Inspiring Manchester News & Stories

Time for the good news! Manchester is an open book filled with positive news and inspiring stories. Read human stories about real Mancunians, community, culture, food and drink and lifestyle, plus loads more. Keep your finger on the pulse with the latest Manchester news stories from across the city region…

Strangeways: over 35 years since Britain’s toughest prison riot

Review: RNCM Session Orchestra with Tim Burgess and Helen O’Hara is ‘a joyful evening of classics’

Remembering Manc music maverick Mark E. Smith

A ‘world-first’ PAC-MAN Live Experience is coming to Manchester

Art, tech and community collide in Manchester’s most interactive exhibit yet

Hand-pressed pie at The Founder's Hall Manchester

Pie Hard: where to get the best pies in and around Manchester

King Eric Cantona: Seagulls, trawlers and a kung-fu kick that shocked the world

Thom Bamford 22 January 2025

Thirty years later, Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick remains as divisive and unforgettable as the man himself—part madness, part myth and wholly legendary.

Manchester pays respects to Jewish community for Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

Thom Bamford 22 January 2025

Several events are happening around the city as people reflect on some of the darkest chapters of human history for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Areas ‘astonishing’ transformation will include Manchester’s first Lido in decades

Ethan Davies 21 January 2025

Plans for Manchester’s first lido in decades have been unveiled as part of a major redevelopment in Holt Town.

The story behind the world’s first intercity railway

Thom Bamford 21 January 2025

In 1830, Manchester became the epicentre of a transportation revolution with the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world’s first inter-urban railway.

Celebrating the legend of Frank Sidebottom

Thom Bamford 21 January 2025

Discover the whimsical world of Frank Sidebottom, where the mundane transforms into magic and Manchester’s quirky spirit finds its most peculiar and beloved champion.

“They’re not just bricks, there’s history, there’s memories” Oldham makes a play to save ‘irreplaceable’ buildings

Charlotte Hall 21 January 2025

Oldham’s historic landmarks, including the Prudential Assurance Building and the Lyceum, are set to be revitalised through a £400k council-approved plan.

Meet the charity stirring up change with every coffee brewed

Thom Bamford 20 January 2025

At Manchester Science Park, Change Please is transforming lives through the power of coffee, giving homeless individuals a fresh start with every cup brewed.

Discover the captivating history behind the English-speaking world’s first library

Thom Bamford 20 January 2025

We’re exploring the history of Chetham’s Library, where history whispers through medieval halls, Marx and Engels sparked revolution and centuries of knowledge remain free for all to explore.