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A Valentine’s Day treasure hunt is happening across Manchester today with some insane prizes

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th February 2023

A huge treasure hunt for Valentine’s Day is happening across Manchester today, with prizes including hotel stays, free meals, gig tickets and bottles of booze.

The giveaway, organised by The Manc alongside some of the city’s best businesses, will be taking place across the city centre today.

There are three prize bundles up for grabs, each one worth hundreds of pounds (and one worth even more).

The lucky winners will be able to claim treats like AO Arena tickets, a bottomless fondue date, pairs of glasses or sunglasses from IOLLA, and a margarita masterclass.

The biggest prize of all will be a £500 voucher to spend on a holiday with On The Beach.

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Every prize bundle also includes a beautiful bouquet from Royal Exchange Flowers and chocolates from local independent businesses.

To claim one of these amazing Valentine’s Day bundles, you need to track down The Manc, who will be hiding with the lovely David from First Dates around Manchester.

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Each location will be revealed through a series clues in live streams on our Facebook, TikTok and Instagram from 12.15pm today.

You’ll need to pay attention to the live streams too to look out for code words – without the code word, there’ll be no prize.

You also need to be following The Manc.

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Here are the details of the Valentine’s Day treasure hunt…

Prize bundle one

Credit: AO Arena
  • Overnight stay at The James
  • Valentine’s doughnuts from DGHNT
  • A bottle of prosecco at The Mews
  • Escape room for two at MeetSpace VR
  • A bottle of gin from Faith & Sons
  • Bouquet of flowers from Royal Exchange Flowers
  • 2 tickets for Olly Murs at the AO Arena
  • 2 Clubland tickets for AO Arena
  • 2 tickets for any Joshua Brooks gig
  • Gig tickets and merch for a Maruja gig
  • Crate of kombucha from Hip Pop
  • A box of chocolates from Cocoa Cabana

Where to find us: Tune in to our live stream from 12.15pm to solve the clues and find us in our first secret location. You’ll need to know the code word and be following The Manc!

Prize bundle two

  • A bottle of wine and a meat or cheese board at The Mews
  • A Valentine’s class for two at V1BE, Ancoats
  • Pizzas, sides and cocktails for two at The Lawn Club
  • Bottle of Cazcabel
  • Overnight stay at The James
  • Bouquet of flowers from Royal Exchange Flowers
  • 2 tickets for Olly Murs at the AO Arena
  • 2 Clubland tickets for AO Arena
  • 2 tickets for any Joshua Brooks gig
  • A chocolate hamper from Dormouse Chocolates
  • £50 voucher for The Wine Cellar, Wilmslow
  • Immersive play zone for two at MeetSpace VR

Where to find us: Tune in to our live stream from 3pm to solve the clues and find us in our first secret location. You’ll need to know the code word and be following The Manc!

Prize bundle three

Fondue at The Mews
Provence
  • £500 voucher for On The Beach
  • Wine and charcuterie at Provence
  • Fondue for two with bottomless drinks at The Mews
  • 2 tickets for 90s Baby at the AO Arena
  • Zouk Valentine’s cookery course
  • Couples’ glasses or sunglasses from IOLLA
  • A Valentine’s class for two at V1BE, Mosley Street
  • Dinner and drinks for two at Cane & Grain, and a Margarita Masterclass at Science & Industry, courtesy of Cazcabel
  • Overnight stay at The James
  • Bouquet of flowers from Royal Exchange Flowers
  • 2 tickets for Olly Murs at the AO Arena
  • 2 Clubland tickets for AO Arena
  • 2 tickets for any Joshua Brooks gig
  • A chocolate hamper from Cocoa Cabana
  • Afternoon tea for two with pink prosecco at 53Two
  • Zero Latency VR Experience for two at MeetSpace VR

Where to find us: Tune in to our live stream from 5.15pm to solve the clues and find us in our first secret location. You’ll need to know the code word and be following The Manc!

Happy hunting and happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Featured image: On The Beach

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Co-op Live announce UFC 304 is coming to the brand-new arena for Manchester return this year

Danny Jones Danny Jones UFC 304 returns to Manchester

Co-op Live has announced one of the biggest nights yet and their first-ever sporting event after confirming that the UFC is coming to the new state-of-the-art arena.

While the shiny new music and live entertainment stadium suffered an unfortunate setback earlier this week, with both of Peter Kay’s gigs being postponed following power supply issues discovered during their test event, the confirmation of UFC 304 at Co-op Live is a big plus for the opening month.

Rumours had been circling that a huge sporting event might be coming to the UK’s newest indoor arena, one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, but this being just the fourth time the UFC has washed up on British shores, it’s a huge coup for their debut year.

Announced on Wednesday, 24 April, the global MMA phenomenon and multi-billion-dollar promotion company will be bringing their 304th fight night to Manchester on 27 July and you can roll your eyes at the pun all you like, but it’s going to be a knockout.

The UFC is coming back to Manchester for the first time in eight years.

As the UFC has said in an official press release, “UK MMA is currently experiencing what is being described as an unheralded golden era, with stars such as welterweight champion Leon Edwards, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, and local favourites, including Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann, Muhammad Mokaev, Michael Page and Arnold Allen, with more rising through the ranks.”

That being said, there isn’t a better moment for the brand to capitalise on the growing fight audience here in the UK and 0161, specifically, with the aforementioned Aspinall having created a real appetite for the discipline in and around the city.

The Greater Manchester region has always been home to iconic fighters regardless, be it boxing or otherwise; Ricky Hatton, Tyson Fury, Amir Khan, as well adopted Manc MMA legend Michael Bisping, whose pedigree helped bring UFC to Manchester and the AO Arena for the first time back in 2016.

Nearly a decade later the promotion is now part of Co-op Live’s maiden calendar and set to be the first of many sporting events they hope to host – a plan bolstered by their partnership with neighbours, Manchester City.

ufc returning to manchester july 2024
ufc co-op live
The UFC 304 fight card is yet to be announced but there are a few local names you can probably bank on. (Credit: The Manc Audio)

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“I’m so excited to get back to Manchester, and no better time than this summer,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White. “We have two champions from the UK and fans have been dying for a UFC PPV event. So here we come to the largest indoor arena in the UK. See you soon, England!”

As for Co-op Live, Executive Director and General Manager Gary Roden added: “With the north of England home to so many of the world’s leading fighters, we are primed and ready for UFC and its knowledgeable, passionate fanbase.

“Offering a state-of-the-art platform for globally broadcast events, Co-op Live is extremely proud to welcome entertainment of this scale and calibre as the future home of combat sports in the UK.”

Co-op members get early access to presale tickets at 10am on 5 June and general admission goes live via Ticketmaster at the same time on Friday, 7 June. UFC Fight Club members will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets early on the Wednesday from 9am BST.

You can also register your interest HERE to gain access to a special pre-sale which starts on Thursday, 6 June 6 from 10am as well. Roll on fight night!

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Supplied

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Chester Zoo named best zoo in the UK thanks to more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

It’s official… Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2024.

Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world – but now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.

The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Based on millions of online reviews, the new ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.

Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024 / Credit: Chester Zoo

According to Chester Zoo, the “wonderful news” means that, as a conservation charity, it can continue its work with countries across the world to “help all animals survive and thrive”, as well as provide expert care to the 37,000 animals who currently call the zoo their home.

The zoo has also thanked its visitors for all their continued support each year, as this allows to “keep making a difference”.

“With every admission ticket, membership, animal adoption, or experience purchased, you are contributing to our mission of preventing extinction,” Chester Zoo said in a statement.

Speaking on the coveted new TripAdvisor title, Jamie Chirston, who is the CEO at Chester Zoo, says he’s “over the moon to be named the best zoo in the UK”, adding in a statement that: “It’s an incredible achievement and especially pleasing given it’s based on thousands upon thousands of genuine reviews and opinions.

“It’s a real seal of approval from our visitors, and testament to every single one of our dedicated, hardworking, and talented staff that make our conservation zoo the wonderful place it is.

“Every time someone walks through our gates, not only do they enjoy all kinds of wildlife experiences and a have great day out, but they’re also contributing to the vital conservation work we carry out here and around the world, and that’s why, as a not-for-profit conservation zoo, this top TripAdvisor ranking means such an awful lot to us.

It’s all thanks to more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings by visitors on TripAdvisor / Credit: Chester Zoo

“It’s confirmation that we’re getting things right for our visitors, [which is] especially important as, together, we’re preventing extinction and making a real difference for wildlife.”

The UK’s best zoo isn’t the only title Chester Zoo has claimed this month either, as TripAdvisor has also listed it as the eighth-best zoo or aquarium to visit in the whole of Europe too.

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So it double congratulations are in order – and they couldn’t be more well-deserved, right?

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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