Printworks has launched a virtual Mini Monsters Trail to help families celebrate the spooky season with plenty of treats and absolutely no tricks.
Just like everything else amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Halloween is gearing up to be a little different this year, but with the nights drawing in and the big day coming up this Saturday, you can still make the most out of October half term at Manchester’s “number one entertainment venue” this week.
Five mini monsters will be hidden across the Printworks’ website each day, and all you have to do is read the clues to find each monster, and you could then be entered into the “creepy competition”.
The Mini Monsters Trail is taking place from Monday 26th – Friday 30th October.
With a total of five daily trails to take part in throughout the week, there’s six chances for families to win “fang-tastic prizes”.
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Plus, if you manage to find the special Haunted Halloween Monster along the trail, then you’ll be entered into the “spookalicious grand prize draw” which could see you winning a £100 voucher to spend at a number of Printworks’ venues.
Join us on the Mini Monster Trail this Halloween as we're giving away over £350 worth of prizes! Tune in at midday Mon-Fri for Trail clues and find the monster to enter our daily draw! https://t.co/A70wkkDZ3Cpic.twitter.com/WPaxPnnxu2
You can catch the Printworks monster on its roof from 26th October – 1st November.
If you fancy joining in with the Mini Monsters Trail this week, then you can head on over to the Printworks website here for more information and to get started.
There’s plenty of other things happening at the city centre entertainment complex this week too.
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Vue
Vue will be showing all of the Halloween classics for both families and horror fans, and you can expect to catch the likes of Psycho, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Hocus Pocus from just £4.99 a ticket throughout the month.
If you want a real scary experience, then you can’t really go wrong with an escape room, and when you play horror rooms Enigmista or Ritual at Escape Reality, you’ll get 50% off any other room for your next visit, but you’ll have to make out of this room in one piece first.
Don’t want to risk bumping into any vampires? Tee off before midday at Treetop Adventure Golf and you’ll be able to play a second course for free while the sun is still up.
Hard Rock Cafe is giving you a taste of Halloween this October with a special cocktail for the spooky season, and the kids will also be able to pay with a pumpkin too, so get carving.
Bring a carved pumpkin during October Half Term, and get a meal from the kid’s Roxtars Menu free of charge when you buy a main meal.
Leave the pumpkins at Hard Rock Cafe and carve out some time during October half term for bowling, because the offers at Manchester’s newest Tenpin venue include bowling and a drink from £9 per person, bowling and food for £13 per person, and bowling, food and drink from £15 per person.
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Frankie and Benny’s
Treat the little terrors to lunch, as kids eat free over October half term when you order a main meal.
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You can find out more about the Mini Monster’s Trail and get your first clue here.
What's On
One of the biggest and best new beer gardens in Manchester drops just in time for the World Cup
Danny Jones
You heard us right: what could very well be Manchester’s favourite new beer garden has just landed over in St John’s, and all can envision is non-stop sun, suds and sporting action all summer long.
This, my friends, is ‘The Green’.
Capturing a kind of mix between the simple combo of wide open space, booze and hopefully sun on the Stevenson Square we all know and love, with a bit of the Boxpark fanfare that will make it perfect come World Cup, we’re big fans of what they’ve put together here.
It’s also worth noting that this place is significantly bigger than you’ll find in most corners of central Manchester, complete with plenty of room to perch, from the rows of deckchairs to even tiered step seating that runs along the edge.
There’s new artificial turf laid down, complete with fresh wooden borders, lamp lighting, big benches perfect for squeezing plenty of mates on each side, as well as a decent number of small parasols. There are even QR codes to save time ordering at the bar.
Speaking of, the bar is already full up and running with a very solid lineup of summery drinks, for beers and fruity ciders to Aperol and plenty more. You are paying the expected St John’s prices, but when the rays hit just right, the footy’s on and you’re with your mates, you won’t hear us complaining.
Not just batch stuff being proud from the tap either – they’ve got cocktails, creative twists on frozen margs and lots of other stuff still in the pipeline.
But understandably, the instant start of the show is that large screen, which has already got us dreaming of the World Cup and tournament season year in year out, for that matter. And when we say large, we really mean it…
Just picture the scenes…
The lawn itself is plenty long, and the massive monitor is high up enough on the old studio wall that not a single soul will be missing a second of that action.
Be it the footy, Wimbledon, F1, rugby – whatever the discipline happens to be, we can’t wait to find any excuse to watch it all here (weather permitting). Only a short distance from Deansgate, Spinningfields, Castlefield and more, we feel like this spot is about to blow up.
You’ll also be glad to know that while you can’t take food and drink from other venues around the beer garden itself, they’ve got a food lineup all of their own coming very soon, centring around Manchester locals and regional indies. That’s what we like to hear.
It’s just what that Grape Street area needed, and regardless of whatever potential seasonal shifts it might need to make, we hope it stays here for a very long time. Good vibes all-round.
Stockport band Blossoms set for BIG return to Leeds Festival this year
Thomas Melia
Blossoms have just announced their big return to Leeds Festival, as the four-day music event continues to impress with its stacked lineup.
They might have a ‘Joke About Divorce’ from time to time, but when it comes to entertaining a Leeds Festival crowd, Blossoms take it very seriously, having played at Bramham Park three times in the past decade already.
The Stockport band have captivated audiences since the rise of standout track ‘Charlemagne’ and more recently with the addition of their fifth studio album, Gary, named after an eight-foot fiberglass gorilla.
Known for always putting on a stellar performance, Tom, Joe, Charlie, Myles, and Josh are bringing a brand-new set to Leeds when they visit this August bank holiday weekend.
As well as releasing new music, Blossoms are making a big return to Leeds Festival 2026 / Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Currently, Leeds Festival 2026 has seven headline acts spanning all genres from Dance and EDM to Pop and Rap with the likes of Charli XCX, Raye, Dave and more topping the bill.
The Stockport five-piece are featured alongside three other insane artists as ‘Special Guests’, appearing next to Skepta, Sombr and Role Model.
Also listed on the lineup are rising stars like R&B vocal powerhouse Skye Newman, pop princess Jade, Merseyside indie rockers The K’s and Wigan-formed The Lilacs with more to be announced.
Although nothing is confirmed yet, this upcoming Leeds Festival set from Blossoms will contain high energy and obviously all their biggest and best bangers from across their four chart topping albums as well as new music.
Whether you’re there for ‘Your Girlfriend’ or ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry’, one thing’s for sure, you’re guaranteed to have an absolutely spectacular night.
Blossoms are making their big return to Leeds Festival 2026 which is taking place from 27 to 30 August at Bramham Park with tickets live HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
27th October 2020 
