Manc-Cast: Your Weekly News and What’s Happening in Greater Manchester

Piccadilly’s Return, The Gorton Nightmare & The BRITs Land in MCR

Alright? Welcome back to Manc-Cast, your independent, weekly briefing for Greater Manchester. This week, we are recording and releasing on Tuesday afternoon to capture the absolute peak of the pre-election buzz. In This Episode: • The Big Faff: The Piccadilly blockade is over! We look at Day 2 of the 'new normal' and recap the 11 arrests made during a chaotic weekend of city centre protests. • Making Brass: 76 storeys of luxury—the Nobu 'Viadux 2' tower gets the green light. Plus, why Salford’s 'town in the sky' has been put on hold. • Proper Good Stuff: The BRIT Awards have officially landed. We look at the Art Trail taking over the city and the return of the legendary Sankeys brand. • Our Lot: It’s Gorton By-election week. We break down the 'pollster’s nightmare' and look at how Altrincham’s high street is being revitalised. • Living Your Best Life: World premieres and spring walks. From 'Horrible Science' at the Science and Industry Museum to the daffodils at Dunham Massey. • Out & About: Oysters and listening bars. We check out Bar Shrimp and get ready for the massive Chotto Matte launch. Support the Show: Manc-Cast is 100% independent. If you want to help me keep reading those council reports, you can buy me a Virtual Pint here: buymeacoffee.com/manccastpod Love ya.

The Piccadilly Faff, Gorton Scraps & Amazing Egg Buns

Alright? Welcome back to Manc-Cast, your independent, weekly briefing for anyone who loves Greater Manchester. This week, I’m deep-diving into the news so you don’t have to—all while nursing a broken finger (ask me about the squirrel another time). We’re covering the massive £7.9m shutdown at Piccadilly, the fiercest by-election scrap in years, and why students are getting a £286m upgrade in the city center. In This Episode: • The Big Faff: Everything you need to know about the 9-day Piccadilly station closure. Why it's happening, how to navigate the rail replacement bus "pilgrimage," and an update on the M60 air ambulance incident. • Making Brass: The massive £286m MMU Cambridge Halls contract is signed. We look at the 30-storey towers changing the skyline and the new tech "super-bridge" linking Manchester and Cambridge. • Proper Good Stuff: Operation Mincemeat opens at The Lowry—is it really the "best-reviewed show in West End history"? Plus, Ian McKellen goes mixed-reality at Mayfield and the 6 Music Festival fringe venues are revealed. • Our Lot: The Gorton and Denton by-election is heating up. We break down the "three-way scrap" between Labour, Reform, and the Greens, and look at how Altrincham is being revitalized by its growing East Asian community. • Living Your Best Life: Wellness for half-term. From the Museum of Illusions on Market Street to the 360-degree Luminiscence light show at the Cathedral (narrated by Christopher Eccleston!). • Out & About: I finally check out the Eggslut hype on Deansgate. Plus, neighborhood wins with The Doberman in Stretford and Smoak’s new Didsbury home. Links & Resources: • Transport Updates: Check the Bee Network App for Piccadilly rail replacement schedules. • Culture: Book tickets for Operation Mincemeat at The Lowry. • Community: Learn more about the LGBT+ History Month tours at the People’s History Museum. Support the Show: Manc-Cast is 100% independent. If you enjoyed the show and want to help me keep the lights on (and maybe buy me a splint for my finger), you can buy me a Virtual Pint here: Buy Me a Coffee: Manc-Cast Pod Love ya.

Manc-Cast Debut: Piccadilly's 9-Day Faff & The Gorton Scrap

Alright, Manchester? 🐝 Welcome to the very first episode of Manc-Cast—your independent, weekly briefing on everything actually happening across the ten boroughs. I’m recording this through a stinking cold and a fair bit of first-episode adrenaline. It’s punchy, it’s straight to the point, and it’s 100% unfiltered. Expect a few random pauses and me tripping over myself a little 😐 We’re covering the news you need to know for the week ahead without the corporate fluff. On the menu today: * 🚆 The Big Faff: Why Piccadilly Station is hibernating for 9 days and how to survive the Valentine’s Day rail replacement. * 🎤 Harry Styles is Coming Home: Snagging those £20 lottery tickets and Johnny Vegas’s residency at the Royal Exchange. * 🗳️ The Gorton Scrap: Why the by-election registration deadline is MIDNIGHT TONIGHT and what’s at stake. * 📈 Making Brass: 5,500 new homes in the skyline and Stockport’s "Bear Pit" makeover. * 🧘 Brain Wealth & Rooftop Bees: The 2026 wellness trends hitting the city. * 🐉 Dragon Fire: Why you need to be in Chinatown this Sunday for the Year of the Horse. A Note from Mick: > This is Episode 1, so we’re in "Beta" mode. You’ll hear me breathing (turns out editing that out is a job for Episode 2!) and it’s a bit shorter than planned because I don't like to waste your time/speak faster than I thought 😅. Think of it as a shot of espresso rather than a lukewarm latte. Support the Show: Since we’re 100% independent and ad-free, the best way to support us is to share this link with one mate in your WhatsApp group. If you really liked it, you can buy me a "Virtual Pint" (or a box of Lemsip) here: buymeacoffee.com/MancCastPod Follow us on Instagram: @MancCastPod Love ya.