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This travel company is giving FREE holidays to real-life couples called Barbie and Ken

It's all to celebrate the release of the new Barbie movie.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th July 2023

A leading travel company is dishing out free holidays to lucky couples to celebrate the release of the new Barbie film.

In case you’ve been living under a rock and somehow just haven’t heard, it’s going to be a massive weekend at the box offices, with two massive blockbuster films by two of the most critically-acclaimed directors working at the moment being released to serious fanfare – and one of those films, of course, is Barbie.

An all-star ensemble cast lead by Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken make up Greta Gerwig’s third solo directorial outing.

Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, and Issa Rae are just a handful of the some 30+ famous names also on the jam-packed cast list, so as you can tell, it’s a pretty big deal, and in a fitting nod to celebrate what’s set to be one of the biggest and most highly-anticipated films of the year, leading package holiday travel company On The Beach has decided to give away some freebies.

Not just any old freebies though, we’re talking all-expense-paid trips to Barbados.

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This travel company is giving free holidays to real-life couples called Barbie and Ken / Credit: On The Beach / Southern Palms Beach Club

Oh but, there’s one minor catch – the holidays will only be dished out to real-life couples, whose names just so happen to be Barbie and Ken.

“We want real life Barbies and Kens to have it all and enjoy a week of fun, frolics, and fluff,” explained On The Beach’s chief customer officer Zoe Harris, “So if your name in your passport is Barbie and you’re dating a Ken, now’s the time to take advantage and go party for free in Barbie-dos.”

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Real-life Barbies and Kens will get whisked away by On The Beach to the aptly-pink Southern Palms Beach Club in the popular St Lawrence Gap neighbourhood in Barbados, and is known for offering high-class accommodation in breathtakingly-beautiful settings.

The holidays are at the Southern Palms Beach Club in Barbados / Credit: On The Beach / Southern Palms Beach Club

It also gives-off the same vibes as the buildings in the ‘Barbie land’ featured in the film.

With the travel company calling it “the perfect pink palace for an active and exciting long-haul break”, the Southern Palms Beach Club is right on the beach front and boasts two pools, an outdoor gym, free WiFi, and a wide range of different activities for everything to get involved with.

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And all you’ll need to do to be in with the chance of bagging the free trip, is prove that your names are Barbie and Ken on your passports.

Real-life Barbies and Kens will get to stay at the resort for free for seven nights / Credit: On The Beach / Southern Palms Beach Club

Couples whose first names appear on their passport as Barbie and Ken are urged to get in touch with On the Beach’s sales team and quote ‘Barbie-dos’ to claim a FREE seven-night stay at the Southern Palms Beach Club Hotel on a half-board basis.

Barbies and Kens have until 31 July to claim their holiday and it must be taken in 2023.

Making sure nothing is left forgotten, the holiday comes with flights, transfers, baggage, and taxes included – but is subject to availability.

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Find full T&Cs and apply here.

Featured Image – On The Beach / Southern Palms Beach Club

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A massive bowling, games and entertainment bar is coming to Manchester next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones New social club and games bar coming to Manchester

A popular bowling and table games bar that has already proved a hit in Liverpool is coming to Manchester for the very first time next year.

If you’re from the North West, PINS Social Club may not be a new name to you; nevertheless, this will be its Manc debut, with the location not only their first beyond Merseyside but just their second site to date.

As the name would suggest, PINS is primarily about bowling and socialising, but there is plenty more going on at this social club as you’ll find out soon enough.

Scheduled to open in late spring 2026, Manchester and our nearby neighbours in Liverpool are about to strike up a firm party partnership.

new PINS bowling alley coming to Manchester city centre
prviate games lounge manchester
roccos bar area pins social club
CGIs of PINS Social Club Manchester (Credit: Supplied)

Selecting the shifting face of Sunlight House for the space – already home to the likes of Schofield’s Bar – the 25,000 sq ft unit will span three whole floors, offering a next-generation social and entertainment experience in one of Manchester’s most stunning buildings.

A Grade II-listed, Art Deco structure, Sunlight House is undergoing a major £35 million refurbishment, with ‘grade A’ offices set to take up a significant chunk, but it’s soon set to house the latest PINS venue.

Sitting on Quay Street, just off the main Deansgate strip, the busy Peter St corner, and adjacent to Spinningfields, PINS Manchester is springing up right in the midst of arguably the city’s busiest stretches for nightlife.

Promising not only bowling, darts, and table games like pool, shuffleboard and beer pong, but karaoke, live music and all the biggest sporting events on the box, PINS Social Club really does aim to be a one-stop shop for all your needs on a night out.

For instance, their food offerings will run all the way from breakfast through to the late evening, and PINS Manchester is also set to feature a main stage on the ground floor for “electric half-time shows”, with the gaming mezzanine looming just above.

Not only is this going to be PINS’ biggest venue yet, but it’s well and truly on track to be one of the biggest hospitality openings coming in the next 12 months.

Headed up by MD Daniel Kelly, who has also been helping run the resurrected Almost Famous brand here in Manchester, the team knows all about this city. Speaking on the announcement, Kelly said: “Manchester is a city that thrives on energy, culture, and community – everything that PINS is about.

“This new venue will be our biggest yet, offering a bold and exciting social space that’s purpose-built for entertainment, competition, and ultimately, having a great time. We can’t wait to bring our concept to Manchester’s incredible social scene. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.”

Julien Buronfosse, Managing Director at Karrev (the estate company who have leased the building to the business) added: “The PINS offering is diverse, dynamic and will provide tenants and the local community with an unparalleled leisure experience.

“We wanted to work with an operator that understood our vision of breathing new life into a historic building, contributing to the new era that Sunlight House is entering. The building has ambitions to be much more than Grade A office space, with a specific emphasis on community building. The addition of PINS to Sunlight House will contribute greatly to that.”

Consider us here at The Manc Group VERY excited for this one.

Sunlight House redevelopment Manchester.
As you can see, they’ve got plenty of room to work with. (Credit: Calmafftaylor via Wikimedia Commons)

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Featured Images — CGIs (supplied)/Wikimedia Commons

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Lemn Sissay OBE pens powerful poem about Manchester City for Black History Month

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lemn Sissay MBE Man City poem

Lauded local poet Lemn Sissay MBE has penned a moving poem in collaboration with Manchester City, looking back on the club’s cultural past and key persons of colour for Black History Month.

Born in Orrell in the borough of Wigan, the published author, playwright, and BAFTA-nominated broadcaster has made a name as one of our region’s most notable wordsmiths, so it’s no wonder that he was selected by the Cityzens to touch on this particular topic.

Sissay, also a former Chancellor of the University of Manchester from 2015 until 2022, was the first Black Writers Development Worker in the North and was awarded an OBE for his service to literature back in 2010.

Teaming up not only with Man City but the club’s first-ever Black footballer, Stan Horne, as well as other senior stars from the Maine Road days, all the way up to the modern Etihad era.

‘The Stadium Speaks’ by Lemn Sissay – a poem commissioned by Manchester City for Black History Month 2025

Entitled The Stadium Speaks, the public reading of the verses runs for just under two minutes, but even in the relatively short space of time, there is so much power in this poignant poem.

Roping in help from other past players like Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Shaun Goater, as well as current stars like Ruben Dias, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Jeremy Doku, each line leaves just as much impact as the last.

Just as importantly, they were also joined by Jahmal Williams-Thomas, City Matters’ Black and Mixed Heritage representative, Bing Findlater – the Official Supporter Club’s Equality and Inclusion Lead, as well as several other City fans and staff who work throughout the Eithad Campus.

Each individual who lends themselves to the performance delivers their part perfectly and from the heart; after all, Black culture isn’t something strictly celebrated during the month of October, but throughout communities all year round – as it should be.

Sissay, 58, clearly relished the chance to dive into how Greater Manchester‘s history intersects with not only football, but racism, equality, progress and more.

Speaking via a statement on the club website: “Manchester felt like home to me, the moment I stepped foot across the boundary. I came here very early on, when I think I was 13, I came to see Manchester City play. The first time I came to this city was to see City.

“I want the poem to be owned by the person who’s in the stand watching the game. And I wanted the poem to be owned by the person on the pitch who’s playing it. And I want them to feel proud reading it.”

The post goes on to reiterate that just like all teams throughout the football pyramid, racism and discrimination in all its forms should not and WILL not be tolerated.

Asking supporters to step up and speak as and when needed, City fans can report abuse and/or inappropriate behaviour to 07700151894, which will make security aware of what has been witnessed.  

Feedback can also be shared anonymously by texting the specific block, row, seat number and a short description of the incident to the number; if in doubt, talk to a steward or police officer at the game.

Elsewhere, the official MCFC Supporter Charter sets out their zero-tolerance policy when it comes to discrimination, and fans can also report online discriminatory abuse they see targeted at Premier League players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families directly HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Philosophy Football (via Flickr)/Manchester City

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