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Royal Exchange Manchester is hosting a magical, musical Christmas shopping experience – with £250 up for grabs

Royal Exchange is doing its bit to keep the holiday spirit alive on the first weekend of December - hosting live music and offering people the chance to win spending money.

The Manc The Manc - 1st December 2020

We keep getting told to temper our expectations this Christmas – with warnings that the city just won’t feel as festive as normal.

Royal Exchange, however, is doing its bit to keep the holiday spirit alive.

The shopping district will be hosting an array of live performers who will be entertaining visitors upon their return to retail this weekend – and £250 will be up for grabs for one lucky shopper.

On Saturday 5 December, saxophonist Alastair Grant will be pumping out some festive tunes in the Arcade and surrounding streets, whilst the wonderful Northern String Quartet will perform renditions of classic Christmas melodies as shoppers browse the stores.

The tenants at Royal Exchange are feeling generous, too – with Lanigan & Hulme offering 15% off on the day, and Michaels coffeehouse slashing 10% off their delicious speciality hot drinks to takeaway (just remember to ask for your ‘Christmas Gift’ when you order to claim the discount). 

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Amaranth natural health and beauty store will also be running a special promotion on Saturday: Buy 4 Pukka teas and get a free tea caddy!

But the biggest offer of all comes from Royal Exchange itself.

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The building is offering shoppers the chance to win £250 to spend in one of their stores, cafes or restaurants in the new year. 

To be in with a shot of winning, all you need to do is take your photo at the stunning 50 Windows of Art floral installation in the middle of the Arcade (titled Town Hall Hive), share it on social media, and tag @royalexchangemanchester (Facebook and Instagram) or @TheRoyalExMcr with the hashtag #REX50WINDOWS.

Just imagine having £250 in your pocket for the new year sales…

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Stay up to date with everything happening at the retail district on the Royal Exchange website.

Happy shopping!

What's On

There’s just one month to go until a blockbuster Manchester derby in the WSL at the Etihad Stadium

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Women's Derby WSL Etihad Stadium tickets

We’re just one month out until one of the best games on the football calendar: the Manchester derby in a Barclays Women’s Super League campaign that is shaping up to be one of the most tightly contested in some time.

Manchester City and Man United are both duking it out at the top of the table already, the high-flying East Manchester club and last season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup finalists, each of the local teams has plenty of reason to go into the game confident.

With Man City boasting not just the home advantage but the bonus of playing in front of a crowd at the Etihad Stadium, many are already expecting a blue moon to rise once again.

This season may have only just begun, but Man City Women have already shown plenty of promise and signs of early form. Barring an opening day blip against the champions, Andrée Jeglertz’s side have looked pretty prolific; Man United are right up there with them, meaning we’re bound for a good clash.

Netting well over a dozen goals – the most of any team in the league – the Cityzens will understandably feel on the offensive when they host the visitors on Saturday, 15 November.

Man United are right up there with them, though, meaning we’ve got a derby day that shouldn’t disappoint. Let’s be honest, it rarely does.

Don’t you just love it when two rivals go into a clash in strong spirits?

There’s also an added element of feistiness bubbling under the surface, as this is also the first meeting between the two clubs since Grace Clinton swapped the red half of Manchester for a sky blue shirt, with Jess Park going the other way.

You can expect the pair to get a rousing reception when they rock up/return to the Etihad in just a few weeks’ time.

The 22-year-old scored on her debut in City’s 5-1 win over Spurs.

All eyes will be on this WSL fixture, especially with members of the back-to-back Euros-winning Lionesses squad taking to the pitch on both sides.

Clinton, Park; Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone, as well as more international stars such as Viv Miedema and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw – there’s going to be so much talent on show.

Speaking to The Manc ahead of the match, first-team star and City vice-captain, Kerstin Casparij, gave us their thoughts on the historic and always hard-fought rivalry…

What does the Manchester derby mean to you?

The derby means more to me every year. It’s not just 3 important points, but also pride and bragging/banter rights. This year, I’d say it’s also about redemption for me, considering our home loss last season. 

Are there any standout memories of derby day that come to mind?

I think the away win at Old Trafford two years ago is a nice memory. Being booed for the full 90 minutes and coming away with a win feels extra satisfying.

It really is set up to be an unmissable meeting between the two heavyweights of the female football world, with a 1:30pm kick-off leaving plenty of time for added fanfare before and after either whistle.

Promising plenty of activities in and around the stadium, as well as the dedicated Man City Kids Fan Zone, a completely free event that runs for four hours before kick off on the indoor pitch of the City Football Academy, the ‘Blue Carpet’ experience, where you can see players arrive 90 minutes before the game and plenty more, there’s so much going on.

As well as fun games at half-time, live entertainment, not to mention a wide range of food and drink around the concourse, it’s going to be a great day out.

Read more:

Best of all, tickets are super affordable: general admission for adults starts from only £15 and £5 for under 16s. If you grab two adult passes and one U16 ticket, you can get any additional U16 tickets for just £1 each.

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If you want to enjoy Hospitality at the Etihad Stadium, packages start from as little as £35. From the Sports Bar experience and the Tunnel Club, where you can see players getting read on the way to the dugout and pitch, or even a bottomless brunch before the game with your friends.

Whatever offer best suits you, fans can grab tickets right HERE.

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Manchester City

What's On

Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Halloween is on its way, and Silence of the Baths is being ‘resurrected’ for another year.

Returning for a ‘fright night of thrills’ after a sell-out debut in 2023, and then for a smash-hit revival of three of Manchester’s most iconic fallen nightclubs in 2024, Victoria Baths has announced that Silence of the Baths will be returning for its third year, transforming the stunning Grade II-listed building into one of the spookiest settings this Halloween.

For the popular one-off event, Victoria Baths is set to ‘show its darker side’, as the pool halls, Turkish Baths, and labyrinth of spaces undergo an epic Halloween makeover.

Victoria Baths is teaming up with Girls on Film for one of the best nights in the city this Halloween, as the historic space becomes a ‘haunted haven’ of glamour and ghosts.

Partygoers are encouraged to dress the part and wander through the empty pools and haunted corridors as each space is transformed into spooky playground filled with ghouls, spiders, bats, and coffins – but most importantly, good times.

From the balcony above the former pool, the Girls on Film crew will take over the silent disco with a trio of DJs on three different channels.

Hattie Pearson will be on Channel 1, Meme Gold on Channel 2, and the Channel 3 will have DJ MXw0rld.

Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween / Credit: Chris Payne (via Supplied)

As mentioned, ticketholders are being encouraged to ‘dress to distress’ on the night, not only because it’s Halloween, but also because the person with the most haunting look has the chance to win a Halloween Swag Bag.

There’ll be plenty of elixirs and spirits to sip on all night long, and don’t forget to strike a pose against the Baths’ iconic backdrop. 

The Silence of the Baths III: The Return will take over Victoria Baths on Saturday 25 October, with doors creaking open from 7:30pm, and tickets are now on sale here and setting you back £20 each (plus a booking fee).

The event sold out last year, so early ticket purchase is recommended

Read more:

All ticket purchases support the work of The Victoria Baths Trust to preserve Victoria Baths, so that communities can continue to enjoy this inspiring building.

Featured Image – Chris Payne (via Supplied)

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