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Salford named one of the worst places to go on a night out in the UK
Nah, we’re not having it!
Salford has been ranked as one of the worst places to go on a night out in the UK, according to a new study.
Although there have been numerous pub closures over the last years there are plenty of fantastic areas around Salford to spend an evening out including Worsley, Monton and Salford Quays.
There’s also the quirky artsy pub The Kings Arms and other favourites including the Eagle Inn, The Old Pint Pot, The Black Friar, and plenty more — so we think it’s a great place for nightlife.
Public First, a policy, research, opinion and strategy consultancy, has taken an in-depth look at the number of pubs, bars and restaurants in cities and towns in comparison with the population to compile its findings.
It also looked at how the rate has changed over the years to produce its ‘Night Out Index 2023’ – and it’s not looking great for ‘sunny’ Salford.
Manchester came in at number 10 but Salford, aka the ‘other city’, ranked 109 out of 112 towns and cities that were analysed.
The Public First Night Out Index 2023 showed that Salford has 2.83 restaurants, 2.83 bars and pubs, and 0.47 clubs per 10,000 people.
Just under half (46%) of major towns and cities in England and Wales have seen an improvement in nightlife over the past decade — Leeds, Liverpool and Halifax lead the way with a circa 20% increase in the per capita number of night time establishments — while the remainder (54%) have seen a deterioration .
Meanwhile, Rochdale, Mansfield and Dudley have seen the biggest declines in nightlife over this time period (-29.3%, -28.3% and -27.8% respectively).
In a bid to strengthen the night time economy, both London and Manchester have appointed ‘night czars’. Amy Lamé, who has served as London’s Night Czar since 2016, is meant to be putting ‘the Mayor’s Vision for London as a 24-hour city into action’.
In 2018 Sacha Lord was unveiled as Greater Manchester’s first-ever night-time economy adviser, supported by a night-time economy panel which will ‘develop, discuss and deliver plans to develop the city-region’s nightlife, making it stronger, safer, better-connected, and an even more attractive destination’.
One caveat with the Night Out Index is its focus on licensed establishments as a measure of the strength of the night time economy, despite the rise of non-drinking — yes, drinking alcohol is becoming less popular it seems.
This reflects data limitations, which make it difficult to unpick which unlicensed premises are open in the evening rather than just during daytime (e.g. coffee shops and ice cream parlours).
While harder to tease out of the data, some parts of the country may also be benefitting from a rise in unlicensed evening establishments catering to changing consumer demands.
Take, for example, the growth in late night dessert parlours or, according to Freedom of Information requests, the more than 500% increase in the number of shisha bars in the UK since the mid 2000s.
It’s not all bad news, with the ever changing way in which a growing share of the British public likes to spend its evenings, local night time economies have had to evolve to reflect changing consumer trends and habits.
Fewer of us drink than in the past and so trying to achieve the past ideal of a pub culture would not be feasible. There are now more alternatives to traditional evening activities to suit peoples’ tastes, from escape rooms to dessert parlours to greater options for home entertainment with the rise of streaming services.
Salford’s night time establishments have declined by 2.3% in the past decade but perhaps that’s because more people are packing them out, and the rest are spending their evenings visiting other alternative venues to traditional pubs, bars and clubs.
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Once-in-a-lifetime ‘Mother of Dragons’ green comet set to be visible in UK skies tonight
Don’t forget to look up tonight!
A huge green comet dubbed the ‘Mother of Dragons’ is set to be visible in UK skies tonight, and here’s how you can see it.
A green giant – not the sweetcorn kind – is currently visible in the sky over the northern hemisphere, and this spectacular glowing rock can be seen shooting past us this evening (April 4th).
There’s a lot of cosmic goings on in the skies at the moment as North America prepares to witness a solar eclipse next week, plunging it into darkness for a moment.
Unfortunately, us Brits won’t be able to witness that one but the Mother of Dragons comet will certainly be an extraordinary spectacle to witness, and will look a bit like the Green Goblin is zooming past us high up in the sky.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks has a nucleus approximately 10.5 miles (17 kilometres) wide – about the size of a city – and is thought to be bright enough to see with the naked eye, although astronomers advise using binoculars to get the best views.
The comet will be visible for the first time since 1954 and only passes by every 71 years.
It has been given its nickname because ESA researchers believe it is the parent body of the kappa-Draconids meteor shower, and of course it’s a cool pop-culture reference to Game of Thrones.
The comet also used to appear to have a pair of horns but they have gone now.
It is comprised of ice, dust and rock and looks green due to the presence of diatomic carbon molecules, which emit emerald-coloured light when illuminated by the sun.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is referred to as explosive due to its volatile activity as it is known for its spectacular outbursts of gas and dust.
The comet will reach its closest point to Earth in June 2024. However, by this time, it won’t be possible to observe the comet from the northern hemisphere. Late March and early April will offer the best opportunities.
If you’re an avid stargazer, astronomer in the making or would just like a chance to see this magnificent ancient rock light up the night sky, you will need to head out to higher ground away from light pollution where possible. Clear skies are best and binoculars may help you get the best views of this cosmic marvel.
Gregory Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told the MailOnline: “The comet can now be found in the constellation of Aries which is visible in the early evening, over in the west.
“It will only become visible after twilight and sets by around 10pm BST.
“While it may be possible to see with the unaided eye, it is best to try and observe with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.”
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks won’t be returning to our night skies until 2095, so make sure not to miss out on this one!
The rain may seem relentless but brighter days are coming for Manchester as the city is set to get hotter than Los Angeles later this week.
This rainy metropolis will enjoy a little break from the April showers as a mini heatwave is coming to kick start beer garden season.
So, dig out your shorts and leave your jacket at home as temperatures begin to soar from Friday afternoon, reaching 18C on Saturday – which will be hotter than LA in the Golden State of California.
As Friday afternoon (April 5th) approaches, the sun will make an appearance between any breaks in the clouds and temperatures will peak at 16C, according to BBC Weather.
And with sunset not until 7.52pm, there will be just enough time to visit a pub garden and enjoy a couple of mojitos to get you in the mood for the weekend.
On Saturday April 6th, Manchester will start off cloudy but into the late morning temperatures will begin to rise and Mancunians will get to enjoy sunny intervals with temperatures reaching highs of 18C, as meteorologists predict ‘above average’ conditions for this time of year.
However, the rollerbladers on Venice Beach will only experience temperatures of 15C. But while Los Angeles might be a little cooler than Manchester, it will still remain sunny while Mancs will have to put up with the odd shower here and there.
The Met Office’s outlook for Friday and Saturday reads: “Low pressure remaining dominant through this period, with further heavy showers and longer spells of rain.
“Turning increasingly windy too, though temperatures above average for the time of year.”
Now, we know it won’t be perfect weather but it will make a nice change from the constant freezing temperatures we’ve been having. A nice spell of warmth and sunshine on the weekend isn’t too shabby afterall.
No doubt we’ll all be flocking to our nearest beaches, nature spots and having a BBQ this weekend!
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Greater Manchester dominates top ten UK Vaping Capitals, according to research
Four Greater Manchester areas made the top 10 list of vaping hotspots
Greater Manchester dominates the list of Vaping Capitals of the UK, according to new research.
Wherever you go, you don’t have to walk far before you enter a sweet-smelling hazy cloud of vapour and feel as if you’re a contestant on Stars In Their Eyes.
Young people are vaping on the tram, your mate can barely construct a sentence without inhaling some of the battery-powered, synthetic cherry flavoured smoke, and every other stranger on the street is blowing out a cloud big enough to conceal an aircraft.
Replacing the old habit of cigarette smoking, it now seems as if vaping is taking over just about everywhere.
Online vape store Go Smoke Free, used GOV.UK’s Companies House advanced search feature to find businesses registered for the retail sale of tobacco products in specialised stores in the UK.
It then compared the number of these active businesses to each town or city’s population size to construct a list of the top 10 UK Vaping Capitals.
Unfortunately, Greater Manchester dominates the list of the UK’s Vaping Capitals with four areas named.
According to the research, Blackburn is ranked as the UK’s vaping capital, with 27 registered vape retailers serving its population of 119,707 residents. When accounting for population size, this equates to 22.56 vape shops per 100,000 residents – the largest figure for any UK town or city.
Second on the list is Bolton in Greater Manchester, with 20.26 vape shops registered per 100,000 residents in the town. Bolton has 41 registered vape shops in total serving its 202,369 residents.
Manchester ranks third, with 110 vape shops in total. However, the city’s larger population ensures this works out to 19.84 registered vape retailers per 100,000 residents.
Further down the list, Middlesbrough ranks fourth. Located in North Yorkshire, Middlesbrough has 12.43 vape shops per 100,000 residents. The town has 22 registered vape shops serving its 176,991 residents.
Rounding out the top five is Salford in Greater Manchester, which has a total of 14 registered vape shops, equivalent to 12.03 shops per 100,000 residents.
And Stockport ranks sixth, with 10.91 vape retailers per 100,000 residents.
A spokesperson for Go Smoke Free said: “Disposable vapes have gained popularity in recent years, due to their convenience, portability and low cost, which has made them an attractive option for those who would otherwise have been unlikely to invest in a more complex vaping setup.”
They continued: “The new disposable vape ban should help to discourage children from taking up vaping, while encouraging adults to shift to more sustainable alternatives, such as refillable vapes.
“This study highlights which areas of the UK are most likely to be affected by the upcoming ban on selling disposable vapes. The Greater Manchester area boasts its fair share of stores catering to vapers’ needs, with Blackburn, Bolton and the city of Manchester claiming the top three spots.
“These cities could see a significant shift in their vaping culture, with the ban impacting consumer behaviour, and existing vape retailers adapting their offerings to cater to the new legislation.”
The list of vaping capital of the UK, according to Go Smoke Free, is as follows:
- Blackburn
- Bolton
- Manchester
- Middlesborough
- Salford
- Stockport
- Doncaster
- Newport
- Peterborough
- Nottingham
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