German Doner Kebab (GDK) is bringing its fast-growing premium kebab experience to Manchester Fort, marking the brand’s sixth restaurant in Greater Manchester and another major step in its UK expansion. The new site will open this winter, offering shoppers and visitors a bold, flavour-packed dining option like no other.

GDK is redefining the kebab for a new generation, serving high-quality premium meats, crisp locally sourced salads, handmade signature sauces, and its now-iconic toasted sesame waffle bread. 100% halal and made fresh to order, the GDK menu offers a modern take on a beloved classic - raising the bar for fast-casual dining.

Located in the heart of one of Manchester’s most popular shopping and leisure destinations, the new GDK site will cater to shoppers, commuters, families, and foodies alike - bringing a fresh and exciting alternative to the area’s grab-and-go offerings.

Simon Wallis, GDK CEO, said: “Manchester has always been a fantastic city for GDK, and opening our sixth site in Greater Manchester at Manchester Fort is an exciting milestone. Our menu is built around quality ingredients, bold flavours, and providing a new elevated perspective on a nation-wide favourite. As we continue our rapid growth across the UK, openings like Manchester Fort are powerful markers of the momentum behind the GDK brand. We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and we’d like to extend a special thanks to our hard-working team across the country. As well as a huge congratulations to our franchise partners—their drive and dedication have been central to our journey and success. We look forward to introducing Manchester Fort to Kebabs. Done Right.”

The new GDK site will create up to 30 new jobs locally and introduce visitors to standout menu items such as the GDK Doner Rice Bowl - a lighter, yet satisfying combination of doner meat, fresh salad, and fragrant rice. The menu also includes fan favourites such as:

German Doner Kebab will be opening at Manchester Fort Shopping Park in winter 2025.

More than 5,000 children from Greater Manchester could benefit from a free school bus pass Andy Burnham is ‘looking at’.

New data shows 5,397 children from eight Greater Manchester boroughs live in temporary homeless accommodation, and education experts believe swathes of these youngsters are missing school due to a little-known government rule.

It says kids in temporary accommodation can only get free bus travel if they’re more than two miles from the classroom AND there’s no ‘suitable’ school closer to their temporary home.

In Greater Manchester, it’s almost impossible to move two miles from home and not be nearer a new school — so experts say homeless parents face either paying for buses they previously didn’t need to, or moving their children away from friends and supportive staff to a new school.

This dilemma has prompted calls for the mayor to introduce a new bus pass for children in temporary accommodation. Last month (September 1), Mr Burnham said he was ‘looking carefully at’ the proposal. “What I can say today is we’re going to look carefully at it to see if we can do it,” he explained.

“Now, I say it like that just because I have to be sure that when I say something that we can find a way of financing it, and we don’t just throw too many commitments out, and we can’t sustain the changes because of the fare box situation. But I’m personally sympathetic to what you’re saying. I think the vast majority of people in Greater Manchester would be as well.”

Until now, the number of homeless children who could benefit from the pass has been quoted in the thousands by experts’ educated guesswork.

But new statistics revealed by a Local Democracy Reporting Service Freedom of Information request has revealed 5,397 children were in temporary accommodation across Greater Manchester eight boroughs in August.

The LDRS asked councils to provide an exact figure of how many children were further than two or three miles from school, but most declined, meaning it remains difficult to estimate exactly how many children would be eligible for the bus pass.

However, the 5,397 children help make up the 172,000 children in temporary accommodation across the UK. That’s according to housing rights charity Just Fair, who slammed the figures released last week as ‘a national disgrace’.

“Behind every statistic is a child spending nights in a B&B, travelling miles to school, or growing up without the stability of a home,” said Jess McQuail. “Housing is a human right, recognised in international law. When over 172,000 children are denied that right, their other rights, to health, education, and family life, are undermined.”

The band was due to play next month

Punk band Bob Vylan has rescheduled its upcoming Manchester gig.

Greater Manchester MPs supported a statement from the Jewish Representative Council (JRC) of Greater Manchester and Region earlier this month, calling for the the band's upcoming Manchester Academy gig to be cancelled.

The band was due to perform on November 5 as part of its 'We Won't Go Quietly' tour. The show has now been rescheduled for February 5 next year, with Bob Vylan citing 'political pressure'.

An upcoming gig at Leeds' O2 Academy has also been rescheduled to February 7.

In a post shared on Instagram on Thursday, the group said: "Due to political pressure from the likes of Bridget Phillipson and groups in the North West of England, we have had to reschedule our Leeds and Manchester shows.

"All tickets remain valid and all other shows are continuing as planned. Bristol sold out, last few tickets left for London. See you soon. Love ya."

Ahead of the gig at Manchester Academy, which is on the University of Manchester campus, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said universities have the powers to 'take action to prevent harassment and intimidation'.

It comes amid a long-running fallout from the band's Glastonbury show, where they led a chant of 'death to the I.D.F.', referring to the Israeli military.

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Manchester-based Shield Safety, a trusted leader in food safety, health and safety, and fire safety, has been named Innovator of the Year at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards 2025.

Headquartered in the city’s Northern Quarter, Shield Safety was recognised for its pioneering approach to safety innovation and commitment to raising industry standards.

The prestigious accolade recognises Shield Safety Group’s pioneering work as a certification body for Safe to Trade – a ground-breaking new consumer standard transforming food safety across the sector. Over the past year, the company’s dedication to raising industry standards and strengthening public confidence has earned widespread recognition from regulators, businesses and consumers alike.

This accolade follows the Greater Manchester regional launch of Safe to Trade, which was held recently at Shield Safety’s Northern Quarter head office. The event brought together leading figures from the food safety industry and key regulatory stakeholders, further underscoring Shield Safety’s commitment to supporting and delivering the new consumer standard.

The recognition underscores Shield Safety’s commitment to harnessing innovation, technology, and expertise to drive meaningful change across the safety landscape. Through its work, the company continues to help businesses operate with greater safety, responsibility and transparency.

With the UK’s largest team of Environmental Health Practitioners, Shield Safety works closely with industry leaders to deliver forward-thinking, trusted safety solutions that protect both businesses and the public. As the organisation continues to expand its global reach and partnerships, this award further cements the Manchester-founded company’s reputation as one of the most forward-thinking and trusted authorities in the safety sector, setting new benchmarks for how safety and compliance are delivered in a modern, customer-focused world.

Dr. Mark Flanagan, CEO and Founder of Shield Safety, commented: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Innovator of the Year. This award is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, whose work for Safe to Trade continues to make a genuine impact across the food industry. Our goal has always been to make the world a safer place to eat, work and play – and this recognition reflects how far we’ve come in achieving that.”

Shield Safety is a trusted leader in food safety, health and safety, and fire safety. For more than 20 years, the company has delivered solutions that go beyond protecting businesses – helping to drive growth, enhance wellbeing, and save lives.

With the UK’s largest team of Environmental Health Practitioners, Shield Safety ensures every service it provides meets the highest standards of expertise and quality. Its core values of passion, excellence and putting people first guide its approach and define the organisation’s identity.

A recognised innovator in the safety industry, Shield Safety is the first Certification Body for Safe to Trade – the pioneering consumer standard transforming food safety across the sector.

For more information, visit: https://shieldsafety.co.uk

'There’s a difference between Pride as an occasion we know so well and the organisation that runs it'

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has described the announcement of voluntary liquidation from the organisation behind Manchester Pride as a ‘sad situation’.

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Manchester Pride’s Board of Trustees announced on Wednesday (October 22) that Manchester Pride Events Ltd would go into liquidation following a series of challenges, including rising costs and declining ticket sales.

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The Trustees said the organisation was no longer ‘financially viable’ and apologised to the many performers and suppliers who have still not been paid for their involvement in this year’s event, which ran across the August Bank Holiday weekend.

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Andy Burnham, who attended this year’s Manchester Pride parade with his daughter, appeared on BBC Radio Manchester this morning as part of his weekly drop-in surgery on Mike Sweeney’s show and was asked to comment on the developing situation for the first time.

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During the session with sitting presenter Michelle Dignan, Burnham, who leads the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), was asked by a listener if he thought Manchester Council, or the Mayor’s office, could help Manchester Pride in any way going forward.

“It’s a sad situation, isn’t it, for obviously everyone, for the employees and also for the performers who I think haven’t been paid as they should have been,” he responded. “So, it’s a regrettable situation and a sad one because Manchester Pride has built, built, built over the years.

“It was an amazing Pride this year, actually. I was there and, to be honest, it was a completely uplifting afternoon really in what sometimes feels like a divided time. Pride was, as ever, a fantastic event.

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“I think it’s primarily for Manchester City Council, but we will work closely with them. My organisation has provided some funding with regards to the cultural component of Pride, so we have supported them in the past.”

Following the Trustee’s statement, Manchester Council's leader, Bev Craig, said they had tried to do 'everything we could' to support the organisation, but realised it 'had become unsustainable'. The council has promised it will work on ensuring the event continues next year.

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“It was great to see that statement from Bev,” Burnham added during the BBC Radio Manchester appearance. “To be clear, what she is saying is that there will be a Manchester Pride 2026, so that’s not in doubt. There’s a difference between Pride as an occasion we know so well and the organisation that runs it.

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“Obviously there's some stuff to work out behind the scenes but that has been happening, to be honest. So, we will work it out best we can, GMCA will stand behind Manchester City Council and help where we can.

“This event is huge for our city-region and maybe we can use this moment to get things back in a good position going forward.”

He added: “We need to make sure it’s obviously viable, and that it’s true to its roots. It’s not easy to achieve all of those things at once, but there will be a Manchester Pride next year and maybe it will galvanise an even greater event.”

You can listen back to this morning's BBC Radio Manchester show via BBC Sounds here.

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