A huge warehouse on the industrial outskirts of Manchester city centre is set to host a huge Qatar World Cup 2022 fan zone.
Love Factory, a new cultural building on Dantzic Street, will show the games on a huge indoor central screen and projectors throughout the venue.
As well as actually screening the matches, Love Factory’s commitment to football will continue with a huge exhibition of World Cup jerseys from Classic Football Shirts.
There’ll also be a range of local food and drink traders, including Ate Days A Week, who’ll create a rotation of pie fillings inspired by the different countries competing in the tournament.
Love Factory is set to open its doors this winter and will operate as an adaptive events venue, kicking things off with its Qatar World Cup 2022 programming.
ADVERTISEMENT
VIP booths at Love Factory’s World Cup celebrations in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
An Official Carling Fan Zone will take over the huge space, alongside general seating, and even dedicated Singing Terraces as a nod to the days when football grounds rarely had seating.
All the zones will have uninterrupted views of the action and will be within easy reach of the food and drink offerings.
ADVERTISEMENT
There are also hospitality boxes for group hire, with flatscreens, fine-tuned sound systems, and food and drink packages.
Love Factory Manchester. Credit: Jody HartleyAte Days A week at Love Factory Manchester. Credit: SuppliedLove Factory Manchester. Credit: Supplied
At halftime, there’ll be live halftime punditry from talkSPORT, with commentators providing match commentary.
Exclusive items like Copa90 boots, classic football shirts worn by legendary squads throughout history, archive images and rare posters will be displayed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Classic Football Shirts, the sporting treasure trove on Deansgate, will be creating an exhibition celebrating past iconic World Cup moments, including match-worn England shirts including 1990 Home, 1998 Home, and more.
Limited coaching sessions with Football Kings will be available for kids between five and 13 years old outside the ticketed match days.
There’ll be a five-a-side pitch campaign on Thursday 17 November made up of teams of influencers, including Stretford Paddock, Habitat, EATMCR, Love Factory, Classic Football Shirts, Football Kings, and Miss Kick.
Tickets for Love Factory x Qatar World Cup 2022 are £5 for standing; £7 for seating; £10 per person for hospitality seating. Tickets are available to purchase HERE: lovefactory.uk/theworldcup
Private Suites are also available at £75 per person which includes private space with champagne on arrival, complimentary food and drinks, state-of-the-art flatscreen, fine-tuned sound systems, and access to cocktail bars. For further enquiry, please email [email protected].
Chester Zoo is staying open ‘after hours’ this summer so you can see the nocturnal animals
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is keeping its gates open late into the evening across two special weeks this summer.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo has, once again, announced the return of Afterglow for the summer, which is known and loved for offering visitors the rare opportunity to explore the zoo and its 30,000 animals after hours… but for the first time, daytime visitors can now enjoy the hugely popular event without needing a separate ticket.
Unlike previous years, visitors will no longer need to leave Chester Zoo‘s grounds and return with a separate event ticket.
Instead, guests can spend the entire day exploring the zoo before enjoying Afterglow‘s evening programme, all as part of a standard admission ticket.
Chester Zoo’s is opening ‘after hours’ again this summer so you can see all the animals at sunset / Credit: Chester Zoo
Afterglow offers you the unique chance to encounter some of the world’s most endangered species during golden hour – which, for many animals, is one of their most active periods.
From 3pm until 8pm each day, giant elephant, giraffe, and peacock puppets will welcome visitors into the zoo, while life-sized dinosaurs roam the site with theatrical performances and interactive encounters.
The programme also features giant bubble displays, comedy street theatre, fairground rides, and live music performances.
A number of special experiences designed just for adults are on the lineup this year too, including quizzes in Chester Zoo’s very own pub and an adults-only silent disco inside one of the zoo’s oldest animal habitats.
Chester Zoo’s Afterglow returns for 2026, running on exclusive dates between 31 July – 16 August from 3pm until 8pm, with tickets now on sale ranging in price depending on whether or not you buy a full-day ticket or just for the afternoon into evening slot.
And the best bit? Every ticket helps fund conservation projects protecting threatened species in more than 20 countries.
They’re already selling fast, so ook your tickets online in advance here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
What's On
Bewitching Christmas light trail Northern Lights will return to Heaton Park this year
Daisy Jackson
The festive light trail that proved to be a smash hit last winter will make a return to Manchester this year.
Northern Lights has just announced a major return to Heaton Park, with a brand-new Christmas Time Machine theme.
The dazzling mile-long light trail will transform the park into a wonderland with 14 different installations, plus selfie spots along the route.
And there’ll be a limited Kids Go Free offer on select dates, as well as inclusive evenings with reduced capacity and lower audio levels.
Northern Lights attracted more than 100,000 visitors when it made its Heaton Park debut last winter, and received rave reviews across the board.
This year, A Christmas Time Machine will take place from 19 November all the way through to the end of the year, inviting visitors to step back into their favourite festive memories with a nostalgic collection in installations.
Original soundscapes, spectacular new illuminations, and even a marshmallow zone will bring the fully accessible trail to life.
Northern Lights is returning to Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Visitors will walk along Candy Cane Lane, admire a giant neon slinky, and ogle at shimmering nutcrackers.
There’ll also be vintage fairground rides, cosy festive pit stops, and an expanded Christmas Village with artisan food and drink producers from across the region.
Demand is expected to be high for this year’s festivities, with Early Bird tickets just released to get you the best value prices of the year.
Emma St.Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at From The Fields, said: “The response to Northern Lights Manchester last year exceeded all of our expectations.
“The warmth and enthusiasm from visitors made it incredibly special for our team, and we’re delighted to be returning to Heaton Park with something completely new.
“Since January, we’ve been reimagining every part of the experience. A Christmas Time Machine takes visitors on a journey through the festive moments that stay with us long after the decorations come down. Nodding to the traditions we return to year after year, the nostalgia of Christmases gone by, and the excitement of creating new memories together.
“We can’t wait to welcome visitors back and share this next chapter of Northern Lights with families, friends and loved ones from across the region.”
Northern Lights will also host dedicated inclusive evenings on Wednesday 2 and Wednesday 9 December. Visitor numbers will be reduced by 75%, with lower audio levels throughout the trail to create a calmer environment that may be preferable for some neurodivergent visitors and those who benefit from a more relaxed experience.
Northern Lights Manchester tickets
Kids Go Free offer – available on selected Off-Peak Early Bird dates until 31 August (or until allocation is exhausted. Use code KIDSLIGHTS before selecting tickets to unlock.
Early Bird Pricing
Peak tickets – from £17.25 including transaction fee
Off-peak tickets – from £13.75 including transaction fee
Daisy Jackson -
27th October 2022 
