Little Mancs who love LEGO can now enter a new competition and battle it out to become a ‘Mini Master Model Builder’.
Oh, and they’ll could also win a handsome £500 too, if they take the crown.
Is your child a LEGO super fan? Do they reckon they could build impressive LEGO creations in their sleep? Well, if they’re feeling brave enough and are ready to put their skills to the test, then you’ll want to take them down to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester, as the hunt is one for a talented youngster to be crowned the UK’s newest ‘Mini Master Model Builder’.
For only the second time ever, young LEGO fans will have the chance to let their imaginations run wild in a “bricktastic” competition, by building the most epic creation entirely out of LEGO bricks in an attempt to take home the coveted title.
Both LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in Manchester and Birmingham will put forward their best builder, and the two talented kids will then go head-to-head in an “intense” final challenge to determine the winner.
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Little Mancs who love LEGO can now compete to become a ‘Mini Master Model Builder’ / Credit: Supplied
Alec Posta, who is LEGO’s Global Master Model Builder, will be crowning the champion, while Luke Harrison, who is the current UK Mini Master Model Builder, will also be responsible for judging each of the entries in Manchester to find another little Manc worthy of taking over from his reign.
As well as claiming the title as UK’s new Mini Master Model Builder, the winner of this year’s competition will also receive £500 to spend in LEGOLAND Discovery Centre stores, alongside four Gold Merlin Annual Passes that are worth £956
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And their final build will also be displayed in all its glory at MINILAND until the end of 2024.
The runner-up won’t come away empty handed either, as they’ll receive four local annual passes to their nearest LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
All hopeful Mini Master Model Builders will need to do is get themselves on down to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester at Trafford Palazzo – which is next to the Trafford Centre – any weekend from Sunday 6 January right up until 4 February, and make their way to the dedicated ‘competition space’, where budding builders under the age of 18 will be able to create an awesome sculpture to submit as their entry.
Entry into the Mini Master Model Builder competition is included in the price of one standard admission ticket to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester.
All entries must be made by those under the age of 18, and only one entry per person can be made.
To find out more about the competition and how to enter, check out the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Kids & Family
Greater Manchester’s popular wizard-themed steam train rides are back next month
Emily Sergeant
The hugely popular wizard-themed steam train will be travelling through Greater Manchester once again next month.
February half term is right around the corner, and that means East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is back with a whole host of immersive events that give curious Mancs the chance to step back in time by hopping on one of the historic Pullman-style steam train carriages through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
Thomas the Tank Engine, dinosaur, Peppa Pig, and seasonal themed train rides are just a few of the events that have been entertaining families in the region over the last few years.
By far one of the most popular experiences on the lineup, however, has to be the chance to go on a ‘wizarding adventure’, where little Mancs can come together for a magical day of sharing spells and getting stuck into lots of magic-themed fun.
You can ride a wizard-themed steam train through Greater Manchester next month / Credit: ELR
Aspiring witches and wizards of all ages are invited to enrol in the spellbinding school of sorcery this February half term, as they take a “wacky and wonderful whistle stop tour” of the Wizard Academy and learn to become a master of mystery and magic during their interactive journey through the “Irwell Valley of wonders”.
During the enchanting 90-minute return trip that’s hauled by a genuine steam – and spell – powered train, you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations, and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl.
Aside from wizard-themed tasks, there’ll also be plenty of photo opportunities along the way.
The Wizarding Adventure is an “enchanting experience for all the family” / Credit: ELR
Food and drink will be available to tuck into from the café on Platform 3/4 at Bury Bolton Street Station, and from the Rawtenstall Buffet too.
It truly is an “enchanting experience” for the whole family.
The Wizarding Adventure is back this half term, with several special journeys lined-up next month on Wednesday 19 February, and tickets still available to get your hands on from £17.50 each.
Viral TikTok eatery Spudbros announce FIRST EVER Manchester site
Thomas Melia
Spudbros have announced plans for new sites and they’re bringing their TikTok famous jacket potatoes to Manchester for the first time ever.
The streets of Manchester are about to get a whole lot carbier as the much-acclaimed and well-loved Spudbros have just announced they’re planning to open a site right here in our town centre.
Already admired by thousands every day who queue up in Preston town centre, now the capital of the North is set to be the next venture for a Spudbros’ hot potato truck.
It’s more than guaranteed that this branch in our bustling city centre is destined to be a smash as street food is practically our middle name.
There’s also some big expectations to fill as online, you can see masses of people waiting in line to get a taste of carby goodness. If you can get us weather-complaining Northerners standing outside, you must be good.
In an Instagram post uploaded to their official Instagram account Jacob Nelson, who is one half of the viral potato loving Spudbros, revealed: “This is the first time that you guys are going to hear it but the Spudbros are franchising out”.
He explained: “We have got a few stores opening up around the UK, Manchester is one of them in the North West area.”
This exciting news of their thrilling potato truck launch came after some sad news for food lovers and industry workers alike as a popular burger chain shut all its sites.
Nelson also addressed, saying: “We just want to reach out to Almost Famous and anyone who works around Almost Famous and say there is an opportunity to come work for the Spudbros.”
Although they may be prioritising employees who worked for Almost Famous,he reminds potential workers that ‘the opportunity is there for anyone who wants to come and work with us’.
Spudbros are loved by millions online with more than three million followers and this isn’t their first rodeo branching outside of their home comforts in Preston.
Jacob and Harley Nelson, the masterminds and real life brothers behind Spudbros, also have a location in Soho, London, under the name ‘Spudbros Express’, which launched last month in December.
There is no timeframe for their Manchester potato truck however this location is probably set to open sometime this year, it’s almost like you can get a whiff of their gorgeous cheese and bean jackets already.
Emily Sergeant -
4th January 2024 
