August 2023 Newsletter

Recent analysis from Rightmove found that property agents were receiving 20 inquiries in May 2023 to view each rental home on average – a surge from 2019 figures, when the average was six per property.

Rents have also risen sharply, with landlords facing their own increased costs from mortgage rate hikes. According to estate agent Hamptons, the average rent on a newly-let property in Britain rose to a record high of £1,273 per month in June.

So, in such a difficult market, how can tenants searching for a home put themselves in the best position possible? Tim Bannister, a property expert at Rightmove, believes there are some steps tenants can take to improve their chances – including being well prepared from the start.

“Tenants need to make sure they are really organised in sorting out their necessary documentation, getting their finances in order, and sorting their references quickly,” suggests Bannister. “Being really clear about your requirements, for example when you could move into a property, how long you anticipate staying in the property, and who you plan to move in with, can help agents keep you in mind for the right properties.”

Signing up to property alerts can also help tenants to get ahead, he says, as this means they will be notified as soon as a property comes onto the market – so if they spot one that fits the bill, they can try to organise a viewing as soon as possible.

Getting to know the local letting agents in your area could also help improve your chances when a suitable property comes up. Plus, speaking to your bank may not seem like an obvious thing to do, but for some tenants it could help.

“Firstly, if you’re in a tough spot and not sure where to turn for help, speaking to your bank is a good place to start,” says Claire Shaw, a societal impact manager at first direct. “This could be for a range of reasons, including if you have issues in your current tenancy, if you’re struggling to raise a deposit or generally in a difficult position financially.

“First direct has a partnership with Shelter that is geared towards supporting renters who need legal advice, as well as a trained team of money coaches that can help provide practical financial tips and guidance,” Shaw adds. “Most banks will also work with a network of external partners that they can refer you to for extra support.”

If you are struggling to raise a deposit, for example, Shaw suggests your bank may be able to offer support: “If you’re looking for help around saving a lump sum, this is also something your bank can support with, including choosing the best saving account and putting together a plan of action to achieve your saving goals.”

And if you’re really struggling with your finances, your bank might also be able to look at alternative solutions or signpost to external support. Shaw adds: “In terms of managing the steep competition for properties, there’s some straightforward steps people can take to get an advantage.

“Firstly, get a thorough understanding of all the required info you may need in advance of the viewing – including whether you might require a guarantor, the value of the deposit needed, council tax band info, EPC (energy performance certificate) rating and anything else that might influence your decision. This will avoid you wasting time viewing unsuitable properties.

“Equally, get an understanding of all the details the landlord or agency will need from you, so you can act fast if you want to apply. Ensure your references are sorted in advance, that you have proof of earnings should you need it, and that you can pay any admin fees quickly to secure the property.”

For now, at least, it looks as though tenants will continue to face tough competition.

Adam Fairweather, a regional lettings director at Hamptons, says applicant figures “are still eye-wateringly high”, adding that, in the past some tenants would have had offers agreed “without hesitation by landlords who would be very happy with the prospective tenant profile”.

He points out that pressures on rental demand vary across the whole market, adding: “There is more choice at the highest budget ranges but this prime part of the market is terms of transaction volumes is naturally small.”

The “mid and entry level” parts of the market face the greatest pressures, Fairweather believes. He adds: “We work really hard to help the prospective tenants looking for this type of property, knowing how tough this must be for them.”

But while profits for landlords are important, they will also want to make sure they have the right person living in their property. As Fairweather says: “Good landlords know that a great tenant is sometimes not the one that had the deepest pockets.”

We're now just days away until the August Bank Holiday arrives, so we thought it was about time we offered up some inspiration for how to spend the three-day weekend.

Of course, a guide on how to spend your extra day off, wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Manchester Pride, the annual four-day LGBTQ+ celebration, which takes place in locations across the city. If you're just heading to Pride, we've got a full guide on everything you need to know from the parade and Gay Village party to the poignant Candlelit Vigil, as well as a round-up of the best free Pride events.

Elsewhere, there’s an Italian food festival, and Bolton's own food and drink event, plus brunches and afternoon teas - so you definitely won't go hungry. Plus, there's gigs from one of city's most feted sons, a festival in a idyllic countryside setting and Manchester music tours to keep you entertained. And, as well as special bank holiday events and activities, the usual calendar of exhibitions, club nights and gigs are on the cards to make this a bumper bank holiday weekend.

Bolton Food & Drink Festival

Foodie fa cooking demos, and even a Fawlty Towers dining experience. Several famous faces will make an appearance over the weekend, including James Martin, Gok Wan and Great British menu judge Nisha Katona MBE. Entry is free although some events are ticketed. Tickets for cookery demos cost £15 for adults, and £10 for children and concessions. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

Where: Town Hall, Victoria Sq, Bolton BL1 1RU
When: 25-28 August
Prices: As the festival is set across Bolton town centre you will not need a ticket to visit. Chef cookery demos from £15 for adults and £10 for children and concessions.

Noel Gallagher at Wythenshawe Park

Rather fitting that the first major gig of its kind at the sprawling Wythenshawe Park should be from one of the city's most feted sons - Noel Gallagher.

With his band High Flying Birds, he'll be taking music lovers through his back catalogue as well as selections from Council Skies, the band's latest set, released earlier this year, and very much tethered to the city that raised him. Perhaps if everyone shouts loudly enough, he might play that Joy Division cover. Support comes from Primal Scream and Future Islands.

Where: Wythenshawe Park
When: 26 August
Price: From £105

Manchester Pride

Taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend from August 25-28, Manchester Pride will see the city join together to celebrate LGBTQ+ equality the way we know how: with parties, festivals, vigils, parades and big get-togethers.

At the heart of the festivities will be The Gay Village Party, hosting a diverse line-up of music and performances at Sackville Gardens, with headline performances from the likes of Brazilian drag sensation Pabblo Vittar, Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard.

Outside of the ticketed Gay Village Party, there will also be free events including the annual parade, Superbia, Youth Pride MCR, Family Pride MCR and the Human Rights Forum. The four-day festival will conclude with the candlelight vigil at Sackville Gardens on Monday evening to honour those who have been lost and to stand in solidarity with those who are living with HIV.

Where: Gay Village and Manchester City Centre
When: 25 - 28 August
Price: From £14.05 to £220.50

R&B Brunch at Bierkeller

Manchester Bierkeller is hosting an epic five-hour brunch special, bringing both old and new R&B tunes, lots of dancing, bottomless rum punch, and street food. Laying everything great and next in R&B and soul from the past few decades – think TLC, Mary J. Blige, Pharrell and SZA, plus all those dancefloor heavy grooves in-between, and a sprinkling of old-school rap jams, UKG, and dancehall dance music - there will be something for everyone. With street food served all day and complimentary bottomless rum punch served for an hour between 12pm to 1pm, there will be plenty to get stuck into.

Where: Manchester Bierkeller
When: Saturday, 26 August
Price: £18 per person

You, Me and the Balloons at Aviva Studios

It’s the final weekend to catch the psychedelic, polka-dot mad You, Me and the Balloons - The largest-ever immersive environment by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. While Aviva Studios does not officially open to the public until October, Kusama's artworks offer the first opportunity to explore the landmark arts and culture space.

The inflatable dolls and balloon sculptures have taken over the vast warehouse space of the building, taking audiences on an exhilarating journey through Kusama's psychedelic creations, most of which have not been seen before in the UK. Her hallucinatory paintings, sculptures, and immersive environments, will be be at Aviva Studios until August 28, so make sure you get down there to check them put before their gone.

Where: Aviva Studios
When: Until August 28
Price: Standard Tickets £15, Affordable Tickets £10 & £7.50, and a maximum of 6 tickets per person applies.

Moovin Festival

Stockport's hidden countryside festival with a 'breathtaking gorge' will make its grand return this weekend. Former Manchester resident Laurent Garnier will be among the headliners, playing a special extended set, while Goldie will be hitting the North West with a full orchestra.

It all happens at Whitebottom Farm, set in the Etherow Country Park in Compstall, near Marple. Also among those on the bill will be house music pioneer Todd Terry, David Holmes, a DJ set from Massive Attack's Daddy G, hip hop icon Big Daddy Kane, Sister Nancy, Jurassic 5’s Chali 2Una, Mungo's HiFi feat Eva Lazarus, Gilles Peterson, Stanton Warriors, Plump DJs, Jaguar Skills, Krafty Kuts and the Freestylers.

Where: Whitebottom Farm, set in the Etherow Country Park
When: 25-27 August
Price: From £43.20

Festa Italiana

Cathedral Gardens will be transformed into an oasis of Italian cuisine this weekend for Festa Italiana, the UK’s biggest Italian festival. This year for the first time the festival will have a day-long celebration of female chefs - Friday’s Festa Italiana Della Donna, which will include live cooking demos.

Over the weekend the festival, brought to you by Salvi’s, will feature live cookery masterclasses, live music and plenty of food and drink on offer. On Saturday Birrificio Angelo Poretti is hosting the Grande Tavola, a ticketed event where festival goes can sit down for a classic Italian meal from Salvi’s. Then on Sunday the area will be open to all with stalls from the likes of Proove, Purezza and The Pasta Factory. Visit the festival’s website for more information.

Where: Cathedral Gardens
When: 25-27 August
Price: It is a free, weekend-long celebration

Noma's Summer Party at Sadler's Yard

Locals and visitors are invited to gather in the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood for its “Saddle Up!” summer event on Friday 26 August from 1pm to 9pm at Sadler’s Yard. The free-to-attend family-friendly event is returning for the sixth time but this time with a brand-new theme of old time fun in the Wild (North) West.

Families will be able to get involved with fun games and drop-in workshops for all ages including tumbleweed racing, stick whittling, customised ‘spurs’ and bolo tie making. Guests will also be able to enjoy pinto bean chilli served with cornbread at the Pinto Café, brought to you by the team from Yellowhammer, while the musical backdrop will be provided by the likes of Honk, The Punchies, Adam Hopper, Jennifer Reid, Langkamer and Mr Ben.

Where: Sadler's Yard
When: 26 August, 1-9pm
Price: FREE

Candlelight concert celebrating 100 years of Warner Bro. Studios

A special candlelight concert featuring some of the best movie and TV soundtracks performed live by a string quartet will will take place on August 25 with performances from the Bloomsbury String Quartet. Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros will take fans on a nostalgic musical journey as they relieve some of their favourite songs from classics The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Two concerts, which will also feature renditions of popular TV shows like Scooby-Doo and Friends, will take place at Manchester Cathedral on August 25 at 6pm and 8.30pm.

Where: Manchester Cathedral
When: August 25 at 6pm and 8.30pm.
Price: From £20

Posh Pooch Afternoon Tea

Hotel INNSiDE Manchester, has announced a decadent dog-friendly afternoon tea party set to take place at it's restaurant First Street Bar & Kitchen, in collaboration with Lola’s Little Bakery this August bank holiday.

Catering for Manchester’s VIPs (very important pooches), on Sunday 27 August from 12pm - 4pm, First Street Bar & Kitchen will welcome owners and their furry friends for a very special afternoon tea. The boutique package will include First Street Bar & Kitchen’s classic afternoon tea for two, complimentary prosecco, plus artisan treats for dogs for £58.

Especially for the occasion, the restaurant will be transformed into a must-visit summer destination with traditional bunting and balloons. Dogs will be welcome to join owners at the table with their very own seat and glamorous afternoon tea stand adorned with the best sweet - dog-friendly - treats.

Where: INNSiDE Manchester
When: Sunday 27 August from 12pm - 4pm
Price: £58

Den Fest Great Northern Warehouse

A free, three-day music festival located on Deansgate Mews, will make its return to Lions Den for its fourth year this bank holiday weekend. Den Fest, hosted in conjunction with District Records and Manchester One Media, will feature live music performances from a stellar line-up of Manchester’s grassroot talent

The outdoor festival with it's own open-air stage will showcase over 20 different bands and artists across the bank holiday weekend, with headline performances from local Stockport band, The Maddocks, Liverpool band, RIVIA, and a performance from a very special guest headliner, which is yet to be announced.

Where: Lions Den, Deansgate Mews
When: August 25-27
Price: FREE

Come As Your Are Weekender at The Refuge

The annual Come As You Are weekender will return to The Refuge Terrace at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel this weekend. The iconic DJ Paulette will be headlining proceedings on the Saturday, whilst Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy fronting Sunday night's festivities.

Throughout the weekend a stellar selection of DJs will take over the terrace with an all-day soirée. Throughout the weekend, there will be appearances from the likes of Jamie Bull, Sticky Heat, Jade Li, Simba, Laura Jackson, Jaegerossa, Eve’s Drop Collective, Swindells, Jim Bane and more. On Saturday morning, there will be a Disco Flow Yoga session with Thorlby Yoga and The Hush Club Disco.

Where: The Refuge
When: August 25-27
Price: FREE

Kampus Bank Holiday Weekender

Just over the way from the main Canal Street festivities, Kampus will be hosting a variety of bank holiday events from Friday night garden parties and family-friendly doggy fashion shows to Red Light bar's Little David Street Party.

It all kicks off with Kiss Me Again and DJ Atalaya in the Friday evening slot on 25 August, and then the Barkpride dog show hosted by drag queen Alexa Tuppence on Saturday, before a whole host of DJs on Saturday, including The Fat Britney, Violet Blonde and Love Party. Sunday sees a pizza pros Nell's takeover by Gaydio and then a street party on Little David Street.

To top if off, Kampus' new taco joint Madre will be serving up burritos, Margs and tunes across the weekend. The Burrito shack will be serving chicken tinga, beef birria and mushroom Asada burritos alongside El Tequileno margaritas, frozen peachies, frosty palomas and Corona tinnies from their Margarita van.

Where: Kampus
When: August 25 -28
Price: Some events are ticketed

Manchester Music Tours

Evidence of Manchester's musical heritage can be found dotted all over the city, so much so that it has become a popular pilgrimage for fans of bands including The Smiths, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Joy Division and New Order.

Launched by the late Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill and continued by his wife Rose with occasional special guest hosts, Manchester Music Tours take in some of the city's most significant spots, from Sifters Records in Burnage to Salford Lads' Club to - with plenty of Madchester memories and tales woven in.

If you're taking off an extra day this weekend, on Friday you can join the Oasis tour for a chance to see first-hand where Manchester's most famous brothers grew up. The tour includes visits to the iconic Boardwalk where the band rehearsed and performed their first gig and Paul Arthur’s (Bonehead) house which was used for the photo shoot for the Definitely Maybe sleeve artwork.

Where: Tours depart from Vinyl Revival, 5 Hilton Street, Manchester M4 1LP
When: August 25
Price: Tickets cost £37.45 and pre-booking is required

The Oast House's music festival, Manifest

Following its success during previous bank holiday weekends, Spinningfields' favourite The Oast House is bringing its music festival Manifest back for its final summer instalment with an impressive line-up. Taking place on the outdoor terrace at The Oast House on August 27 and featuring it's own stage, Manifest will kick off at 1pm and run until late, with a jam-packed line-up of bands, solo artists and duos taking to the stage throughout the day, as well as sets from resident DJs.

Where: Oast House, Spinningfields
When: August 27
Price: FREE