There’s a Pokémon art trail and treasure hunt-style event taking over the Trafford Centre in just a few weeks time.
And the best part? It’s absolutely free to get involved with.
As part of a brand-new partnership with the Trafford Centre, the Pokémon Company International introduced its new interactive event at an artistically-inspired reveal over the weekend, and now, the company has announced that a special treasure hunt will take place at the shopping centre next month.
‘Pokémon: Art Through the Ages’ will take over the Trafford Centre from 17 October, and run right through until 13 November.
Those who head on down to the Stretford-based shopping mall will get to discover hidden art of the 151 Pokémon that were originally discovered in the Kanto region through an interactive trail – which event organisers say showcases “a wide variety of artistic techniques and styles” from across the ages.
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There’ll be cave paintings, stained glass, and more for families and Pokémon fans of all ages to enjoy free of charge.
Not only that, but there’ll also be 10 hidden oil paintings for visitors to seek out too, which each have a secret code on them to unscramble, and those who successfully unscramble the code will then get to get their hands on a free limited-edition, double-sided poster from GAME.
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Fans will even be able flex their creative skills at the Main Stage area in the Orient, where there’ll be special art workshops designed especially for kids.
If you fancy taking a break from art hunting, then you can meet Pikachu on the new Pokémon Bus instead and make the most all of the fantastic photo opportunities, or watch Pokémon movies and episodes of the Pokémon animated series, and grab a booklet full of additional activities to complete at your own leisure.
Even more goodies will also be up for grabs throughout the event too, including a certificate for finding all 151 Kanto Pokémon.
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Speaking ahead of the start of the new event, Peter Murphy – Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokémon Company International – said: “We are thrilled to announce such a creative partnership with Trafford Centre.
‘Pokémon: Art Through the Ages’ will take over the Trafford Centre from 17 October / Credit: Trafford Centre
“Exploration is an element which is key to Pokémon, and we can’t wait for kids and families to embark on their own journey to complete the Kanto Pokédex and see Pokémon depicted in such unique art styles.”
“When initially sourcing a suitable location for this fantastic event, the Pokémon team were inspired by the unique architecture that is iconic of Trafford Centre,” added Bruce Gardner – Brand Experience Director at Trafford Centre.
“We have worked collaboratively with Pokémon, our Partners such as Transport for Greater Manchester, Clear Channel and our retailers to ensure Pokémon fans can escape the ordinary and experience a unique, memorable and fun-filled day out.
“We can’t wait.”
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
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Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Emily Sergeant -
26th September 2022 
