Ex-rugby union and England international Phil Greening is opening a brand new elite training gym in Manchester city centre for those looking to take their fitness to the next level.
The former Gloucester, Wasps and Sale Sharks hooker was forced to retire back in 2005 due to injury but has been immersed in the world of coaching ever since, going on to coach the England 7s and US national teams among various other squads.
Now, fitness fanatics looking to ramp their training up a notch can take on the kind of programmes pro athletes and coaches run through every day at one of the most advanced training facilities you’ll find anywhere in Manchester.
Phil Greening’s new gym, The Athlete Factory Manchester, located on Quay Street in the city centre, promises elite training from the best of the best — if you can handle it, of course.
The Athlete Factory’s new Manchester gym, AF Urban (Credit: Supplied)
Branching out from its Chester HQ, AF Urban is the all-new elite training facility which promises over 100 years of combined team experience from some of the most high-performance coaches in the world and new standards not only in athletic-based personal training but sports performance equipment as well.
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Personally designed by the various elite coaches and manufactured exclusively for The Athlete Factory’s new Manc site, AF Urban (located just off Deansgate) provides its members with premium access to some of the most seasoned trainers anywhere in the UK.
Beyond the insights of Greening himself, coaches include Performance Director Paul Reed, who boasts numerous qualifications and more than 25 years of experience, as well as lead coach Stefan Gill, a fellow ex-pro, not to mention the Head of Sports Performance for the Manchester Giants basketball team.
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Oh, and he manages to squeeze in being a semi-pro boxer, so it’s no wonder the group has helped train the likes of Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett’ and more. Safe to say these lot won’t go easy on you.
Speaking in a press release, Greening said that “Manchester was a great, natural next step for us in terms of expansion. [It’s] is a vibrant, upcoming city and we are delighted to have put roots down here”.
Too right, Phil.
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He went on to add: “Our vision is to share our knowledge with everyone who is serious about their health, fitness or sport through world-class equipment, programming and coaching that is proven to get results. We can’t wait to get people through the doors and get training.”
And once you get through the doors, the new urban gym space is quite something.
The Athlete Factory’s ethos boils down to three core concepts: “Train, Build and Learn”. The idea is to give you the tools to go from a beginner to on the same level as the professional athletes and teams that the in-house coaches are accustomed to working with.
The new AF Urban elite training facility in The Annex Building, Quay Street, opens on 20 December, with taster sessions available from minute one. An unlimited access membership will set you back £190 for the month.
Classes will run from 06:30 to 18:45, Monday – Friday, with an extended, supplemental weekend schedule. You can see the full list of training and PT classes HERE and find out more information on their website.
Manchester’s new real-life Pac-Man experience is coming soon and you can grab early bird tickets
Danny Jones
Manchester already boasts a whole host of interactive games bars and activity destinations to boast, but we feel pretty confident in saying that there are very places on the planet where you can find a place to play a real-life version of Pac-Man.
First announced back in October and now scheduled to debut in March 2025, the Pac-Man Live Experience is the newest addition to Manchester’s growing entertainment scene and it’s promising to be a popular one too.
This brand-new life-sized immersive experience plunges players into the nostalgic world of the iconic video game we all know and love, only instead of using joysticks on an old-school arcade machine, they’ll physically sprint, dodge, and chomp their way through a maze.
Although the launch itself is still a few months away, the team behind this ingenious idea are getting ready for the frenzy and putting early bird tickets on sale ahead of opening day.
Credit: Concept Image (supplied)
So how does it work?
Good question: participants can gear up in a PAC vest and step into the role of the instantly recognisable yellow chomper, collecting power pellets, dodging the classic ghost characters – BLINKY, PINKY, INKY, and CLYDE – and racking up points on their way to victory.
Guided through an epic 12-level adventure, players will be led by the ‘PAC-MASTER’: a lively gameshow host who serves as commentator and referee; players will also be accompanied by immersive in-game effects like sound bites, lighting, and haptic (vibration) feedback to elevate the experience. Cool, right?
The striking Arcade Arena will feature two massive PAC-MAN courts projected onto the floor, while dynamic visuals transform the walls, fully immersing participants in the retro arcade universe. There’s no need for headsets either, so players can embark on a multi-sensory adventure, seamlessly blending the real world with augmented reality.
Created by Tom Lionetti-Maguire, the CEO and Founder of Little Lion Entertainment – the same team behind The Crystal Maze Live Experience, Tomb Raider, and Chaos Karts to the likes of London and more recently Manchester –
The whole thing has been brought to life in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment, lending the proper licensing to make the experience feel both fun and authentic. It’s the real deal.
Credit: Supplied
Early bird tickets for Pac-Man Live Manchester
If you’re not sold on playing a human-sized, real-life game of Pac-Man in a huge augmented-reality arena right here in Manchester then we don’t know what to tell you, to be honest – all we know is that we’ll be first in line when it arrives.
The Pac-Man Live Experience comes to the Arcade Arena on 22 March next year in line with the game’s 40th anniversary, and they’re inviting players of all ages and providing engaging gameplay for younger participants while delivering a nostalgic throwback that parents and grandparents will cherish.
Better yet, if you book during the early bird window, you can access discount ticket prices from just £25 per person too.
Early bird tickets go on sale at 12 noon today (Thursday, 21 November) – you can grab yours HERE.
Greater Manchester cinemas are screening loads of classic Christmas films throughout December
Emily Sergeant
Cinemas across the UK will be screening loads of classic festive films in the run-up to Christmas, and you can already book tickets.
With the nights drawing in, the temperatures dropping by the day, and the most wonderful time of the year now firmly in our sights, film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun in the run-up to the big day itself will soon be able to head on down to their nearest Greater Manchester cinema to catch a classic on the big screen.
Vue, Odeon, and The Light are among the cinema chains set to screen a handful of beloved Christmas films throughout December.
Although there may already be a TV channel showing Christmas films 24/7 now on air in the UK, if you fancy seeing the festivities in full screen instead, then you can watch showings of fan-favourites like Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, and more over the next few weeks.
Greater Manchester cinemas are screening loads of classic Christmas films throughout December / Credit: 20th Century Studios | Universal Pictures
You can also see seasonal screenings of live ballet, theatre, and concert performances too.
Undoubtably one of the highlights on the lineup this year, however, has to be The Polar Express, with several cinema chains scheduled to screen the 2004 animated Christmas gem to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release.
Starring Tom Hanks alongside a talented supporting cast of voice actors, The Polar Express is based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg and tells the story of a young boy who boards a powerful magical train to visit Santa Claus’ home on Christmas Eve, learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas along the way.
Elf, Home Alone, and Love Actually are among the films on the lineup / Credit: Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
Looking for a more intimate festive film experience this Christmas?
Well you can also get yourself down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, where a jam-packed lineup of classics will be screened in its very-own exclusive cinema over the next two months.
Here you can also complete your seasonal experience with festive-themed cocktails, popcorn, pick n mix, and a whole host of other treats too.
Danny Jones -
14th December 2022 
