You can take your little Mancs down to meet the star of one of their favourite TV shows at the Science and Industry Museum this weekend.
In case you hadn’t heard, Manchester‘s iconic Science and Industry Museum is currently hosting world-first exhibition Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You – which is based off the popular children’s BBC show of the same name.
The family-friendly exhibition gives visitors the chance understand more about the inner workings of their own bodies, and the important role science plays in supporting our digestive health.
It’s all about diving under the skin to “explore the science inside us all”.
Thousands of families from across Greater Manchester and beyond have already visited the city centre museum make the most of the new exhibition, and get stuck into the wide range of immersive and interactive activities it has on offer.
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But for those who haven’t been able to pay a visit yet, this weekend couldn’t be a more ideal opportunity to do so, as Dr Xand Van Tulleken – who is one of the presenters of the BBC showOperation Ouch! – will be at the museum on Sunday 11 February to meet visitors as part of his myth-busting mission to answer some of the public’s deepest questions about digestion.
After already lending his own digestive system to be turned into one of the exhibition’s most-popular interactive activities, Dr Xand is back to meet and greet all the voyagers “travelling like a poo” through his intestines.
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Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You is currently open at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Happening at 1pm-1:20pm, and then again at 4:30pm-4:50pm, all visitors will have the opportunity to see Dr Xand in action as he takes to the stage in the Revolution Manchester Gallery to answer poo-probing questions in front of a live audience, before getting the chance to grab a selfie with the main man from inside the exhibition too.
“This exhibition is our most epic experiment yet,” Dr Xand said ahead of his visit to Manchester this weekend.
“I can’t wait to be back exploring my own insides.
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“Our bodies are amazing, and one of the first questions kids often ask is the biology of how we put food in and something else comes out.
“If we can understand that process, we’ve learned something that’s fundamentally important to life, so as well as being brilliantly entertaining and of course absolutely disgusting, this exhibition is full of really amazing and essential science.”
Little Mancs can meet Dr Xand Van Tulleken at the museum this weekend / Credit: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Tickets to visit the museum and exhibition on Sunday 11 February are now available to book.
Free standard museum entry tickets will give you access to the Q&As with Dr Xand, but an exhibition ticket must be purchased for specific times for the photo opportunity, and these are limited, so booking as soon as possible is encouraged to avoid disappointment.
Featured Image – The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
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There’s a new summer terrace in town with a weekend spritz happy hour
Daisy Jackson
There’s a new summer terrace in Greater Manchester that’s the ideal spot to soak in some rays – and enjoy a few discounted spritzes while you’re there.
Over on Chapel Street – just across the river from Manchester Cathedral – you’ll find Embankment Kitchen, which has opened up its terrace for the season.
This stylish spot is part of the CitySuites aparthotel, and has a menu rooted in the warm spirit of Northern hospitality.
It’s worth a visit all year round for their seasonally-focused, local-as-possible menus, but the summer terrace at Embankment Kitchen is a real added bonus in spring and summer.
And following that spell of absolutely glorious weather, they’re opening up two hours earlier every day too for maximum sun-soaking from 2pm.
At Embankment Kitchen you can tuck into a drinks and nibbles menu from 2pm until 5pm, and Happy Hour drinks deals from 4pm until 7pm.
That means two-for-one cocktails, plus discounted wines, prosecco and beers – an ideal post-work haunt.
Cocktails at Embankment Kitchen in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSmall plates on the Embankment Kitchen terrace. Credit: The Manc Group
It’s usually almost impossible to find a happy hour in Manchester at weekends, but these guys are doing two-for-£12 spritzes every Saturday and Sunday between 12pm and 4pm, with flavours including Aperol, Hugo, and limoncello.
Drinks on the menu include signature cocktails that are inspired by the city’s industrial roots, like The Emmeline, Manchester Exchange (a take on an old fashioned), and the Atomic Zombie, as well as classic cocktails such as an espresso martini, limoncello negroni, amaretto sour, and strawberry daiquiri.
As for nibbles, tuck into treats like garlic bread, edamame beans with smoked salt, garlic and parmesan fries, salt and pepper tater tots, and halloumi fries.
Surrounded by lush plants and gigantic parasols, it’s hard to believe you’re just across the river in Salford when you’re soaking up the sun at Embankment Kitchen. To find out more, head HERE.
A huge Irish festival with iconic music stars, markets, food and more is coming to Greater Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A massive Irish music festival with masses of food, drink, crafts, workshops and surprises is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Craic by the Creek 2025 will bring together all the best bits of the Emerald Isle for a weekend-long knees-up in a gorgeous countryside location on our doorstep in July.
There’s a huge music line-up (with plenty more still to be announced) featuring Boyzlife, made up of Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden from Westlife.
And this fun-filled Irish Music Festival is the only one of its kind offering full weekend camping, at the beautiful village of Compstall in Stockport.
The countdown is now officially on for this unmissable celebration of Irish music, culture, and community spirit, which will take place between 18 and 20 July.
Craic by the Creek has been hailed as the greatest Irish music festival in the UK and is back for 2025 bigger than ever.
Already announced to perform live along with Boyzlife are The Tumbling Paddies, Derek Ryan, All Folk’d Up, Johnny Brady, The Kilkennys and loads more.
There are still more acts to be revealed in this stacked line-up.
And it’s not just about the music at Craic by the Creek – there’s also a bustling Irish-themed craft market with handmade goods, Irish-inspired food and drink, social dance workshops, and plenty of surprises.
Expect a weekend of tunes, traditions, community vibes and campfire craic.
Craic by the Creek will take place between 18 and 20 July, 2025 – tickets are on sale now via Skiddle, and they’re already flying.
Emily Sergeant -
5th February 2024 
