You can have your say on the huge new development.
Dubbed an ‘urban oasis’, and spanning a whopping 28-acres opposite the Trafford Centre and Trafford Palazzo, Therme Manchester is being built by global developer and operator, Therme Group.
Ahead of the plans being formally submitted to Trafford Council in just a few weeks time, developers are now asking the public to view and comment on a new design for the "game-changing" Therme Manchester, reports The Manc.
In case you didn't know, Therme Manchester will be the UK's first city-based wellness resort.
Also being built alongside Manchester-based developers Peel L&P, and is gearing up to be "a beacon for the North West" - with a wide range of attractions for all ages and budgets forming part of the plans.
You can now have your say on plans for Manchester's 'game-changing' new £250m wellness resort / Credit: Therme Manchester
Based just an hour from Leeds, the first all-season urban beach, and an indoor waterpark with dozens of water slides, thermal pools, spas, and saunas and steam rooms, are just some of the attractions in the works, as well as an education centre, and so much more.
There’ll be a strong focus on health, wellbeing, and sustainability once the resort opens.
Therme Manchester will be the UK's first city-based development of its kind / Credit: Therme Manchester
Since the concept of the development was first unveiled to the public back in 2020, developers say they have already implement a series of design improvements in a bid to provide "better access for the large number of expected visitors".
According to developers, the project has moved from being principally a single building with an undulating roof line, to a more "pavilion-style concept" with separate connected structures that are "immersed and enveloped" in a natural landscape.
Some of these design improvements include creating three separate entrances for people arriving from all directions, a new landscaped green boulevard for those travelling by car, as well as new on-site parking places that will be "concealed in nature", and better access for cyclists and those arriving on foot via public transport.
There’ll be a strong focus on health, wellbeing, and sustainability once the resort opens / Credit: Therme Manchester
"Therme Manchester will have a transformative impact on the city and individuals," Stelian Iacob - Senior Vice President and CEO of Therme Group UK - said as the public consultation opens.
"The Therme experience is designed around physical and mental wellbeing.
"Human contact with water, steam, fresh air and nature is optimised in an environment that sets itself apart from the pressures of daily metropolitan life [and] we are confident that Therme Manchester will be a catalyst for a wave of local urban development that, over time, will bring new homes and jobs and will create opportunities for the wider area.
"As such, we hope that our project will act as an urban anchor and a destination that gives a fresh identity to this area of the city."
New research has revealed a global ranking of cities with the best customer service, with Leeds taking one of the top spots.
If you've been wondering which cities across the world are the friendliest of them all, then look no further because MoneySuperMarket have done the work for us in a new study.
In a world where social media culture plays a huge part in people's lives, online customer reviews are pretty important to local businesses.
To uncover the global locations that are home to the best customer service, the businesses insurance experts analysed over 100,000 reviews of leisure and hospitality businesses in 107 cities worldwide.
They looked at the language in the reviews to see how often friendly workers and staff were mentioned, building a global ranking of the cities where customer service truly stands out.
Out of a whopping 107, Leeds came in at a very respectable number 12. Now we think that's pretty good going.
Outside of the UK, Hanoi, Paris, Montreal and Abu Dhabi were highlighted for their friendly customer service whilst Edinburgh tops the global ranking, with Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol also making the world’s top 10.
The top 10 cities in the UK with the best customer service are as follows:
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Birmingham
Bristol
Belfast
Leeds
Glasgow
Cardiff
Manchester
London
Alicia Hempsted spoke on the study: “As businesses grow and engage with more customers, it’s important to make sure they’re protected. Public liability insurance is an important safeguard for those working with the public, helping to cover costs if something goes wrong, while also showing customers that their experience is taken seriously - from the moment they walk through the door to long after they’ve left.”
Prime Minister expected to announce extra bank holiday if England win the 2026 World Cup
Danny Jones
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly set to announce an extra bank holiday if England win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What a way to sign off from the highest office in Great Britain, eh?
According to Sky News journalist Beth Rigby, the outgoing PM is expected to reveal an extended period of celebration across the country if/should/WHEN (you’ve got to believe) the Three Lions reach this year’s World Cup final and lift the biggest prize in global sport.
Starmer may be gearing up to leave No. 10 Downing Street soon, but he can certainly earn himself a few more points in the pros column should this familiar rumour come to fruition.
As Rigby states in her post on X, this decision would fall just before the transition in leadership, with Greater Manchester’s own Mayor Andy Burnham all but confirmed at the head of the table already within the Labour Party cabinet.
The incumbent announced he would resign last month, with Burnham declaring himself in the running not long after, winning the Makerfield seat and marking his return as an MP after nearly a decade away from Parliament.
Regarding the still only potential bank holiday – Thomas Tuchel’s side still need to make it through the quarter-final and the semis, remember – the Sky reporter states that the following Friday, 24 July, is the most likely date.
Understandably, plenty on social media are already rejoicing over the prospect, but some aren’t content with waiting a week to carry on the post-trophy lift party, with many arguing that it should be the Monday morning immediately after the final next Sunday (19/2/2026).
Let’s be honest, there’ll be lots of people pulling sickies regardless of whether or not their bosses are left to grant a day off.
Many have already rightly argued that such decisions should have been made in the past after the Lionesses won not just one but two back-to-back European Championships; we’re willing to forgive and move on if the powers that be make it happen this time.
Starmer recently said that despite always believing England will “go all the way”, he didn’t want to jinx anything, simply telling the BBC’s Chris Mason: “Ask me again if we make the final.”
Either way, the general jubilation should England end 60 ‘years of hurt’ will be nothing short of colossal, and it would only feel right given the sheer gravity of the would-be achievement.
We’re even getting excited merely by the idea of some additional and, at present, strictly hypothetical pre- and post-match entertainment…
The Hoot -
13th June 2023 
