A luxury hotel suite has been built at Old Trafford, offering some lucky fans the chance to spend the night at Manchester United’s home ground.
Marriott Bonvoy has created the Suite of Dreams accommodation, which will be the setting for the first ever overnight stay at the iconic stadium.
The hotel group is offering a lucky fan and a guest the chance to wake up in the football stadium, with a room overlooking the pitch.
As well as that, the package includes a number of behind-the-scenes experiences, including watching the team training and touring the stadium.
Inside the Suite of Dreams. Credit: Supplied
The winners of the Suite of Dreams stay will also be given match day tickets and hospitality.
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Whoever is chosen to spend the night will wake up at Old Trafford on the morning of the Premier League match against Chelsea in May.
Brian Povinelli, senior vice president of brand, loyalty and portfolio marketing at Marriott International, said: “Bringing our flagship brand, Marriott Hotels, to Old Trafford is just one of the ways we are bringing the extraordinary Marriott Bonvoy portfolio to life through our collaboration with Manchester United, one of the world’s most popular sports teams.
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“We’re thrilled to be creating this hospitality experience at this iconic location, giving a once-in-a-lifetime chance for fans to wake up in the home of Manchester United on the morning of a matchday.”
Victoria Timpson, Manchester United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, added: “From the very beginning of our partnership, Marriott Bonvoy has created some truly unique experiences, and this is no exception.
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“Whoever wins this opportunity will receive the same first-class hospitality as they would at any Marriott Hotels property around the world, with the added excitement of being hosted at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, one of the world’s most iconic football stadiums.”
To enter, visit ManUtd.com/SuiteofDreams and complete the form before 11:59 EST on April 15, 2022.
Featured image: Supplied
Trafford
A Kellogg’s exhibition celebrating all things cereal has opened in Greater Manchester
Lydia Mastrolonardo
A brand new exhibition honouring Kellogg’s 90-year legacy has opened this week, ahead of the cereal brand’s Trafford Park site closure.
Head on over to Sale’s very own Trafford Local Studies and Archive Centre, just over the road from the tram stop, to catch a glimpse into the past 90 years of local history of the iconic Kellogg’s Trafford Park manufacturing site.
This new exhibition is in place to celebrate the products, history and cultural significance of Kellogg’s Trafford Park factory, as well as to commemorate all of the exceptionally hard working individuals in Stretford who have been involved from the very beginning.
For this reason, the exhibition was developed in partnership with colleagues from the factory and is purposely set up in a space where the local community can access and appreciate it, as without them Kellogg’s wouldn’t be what it is today.
In January 2023, even King Charles III paid a visit to the factory, to celebrate the 100 years of Kellogg’s ‘Bringing Breakfast to Britain.’
Despite narrowly missing being hit during the Blitz, this particular site has managed to maintain its status of being the biggest cereal plant in Europe and at full capacity it is able to produce a million boxes of cereal a day – pretty impressive if you ask us.
Since 1938, when the factory first opened here in Stretford, lots has changed but fear not Kelloggs aren’t closing down – they are simply moving from the Trafford facility to Wrexham to facilitate more modern manufacturing.
You can expect to learn all of the history of our nation’s favourite cereal company as you walk around the Kellogg’s exhibition. The story is expertly told through a number of displays presenting more than 100 artefacts, rare collectibles, the contents of a time capsule, photographs and archival footage.
Old Kellogg’s packagingMore relics from the past
We found it particularly interesting seeing how the imagery and branding merchandise has evolved over almost a century, with the iconic characters that we know and love, looking rather different back in the day.
Whether you have a favourite character out of Tony the Tiger, Cornelius the Cockerel, or Coco the Monkey, go on down and see how Kellogg’s instantly recognisable cereal box mascots have changed over the years – it would seem at some point Tony started heading to the gym?!
There are even examples of Tony the Tiger and Coco the Monkey supporting Movember with their very own moustaches, or Tony-inspired face masks worn by staff throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The exhibition successfully evokes a strong sense of childhood nostalgia, with Kellogg’s forever being a cornerstone to Greater Manchester’s community life, many of us will be able to recall collecting the toys as a child, sending off for the collectibles, getting a multipack of the mixed small cereal boxes for a camping trip or even visiting the Kelloggs factory as a child with school and savouring that sweet smell.
You can learn about the history of Kellogg’sPure nostalgia
So, whether you’re an avid Crunchy Nut conflakes fan or you’ve recently found out about the nutritional benefits of Rice crispy bars as a pre-workout snack via Tiktok, go on down to learn more about this cracking bit of local history.
Tim McKnight, Plant Director at the Kellogg’s Trafford Park factory, said: “The Trafford Park factory means a great deal to us and the community, and we hope this exhibition helps celebrate that pride and the lasting contribution our colleagues have made to Greater Manchester.”
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: ” For nearly 90 years the plant has been a major local employer and a source of pride for generations of families, and this exhibition is a fitting tribute to the people behind the brand and the role they’ve played in shaping breakfast tables around the world.
“While we are saddened by the closure of the plant, it has been important for us to work with Kellogg’s to preserve and showcase these remarkable archives.”
Admission at Trafford Local Studies and Archives Centre is free, open six days a week with the exhibition on the ground floor of Sale Waterside running until early August 2026.
For further information to support the physical exhibition, head HERE.
11 Greater Manchester spots have been named among the UK’s Top 100 Curry Restaurants
Danny Jones
In another feather for Greater Manchester’s culinary cap, a total of 11 different Greater Manchester businesses have been named in this year’s list of the Top 100 Curry Restaurants in the UK.
Everyone knows how good the Asian food scene is here, so this comes as little surprise, really.
Nevertheless, we will absolutely be toasting these wins on behalf of all those by booking into at least one of the excellent foodie venues before the month is out – if they have any reservations left, that is.
Some of these names may not shock you, but we’re glad to see some really good up-and-coming independents or long-overlooked veterans finally getting their recognition. Here’s who made the cut across our ten boroughs, in no particular order (at least not ours, anyway).
The best places for a curry in Britain – Greater Manchester
1. Tyga – Manchester city centre
Formerly the site of Asha’s, which was already a much-loved Manc spot, the new chapter for the modern Indian restaurant on Peter St is a nice balance of authentic Rajasthani cuisine and more contemporary, elevated takes on Indo-Chinese dishes.
2. Peace Garden – Manchester
Another central spot located near the lively university area in and around Oxford Road Corridor, Peace Garden opened up back in 2022 and has gone on to become a hit with much more than just the students living nearby. Give it a try sometime soon.
The very grand spin-off of the original location in Levenshulme – now renamed as MyNawaab – the Royal Nawaab that has now been open for over a year inside the old Co-op pyramid next to the M60. They have also received a notable review from a highly renowned food journalist…
The third and final spot shouted out from within the city might make you double-take, aside from the seafood also do an incredible Japanese curry beef dish. Find out more about what they offer HERE.
Heading out into the borough of Bolton now, and arguably historic Lancashire depending on who you ask, Ayaan’s on Old Road has thousands of fantastic reviews ranging from four to five stars, and remains a renowned regional curry house. Here they are winning the best of the bunch last year:
A beautiful banquet hall and restaurant just on the outskirts of Cheetham and the Green Quarter, Al Maidah is a regular spot for big weddings or pretty much any special occasion, and it goes without saying that they do some incredible curries. They’ve come a long way over the past decade.
Finally heading over towards the direction of Curry Mile, we were expecting more places from the famous district to be named, to be honest, but we’ll definitely take Bardez, which also has a Didsbury restaurant. They do all-you-can-eat buffets, but from memory, chicken chettinad is the one…
Jadugar over in Alty hasn’t even been open for a year yet, but it’s already become the place to go out for a curry in the Trafford market town, with footballers and various other famous faces now making it one of their regular haunts. You can check out their menu online.
9. Purple Olive Ashton – Ashton-under-Lyne
Tameside natives will know this one well, but for those who may not be aware, the Purple Olive branch in Ashton is much more than part of a larger charger chain: this is the best of the bunch, quite literally – that’s why it made its way onto the list. So if you’re over Ashton way any time soon, why not pop in?
10. Spice Mafia – Urmston
Winging our way back to Trafford once again, this next bunch are no strangers to winning awards or picking up this accolade in particular, as cult favourite Spice Mafia has also been named once again. In fact, they earn their place on the list pretty much every year at this point:
Last but not least, ‘The Plaza‘; we confess we’ve only been there for one very messy night, but before it all went a bit fuzzy, we do remember we had some incredible scran, and you can see why so many people swear by it as increasingly not-so-quietly one of the best curry houses in Greater Manchester.
Before we wrap this up to takeaway, special shout-outs go to Ruchi Restaurant in the neighbouring Derbyshire town of Glossop, as well as another relatively nearby village venue, Sigiriya Grill in Knutsford.
Once again, these places have been hailed as not just some of the best curry houses in the region or even the North West, but in the ENTIRE country, according to the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) – a big honour, indeed.
Spotlighting venues that not only deliver top-notch food and drink with great service, but also serve as important community hubs, support the wider hospitality industry and maintain high standards, it’s no mean feat making your way into this round-up.
Daisy Jackson -
7th April 2022 
