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This is your last chance to see the immersive ‘Van Gogh Alive’ experience before it leaves MediaCity

Van Gogh Alive is "the world’s most visited immersive, multi-sensory experience".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th December 2021

Over 100,000 people have been to visit the Van Gogh Alive experience since it arrived at MediaCity UK a couple of months back.

Van Gogh Alive is “the world’s most visited immersive, multi-sensory experience”.

It exhibits the life and work of the seminal Dutch artist, and after having welcomed over eight million visitors in 70 cities around the world – including sell-out runs in London and Birmingham – the art and culture experience pitched up at Salford Quays towards the end of October.

It takes people on a trip through the periods of Van Gogh’s life that defined him as an artist and showcases 3,000 images, including some of his most iconic works like Starry Night and Sunflowers, and lesser-known paintings inspired by his love of Japanese woodprints. 

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Created by Grande Experiences, Van Gogh Alive has received rave reviews since arriving up North and has been called a “glorious, stunning, but also very moving” exhibition.

In case you haven’t heard of the exhibition, or you haven’t had the chance to head on down to visit it yet, then it features state-of-the-art gallery technology set to an evocative classical score that’s delivered via a 3D sound system, and an interpretive area where visitors can learn more about Van Gogh’s life, as well as interactive art stations that let people create their own art with the help of expert video tutorials.

The exhibition is also home to a life-sized walk-in representation of Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom in Arles’ painting and a ‘Sunflower selfie room’ – a 360° mirrored space complete with hundreds of sunflowers.

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“This is an unforgettable cultural experience for all the family,” said Bruce Peterson – Owner of Grande Experiences – ahead of the exhibition’s arrival.

Van Gogh Alive is “the world’s most visited immersive, multi-sensory experience” / Credit: Van Gogh Alive

Also speaking on the importance of the exhibition’s arrival to the area, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett added: “Communities have really missed experiencing arts and entertainment, with the hospitality and creative industries being amongst the hardest hit from the impacts of COVID-19, so it is brilliant to be seeing the creative industries launching new and innovative experiences for all to enjoy within a safe framework.”

But next month, after hundreds of thousands of people have set their eyes on it, the critically-acclaimed event will be waving goodbye to Greater Manchester.

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And this is your last chance to book tickets.

Over 100,000 people have visited the exhibition since it arrived at MediaCity UK a couple of months back / Credit: Van Gogh Alive

Van Gogh Alive will close on 23 January 2022 at MediaCityUK.

Tickets are priced at £23.50 for adults and £16.50 for children, with concessions and school group discounts available. 

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Christie charity either when purchasing tickets, or while at the exhibition, with Marie Toller – Head of Major Relationships at the charity – adding: “The Christie relies on the support and donations from the public to provide our patients with the very best care, treatment and access to research options.

“Monies raised from the Van Gogh Alive exhibition will go towards making life that little bit easier for cancer patients and enhancing their experience while at The Christie hospital.”

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You can grab your tickets here.

Featured Image – Van Gogh Alive

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From furlough to the hall of flame: the Wing Fest champions putting Manchester on the map 

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

This September the world’s biggest wing festival will return to Manchester, bringing together the UK’s best for a two-day event celebrating the humble chicken wing.

Set to serve a whopping 200,000 wings over that 48 hour period, expectations are already high for Wing Fest’s return this Autumn.

As it gears up to make its way back to the city, we take a look at some of the winners from years past to give you an idea of what to expect (and who to make a beeline for).

From established restaurants to pop-up concepts launched on furlough, there’s some real variety to be discovered here amongst the street food stalls – making Wing Fest a must-attend event for foodies that are serious about their chicken. 

Mexican Seoul

First up we spoke with hall of flame multiple award-winners Mexican Seoul, who have taken home a host of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in recent years. 

Founded in lockdown after owner Ashley Chipchase found himself on furlough from his job, Mexican Seoul first attended Wing Fest as customers before deciding to give the street food festival a go themselves.

After winning three awards in a row, he made the decision to quit his job and go pro – right there on stage. 

Image: Mexican Seoul
Image: Mexican Seoul

Ashley told The Manc: “After getting furloughed from our jobs we decided to turn a negative into a positive and spent the next 6 months refining our home recipes and trialling different frying methods. 

“We ended up juggling a full time job whilst working street food markets at the weekend and prepping into the early hours of the morning. 

“We’ve been going to Wing Fest as customers since 2016 and it’s always been a goal to compete. We were lucky enough to be invited down and it really gave us a fantastic opportunity to showcase our menu and we are still blown away we picked up awards. 

“When we got invited on stage for three awards it was like a movie. Being recognised for what we do was amazing. They told us to say something on the microphone and we ended up quitting our daytime jobs there and then, on the stage, at Wing Fest.” 

Read more: The world’s biggest chicken wing festival is coming back to Manchester

Image: Mexican Seoul

Inspired to get into street food by fellow Wing Fest trader Wingman’s after discovering them in 2016, he also tells us he drew inspiration for his wings from the LA food truck scene – naming Korean-American chef Roy Choi as a particularly strong influence. 

The signature wings to look out for here at Mexican Seoul are the Gochu-Gang, made spicy with fermented Korean chilli paste then sauced up with added sesame oil, soy sauce and ginger, All made using free range, halal chicken that’s been brined for 24 hours in buttermilk chicken, wings are then double fried to create a signature crispy texture. 

That’s not all he does, though, Ashley also serves a range of different Korean-inspired tacos with special sauces made in house from scratch. 

Read more: Frankie’s has opened a Breville toastie stall inside the Arndale Market

Image: Yard and Coop

Asked how he feels about coming back to Manchester this year, he said: “Each time we visit we notice that the street food scene is growing rapidly… the last time we were there we found an amazing pizza place called Ramona that had one of the best Detroit pizzas we have tried in the UK.  

“We never thought we would be showcasing our food across the UK so it feels like an amazing opportunity be able to bring our Gochu-Gang wings to Manchester.”

Yard and Coop

Alongside Mexican Seoul, we also spoke with local Manchester-based winners Yard and Coop who have been a fixture of the Northern Quarter’s culinary scene since 2015. 

Owners Laura and Carl Morris took home their first Wing Fest award last year, scooping up third place in the Judges’ Choice Buffalo Wing category but tell us they ‘plan on coming back bigger and better this year.’

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Image: Yard and Coop
Image: Yard and Coop

The pair, who tell us they have eaten in ‘just about every fried chicken joint in the UK and a fair few in New York and beyond’ say there are plenty of Americana influences to be found in their food before adding: ‘we will literally deep fry anything’.

They’re not kidding. Tihs Easter just gone, they deep fried a creme egg for a special – something that went down an absolute treat with customers. 

As for what their Wing Fest signature recipes will be this year, they say they’re ‘still testing recipes’ but will definitely ‘bring that extra level’.

They said: “At wing fest as we 24hr brine them then pressure fry so the meat falls off the bone. Then we buttermilk and crumb them with our secret recipe. Each wing has had so much love before it ends up on your plate!” 

“It’s our manor  – we are here to bring the title home where it belongs.” 

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How to get Wing Fest tickets

Taking place this year from 24-25 September, tickets for Wing Fest Manchester 2022 are on sale now.

Combining wings, music, beer and bourbon across a two-day celebration of the best chicken wings the UK has to offer, festival-goers can expect to find over 20 different street food traders, restaurants and BBQ teams on site across the weekend.

To find out more and get your ticket, click here.

Feature image – Wing Fest / Mexican Seoul

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Mancs encouraged to ‘follow the millionaires’ and move to Dubai to sell luxury homes

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the largest real estate companies in the UAE is back in Manchester this month in the search for the next “superstars” to join its team.

And you don’t even need any experience to get started.

Following the success of its last two recruitment events back in March, tech-driven real estate agency Allsopp & Allsopp – which was founded in 2008 in Dubai, and has since gone from strength to strength to develop into one of the best real estate companies the country has to offer – is paying another visit to our city later this month to encourage Mancs to “follow the millionaires” who have already moved to Dubai to sell luxury homes with no prior experience.

Allsopp & Allsopp puts its success down to “a lot of hard work”, and now the company wants more people with “an entrepreneurial mindset” to help them continue that success.

“We’re looking for that person who is questioning how they take the next step financially in their career, that person who is tired of having capped income at in their current workplace, and that person who wants to enjoy serious wealth growth,” says co-founder and CEO Lewis Allsopp.

“Ultimately, we’re looking for serial winners,” he added.

Why Dubai? 

Well, not only has the UAE been rated the most favourable destination for millionaire migration in 2022, according to the latest Henley Global Citizens Report, but Lewis Allsopp also says the Dubai property market is “like nowhere else in the world at the moment” and “has made many people wealthy over the last few years”.

“It’s now the number one destination for real estate in the world,” he explained.

“Dubai is the place to be with its outlooks and ambitious plans and tax free earnings, and the country creates endless opportunities for investors and expats.”

Register to attend the events on the Allsopp & Allsopp website here.

Do I really not need any experience?

“We have hired many people from an array of backgrounds,” Lewis revealed.

“Estate agency being one, but also plumbers, car sales executives, painters and decorators, supermarket managers, and many more.

“We are looking for people with ambition and a hunger to make money. The job is not easy and hard work is definitely required but if you want it enough, you can change your life and your lifestyle significantly.

“What we have realised over the years, is that experience doesn’t make you successful, but a serious drive and passion to make money – I’m looking for personality over a paper CV.”

What does the job actually involve?

Ultimately, Lewis admits that the job of a real estate agent in Dubai is “not for the faint hearted”.

“You have to work hard at all hours of the day to make it worthwhile, and there are days where you will feel defeated, but the good days are so good that the bad days don’t seem so bad.

“The hours are long, but the rewards for those who are successful are life changing.”

How much can you realistically earn?

When it comes to the topic of money, which is often one of the biggest questions the company gets, Lewis revealed that some of the top earners in Allsopp & Allsopp originally came from salaried jobs in the UK where they took home no more than £50,000 each year, and they now earn more than £1,000,000 – with the average agent taking home £500,000 annually.

He says it “shows earning this amount of money can be done”.

Co-founder Lewis Allsopp / Credit: Allsopp & Allsopp

“The average basic house is £500,000, we charge 4% to facilitate the sale, each sale is £20,000 to the company and the agent gets a 50% split, so if you sell three houses a month, you make £30,000 tax free,” he added.

Lewis admits that he is “fully aware that it can come across crass to talk about how much money you earn”, but said that if he was sitting at his desk thinking to himself that he deserves more and could make a million pounds in a year tax free, then “I would be reaching out to that company”.

“We don’t guarantee anyone will make that money, but Dubai and Allsopp & Allsopp certainly offer the opportunity to,” he assured people.

What is it like to work for Allsopp & Allsopp?

The Allsopp & Allsopp offices are said to be “vibrant and full of energy”, with a DJ stand and barista to keep you fueled through the rollercoaster days of being a real estate agent.

Lewis revealed that the working environment they have created mirrors the energy and positivity that’s needed to excel in the role, not just as a real estate agent, but in all aspects of the business that the Allsopp & Allsopp Group stands for.

The company has its own onboarding team with a proven track record of success in the market – as well as producing multiple millionaires – and their role is to provide new recruits with an extensive training programme that gets them kitted-out with all the tools that are needed to start making money.

Allsopp & Allsopp is back in Manchester in the search for the next “superstars” to join its team / Credit: Allsopp & Allsopp

How can I get involved?

If you think the role of a real estate agent in Dubai is something you’d like to explore, or you’re just curious to find out more information, then Allsopp & Allsopp is hosting recruitment event at The Edwardian Manchester hotel on Thursday 18 August from 6pm, and Friday 19 August from 3pm.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn, ask questions, share experiences, and hear case studies of people on the ground working in Dubai for the Allsopp & Allsopp Group.

“We see huge value in the events, and we’re proud to be visiting Manchester to see what talent we can attract,” Lewis concludes.

You can register to attend the events on the Allsopp & Allsopp website here.

Featured Image – Allsopp & Allsopp

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