Twenty-five loved-up Manchester couples, including Take Me Out’s Mr Deansgate and his date, are in for a romantic ride around the city this weekend.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day and the opening of the new Exchange Square stop, The Printworks and Metrolink teamed up to launch the Love Tram from Bury.
Couples competed to win a pair of seats on the ‘chariot of love’ as well as a free night out in The Printworks.
Manchester’s Mr Deansgate, Nik Maguire, was not successful on the ITV dating show Take Me Out but will be bringing a date on the tram.
Nik said: “After the show, I heard from fellow Take Me Out contestant, Rachael, a hairdresser from Leeds.
“She’d had second thoughts about turning her light out for me and got in touch.
“While the Love Tram isn’t your traditional chariot of love, it’s something quirky to do on Valentine’s weekend, and is the perfect opportunity to show her the best that Manchester has to offer.”
The new Exchange Square Metrolink stop, a short distance from Printworks, currently runs every 12 minutes and is part of the larger Second City Crossing line, which aims to improve transport into the city centre and open fully in 2017.
Metrolink Director Peter Cushing said: “It’s great that Metrolink has been able to get involved in this event.
“I’m sure everyone taking part will have a great evening and I certainly hope Cupid’s arrow has his sights set firmly on those getting off the Love Tram at Exchange Square.
“It would be fantastic if relationships blossomed and even better if a wedding is somewhere down the line.”
On Valentine’s Day itself, The Printworks is hosting ‘Love Is Not Prohibited’, a 1920s themed night out with swing dancing lessons, live music, DJ sets, and food offers for couples and families to enjoy.
Centre director Fred Booth said: “This is a fantastic new transport link for Greater Manchester, providing better access to the city centre, and we are very much looking forward to the event to mark it.
“We will be meeting our 25 competition winners at Wetherspoons, The Art Picture House in Bury before heading on to the Love Tram on 13th February for a special Valentine’s service to The Printworks.”
