Households across the world are gearing up for a Halloween like no other this year.
With 2020’s scariest visitor undoubtedly being the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this means that the usual frightful festivities of Halloween parties, trick or treating and more will be out of the question, which is leaving people to turn to other forms of fun to mark the occasion.
This is probably why many are planning to go all-out on decorating their houses this year.
If you’re looking to, quite literally, lighten the mood, then it’s predicted that compact projectors – which are designed to reflect a range of Halloween-themed images and scary scenes onto the side of your house – are the must-have decorative accessory for this spooky season.
No matter your price range, or what it is that you’re looking for in terms of capability from a projector, there’s plenty of different options available to get your hands on.
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What’s more is they can also be converted over to be used for other annual celebrations too, like Christmas, Bonfire Night, Valentines Day, Easter and more, which means you’re bound to be getting your money’s worth from your Halloween purchase.
We’ve decided to round-up a few of the best projectors we’ve seen on the market so far.
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Total Home FX Special Effects Projector
£159.95 – The Glow Company
The Glow Company
The Total Home FX Special Effects Projector comes pre-loaded with twelve seasonal videos and creates an animated display that will delight viewers with amazing detail and special effects.
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Not only do effects include Halloween zombies approaching the window glass, romantic dancing skeletons, or even a crazed mummy, but there are Christmas scenes too.
With a built in speaker, the overall effect is incredible.
It’ll set you back £159.95 and you can buy the from the Total Home FX Special Effects Projector from The Glow Company website here.
Premier Decorations LED Projector
£10.00 – John Lewis
John Lewis
The Premier Decorations LED Projector keeps it nice and simple.
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It’s a light effect projector that’s designed to beam pumpkins, ghosts, skulls and Happy Halloween onto an outdoor garden wall, fence or other surface, but it’s also suitable for indoor use too.
A lot more on the affordable side than others on the market, the Premier Decorations LED Projector will set you back just £10.00.
You can get your hands on it from the John Lewis website here.
Halloween Holographic Projector
£24.99 – Amazon
Amazon
The Halloween Holographic Projector is a nifty machine.
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This Amazon bestseller offers a little more sophistication, with moving images shown on any window or reflective surface. This full colour window movie projector plays 16-second movies in your windows, with 12 movies to choose from – six Halloween and six Christmas ones.
For just £24.99, you can get your hands on the Halloween Holographic Projector from Amazon here.
Atmosfear Fx Window Fx Bundle
£358 – Direct Nine
Direct Nine
Are you looking to really take things up a notch this Halloween?
Currently on offer and down from £596, this bundle includes Atmosfear Fx Halloween videos, with ghostly apparitions and phantasms, fancy graphics and a hi-res output. With different styles of ghouls to choose from – from comedy cartoons, to full on horror-fests – this brand is best for those taking digital decorating very seriously.
The Atmosfear Fx Window Fx Bundle will set you back £358 and you can get your hands on it from the Direct Nine website here.
Trending
Family-run Greater Manchester business calls out customers for punching cakes
Thomas Melia
A well-known independent Greater Manchester business has taken to social media to call out customers who were caught on CCTV punching their cakes.
Known for everything from cakes and pastries to hot baked goods and custom chocolate designs, Slattery’s in Whitefield has been serving up their gorgeous cake and chocolate creations for over 50 years, all while keeping the business family-run.
Unfortunately, the reason they’re receiving lots of attention at the minute is due to two customers resorting to violence on their pre-packaged sweet-treat products.
The social media account for this Greater Manchester chocolatier has uploaded two images which show the outcome of the fatal blows which struck two of their Victoria Sponge cakes.
Although this punch may have cost them the price of two of their delicious traybakes, later on in the post, Slattery’s issues a big thanks to “All the wonderful families who’ve visited so far this summer.”
“We know cake can be exciting, but a gentle reminder that little bakers should remain under adult supervision at all times – Thank you.”
This third-generation family-run “chocolate wonderland” has brought a smile to many locals’ and tourists’ faces alike with their wide variety of unique-shaped chocolate bars, lollies, grab bags and more.
All throughout 2021, Slattery’s were serving up their moreish Slattery’s Chocolate Lockdown Platters consisting of shortbread, brownies, fudge, pretzels, marshmallows and Oreos, helping Mancs continue to get our sugary fix even during one of the country’s toughest times.
Just look at them – they do the lord’s work:
Slattery’s chocolate shop and bakery has called out customers on social media for punching their pre-packaged cakes / Credit: The Manc Group
As well as attracting visitors with its grand three-storey bakery and chocolate shop, Slattery’s also has its very own restaurant, Mason’s Dining Room, where people flock to attempt the ‘Chocolate Challenge’.
To win, two chocoholics must team up to finish an American-style chocolate fudge cake with chocolate ice cream, a portion of fresh cream and two chocolate pots filled with liquid chocolate sauce – oh and two delicious hot chocolate drinks too.
Any sweet tooth successor will bag themselves one of Slattery’s chocolate medals and a box of handmade chocolates too – in case you needed chocolate anymore.
Lastly, anyone after supporting this Greater Manchester sweet-treat provider can find the chocolatier and cake makers on 197 Bury New Road in Whitefield or via Slattery’s official website HERE.
Featured Images – The Manc Group/Slattery’s (via Instagram)
Trending
Plans to build tower next to Manchester’s historic Britons Protection pub scrapped
Danny Jones
Punters, rejoice: plans to build a large apartment tower next to Manchester’s Britons Protection pub have reportedly been scrapped after a long, drawn-out process and widespread protests.
What a relief.
One of the city’s oldest boozers, the Britons Protection was due to be dwarfed by a large development reaching 26 storeys tall, which not only would have encroached on the cultural landmark and storied watering hole, but also blocked out its popular beer garden to the rear.
We’ve seen a similar loss of outdoor drinking space with the recent St Michael’s development, which has essentially removed the equally historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub – though it is at least getting a refurb – but in truth, the ‘Protect the Protection’ fight has been going on much longer.
As per a notice published on Manchester City Council’s website this week, it now appears that the plans for 72 new flats have been cancelled, with developers Arrowsmith Management having officially withdrawn their application.
Run by Bahraini businessman Mohamed Abbas Haji, the company is now said to be reassessing its options for the ‘Apex Tower’ proposals.
Speaking to the BBC, Mark Brennan – who took over the pub back in January 2025 – said: “I’m quite happy to be honest, a lot of people say the pub might be busier with more people about, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to people coming in here.”
“It would have looked horrendous… It’s Grade II-listed, so the pub should always be here. It wouldn’t have been a good look, having a big ugly building on top of our building.”
Countless Mancunians have echoed the sentiment over the past few years, with appeals dating back to post-pandemic and a big awareness push in 2021.
Standing for more than two centuries and holding countless awards, it was never going to go quietly.
It also happens to be quite comfortably on our list of the cosiest pubs in Manchester and has been since day dot.
Anyone who’s been in will know the sense of a warm welcome the place always puts out, and we’re overjoyed to hear that years of petitions and campaigning to save it have paid off.
These stories don’t always end with the right outcome (not often enough, anyway), so we’ll definitely be raising a glass to the Britons Protected this weekend.
Unfortunately, we do still have some other sad news from the hospitality sector, as our oldest Manc publican has passed away at a fellow favourite pub.
Emily Sergeant -
24th September 2020 
