A major new entertainment attraction in Greater Manchester is recruiting a pint-sized CEO – that’s Chief Excitement Officer to you.
Oxygen Activeplay is set to open at MediaCity next month, filled with 24 trampolines, loads of inflatables, a giant air bag jump and an indoor aerial Sky Rider.
Ahead of its February launch, the state-of-the-art venue is on the hunt for someone to take on the ‘most fun job in Manchester’, testing out all the attractions inside and overseeing excitement levels.
The mini-CEO role will be offered to an outgoing and creative candidate who must be aged between six and 12 years old.
Once Oxygen Activeplay has found its Chief Excitement Officer, the work can begin…
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Listed responsibilities in the spoof job advert include auditing the bounce-ability of 24 epic trampolines, assessing the Sky Rider’s sky-high feeling, evaluating the energy of Oxygen’s signature Excite Tunnel, and inspecting the floating on-air style cushioning of the mega-airbag.
The successful CEO will also be testing out the ‘fun factor’ of the interactive Strike Arena, calculating the amount of balance needed to cross the high ropes course, and delivering an excitement briefing to Oxygen’s Hero Crew to prepare for the opening.
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They’ll also need to evaluate the tastiness of the cafe’s menu on site, including the slushies.
Essential experience for the role includes ‘a proven track record of playing games, trying new things, and most importantly knowing how to have fun’.
Oxygen MediaCity is recruiting a Chief Excitement Officer – and they must be an actual child. Credit: Supplied, Jamie McPhilimey
The CEO’s first official duty will be to visit Oxygen Activeplay before it officially opens its doors to review the facility alongside Oxygen’s other CEO, Stephen Wilson.
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Then they’ll be hitting the streets to quiz Mancs on how much they really know about ‘BIG-TIME fun’, before cutting the ribbon to the new attraction in MediaCity.
The successful Chief Excitement Officer will receive a salary in the form of an annual bounce pass worth over £600 for them and their family, plus the chance to host their next birthday party at the park.
And they’ll be given a full written reference for their CV, making them the only child in the UK to hold the coveted letters of ‘CEO’.
Stephen Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Oxygen Activeplay, said: “I’m really looking forward to joining forces with another CEO and hearing their professional input on peak playing protocols to help maximise BIG-TIME Fun.”
Oxygen Activeplay is opening at MediaCity this year. Credit: Supplied
“With Oxygen at MediaCity being our newest park, we’re keen to amplify the excitement levels, so bringing in a professional was the logical step. If you think you’re the best at having fun and bringing the excitement, then we want to hear from you!”
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Peta Young, People Director at Oxygen Activeplay, said: “Recruiting for a role as important as the Chief Excitement Officer is a really big deal and we want to find the bubbliest and bounciest Mancunian to join our team, so we’d like to encourage as many people as possible to apply for the chance to be Oxygen at MediaCity’s CEO.”
To apply, the aspiring CEO should get their parent or guardian to help them send in a video explaining why they believe they’re the most qualified for the job, which can be submitted HERE.
The candidate must be available for official CEO duties on the 14 February evening or 15nFebruary morning, and Saturday 8 or Sunday 9 day time. They must also be available on the evening of Thursday 6 March to cut the ribbon at the VIP opening celebration.
Oxygen Activeplay is set to open its 10th Oxygen park at Quayside, MediaCity in Manchester in February 2025 – find out more HERE.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 27 July – 2 August 2026
Emily Sergeant
It’s time to make the most of the last of July, as August will be here before we know it.
The school summer holidays are well underway and a new month will be soon, so that means there’s loads of things happening across Greater Manchester these next few weeks. If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do, no worries, as we’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Summer in Space
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 27 July – onwards
Summer in Space / Credit: Science Museum Group
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme and it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with these next six weeks.
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser.
Find out more and book tickets for your visit here.
Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.
Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme has now launched – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.
Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.
Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.
On a budget and need somewhere to take the kids to eat for £1 or even FREE over the summer holidays?
In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing and so are the school summer holidays.
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If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.
Did you see that Forbici has been named one of the best pizzas in the world?
That’s right – a pizzeria with restaurants in Manchester and Sheffield has been named not just the best in the city, but in the top 100 globally. Forbici won big at the The Best Pizza Awards last month, so we popped in to hang out with master baker Davide Argentino and learn all his secrets.
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It’s all about slow-fermented Biga pizza dough, proper Italian ingredients, and cutting that puffed-up crust with scissors.
National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails
North West
Monday 27 July – onwards
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National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails / Credit: James Dobson | Annapurna Mellor
National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up for an exclusive trading card game and immersive trail.
The partnership is set to bring together the places the National Trust cares for and Pokémon’s spirit of play and discovery.
Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are going to be running throughout summer at 14 National Trust places nationwide, combining ‘imaginative play’ with ‘gentle physical activity’ inspired by Mega Evolution Pokémon.
Find out where to get involved and book tickets here.
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Forest Tubing
Zip World Manchester
Monday 27 July – onwards
Forest Tubing / Credit: Supplied
Thrill seekers, this one’s for you – as Zip World Manchester has launched its new Forest Tubing experience, and it’s bringing the UK’s longest outdoor tubing slide is coming to Heaton Park.
The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure gives visitors the chance to soar along two slides, winding through woodland at one of the largest parks in the North West.
Suitable for children aged four and above, visitors can book an hour-long session – with unlimited rides during that time slot – and either ride solo, or share the experience with fellow adventurers.
Manchester’s biggest exhibition of local artists is back again for the summer.
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Taking place every two years, Manchester Open is a celebration of local talent, showcasing the work of 420 artists inside the gallery space over at HOME. The exhibition includes work from artists in all media formats who have been selected from each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, ranging in age from four to 80 years old.
Oh, and the whole thing is completely free to visit. Find out more about the return of this incredible exhibition here.
Sale has a new bistro and it’s already making moves on the foodie scene in this suburb.
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Blossom Bistro covers everything from colourful brunch plates like their steak and eggs or hot honey halloumi, to tapas style sharers, fully-loaded gyros bowls, and even a whole patisserie fridge filled to the brim with some insane sweet treats.
With an impressive drinks menu to match too, and live music on every Friday and Saturday, it’s a proper vibe.
This newcomer hit the headlines because it had a live parrot in the restaurant… but now that Rio’s been rehomed, it seems only right to show off Gardens properly.
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It’s a beautiful new restaurant and lounge, perched right on the banks of the River Irwell, serving a huge menu of Mediterranean brunches, grills, mocktails, and more.
If you like your brunches hearty and spicy, and your dinners very meaty, you’re going to love this spot.
We have been screaming out for more bagel spots in the city, and finally, someone has heard us.
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This is Milo Bagels – serving up stacked bagel butties, open ‘tartine’ sandwiches, and the most incredible French crullers (kind of like a doughnut), that hit that sweet and salty spot just right.
Ran by partners Lewis and Frank, with vast experience in the Manchester hospitality sector already, we just knew this was going to be a smash – and it absolutely is.
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GRUB On The Docks
MediaCity
Tuesday 28 July – onwards
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GRUB On The Docks / Credit: Supplied
GRUB On The Docks has returned for the summer.
MediaCity’s waterfront site has been transformed into a vibrant open-air destination built for warm weather and big moments across the season, as GRUB On The Docks returns.
Running across the summer months, you can expect some of Greater Manchester’s best street food traders to be serving up global flavours and summer-ready drinks, alongside live music, DJs, and just an all round laid-back atmosphere turning daytime hangouts into evening sessions.
One of the UK’s biggest events in skating is hitting the city this week.
Ramp on the Roof is taking over the rooftop at Depot Mayfield later this week, bringing with it four days of world-class competition, live music, workshops, skate demonstrations, banging food, and so much more.
You can catch Ramp on the Roof from 30 July to 2 August across their four-day skate event.
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Fancy a wholesome summer activity?
It’s strawberry season, and Kenyon Hall Farm has officially opened up its strawberry fields (plus plenty of other pick-your-own produce) for the season for you to frolic amongst, with loads of summer treats in its cafe and award-winning farm shop too.
Strawberries have been growing at Kenyon Hall Farm for nearly 50 years now, and it’s proven as popular ever since.
Did you know you can visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer?
For the past three years running now, Chester Zoo has officially been named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews, and now this summer, you’ll get to see exactly what makes it such a special place worth visiting for a cut price, as £10 tickets are now available to book for a limited time only.
With the offer only applicable to afternoons this summer, Afternoon Tickets allow entry to Chester Zoo from 2pm onwards – with the last entry being one-hour before it closes.
You can visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer / Credit: Chester Zoo
Without this offer, standard admission tickets to Chester Zoo usually cost up to £38 for adults, £37 for students, and £28 for children, all including a 10% donation to the zoo’s conservation efforts, so it really is worth making the most of these limited-time £10 tickets while you can.
Find out more and book your tickets in advance here.
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Or did you know that seven Manchester green spaces have been named some of the best in the UK?
Once again, seven of our city’s green spaces – including parks and cemeteries – have been named some of the best the UK has to offer. That’s because leading environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, has handed out its coveted Green Flag Awards, which recognise accessible green spaces that set ‘an international benchmark for management’.
The awards shed light on the groups, volunteers, and staff who devote themselves year-round to the maintenance and upkeep of these areas.
Read more about this incredible honour and find out which green spaces have been chosen here.
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Stuck for somewhere to have a bite to eat?
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in June, so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new in July, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too.
Featured Image – Artem Kniaz (via Unsplash) | The Manc Group
Kids & Family
A new interactive VR space experience by the Smithsonian is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Working in partnership with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, a new immersive space experience is being brought to life by virtual reality (VR), and it’s coming to Manchester.
You won’t find many other things like this in the entire UK, let alone the North West.
Developed in collaboration with the world-renowned Observatory (SAO) itself, next month, our city is set to take people on a ‘journey through the cosmos’ like never before.
Having already stunned crowds down in London, the ‘Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience’ is coming to Manchester for the very first time; here’s a quick glimpse…
Popping up in an otherwise unsuspecting corner of the Northern Quarter, the Smithsonian’s Starstruck exhibition and interactive display is a must-not-miss this August.
Allowing visitors to travel far beyond Earth through the medium of VR goggles, you’ll be able to explore distant galaxies, witness the life cycle of stars, and witness everything from exoplanets, burning suns, even black holes up close and personal.
It’s also worth noting that this has been brought to life using real astronomical data and with help from experts working at the leading science, astronomy and astrophysics centre.
During the experience, Mancs will be transported via the power of humanity’s famous observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb, the Chandra X‑ray and more, allowing them to not just see and hear but almost feel these far-flung phenomena like never before.
Besides visiting these various state-of-the-art institutions individually, there’s virtually no other exhibit that offers this kind of access – pardon the pun.
Presented by the award-winning and increasingly popular Fever Events, each VR session is set to last roughly 40 minutes, serving as a great family day out, couples date, or solo experience; and trust us, you’re bound to get lost in time AND space. Ok, that pun we definitely meant.
Credit: Fever Originals (supplied)
Speaking ahead of its arrival, Fever’s Global Director of Production, Alex Winterbottom, said in a statement: “We’re proud to have developed this new immersive experience in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), the largest astrophysics research centre on the planet.
“This partnership has enabled us to ensure scientific accuracy down to the smallest detail to make the observatory’s incredible research within reach to audiences in Manchester.
“Bringing Starstruck to the Science Museum highlights the project’s ability to educate and engage visitors of all ages, from children to adults, while remaining highly entertaining.”
Starstruck by the Smithsonian lands at Transmission House on Tib Street on Thursday, 6 August, and with tickets starting from just £10.50 for children, students and over 60s, it’s a no-brainer.
Grab yours now while you can right HERE and check out the latest trailer down below.
Daisy Jackson -
24th January 2025 
