Selfridges is to pull out all the stops once again this Mother’s Day, with a bumper programme of events to celebrate the most important women in our lives.
The huge retailer will run a series of workshops, pop-ups and experiences across both its sites in Manchester.
Visitors to the luxury department store in either Exchange Square or at the Trafford Centre will be able to book in for beauty masterclasses, join art workshops (with a mimosa in hand, naturally), and browse the beautiful blooms in the pop-up Frog Flowers.
There’s even an experience geared specifically towards new mums, offering a day of pampering as well as the chance to buy something special for the new arrival.
All weekend at Selfridges Trafford there’ll be DJs performing to shoppers, with someone on the decks between 12pm and 5pm.
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Mother’s Day falls this year on Sunday 19 March, but the events at both Selfridges sites in Greater Manchester will run from 15 March until the day itself.
Your full guide to Mother’s Day events at Selfridges
Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square
Frog Flowers pop-up – 15-19 March
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The Northern Quarter’s renowned Frog Flowers will be hosting a pop-up space on the ground floor of Selfridges, where shoppers can pick up beautiful Mother’s Day blooms.
The floristry studio also has a permanent presence over at Selfridges Trafford.
Mother’s Day Beauty Workshop Series – 15-18 March
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The beauty area on the lower ground floor is set to host loads of beauty and fragrance workshops from some of the world’s best-loved brands.
On 15 March, heritage brand Penhaligon’s will hold a beauty workshop (£20 tickets are redeemable against a purchase on the day), at both 12pm and 5pm – you can call 0161 838 0606 to book in.
Then La Prairie will host a caviar discovery masterclass, where guests can experience the brand’s iconic Skin Caviar Collection and learn about the benefits powered by Swiss skincare science. These will take place at 11am and 5pm on Thursday 16 March, with £25 tickets – call 07741130653, or email [email protected] to book.
It’s over to Armani on Friday 17 February, with three Spring Glow masterclasses planned to introduce the brand’s new My Way Parfum. The fashion and beauty giant will showcase a fresh, glowing spring look, created using its Armani glow products and brand new eye tints, and inspired by the bottle. Tickets are £10 for 12.30pm, 4.30pm and 6pm masterclasses, redeemable against products – call 0161 838 0613 to book.
On Saturday 18 March at 12pm and 4pm, Dior city artist Vicky O’Connor will host a masterclass showcasing the new Dior collection, creating a soft everyday look, along with a fragrance experience to celebrate Mother’s Day. Tickets are £35, again fully redeemable against products purchased on the day – call 0161 838 0636, or email [email protected] to book now.
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You can see more and book the events at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square here.
Selfridges Manchester Trafford
Mother’s Day Beauty Workshop Series – 15-18 March
Estee Lauder will kick things off in Trafford on Wednesday 15 March with a masterclass that will showcase their new lip collection, teaching ticket-holders how to create the perfect pout. Guests can also expect a tailored interactive foundation match, and find their perfect skincare recommendation. Tickets are £15 for 2pm and 4pm events – call 0161 629 1182 to book.
Showcasing their La Privee collection with a journey into the La Colle Noir will be Dior’s experience on Thursday 16 March at 4pm and 7pm. Guests can expect an interactive sensory experience into Dior fragrance, with a blind smell experience of the raw ingredients and flowers, hosted by Dior’s regional MUA Martin Aitken. Tickets are £30 and can be booked by calling 0161 629 1182.
Skincare legends Keihl’s will be teaching people all about their natural and effective formulas of cult products like Midnight Recovery and Super Multi Corrective collection – tickets are £10 (fully redeemable against Keihl’s products) and can be booked by calling 0161 629 1146.
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Mother’s Day Brunch and art workshop – 18-19 March
A series of art-filled brunches will take place on the upper level of Selfridges Trafford – guests will begin with a mimosa or prosecco before letting their creativity run free with art workshops.
These will take place between 10.30am and 12pm on Saturday and Sunday (anyone coming on Sunday will need to wait outside the customer entrance on Regents Crescent, Upper Level, as the store won’t actually be open yet). Tickets for that are £25.
You can see more and book the events at Selfridges Trafford here.
New Mum experience
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New mums can be pampered in the perfect way with Selfridges’ concierge services.
The £135 new mum experience includes a personalised blow-dry in your preferred style at Aveda, a luxurious facial by the experts at Dermalogica, and a one-on-one consultation with a children’s brand specialist and £50 gift card.
Mother’s Day beauty looks
Available at both stores is The Mum and Me beauty concierge package.
Over the course of 90 minutes, you can have an extra special makeover for you and your mum.
Manchester City are hosting special Christmas-themed tours of the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City FC’s critically acclaimed stadium tour is about to get super festive, as the Etihad Stadium are now hosting special Christmas-themed walks around the ground.
You’ve watched the tales of the ‘Centurions’, ‘Treble winners, the ‘Fourmidables’, and plenty of other ‘Cityzen’ stories play out in front of you, but have you visited the hallowed halls while their decked doughs of holly for yourself?
Well, now’s your chance.
Hosting a series of exclusive festive tours around the Etihad this month, Man City fans, club-obsessed kids, and football fanatic tourists in general can take a walk around the impressive sporting arena for the perfect early Christmas present.
In addition to being able to walk around the famous home of the Blues, sit in the home team dressing room and see the trophy cabinet, fans of all ages can now field questions with virtual Pep and Haaland in their very own press conference, before walking down the tunnel, into the dugout and sitting pitchside.
Once you’ve finished warming up the gaffer’s very own seat (they’re actually already heated), supporters can look forward to a brand-new dancing light display, plus more heartwarming entertainment in the form of Christmas carol audio recorded by Manchester’s very own Hallé Youth Choir.
As if that wasn’t enough, ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ VR experiences and special ‘Etihad After Dark’ tours will be available, too, giving people from all over and of all ages an extra opportunity to turn up and make the most of this truly global club.
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto during the evening slots to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Rumour has it Santa may have left a gift lying around each day, too. Safe to say that puts our Advent calendar this year to shame…
Credit: Man City (supplied)
Here’s hoping he doesn’t get a telling off for wearing red…
Evening tours at the Eithad will be held from 5:30 and 6pm on 7, 12, 14, 18, 22 and December, and the main slot will be running all the way up until Christmas Eve (24 Dec).
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Tickets start from only £26 per person and family passes are priced at just £60.
Better still, you can even spring for the VIP package if you fancy: a two-hour experience that is one of the most interactive and immersive you’ll find anywhere.
The Etihad Stadium is currently in the middle of a huge redevelopment, both in terms of size and things to do around the wider Campus, with the expanded North Stand not only seeing matchday fan capacity increased to over 60k, but a new club shop, sky bar, hotel, and a rooftop walk being added.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the already award-winning City stadium tours are simultaneously seeing an upgrade over the holiday period.
Being given the Tripadvisor seal of approval once again last year, as the club were once again recognised in the Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ – putting them not just in the top three stadium tours in the UK but in the top 1% of the most highly rated in the world – things are only getting bigger.
You can find out full availability, timings and where to get tickets right HERE.
Manchester’s iconic Rylands building is being reborn – and the developers want to hear from you
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s iconic Rylands building, formerly home to the Debenhams department store, is being reborn.
And now the developers working on its new chapter want Mancunians to weigh in on which businesses we want to see in the landmark building.
The transformation of Rylands Manchester will honour the heritage character of the building, which dates back to 1932, but will introduce contemporary design and a list of residents that’s bang up to date for our modern city centre.
The plans include building a four-storey extension with panoramic city views and a bright, central atrium. When it completes, this Grade II-listed art deco building will bring together workspace, retail, and leisure, right at the beating heart of town between the Northern Quarter, Piccadilly, Manchester Arndale, and the central business district.
Standing proudly at the top of Market Street, this next era for Rylands will establish it as an exciting new destination in the heart of town when its phased completion begins from late 2026.
Already confirmed to be moving in is Market Place Food Hall with its first northern location, which has signed on for a 15 year lease to occupy the ground floor of Rylands.
Market Place Food Hall is already confirmed to be moving into RylandsRylands is entering a new era
But now Rylands are putting it back to locals to ask what shops, restaurants, or cafes we’d love to see moving in.
It could be a high street hero you’ve loved for years, an independent business you’ve fallen for, or a foodie spot you return to time and time again.
Your ideas could help to shape the future of this landmark building and make it a destination us Mancs can be proud of.
And if you submit your suggestions in the comments of THIS Instagram post, you could be in with a chance of winning a £100 Love2Shop voucher (make sure you’re following @Rylands_manchester for a chance to win).
Daisy Jackson -
15th March 2023 
