Did you know that a massive interactive gaming experience has returned to Manchester for the first time in three years?
With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP is now back at the Science and Industry Museum in the heart of the city centre and it’s already been taking ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming.
Everything from retro arcade games to state-of-the-art virtual reality are available to play at the hit event – and every ticket includes unlimited play all day too.
Power UP is taking place every weekend and school holiday up until December 2023.
From the Atari 2600 and the Dreamcast, to the Playstation 5 and the latest in virtual reality technology, Power UP is giving visitors of all levels the chance to live their best gaming life and experience first-hand how far games and gaming technologies have advanced over the years.
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Some of the other consoles at the museum include SNES, Wii, Mega Drive, N64, Xbox, and more.
Power UP is now back at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Science Museum Group
Visitors to the ultimate new interactive gaming experience can take a trip down memory lane by playing retro classics like Pong and Pac-Man, rocking out on Guitar Hero, and also trying their hand at the wildly-popular Fortnite.
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Power UP is also giving gaming fans the chance to follow the development of some iconic characters like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog through the decades.
Visitors will also get to discover games made by winners and nominees from the annual BAFTA Young Games Designers Awards – which are open to children and young people, and celebrate the creativity, skill, and imagination of young games makers.
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The interactive experience has more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play / Credit: Science Museum Group
And new for 2022, you can also be inspired by the local people behind the games and companies who have made a splash in the world of gaming in the new section dedicated to Manchester’s gaming industry.
From early success stories like Ocean Software and Software Creations, to contemporary indie developers like Acid Nerve.
“Power UP has always been a big hit with our visitors,” said Mark Cutmore – Head of Commercial Experiences at the Science Museum Group.
“[The experience] offers a fun space to enjoy past and present gaming technology, experience the latest developments and reminisce about old favourites as the gaming industry is a key component of Manchester’s creative, digital and tech industries.
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You can experience first-hand how far games and gaming technologies have advanced over the years / Credit: Science Museum Group
“This interactive exhibition will help to inspire game designers and software engineers of the future.
“We’re excited to be giving so much time to enjoy and keep returning to this experience during its longest run ever at the museum [and] we’re also really proud to be showcasing our city’s amazing contributions to the industry through the new Manchester Made section.
Tickets to Power UP grant each person unlimited access to the gaming experience on the day booked.
Tickets will set you back £6 per child and concession, £8 per adult, £7 per senior, and there is a £1 discount per ticket for families.
Grab yours on the Science and Industry Museum website here.
The beautiful brand-new (and surprisingly affordable) homes in West Didsbury
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Listen up home hunters – we may have just found a way for you to live in your dream area sooner than you thought.
Getting your foot on theproperty ladder is often not financially viable for a lot of people these days – and this is where Shared Ownership comes in, enabling buyers to purchase shares in their homes instead.
Gecko Homes have just introduced Two Didsbury Point, a selection of stunning one and two-bedroom modern homes, in one of the most sought after suburbs of Manchester.
Didsbury is absolutely packed with charming Edwardian and Victorian architecture and plenty of green space, including but not limited to Fletcher Moss park, which is breathtaking this time of year with autumnal colours.
This area is highly desirable, and it is easy to understand why, with all of the adorable independent shops and eateries as well as Burton Road, filled with the coolest bars at the heart of it all. Not to mention the monthly Makers Market, featuring local artists and food trucks.
The cherry on the top is how well connected the area is via Metrolink, motorway and railway to Manchester city centre and beyond. Oh and the airport is only 10 minutes down the road. Could Didsbury truly have it all?
The beautiful homes at Two Didsbury PointGecko Homes’ one and two bedroom properties at Two Didbsury Point
Whether you’re looking for a home to settle down in, or for your very first place where you have the advantages of having the city centre within easy reach, whilst retaining that homely community feel in the local area, this may be the one for you.
Two Didsbury Point is a £20 million scheme of 76 affordable homes, across two connected eight and five-storey blocks – 46 of those being for shared ownership – on the site of the former Withington Hospital.
The apartments themselves are an absolute dream, with sleek built-in kitchens, fully fitted bathrooms, bike storage and other enviable amenities such as the rooftop garden and communal area, perfect for entertaining guests. Oh, and they’re fitted with the latest cost effective and climate conscious features such as solar panels and air source heat pumps.
North West developer, Gecko Homes, specialises in creating Shared Ownership homes, making some fantastic properties surprisingly affordable. Through the new-look Shared Ownership lease scheme buyers are able to own a slice of their home, with terms that flex to fit their circumstances – starting with shares as low as 10%, with the option of increasing your ownership by 1% each year for the first 15 years. This allows buyers to get on the housing ladder, without the fear of a huge deposit.
The Two Didsbury Point homes are available as shared ownershipYour chance to move to Didsbury for a surprisingly affordable price point
Shared Ownership allows you to buy 10-75% share of the property and pay rent on the part you don’t own. Starting from £58,750 for a 25% share and 5% deposits starting from just £2,937.50, making it an actual achievable way for people to get onto the property ladder – something many of us can’t even comprehend in this climate.
Not to mention you get all the advantages of owning your home – from decorating the way you want to bringing your pet.
By reserving a home at Two Didsbury Point, buyers can also receive up to £1,000 in incentives, which can be used towards gym memberships, flooring upgrades, legal fee assistance, moving cost support and much more.
For more information on this way to buy a home click here. To read Gecko Homes’ Shared Ownership Key Information click here.
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ to support Girls Don’t Sync member at XLR
Lydia Mastrolonardo
It’s no secret that Manchester has gained a surplus of aspiring DJs in recent years – well now it’s time to put those skills to use and show the rest of the UK what Manchester is made of.
Soopa Hooch has just launched Soopa Charged Sounds, an exciting competition, aiming to uncover emerging talent across the UK, offering one lucky winner the opportunity to perform at XLR, supporting member of Girl’s Don’t Sync, Gaia Ahuja aka G33.
Not only would the winner gain the platform to showcase their skills but they would also gain a year’s supply of Soopa Hooch drinks and a home DJ set up – now have I got your attention?
Come on, it seems only right that a Mancunian should win considering the event would be hosted inside our very own iconic nightclub, XLR Manchester.
So, if it’s always your job to supply the music wherever you go, you’re the friend that never fails to know the track ID or you simply practice in the safety of your bedroom – this is your time to shine. Dust off those decks, brush up on your mixes and get applying.
Soopa Hooch, the wild, bolder cousin of the classic Hooch, is an 8% ABV sparkling vodka mix available in five different flavours – Blue Raspberry, Twisted Tropical, Electric Lemonade, Darkest Berry and Cherry Cola, providing the perfect flavour for every kind of playlist.
Sam Watson, Brand Manager at Soopa Hooch and Hooch, commented: “We know there’s a huge amount of undiscovered DJ talent out there, whether they’re creating mixes at home or already making waves in their local scene.
“We’ve launched Soopa Charged Sounds to give that talent a platform to get their skills heard, and we can’t wait to shine a light on DJs who are bringing energy to pre-drinks and parties across the country.”
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ. Credit: The Manc GroupThe chosen DJ will support Girls Don’t Sync member G33 at XLR. Credit: Supplied
Think you or someone you know has what it takes? Simply create a 15-20-minute mini mix and submit it via the Soopa Hooch website to enter by Thursday 26 November 2026.
The mixes will be reviewed by a panel of experts, from regional DJ radio stations up and down the country, on the following five key criteria: creativity, originality, ability, energy and overall suitability. Five finalists will then be announced on Sunday 20 December, before the lucky winner is crowned on Thursday 28 January 2027.
The Soopa Charged Sounds winner will then swap their bedroom desks for the big stage, for a live performance at XLR nightclub, on Friday 26 February 2027.
Emily Sergeant -
31st August 2022 
