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Tobbogan slide, ice rink, and Santa train coming to ‘Tinsel Town’ at the Trafford Centre this Christmas

The Trafford Centre has announced the arrival of its next large-scale outdoor event.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 5th November 2021

Tobboganing, ice skating, and riding a Santa train are just some of the things you could be getting up to at Trafford Centre this Christmas.

Now that temperatures are dropping and the festive season is right around the corner, the Trafford Centre has announced the arrival of its next large-scale outdoor event and is inviting visitors to “grab the gang for some festive fun” at ‘Tinsel Town’.

Tinsel Town opens on Saturday 13 November, and runs through to 3 January 2022.

So wrap up warm and explore a winter wonderland that’s full of rides and festive fayre – including the chance to glide on down the UK’s longest tobbogan slide, take a spin on the big wheel at the festive fairground, hitch a ride on the Santa train, and shimmy and skate around a brand-new magical ice rink.

The Tinsel Town takeover follows the success of both ‘Summer Social’ – which saw in excess of 200,000 visitors and local celebrities enjoy some fun in the sun this past August and September – and the recently-finished Halloween festival, SPOOKFEST.

And of course, no Christmas is complete without a visit to the big man himself, so get ready to share your festive wishes with Santa in his twinkling tipi from 19 November – 24 December.

The Trafford Centre has announced the arrival of its next large-scale outdoor event just in time for Christmas / Credit: Trafford Centre

The festivities won’t be stopping there either, as there’ll be a giant covered hangar to shelter from the winter weather, and a chance to sampling some mulled wine and other delicious delights from traditional Bavarian Huts.

Independent street food vendors will also be on hand, including Oh My Glaze, Old School Dogs, The Thai Food Van, Epic Pizza, Bouji Baker, and Clean Traits.

If you are planning on popping down to Tinsel Town this Christmas, then make sure not to miss SNOWSTORM – a 90-minute “sensational” ice skating show live from the heated theatre big top with an international cast of ice skaters and incredible circus artists on 600 square feet of shimmering real ice.

Speaking ahead of the opening of Tinsel Town, Zoe Inman – Director at the Trafford Centre – said: “Eat, drink, skate, slide and be merry at the Trafford Centre this Christmas by making special memories at Tinsel Town, before enjoying some Christmas shopping and feasting.

“With late night shopping until 11pm from 20-23 December, festive music on the malls, and spectacular Christmas lights to enjoy, a visit to the Trafford Centre isn’t to be missed.”

Tobogganing, ice skating, and riding a Santa train are just some of the things you could be getting up to / Credit: Trafford Centre

Tinsel Town will be situated outside The Orient, opposite The Great Hall entrance.

You do not need to pay general admission to sit and enjoy food and drinks in the hangar, visit Santa in his tipi, or watch the SNOWSTORM show, but you will need to pay for the fairground and ice rink.

For full details, how to book, and opening hours, visit the Trafford Centre website here.

Featured Image – Trafford Centre

What's On

You can sleep in a luxury train carriage at an old railway station in Greater Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

There’s an Airbnb listing in Delph where you can stay in a classic converted train carriage, and it’s even situated in an old train station, so someone buy my ticket ASAP.

Get ready to have the best train experience of your life, as the only cancellation you have to worry about is booking the day off work.

The Carriage at The Old Station is a two-person character property in Delph, Saddleworth that offers you the chance to live out your vintage fantasy by stepping back in time on a luxury static train coach.

It may be situated at an old station, but the interior is refreshing and light with mint blue beams, fuchsia cushions and a royal red carpet and curtains.

As well as a majestic interior, this carriage has an equally impressive amount of amenities, including a Bluetooth sound system, board games and its own indoor fireplace.

This Airbnb is fairly new too, with only 44 reviews to its name – the first only dating back to September of last year; don’t say we don’t find you some absolute gems.

Inside the airbnb that's an old converted train carriage.
Inside the Airbnb that’s an old converted train carriage.
The interior of this Airbnb listing is bold and impressive.
The interior of this Airbnb listing is bold and impressive.

One user even stated, “We regularly stay in five-star locations and this surpassed five-star easily! We highly recommend a stay here.”

While another opened her review with three simple adjectives that we also feel perfectly sum up this train carriage property perfectly: “Opulent, indulgent, extravagant”.

It should come as no surprise that this place is beautiful inside and out, as in the description, host of the property Nigel states he’s a retired designer.

The train carriage stay is also close to a proper country pub, The Old Bell Inn, as well as the Diggle canal walk if you fancy a stroll and a pint before tucking into bed in your old train carriage for the night.

Even the bathroom has pops of colour throughout.
Even the bathroom has pops of colour throughout.
You could stay in this train carriage at an old train station.
You could stay in this train carriage at an old train station.

Looking for an equally interesting Oldham-based, transportation-themed overnight stay, well, how about renting out a beautifully restored VW camper?

If you’re after boarding The Carriage at The Old Station and having a fabulous overnight stay or mini holiday of your own, you can find the Airbnb listing and everything you need to know HERE.

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Featured Images — Supplied via Airbnb

What's On

Olivia Rodrigo at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for GUTS: Spilled tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

The wait is finally over, as everyone’s favourite teen-pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is bringing her GUTS: Spilled tour to Manchester, playing two nights at Co-op Live more than a year after the high-profile postponement.

Poor Olivia Rodrigo found herself caught up in the delayed Co-op Live opening last year, with the popstar postponing her two gigs just days before they were meant to take place.

Fans then went into a meltdown waiting for new dates, which got announced months later – but it’s finally time.

‘Deja vu’, ‘traitor’, ‘All I Want’ singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is making her long-awaited debut at Co-op Live Manchester for two nights of heartbreak, angst and back to back hits.

Rodrigo may be an ‘All-American B*tch’ but she sure knows a thing or two about our city centre. So much so, she even paid a visit to Manchester dive bar, Bunny Jackson’s, for an impromtu performance.

Now, this 22 year old super star is wearing her heart on her sleeve or as Rodrigo phrases it, spilling her guts, playing songs from her impressive discography right here at Co-op Live.

Olivia Rodrigo gig guide

Olivia Rodrigo last visited Manchester in 2022, when she played O2 Apollo.
Olivia Rodrigo last visited Manchester in 2022, when she played O2 Apollo.

Olivia Rodrigo UK tour dates

  • Fri 27 June – London, UK – Hyde Park
  • Sun 29 June – Glastonbury, UK – Glastonbury Festival
  • Mon 30 June – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Tue 1 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live

Olivia Rodrigo tickets for Co-op Live gig

If you’re after a way to ‘get him (or anyone) back!’ getting your hands on Olivia Rodrigo tickets might just be the way to do it, and luckily for you there’s a small selection left.

Anyone looking to attend Rodrigo’s 30 June show have a few options, just make sure you don’t get bled dry like a ‘vampire’ trying to buy these prized possessions with exclusive tickets HERE.

For those after tickets to ‘GUTS: Spilled’ night two on 1 July can live out their ‘teenage dream’ in style with a handful of hospitality packages up for grabs HERE.

Olivia Rodrigo setlist

  • obsessed
  • ballad of a homeschooled girl
  • vampire
  • driver’s license
  • traitor
  • bad idea right?
  • love is embarassing
  • pretty isn’t petty
  • happier
  • enough for you
  • so american
  • jealousy, jealousy
  • favourite crime
  • deja vu
  • brutal
  • all-american b*tch
  • good 4 u
  • get him back!

What are the stage times for Olivia Rodrigo in Manchester?

Olivia Rodrigo is visiting Co-op Live in Manchester on 30 June and 1 July.
Olivia Rodrigo is visiting Co-op Live in Manchester on 30 June and 1 July.

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm so rest assured you’ll be tucked up in bed before the early hours and you’ll be asleep faster than you can say ‘ballad of a homeschooled girl’.

Doors to open at 6pm with no confirmed kick off time or support act yet but there is an offical afterparty happening at Co-op Live’s new Backstage Club from 10pm onwards for both dates with tickets HERE.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

'GUTS; Spilled' has seen this American super star jet-setting across the globe.
‘GUTS; Spilled’ has seen this American super star jet-setting across the globe.

Read more:

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

Featured Images – Supplied via Larissa Hoffman / Nick Walker

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