Mancs are being given the chance to name an actual real life snake after their snakey ex this Valentine’s Day.
If you cast your mind back to a couple of years ago, you may remember their was a local waste disposal company giving bitter Greater Manchester residents the option to have their ex’s name printed on the front of a wheelie bin, and obviously, people thought it was absolutely hilarious.
But if a wheelie bin wasn’t quite enough for you, then how about a snake instead?
Valentine’s Day can be just as much about celebrating the loves in our lives, as it is a chance to reflect on all the bad eggs who’ve been and gone, and be glad they’re a firmly a thing of the past – and now, as bizarre as it may sound, SEA LIFE Manchester is putting is giving you an opportunity to put those thoughts into action.
That’s because, the marine life attraction is letting disgruntled lovers and broken-hearted singles name one of its corn snakes after a not-so-special someone.
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SEA LIFE Manchester is home to three female and two male corn snakes, which means everyone can get involved with the naming activity, and make sure their ex is… hiss-tory, if you will.
Mancs can name a snake at SEA LIFE Manchester after their ex this Valentine’s Day / Credit: SEA LIFE Manchester
One of the most popular species to own as pets in the UK, and typically docile creatures – which some might say is a fitting feature of their ex – corn snakes have a lifespan of around 10-15 years, and while this sadly means they are often abandoned or handed over to rescue centres, it does also mean that you’ll be able to visit your newly-named snake for years to come.
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All five of SEA LIFE Manchester’s corn snakes have either been rescued by the RSPCA, or donated by those unable to look after them anymore, and the attraction says it’s “proud” to have been able to offer these slippery serpents their forever home, even if they will now be named after estranged exes.
“Valentine’s Day is one of the most miserable days for singletons,” admitted Jenn McDonough, who is the General Manager at SEA LIFE Manchester, “So we’re giving people who are unlucky in love a new reason to celebrate by naming their former lovers after snakes.
“If you want to heal your heartbreak or release some unresolved anger, then now is the perfect time to get revenge.”
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Fancy it then? To be considered for a the chance to name a hissing reptile and cement your ex’s sneaky status, then all you’ll need to do is head on over to the SEA LIFE Manchester website and simply submit the name of your former snakey partner.
The five winners will be selected at random by SEA LIFE Manchester staff, with the most popular names set to be released on the attraction’s social media platform soon.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
9th February 2024 
