One of Scotland’s best-loved eyewear brands is expanding, and has picked Manchester as the location for its first-ever English store.
IOLLA may originally be known to Mancunians for designing Tommy Shelby’s specs in the hit BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, but now, following success in its native country, the innovative glasses brand is bringing a fresh take on eyewear retail to the shopping and fashion scene in our city centre, and will be opening its doors in St Ann’s Square.
The independent brand has introduced a new way to buy eyewear by offering affordable, quality glasses and sunglasses for a single price point.
What makes IOLLA different to many other high street glasses labels is that the brand prides itself on keeping its pricing “simple and honest” by refusing to include any hidden costs or added extras – which means that prescription lenses and coatings are all included within the standard £85.
On top of that, IOLLA showrooms are known for allowing customers to browse, try-on the collection, and place their orders in a fun and relaxed environment.
When the new IOLLA Manchester store opens in early August, customers will get the chance to experience an in-store ‘styling session’ with an IOLLA eyewear expert – who will use their expertise to help people find the perfect pair.
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As IOLLA doesn’t offer eye tests, customers planning on visiting the showroom are encouraged to have their prescriptions to hand before placing their order through the digitally-enabled platform, either in person or online.
All of the brand’s glasses and sunglasses are handmade, uniquely-designed, and built to last by using the best-quality components and materials available.
IOLLA guarantees there are several styles of its glasses to suit everyone, meaning that customers can develop their very-own ‘eyewear wardrobe’ full of multiple pairs of eyewear that is unique to their own personal style and taste.
Innovative glasses brand IOLLA is bringing a fresh take on eyewear retail to Manchester / Credit: IOLLA
“We are incredibly excited to be launching our first store outside of Scotland, and where better than Manchester?,” said Stefan Hunter – CEO at IOLLA.
“One of the fashion capitals of the UK – and the perfect launch location for IOLLA south of the border.
“We can’t wait to bring our range of high quality, affordable glasses to the city, including our MacDonald frames, inspired by Tommy Shelby’s glasses worn in series five of Peaky Blinders. We know Manchester has a link to the show already, so feel confident that they’ll be a popular choice with locals.
“With an enormous range of frames and colours, we guarantee that there are several options for everyone.
“This will enable you to find plenty of styles handpicked for your own personal look.”
The Scottish brand will be opening its first showroom in England in St Ann’s Square next month / Credit: IOLLA
IOLLA Manchester is opening on St Ann’s Square in the heart of the city centre in early August, with exact dates to be confirmed, so keep your eyes peeled.
You can find out more and shop the brand before it opens here.
Featured Image – IOLLA
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Hit theatre production set at a house party to visit Manchester on UK tour
Daisy Jackson
Alright then, 24 hour party people, we’ve found a theatre production you might like the sound of – it’s called The House Party, and it’s set in (you guessed it) a house party.
This smash hit production by pioneering theatre company Headlong is set to land at HOME in March as part of the arts venue’s 2025 theatre season.
It tells the tale of a wild 18th birthday party, where Christine is trying to pick up the pieces of her best friend, a newly-dumped Julie (who happens to be the birthday girl).
Themes of class, power and privilege are all explored with a raw intensity as the cast on stage plough through shots and dive head-first into a night that will change everything they know.
The House Party, which has received glowing reviews from previous showings, is filled with ‘privilege, desire and destruction’.
When it stops off in Manchester, its cast will include Bridgerton’s Sesley Hope as Christine, Synnøve Karlsen (Miss Austen, Last Night in Soho) as Julie, and Tom Lewis (Gentleman Jack, Patience) as Jon.
The ensemble of Frantic Assembly performers includes Ines Aresti, Oliver Baines, Cal Connor, Micah Corbin-Powell, Rachael Leonce, Jaheem Pinder and Jamie Randall.
The House Party is written by Laura Lomas and is a reimagining of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie for today’s generation.
It’s directed by Headlong’s artistic director Holly Race Roughan, who directed the Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere of David Edgar’s major new political play The New Real.
The House Party. Credit: Ikin YumThe production will be at HOME. Credit: Supplied
Movement direction will come from Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham.
Prior to the UK tour of The House Party, Headlong celebrated its 50 year anniversary, including the hit production of A Raisin in the Sun which played nationwide.
The House Party will be at HOME in Manchester between 25 and 29 March, 2025 – you can get your tickets HERE.
Greater Manchester’s annual Repair Week is back to make you fall back in love with your stuff
Daisy Jackson
If you’re not a handy person, when something breaks, the temptation is often to abandon or bin it straight away.
But that’s just not how we’re gonna do it here in Greater Manchester any more, with the return of the annual Repair Week to help you learn valuable repair skills and save money at the same time.
Whether it’s tinkering with your bicycle, fixing up your small tech items, or having your furniture re-varnished and upcycled, there are so many places and people who are on a mission to help you fall back in love with your belongings.
There are even workshops to help you put flat-pack furniture together.
Taking place between 3 and 9 March, Repair Week will be the chance to learn skills, fix your stuff, gain repair confidence and find local fixers.
Events throughout the week (and beyond) will be hosted by community groups, businesses and plenty more.
You can sharpen knives, fix zips, and un-wobble chairs with a little hand from local repair heroes.
JillyGDesign Jewellery in Heaton Moor will fix up your sentimental and special jewellery items, while Rag Revival will help you turn unusable textiles into new creations with basic sewing skills.
There are repair cafes popping up all over Greater Manchester where you can take your belongings.
Greater Manchester’s annual Repair Week is back to make you fall back in love with your stuff. Credit: Supplied
Repair Week will highlight schemes like the Manchester Library of Things, where you can borrow the tools and equipment you need for those repair jobs at home.
During the week you’ll also be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the incredible Renew Hub, the UK’s biggest reuse hub, where donated items are brought back to life.
Similarly, you’ll be able to get inside the textile recycling centre run by homelessness charity Emmaus Bolton, where you can choose your own fabric from the scrap store and turn it into a very handy draught excluder to keep costs down and your heat in.
Recycle for Greater Manchester’s Repair Week will take place between 3 and 9 March, with workshops, events and resources to help you revive your belongings.
Emily Sergeant -
21st July 2022 
