It’s the start of the new academic year, and Manchester’s biggest student shopping event returns to the city centre this week.
After a year off in 2020, MCR Student Social is back and bigger than ever, bringing a whole host of discounts across four days so that both new and returning students can make the most of unmissable offers in the Arndale, and at stores throughout the city centre from Thursday 30 September – Sunday 3 October.
Over 120 designer, high street, and independent stores will be giving up to 50% off.
Levi’s, Barbour, Ann Summers, Dr Martens, Tommy Hilfiger, Urban Outfitters, Adidas, Michael Kors, Pandora, Game, Lindt, and New Look are just some of the big names offering a range discounts over the four days.
Not only that, but there’s also big discounts on food and drink in a range of chain restaurants including 50% off at Wolf Italian Street Food, 33% off at Pizza Hut, and 30% off at Bella Italia.
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There’s also 20% off at Archie’s, Auntie Anne’s, and Bagel Factory.
📢📢Calling all students📢📢
MCR Student Social is back and bigger than ever. From 30 September – 3 October, make the most of over 120 exclusive offers throughout the Arndale and in stores across the city centre.
MCR Student Social is back bringing a whole host of discounts across four days / Credit: CityCo & Manchester BID / Jason Lock
Market Street & Royal Exchange
& Other Stories
Amaranth
Ann Summers
Arthur Kay Jewellers
Barbour
Boots
Diamond Heaven
Dr Martens
Fjallraven
Foot Locker
French Connection
Hotel Chocolat
Irregular Choice
Lanigan & Hulme
L’Occitane
Lush
Molton Brown
Moss Bros
O2
Scribbler
Shuh
Size?
The Body Shop
Three
Urban Outfitters
Vodafone
Whittard
WHSmith
Yards Store
Corporation Street & Deansgate
Cafe Nero
Classic Football Shirts
Warhammer
Over 120 designer, high street, and independent stores will be giving up to 50% off / Credit: CityCo & Manchester BID / Jason Lock
If you’re looking to really make the most of the event, make sure you can head down to the Arndale and surrounding streets on 30 September between 12-7pm for the MCR Student Social official launch party.
Market Street will be buzzing with live entertainment and DJs, amazing food, competitions and giveaways, and loads more activities to get involved with.
There’ll be exclusive freebies, vouchers, and special prizes to win.
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MCR Student Social is organised by Manchester Arndale and Manchester Business Improvement District (BID), in collaboration with The Manc.
You can find more information here.
Featured Image – CityCo / Manchester BID
Trending
The Sopranos stars finally visit much-loved Manchester sandwich inspired by the show
Danny Jones
In what feels like an inevitable story in the making for a long time now, members of The Sopranos cast have finally visited the popular Manchester sandwich spot inspired by the show, Bada Bing.
We know were biased, but we believe there’s an argument to be made that the beloved Manc butty shop has perhaps an even more fervent cult following than die-hard viewers of the hit American TV drama.
In case you somehow still don’t know the connection, Bada Bing is named after the strip club where several of the main characters work and spend a lot of their time.
Having returned to Manchester city centre back in 2024 after a successful first stint, they’ve been busier than ever, and that famous local name seems to have spread further than ever, including all the way over to the States, where actors from the original show caught wind and have now made the pilgrimage.
You might wonder why they didn’t name it after the butchers and deli, Satriale’s, or maybe even Artie Bucco’s oft-featured restaurant, Vesuvio. Both seem pretty ideal, right?
But let’s be honest, Bada Bing just has a better ring to it; there’s no denying that.
Either way, when series stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa came over to Manchester last week for a live edition of their podcast (which has just wrapped a limited UK tour) at the O2 Apollo.
But whilst they were here, they also made sure to visit a lunchtime joint that we’re sure Tony, Paulie, Christoper, Silvio and all of The Sopranos regulars would approve of.
While they didn’t quite perch out on the stoop with an espresso and a cigar, they did pose with co-owner Sam Gormally for a quick photo op outside the door.
Oh, and we don’t even need to confirm whether or not they liked the heroes – we just know they did.
‘Chris’ Moltisanti himself, Imperioli, also hopped on social media to share another key moment from his visit to the region:
Writing on their TikTok post, the Babd Bing boys dubbed it a “full circle moment” and reiterated that they still “can’t believe this just happened.
To be honest, we’ve barely got over it ourselves, and we’re just very big fans of the place.
We simply cannot imagine how surreal that day must have been for the whole team and everyone involved, and we hope we get a fun new special toasting the pair’s appearance sometime soon.
Featured Images — Bada Bing/Michael Imperioli (via Instagram)
Trending
Grammy-winning hardcore band Turnstile perform ‘exceptional’ cover of a Stone Roses classic
Danny Jones
In a cover version we never knew we needed, multiple Grammy award-winning hardcore band Turnstile have taken social media timelines by storm with a cover of a true British rock classic by The Stone Roses.
Described as everything from “pretty damn brilliant” and “exceptional” by CLASH Magazine to “one of the best triplej covers ever”, it’s fair to say they smashed it with this one.
This one was always likely to go down well with us Mancs, but you never know how possessive people are going to be with iconic tunes treasured not just by regions but entire eras like this.
Without further ado, please enjoy Turnstile’s cover of ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ by The Stone Roses:
Lost track of how many times we’ve watched this now.
Truly excellent.
Not only did they manage to capture the ambient atmosphere of that legendary intro, but they managed to tow the thin paint-splattered line between simply trying to imitate the original and making it their own.
There’s something about frontman Brendan Yates’ vocals that suits this particular cover so very well right from the off.
We’re, of course, not saying that he sounds like Ian Brown in any way, but his range and top notes, in particular, seemed to fit almost perfectly.
Pair that with a contemporary rock band helping rejuvenate their particular guitar-driven genre, and those raw, driving D-beat-centric drums, and you’ve got a winning combo.
As you can see, the majority of the internet seems to agree with us…
.@TURNSTILEHC step into the @triplej studio to recover their take on The Stone Roses' debut album opener 'I Wanna Be Adored'.
The bulk of social media didn’t just hail the reimagining as one that did Brown, John Squire, Reni and the late, great Mani justice, but perhaps one of the greatest that the popular Australian radio station, YouTube channel and Spotify playlisters have seen in a long time.
In fact, in Audio North‘s humble opinion, we’d go so far as to say this is the best we’ve heard in the platform since their native Royel Otis’ delightful duo of The Cranberries and Sophie Ellis-Bextor covers.
Safe to say it’s been an incredible year for Turnstile, who mopped up all manner of accolades in 2025 and were even nominated for International Group at the BRITs here in Manchester this past weekend. They might not have won that one, but they get all the plaudits from us for their song selection alone.
What did you make of it? Better still, do you have a favourite triplej ‘Like a Version’? Actually, no – scrap that: is there a better cover of a Manc artist‘s track that you can think of?
Emily Sergeant -
27th September 2021 
