There’s a lot of aspects to life that we’ve found ourselves having to adjust to amid the ‘new normal’.
For many Brits, working from home is one of those aspects.
Companies of all shapes, sizes and industries are looking to embrace the concept of working from home a lot more as we head into the coming months, but when the stresses and strains of uncomfortable working positions just end up getting on top of us, we all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then, right?
Thanks to online gifting retailer Prezzybox, here are some of the best at-home massage products on the market right now to do just that – treat yourself.
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Vibrating Body Massager
Prezzybox
This fantastic handheld massager means you no longer have to travel anywhere other than your own home when the daily stresses and strains of life have you feeling a little bit uptight at times.
It’s your very own massage assistant at your fingertips.
The vibrating ball-shaped massager has special pads for the right pressure to ease any tension, has soft-coloured LED lights to help on your journey to relaxation and is retailing at just £7.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Body Massagerhere.
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Vibrating Neck Massager
Prezzybox
This vibrating neck massager can help soothe muscle aches and pains in your neck after a long day of working.
The soft and pillow-like massager has innovative therapeutic vibrating technology, can be wrapped around your neck to allow for hands-free pain relief, is the perfect size to carry wherever you go post-lockdown and is retailing for just £14.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Neck Massagerhere.
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Mini Massage Cushion
This small-but-mighty massage cushion is the ultimate relaxation accessory.
It’s powered by a UK mains adapter, meaning no more pesky batteries, has rotation massage features and four pressure points – plus an optional ‘heat mode’ for aches and pains – and provides deep tissue relief for any part of your body.
It’s also the perfect size for post-lockdown travel too and is retailing on Prezzybox at £29.99.
You can get your hands on the Mini Massage Cushionhere.
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Eyezone Massager
Prezzybox
This Eyezone Massager has three revolutionary features.
It combines massage therapy, pinhole therapy and magnetic therapy, all in one clever little tool. According to the product description, “a lot of the stresses we feel living in today’s world have a technological cause [and] it’s therefore sensible to approach relieving these stresses and strains in a scientific manner”.
It helps to combat headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and insomnia, and is retailing on Prezzybox for just £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Eyezone Massagerhere.
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Lower Back Massager
Prezzybox
This portable Lower Back Massager is a handy and efficient way of dealing with the muscle strain and posture issues that are brought on by working from home, because according to the product description, “we often neglect and take for granted the way that the body copes with strains and tension”.
It’s easily attachable, can be worn around the waist or across the chest, helps to ease pain by releasing heat in soothing waves and is retailing on Prezzybox for only £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Lower Back Massagerhere.
News
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
“We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it.”
Featured Image – Rochdale Council
News
The Lowry Theatre undergoes revamp following Biffa Award grant
Danny Jones
The Lowry in Salford Quays has had a bit of TLC with one of its biggest theatre spaces undergoing a pretty significant refurb this past month.
Following a well-deserved grant distributed via the Biffa Award, a multi-million-pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through community and environmental projects across the UK, the legendary local theatre received nearly £75k last year.
As a result, all 440 seats and various other aspects of The Lowry‘s Quays Theatre have now been renovated and refurbished.
The short story is, she looks more gorgeous than ever – see for yourself:
Being initially handed over in March 2024, The Lowry was awarded a total of £74,816 to reupholster seating in the venue’s Quays Theatre with new padding and fabric.
After almost 25 years of constant use as one of the most popular theatres in the North, the seats in the Quays Theatre were much in need of a refurb, and with work completed in December, Lowry visitors can now enjoy watching the venue’s wide range of theatre, dance, comedy and drama in comfort.
The work was actually carried out between July and December, with seats being carefully removed in batches and reupholstered off-site.
This was made possible due to the Biffa Award’s most recent ‘Cultural Facilities’ theme, which aims to improve recreation, interest and education, drawing funds from the UK government’s wider Landfill Communities Fund.
The old fabric and padding were disposed of sustainably, with lots of it being repurposed where possible to minimise waste and all the new materials used meet current guidance for safety and quality.
The Lowry’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Development, Gwen Oakden, said of the long overdue update:“It is so important that our audiences are able to enjoy our world-class performing arts programme in a comfortable and welcoming space.
“For many visitors to the Quays Theatre, this is their first experience of live performance – often to see a family show or as part of a school trip. We really want it to be the best experience possible, and for them to begin a lifelong relationship with Lowry.
“As a registered charity, without the generous support of this Biffa Award, for which we’re hugely grateful, we couldn’t have carried out this important work for our audiences.
As we head into our 25th Anniversary year, we are delighted to be able to welcome audiences and visitors can enjoy the beautiful and revived Quays Theatre.”
As for the Biffa side of things, Grants Manager Rachel Maidment added: “We are delighted to have supported The Lowry in refurbishing the Quays Theatre seating, ensuring audiences can continue to enjoy performances in comfort.
“Through Biffa’s Cultural Facilities theme, we fund projects that provide engaging and inspiring spaces for communities. The Lowry is a key cultural venue, and we’re proud that our funding, made possible through the government Fund, has helped enhance the experience for visitors for years to come.”
Like most Mancs, we love The Lowry, so here’s to hosting countless more theatregoers in the most comfortable seats possible for generations to come.
We’ve been to some brilliant performances around here of late.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd July 2020 
