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You can go ice skating through a winter forest at Barton Square next month

TraffordCity will transform into the ultimate winter wonderland where "dreams really do come true".

Dolly Busby Dolly Busby - 12th November 2021

There’s an unmissable festive experience is coming to Barton Square on a spectacular scale never seen before.

Christmas is officially on its way, because on 3 December, TraffordCity will transform into the ultimate winter wonderland where “dreams really do come true”.

Set over two floors, visitors will be taken on a sensory journey that recreates the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas, with a magical Christmas village, authentic markets, and a breathtaking ice skating experience that takes you through a captivating forest and snow-covered world.

For those who are Bambi on ice though, there’ll be two custom-built bars so you watch family and friends safely with a steaming-hot beverage.

Skaters can then hit the skate-up bar for festive refreshments ice-side.

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TraffordCity will transform into the ultimate winter wonderland where “dreams really do come true” / Credit: Louise Woodward

The Christmas village and markets are free to enter, and will feature artisan crafts, and rich offerings of delicious food and drink.

They’ll be open Monday – Friday from 10am – 10pm, Saturday from 10am – 9pm, and Sunday from 12pm – 6pm.

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Ice skating tickets start from £13 for a 45-minute slot, and can be booked on site and pre-booked here.

The £150,000 installation will combine lighting, visuals, and stunning scenography, and as the brainchild of immersive event specialist OOBE Global Group, it’s the first time a festive experience of this scale has been hosted at TraffordCity.

So, yeah, it’s a pretty big deal.

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There’s a breathtaking ice skating experience that takes you through a captivating forest / Credit: Louise Woodward

Paolo Gaddari – Managing Director of OOBE – said: “Our aim is to surprise and delight visitors at every turn.

“A place where lighting, visuals and sets are tools to create an immersive multi-dimensional experience, transporting them to the ultimate festive fantasy world and to give them a day out to remember.”

Unreal Xmas experience promises to be festive fun for all the family, so make sure to book your tickets now and don’t miss out.

Barton Square is found in TraffordCity, and linked via a bridge from the Trafford Centre.

Featured Image – Louise Woodward

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Chester Zoo named best zoo in the UK thanks to more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

It’s official… Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2024.

Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world – but now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.

The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.

Based on millions of online reviews, the new ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.

Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024 / Credit: Chester Zoo

According to Chester Zoo, the “wonderful news” means that, as a conservation charity, it can continue its work with countries across the world to “help all animals survive and thrive”, as well as provide expert care to the 37,000 animals who currently call the zoo their home.

The zoo has also thanked its visitors for all their continued support each year, as this allows to “keep making a difference”.

“With every admission ticket, membership, animal adoption, or experience purchased, you are contributing to our mission of preventing extinction,” Chester Zoo said in a statement.

Speaking on the coveted new TripAdvisor title, Jamie Chirston, who is the CEO at Chester Zoo, says he’s “over the moon to be named the best zoo in the UK”, adding in a statement that: “It’s an incredible achievement and especially pleasing given it’s based on thousands upon thousands of genuine reviews and opinions.

“It’s a real seal of approval from our visitors, and testament to every single one of our dedicated, hardworking, and talented staff that make our conservation zoo the wonderful place it is.

“Every time someone walks through our gates, not only do they enjoy all kinds of wildlife experiences and a have great day out, but they’re also contributing to the vital conservation work we carry out here and around the world, and that’s why, as a not-for-profit conservation zoo, this top TripAdvisor ranking means such an awful lot to us.

It’s all thanks to more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings by visitors on TripAdvisor / Credit: Chester Zoo

“It’s confirmation that we’re getting things right for our visitors, [which is] especially important as, together, we’re preventing extinction and making a real difference for wildlife.”

The UK’s best zoo isn’t the only title Chester Zoo has claimed this month either, as TripAdvisor has also listed it as the eighth-best zoo or aquarium to visit in the whole of Europe too.

Read more:

So it double congratulations are in order – and they couldn’t be more well-deserved, right?

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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Peter Kay’s gigs at Co-op Live have been postponed as the arena admits it’s not ready for opening act

Danny Jones Danny Jones Peter Kay Co-op Live gigs cancelled

Just a day before the venue was set to welcome its very first act, Co-op Live has announced that arena opener Peter Kay’s gigs have unfortunately been cancelled and postponed until later this month.

Both of Peter Kay‘s highly-anticipated shows have ultimately had to be called off after Co-op Live revealed that the brand-new entertainment venue is simply not ready to welcome guests just yet, with work still to be completed on key areas of the building, namely power supply issues.

Issuing a regretful statement on social media, the arena has confirmed that the shows will now be rescheduled to Monday and Tuesday, 29-30 April.

This comes barely a day after its official opening event this past weekend which also saw thousands have their tickets cancelled for the accompanying ‘test gig’.

Co-op Live confirms Peter Kay’s pair of opening shows have been cancelled and rescheduled.

Addressing the situation online, Co-op Live said: “Following our first test event on Saturday, regretfully we have made the difficult decision to reschedule our two opening performances by Peter Kay…

“It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind. Rescheduling gives us the extra time we need to continue testing thoroughly.

“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size. Peter Kay has very graciously agreed to perform his record-breaking comedy at Co-op Live on 29 (rescheduled from 23) and 30 (rescheduled from 24) April 2024.

“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend. We are very sorry for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause for some.” Safe to say many of those looking forward to the show have been left frustrated.

Speaking to The Manc, a Stockport gig-goer who had tickets said they had to find out via social media and that her group had still received no email notifying them about the cancellation, adding, “We just logged into the app to find the date on our tickets had been changed to next Monday”.

As for the beloved Bolton-born stand-up and British comedy legend himself, Kay added: “I’m truly gutted as I know how disappointing this will be for everyone with tickets, but obviously it’s a brand-new venue and it’s important that everything is finished and safe for full capacity audiences.

“Fortunately, we’ve been able to reschedule the shows to next week, (I’ll have to miss my Bums & Tums class) but hopefully I’ll see you then.”

The venue also went on to assure that they will still be hosting The Black Keys on 27 April in the lower bowl with 10k fans as planned and will continue to test the resilience of the venue and its operations for the time being.

They also reminded fans who previously missed out on tickets that due to dates being moved, tickets may now become available.

Read more:

Featured Images — The Manc Audio/Press Images

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