Bury

This Greater Manchester house has the most amazing Halloween decorations

The greatest Halloween house we've ever seen.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 31st October 2022

A house in Greater Manchester has gone totally overboard with its Halloween decorations – and it’s absolutely brilliant.

The home in Prestwich has leant into the spooky occasion with its whole heart and really put our perfunctory pumpkin on the doorstep to shame.

The windows of the upstairs rooms flash and flicker like a slasher movie is being filmed in the bedrooms, while the downstairs glows a menacing orange colour.

There are monster heads jammed onto the spikes along the building’s railings in the front yard, and glowing pumpkin heads hanging beside the front door.

Ghoulish witches with tattered robes have also been hung in the windows, looming at people as they pass by.

There’s a different Halloween decoration placed in every square foot of the building.

A possessed monkey head guards one side of the front gate while a silver devil watches over the other side.

Read more: A hidden Christmas bar is opening in Manchester and it’s the most overwhelmingly festive thing ever

Spiders dangle above the front door and tiny ghosts uniformly line up along the windowsills.

The house on Gardner Road is always decorated to the nines for every occasion, even Valentine’s Day, spreading cheer to everyone who lives in Prestwich.

We can’t wait to see what they roll out for Christmas.

You can watch the full video on our Instagram page here.

Featured image: The Manc Group

Bury

A rising Manc musician is supporting a global popstar on tour in America

Danny Jones Danny Jones Elliot James Reay Bury singer supporting Benson Boone in America

Up-and-coming Greater Manchester musician Elliot James Reay, from just down the road in Bury, has just joined fellow rising solo artist and already established US superstar Benson Boone on his upcoming American tour.

Yes, a lad from Bury is opening for the bloke who belts out that ‘Beautiful Things’ tune that’s been stuck near the top of the charts for what feels like the last year.

Fittingly joining Boone for the US leg of his American Heart tour supporting his sophomore album of the same name, 23-year-old Elliot James Reay has already played a trio of shows warming up the crowds ahead of the headliner and is quickly gaining new fans across the pond.

Especially since his music harkens back to some of their most famous music icons of all time.

The youngster is still having to pinch himself at the mere notion of being on the road with such a big name so early in his career, posting on social media this week, “How do I explain this one to my friends back in Bury?

“A dream come true to be opening for Benson Boone in St Paul last night, I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to sing to you all and thank you for all the love you gave me!”

Roy Orbison-obsessed Raey – who also takes plenty of look and feel from the likes of Elvis and Billy Fury, among other old school, soulful American singers – has gone from releasing covers on YouTube to dropping his first-ever EP back in June and now playing full Stateside stadiums.

What a whirlwind journey it’s been for the local lad already.

The Manc songwriter and guitarist featured as one of our artists of the month last December, and we’re glad to see he’s only gone from strength to strength.

Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | December 2024

It’s fair to say that he’s matured a lot in the time since then, let alone the last 12 months or so, and booking a slot as a support act for as big as Benson Boone is right now is nothing short of huge.

We said late last year, and we’ll say it again: we see a bright future ahead for this talented young Macunian, and we wish him all the best for the dozen or so remaining US tour dates.

If you haven’t listened to his stuff before, you can get a little taste with his latest single HERE.

Or, if you want to take our advice, why not watch a great music video filmed around some very familiar city centre sites down below?

He’s certainly got his own style, even if it his heavily inspired by some of the greats.

Read more:

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures

Bury

Spooky steam trains will be back travelling through Greater Manchester this Halloween

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Spooky season will soon be on its way, 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 Ghost Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for ‘loads of spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around, and 2025 is expected to be no different – especially as there’s set to be ‘fresh twists and new surprises’ to celebrate ‘Year of the Bat’ this year.

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.

You’ll be greeted by legendary monster hunter, Dr Hurtz Von Driver, who’ll first share tales of his terrifying adventures before deciding if you have the right stuff to join the Monster Squad.

If you make it, you’ll then get to join Count Brian the Vampire, his trusted henchman Bogeye, and the rest of the team on a chilling adventure.

In this year’s event, the railway will be transformed with elaborate decorations and eerie lighting, and visitors are encouraged to ensure that ‘no ghouls fly under the radar’.

Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR

If you’ve got the guts for the ride of a lifetime, then you’ll first start with a haunted house walkthrough, all before you hop on a 60-minute spooky steam train ride through the Irwell Vale and back.

As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and, as it always is each year, screaming and singalongs are to be expected too – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.

Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day, 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 to early November, running from Thursday 30 October to Saturday 1 November – and tickets are now on sale starting from just £14 per person.

Read more:

Find out more and grab your tickets here.

Featured Image – ELR

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