This is just a quick recap of all the things you can do with your kids through the summer holidays.
For a bit of education aswell as fun you can visit:
The imperial war museum
Manchester Jewish Museum
Manchester Museum
Peoples history museum
Musuem of Science and industry
For something a bit different you can visit the Godlee Observatory which has different telescopes to look into the sky!
The other cool thing I have not mentioned yet is the Chill Factore. This is pricey, but definetley well worth it for a special treat! Here you can learn to ski and snowboard in the all year round Alpine Village. They have a Luge (a bit like the avalanche in Blackpool), you can go "tubing" which is involves rubber rings and snow! There is also an under 10s play area for the littler folk and you can get lessons whether you are a beginner or an advanced skiier! Aswell as the real snow, you can climb on the massive climbing wall which is 12m high! There are also shops selling ranges of outdoor sports clothing and equipment.
That doesnt half sound like really good fun! Make sure you wrap up REALLY warm because like I said, the snow is REAL!!!
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Practical yet Important
Bus Services in Manchester dont seem to be mentioned enough in my opinion!
I think we have a really bloody good bus service in Manchester and its surrounding areas!
There are literally hundreds of buses that go in and out Manchester everyday going to places as far as Burnley, Wigan, Blackpool and so many other! Most services are fast, efficient and most drivers are friendly enough too!
Tickets are priced reasonably, although different service providers charge different fares.
The services I use most frequently are the "Witch way" and "Lancashire way" who have the best buses by far! Most of them have been upgraded and have leather (yes leather) seats!
First buses have improved a majority of its busiest routes for the summer meaning quicker routes and more frequent buses!
I think its about time people stop taking these kind of things for granted and sit back and realise how lucky we are to have them!!
I think we have a really bloody good bus service in Manchester and its surrounding areas!
There are literally hundreds of buses that go in and out Manchester everyday going to places as far as Burnley, Wigan, Blackpool and so many other! Most services are fast, efficient and most drivers are friendly enough too!
Tickets are priced reasonably, although different service providers charge different fares.
The services I use most frequently are the "Witch way" and "Lancashire way" who have the best buses by far! Most of them have been upgraded and have leather (yes leather) seats!
First buses have improved a majority of its busiest routes for the summer meaning quicker routes and more frequent buses!
I think its about time people stop taking these kind of things for granted and sit back and realise how lucky we are to have them!!
Manchester Fort
The theme of most of my blogs for this month is things to do outside of Manchester City Centre!
Manchester Fort is located just outside the city centre up Cheetham Hill road. It is a fairly new shopping park, its only been open for a few years and is still expanding all the time!
With over 30 stores there is plenty to look at, and I always find that when I go up to the Fort I always get exactly what I am looking for, whereas I can go shopping in Town and find nothing! Maybe there too much of a choice!
Clothes shops include George for Asda, Next, tog 24, Sports World and TK Maxx.
For Electricals you have Currys, Comet, Maplin and Martin Dawes aswell as mobile phone shops like 02, Orange and the Carphone Warehouse.
There is also a massive B&Q and Big W (I think its just called Woolworths now though!) and a Halfords.
Other shops include Superdrug, Boots, Blacks, Borders, Clarks, H Samuel, Game, Argos and Mamas and Papas.
The highlight of the Fort for me is Thorntons, with its Cafe!!!!! The best Hot Chocolate in the world!!! You cannot go to the Fort without visiting Thorntons! It would be criminal!!
Other places to eat and drink are Greggs, Subway, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee. There is also a Starbucks inside of Borders Book store.
The newest Store is Outfit which sells the latest ranges from the following stores, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Burtons, Miss Selfridge, Wallis and Warehouse.
A great thing that the Fort Community does is that every alternate Tuesday at borders they have "Mummy Mornings" where mums can meet, swap stories, get advice and enjoy a free cup of coffee! I think its a great idea!
Opening times are:
Mon-Fri: 9am-8pm
Sat: 9am-6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm.
Manchester Fort is located just outside the city centre up Cheetham Hill road. It is a fairly new shopping park, its only been open for a few years and is still expanding all the time!
With over 30 stores there is plenty to look at, and I always find that when I go up to the Fort I always get exactly what I am looking for, whereas I can go shopping in Town and find nothing! Maybe there too much of a choice!
Clothes shops include George for Asda, Next, tog 24, Sports World and TK Maxx.
For Electricals you have Currys, Comet, Maplin and Martin Dawes aswell as mobile phone shops like 02, Orange and the Carphone Warehouse.
There is also a massive B&Q and Big W (I think its just called Woolworths now though!) and a Halfords.
Other shops include Superdrug, Boots, Blacks, Borders, Clarks, H Samuel, Game, Argos and Mamas and Papas.
The highlight of the Fort for me is Thorntons, with its Cafe!!!!! The best Hot Chocolate in the world!!! You cannot go to the Fort without visiting Thorntons! It would be criminal!!
Other places to eat and drink are Greggs, Subway, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee. There is also a Starbucks inside of Borders Book store.
The newest Store is Outfit which sells the latest ranges from the following stores, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Burtons, Miss Selfridge, Wallis and Warehouse.
A great thing that the Fort Community does is that every alternate Tuesday at borders they have "Mummy Mornings" where mums can meet, swap stories, get advice and enjoy a free cup of coffee! I think its a great idea!
Opening times are:
Mon-Fri: 9am-8pm
Sat: 9am-6pm
Sun: 11am-5pm.
Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre
Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre is a good place to go if you want to head out of the City Centre, and Im pretty sure it will be be a summer holidays hotspot!
For starters there is a free car park which has 700 spaces, plus it is really accessible by public transport from and to Manchester city centre, East Didsbury train station is a two minute walk from the complex, with trains running really frequently to places such as Burnage and Manchester Piccadilly. Buses also run really frequently, at least every few minutes you can get numbers 50, 42, 42a and 142. From Manchester Piccadilly Gardens it only costs £1.10 on the magic bus so itis a cheap ride too!
Aswell as the Cinema I have already rated for you, there is a Buckingham Bingo for adults only of course!
Ten Pin Bowling also lives here, with 26 lanes it is open from 10am until 12 midnight on weekends, and 12pm until 11.30pm weekdays. There is also 17 pool tables, extensive video games and a bar and diner.
You can palm the kids off to the bowling or the pictures and enjoy some pampering at Holmes Place Health Club which houses a 25m pool, sunbeds, saunas, steam rooms, jaccuzis, a ladies only gym and 4 studios!
If you havent eaten enough popcorn, or are celebrating a win at bowling there are plenty of places to eat and drink including Frankie and Bennys, Burgerking, Nandos and Pizza Hut!
For littler kiddies there is a wacky warehouse which is a massive soft play centre!
Theres definetley something for everyone!
For starters there is a free car park which has 700 spaces, plus it is really accessible by public transport from and to Manchester city centre, East Didsbury train station is a two minute walk from the complex, with trains running really frequently to places such as Burnage and Manchester Piccadilly. Buses also run really frequently, at least every few minutes you can get numbers 50, 42, 42a and 142. From Manchester Piccadilly Gardens it only costs £1.10 on the magic bus so itis a cheap ride too!
Aswell as the Cinema I have already rated for you, there is a Buckingham Bingo for adults only of course!
Ten Pin Bowling also lives here, with 26 lanes it is open from 10am until 12 midnight on weekends, and 12pm until 11.30pm weekdays. There is also 17 pool tables, extensive video games and a bar and diner.
You can palm the kids off to the bowling or the pictures and enjoy some pampering at Holmes Place Health Club which houses a 25m pool, sunbeds, saunas, steam rooms, jaccuzis, a ladies only gym and 4 studios!
If you havent eaten enough popcorn, or are celebrating a win at bowling there are plenty of places to eat and drink including Frankie and Bennys, Burgerking, Nandos and Pizza Hut!
For littler kiddies there is a wacky warehouse which is a massive soft play centre!
Theres definetley something for everyone!
ANOTHER hidden gem (God im good!)
Im getting so good at this!
I have found ANOTHER hidden gem!
The Bent Brook hotel in Davyhulme (just by the Trafford Centre) is an absolute corker of a find!!
It is nice and big with a great layout, serving food, great entertainment, prices and so on!
I discovered this place after going to a Jam Night with my husband and his band. Every second Monday the pub holds a Jam Night (or open mic night!) which literally advertises for you to turn up and plug in! If you play any instrument or sing, then you are welcome, all types of music are played, solo artists and bands alike this is areally good night. The Landlord is really into it, playing the drums hes really enthusiastic and by the end of the nigh creates "supergroups" picking all kind of people to play together! Its a really brilliant night out, even if youre just watching! They have most of the equiments you will need, you will literally just need your tool (ie sticks, guitar, bass etc) they have a drum kit, amps, mics etc!
There is also a whole hog of other stuff going on, heres how the weeks pan out:
Monday: Jam Night
Wednesday: Curry Night
Thursday: Curry Night and Quiz
Friday: Live Music
Saturday: (usually) Live Music
Its jam packed! Curry night entails a curry and a drink for £5.75! Bargain!
As mentioned they also do food, the newest menu is the "Summer Sizzler" menu which is a choice of the following meats ; Steak, duck, chicken, ribs, vegetarian burrito served on a bed of sizzling vegetables and chips at great prices!
There is an extravaganza over the bank holiday weekend, loads of live music, and an afternoon jam session on the sunday which will surely go long into the night!!
This is such a brilliant palce, the Lanldlord, Eamon is a really nice guy, friendly and will recognise you when you come again!
I have found ANOTHER hidden gem!
The Bent Brook hotel in Davyhulme (just by the Trafford Centre) is an absolute corker of a find!!
It is nice and big with a great layout, serving food, great entertainment, prices and so on!
I discovered this place after going to a Jam Night with my husband and his band. Every second Monday the pub holds a Jam Night (or open mic night!) which literally advertises for you to turn up and plug in! If you play any instrument or sing, then you are welcome, all types of music are played, solo artists and bands alike this is areally good night. The Landlord is really into it, playing the drums hes really enthusiastic and by the end of the nigh creates "supergroups" picking all kind of people to play together! Its a really brilliant night out, even if youre just watching! They have most of the equiments you will need, you will literally just need your tool (ie sticks, guitar, bass etc) they have a drum kit, amps, mics etc!
There is also a whole hog of other stuff going on, heres how the weeks pan out:
Monday: Jam Night
Wednesday: Curry Night
Thursday: Curry Night and Quiz
Friday: Live Music
Saturday: (usually) Live Music
Its jam packed! Curry night entails a curry and a drink for £5.75! Bargain!
As mentioned they also do food, the newest menu is the "Summer Sizzler" menu which is a choice of the following meats ; Steak, duck, chicken, ribs, vegetarian burrito served on a bed of sizzling vegetables and chips at great prices!
There is an extravaganza over the bank holiday weekend, loads of live music, and an afternoon jam session on the sunday which will surely go long into the night!!
This is such a brilliant palce, the Lanldlord, Eamon is a really nice guy, friendly and will recognise you when you come again!
Bits and Bobs...
Proms in the Park in Salford are here again, at Buile Hill Park on Saturday 13th September.
Featuring the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra plus special guest Russell Watson, the proms are set to be the “greatest classical music party of the season!”.
Tickets are £20 or £7.50 for Salford Residents. For more information or to book your tickets you can call 0844 888 4412.
Wrestling organization TNA are coming to the UK! And you can see them on Tuesday 20th January 2009 at the M.E.N arena!! Tickets are on sale now! See all of the TNA superstars in action, The phenomenal AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarret, Awesome Kong and much much more!! If you love wrestling, you’re gonna LOVE this!!!!!
Something for the family and a great christmas treat for the little ones! The stage production of Mary Poppins is showing at the Palace Theatre from the 11th December 2008!
Gigs for the not to distant future...
Vampire Weekend are playing the Manchester Academy on 21/10/2008.
New Irish band "The Script" are playing the intimate venue of the Manchester Club Academy on 9th August 2008.
N*E*R*D have a date at Manchester Academy on 20th August 2008.
Featuring the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra plus special guest Russell Watson, the proms are set to be the “greatest classical music party of the season!”.
Tickets are £20 or £7.50 for Salford Residents. For more information or to book your tickets you can call 0844 888 4412.
Wrestling organization TNA are coming to the UK! And you can see them on Tuesday 20th January 2009 at the M.E.N arena!! Tickets are on sale now! See all of the TNA superstars in action, The phenomenal AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarret, Awesome Kong and much much more!! If you love wrestling, you’re gonna LOVE this!!!!!
Something for the family and a great christmas treat for the little ones! The stage production of Mary Poppins is showing at the Palace Theatre from the 11th December 2008!
Gigs for the not to distant future...
Vampire Weekend are playing the Manchester Academy on 21/10/2008.
New Irish band "The Script" are playing the intimate venue of the Manchester Club Academy on 9th August 2008.
N*E*R*D have a date at Manchester Academy on 20th August 2008.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Sports in Salford
Over this coming month of august there are lots of sports events taking place in Salford.
Here’s a pick of what you can expect!
Sunday August 3rd – The European Biathlete Championships – Salford Quays.
Watch competitors Swim, run and swim again around the quays course competing to qualify for the European biathlete championships in Cape Town.
Sunday August 17th – The Dragon Boat Race – Salford Quays
The annual family fun day is here once again! And here’s hoping the weather will hold out to make it a brilliant day! Watch teams of brave adventurers take to the water and race in this fun filled event perfect for a family day out! There are refreshments and entertainment going on for those who are staying on land!
Saturday August 30 – Sunday August 31 – Salford Festival of Cycling – Salford Quays
On Saturday you can join many others to celebrate the Olympic homecoming for the GB with the Salford Nocturne Race, this great nighttime race is a course around the Quays.
On Sunday you can watch the Great Salford Bike Ride, which raises money for the Geoff Thomas foundation.
Along with these two brilliant races there will be many activities and attractions including beer tents and food stalls, exhibitions and an exclusive roller rig competition!!
All the above are free for spectators!!!
Here’s a pick of what you can expect!
Sunday August 3rd – The European Biathlete Championships – Salford Quays.
Watch competitors Swim, run and swim again around the quays course competing to qualify for the European biathlete championships in Cape Town.
Sunday August 17th – The Dragon Boat Race – Salford Quays
The annual family fun day is here once again! And here’s hoping the weather will hold out to make it a brilliant day! Watch teams of brave adventurers take to the water and race in this fun filled event perfect for a family day out! There are refreshments and entertainment going on for those who are staying on land!
Saturday August 30 – Sunday August 31 – Salford Festival of Cycling – Salford Quays
On Saturday you can join many others to celebrate the Olympic homecoming for the GB with the Salford Nocturne Race, this great nighttime race is a course around the Quays.
On Sunday you can watch the Great Salford Bike Ride, which raises money for the Geoff Thomas foundation.
Along with these two brilliant races there will be many activities and attractions including beer tents and food stalls, exhibitions and an exclusive roller rig competition!!
All the above are free for spectators!!!
Cinema competition
The release of The Dark knight has seen cinemas nationwide be put to the absolute test with its enormity and sheer brilliance, every cinema everywhere has been sold out and continues to sell out all showings.
Because of this, I have visited three of the largest cinemas in Manchester to see this film and thought I would give you a low down of my experiences with all three..
Candidate ONE: The Odeon – Printworks Manchester City Centre
The Odeon has 20 screens, plus an amazing IMAX theatre, making this the largest of the three cinemas. The Location is obviously great, in the middle of the city centre, right next to the new Andale. The cinema itself is clean, and modern looking, with the screens panning out over three floors, plenty of concession stands, toilets and a bar. The food generally hits your wallet where it hurts, you can get sweets, hot dogs, popcorn and drinks to name a few. The ticket prices are pretty ouch too, as everywhere prices go up during peak times. The Odeon offers a gallery service too for £16 per ticket (peak) which includes your own seating area with huuuuge leather seats, free as much as you can eat popcorn, nachos and endless drinks and a few chocolates thrown in, you also get to go to the gallery bar to wait and are permitted to take alcohol into the screen – although unfortunately you have to pay for this! If £16 is too much you can pay an extra few quid to upgrade and sit in the premier seats! The staff are friendly and helpful although I have personally found that there is sometimes a lack of communication and two people can tell you two different things!!
Candidate TWO: The AMC Great Northern – Deansgate – Manchester city Centre
The AMC is located on Deansgate and is very accessible as it too is in the city centre. With 16 screens this too is a large cinema. It lives in a very posh building (which is home to the slowest escalators I have ever been on!). When you enter the AMC it has a very American feel to it, the box office is set out the same as the movie theatres across the pond are! There are many arcade games to play on whilst you wait too! The décor is a little old fashioned, well at least not as “modern” as the Odeon for example. But again, it gives a great kind of traditional feel to it! The staff are extremely helpful and very friendly indeed. The prices of tickets are cheaper by a pound or so here, ok so they don’t have an IMAX or the luxury of the gallery but does that really matter? Not at all! The food is more reasonable (although still not cheap) and really good value for money considering that you can get a FOOT LONG hotdog and when you buy a large popcorn or large soft drink you can get free refills on them until 10pm!!! BRILLIANT!!!!! The place is very well organized, and the screens are very clean.
Candidate THREE: Cineworld Didsbury – Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre- East Didsbury
Cineworld is located on the outskirts of Manchester in East Didsbury although is it very accessible by both bus and train (and obviously cars!). It is the smallest of the three but that is not a bad thing! It has 12 screens and again no IMAX or anything snazzy! Prices are reasonable again here, although the food is quite expensive if you don’t get the combo deals offered. It is £3.30 for a bag of sweets!!!!! The staff are friendly and try to be helpful, although you get the impression that they don’t know what they are talking bout sometimes and get very mixed messages! We asked one member of staff something, he allowed us into the screen to sit down and then the manger kicked us out saying we shouldn’t be in there yet!! It is nice any clean and there are both large and smaller screens. It is also more modern looking. It, like the Odeon can get very busy at times too.
And the winner is….
Overall I would recommend the AMC over the other two choices. Ok, so its not as fancy as the Odeon, but who cares? I would go as far as to say that this is a bit of a hidden gem in Manchester as most people flock in their herds to the Printworks. It is never over crowded unless a big time blockbuster like the Dark Knight has just been released. The prices are better and the food and drinks are 100000000% better value for money!
Because of this, I have visited three of the largest cinemas in Manchester to see this film and thought I would give you a low down of my experiences with all three..
Candidate ONE: The Odeon – Printworks Manchester City Centre
The Odeon has 20 screens, plus an amazing IMAX theatre, making this the largest of the three cinemas. The Location is obviously great, in the middle of the city centre, right next to the new Andale. The cinema itself is clean, and modern looking, with the screens panning out over three floors, plenty of concession stands, toilets and a bar. The food generally hits your wallet where it hurts, you can get sweets, hot dogs, popcorn and drinks to name a few. The ticket prices are pretty ouch too, as everywhere prices go up during peak times. The Odeon offers a gallery service too for £16 per ticket (peak) which includes your own seating area with huuuuge leather seats, free as much as you can eat popcorn, nachos and endless drinks and a few chocolates thrown in, you also get to go to the gallery bar to wait and are permitted to take alcohol into the screen – although unfortunately you have to pay for this! If £16 is too much you can pay an extra few quid to upgrade and sit in the premier seats! The staff are friendly and helpful although I have personally found that there is sometimes a lack of communication and two people can tell you two different things!!
Candidate TWO: The AMC Great Northern – Deansgate – Manchester city Centre
The AMC is located on Deansgate and is very accessible as it too is in the city centre. With 16 screens this too is a large cinema. It lives in a very posh building (which is home to the slowest escalators I have ever been on!). When you enter the AMC it has a very American feel to it, the box office is set out the same as the movie theatres across the pond are! There are many arcade games to play on whilst you wait too! The décor is a little old fashioned, well at least not as “modern” as the Odeon for example. But again, it gives a great kind of traditional feel to it! The staff are extremely helpful and very friendly indeed. The prices of tickets are cheaper by a pound or so here, ok so they don’t have an IMAX or the luxury of the gallery but does that really matter? Not at all! The food is more reasonable (although still not cheap) and really good value for money considering that you can get a FOOT LONG hotdog and when you buy a large popcorn or large soft drink you can get free refills on them until 10pm!!! BRILLIANT!!!!! The place is very well organized, and the screens are very clean.
Candidate THREE: Cineworld Didsbury – Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre- East Didsbury
Cineworld is located on the outskirts of Manchester in East Didsbury although is it very accessible by both bus and train (and obviously cars!). It is the smallest of the three but that is not a bad thing! It has 12 screens and again no IMAX or anything snazzy! Prices are reasonable again here, although the food is quite expensive if you don’t get the combo deals offered. It is £3.30 for a bag of sweets!!!!! The staff are friendly and try to be helpful, although you get the impression that they don’t know what they are talking bout sometimes and get very mixed messages! We asked one member of staff something, he allowed us into the screen to sit down and then the manger kicked us out saying we shouldn’t be in there yet!! It is nice any clean and there are both large and smaller screens. It is also more modern looking. It, like the Odeon can get very busy at times too.
And the winner is….
Overall I would recommend the AMC over the other two choices. Ok, so its not as fancy as the Odeon, but who cares? I would go as far as to say that this is a bit of a hidden gem in Manchester as most people flock in their herds to the Printworks. It is never over crowded unless a big time blockbuster like the Dark Knight has just been released. The prices are better and the food and drinks are 100000000% better value for money!
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