The UK’s longest indoor ski slope has finally reopened at Manchester’s Trafford Quays Leisure Village – alongside a selection of its shops and dining experiences.
Whether you’re an avid skier or simply looking for an exciting day of adventure with the kids, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Chill Factore is back in operation.
From learning how to snowboard to playing in the snow, the ice-themed venue guarantees a fun-filled day out for almost anyone – with activities available on and off the slopes.
Now Chill Factore has reopened, here’s what you need to know about the types of experiences and events happening; and how to prepare for your visit to Trafford Park.
If you’re looking to style up your snow sport wardrobe, then this is a must-visit shop at the Chill Factore.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although jackets and trousers are readily available to rent, this stylish alternative will leave you gracing the slopes looking like a pro. Snow + Rock commit to stocking the latest designs from the world’s biggest brands, so you know you’re in trusted hands.
Dare 2b
If you’re not just limited to looking for ski wear, then Dare 2b is the place to be.
ADVERTISEMENT
They also stock cycling clothing, outdoor wear and activewear to have you prepped for any possible activity; offering some funky patterns and very on-trend styles.
Subvert Boardstore
If snowboarding is becoming more of a serious passion than just a hobby, then it might be time to invest in your own board.
Conveniently positioned in the centre of the Chill Factore, this store offers a massive selection of snowboards, binding and boots, meaning you’ll definitely find something that takes your fancy.
This adorable café is a must visit if you want to get your hands on some fresh food and coffee to keep you fuelled during your visit.
From their mouth-watering all-day breakfasts to scrumptious homemade cakes and desserts, Lift Up is definitely the vegan-friendly treat you need after a day on the slopes.
Paul’s Ice Cream
If you’re not too cold after spending time in the snow, you can grab a well-earned ice cream over at Paul’s.
With a selection of 40 flavours, as well as milkshakes, waffles and other hot desserts, there’s plenty of opportunity to reward yourself after hours on the slopes.
If you want to keep it classic, the Chill Factore also has a Costa Coffee, Nando’s and Wetherspoons for you to kick back with a hot drink or beer.
If you’re after a proper challenge, why not get involved in a race?
The Turris Alpine takes place on 20 September and the NSSA Race is on the 21 September – giving you a few weeks to train up before putting your skiing skills to the test against others.
If you’re still looking to improve your technique, then Chill Factore are hosting a Race Skills event every Tuesday from 5:30pm – 9:30pm. The coaches will give you guided instruction and assistance to improve your coordination, edge, pressure and rotation, making you a skilled skier in no time.
Perhaps your preparing for a ski holiday sometime in the future? Well the Chill Factore’s Terrain Challenges event helps you get a feel for the bumps and hills that you’ll experience on a real slope. They include a variety of table tops, pipes, kickers and moguls to promise a challenging yet realistic experience.
The Chill Factore is now open on weekdays from 12pm-8pm and weekends from 10am-6pm, and you can book tickets via their website.
What's On
The shortlist for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards has been revealed
Danny Jones
The shortlisted nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award (SPOTY) have been revealed, including one notable nearby name.
The question is, who do you fancy most for it this time around?
After Atherton’s very own Keely Hodgkinson claimed it last year, we were naturally hoping another Greater Manchester native would win it once again.
While we haven’t quite got what we wished for, you could say we’ve got the next best thing, as a fellow North West name has been nominated.
🗣️ REVEALED!
The 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year contenders are:
A short train ride away to Cheshire, and being a big Man United fan basically counts, if you ask us.
Yes, Warrington’s very own Luke Littler has been named on the shortlist for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year, quite literally 12 months from his previous nomination.
Littler, who is still only 18, did go on to win the 2024 Young SPOTY last December – a very decent consolation prize following his blockbuster debut year or so – but he has been tipped as a bookies’ favourite this time around.
He’s also been voted for that award again this year, so you’d hope he’d be walking away with at least one of the trophies, though it’d be far from his only one of late.
Since then, the young sporting prodigy has gone on to win all but two of the 10 PDC majors, including two Premier League Darts titles.
In fact, if you want to look at how his arrival onto the senior professional darts circuit breaks down, you can take a gander at the frankly staggering stats behind his breakthrough down below.
As you can see, other nominees include former Manchester City Women’s star Chloe Kelly and Lioness, Hannah Hampton; rugby union and national team member, Ellie Kildunne, F1 favourite Lando Norris, as well as Irish golfer, Rory McIlroy (not for the first time).
We’ll confess we’re very much biased and backing local lad Littler – sue us.
The other Young SPOTY nominees for 2025 include another rising England star in Michelle Agyemang and Northern Superchargers cricket talent, Davina Perrin.
Being hosted over at MediaCityUK in Salford once again, voting will take place during the show on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer on Thursday, 18 December.
Manchester Film Festival returns for 2026 and early bird passes are live NOW
Danny Jones
Cinephiles, prepare yourselves, because the Manchester Film Festival is back for 2026, and you can grab discounted early bird tickets right now.
Taking place over the course of 10 days next spring, the annual event will be spread across multiple much-loved cinemas and is a must-not miss if you’re a movie buff or just love going to the pictures.
Serving as a celebration of both international cinema and local filmmakers, highlighting a diverse range of films from both established and emerging talent, the Manchester Film Festival has been going for over a decade now, and 2026 is set to be the biggest yet.
You can see how last year went down below.
Having earned nods from both BAFTA and the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), there’s already plenty of pedigree and excitement behind it, especially with the discounted early bird offers available.
You can see the prices of Manchester Film Festival (MFF) early bird passes here:
6 Film Pass – £36 (normally £45)
10 Film Pass – £52 (normally £65)
Full Festival Pass – £71.95 (normally £89.95)
As you can see in the clips from the 11th edition of MFF back in March 2025, the showcase featured everything from the indie up-and-comers to well-established famous faces.
For instance, standout showings included The Penguin Lessons, starring Steve Coogan, and Y2K, which featured Disney star and singer Rachel Zegler, as well as Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst.
As for the latest instalment, whether you’re most interested in the movie screenings themselves, the panels and Q&As, or just the taste of some red carpet glamour, there’s something for all film lovers.
MFF’s full programme is set to be announced in January, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us this time.
This year, they’ve also had a Salford student design the official 2026 festival poster, as Pendleton Sixth Form College’s Charlie Cunliffe has shared his striking visuals.
Commenting on this continued collaboration with the further education institution, Festival Director Neil Jeram Croft said: “This is the third year we have worked with Pendleton Sixth Form design students, and once again the work they all put in was exceptional.
“It was really tough to choose a winner, but we felt that Charlie’s design really stood out with its simplicity and use of colour. We think it’s going to look fantastic all over Manchester this spring.”
As for the venues taking part in MCR Film Fest 2026, the likes of Aviva Studios, HOME, Odeon Great Northern, Flix at Treehouse Hotel, and CULTPLEX over in Cheetham Hill will be helping host.
Next year’s festival runs from 19-29 March and, once again, passes currently start at £36 – reduced from the standard cost of £45.
If you’re interested in trying it out this year, you can grab your tickets HERE.
Daisy Bradbury -
28th August 2020 
