Christmas has officially landed at Manchester Airport, and with an estimated 1.1m of us travelling through the busy transport hub in the coming weeks, the airport is really kicking off the festivities.
The halls have been decked with all sorts of festive touches, like a 20ft Christmas tree in Terminal 2, and plenty more glitter and sparkle around the entire airport.
There are dozens of discounts on stocking fillers as part of Manchester Airport’s ‘Holidays Mode Activated’ campaign, along with festive menus at bars and restaurants.
A Santa’s Grotto in Terminal 1’s free play area, the Little Flyers Zone, will be open until Wednesday 18 December, where little Mancs can send off their list to the big man with a Letters to Santa Station.
Santa himself will be on hand to greet families on Thursday and Fridays, but his elves will be there throughout the next few weeks too.
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There are more than 200 destinations you can fly directly to from Manchester, from city breaks to other Christmas markets to snatched fortnights of sunshine to flights to spend the festive break with loved ones.
You can do your Christmas shopping at Manchester Airport with brilliant businesses like The Sculpts
And whether you’re one of those who’s panicked and left your shopping until the last minute, or are biding your time to save cash on beauty, booze and fragrance at World Duty Free, you can tick everything off your list on your way home for Christmas.
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Shops at Manchester Airport include legendary toy shop Hamleys, fragrance favourite Jo Malone, and sportswear brand JD Sports.
You can stock up on gifts like fashion accessories from shops like BOSS and Accessorize, or get all your gifts for 2024 in one go at duty free.
And don’t miss The Sculpts, a Manchester-based design business operated by a local couple, who sell a range of handmade homeware and souvenirs including their signature alphabet tiles.
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Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “Christmas is a magical time here at Manchester Airport.
“We’re always proud to connect the North to the world but the importance of that role really shines through at this time of year. It feels wonderful when you see travellers having emotional reunions in arrivals and families in departures getting ready to visit Father Christmas in Lapland.
“It’s also always a popular time to fly and, having broken our passenger records every month for well over a year now, we expect this Christmas to be the biggest and busiest we’ve ever seen with over a million passengers flying in the two-week festive period.
“Not only will those passengers receive a great service – last month 82% of our passengers waited less than five minutes to get to security – but they will also be able to soak up some of the magic we have here, including Santa’s grotto in our Little Flyers Zone in Terminal 1 and choirs singing carols at various spots in all three terminals.
“We can’t wait to welcome passengers to Manchester Airport this festive season.”
Charlotte Dawson will be handing out compliments and big prizes in Manchester to brighten Blue Monday
Daisy Jackson
TV star Charlotte Dawson will be cheering up Blue Monday in Manchester, dishing out compliments to strangers and awarding some big prizes too.
The actress, who is the daughter of the legendary late Les Dawson, will be bringing her signature sunny energy to Printworks on Monday 20 January.
Otherwise known as Blue Monday, it’s believed that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year – so she’s here to nip that in the bud.
Between 1pm and 3pm on the huge gaming screen inside Printworks – part of its £21m transformation that included adding a huge digital ceiling – Charlotte Dawson will be spreading joy and laughter.
She’ll be live streaming straight to passers-by, spreading smiles and dishing out compliments.
Charlotte will also be treating visitors to some amazing prizes from Printworks’ collection of bars, restaurants and leisure venues.
These prizes will include free brunch for four at Walkabout, gaming sessions at Bierkeller, or family cinema tickets with Ice Blasts at VUE. Other prizes include Nando’s vouchers, a drink and activity for two at the new Trax Social, and much more.
And the top prize will be a luxury overnight stay for two at Hotel Indigo, just across the road in the very heart of Manchester.
Charlotte Dawson will take part in Blue Monday at Printworks, Manchester
There’ll even be free coffee vouchers for Todd St Cafe on offer to brighten your Blue Monday.
Kristian Brennan, Marketing Manager at Printworks, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Charlotte at Printworks this Blue Monday.
“As a true Mancunian icon, her vibrant personality is exactly what we need to brighten up the most depressing day of the year and we know she’ll bring plenty of laughs and smiles to everyone who stops by.
“What makes this event truly unique is the opportunity for the public to chat with Charlotte under Europe’s largest digital ceiling, which will showcase new mood-boosting content.
“It’s an innovative and exciting way for people to connect, and we can’t wait to see families and friends come together to create joyful memories in this truly unique setting!”
Kane Funeral Services – the award-winning Greater Manchester business offering fitting farewells from just £1250
The Manc
No one wants to have to think about funerals – whether for themselves or their loved ones – but when the time does come, you want to make sure it’s the most fitting and respectful farewell possible.
This Greater Manchester-based independent funeral service is the fastest-growing in the UK, and has gained a solid reputation for providing exceptional care and support to families during the darkest of times.
The business recently scooped a Quality Business Award, thanks to an overall score exceeding 95% across categories including service, reputation and satisfaction.
Kane Funeral Services has branches across the region, in Burnage, Brinnington, Newton Heath, Poynton, Salford, Stockport and Wythenshawe, each one perfectly positioned to create healing moments after loss.
These truly independent funeral directors offer everything from affordable, stress-free ‘direct to crematorium’ services to more elaborate, personalised funerals.
With the direct to crematorium service, starting from just £1250, you can strip away all the stress and overwhelming decisions involved in planning a funeral, while still honouring your loved ones with dignity and respect.
Kane Funeral Services also has a full fleet of funeral cars, with three hearses and seven luxurious and elegant limousines.
Recognising that the journey to and from a funeral can be a big part of the final farewell, these limos offer families a serene and private space to comfort one another.
Credit: Unsplash, Dan Meyers
The local business promises three major benefits – simplicity, transparency and compassion.
Kane Funeral Services says: “We believe in shouldering the responsibility of presenting you with the widest range of products and services available, ensuring that you have the freedom to make informed decisions.
“We understand the importance of financial considerations, and therefore, we encourage our clients to inquire about costs at every stage of the process.
“With us, you can expect a seamless and personalized funeral experience that honors the life and legacy of your loved ones. We are here to guide and support you every step of the way, providing comfort, empathy, and respect throughout the entire funeral journey.”
Find out more and get in touch with Kane Funeral Services HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
19th December 2024 
