benefit from the new projects rather than HS2, saying he ‘challenges anyone to tell me with a straight face that all of that isn’t what the north really needs’.
Mr Sunak said: “With our new Network North, you will be able to get from Manchester to the new station in Bradford in 30 minutes, Sheffield in 42 minutes, and to Hull in 84 minutes on a fully, electrified line.”
He continued: “So those who wish to disagree with me, I respect that. But they should have the honesty to admit that they would now be cancelling the hundreds of alternative projects right across the country that people will benefit from instead.
“I think our plan is simply a better long term investment of £36 billion pounds of taxpayers money.”
BBC
He also said that he will keep single bus fares capped at £2 ‘across the whole country’.
The prime minister added: “I say, to those who backed the project in the first place, the facts have changed. And the right thing to do when the facts change, is to have the courage to change direction.
The anticipated announcement came after defence secretary Grant Shapps suggested a change in HS2 plans was thanks to fewer people travelling into work and instead choosing to work from home, following the coronavirus pandemic.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has labelled the, now confirmed, decision as ‘disgraceful’.
W Hotel & Residences Manchester / Relentless Developments
Exciting first look images are revealed for the hugely anticipated £400 million five-star hotel and residency set to open in 2027.
Gary Neville’s Relentless Developments has announced the St Michael’s development, currently being built between Deansgate and Albert Square, will be bringing with it a world famous hotel brand
The St Michael’s plot, soon to be home to luxury W Hotels and W Residences, will be the first outside London and one of 20 around the world, in a major deal with Marriott International.
Relentless Developments
The glossy new arrival will see hotel-inspired living offered at St Michael’s 217 apartments, offering buyers the opportunity to purchase a permanent residence within Manchester’s most exclusive postcode.
The iconic 41-storey tower will boast a 162-room hotel, with the tower also housing W Residences, a complex of 217 apartments which will be offered for sale from November, with occupancy also in 2027.
The live-in residences will also boast the facilities of the W Hotels, including 24-hour concierge (W’s whenever/wherever service), round-the-clock in-residence dining, laundry and dry cleaning, as well as the hotel’s gyms and other features.
Relentless Developments
“W Hotel and W Residences are going to put the distinctive 41-storey tower that is No.2 St Michael’s on the global map,” said Neville, Director, Relentless Developments.
“There is no better home for W Hotel in the North of England than Manchester.
“This is a bold city which continues to defy expectations and which embodies the same values of originality and passion that have made the W Hotel experience world-renowned.
Relentless Developments
“Situated alongside this, W Residences Manchester will be immersive, design-forward homes that will set a new standard in hotel-inspired living and massively raise the bar for city-centre home ownership.”
“I’d like to thank Marriott International and our developer partner, Salboy, for seeing the potential in this scheme and remaining committed to our vision,” he added.