The Corn Exchange is transforming from a food hall, bar and leisure venue to a festive gift shop for one week only and there are some serious gems on offer.
While the cornerstone of Exchange Square is best known for its numerous restaurants, bars and leisure sites, the likes of Salvi’s have been selling produce and pantry items from its glamorous shopfront for some time now.
With that in mind, the rest of the courtyard is joining in for a limited time only this holiday season, with various restaurants offering festive specials and vouchers, not to mention a new pop-up Christmas gift shop courtesy of Forever Manchester.
Here’s how you’ll find it and everything else the Corn Exchange has on offer this week:
The popular Manchester-themed gift and tourist shop that stocks everything from custom prints by local artists, to hand-crafted jewellery and everything in between, this place specialises in all things Manc.
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Setting up a satellite shop from the Cross Street site, their new festive pop-up at the back of the Corn Exchange on Cathedral Gardens stocks iconic Stanley Chow coasters, posters and porcelain, Joy Division-inspired themes by Bee Mancunian, books, tote bags and much, much more.
As alluded to already, Salvi’s Corn Exchange site has always stocked plenty of fresh produce, pantry items and seasonal items. Better still, there have plenty of great stocking fillers available.
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Whether it’s a limited edition Dolce & Gabbana panettone, festive hampers full of the best olive oil, pasta, and vinegar or even just a nice bottle of wine, they’ll make a perfect addition to your Christmas shopping.
The Corn Exchange isn’t all about bars and restaurants, there are also plenty of activities to get stuck into all year round and one of those is a Manc favourite: Sixes Cricket.
With vouchers starting from £25, you can help give the gift of a virtual cricket game or day at the batting cages, or simply put some money towards the food and drink. It’s a good day out and better than the bog-standard socks and deodorant set we know you’re debating as you do every year.
Another popular activity in this leisure venue are the escape rooms courtesy of Escape Hunt Manchester. It’s sure to have you arguing with friends and family but it’s also a bloody good laugh.
Like with Sixes, you can grab gift vouchers starting from £20 for those still left to cross out on your Christmas shopping list — just remember, they may invite you along, so make sure it’s someone you can tolerate in small spaces for a prolonged period of time.
This one is for beauty fans and those whole like a bit of glamour in their life. The Charlotte Tilbury Masterclass hosted in Banyan Bar & Kitchen is a limited-time-only experience on 3 January and 24 January, so you’ll have to be quick.
This one will set you back £55 but that figure not only includes a taste of some of the most high-end make-up on the market, but it also includes welcome drinks, food, a gift bag and £30 voucher for the recipient to spend on the evening as they see fit. We all deserve a posh night every now and again.
Just next door, popular Indian street food chain Mowgli isn’t just serving up some absolutely sensational dishes, they’re also giving you the tools to make them yourself.
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The Mowgli Cook Books have been flying off the shelves ever since they were first published and you can give your loved ones the secrets to this wonderful food for Christmas at a discount. Might buy one for ourselves while we’re at it.
One of the things we love about Mowgli is their fun-sized tiffin boxes and if you’re looking for something a neat little package to take away and hand gift someone with a sweet tooth this Christmas, you won’t go far wrong with Croyaki Tea.
This bubble tea and dessert bar has become a cult favourite in Manchester and, lucky for you, you can grab a box of their colourful and flavoursome macarons for just £9. That’s pudding for Christmas day sorted, though we wouldn’t encourage sharing — these little guys are too good.
Last but certainly by no means least, another one of our city-centre favourites: Tampopo. The Pan Asian spot specialising in street food is packed virtually all week round across its multiple Manchester sites, but you can get exclusive access behind the scenes this Christmas.
You can even play it safe and simply buy vouchers for their in-house hotel Roomzzz and the Corn Exchange in general; they once again start from £20 but you can set the amount yourself.
Check out the full list of what the Corn Exchange Christmas gift shop has to offer HERE.
And remember, the Forever Manchester gift shop pop-up is only there until Sunday, 18 December, so be sure to stop there while you still can.
National Trust’s popular Manchester blossom trail returns with dozens of Bloomtown events this spring
Emily Sergeant
The blossoms are blooming everywhere you look, and the National Trust’s popular Bloomtown programme is back once again.
Each spring, the most beautiful blossom covers the UK in swathes of pink and white.
From ornamental magnolias in gardens to hawthorn scattered across the countryside, you really don’t have to go far to experience the beauty of this season, as there’s plenty of blossom to discover right on our doorstep in Greater Manchester.
Whether you’re walking through the city centre on your way to work, enjoying a spot of lunch in the park, or going on a little local adventure with your family, the National Trust’s interactive Bloomtown map is filled with more than 50 of the best places to see blossom – with trails that will take you on a journey through several floral hotspots.
You can follow the Bloomtown Trail everywhere from Manchester city centre, to Salford, Trafford, Rochdale, and Stockport, or get creative and use the map to explore and create your very-own route.
The National Trust’s popular Manchester blossom and Bloomtown trail has returned this spring / Credit: The Manc Group
That’s not all either, as the National Trust has also organised a whole host of themed events and activities to help you appreciate the blossoms in all their glory.
You can get involved in everything from walks and bike rides, to poetry, dance, storytelling, creative workshops, and so much more at hotspots like Castlefield Viaduct, Dunham Massey, and Lyme Park.
Bee Pedal Ready are hosting a series of Bloomtown bike rides – including one this weekend (Saturday 25 April, followed by others in May) – where you can bring your own bike or borrow one for free and explore some of Manchester’s best blossom-lined routes.
A special Blossom-themed parkrun will take place at Heaton Park next weekend (Saturday 2 May), or there’s also a hands-on ‘blossomify your kit’ workshop at the park’s Lakeside Cafe this Saturday (25 April) morning too.
One of the most creative events on the lineup has to be the poetry and writing walks through the city’s pocket parks and green spaces, where you’ll be given a related writing prompt at each blossom stop.
First timers and experienced poets alike are welcome of the event on late May bank holiday Monday (25 May).
Bloomtown then ends in a finale weekend with dance performances and music created from the electrical signals of plants on Saturday 30 May at Castlefield Viaduct (booking required), as well as a free celebration for all ages on Sunday 31 May at The Whitworth Art Gallery – featuring blossom-themed storytelling, arts and crafts, bike rides, free books, drumming, dance, and more.
The Bloomtown programme is underway until 31 May, and you can find out more about all the themed events and book your tickets on the National Trust website here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Thousands of children in the North West have got involved in the UK’s biggest-ever Schools Cricket Day
Daisy Jackson
History has been made today, with thousands of children in schools across the North West taking part in a record-breaking Schools Cricket Day.
The event has coincided with the 50-day countdown to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will take over the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground this summer.
In Lancashire and Greater Manchester, around 14,500 children from 83 schools picked up a bat and ball as part of the event, the largest single-day cricket participation event in UK history.
It marks a major milestone on the road to this summer’s tournament, which will kick off at Edgbaston on 12 June before heading to Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground for four fixtures from 13 June.
There’s been everything from first-time batting and bowling in playgrounds to competitive matches on sports fields, as schools across the country catch the spirit of the game.
And that’s included 130 children from Kings Road Primary School enjoying a dedicated session at Old Trafford’s Indoor Cricket Centre alongside World Cup Winner and former England star, Alex Hartley.
Alongside lessons and activities, all Lancashire Cricket Foundation (LCF) staff supported additional events, from games and activities to assemblies, taking place across the region.
School children take part in an ICC Schools Cricket day at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester. Credit: Dave Thompson/Route One Photography
Big names from the world of cricket, including Heather Knight OBE, Lydia Greenway OBE and Hampshire captain Georgia Adams also joined school events in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup host cities.
Australian international and current player for Yorkshire women’s, Jess Jonassen, supporting a cricket session at Morley Cricket Club over in Leeds.
Schools Cricket Day is part of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s ambitions to use the tournament to inspire the next generation of girls to play cricket.
This year alone, through various initiatives and programmes, the ECB is aiming to see 500,000 women and girls playing cricket, 300 women taking up key leadership roles within the game’s administration, and 500 Champions of Change created as part of the Young Cricket Collective, which will empower young girls to volunteer and make change at their local cricket clubs.
The day also featured bespoke resources and games created by the ICC’s global charity partner, UNICEF, through its “Rights in Play” programme.
2017 World Cup winner and Lancashire Women’s star Alex Hartley said: “It feels like I’ve been waiting all year for the World Cup to arrive, and now we’ve only got 50 days to go!
“I’m really pleased to support initiatives like Schools Cricket Day today as they’re so important to inspire the next generation of potential cricket players. As an international cricketer I always looked forward to major tournaments, there’s nothing quite like playing on the global stage.
“There was a huge shift after the 2017 World Cup, we all felt it. Having the T20 tournament in England and Wales this summer presents another huge opportunity to continue building a legacy that can be felt by all future generations of cricketers from Lancashire and all across the nation.”
Managing Director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, Jen Barden said: “National Schools Cricket Day is a fantastic opportunity for young people in their education settings to get involved in so many aspects of the game!
School children take part in an ICC Schools Cricket day at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, joined by former England star Alex Hartley, to mark 50 days until the star of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Credit: Photo by Dave Thompson/Route One Photography
“We have members of the LCF delivering cricket across the County but also linking in lessons including the history of the game, using maths and science too!
“We have an amazing opportunity to inspire the next generation of cricketers, volunteers, coaches and officials in all aspects of cricket this summer with the games at Old Trafford, I can’t wait to see lots of young boys and girls giving cricket a go for the first time!”
Gemma Barton, ECB Head of Strategic Growth, said “Moments like this show how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game. Every girl and boy inspired to pick up a bat and ball today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is.
“It’s not just about the summer ahead, it’s about what comes next: more girls playing, more teams growing, and more people feeling like they belong in the game.”
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 are selling fast – you can get yours HERE.
Danny Jones -
14th December 2022 
