Smirnoff, the world’s number-one vodka brand not to mention a leading force in wider music culture, has officially partnered with Co-op Live to mark the opening of the new state-of-the-art venue and its debut calendar.
The partnership will see the new ‘Co-op Live Summer Series presented by Smirnoff‘ run until 13 September 2024. As part of the collaboration, the vodka brand will surprise and delight guests visiting the venue with great-tasting drinks and the ultimate night out, with VIP packages and more.
Co-op Live has curated a stacked lineup of popular bands, singers and entertainers, including some of the biggest names in music, who are set to perform at Europe’s largest indoor entertainment venue.
Starting the Summer Series off with a bang presented by Smirnoff celebrations, the brand is offering friends a chance to win tickets to see their favourite stars perform live, hosted by celebrities including TV favourite Callum Jones, as well as social media and makeup virtuoso Mitchell Halliday.
Alongside their hosts, winners will enjoy access to the exclusive Decibel Club and enjoy the concert from a private suite hosted by Smirnoff, fully immersing themselves in the ultimate venue experience. Competition details (18+ only) can be found on Smirnoff’s Instagram page.
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Attendees at the 23,500 capacity Co-op Live arena will have the opportunity to choose from a range of Smirnoff favourites, including Smirnoff Raspberry Crush, Smirnoff Mango and Passionfruit Twist, Smirnoff No.21 and more.
These drinks will be available to guests over 18 at bars and grab-and-go stations throughout the venue, including the Smirnoff Founders Bar. Guests can also try the newest addition to the range, Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind, at the bar located on the concourse – fingers crossed there’ll be plenty of sun too.
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There is a unique must-try experience for all gig attendees: a 360-photo booth on Level 3, where guests can use fun props to snap the best and most high-end selfies they’ve ever taken, and have a chance to get their tickets upgraded that evening.
Operated by holding group Diaego, the aim of Smirnoff’s Co-op Live Summer Series is to reflect the vodka brand’s ongoing commitment to making music more accessible to everyone.
Smirnoff recently rolled out its ‘WE DO US’ campaign, activated through a series of initiatives that aim to reignite social connections and lower barriers to socialising.
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Tyler Monk, Smirnoff Brand Manager at Diageo Great Britain, said: “Smirnoff is on a mission to make music more accessible and create unforgettable experiences that bring people together through live music. We’re proud to partner with Co-op Live and be part of Manchester’s vibrant music scene, offering great-tasting Smirnoff drinks, music, and unique experiences to a wider audience.”
Check the website for the full schedule of events at Co-op Live HERE.
Featured Images — Smirnoff (supplied)/The Manc Group
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10 of the best museums and galleries in Greater Manchester
Lydia Mastrolonardo
In need of a day trip, but the weather’s rubbish and money’s a bit tight? You’ll want to have a read of this then.
We just so happen to have put together a list with some of the best museums and galleries that our wonderful region has to offer – whether transport, dinosaurs, or artwork is your thing, there really is something for everyone.
There are so many amazing options in Greater Manchester that it would be silly not to make the most out of them.
So without further ado and in no particular order, here’s 10 of the best museums and art galleries across the region.
Manchester Museum
Oxford Road
Starting off strong with one of our personal favourites, Manchester Museum.
Manchester Museum is not only side one of the city’s most spectacular 130-year-old neo-gothic buildings, but it also has a little bit of everything, which makes for a lovely day trip for everyone, as no matter your interest, there’s plenty to explore.
Think all things natural history – from taxidermy tigers, to mummies, and cultural exhibitions from across the world. While you’re there, why not take the kids to meet Stan the Tyrannosaurus Rex?
Open every day apart from Mondays, all galleries and exhibitions are free but you must book in advance for the temporary exhibitions.
Hat Works
Stockport
Over in Stockport is where you can find the UK’s only museum dedicated to the hatting industry, tucked away inside a Victorian mill.
Many people don’t even realise that this South Manchester town was, in fact, once the centre of the British hat-making industry, but that’s why this museum walks you through the history of all things hatting, whilst being easy on your pennies.
Admission is free for all, however booking in advance is recommended. If you want to go the full mile, you are also able to book a guided tour, which costs around £8.50 for adults and under 16s go free.
Open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10am-4pm.
Credit: The Manc Group
Museum of Transport
Cheetham Hill
Transport enthusiasts, this one’s for you.
Inside the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, you’ll find over 70 vintage buses, coaches, trams and fire engines.
Not only is this historic 1930s bus garage home to every kind of bus and tram you could imagine, but they also have a traditional tea room and museum shop that completely transport you back in time… get it? And throughout the year lots of different special events take place too, allowing visitors to travel in style on some of the historic vehicles from their collection.
Tickets for adults cost between £6 and £7.50, while people with disabilities, or accompanied children under 16, can enter for free.
Open 10am-4:30pm on Wednesdays, weekends, and bank holidays.
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Imperial War Museum North
Trafford Park
IWM North takes you on a journey all the way from the First World War, to current conflicts.
The waterfront museum is completely filled with art installations and interactive exhibitions exploring the impact of war on society
They also run accessible, sensory-friendly ‘relaxed hours’ on the first Sunday of every month, for those that benefit from the opportunity to explore in a quieter environment, and there are also quiet breakout rooms available, as well as an indoor area for anyone wishing to bring a packed lunch.
Open daily from 10am-5pm, except over Christmas, IWM North is completely free to enter and no booking is necessary.
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Science and Industry Museum
Manchester City Centre
There’s always something going on at the Science and Industry Museum, that you can guarantee.
From its fabulous selection of permanent free galleries, like Revolution Manchester or the Textiles Gallery, to its ever-changing selection of exhibitions and events, there’s something for all ages and interests to get involved with.
Not to mention a fantastic range of activities for the little astronauts and scientists among us all year round.
The museum is open every day from 10am-5pm.
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Credit: The Manc Group
Fireground
Rochdale
Fireground explores the different scenarios that our brave fire service have overcome across the past 200 years – including two World Wars, many terror incidents, house fires, and vehicle crashes – and is fully equipped with uniforms medals, paintings, and the fire engines themselves to really immerse visitors in the world.
The museum is open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am-4pm, with children’s tickets costing £6, adults £8, and those under three going free, but we think it’s well worth a visit.
There’s also free onsite car parking, as well as being easily accessed from the Metrolink stop directly outside and the train station a stone’s throw away.
People’s History Museum
Spinningfields
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Everyone should visit the People’s History Museum at least once in their lives if you want to feel empowered.
The museum explains Britain’s major political parties and movements, as well as covering historic activism, protests and events such as the Peterloo Massacre, the emergence of the NHS and the continuous fight for LGBTQIA+ equality, among many other important causes.
This colour-coded gallery explores multiple different themes – including courage, revolution, reform, loyalty, dignity, and peace.
Open 10am-5pm every day, except Tuesdays, and entry is completely free.
Credit: The Manc Group
Bolton Museum
Bolton
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The family-friendly Bolton Museum is another one that’s got a bit of everything.
It’s home to over 3,500 pieces of fine art, dating from the 18th century to now, as well as a botanical collection boasting about 60,000 different specimens, over 100 ceramics, and a surprisingly vast collection of Egyptology due to Bolton’s links to the cotton trade.
While the Nature Gallery is currently partially closed, there are plenty of other areas to explore celebrating art, culture and history.
The museum is free to all and open 9am-5pm every day, with slightly different hours on Wednesdays and Sunday.
Portland Basin Museum
Ashton-under-Lyne
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This award-winning museum can be found within an old canal warehouse.
Its purpose is to showcase local history of the Tameside area, hence why the location seems particularly fitting with it being located on a historic canal junction – which during the Industrial Revolution would have been a bustling hub for trade.
Their current exhibition, Period Street, serves as a portal back in time to the 1920s, with traditional shops and housing that portray life back then. There’s also an educational play area for the little ones.
It’s open from 10am-4pm on Tuesdays to Sundays, with completely free entry and parking.
Greater Manchester Police Museum
Northern Quarter
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Ever wanted to know what a 1879 police station or 1895 court room looked like? Now’s your chance.
Since being founded back in 1981, Greater Manchester Police Museum has curated a collection of police-related objects and archive material packed with history.
To get full access to the archive, you must book an appointment, but the museum is easily accessible from all over Greater Manchester, due to it being in such close proximity to Manchester Piccadilly Station.
It’s open to the public on Tuesdays from 10:30am-4pm, free of charge, but if you wish to book a private tour or larger group visit, this is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Credit: The Manc Group / Drew Forsyth (Science Museum Group)
Who knew educational activities could be so fun and cheap?
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Now all you have to do is plan your route, absorb as much information as possible, and most importantly, enjoy yourself.
While many of these have free car parking, we would always advocate for you to use green methods of travel, as well as aiming to save money where possible, which is why using the Bee Network is the perfect way to get around.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Scare City returns to abandoned theme park with eight new horror zones this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Scare City will be back in the North West once again this Halloween, and there’s eight new chilling horror zones this year.
After having firmly cemented itself as the region‘s favourite horror event for the past five years running, Scare City has announced that it’s getting ready for ‘another year of terror’ over in Lancashire, and although it may be the middle of summer right now and spooky season is some time off, tickets are currently on sale.
Once summer is over, the nights draw in, and the temperatures begin to drop, Scare City will be taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park from next month, just as it has done for the past five years.
As mentioned, this year’s event is set to feature eight terrifying new zones.
Scare City returns to an abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween / Credit: Jason Roberts (Supplied)
There is no single story to survive this year. Instead, guests will be thrown from one nightmare into another – from a Victorian barber with blood on his hands, to a demonic orphanage, a cannibal settlement, a cursed forest, and a military bunker where the deceased are no longer dead.
One of the most sinister new additions is ‘Cutthroat & Co’, where the polished world of a Victorian barber conceals something rotten beneath the surface.
There’s also ‘The Devils Orphanage’, which brings a far more unsettling kind of terror with the sounds of children’s laughter and nursery rhymes echoing through the place.
For those who make it beyond these horrors, there is little chance of finding safety.
The ‘Correction Facility’ plunges guests into the abandoned Camelot Asylum. ‘The Settlement’ offers a glimpse into a world after civilisation has collapsed, and ‘Thornveil Coven’ takes guests into a forest controlled by an ancient circle, where paths twist, whispers follow, and the woods themselves appear determined to keep intruders trapped.
‘CarniValley’ may be the only surviving zone from previous editions of Scare City, but survival is no longer guaranteed here.
Even when guests think they have escaped the horror, ‘Rest Bite’ offers no guarantee of safety, as the new food and bar experience has been designed as a retro diner and arcade inhabited by vampires and freaks who have their own ideas about entertainment.
More information about what other horrors await will be announced very soon.
Scare City 2026 will take over Camelot Theme Park, in Charnock Richard near Chorley in Lancashire, from Saturday 26 September and run until early November.
Tickets are now on sale and you can get yours here.
Danny Jones -
26th July 2024 
