Shopping

Inside Manchester Arndale’s new Flying Tiger shop full of beautiful bargains

Nearly everything will give you change from a tenner

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 22nd October 2022

One of the world’s coolest retailers has finally landed in Manchester, with the opening of our very first Flying Tiger.

The Danish variety store sells everything from kitchenware to stationery to toys to fancy dress to spices – and prices are unbelievably affordable.

We’re talking greetings cards from 50p, classic board games from £4, and genuinely beautiful plant pots for a fiver.

You can get a kids’ xylophone for £5 if you like them, or embarrass them by dressing them up as a bright orange pumpkin for Halloween for £8.

For crafty types, there’s a hot glue gun for £7, as well as balls of yarn, bags of googly eyes, and a paint-by-numbers kit (stocking filler sorted).

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There’s even a mini handheld sewing machine for just £6.

Outside Flying Tiger in the Arndale. Credit: The Manc Group
Fancy dress galore. Credit: The Manc Group

As if that’s not all cheap enough, there’s an actual clearance section, where prices are slashed and candle holders and picture frames are sold for as little as a quid.

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It’s an absolute dream for stocking up on gifts and trinkets without breaking the bank (which, given that cost-of-living nightmare, is perfect timing).

Shoppers are taken on an IKEA-like journey, with a clear one-way system zigzagging past row upon row of treats.

Click or swipe through the gallery below to see more from Flying Tiger

Halloween items at Flying Tiger
Kids’ toys
A handheld sewing machine
A wall of slippers
Kitchen gadgets
More kitchen items
A wall of spices

Need some giant marshmallows? They’ve got it. Novelty unicorn slippers? Yep, and there are dragon ones too. Desperate for some reading glasses? You can get them at Flying Tiger for £6.

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Mancs have been crying out for Flying Tiger to open a shop here for years – our mates in Sheffield and Leeds already have stores, with loads more dotted around the country (and 27 in London, naturally).

Disgrunted tweets have included this one: “WHY ISN’T THERE A FLYING TIGER STORE IN MANCHESTER it is the bane of my bloody life.”

And this one: “Manchester doesn’t have a flying tiger shop ??? Where the f*ck do you all buy nice bits for a bargain value ??? I’m cancelling the north and returning to the south immediately.”

Then once the news of its arrival was announced back in March, excited outbursts included: “a flying tiger is opening in manchester arndale gonna pee my pants.”

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And this: “this is the best thing ever, i was so sad about not having a flying tiger in manchester. literally the best shop ever.”

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But anyway, it’s here now, and taking up a unit on the Arndale’s lower mall near the new Paperchase.

Its opening coincides with news that the old Topshop unit will finally be back in use, with Clarks and Gilly Hicks both moving in.

Happy shopping!

Featured image: The Manc Group

Shopping

A premium car brand is opening up its first-ever UK city garage in Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Cupra showroom opening in Manchester city centre June 2025

Premium performance car brand, CUPRA, is set to open its first-ever UK city centre garage right here in Manchester next month.

It’s just their 12th British branch and will be one of their most impressive yet.

CUPRA, which primarily makes its models in Spain, is one of the fastest-growing manufacturers in Europe, especially in the performance market, and has recently launched in the likes of Mexico City and Sydney too.

Now set to open their latest location here in England this June, the new CUPRA space is set to be more than just your average garage/car showroom.

cupra cars manchester location
The CUPRA Formentor model (press shot via cupraofficial.co.uk)

Due to open up on St. Ann Street (Manchester M2 7LP) next to the city centre square of the same name, the premium dealer is promising more than just a space to show off their cars.

As per an official statement, it will be “a bold new destination that blends Mediterranean attitude with Manchester’s disruptive spirit.”

Detailing that they chose our home due to its “unrivalled cultural impact and creative energy”, they went on to describe Greater Manchester as a “high-impact cultural hub rooted in music, design, wellness, food, and electrifying performance, it’s designed to connect people, ideas, and communities.”

The press release goes on to explain that at the core of CUPRA’s Manchester launch will be their new ‘Counter Culture‘ calendar of immersive experiences and events, with this new venue looking to innovate when it comes to programming and collaborations with Manchester independents and more.

CUPRA have steadily been announcing their arrival in town via various special activations, but come 26 June, they’ll be here full-time.

Speaking about the launch, Marcus Gossen, CUPRA UK Brand Director, said: “Manchester was the natural destination for the latest CUPRA City Garage. The desire to continually evolve and transform is something we share with this great city, as well as its disruptive spirit.”

Having surpassed 800,000 cars sold worldwide and boasting big sponsorship deals with famous athletes like FC Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, not to mention being a leading partner of the rising Baller League competition, their presence in the UK is growing, and fast.

To mark the occasion here in 0161, a special launch event with live music, entertainment, as well as food and drink, will be taking place; the lineup is still yet to be announced.

Once again, CUPRA Manchester – their first UK city garage and showroom – opens in 2–14 St. Ann Street on Thursday, 26 June.

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

Featured Images — Press Shot (supplied)/Vid Mušič (via Pexels)/8000vueltas (via Flickr)

Shopping

A local indie fashion brand is cleaning tired old trainers while handing out free shoes and ice cream

Danny Jones Danny Jones

A Manchester-based fashion brand is looking to give back to the community with a wholesome new initiative that will see a charitable trainer cleaning service swapped for a brand-new pair of shoes and free ice cream.

Nope, this is not a scam or some kind of prank, just a local indie label doing some lovely for the community and an important a crucial UK non-profit.

In case you’ve not come across the name before, we’re talking about rising sneaker makers KayKrepz, who are behind the increasingly popular model known as the ‘Kezy’, available in a select few colours.

Sneaker heads may have already spotted a select few pairs out on the streets of Manchester, where the designer’s story begins, but we have a very strong feeling you won’t get many other opportunities to get your hands on a pair of these for free.

The ‘Kezy’ in Earth Green
And in Cream
A very fresh pair of creps, it has to be said – and who could say no to free shoes designed right here in Manchester? (Credit: Supplied)

Speaking to The Manc, creator Kezi told us that building a bit of a community and supporting the local area is just as important as growing the brand itself.

“I really wanted to have a shoe brand that people can afford to buy that are also still comfortable as well as look and feel nice, plus it’s a good way to gather unwanted items to give to Centrepoint.” We couldn’t agree more.

For anyone unfamiliar with Centrepoint, who have a big base here in Greater Manchester, they are a nationwide charity that combats rough sleeping and specialises in youth homelessness, in particular.

It goes without saying that collecting free articles of clothing is an integral part of their work.

So, with that in mind, Kezi and co will be holding ‘The Sweet Swap’, where those who attend can exchange their unwanted, old shoes for a free pair of KayKrepz AND a scoop of premium ice cream.

This is all in return for a free shoe cleaning service which will see those same trainers traded in, given some much-needed TLC, before being donated directly to Centrepoint. Love it.

We’ll back pretty much any small business trying to make it in our region, but it’s fair to say getting behind causes like these is especially easy.

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Including the new ‘Butterscotch’ model, the Kezy shoe is usually priced at £69.99, making it arguably one of the most affordable high-end, top-quality trainers on the market at the moment.

Naturally, there will only be a limited number of pairs available and shoes handed in must be of a good enough quality to be passed on via the charity; KayKrepz’s Street Swap scheme will be operating on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.

Taking place at All Saints Park (M15 6BW). You can reserve your limited free tickets right now from the event page HERE.

Just make sure to leave your name and shoe size when signing up.

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

Featured Images — KayKrepz (supplied)

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