The winter months are now here in full force, and much of Greater Manchester has woken up to some crisp weather in recent days.
After shoppers were seen flocking in their thousands to their nearest Primark store last September in the hopes of getting their hands on the viral £14 ‘Snuddie’ – which is basically an oversized hoodie that’s made out of a fluffy, teddy bear-style blanket material – budget supermarket retailer Aldi is now taking warming loungewear to the next level.
With those chilly temperatures set to stick around a little longer, Aldi is now selling a heated dressing gown, and it’s already proving to be a sought-after winter warmer.
Available both online, and from the classic ‘middle aisle’ in Aldi stores up and down the country, the Kirkton House Heated Coat is made out of a soft flannel fleece and has double layer heating, with nine different temperature levels.
A description for the dressing gown on the Aldi website reads: “Fight off the winter chills with this Kirkton House Heated Coat.
“While the weather turns cold outside you can remain warm.
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“This soft, cosy and heated coat not only looks great, but is practical too, and all you have to do is wrap it around you, set your ideal temperature and enjoy that warm and cosy feeling.”
The Kirkton House Heated Coat is made out of a soft flannel fleece and has double layer heating / Credit: Aldi UK
The best bit? It will only set you back £34.99.
A post about the heating dressing gown shared to the ever-popular Coupon Mama UK page on Facebook has not only amassed a whopping 4,000+ enthusiastic comments in less than 24 hours, but some shoppers are giving it rave reviews too.
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One shopper said: “Really pleased with this blanket. I have the grey one and it’s lovely and soft, and heats up quickly too which is what I wanted. Great for home working.”
If that last comment is anything to go by, then people looking to get their hands on the dressing gown will need to keep their eyes peeled and their fingers crossed as they head on down to their nearest Aldi store, and you can check the opening times of your local branch via the Store Finder here.
You can grab the Kirkton Heated House Coat in store and on the Aldi website.
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers
Emily Sergeant
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ for autistic and neurodiverse customers shopping in its stores across the UK.
Supermarket shopping isn’t always the most pleasant or manageable of experiences for everyone, especially for those who are autistic or neurodivergent – with bright lights, loud sounds, strong smells, and crowds of people making it a rather overwhelming and overstimulating atmosphere.
This is why Morrisons has decided to collaborate with the National Autistic Society to introduce dedicated ‘Sensory Support Boxes’ at its stores nationwide, as a way to both mark World Autism Acceptance Month, and help autistic and neurodivergent customers have the positive shopping experience they deserve.
These boxes have been carefully-developed in consultation with the National Autistic Society to ensure they include the most helpful items.
A range of toys like fidget balls, spinners, and squish mats can all be found inside the boxes – which will be eventually be available in all 500 Morrisons supermarkets by May – to help encourage calmness and focus.
All that customers wishing to access the items need to do is simply speak to a colleague at the customer service kiosk of their local Morrisons store.
More than one in 100 people are autistic, and there are 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Morrisons is introducing ‘sensory support boxes’ in stores for autistic and neurodiverse customers / Credit: Morrisons
Speaking on the decision to introduce the Sensory Support Boxes into UK stores, Joseph Clark-Bland, who is the Community Manager at Morrisons, said: “It’s a priority for us to ensure all Morrisons customers feel welcomed and understood.
“We’re proud to be leading the way in creating a more inclusive shopping environment for autistic people, their families and all neurodivergent people across the UK.
“World Autism Acceptance Month has been a key moment for Morrisons for many years, and we look forward to supporting even more customers via our new Sensory Boxes.”
The introduction of the Sensory Support Boxes comes after Morrisons first trialled a ‘Quieter Hour’ in some of its stores back in 2018, before rolling it out nationwide in 2024 due to its success and positive feedback.
Featured Image – Morrisons
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Greater Manchester cinemas to screen family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films, and some new releases, all throughout this upcoming spring holidays.
The best bit? Prices start from a massively-affordable £2.50 a ticket.
With Easter right around the corner, and schools across Greater Manchester set to be on their spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, parents and carers will likely be looking for ways to keep the kids entertained while schools are out.
But now it’s time to take care of those film lovers… and also those keen to plan budget-friendly events that also take into account the classic Manchester April showers.
Cinema chain Vue has announced its lineup of family blockbusters showing at venues across Greater Manchester this spring – including Printworks, Lowry, Bolton, Altrincham, and Bury.
Arriving in time for the school holidays, A Minecraft Movie welcomes fans to their favourite cubic wonderland, while the whole family can instead transport themselves into Disney’s reimagining of the 1937 classic Snow White if they’d prefer.
Also returning to the big screen are childhood classics like Wallace & Gromit: Curse of The Were-Rabbit, 20 years after its original release, and the beloved Babe, to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary.
Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring / Credit: Disney | Aardman Animations
And as part of Vue’s ‘Mighty Mornings’ offering, film fans can enjoy pre-releases of family-friendly flicks like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Moana 2 every day throughout half term, all from just £2.49 per ticket when booked online.
“A trip to Vue this Easter break is the perfect opportunity for families to immerse themselves in the magic of their favourite big screen characters,” commented Rob Lea, who is the Head of Screen Content at Vue UK & Ireland.
Emily Sergeant -
24th January 2022 
