Students in Greater Manchester will be able to bag some big savings next week when Manchester Arndale’s popular event returns to the shopping centre.
The MCR Student Social will feature massive discounts, live entertainment, competitions, games, and loads more as it welcomes new and returning students to the city.
Top brands like Levi’s, Urban Outfitters, The North Face, Space NK, and Victoria’s Secret will all be getting involved, with up to 30% student discount on offer.
And there’ll be huge unbeatable offers on Manchester Arndale’s food, drink and entertainment offerings too, like 50% off at Doner Shack.
The brand new HOP Vietnamese, which serves street-food-inspired bites from its colourful restaurant on Market Street, will also be slashing its prices in half.
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You and your student pals can get competitive at Immersive Gamebox, or head to Urban Playground to try your hand at ITV’s The Cube.
Over on Market Street, our very own Audio North will be spinning tunes from a DJ truck – come say hi and get your requests in at @audio.north.
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Another live DJ will also be in position at Halle Place, which is home to some of the shopping centre’s best restaurants.
The MCR Student Social is back at Manchester Arndale this month. Credit: The Manc GroupThe MCR Student Social is back at Manchester Arndale this month. Credit: Manchester BID
And keep your eyes peeled for roaming activations, where you can win big prizes and grab exclusive goodies.
Inside the many stores at Manchester Arndale there’ll be more games, giveaways, free samples and prizes. Just grab a leaflet on the night to see what’s on around the city centre destination.
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Students will be able to get to grips with their new favourite retail hotspots, whether they’re browsing for accessories for their digs in Flying Tiger or TKMaxx, doing the big shop in Aldi, shopping in River Island and Monki, or having a night out in Roxy Ball Room or King Pins.
Many of these offer big student discounts all year round, but for one night they’ll be pulling out all the stops.
The MCR Student Social is the ultimate chance for new and returning students to grab amazing deals and experience the best of the city.
It’s back at Manchester Arndale on Thursday 26 September 2024 – see more here and follow @manchesterarndale on Instagram for the latest updates.
Featured image: Manchester BID
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Salford Pride’s popular Pink Picnic returns this summer with ‘iconic’ headliners
Emily Sergeant
Boney M, The Cheeky Girls, and Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK stars are all on the lineup at Salford Pride’s popular Pink Picnic this summer.
As this summer marks 15 years of Pride in Salford, Salford Pride has announced a whole host of exciting events to celebrate – including the return of The Pink Picnic, its biggest family-friendly celebration yet, with headliners like 90s and 00s music icons, community talent, and even a ‘bigger and bolder’ Youth Zone for 2026.
Returning to Peel Park once again, The Pink Picnic brings together LGBTQ+ community, allies, families and friends for a day built around community, joy, and belonging.
For 2026, Salford Pride is expanding the experience further with even more to do across the park than ever before.
The Pink Picnic has been part of Salford’s Pride story since 2011, but this year’s 15th anniversary addition is set to be one for the history books, as alongside a headline lineup featuring Boney M, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’s Kyran Thrax and Paige Three, The Cheeky Girls, Big Brovaz, Booty Luv, and Baby D, a strong programme of community acts will also be spotlighted.
Some of the exceptional community acts already named on the lineup so far include Tallulah Guard, Fear of Marko, and John Tucker.
Across the day, visitors can also shop from dozens of community stalls and market traders, take part in or watch the much-loved annual dog show, and visit the ‘bigger and bolder’ Youth Zone that’s designed to help young people feel seen and celebrated.
“Celebrating 15 years of Pride in Salford feels really special, and we wanted 2026 to feel like a proper thank you to the community that’s built this with us” said Scott Turzański, who is the Head of Marketing and Brand at Salford Pride.
“The Pink Picnic is a family event – it’s welcoming, it’s joyful, and it’s about making space for everyone.”
The Pink Picnic returns to Peel Park in Salford next month on Saturday 13 June, and you can find out more and book tickets online here.
Featured Image – Salford Pride (via Facebook)
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Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum unveils programme of family fun for half term
Emily Sergeant
Little Mancs can climb aboard a miniature train and set off on a journey of discovery at the Science and Industry Museum this half term.
As schools across Greater Manchester break up for half term at the end of this week, and parents and carers gear up to entertain the little ones, the Science and Industry Museum has, thankfully, just announced a wide range of events and activities especially for the holidays – with many activities free to get involved in.
The popular cultural hub in the heart of Manchester city centre is promising visitors a May half term full of hands-on experiences designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and imagination.
The main event, which is kicking off this weekend (Saturday 23 May), invites families to ‘explore the playful side of power’.
From climbing aboard a miniature steam railway and taking part in interactive engineering sessions, to seeing steam-powered traction engines, live demonstrations, and performances inspired by the sounds of industrial Manchester, visitors will be transported back in time to play the role of passenger.
Almost 200 years ago, this was the site of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway – the world’s first inter-city passenger railway – and May half term will bring this story to life again, as families take a ride around part of the museum’s newly reopened outside space.
Hosted by Little British Rail, rides are priced at £4 (with those under one-year-old going free) and can be booked in advance by visiting the museum’s website here.
The Science and Industry Museum has unveiled its programme of free family fun for the half term / Credit: Science Museum Group
Expert Explainers will be on-hand throughout the half term hosting Curiosity Stops, so you can discover how water becomes steam, see what powers a piston, and explore how our bodies mirror the mechanics of machines.
The final weekend of the holiday (5-7 June) will also see members of Urmston & District Model Engineering Society steaming onto site with its early 20th century Fowler Showman’s traction engine and Foden steam wagon.
Elsewhere at the museum over the half term, you can take a look around the historic Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery, which has recently reopened to the public, and you can take part in interactive workshops with Manchester-based percussion group, Drumroots – giving visitors the chance to experiment with rhythm, movement, and music inspired by the sounds of historic steam engines.
And, of course, half term is the perfect chance to go on out-of-this-world adventure across the Solar System and visit the new Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition, if you haven’t already. Or visit the ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, instead during its extended holiday opening hours.
For the full programme of daily events throughout half term, and to book tickets for difference experiences in advance, head to the Science and Industry Museum website here.
Daisy Jackson -
20th September 2024 
