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We’ve teamed up with a new creative hub to offer an exciting opportunity to a rising Manchester star

This chance is too good to pass up.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 18th February 2025

Truth be told, there are creative opportunities to be found all across Greater Manchester, but you won’t find many quite like this…

Content creation is an ever-growing industry and the demand for roles in this ever-evolving space is higher than ever; the problem is, lots of people are unsure of how exactly to get started.

That’s why anyone interested in the sector should be very excited about the latest development over in MediaCity – we certainly are, and that’s why we’ve teamed up with them for something special.

First of all, let’s do introductions: welcome to the ‘Content Studio’.

What is the Content Studio?

This brand new £600,000 state-of-the-art content creation space marks a huge milestone in MediaCity’s continuing journey as not just a Northern hub for digital and creative innovation, but a go-to national destination for future media.

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Designed to cater to the growing climate of cutting-edge content creation and offer a professional workspace at an accessible rate, the Content Studio provides a range of versatile creative spaces including light, dark and podcast studios, perfect for video production, castings, photoshoots and more.

Curated by University of Salford alumni, Ashley Salmon, the studio has been built to meet the needs of modern content creators, influencers, social media stars, brands and businesses of all kinds.

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Promising to offer both a dynamic and inspiring space where people can produce high-quality and innovative content while fostering a supportive creative community, this place aims to live up to Greater Manchester’s media reputation: industry-leading.

The Content Studio will also be made accessible to students spending time over in MediaCity and beyond, with a good chunk of the core production team comprised of recent graduates from Salford, giving them a valuable platform to showcase their skills and kickstart their careers.

Credit: Sophia J Carey (supplied)

Are you the next rising star?

As the previous video detailed, we’re working with MediaCity to identify their next ‘Creator in Residence’, an exclusive opportunity being made available to just one inventive individual this year.

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Put simply, we’re looking for Greater Manchester’s next rising star, an entrepreneur or someone who is looking to start out in the creative space. So what does one lucky winner get with the prize?

Well, all of this:

  • Three-month Content Studio residency worth over £1,000 at MediaCity
  • Free use of content creation space, subject to availability
  • £200 budget to decorate the space/purchase props
  • Equipment hire and tech support – cameras, lighting, audio, director and camera operator for a day (£2k value from Badger and Combes)
  • Access to three hours of mentorship with creative director Steve Moyler (1x a month or 1x 3h slot)
  • £150 Black card to spend with local independent food residents
  • Access to a ‘ride along’ with The Manc
  • Access to a social media crash course with The Manc

If this sounds like an opportunity you or someone you know might be interested in, you can fill out the form HERE to be in with a chance to access one of the most incredible creative opportunities anywhere in Greater Manchester.

Terms and conditions

By entering this competition, you agree to the terms set by MediaCity:

  • As the ‘Creator in Residence’ you will commit to at least 2.5 days in residence in the MediaCity Content Studio
  • As the winner you will agree to be profiled on MediaCity/The Manc platforms
  • Any social content produced in the Content Studio will tag #mediacitycontentstudio and #madeinmediacity
  • Must add @MediaCityUK as a collaborator on all content being published on socials
  • No cash equivalent will be given for the prize.

The deadline for application is Wednesday, 12 March, so don’t miss out. Good luck!

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Featured Images — Sophia J Carey (supplied)/The Manc Group

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The Manchester restaurant serving up the ‘world’s hottest curry’ for just a few days

Danny Jones Danny Jones Zouk chilli challenge world's hottest curry

City centre favourite Zouk is serving up ‘the world’s hottest curry’ again to celebrate National Chilli Day next week.

The popular tea bar and grill located on Chester Street just off Oxford Road is slap bang in the middle of student central and has hordes of patrons lining up day in, day out, to taste their incredible Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

Now, to celebrate every spicy-food lover’s favourite day, Zouk is putting on special, limited-time-only menu to cater to all you heat freaks and speaking collectively on The Manc‘s behalf (several of us having tried it), it’s no joke.

The World’s Hottest Curry will be available for five days from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February, with a challenge on Thursday 27 February with prizes to anyone who can finish the fiery karahi.

The dishes

When it came to coming up with the world’s hottest curry, Zouk didn’t have to look far for inspiration, they simply picked the world’s hottest chilli: the Carolina Reaper Chilli.

Combining the 1,569,000 Scoville scorcher of a chilli with their much-loved and already spicy chicken karahi and vegetable karahi recipes, they knew they were on a winner. You might have to sign a waiver to eat it but that’s all part of the fun, right?

Typically prepared in a wok and cooked over hot flames with tomatoes, ginger, garlic, peppercorns and cumin to create the sauce base, the karahi originates from the Northwest region of Pakistan and has a great flavour. Depending on how brave you’re feeling, you can have it as a kebab or a full curry.

Credit: Supplied

That being said, this version does contain dried Carolina Reapers so you might not taste much beyond the heat of the sun after a few seconds. While the chilli is deemed suitable for human consumption, even Zouk’s chefs have admitted to struggling with the dish. Gulp. So, what can you win?

The challenge and prizes

Us Brits love a good curry and we already know that plenty of you won’t be able to resist the urge to take on the Reaper Challenge simply out of pride, so we might as well just tell you what you’ll have to eat in order to win the prizes.

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

Finish the full Carolina Reaper Curry (either chicken or veg) in one sitting (max eating time 30 minutes and no helping from companions), Zouk will give you the meal for free.

PLUS, a £50 Zouk Gift Card so you can come back at a later date to try their full menu (including some less omg-spicy options).

You’ll also get a Zouk Ice Cream Sunday to help cool off afterwards. Trust us, you’ll need it.

Issuing a statement for National Chilli Day and the Reaper Challenge, owner Tayub Amjad said: “Our food is usually more about flavour than heat but it’s National Chilli Day, and we know our customers love this challenge.

“For those who complete the challenge, you still have chance to come back and dine on us at a future date, so you will still get to experience the real Zouk too.”

What you thinking, Manchester? Are you up for taking on the world’s hottest curry?

Find out more and make a booking HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — ZOUK/The Manc Group

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Grammy-winning disco legend Purple Disco Machine is heading to Manchester for a huge gig

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Grammy-winning disco legend Purple Disco Machine is heading to Manchester for a huge gig

Legendary German nu-disco and house producer Purple Disco Machine has a huge Manchester gig on the horizon, hot off the back of the release of his Paradise album. 

The Grammy Award-winning artist’s latest release is packed with collaborations from some of the biggest names in music, including Nile Rodgers, Metronomy, Jake Shears, Duke Dumont, Sophie and the Giants, Nothing But Thieves and more.

And now he’s bringing his unforgettable disco vibes to a dance floor on our home turf, with a massive gig lined up at O2 Victoria Warehouse. 

Set to take place on Friday 7 March, Purple Disco Machine will promise an incredible night of sizzling dance and house music, with support from Dan Shake, Oden & Fatzo Live!, and Urbi. 

His irresistible sound includes hits like Hypnotised, Dished (Male Stripper) and, never one to miss a trend, an addictive remix of I’m Just Ken from the Barbie soundtrack. 

His other remixes have included tracks for Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John, Mark Ronson, Calvin Harris, Fatboy Slim and Britney Spears. 

And of course there’s that Grammy win for his remix of Lizzo’s About Damn Time.

On Paradise, he’s released tonnes more addictive disco beats, notably Substitution with Julian Perretta, and Honey Boy with Nile Rodgers. 

And live, Purple Disco Machine has cut his teeth on the British festival circuit, including recently joining Fisher at his headline Gunnersbury Park show in London. 

Now a multi-platinum-selling artist, with more than two billion streams worldwide, the Paradise tour is set to take Manchester by storm. 

Purple Disco Machine will be at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on Friday 7 March – you can get tickets HERE. 

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Featured image: Supplied

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