Shopping

Massive queues form in Manchester Arndale with Beauty Bay giving out loads of freebies

They're handing out free skincare and make-up.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th September 2023

Popular skincare and make-up retailer Beauty Bay has parked up in the Manchester Arndale for the weekend, handing out loads of freebies.

There’s already a huge queue forming for the first day of its ‘Haul of Fame’ event, which will run until Sunday 1 October.

Shoppers can grab freebies including skincare and eyeshadow palettes from the pop-up space outside Next.

Beauty Bay has built three separate stations to interact with, showcasing some of the star brands sold on their website.

At the Sol de Janeiro section, you can smell their range of body mists, then vote for your favourite by placing a ball in the corresponding tube, to win a free sample.

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Sol de Janeiro is the brand behind the cult favourite moisturiser Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.

Beauty Bay’s own make-up brand, By Beauty Bay, is next, where you draw on the wall your hero beauty product and in exchange, receive one of their cult eyeshadow palettes.

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And finally, wildly popular American skincare brand Bubble Skincare – brought to the UK for the first time by Beauty Bay – is in situ with more free products.

Beauty Bay has a pop-up at Manchester Arndale this weekend
Beauty Bay has a pop-up at Manchester Arndale this weekend. Credit: The Manc Group
Beauty Bay’s Arndale pop-up showcases Sol De Janeiro, By Beauty Bay, and Bubble Cosmetics. Credit: The Manc Group
Brands include their own make-up range By Beauty Bay
Brands include their own make-up range By Beauty Bay. Credit: The Manc Group

Shoppers can spin the wheel to win a mini bottle, or the chance to play hook-a-duck with a bathtub filled with other items.

Beauty Bay is normally online-only with no physical stores, so their Arndale pop-up is a chance for shoppers to actually get to grips with their vast range of products.

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The pop-up is running in tandem today with the MCR Student Social, a massive event organised by Manchester Arndale and Manchester BID.

There’s live entertainment, competitions, games and experiences joining the huge discounts available all across the city centre.

There’ll be discounts of up to 30% off in more than 120 stores for students within the Manchester Arndale and across the city centre, including Levi’s, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Monki, JD, Mango, Superdry, Kick Game, Jack & Jones, Office and Schuh.

On top of that, hospitality venues including Urban Playground (where you can have a go at ITV’s hit show The Cube), Immersive Gamebox, Archie’s, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Hut and Barburrito will have up to 50% off.

You can visit the Beauty Bay pop-up in the Manchester Arndale until Sunday.

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Credit: The Manc Group

Shopping

First vendors confirmed Glossop Market Hall, including two indie Manc traders

Danny Jones Danny Jones First Glossop Market Hall traders confirmed

The first vendors for the upcoming Glossop Market Hall have been announced, and the lineup includes two beloved Greater Manchester independent businesses.

Better still, the third is another noteworthy name from the North West.

Glossop Market Hall is scheduled to launch later this year, setting up shop in the historic town hall complex, where the High Peak Borough Council, a retail shopping arcade and various other municipal buildings have stood in various different iterations for nearly well over a century.

With the Derbyshire town set to celebrate the opening of the newly revamped market hall, those behind the new Glossop attraction have now revealed the first three names set to take up residence there.

As you can see, the biggest names already signed on to cook from one of the six kitchens is a Manchester favourite food hall in its own right: Hello Oriental.

The Pan-Asian paradise not only has a subterranean space below Circle Square, but also at The Trafford Centre, as well as a dessert spin-off in Freight Island.

Indie trader number two comes in the form of B&V Trading, who are based at Stanley Square in Sale and specialise in eco-friendly, UK-made treats, toys and essentials for four-legged friends.

After proving a hit with the locals, their small stall at nearby Altrincham Market has grown to see them open up not just a second site in the leafy Cheshire suburbs of Knutsford back in 2022, but now boast a third location in neighbouring Macclesfield.

Speaking of Macc, local gin and whisky makers, Forest Distillery – based up at the famous Cat and Fiddle Inn pub towards the Peaks – they round out the first wave of regional businesses set to pop up in Glossop Market Hall (GMH) when it finally arrives this winter.

Credit: B&V Trading/Forest Distillery (via IG)/The Manc Eats

And once again, as the update on social media reads: “This is just the beginning”.

Natives, day-trippers and tourists from all over are bound to visit this place when it opens sometime in November (exact date still TBC), and with space not only for a dedicated bar, dining space and a coffee shop, but a total of 17 retail spaces, we can’t wait to see what comes next.

GMH becomes just the latest among a growing trend of food and drink halls popping up all over our part of the country, with virtually every Greater Manchester borough now boasting at least one of their own – or, in the city centre’s case, what feels like a dozen now.

Exhibit number… not sure, we’ve lost track at this point.

Plans lodged to turn Ducie Street Warehouse into huge food hall

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

Featured Images — High Peak Borough Council

Shopping

Northern Rail have announced their latest flash sale with train tickets available from just £2

Danny Jones Danny Jones Northern Rail train tickets flash sale

Finally, we’ve got some good news on the train lines once again, as Northern Rail has just announced the return of their fantastic flash sale, which sees literally millions of discounted tickets made available to the general public.

With the last promotion from Northern having delighted Brits up and down the country, the train company are once again offering affordable tickets, with prices starting from just £2.

The only catch is that you’ve got just a few days to make the most of the savings.

Confirming the flash sale across the Northern Assist social media accounts, the rail operator has now detailed both start and end dates, as well as the valid travel dates.

Sharing more details in a full press release, Northern has revealed that a whopping three MILLION £2 tickets are now up for grabs.

The 2025 Northern flash sale began at 8am this Tuesday, 30 September, with thousands of train journeys having already been booked.

A full list of all the routes with cut-price tickets on until Thursday, 2 October can be found HERE.

According to Northern, the top destinations with the most tickets available in Northern’s Flash Sale are as follows:

  • Manchester and Manchester Airport
  • Leeds
  • Bolton
  • Preston
  • Manchester Airport
  • Blackpool North
  • Shipley
  • Rochdale
  • Stockport
  • Bradford
  • Sheffield
  • Wigan Wallgate
  • Hebden Bridge
  • Blackburn
  • Meadowhall
  • Liverpool Lime Street
  • Skipton
  • Wilmslow
  • Doncaster
  • Ilkley
  • Hull
  • Wakefield Westgate

Although it remains an ever-essential network and the UK’s second-largest national rail service, the PR around Northern isn’t always positive when it comes to efficiency, quality and reliability.

Their estimated 2,650 daily lines across more than 500 stations often come under fire, especially in comparison to public transport down towards the capital.

Andy Burnham calls for ‘efficient and reliable’ public transport as he slams Northern rail services

With all that being said, the arrival of the latest Northern flash sale is a much-needed plus for the firm.

Commenting on this week’s flash sale, Northern’s commercial and customer director, Alex Hornby, said: “With three million tickets up for grabs, there’s something for everyone in Northern’s Flash Sale.

For our existing customers, it’s the perfect opportunity to visit somewhere new, and hopefully, we can encourage those who don’t currently use the train to give it a try.

We believe the Flash Sale will inspire everyone to explore everything our fantastic region has to offer, from bustling cities to the countryside and stunning coastlines. Customers will need to book early to avoid disappointment – once they’re gone, they’re gone!” You can grab your tickets online NOW.

Once again, the Northern Rail flash sale runs for just three days and closes this Thursday, 2 October, with tickets valid for travel strictly between Monday, 6 October and Friday, 24 October 2025. 

Tickets can be bought on Northern’s app, online, at ticket offices and on ticket machines in stations managed by Northern – please make sure to check terms and conditions.

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

Featured Images — Publicity picture/El Pollock (via Geograph)

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