Kids and AFOLs (adult fans of LEGO — and no, we haven’t made that term up) can go and get their hands on some free LEGO this weekend. Say no more, race you there.
But no, on a serious note, the beloved Danish toy brand is holding what they are calling ‘The Big LEGO Event‘ this Saturday, 21 October to celebrate this year’s October half-term holiday.
From 9am at Smyths Toys Superstores exclusively all around the UK, shops will be handing out free giveaway bags of LEGO mini-sets as well as holding fun in-store demonstrations.
The free sets that will be available on the day include themes such as NINJAGO, LEGO City, LEGO Dreamzz, LEGO Friends, Harry Potter and more.
LEGO® Fans get ready for The Big LEGO® Event! 😍
We have LEGO® giveaways at your local Smyths Toys Superstore, Saturday 21st October from 9am – while stocks last. ✨
Join the fun at our instore demo AND receive a FREE LEGO® giveaway. While stocks last. 😎
Smyths is the toy shop giving away free LEGO for the event.
Now obviously, you can’t just go in there and sweep up every block in sight; the event is limited to one free giveaway bag of LEGO per customer, but the promotion doesn’t stop there either.
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Alongside entertaining kids with fun and interactive demos by Smyths Toys in-store, giving the little ones a chance to build their ‘dream city’, LEGO themselves are cutting prices on numerous different sets available on their online store.
While some Big LEGO Event special offers are exclusive to specific stores, the discounted online sets include licensed products Marvel, Star Wars and Indiana Jones-themed sets.
In the region Greater Manchester, there is a total of six different Smyths locations, as well a few more close by in surrounding areas like Warrington.
You can find you’re nearest Symths Toys Superstore using their shop finder HERE.
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Speaking of which, there also happens to be a brand-new Manchester LEGO shop coming to the Trafford Centre very soon — and it promises to be a little bit different than others.
Featured Image — @dollyhaul (via Flickr)/Stockport Retail Park
Shopping
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Shopping
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Danny Jones -
19th October 2023 
