Manchester Arndale will be taken over by the MCR Student Social shopping event once again this month, with major retailers offering discounts, prizes, entertainment and loads more.
The annual celebration welcomes new and returning students to the shopping centre for a night of deals, offers and freebies across its shops, restaurants and leisure venues.
This year’s event features live DJs, giveaways, and a roaming Party Tuk Tuk, as well as the return of the Audio North x The Manc DJ truck on Market Street.
The Audio North x The Manc DJ truck will be manned by student DJs from dBs Institute Manchester, who’ll be spinning the finest hip-hop, funk and party anthems throughout the day.
The MCR Student Social will also be getting the Arndale dancing with a huge silent rave right outside Next, hosted by the Super Star MCs.
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They’ll be pulling together an evening of dance challenges, shout-outs and a chance to win goodies.
There’ll be plenty more entertainment and freebies between 12pm and 7pm on the night too, like sittings to have a special portrait created by an artistic illustrator for your student digs, and a live DJ at Halle Place.
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Roaming the Manchester Arndale all evening will be the Party Tuk Tuk, packed with giveaways and accepting song requests.
Looking for a refuel? The Food and Drink Zone on Market Street will have treats from Manchester Arndale’s top food and drink traders, including Barburrito, Creams, Franco Manca and Popeyes, while at Exchange Square Papa Johns and Tango will be in situ.
Last year’s MCR Student Social for Manchester Arndale. Credit: The Manc Group
Market Street will also be hosting performances from GFF Damian Dance Studio.
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In the Party Zone, students can get stuck into games, prizes, freebies and giveaways from Fusion, Hollister, Iolla, King Pins, PureGym, Søstrene Grene and Urban Playground.
And head to the Info Zone for discounts, giveaways, and interactive games from 42nd Street, Manchester Central Library, National Football Museum, NatWest and Recycle 4 GM.
Not forgetting the shopping itself, with huge discounts available between 12pm and 7pm for students.
That includes up to 50% off at more than 130 shops and services, some of which are listed below.
50% off one pair of glasses from the £70 & above range at Specsavers* in the Arndale.
40% off laser hair removal and skin treatments at Laser Clinics
35% off hair styling tools at Amory London
Up to 30% off at shops including JD, Footasylum, AllSaints, Levi’s, Adidas, The North Face, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Space NK, Nike Flying Tiger, Mango, Victoria’s Secret, Barbour and more
Up to 50% off food, drink or leisure* at the likes of Michaels Coffee House, Barburrito, HOP Vietnamese, Popeyes, Archie’s, Immersive Gamebox and King Pins
Organised by Manchester Arndale and Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, the annual student shopping event will once again welcome new and returning students to the city.
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The MCR Student Social is taking place on Thursday 25 September from 12pm until 7pm – find out more HERE.
Adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month
Emily Sergeant
A popular adults-only ‘after hours’ event is returning to Manchester next month.
Fancy releasing your inner child? If you need an excuse to leave the little Mancs at home, then one of Manchester’s most visited museums might have just what you’re looking for, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced that its popular After Hours event especially for adults is returning for one night only next month.
You’ll get to celebrate the energy that ‘sparked a revolution’ with an evening of interactive games, live music, and unique experiences as you explore the Museum once it’s closed for the day.
It’s your chance to be among the first to explore the newly re-opened Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery after dark, and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of engine-driven ideas that started in Manchester and went on to change the world.
An adults-only ‘after hours’ event is coming to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month / Credit: Science Museum Group
The Museum’s permanent galleries and displays will also be open after hours, so you can get hands-on with science in Experiment, meet mighty machines in the Textiles Gallery, and discover Manchester‘s rich legacy of industrial innovations, creativity, and world-changing ideas in Revolution Manchester.
You’ll also be embrace your inner child with free access to the brand-new world premiere exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, which just opened last week in time for half term, and of course, indulge your playful side in Power Up – with more than 150 consoles to choose from in the ultimate gaming exhibition.
Especially for this particular evening, you can look forward to some very special one-off events, as well as the chance to take part in a whole host of high-energy interactive games.
There’ll be an ‘unforgettable’ performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Viola, celebrating all things power with a spectacular combination of violin and vocals, as well as a set from musician Mike Cunningham who’ll light up the evening with bold and colourful LED drumming inspired by the sounds of Manchester’s industry and creative spirit.
And of course, as this is an adults-only event, the museum’s events bar will be popping up on the night, and will be serving up a wide range of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks to wet your whistle while you’re looking around, with some delicious food to accompany too.
A McDonald’s x Friends festival took over Bolton yesterday, with episodes screening at Cineworld and exclusive merch available
Daisy Jackson
Friends fans, gather round – a huge event dedicated to the hit sitcom took over Bolton yesterday, with exclusive screenings and limited-edition merch – and even if you missed the Friends festival, you can still get in on the action.
The Cineworld Bolton was turned into an ultimate immersive Friends experience, all thanks to McDonald’s and its collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) and DCM.
The event was created to coincide with the release of the brand-new, limited-edition Friends Meal at McDonald’s, which features a different character collectible in each meal – a miniature Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing or Ross Geller.
McDonald’s will be taking its Friends festival to 12 locations right across the UK, bringing the beloved show to the big screen.
As well as episodes being screened in the cinema, there’ll be merch, fun photo moments, and unmissable experiences.
It took place in Bolton for one day only, with fans able to hop in a free AI photobooth that turns you into a Friends-style collectible (which you could then print onto a t-shirt and take home for free).
Then at all stops on the tour you can kick back with a free Maccies in hand to watch classic episodes on the big screen.
The limited-time Friends Meal from McDonald’s, which launched last week, features one-offs like Monica’s Marinara Sauce (Italian tomato sauce with garlic, onion and herbs), plus those adorable character collectibles.
There’s Ross with his pet monkey, Rachel serving coffee, Monica in full chef mode, Phoebe with her guitar, and Chandler and Joey with their chick and duck duo.
You can choose from a Big Mac®, 9 McNuggets®, or a McPlant® meal to gain one of the six collectibles from your local participating McDonald’s.
There’s also a chance to win one of four exclusive Friends-inspired mugs through the McDonald’s App if you’re an MMR customer.
Tickets for the Friends and McDonald’s event have gone faster than Ross can say “We were on a break”, but you can check the latest availability HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
19th September 2025 
