Did you see that Stockport is getting ready to leap back into action this summer?
With an “irreversible” roadmap for lifting lockdown now in place, it was revealed last month that the fan-favourite gigantic colourful frogs are set to hop to the town centre once again to help see in the post-pandemic era and welcome visitors back.
The town first welcomed the amphibious attractions two years ago.
Organised by Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID) – branded as Totally Stockport – the Giant Leap Frog Art Trail attracted thousands of visitors from across the region, and children of all ages had great fun seeking out all 19 giant frogs.
This year though, as Stockport looks to “build back better”, there will be even more of them.
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This summer’s Gigantic Leap Frog Art Trail will not only see 21 brand-new gigantic frogs hopping into the town centre, but they’ll also be supported by another 17 frog buddies in various locations throughout the whole borough.
The 17 giant frog sculptures will “celebrate each area’s uniqueness” and Stockport Borough Council is calling on residents to give them a hand in designing a frog for your area.
A message on Stockport Borough Council’s website reads: “Your ideas or designs will be brought to life by local artists from ARC (Arts for Recovery in the Community) – a leading arts and mental health charitable organisation – [and] it could feature everything from places you like to visit and explore locally, significant landmarks, or characteristics that make your area special”.
The council has also listed a few questions to help “get those creative juices flowing”:
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What has been your favourite place locally that you’ve enjoyed exploring during the last 12 months?
What three positive words would you use to describe your local area to someone who has not visited before?
If you had to pick your favourite local landmark or attraction – e.g: building, sculpture, venue or green space – what would it be?
What did you miss most about your local area during the last 12 months? (This could be a favourite shop, place to have a bite to eat or drink, leisure venue or perhaps a club or society that haven’t been able to host get togethers or activities).
You can send your written answers by completing and returning the form available here, or if you’d prefer to draw your answers / have children who would like to share their ideas, you can download the frog template here instead.
Residents can also send in images that they feel best represents their local area.
“It will all help to create a unique frog design that reflects where you live,” Stockport Borough Council says.
Your ideas, pictures and designs can be emailed to [email protected] and you must include your name and postcode.
All entries must be sent in by Sunday 25th April 2021.
Greater Manchester’s spooky steam trains are returning this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is right around the corner, and one of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events is returning.
What’s Halloween without East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains at this point? Generally selling out each year, the heritage railway’s Halloween Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for some ‘spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around.
And 2026 is expected to be no different… in fact, it’ll be even creepier than normal, because the scream train has had a spooky makeover.
You can expect flickering lights, eerie sounds, creepy surprises, and perhaps a very unwelcome visitor climbing aboard.
Those brave enough at lending the Monster Squad a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.
Before you join them though, you’ll need to prove you have what it takes by making it through the Halloween Walkthrough on the footbridge with a fair few jump scares.
Once you reach the platform, you’ll be greeted by Halloween favourites, Vampire Brian and Veronica the Witch, who’ll prepare you for your terrifying train trip with a song, a dance, and probably a scream or two.
Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR
As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows on your journey, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and as always, screaming and singalongs are to be expected – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.
Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day too, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child ‘full of tricks and treats’ awaits.
The Halloween Ghost Trains are happening over an extended weekend in late October, running from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October.
Tickets are now on sale, starting from just £15 per person, and you can book here.
Featured Image – ELR
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Emily Sergeant -
1st April 2021 
