Did you see that Stockport is getting ready to leap back into action this summer?
With an “irreversible” roadmap for lifting lockdown now in place, it was revealed last month that the fan-favourite gigantic colourful frogs are set to hop to the town centre once again to help see in the post-pandemic era and welcome visitors back.
The town first welcomed the amphibious attractions two years ago.
Organised by Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID) – branded as Totally Stockport – the Giant Leap Frog Art Trail attracted thousands of visitors from across the region, and children of all ages had great fun seeking out all 19 giant frogs.
This year though, as Stockport looks to “build back better”, there will be even more of them.
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This summer’s Gigantic Leap Frog Art Trail will not only see 21 brand-new gigantic frogs hopping into the town centre, but they’ll also be supported by another 17 frog buddies in various locations throughout the whole borough.
The 17 giant frog sculptures will “celebrate each area’s uniqueness” and Stockport Borough Council is calling on residents to give them a hand in designing a frog for your area.
A message on Stockport Borough Council’s website reads: “Your ideas or designs will be brought to life by local artists from ARC (Arts for Recovery in the Community) – a leading arts and mental health charitable organisation – [and] it could feature everything from places you like to visit and explore locally, significant landmarks, or characteristics that make your area special”.
The council has also listed a few questions to help “get those creative juices flowing”:
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What has been your favourite place locally that you’ve enjoyed exploring during the last 12 months?
What three positive words would you use to describe your local area to someone who has not visited before?
If you had to pick your favourite local landmark or attraction – e.g: building, sculpture, venue or green space – what would it be?
What did you miss most about your local area during the last 12 months? (This could be a favourite shop, place to have a bite to eat or drink, leisure venue or perhaps a club or society that haven’t been able to host get togethers or activities).
You can send your written answers by completing and returning the form available here, or if you’d prefer to draw your answers / have children who would like to share their ideas, you can download the frog template here instead.
Residents can also send in images that they feel best represents their local area.
“It will all help to create a unique frog design that reflects where you live,” Stockport Borough Council says.
Your ideas, pictures and designs can be emailed to [email protected] and you must include your name and postcode.
All entries must be sent in by Sunday 25th April 2021.
Data reveals Manchester hotel prices have ALREADY surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates
Emily Sergeant
Manchester hotel prices have apparently already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates, some new data has revealed.
Of course, absolutely nothing is set in stone yet and we are still yet to receive any form of announcement.
But with rumours having been swirling for months now that Oasis will be touring again in 2027, and several videos shared on the band’s social media platforms this week also hinting at that, it’s been revealed that searches for ‘when are Oasis tickets going on sale?’ have soared by 5,000% in the last seven days alone.
After recent data has pointed towards soaring searches for tickets, the experts at SeatPick decided to analyse the average cost of accommodation in Manchester on the suspected concert nights in June 2027 to uncover if prices have surged along with the searches.
Data reveals that Manchester hotel prices have already surged by 462% on rumoured Oasis tour dates / Credit: The Manc Group | Simon Emmett (Press Picture)
And lo and behold, it appears that they have.
The ticketing platform has revealed that hotel prices have surged by up to 462% during Oasis’ rumoured concert nights in Manchester.
The rumoured weekend date of 19 and 20 June has experienced the most noticeable price surge – with a two-star hotel costing an average of £216 for just one overnight stay.
The data also reveals that the rumoured finale on the 27 June has just a £95 difference between two-star hotels (£200) and five-star hotels (£295).
“Our analysis uncovered an enormous markup for local accommodation on nights that Oasis is rumoured to perform in Manchester,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO at ticket platform SeatPick.
“Being aware of these accommodation costs and additional expenses can help fans plan and avoid being caught off guard by inflated prices on concert nights.
“To find the best deals on hotels, concertgoers should scan budget chains in the city or look slightly outside of the centre in hotspots served by local bus routes or regional trains, such as Salford and Trafford.
“Booking early might also be beneficial for fans dedicated to seeing the band perform.
“You can opt for free cancellation options, in case rumoured dates change, or you’re no longer able to attend.”
Featured Image – Point3D (via Unsplash)
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Aldi confirms ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its 1,000+ stores across UK
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that it’ll, once again, be closing the doors of all of its stores across the UK for 62 hours this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK – but this year, just like it has done on several years in the past, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues ‘for all their hard work’ throughout the year by giving them some extra time to spend with their families.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on both 25 and 26 December.
That’s not all though, as stores will also be closed on New Year’s Day, and will reopen once again on Saturday 2 January 2027.
Aldi has announced a ‘special’ 62-hour closure of all its UK stores / Credit: Aldi UK
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the retailer has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to ‘ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day’
In the interim period between Christmas and New Year, stores will reopen as usual on Sunday 27 through to Wednesday 30 December, with reduced hours also likely on Sunday and New Year’s Eve.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop for a full 62-hour period this festive season, Rachel Geary, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.
“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.
“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”
Emily Sergeant -
1st April 2021 
