A brand-new Halloween trail will be leading people through an enchanted and haunted woodland this autumn – and it’s all taking place at Trafford Centre’s little-known Wilderspool Woods.
The 4.5 acre hidden woodland in the grounds of the iconic shopping centre will be taken over by skeletons, bats, and all sorts of other spooky creatures.
But as the event comes from acclaimed The Twilight Trail at Mayfield Park, you’ll be sure to be more mesmerised than terrified. No blood-thirsty zombies here.
There’ll be more than 100,000 lights illuminating a Skeleton Village, laser-filled gardens of mist, and a spooky soundtrack of otherworldly tunes curated by DJ Rasp.
Visitors will find supernatural surprises around every corner, whether it’s colourful bats soaring overhead or glowing LED eyes watching down from the treetops.
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The Halloween Trail will be suitable for all ages and will captivate audiences with the glittering light trail, interactive events, and a massive food and drink programme curated by Freight Island.
A new Halloween trail is taking over the hidden woods at the Trafford Centre. Credit: SuppliedDecadent hot chocolates will be part of The Halloween Trail’s Freight Island-curated food line-up. Credit: Supplied
As you creep and weave your way through the eerie Wilderspool Woods you’ll be able to pick and carve your own pumpkins, toast marshmallows, and throw some shapes at the skeleton disco.
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There’ll even be a skeleton petting zoo, a mysterious Haunted Hotel, and a creepy old-fashioned pub, Ye Olde Skeleton Arms, tucked away in the woods.
The light installations brought to The Halloween Trail will include Helix, a floating ribbon of sparkling light that weaves through the forest, and The Twist, a psychedelic, corkscrew pathway of mesmerising lights.
After making it through the mystical woodlands, visitors can feast on food from top traders including Voodoo Rays (22” New York-style pizzas), and Soft Boi (soft-serve ice cream).
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Formaggi by Lazy Tony’s will be warming up guests with loaded roasties, rich poutine, deep-fried mozzarella and Italian-American toasties, and there’s Cabin Chocolat for decadent hot chocolates topped with fluffy marshmallows, caramel, and sweets (plus a drop of booze for the grown-ups).
Heard, a new burger venture from two Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey of Ireland’s Aimsir, will also feature on the trail, whipping up a selection of smash burgers made with eco-friendly ingredients.
Voodoo Rays will be one of the traders serving food at The Halloween Trail. Credit: The Manc GroupFormaggio by Lazy Tony’s will have loaded roasties and loads more. Credit: Supplied
Free parking is available for all ticket holders, or there are easy public transport links via tram or bus along The Bee Network.
Dan Morris, co-founder of Trafford Trails, said: “We’re excited to reveal Wilderspool Wood as the location for this year’s Halloween Trail.
“This hidden space offers the perfect setting for an immersive and exciting Halloween experience. With DJ Rasp’s soundtrack, stunning light displays, and some of the best food traders around, we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors of all ages for a great night out.”
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Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “We’re delighted to bring something new to Trafford this Halloween. Collaborating with Freight Island and other great partners, we’ve created an experience that promises to be a real treat for our visitors. We can’t wait to see Wilderspool Wood lit up at night.”
The Halloween Trail will run from Thursday 17 October to Sunday 3 November.
Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £8 for children, £10 for adults, and family tickets from £32 – you can grab yours here.
The beautiful brand-new (and surprisingly affordable) homes in West Didsbury
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Listen up home hunters – we may have just found a way for you to live in your dream area sooner than you thought.
Getting your foot on theproperty ladder is often not financially viable for a lot of people these days – and this is where Shared Ownership comes in, enabling buyers to purchase shares in their homes instead.
Gecko Homes have just introduced Two Didsbury Point, a selection of stunning one and two-bedroom modern homes, in one of the most sought after suburbs of Manchester.
Didsbury is absolutely packed with charming Edwardian and Victorian architecture and plenty of green space, including but not limited to Fletcher Moss park, which is breathtaking this time of year with autumnal colours.
This area is highly desirable, and it is easy to understand why, with all of the adorable independent shops and eateries as well as Burton Road, filled with the coolest bars at the heart of it all. Not to mention the monthly Makers Market, featuring local artists and food trucks.
The cherry on the top is how well connected the area is via Metrolink, motorway and railway to Manchester city centre and beyond. Oh and the airport is only 10 minutes down the road. Could Didsbury truly have it all?
The beautiful homes at Two Didsbury PointGecko Homes’ one and two bedroom properties at Two Didbsury Point
Whether you’re looking for a home to settle down in, or for your very first place where you have the advantages of having the city centre within easy reach, whilst retaining that homely community feel in the local area, this may be the one for you.
Two Didsbury Point is a £20 million scheme of 76 affordable homes, across two connected eight and five-storey blocks – 46 of those being for shared ownership – on the site of the former Withington Hospital.
The apartments themselves are an absolute dream, with sleek built-in kitchens, fully fitted bathrooms, bike storage and other enviable amenities such as the rooftop garden and communal area, perfect for entertaining guests. Oh, and they’re fitted with the latest cost effective and climate conscious features such as solar panels and air source heat pumps.
North West developer, Gecko Homes, specialises in creating Shared Ownership homes, making some fantastic properties surprisingly affordable. Through the new-look Shared Ownership lease scheme buyers are able to own a slice of their home, with terms that flex to fit their circumstances – starting with shares as low as 10%, with the option of increasing your ownership by 1% each year for the first 15 years. This allows buyers to get on the housing ladder, without the fear of a huge deposit.
The Two Didsbury Point homes are available as shared ownershipYour chance to move to Didsbury for a surprisingly affordable price point
Shared Ownership allows you to buy 10-75% share of the property and pay rent on the part you don’t own. Starting from £58,750 for a 25% share and 5% deposits starting from just £2,937.50, making it an actual achievable way for people to get onto the property ladder – something many of us can’t even comprehend in this climate.
Not to mention you get all the advantages of owning your home – from decorating the way you want to bringing your pet.
By reserving a home at Two Didsbury Point, buyers can also receive up to £1,000 in incentives, which can be used towards gym memberships, flooring upgrades, legal fee assistance, moving cost support and much more.
For more information on this way to buy a home click here. To read Gecko Homes’ Shared Ownership Key Information click here.
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ to support Girls Don’t Sync member at XLR
Lydia Mastrolonardo
It’s no secret that Manchester has gained a surplus of aspiring DJs in recent years – well now it’s time to put those skills to use and show the rest of the UK what Manchester is made of.
Soopa Hooch has just launched Soopa Charged Sounds, an exciting competition, aiming to uncover emerging talent across the UK, offering one lucky winner the opportunity to perform at XLR, supporting member of Girl’s Don’t Sync, Gaia Ahuja aka G33.
Not only would the winner gain the platform to showcase their skills but they would also gain a year’s supply of Soopa Hooch drinks and a home DJ set up – now have I got your attention?
Come on, it seems only right that a Mancunian should win considering the event would be hosted inside our very own iconic nightclub, XLR Manchester.
So, if it’s always your job to supply the music wherever you go, you’re the friend that never fails to know the track ID or you simply practice in the safety of your bedroom – this is your time to shine. Dust off those decks, brush up on your mixes and get applying.
Soopa Hooch, the wild, bolder cousin of the classic Hooch, is an 8% ABV sparkling vodka mix available in five different flavours – Blue Raspberry, Twisted Tropical, Electric Lemonade, Darkest Berry and Cherry Cola, providing the perfect flavour for every kind of playlist.
Sam Watson, Brand Manager at Soopa Hooch and Hooch, commented: “We know there’s a huge amount of undiscovered DJ talent out there, whether they’re creating mixes at home or already making waves in their local scene.
“We’ve launched Soopa Charged Sounds to give that talent a platform to get their skills heard, and we can’t wait to shine a light on DJs who are bringing energy to pre-drinks and parties across the country.”
Soopa Hooch are on the hunt for the UK’s next big DJ. Credit: The Manc GroupThe chosen DJ will support Girls Don’t Sync member G33 at XLR. Credit: Supplied
Think you or someone you know has what it takes? Simply create a 15-20-minute mini mix and submit it via the Soopa Hooch website to enter by Thursday 26 November 2026.
The mixes will be reviewed by a panel of experts, from regional DJ radio stations up and down the country, on the following five key criteria: creativity, originality, ability, energy and overall suitability. Five finalists will then be announced on Sunday 20 December, before the lucky winner is crowned on Thursday 28 January 2027.
The Soopa Charged Sounds winner will then swap their bedroom desks for the big stage, for a live performance at XLR nightclub, on Friday 26 February 2027.
Daisy Jackson -
20th September 2024 
