Every town has a house that’s the talk of the community.
You know the type of house we’re referring to and you could very well be thinking of it right at this moment in time – we’re talking about a house that catches the eye, for whatever reason that may be.
Perhaps it appears oddly placed? Maybe it’s slightly out of the ordinary, or a bit eccentric? It could be that it simply doesn’t mirror the other ‘two up, two down’ terraces that line the vast majority of streets surrounding? It may have a garden so jaw-dropping that you have no choice but to stop and marvel at it? Maybe it’s one of those houses that goes ‘all out’ for Christmas time – your town’s very own version of a house that could’ve been featured in the 2006 festive flick Deck The Halls? You get the picture.
It’s a house that stands out from the rest.
There’s plenty of well-known local examples of houses that fit this description. By now, there’s not a person either side of the Pennines who hasn’t heard the story of Scott Hall Farm, more commonly and aptly known as ‘Motorway Farm’, or the house that’s sandwiched slap bang in the middle of the M62, and last month, we also discovered that the iconic cottage right next to Dukes 92, overlooking the canal and sitting in the shadows of Beetham Tower, was advertised to rent on AirBnB, which gave us a glimpse inside a property that had long been a talking point for Mancunians over the years. But, have you heard about the house in Bolton though?
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Found near the traffic lights of a busy crossroads close to the town centre, this little corner house is a pretty big deal in the Greater Manchester borough, but not everyone outside of Bolton is aware of its existence to quite the same extent.
So, what is it that makes this house so well-known to Boltonians then?
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Yes, the central location and the close proximity to traffic means plenty of eyes are on it daily, but that’s not why. It’s also not solely the fact that it goes ‘all out’ at Christmas time by completely covering the front of the house with an array of multi-coloured festive lights and a number of eclectic decorations each year either, although that’s certainly part of it.
It’s that the show isn’t exclusive to December – if you’re looking for a source of entertainment, you’ll find it at this Bolton semi all year round.
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There’s been an ever-changing selection of quirky decorative features to the front garden of this property over the years that have made it near impossible not to stare at whilst driving past. We’re talking a traditional red telephone box, a (what we presume isn’t an in-use) postbox, a Police lamp post, toy trains, classic car parts, a blow-up Santa scaling the roof, and much, much more – even the elephant sculptures, which were removed from Bolton town centre a few years back, were rumoured to have made an appearance there too at one point.
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Every time there’s a new addition to the garden, it’s sure to get people talking.
As it often does, this house became the talk of the town on local community Facebook group I Belong to Bolton over the weekend, after a picture showing the property in all its glory was posted by an ex-resident querying the story behind the ‘show’. The post amassed hundreds of interactions and comments from other residents, some equally sharing in the intrigue, others offering their two cents into the sights they’ve seen in the garden over the years and plenty praising the property owners for continuously helping to put smiles on the faces of those passing by.
One complimentary group member commented: “I love looking at this house. Always brings a smile to my face.”
Another added: “It does put a smile on my face whenever I drive past and always curious to see what new things they have.”
“As a newbie to Bolton, this house definitely caught my eye. Original, unique and quirky. Wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?” said another.
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“Driving past this house always put a smile on mine and my kids faces. This person makes an effort to amuse people which he does. Credit to him. Well done.” another comment read.
We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves. It’s clear to see that this house is so well-loved by many and it certainly has good reason to be.
Yet another reason why “Greater Manchester’s greatness is keeping it great”.
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Pubs in Greater Manchester are giving out free pints… of crisps
Emily Sergeant
A handful of pubs across Greater Manchester are handing out free pints this month, but with a bit of a catch.
The catch being it’s a free pint of crisps.
With January in full swing, and many people generally choosing to give up or cut back on their alcohol consumption in the spirit of Dry January, the nation’s most popular crisps brand, Walkers, has launched a brand-new ‘Pack Our Pubs’ initiative, which is aiming to help people stick to their sober goals while supporting pubs during what is typically their toughest month of the year.
Sadly, statistics showed that more than 400 pubs closed their doors last year, and those remaining are currently dealing with what’s thought to be the driest January yet – with 15.5 million people claiming they’d be taking a break from alcohol for the month.
Pubs in Greater Manchester are giving out free pints… of crisps / Credit: Flickr | Esperanza Doronila (via Unsplash)
On top of that, new research has also showed that, even if not giving up alcohol, more than a third of adults (36%) said they’ll avoid the pub altogether as they’re “trying to be good” this month and focus on their health.
Which is why Walkers is offering an alternative at hundreds of pubs nationwide.
Anyone who heads to their local pub and orders an alcohol-free pint this month will also get a pack of Walkers crisps from the ‘Better For You’ range chucked in for free, including popular varieties such as Walkers Baked, Walkers 45% Less Salt, Snack a Jacks, Popworks, and Sunbites.
300+ pubs across the UK will be giving out a ‘free pint’ of 0.0% crisps away with any non-alcoholic drink order.
Speaking on the initiative, Cynthia Finke, who is Marketing Director at Walkers’ parent company, PepsiCo, said : The beauty of our Better For You range means that no one has to miss out on the things they enjoy in January, like snacks.
“It’s much easier to stick to your goals if you’re able to have fun at the same time, and being able to support the pub industry at the same time is a bonus to boot.”
You just need to head to your nearest participating pub, including Stonegate Proper Pubs, all throughout January to support your local and enjoy a free pint of crisps.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Londoner ‘bewildered’ by first visit to Trafford Centre, comparing it to ‘Tutankhamun’s secret lair’
Daisy Jackson
A man visiting the Trafford Centre for the first time has said he’s been left ‘bewildered’ by the huge Greater Manchester shopping destination.
In a hilarious video titled ‘the least tired shopping centre in the UK’, vlogger and content creator MC said that the retail giant looks like ‘Tutankhamun’s secret lair’.
In the TikTok post, he films himself walking around the shops slack-jawed saying he feels ‘like I’m in Dubai or something’.
Us Mancs who have grown up going to the Trafford Centre probably forget how out-of-the-ordinary it actually is, from the food court that looks like a cruise ship to the palm trees to the fountains to the marble-esque pillars.
MC spends a bit of time ogling at the fountains, comparing the benches to a ‘throne’, and even stroking the plants to see if they’re real (they are).
He also said that the Trafford Centre has made it ‘unfair’ for the other shopping centres, setting the bar too high.
He said: “Now Manchester, I can’t like, I feel like you owe us, and by us I mean the rest of the UK, an explanation. Because why does your shopping centre look like this, bro? What?!
“Bro I’m absolutely bewildered, this is like I’m in Dubai or something bro.
“Like bro you can’t tell me this don’t look like Tutankhamun’s lair has moved all the way up to the north bro.
“Why don’t we have nowt like this in London? I’m telling you right now, try going to a shopping centre in London, you’ll find Westfield, Stratford.
“Sat on this bench in the middle of the shopping centre, looking at this, I feel like I’m on a throne.
“Is no one else seeing this? They have a waterfall in the middle of a shopping centre, this is not normal behaviour!
“These trees, they’re all real you know! It’s all in real soil.
“They did too much when they made this shopping centre, come on, this is unfair for the rest of them.”
At the end of the TikTok, he spots the Trafford Palazzo – home to Primark as well as attractions like Archie’s Atomic roller rink and the NERF Experience, and says: “Bro and I’m not even done! There’s even another shopping centre! Now what is this place?!”
One person commented: “trafford centre and is just pure nostalgia to me, titanic food court, twinkling stars in the ceiling, dolphin fountain, i remember being a kid when it was being built and being like, bruh.”
Another wrote: “Trafford centre has no right being as good as it is and we’re not even mentioning the fact that it has a cruise themed food court or that a giant waterpark is being built next door.”
Someone else said: “The Trafford Centre fr the reason every other shopping centre is dying i swear.”
Do you remember your first trip to the Trafford Centre?
The Manc -
6th July 2020 
