From taking a journey around the human body, to discovering the birth of computing, and more, there’s so much happening Science and Industry Museum this February half term.
If you’re looking for some science-filled fun and discovery when the schools are out in Greater Manchester from Saturday 12 to Sunday 27 February, then one of the city’s most-loved museums is giving you the chance to explore a whole host existing exhibitions and take part in some exiting experiments during the holidays.
Here’s everything you can be getting up to.
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Exhibitions
Cancer Revolution: Science, innovation and hope
One of the most-popular exhibitions currently at the museum is the Cancer Revolution: Science, innovation and hope, which the first “major object-rich exhibition” to reveal the past, present and future of how cancer is prevented, detected and treated.
Through never-before seen objects and stories, cutting edge treatment and research, reflection, new artist commissions and installations, film, photography, interactive exhibits and a breadth of personal stories, the museum says the exhibition will present the stories of people affected by cancer and those who study and treat it.
You can discover the fascinating science behind our bodies through activities especially created to mark this world-first exhibition, as the museum’s team of Explainers will be presenting activities that reveal some of the different ways we can see inside our bodies at ‘Science Stops’ across the museum every day.
There’ll be everything from microscopes and magnets, to high-tech cameras, and the chance to make a model cell badge to take away.
The charming final work of one of Britain’s best loved artists, sculptors, and famed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang creator, Rowland Emett, is now on display in Manchester for the first time in the museum’s Textiles Gallery until April.
Constructed in 1984, the unique moving sculpture named – which is named ‘A Quiet Afternoon in the Cloud Cuckoo Valley’ – was saved for the UK after being purchased for the Science Museum Group Collection with support from Art Fund, the Science Museum Foundation, the Friends of the National Railway Museum and private donors, and visitors are now able to see two scenes from the work of art telling the story of a journey aboard the imaginary ‘Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Railway,’ based on one of his cartoons.
A Quiet Afternoon in the Cloud Cuckoo Valley / Credit: Science and Industry Museum
The two scenes – Far Tottering and Oyster Creek Railway, featuring the ‘Wild Goose’ locomotive, and Oyster Creek – will come to life twice a day at 11.30am and 2pm to treat visitors to the “whirring of cogs and characters toasting teacakes and diving”, while also revealing what this whimsical sculpture has in common with the museum’s thundering textiles machinery.
During the Revolution Manchester Show, the museum’s expert Explainers put on an action-packed show that tells the story of how science met industry right here in Manchester, building our world and shaping our lives today.
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You can discover Manchester’s role as a nerve centre of the Industrial Revolution, be amazed by the power of steam as you learn how it powered cotton factories and transport on the world’s first passenger and goods railway, and find out how Manchester continues to drive change, from computing to cutting edge scientific research.
The Textiles Gallery & Experiment / Credit: Science and Industry Museum
Experiment
Experiment is a favourite with families, and it’s where science is brought to life through a series of interactive exhibits – including staring into the mirror of infinity, finding out if you’ve got the strength to lift a Mini, and watching your own skeleton ride a bicycle.
In case you didn’t know, the Science and Industry Museum is currently going through a multi-million pound restoration programme, which means some areas including the Power Hall remain closed to the public – but don’t worry though, as there’s still plenty for families to do, see and enjoy during the holidays.
You can find out more about everything happening at the Science and Industry Museum this February half term, and grab tickets here.
Featured Image – Science and Industry Museum
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There’s a coffee subscription service that supports independent Manchester cafes
Daisy Jackson
A raft of Manchester’s very best coffee shops are listed on a subscription service with a difference, supporting independents across the city.
Coffee Club can save caffeine fiends up to £350 a year on their barista-made drinks through discounts at thousands of cafes.
As well as its 25% discounts, the creators of the app are also about to host a massive giveaway of totally free coffee for Mancs.
A van will be driven around the city centre on 5 and 6 October – anyone who snaps it and scans the QR code will be able to claim a free drink from any Black Sheep Coffee locations in Manchester.
The Coffee Club van will be driven around Manchester offering free coffee. Credit: Supplied
The freebies will be on a first-come, first-served basis on both Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October – a perfect way to power through to the end of the week.
A giant Coffee Club-branded coffee cup will also be placed in a mystery location in Manchester.
Anyone who snaps a photo of the cup and shares it with the hashtag #sipandsavemcr, also following @wearecoffeeclub on Instagram, will be in with a chance of winning £500 worth of coffee vouchers.
Even if you miss out on the giveaways, Coffee Club can get you big savings on your coffee order.
There are 75 independent businesses around Manchester that are listed on the app, including Ditto Coffee, Foundation Coffee, Bold Street Coffee, Alvarium, Rollers Café, Home Café and Mustard, as well as big-name coffee chains such as Caffe Nero.
You can get 25% off coffee, seven days a week – and the subscription is just £2.99 a month, with a free 30-day trial.
A new NYC-style pizza bar is opening in Warrington’s Time Square
The Manc
A new New York-style pizza bar is opening next month in Warrington’s very own £142 million Time Square development.
Called Parlour, it will serve up its NYC-style pizzas by the slice and as huge 22-inch pies from 11.30am every day.
As well as time-honoured favourites like margarita and pepperoni, Parlour’s pizza options will also a range of specials including a bee-themed pizza with chilli honey and a ‘controversial’ option with a Dr Pepper BBQ sauce.
Elsewhere, look out for The Controversial (tomato, mozzarella, pineapple and roast ham finished with rocket, parmesan and a Dr Pepper sauce), the Club Med (tomato, feta, spiced chicken, red onion) and the Vegan Deluxe (tomato, vegan’duja, courgette ribbons, Roquito pepper pearls, red onion, evoo and vegan parmesan.)
The handcrafted pizzas will be complemented by an eclectic menu of small plates ranging from tater tots and sticky sausages to mac n’ cheese alongside a range of delicious salads and healthy options.
As for drinks, Parlour will stock a range of independently-brewed craft beers and cocktails.
Think craft beers from Manchester favourite Shindigger as well as Liverpool’s Love Lane Brewery and specialty cocktails celebrating a host of locally-made spirits.
You’ll also find classics like the espresso martini and mojito served alongside twists on favourites like the spiced Pornstar, watermelon and black pepper margarita and the Bridge Street zombie, which consists of three rums, balanced with pineapple, orange, guava, passionfruit and lime finished with a drizzle of absinthe.
Elsewhere, weekly ‘Bloody Mary Sundays’ will see Parlour working with the Warrington Market and sourcing different ingredients to create a different Bloody Mary each week.
Elsewhere, look out for The Controversial (tomato, mozzarella, pineapple, and roast ham, finished with rocket, parmesan and a Dr Pepper bbq sauce; Club Med – Tomato sauce, feta, spiced chicken, tomato, red onion and Vegan Deluxe – Tomato sauce, vegan’duja, courgette ribbons, Roquito pepper pearls, red onion, evoo and vegan parmesan.
James Wrigley, Director of Parlour Bar + Eatery, said “It’s not long now until we open our doors and welcome the Warrington community to Parlour.
“We think it will perfectly complement everything that’s going on at Time Square, adding another layer of buzz to an already thriving destination. We’ve been working hard to ensure that we’ve got the food and drink right – it’s a real labour of love and we can’t wait for guests to come and enjoy it.”
Parlour will open its doors on 7 October at Time Square in Warrington.
Emily Sergeant -
4th February 2022 
