If you’re looking to get a head-start on your Christmas shopping with the festive season just around the corner, then there’s arguably no better place in the north west than Cheshire Oaks.
Based in Ellesmere Port and just less than an hour’s drive from Manchester city centre, Cheshire Oaks is the largest Designer Outlet in the UK, and is home to over 400,000 square feet of retail space, with more than 150 boutiques, restaurants, and cafés to choose from.
Living up to its name, there’s up to 60% off the RRP in all of the brands on site, all year round.
No matter what it is you’re looking for, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste, with athletic labels, including Nike and Adidas, and high-street favourites such as Marks & Spencer and Next, to a selection of iconic fashion brands like Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Mulberry, Coach, Kate Spade, and so many more – so it’s not wonder it’s a brilliant destination to grab presents for all your loved ones this Christmas.
If all that shopping’s got you hungry, then you can even dig into Lebanese delights at Comptoir Libanais, ‘healthy’ street food at Leon, or make your way through Asian dishes at Yo! Sushi and wagamama – the list of restaurants on site is endless.
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But even though Christmas shopping is probably at the front of your mind right now, that’s not all you could be getting up to at the outlet over these next few weeks and throughout December.
Here’s everything happening at Cheshire Oaks this festive season.
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Winter Village
Winter Village / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
If you’re in need of a break from all of your gift shopping and you’re looking to grab a bite and properly get into the festive spirit, then the bookable snug huts at Cheshire Oaks’ Winter Village are the perfect place to stop, unwind, and soak up everything the season has to offer with loved ones after a buys day.
You can enjoy some traditional German bratwurst from the swing grill, or warm up with mulled wine at the bar, all under the twinkly lights of the UK’s largest Christmas tree.
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It’s important to note that the huts only be booked three days in advance.
Each bookable hut accommodates up to six people and can be pre-booked for one hour for a £10 deposit, with a £25 minimum spend per group.
No festive visit to Cheshire Oaks is complete without a visit to see the big man himself, and this year is certainly no different – but this time, you can help make all your little ones’ festive wishes come true with a morning they’ll never forget by grabbing breakfast with Santa at Carluccio’s.
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All kids eat free when two adult breakfasts are ordered from the main breakfast menu.
Breakfast With Santa at Carluccio’s is available to book every Saturday and Sunday between 9am-11am, from Saturday 4 December right through to Sunday 19 December.
For those with a creative edge, wreath making workshops are undeniably one of the best ways to get yourself feeling festive.
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So you can head on down to Cheshire Oaks throughout November and December to take part in one of the dedicated wreath making workshops, where Cheshire-based floral designer Heather will guide you through creating your very own Christmas wreath using a variety locally sourced and seasonal decorations and foliage.
There’s a range of classes on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout November and December, with tickets priced £68.32.
If you’re unfamiliar with this popular festive feature at the Designer Outlet, then it’s simple – if you’re big into your shopping, or you’ve just got lots of gifts to buy this Christmas, then all you’ve got to do is spend over £200 on site and you can receive your very-own personalised bauble to hang on your Christmas tree at home.
You can find out more about Bauble Bar at Cheshire Oaks here.
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#ShareTheMagic
#ShareTheMagic / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
It’s time to #ShareTheMagic
If you do end up taking a trip to Cheshire Oaks throughout November and December, then make sure you snap a festive selfie with your nearest and dearest, and the outlet will donate £1 to its nominated charity – Passion for Learning – for every selfie it receives.
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Find the most Instagrammable spot for the ultimate seasonal selfie, as from giant red baubles, to a 110ft Christmas tree, magical winter village, and so many more, you’ll have your feed sorted for at least the next year – so get snapping, and don’t forget to use hashtag #ShareTheMagic on Instagram.
Manchester’s libraries to become ‘warm spaces’ with free hot drinks and WiFi this winter
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s libraries are set to become ‘warm welcome spaces’ offering free hot drinks and internet access to those in need again this winter.
After millions of local residents visited the ‘stigma-free safe spaces’ to escape and take refuge from the cold each year since they were first introduced in 2022, Manchester City Council has decided to reintroduce its popular ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ scheme again this year during the chillier months.
All 22 of Manchester‘s public libraries are, once again, taking part in the scheme this time around.
Designed to ‘provide support to people who need it’ over some of the most challenging months of the year when temperatures drop, the Council’s scheme is offering a range of different services – and they’re all for free of charge.
Free hot drinks, WiFi and internet access, data SIM cards, and newspapers are just some of the things people can make the most of inside these ‘warm spaces’, as well as get access to information, advice, and extra signposting to other support services they made need in the city.
Manchester’s libraries will become ‘warm spaces’ with free hot drinks and WiFi again this winter / Credit: Haydon Waldeck | koolshooters (Pexels)
There will be age-friendly spaces to connect with others, story times once a week at 11am for children under five, and even weekly digital drop-ins too.
Manchester Central Library, Miles Platting Community Library, Hulme High Street Library, Beswick Library, Longsight Library, and Abraham Moss Library are just some of the libraries taking part this winter.
All 22 libraries will be free to enter, and the Council says people can stay in them ‘for as long as you like’.
“For many years, the Council has been a proud supporter of the Warm Welcome Spaces initiative,” explained Councillor Thomas Robinson, who is the Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care at Manchester City Council.
“In Manchester we have been all too aware of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the hardships people have suffered as a result.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say this work has the potential to be lifesaving. The simple act of offering a person a safe place where they can interact with other Mancunians, to not feel alone or get the help they need, can have a lasting and meaningful impact.”
Find your local free ‘Warm Welcome Space’ in Manchester here.
Featured Image – RawPixel
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Jürgen Klopp reveals the main reason he turned down the Manchester United job
Danny Jones
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has revealed one of the main reasons he turned down the Manchester United job more than a decade ago.
The ex-Borussia Dortmund boss turned Merseyside hero spent nine years at Anfield, going on to win a Champions League, Premier League, and a collection of cups.
It’s also worth noting that this all came in the years following the departure of legendary Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but there could have been an alternate reality where Klopp carried on where ‘Fergie’ left off, as the now 58-year-old says the club spoke to him during that time.
With Sir Alex leaving in 2013 after the best part of 30 years, Klopp told Steven Bartlett on his most recent Diary of A CEO episode that “of course, they were interested.”
OUT NOW!
💥Jürgen Klopp on The Diary Of A CEO
Some of the topics we cover:
•His surprise at Liverpool’s £450m transfer window and why he didn’t get the same money
•He says a return to Liverpool is possible – but he couldn’t ask for just one year off
Admitting that the interest was mutual “at one point”, the prospect of joining Liverpool‘s historic rivals clearly appealed to him.
Noting that he was flourishing as an up-and-coming coach (aged 46 back then) in charge of an impressive Dortmund team – adding that even some of his then future players to be at Liverpool flew to watch them play in the Champions League – it’s clear he had plenty of suitors.
However, the retired German footballer turned ‘Gegenpressing’ tactician goes on to explain that despite United trying to poach him from the Bundesliga, it was “the wrong time, wrong moment for me.”
Crucially, he says that some aspects of the conversations between him and the club at the time proved to be a turn-off rather than an incentive, citing talk of ‘the biggest club in the world’ and supposedly “signing any player we want.”
In short, Klopp says that, crucially, it didn’t sound like it would have been his project, drawing parallels to the board wanting to bring back players like Paul Pogba, with arguably similar ‘mistakes’ being made with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo. In his eyes, looking backwards simply “never helps”.
You can see the clip in full here:
Had he not turned down the offer, do you think Klopp could have helped rebuild Man United?
According to Klopp, after negotiations seemed to revolve primarily around the kind of players they were going to bring in, he decided the opportunity wasn’t for him.
Nevertheless, it looked like things worked out for Merseyside’s biggest club, at least, as he went on to become one of the most successful managers in the Premier League, managing to break up the long period of dominance overseen by both Manchester United and, most recently, Man City.
As for the red half of Manchester, they at the very least had a good weekend as they finally ended their long wait for a win away against Liverpool.
In case you missed it, you can watch the highlights – including another big clutch goal from Harry Maguire – down below.
Emily Sergeant -
11th November 2021 
