Manchester Arndale has just revealed that Creams dessert cafe will open a huge new site at the centre later this year – bringing its signature ice cream sundaes, milkshakes, waffles and crepes along with it.
The popular UK dessert chain has just signed a 15-year lease on a massive new 2,325 sq ft store in the centre’s Halle Place, where it will join the likes of Archie’s and newcomer Pizza Luxe.
Here, sweet tooths can get their fix on a range of flamboyant and indulgent desserts. From takeaway ice cream cones to boxes of Biscoff and icing-laden donuts and slices of cake, the cafe will sit in an ideal place for shoppers looking for a mid-afternoon sugar lift.
Inside, interiors will focus on a dark colour palette of blues and blacks alongside pops of purple and pink. Walls will be lined with neon signage, BMX bikes and skateboards.
Image: Creams
Image: Creams
Image: Supplied
The move is part of a large expansion for Creams, which now has over 100 restaurants across the UK.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is the second Creams site for Manchester, building on the popularity of its Cheetham Hill cafe which first opened in 2017.
As well as Creams Cafe, Manchester Arndale is due to welcome another leading food and drink brand later to the centre later this year – although the exact details surrounding the offering are being kept firmly under wraps for now.
ADVERTISEMENT
The new arrivals add to Manchester Arndale’s recently expanded food and beverage offering, which has recently seen the arrival of fried chicken favourites Slim Chickens, as well as Kokoro, Tim Hortons and Pizza Luxe.
“We hope to announce further new lettings and leasing activity across the centre as we seek to maintain Manchester Arndale’s position as a premier retail and leisure destination in the UK.”
Othman Shoukat, managing director for Creams Café, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening in the iconic Manchester Arndale and we’re confident that Creams Cafe will be a very welcomed addition to the shopping mall’s already impressive line-up of food and beverage outlets.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: Supplied
“With one successful restaurant already operating in Cheetham Hill, we look forward to bringing our delicious desserts to even more of the Manchester community.”
Colin Flinn spokesperson for Manchester Arndale said: “We are delighted that lettings activity remains strong at Manchester Arndale, and we welcome our new arrivals to the centre as we continue to grow our F&B and leisure offering.
“We are also pleased to announce new lease renewals for Pizza Hut, Café Nero, and Dr Martins, as well as the upsizing by Pandora, as it highlights their commitment to – and faith in – the long-term performance of Manchester Arndale, recognising its place as a leading destination which continues to attract millions of visitors from across the North West and beyond.”
An opening date for Creams is yet to be announced. For now, you can visit the site in Cheetham Hill and keep up with them on social media here.
Feature image – Creams
News
Manchester Museum saves a ‘national treasure’ to ensure it stays in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum has made a stunning new addition to its natural history collections, and in the process has ensured a ‘national treasure’ stays in the UK.
Not long after claiming the coveted title of European Museum of the Year for 2025, Manchester Museum has done it again – this time working together with John Rylands Library to acquire Henry Dresser’s unique personal copy of his anthology A History of the Birds of Europe so that this ‘invaluable resource’ can remain in the UK for future generations.
The beautifully-illustrated collection of books provide an important historical record to help understand how and why bird populations have changed over time.
Dresser’s personal copy is heavily-annotated with personal notes and observations.
These books are deemed to be of ‘outstanding significance’, not only for scientific purposes but also for their aesthetic value, as they have also been illustrated by some of the leading wildlife artists of the day.
The volumes were recognised as a national treasure by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, which is supported by the Arts Council, and this meant that the Government placed a temporary export deferral on them to allow time for UK buyers to raise the funds to keep them in the country.
Brilliantly, the acquisition of these books reunites them with Dresser’s own bird specimens that are already cared for by Manchester Museum, including species such as the Slender-billed curlew, which is now believed to be extinct.
The now-extinct species’ presence in both Dresser’s beautifully-annotated volumes and the ornithological collections at Manchester Museum highlights the vital role that historical records play in tracking biodiversity loss over time to uncover the long-term impact of environmental change.
Manchester Museum has saved a ‘national treasure’ to ensure it stays in the UK / Credit: Manchester Museum
“Threats to the natural world and biodiversity have never been greater and while this anthology has historical value, it also speaks to the urgent issues of the present,” commented Esme Ward, who is the Director of Manchester Museum.
“These books are breathtakingly beautiful, and by bringing them together with natural history collections, we believe they will not only provide scientific benefit, but also capture the hearts of future ornithologists and conservationists.”
A History of the Birds of Europe will be officially unveiled at a private view on Friday 27 June, before being displayed to the public for the first time in Manchester Museum’s ‘Living Worlds’ gallery from Saturday 28 June 2025 right through until Sunday 25 January 2026.
Following this, the books will be made accessible to researchers, students, and the wider public at the John Rylands Library.
Featured Image – Chris Bull (via Manchester Museum)
News
Channel 4 to air exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater
Emily Sergeant
An exclusive new documentary taking an inside look at the the disappearance of Jay Slater is coming to Channel 4.
On the morning of 17 June 2024, 19-year-old Jay Slater – an apprentice bricklayer from the Lancashire town of Oswaldtwistle – disappeared on the island of Tenerife in Spain, after attempting to walk 14 hours back to his accommodation when there was no local taxi service available and no bus due for 90 minutes.
From then commenced one of the biggest missing persons cases in recent British history.
As the world’s media were following the story minute by minute last summer, producers at Channel 4 were in the incredibly-unique position where they had access to the Coronial process in Lancashire, and this has led to the exclusive documentary title The Disappearance of Jay Slater.
From Jay’s post-mortem to Jay’s inquest, the team have been with the family every step of the way over the last year, as they try and understand exactly what happened to Jay outside of the public gaze
Jay was ultimately pronounced dead on 15 July 2024 after Spanish police reported the discovery of a body in the vicinity of the area of interest, but before this discovery and eventual announcement, the internet became awash with public discourse, conspiracy theories, and more.
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is described as being ‘the family’s story’.
Channel 4 will air an exclusive new documentary about the disappearance and death of Lancashire teen Jay Slater / Credit: GoFundMe
The documentary is set to follow them as they search for answers about what happened to Jay, witnessing the conspiracy theories raging online and the subsequent horrific abuse they received as a family – which is an hourly onslaught that continues to this day.
These cameras were the only media in the world granted full access to film both Jay’s post-mortem and inside the church at his funeral.
But the broadcaster claims this documentary is not only the story of Jay’s tragedy, it’s also the story of ‘the new world we live in’ where so-called true crime armchair detectives run wild.
“The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture,” commented Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor, Rita Daniels, ahead of the documentary airing.
“We are so glad to be working on a sensitively handled exploration of the family’s experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief.
“The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell.”
Executive Producer Anna Hall added: “It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family, and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation. It is an unmonitored world where fake news runs rife, and this film shows the devastating impact this has had on one grieving family.”
The Disappearance of Jay Slater is expected to air on Channel 4 later this year, but no official dates have been confirmed as of yet, so keep your eyes peeled.
Georgina Pellant -
28th June 2022 
