Shopping

Sephora confirms opening date for new megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre

Big news for beauty fans.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 22nd April 2024

Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.

The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.

This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London, and its first trip up north.

And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.

Hoardings have appeared inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding, around a unit next to AllSaints.

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The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”

Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.

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Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.

Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.

“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”

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The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”

Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.

“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.

“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”

Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.

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“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”

One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”

Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”

And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Shopping

Tesco unveils 2024 Christmas meal deal lineup now in stores across UK

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Tesco has unveiled its full Christmas meal deal lineup for 2024, and it’s already hit the shelves across the UK now.

Spooky season is nearly on its way out, and it won’t be long before the most wonderful time of the year is here, which is why most of the UK’s major supermarkets have already begun stocking their shelves with Christmas food, drink, and gifts galore – especially after a new survey has revealed a fifth of Brits have already started doing their Christmas shopping.

As well as its full festive food lineup announced in early August, Tesco has now unveiled all the sandwiches and snacks forming part of its iconic lunchtime meal deal selection.

Eight new seasonal mains and sides have been launched this year, as well as some classics and returning fan favourites too.

Tesco has unveiled its Christmas meal deal lineup for 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group

The retailer says its food on-the-go experts have worked hard to bring a variety of festive flavours and great-quality ingredients together this year, with something on offer to cater to all tastes and preferences.

Now available in stores and online, and with Tesco Clubcard members paying just £3.60 or £5 for those looking to upgrade to a Premium Meal Deal, some of the options for mains you can choose from in 2024’s festive lineup include the new Christmas Cracking Currywurst Sub, the new Ho-Ho-Hog Wrap, and the new Festive Chicken, Bacon & Stuffing Mayo Baguette.

Other returning favourites include the Yuletide Half & Half Sandwich, the Jingle Brie Sandwich, and the absolute classic Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich.

The full range is now available in Tesco stores across the UK / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

For veggies and vegans, there’s a new Tesco Plant Chef Christmas Veg Fest Wrap, and for those who follow a gluten free diet, you can grab the Gluten Free Festive Chicken & Trimmings sandwich.

When it comes to snacks to accompany those mains, the festive Mini Pork Pies and Pig in Blanket Sausage Rolls are returning to the lineup this year, alongside some delicious newbies like the Mini Christmas Bangers with Gravy Mayo Dip, and the Christmassy Chicken Bites with Festive Cranberry Dip.

Read more:

The Christmas Meal Deal range is now available in Tesco stores across the UK, and there’s millions of combinations to try.

Featured Image – Supplied

Shopping

10 of the best and fanciest advent calendars on sale in Selfridges

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson 10 of the best and fanciest advent calendars on sale in Selfridges

The rise in luxury advent calendars in the last few years has been remarkable – and nowhere does them better than Selfridges.

Gone are the days where we were happy with cheap chocolate behind a foil door.

Nowadays one of the greatest thrills of the festive season is opening a tiny present every day, whether it’s a makeup product, a flavour of tea, a pair of socks or whatever else has been stuffed into an advent calendar.

Selfridges own beauty advent calendar, which is stuffed with more than £1000 worth of products, has already sold out for this year.

But the department store has plenty more options for you to choose from.

Read on to find 10 of the fanciest, most luxurious, most exciting advent calendars on sale this winter.

Mince pies

A mince pie advent calendar in Selfridges. Credit: The Manc Group
A mince pie advent calendar in Selfridges. Credit: The Manc Group

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without mince pies, and if you love to start stuffing your face with them as soon as the calendar hits December, then this calendar is the one for you.

The Selfridges exclusive advent calendar has loads of different flavoured mince pies hiding behind every door, including classic, citrus, almond and chocolate.

Then there’s a mini Meg Rivers Christmas cake waiting behind door number 25.

It’s £39.99 and available HERE.

Penhaligons

Penhaligons fragrance advent calendar
Penhaligons fragrance advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group

This beautiful advent calendar from proudly British fragrance brand Penhaligon’s is another Selfridges exclusive.

Inside you’ll find a mix of their products, including a Christmas-scented candle, eau de parfums, body lotions, body wash, and hand cream.

And it’s all presented in a beautiful bakery-style stack of boxes.

It’s £425 and available HERE.

Missoma

Jewellery brand Missoma has an advent calendar in Selfridges. Credit: The Manc Group
Jewellery brand Missoma has an advent calendar in Selfridges. Credit: The Manc Group

One of the world’s coolest jewellery brands is on the advent calendar train this year.

Missoma’s offering is presented in a gorgeous blue jewellery box, and contains £827-worth of its popular gold jewellery.

That includes hoop earrings, stud earrings, ear cuffs, bracelets, and necklaces.

This one is £395 and on sale HERE.

Lego

One for the big kids (or the actual kids) now – an advent calendar full of Lego. How cute!

There are a few different themes to choose from, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Spider Man, with a different minifigure to open every single day.

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It’s just £30 and available HERE.

MAC

MAC's Selfridges exclusive advent calendar has loads of hit products in it. Credit: The Manc Group
MAC’s Selfridges exclusive advent calendar has loads of hit products in it. Credit: The Manc Group

Cult make-up brand MAC has picked Selfridges as an exclusive stockist for its Gift of Gold 2024 advent calendar.

Products inside this giant festive box include some of their most celebrated products, including the Fix+ Original setting spray, matte and sheer-shine lipsticks in a range of shades, lip gloss, skincare, eye shadows and brow products.

It’s £180 but you get an unbelievable £445-worth of stuff for that. Grab yours HERE.

Diptyque

Diptyque has a 2024 advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group
Diptyque has a 2024 advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group

Another very fancy advent calendar is this one from Diptyque, with 25 days of scents to discover. Scentsational, you might say.

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Candles make up the bulk of this advent calendar, including their seasonal specials like pine tree, berries and wood fire.

But you’ll also get refillable solid perfumes, eau de parfums, soaps, body lotions and even a set of decorations.

It’s £390 and on sale HERE.

Bonne Maman Jam

The Bonne Maman Jam advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group
The Bonne Maman Jam advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group

What could possibly be more wholesome than starting every day of December with a different jam or spread?!

Bonne Maman – that brand with the iconic red checkered lids – has an advent calendar that will do just that.

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It’ll also look super charming on display in your house.

This one’s £34.99 and you can shop it HERE.

Posh malt balls

Selfridges' own malt ball advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group
Selfridges’ own malt ball advent calendar. Credit: The Manc Group

Sometimes you just can’t beat a classic chocolate-filled advent calendar, and Selfridges has their own that should hit the spot.

This pretty green polka-dot box is filled with different flavours of malt chocolate balls, including blonde, salted caramel, orange, and cookies and cream.

It’s £14.99 HERE.

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Gin

A gin advent calendar for 2024. Credit: The Manc Group
A gin advent calendar for 2024. Credit: The Manc Group

A grown-up one from the Selfridges advent calendars now – this Drinks By The Dram one is packed full of gin. Fun!

You’ll get a different wax-sealed dram of different flavoured gin for every day that you open your advent calendar.

It’s £89.99 HERE.

Books

Credit: The Manc Group

The most wholesome advent calendar on the whole list is this one – the Little People Big Dreams calendar, where each day unlocks a new mini book.

Inside each envelope, children will find stories about inspirational people from across the world, from groundbreaking musician Elton John and eco hero Steve Irwin, to freedom-fighter Martin Luther King and visionary artist Frida Kahlo.

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How sweet?!

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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