Manchester Craft & Design Centre is getting ready to welcome shoppers back into its Victorian market building once lockdown ends this weekend.
Like many small businesses, the studio community at Manchester Craft & Design Centre – which is home to 30 of the most talented independent artists, makers and designers in the region – has been hit hard by the unpredictable events of 2020, but the makers embraced the times and enhanced their online presence, even taking part in an Instagram pop-up, as well as offering their pieces through the Centre’s gift voucher scheme.
But now, the Northern Quarter-based centre is looking forward to giving its loyal customers the opportunity to browse and buy beautiful, unique and meaningful Christmas gifts for their loved ones once again.
As a completely COVID-safe environment, the centre will be open every day from Wednesday 2nd December in the run up to Christmas, until 5.30pm on Christmas Eve.
And the choice is wide-ranging.
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From knitted cushions, ceramic homeware, pewter creations and impressive lighting features, to one-of-a-kind pieces of jewellery, woollen scarves, and handmade leather bags and purses to suit every pocket size, customers will be spoilt for choice.
— Manchester Craft and Design Centre (@ManchesterCraft) November 30, 2020
The Centre will this year feature different handmade collections from makers such as Katherine Lees, who creates decorative features for the home – from bold looking ceramic pots, bottles, vases, and planters to wall pieces all printed with images of birds, octopuses, butterflies and bees – and the use of the silk screening printing allows each and every vessel to be completely unique, making for a beautiful gift.
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A collection of other makers create gorgeous jewellery.
Clare Hillerby carefully crafts personal pieces of jewellery incorporating old ephemera such as handwritten notes, postcards and photographs into ‘line of fragments’ necklaces, while Charlotte Verity is inspired by light to combine precious metals, handmade glass components and faceted stones into jewellery, and Ella McIntosh uses contemporary pewter to create a range of gifts influenced by the urban landscapes of the North.
Manchester Craft & Design CentreLaura Hutchinson / Manchester Craft & Design Centre
Speaking on the reopening tomorrow, Kate Day – Director of Manchester Craft & Design Centre – said: “We were so saddened to close at the beginning of November when the national lockdown began, but have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure Manchester customers are able to enjoy the Christmas shopping experience in-person once again.
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“This year, we’ve all come to realise the value of friendships and relationships we hold dear.
“So, with Christmas round the corner, why not show someone you care with an extra special present that also supports independent creatives from the grassroots Manchester community?
“Give handmade this Christmas.”
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You can buy from Manchester Craft & Design makers at the centre on 2nd December from 10am – 5:30pm up until Christmas Eve, or online via craftanddesign.com/GiveHandmade.
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Make sure to also follow MCDC on its social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – for all the latest updates this festive season, including another Instagram pop-up on 5th December from 12 – 9pm.
Use the hashtag #MCDCPopUp to take part.
You can find more information via the Manchester Craft & Design Centre website here.
What's On
Horror film festival Grimmfest announces fear-filled return to Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is just around the corner, and now a popular horror film has announced its return to Manchester next month.
Grimmfest, also known as Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, has confirmed its 2026 return dates, and has also announced its the full lineup – with four fear-filled days planned, showcasing the best in brand-new horror genre cinema.
You can expect some ferocious feature films, a savage selection of shorts, hair-raising horror classics back on the big screen, and more premieres than ever before.
Returning to Odeon Great Northern early next month, Grimmfest audiences will have an exclusive opportunity to see many of the films on the lineup long before their formal release – with both world, UK, and international premieres on the cards.
Some of the programme’s highlights this year include the UK premiere of Zachary Wigon’s darkly comedic period piece, Victorian Pyscho, shot in Ireland and starring big-name stars Maika Monroe, Jason Isaacs, Thomasin McKenzie, and Ruth Wilson.
Ángel Gómez Hernández’s Crawlers will also make its UK debut at the festival, and horror fans are also said to be eagerly awaiting Jason Lei Howden’s Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon – which is the highly anticipated follow-up to the beloved cult metal comedy-horror, Deathgasm.
There will also be an array of incredible short films screened throughout the festival, all in a huge range of styles, themes, and twisted sensibilities, proving that when it comes to Grimmfest, good things often come in small packages.
Grimmfest has announced its fear-filled return to Manchester next month / Credit: Grimmfest | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
It’s not just new releases you can expect either, as some absolute horror classics are also set to return to the big screen for their anniversaries.
Respected guests from all around the world are set to descend on Manchester for the festival, and that include the film makers and actors from many of the selected films.
And of course there will be plenty of film introductions, Q&As, and signings for fans.
Grimmfest 2026 returns to Oden Great Northern from from 8 – 11 October, and you can see the full lineup and get tickets here.
Featured Image – Grimmfest (Supplied)
What's On
Jersey Boys at Palace Theatre, Manchester – Oh, what a night
Amy Williams
20 years, 65 major awards (including Tonys, a Grammy, and an Olivier), and seen by over 27 million people worldwide – it could only be Jersey Boys, and now it’s back at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
This is one of those shows where you realise just how many songs you know and love by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, but may not know the story behind the band themselves. How they started, how big they became, how they fell apart, and how they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It follows the four boys from Jersey (who each narrate their parts of the story), how it started as just Tommy and Nick and a range of different guys along the way, until they found the one who has a voice like an angel, Frankie Valli, and this started to change the direction of their success.
But they were missing a key part, a good song writer – enter Bob Gaudio, and the creation of The Four Lovers, who then became The Four Seasons.
Mixed with issues of debt, loan sharks, prison time and more, it wasn’t the smoothest of sailing for them, and as they said themselves, they didn’t create a movement like the Beatles. But The Four Seasons were for the factory workers, the dads, the working class people who could relate to them.
One thing we need to talk about, is just how INCREDIBLE the vocal performances are in this tour of Jersey Boys, staring Luke Baker as Frankie Valli, Carlo Boumouglbay as Tommy Devito, Lewis Kennedy as Nick Massi, and Toby Miles as Bob Gaudio.
Jersey Boys is back in Manchester, for a run at the Palace Theatre
A special mention for Luke Baker, because as iconic as Frankie Valli’s voice is, he very perfectly matched it.
The musical features some of their biggest hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Beggin’, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Walk Like A Man, and of course, December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) which had everyone up on their feet dancing at the end.
This show is incredible from beginning to end, and would recommend everyone go to see this.
Jersey Boys is running at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 19 September, and you can grab your tickets HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
1st December 2020 
