Kids & Family

Free animated projection to create dazzling display on major Salford building

This is illuminating news.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 9th January 2025

A staple Salford landmark is undergoing a huge transformation for two nights only as part of a free animated event suitable for all ages.

Next week, the former Swinton and Pendlebury Town Hall, which is now known as Salford Civic Centre, will look a little different to usual, as the historical building is hosting a special animated display which will be projected onto it.

All of the frontage, situated on Chorley Road, will be lit up with a dazzling display depicting a collection of imagery titled ‘Swinton Ark’.

Salford Civic Centre, where ‘Swinton Ark’ will be projected onto / Credit: Supplied

Some of the visuals that visitors can expect to see alongside the ark include infamous Swinton objects, moments and memories.

This project is really wholesome too, as artist Lowri Evans got involved to help create and fill the ark with meaningful objects that the locals requested.

Evans perched up a mini stand in Swinton and asked a wide range of locals the question: “If you could save one object, what would it be?”, and she received a huge amount of responses.

Residents of the local area will be able to see their suggestions of precious items and special trinkets loaded onto the ark to save from the flood.

Salford Civic Centre has a 70-metre facade, and with all the cargo that the community want to bring onto the boat, it’s a good thing the building is so wide.

Don’t worry about missing a thing either, as this 12-minute projection will run every 15 minutes for just over three hours across two nights on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January, meaning you can watch the projection until your heart’s content.

Artist Lowri Evans asking Swinton a very thought provoking question / Credit: Supplied

The whole display will be supported by some phenomenal sound and music arrangements too, and the animated screen will really come to life as it will also be 3D.

You can drop in at any point over the two days, and whether you watch the projection a thousand times over, or even just want to catch a glimpse of it, everyone is invited – and better yet, it’s free.

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Featured Image – Publicity Picture (Supplied)

Kids & Family

Relaunch date revealed for majorly revamped Altrincham Leisure Centre

Danny Jones Danny Jones Move Altrincham Leisure Centre reopening date confirmed

The opening date for the relaunch of Altrincham Leisure Centre, which recently underwent a serious revamp, has officially been announced.

Yes, Alty Leisure Centre – or rather, ‘move Altrincham’, as it will be known moving forward – is finally set to reopen in full following a significant rebrand and redevelopment.

Works on the local Trafford leisure centre and community hub actually first began way back in January 2023, but now, over two and a half years on from its closure for refurbishment, it’s just weeks away from being reopened to the public.

Now officially relaunching on 26 August, move Altrincham comes three years on from the opening of a fellow fitness facility in the borough, with move Urmston debuting in 2022.

Much like how the pandemic delayed the unveiling of their counterparts, it’s taken quite a while to complete the Altrincham Leisure Centre (ATC) overhaul.

The Urmston venue saw over £7 million pumped into resurrecting the old 1980s building back but in the case of ATC, more than £20m has been invested into this latest project overall.

Featuring a new, bigger and better fitness suite, state-of-the-art swimming pools, ‘The Cove Spa’ post-workout recovery and wellness assessment room; a brand-new purpose-built gymnastics hub, an expanded sports hall, as well as lots more, the place is set to be virtually unrecognisable.

As well as a rejigged changing room set-up, catering to men, women, groups and crucially inclusive, there’ll also be an enticing new cafe, featuring a resident in-house bakery from native artisans, MOST.

They really have put everything you could hope for into this major regeneration.

Local authorities have already dubbed this move Altrincham the “most sustainable sports facility” in the region, ahead of its opening later this month.

Sure to be a busy Alty outlet, Trafford Council has also confirmed that the building will use huge air source heat pumps and solar panels, saving upwards of 400 tonnes of carbon per year, with the remaining electricity imported off the grid pulled from a 100% green, renewable supply.

“More than 8,000 tonnes of carbon will be saved over the lifecycle of the pumps and panels, addressing the Council’s priority of addressing the climate crisis and becoming Carbon Neutral by 2038″, they go on to add.

Fixtures like this have been funded with support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the UK government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, with over £2m of funding secured to bring the scheme to life.

Even the ‘purer’ pools will cost less money and water to run, not to mention the bonus of safe storage for bikes, nearby travel links to the Bee Network and EV charging points in the car park.

A long time coming.
Credit: move Altrincham

Speaking on the impending opening date, Cllr Aidan Williams – Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change – beckoned the reborn leisure centre as a shining example of the borough’s commitment to crucial environmental change.

“move Altrincham is a great example of how we’re setting new standards in Trafford that will help the Council achieve its zero carbon goals and send a powerful message to our communities that we treat climate change seriously and are working hard to create a greener, cleaner future,” says Williams.

Once again, the new and improved Alty Leisure Centre opens its doors on Tuesday, 26 August, and we can’t wait to see what the neighbours make of it.

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Featured Images — move Altrincham (via Facebook/Press Shots)

Kids & Family

You can stay in an aircraft, old school bus, or even a helicopter at this glamping pod near Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Cool glamping spots near Greater Manchester

There’s a glamping retreat near Manchester offering extraordinary stays in an aircraft, helicopter, old school bus and more.

Over in Blackpool at Manor House Glamping, there is a range of static vehicles that you can have an overnight stay or two in, and according to the pictures on its website, there’s even a resident emu.

You can stay in various modes of transport, such as an aircraft, an iconic yellow school bus, a campervan or a military green truck.

Each has its own perks ranging from a hot tub, outdoor bath, fire pit, sandpit and more. Whatever type of getaway or retreat you’re looking for, you’ll find everything you need right here.

glamping blackpool
sleep in a school bus north west
Credit: Manor House Glamping

The most eye-catching of the company’s stays is certainly the aircraft, which has kept its original cockpit features, although it’s safe to say the interior has definitely had a makeover.

There’s no such thing as a bad in-flight experience with this guest house, as you can get cocktails delivered to the cockpit after taking a dip in your own personal hot tub – not too shabby, eh?

With the bright and unmissable yellow school bus, there are plenty of decorations that help continue this theme in the form of various American road signs, one of which acts as your headboard for the night.

If you’re after a more toned-down chance to unwind, you can step into a pale-white camper van with cosy cushions and a snug haystack-turned-sofa adorned with some gorgeous blankets.

Say less.

staycation in an aircraft
glamping north west
You can see the full gallery HERE.

And if you’re looking at going all out, then your Manor House Glamping accommodation of choice has to be the chopper, which was once used by the Royal Navy.

Worried this option might be a tad nippy? Fear not, because this helicopter is fully kitted out to suit your glamping needs with two fluffy-lined cushions on each seat of this vintage heli.

This glamping company has even been recommended by one of the most trusted hotel review sites around, Tripadvisor, which awarded the increasingly popular site with their coveted Travellers’ Choice Award earlier this year.

Besides a big screen and lawnchairs, you could argue there’s also some other alternative entertainment.

Read more:

Anyone who experiences cabin fever, fear not, because all the aircraft and vehicles are static and aren’t planning on making a long-haul journey anytime soon, you’ll still be able to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Manor House Glamping has a variety of vehicle-themed guest houses, both old and new, for you to stay in overnight and if you’re interested or after any further information.

You can find everything you need HERE.

If you fancy staying within the boundaries of Greater Manchester but still fancy getting the feel for a cockpit, though, there’s a very fun day out over at Barton’s City Airport.

You can now feel what it’s like to pilot a 747 at Barton Aerodrome’s incredible flight simulator
You could always consider this a test flight of sorts before potential glamping near Manchester.

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

Featured Images – Supplied via Manor House Glamping

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