We Broke Out at Breakout Manchester

If you are looking for something a bit different to do with the family, I can highly recommend Breakout Manchester. It delivers an exciting and challenging activity that the families with older children can enjoy together. We played a Wild West themed escape room, Most Wanted, and it was absolutely brilliant for us all, from 7 year old Freddy to 48 year old Dad!

Escape rooms are the latest in immersive, interactive entertainment. Guests find themselves locked in a themed room and are given 60 minutes to find clues and solve puzzles in order to escape. With physical and mental challenges, you work as a team, aided when necessary by your Break Out host who monitors your game from the control room and communicates with you via cryptic clues on the TV screen.

I had very little idea what to expect, and was quite nervous, but our host Lucy made us very welcome as she gave us our brief. We were bandits breaking in to the local Sheriff's barroom in a bid to steal his stash of poker chips. The Sheriff was due to return in an hour, giving us sixty minutes that counted down on the TV screen in our room.

I won't give you any spoilers, but we had to solve a series of clues to lead us to keys or codes to open padlocks, which gave us further puzzles to solve in order to break out of the room in the allotted time. The attention to detail in the room was amazing and added to the authenticity of the experience.  Most Wanted has the added challenge of collecting the poker chips that are hidden around the room and behind padlocked cupboard doors. You really have to experience an escape room to understand just how cool it is. I felt like I was experiencing something like a cross between The Crystal Maze and a Clint Eastwood Western.

We were so pleased that we succeeded in breaking out of the room and we also got onto the leader board for collecting poker chips. We felt a real sense of achievement and enjoyed working as a team using our strengths to solve the clues. Everyone of us played a part and I was so pleased with Freddy who really got stuck in and was an awesome team player.

There are plenty of other themed rooms, so if you'd prefer to be a spy, solve a murder mystery, find a cure for a life threatening viral outbreak, thwart a mad scientist's deadly experiment, outwit a twisted serial killer or escape a hotel room from hell, there is a room for you. I honestly can't wait to play again!

Find out more and book your team's game at: www.breakoutmanchester.com

Cirque de Soleil's Amaluna opens at Intu Trafford Centre Manchester

Last night, the latest Cirque de Soleil show Amaluna, opened under the iconic big top in Intu Trafford Centre marking the production's first return to Manchester in six years. We were delighted to be invited to attend, rubbing shoulders with a host of soap stars and other celebrities. While waiting for the show to start we were treated to refreshments and a live DJ set from local artist Little Boots.

We took our seats and were instantly blown away by the beautiful set and excited by what was to come. Amaluna is a show with women at its heart. The musicians and 70% of the global cast members are all female. With a story drawing on classical influences including Norse and Greek mythology, Shakespeare's The Tempest and Mozart's The Magic Flute, Amaluna is a tale of castaway love and the obstacles that the young lovers need to overcome to be together. A story beautifully and poignantly told without the need for words. The word Amaluna translates to Mother Moon, a symbol of feminity and the name of the goddess that governs the magical island where the story is set.

From the first moment, we were captivated and enthralled by the music, the performers, the costumes and the amazing displays of acrobatic excellence. It was absolutely stunning. The timing, the skill, the precision and the sheer beauty of the performance was breath taking. Blending dance, music, song, comedy, acrobatics and storytelling is what Cirque de Soleil does best. From the amazing floor shows, including the teeter totter and the uneven bars, to the death defying aerial stunts, including the hoop and straps, to the unique water bowl act, everything was performed to perfection.

Freddy, who is 7, sat in open mouthed amazement and clapped so hard that his hands hurt! He does both gymnastics and swimming, so the show appealed to him and his love of these elements. My eldest daughter Megan was so inspired, that she has signed up to do an aerial class taster course!  We all loved it.

There was a cool, edgy vibe to the production, with the live band, the cool costumes and the sheer energy of the performers. The love story was emotional and beautifully portrayed, and was humorously juxtaposed by the clowns acting out their own love story in their own funny way, with impeccable comic timing and comedy.

I cannot stress how amazing this show was, and I would highly recommend to families and couples alike. It is a magical show that will leave you breathless.

The show runs until October 9th 2016 and tickets are on sale from the website at:  www.cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna.  VIP packages are also available.

Play Factore - a fun day out for the family in Manchester

Visitors to Trafford Quays in Manchester may well be familiar with the iconic Chill Factor building. Based underneath this is the UK's leading indoor play arena, Play Factore, a state of the art play centre for families to enjoy together. We were invited along to their Summer Holiday Play Factore Rio 2016 event and were thrilled to be able to experience this fun filled venue for ourselves.

Entering Play Factore, I was taken aback by the sheer scale of the play equipment from the UK's largest play frame, complete with tunnels, slides, obstacles and an integral sports pitch to the  40 metre long big red slide, which is Europe's largest. Laser tag, go karts and a zip wire, that runs right across the building, add to the entertainment. A dedicated Toddler Area gives a safe place for the under 5's to enjoy.

The staff at the venue were all so welcoming, enthusiastic and warm and clearly passionate about working at the Play Factore. The atmosphere was buzzing.

Play Factore is a place where children can burn off all their excess energy and test themselves physically on the play equipment. They can find different routes through the play frame, climbing up netting, clambouring over giant balls and crawling through tunnels. The maze like nature of the play frame keeps it exciting every time you enter.

The play frame is for children aged 5 - 16 years old, but adults are also allowed on to play, which is lovely for families who want to have fun together. Teens have as much fun as the little ones. The big red slide is the thrilling finale with four lanes for whizzing down at the same time. Perfect for a family race. For grown-ups who would rather leave the playing to the kids, there is plenty of seating to relax with a coffee.

                            


The zip wire is a really cool activity for ages 6 - 16 years old, available during peak times at the venue. The wire runs from a tower at one side of the play arena, over the heads of other customers and coming to a stop at the landing pad on the other side of the building. The zip line team give children a full briefing and make sure everyone is safe and secure.

Freddy, who can sometimes get himself a bit overwhelmed by new experiences, absolutely amazed us by totally owning the zip wire!  This was definitely helped by the lovely staff who were so encouraging and boosted his confidence, allowing him to overcome his nerves. It is so good for kids to feel the fear but do it anyway...so character building! He was so proud of himself.

                              


As part of the Rio Event, there were Brazilian dancers and musicians entertaining the crowds and a big screen showing scenes from the Olympics, adding to the fun. Play Factore have various events through the year.

We were treated to some delicious food in one of the party rooms and enjoyed sampling the freshly baked pizzas from the in-house pizzeria restaurant along with baskets of chips, salad, garlic bread, nachos, fresh fruit salad and cookies. It was a real treat and the food was really good quality.

After a fantastic afternoon of playing, Freddy and his big sisters were thoroughly worn out. Play Factore is a brilliant venue offering state of the art play equipment for all the family. It's great to find a place that the teenagers can enjoy as much as the little ones. Everyone can let off steam and have fun.

Peak prices apply during the school holidays and the charge for a 5 - 16 year old is £11.95 for a two and a half hour play session. Adults are charged £3.95, babies between 6 and 11 months are £1.95 and children between 1 and 4 years are £7.95. The zip wire costs an extra £3.95.

You can find out about Play Factore, including their amazing birthday party packages for kids up to 16 years old at www.playfactore.com.

Come and See the Florasaurus - coming to Westfield and intu Trafford Centre this Easter

Flora’s new  “Powered by Plants”  campaign has seen the launch of a new dairy-free spread – Flora Freedom - which harnesses the natural goodness of plant based ingredients such as rapeseed, sunflower and linseed oils.  This healthy alternative to butter is perfect for those with allergies and for those who choose to eat Free From alternatives.

The campaign mascot Florasaurus, is a massive, green plant-eating dinosaur and it will be visiting Westfield Stratford City and intu Trafford Centre, Manchester over the Easter Holidays to help re-engage kids with where their food comes from. This campaign from Flora demonstrates how many of the world’s biggest and most magnificent creatures were powered by plants. As a vegetarian family, we love this message!

The free interactive experience will include photos opportunities with the Florasaurus, competitions and activities created in conjunction with the Eden Project. The display will be available during the shopping centres' opening hours giving families plenty of opportunity to come and enjoy the experience during the school holidays.

Florasurus will be at:

Westfield Stratford, London:

Friday 25th March 2016 – Monday 4th April 2016 (excluding Easter Sunday 27th March)

Trafford Centre, Manchester:

Thursday 7th April 2016 – Sunday 10th April 2016

THE LEGO® MOVIE™ 4D A NEW ADVENTURE

There is a brand new 4D movie showing at the LEGOland Discovery Centre and we were one of the first to experience it when we visited LDC this weekend. "The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure” reunites the characters from the original movie with a brand new plot and some amazing 4D effects.

The action-packed story starts when Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty, Benny and MetalBeard receive a mysterious invitation leading them to a new theme park, Brick World, which bears a suspicious resemblance to LEGOLAND!  But all is not as it seems as the heroes find themselves in the middle of an evil secret plot masterminded by the scheming Risky Business (brother of Lord Business) who wants to use the gang for his own evil money-making, theme park managing ends.

The gang embark on a fast paced adventure featuring some very special theme park attractions such as Wyldstyle’s Super Cycle Mega Ride rollercoaster and Benny's rocket ship ride.   It’s up to Emmet and Wyldstyle, who enlist the help of the audience's Master Builder skills, to try and save the day and rescue their friends from Risky Business's dastardly plot.  

The 3D was really impressive and 4D elements such as wind, water, smoke, bubbles and special lighting effects bring the story to life, adding extra excitement to the film.

There are some great gags for the grown ups and lots of visual comedy and audience participation for the kids to enjoy. We loved the story and really enjoyed seeing Emmet and Wyldstyle in action again.

Admission to the 4D movie is included in the entrance ticket to LDC. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/manchester.

Santa's Secret Workshop Grotto at the Intu Trafford Centre #review

One of the most magical parts of the Christmas celebrations is taking your little ones to see Santa. Freddy is six and is so caught up in all the excitement of the season. He is old enough to question the whole Santa Claus thing, asking why there are so many grottos with Father Christmases in them all at the same time, but totally accepts my explanation that Old St Nick has a cloning machine and makes replicas of himself to keep on top of everything. So visiting numerous Santas throughout December does not detract from his unswerving belief in the wonders of Christmas and the knowledge that on Christmas Eve it will be the original one that pops down our chimney.

We were really excited to be invited along to the Santa's Secret Workshop Grotto at the Trafford Centre in Manchester at the weekend. The specially built attraction is located in Barton Square, right near to SeaLife and the Legoland Discovery Centre and next to a mini Christmas market with food and gift stalls. So you can really make a whole festive family day of it.

The experience lets families discover the secrets of Santa's workshop, inviting in children to help Santa prepare for the big day.  Santa's special helpers get to take part in a range of activities, each one earning them a stamp in their special Christmas passport. Once they have all the stamps, it's time to meet Santa himself in his special cosy room, for a friendly chat and to receive a present.

On entering the experience, you walk through a mirrored maze to discover the secret entrance to Santa's workshop. Here, you are greeted by an elf and let loose inside an area where you can make Christmas cards, do crayon rubbings of Santa and make paper lanterns. Other activities include helping Santa to sort out and weigh the huge pile of presents in the sorting office; making buckets of food for Santa's reindeer by finding the right combination of healthy food and treats and preparing a special portion of magic reindeer food to take home and leave out for Rudolph on Christmas Eve. Stamps are collected in the passport for each activity.

Each passport is numbered and when your number is called by the head elf, it's time to go through to visit Santa. Santa was awesome!  He was engaging, funny and convincing. He was lovely to Freddy taking the time to chat to him, but was equally lovely to my two older girls. He spoke to them about being the generation who can make a difference in the world to make it a better place. We never felt rushed and he took his time to make sure the experience was a memorable one. In one magical moment, Santa even said that he recognised Ian from when he was a child and remembered that he had wanted a guitar as a present when he was thirteen...spookily accurate! This Santa was the real deal.

We had our photos taken with Santa, one serious and one silly, pulling funny faces!  I was impressed that Santa didn't take himself too seriously and the resulting photo is a great memento of a lovely visit.

The experience lasts about half an hour and you have a timed slot for your visit. Children's tickets are £6 each and adults cost £3 each. Kids get a small gift from Santa (Freddy got a stationery set and Kezia got a puzzle book) plus they can take home the reindeer food and the arts and crafts bits they make. You can book in advance online (£2.50 transaction fee applies) or pay on the day (but if it's busy it may get fully booked).

Photos cost extra, but there is no hard sell to purchase them. We bought a snow globe frame for £10, which we thought was a reasonable price. Photos cost £6, fridge magnets and Christmas tree decorations cost £5 each. There is a 25% discount if you buy three items.

The grotto is open everyday until December 24th.

Visit intu.co.uk/traffordcentre/events for more details and to book tickets.

Unleash your inner Ninja with LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre this summer

From Saturday 1st to Monday 31st August, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre in Manchester will be transformed into the world of Ninjago as visitors embark on an epic adventure to celebrate the release of LEGO Ninjago Airjitzu!

Fans can immerse themselves in the Ninjago adventures by building their own LEGO® Ninjago Mask, taking part in the LEGO® Ninjago Laser Maze Challenge, and using their Ninja skills to build a LEGO® Ninjago Airjitzu flyer before ascending the magnificent ‘Fly-High-Tower’ to practice their fierce flying skills.

Visitors can also enjoy the Ninjago takeover at MINILAND, where they can take part in an exciting character hunt and even have the chance to meet ‘Kai’, the Red Fire Ninja, who will be at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre everyday throughout August at 11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm and 5.00pm.

We've been invited down to join in the Airjitsu fun, which Freddy is so excited about! He watches Ninjago on Netflix so will love the chance to take part in all these fun activities!

For more information and to buy tickets visit: www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/manchester. 

Get Your Game Face On at PLAY it! Manchester July 25th - Aug 9th

I remember my first games console, the Intellivision that my dad surprised me with on Christmas Day 1979. I played Lock 'n' Chase until I completed all ten levels of the crazy, maze style game. I still remember the sense of accomplishment on completing it. In the late 80's a Sega Master System with the built in Alex Kidd game became my console of choice, quickly followed in the early 90's by the Sega Mega Drive complete with the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. This was my era! The 2D gaming platforms worked for me and I was the house champion at many of the games we owned, in particular the Lion King, which was our first ever official Disney video game. 

Since then, games have advanced to unrecognisable levels of incredible graphics, complex gameplay and 3D imagery. As our consoles became upgraded to the latest models, I found myself left behind and I conceded ownership of my gaming crown years ago. I've watched all five of my children grow up immersed in the technology of gaming and developing the instinctive skills necessary to be able to beat the end of level bosses and create their own virtual worlds. I'm in utter awe of what they can do. Gaming is a big part of life here Inside the Wendy House. From my eldest son and World of Warcraft expert Joe to my youngest Freddy, who is a massive Minecraft fan, we have enjoyed sharing the gaming accomplishments of all our children.

This summer, I am excited to be able to introduce my kids to some of the games that their mama used to play as PLAY it! comes to the MOSI Manchester, as part of their 'Imagine it, Make it, Move it' programme of events.  From July 25th to August 9th, visitors to the exhibition can get to play some of the most popular video games from the past 30 years, from Pong and Pac-Man to Minecraft and Halo, enter multiplayer competitions, take on  friends or family in collaborative games and play on consoles and gaming systems including Atari, Commodore, Spectrum, Megadrive, SNES, Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation and Xbox. There are six themed zones with more than 120 consoles and games ready to test skills and give young visitors a taste of retro gaming, alongside the chance to try their hand at some more contemporary consoles.

Families can drop in for 90 minute sessions, whereas seasoned gamers can buy a full day pass or attend an adult-only evening session. PLAY it! is open to anyone with a passion for games. Individual day sessions start at just £4 while a family session is £12. All day passes are just £10. PLAY it! promises to be a fun and entertaining way to spend time with the family this summer holiday.

Find out more and book tickets at: www.mosi.org.uk/whats-on/play-it-manchester.

Half Term Fun in Salford and Trafford for #FamFest14

This half term, the arts are staging a take over in Salford and Trafford bringing some great entertainment to families.  The Lowry have partnered with major local attractions, including Media City UK, Ordsall Hall, Sea Life Centre Manchester, Lowry Outlet, Manchester United Museum and LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre to deliver some exciting activities to the region up until November 3rd.

We were invited to come along and see some of the attractions for ourselves, which is fabulous for us as both my older daughters Ella and Megan live in Manchester.  It was the perfect excuse for some half term fun and an opportunity to see the girls.  We booked into the newly refurbished Travelodge at Salford Quays ready to experience #FamFest14.

With pop-up workshops, activities and performances taking place, there is a whole host of things to choose from, from arts and crafts, to theatre to literature.  While in Salford Quays you can enjoy shopping at the Lowry Outlet where they  have a free Halloween Trail that takes you around the shops collecting stamps. Once you collect them you can exchange your card for a really cute bag of Halloween sweets!  Kids can enjoy some Halloween crafts from 12 - 3pm on the 31st October in a free workshop.

The Big Family Play Date, on Sat 1 November, sees venues  popping-up  with activities from 10am – 5pm.  The cast of acclaimed new comedy Peter Pan Goes Wrong head to intu Trafford Centre, before their run at The Lowry this Christmas, for a shambolic photo-shoot at Sea Life Centre Manchester! The Octonauts are also appearing at Sea Life Manchester until November 30th and there is a downloadable Kids Go Free voucher on the Family Arts Festival website.

Best-loved children’s books come to life, with music, drama and audience participation at the Lowry Outlet (Sat 1 November) with interactive readings of  We’re Going on a Bear Hunt! and Emily Brown and The Thing.  

Emily Brown and The Thing also has its own stage show which runs at The Lowry until Sunday 2nd November.  It's a great show for children aged 3 and up, taking place in the smaller Quays Theatre in the Lowry.  We had tickets to see the show, which is based on the much loved children's book by Cressida Cowell and Neal Clayton. .

It tells the story of Emily Brown who is trying to get to sleep, but keeps being disturbed by The Thing who wants her to help him at bedtime.  Along with her toy rabbit Stanley, Emily goes on some amazing adventures to find his pink cuddly, his bedtime milk and his green medicine. But Thing just can't seem to settle.  Will Emily ever find out what he really needs?

The show is really kid friendly with lots of music, action and fun.  The cast of three give their all in their energetic and comedic performance, getting totally into character and delivering the story brilliantly. It's a lovely introduction to the theatre for young children. Freddy loved it, especially when Emily demonstrated her ninja moves! He laughed and joined in with the audience participation.  It was perfectly pitched for little ones.

The global phenomenon STOMP! are bringing their signature style of percussion, humour and dance to the Lowry Theatre until November 1st.  I was lucky enough to have tickets to the show and took my girls for a night of STOMP! action!

The show sees the super talented cast playing their tunes on anything and everything they can lay their hands on...including the kitchen sink!  From matchboxes to Zippo lighters to their trademark dustbins, the eight highly energetic performers create the most incredible rhythms with some insane choreographed routines.  The cast never miss a single beat in their fast, fresh and very funny performance.  It is a truly brilliant, inventive and entertaining show.  The talent of the six guys and two girls as they make their own brand of music on drain pipes, shopping trolleys, buckets, brooms, balls and plastic bags is really breathtaking.  The humour that runs through the show is really engaging, with perfect comic timing complementing the amazing routines.  The scene with the Zippo lighters is simply incredible and quite beautiful, quite unlike anything I have ever seen before.  The whole audience seemed as enthralled as we were and the standing ovation at the end was completely deserved!

The ferocity of the banging and jumping did kick up a lot of dust into the air, which actually triggered my eldest daughter's asthma, so if you are asthmatic, don't forget your inhaler!!  It's also very loud so be prepared for some noise.  

We had a fabulous couple of days in our favourite city.  It is a great place to visit as a family with so much to see and do.  You can find out all the details of what is going on by checking out the Family Festival website.  You can check out what's coming to the Lowry at http://www.thelowry.com/ or follow them on Twitter @The_Lowry.

Blogs Up North at The MOSI

As a family, we almost think of Manchester as our second home.  It's where my daughter has settled after graduating from university and is our nearest accessible big city being just over an hour away from our rural Shropshire home.  I am always impressed by just how much there is to do there, and last weekend we got to experience the MOSI on a bloggers' family day out with Blogs Up North.

The Museum of Science and Industry is an impressive series of buildings combining the old with the new.  Comprising of a series of galleries, it showcases the scientific discoveries and industrial innovations that Manchester has brought the world.

We met up in one of the conference rooms for coffee, cookies and an introduction to the museum.  We were visited by Forgetful Fireman Fred a costumed character who we would later see performing in the Power Hall, as he told the children about the workings of a steam engine.  My Freddy really liked his namesake, who did some removable thumb tricks for him!

The museum consists of five main buildings: The Great Western Warehouse, the 1830 Warehouse, Power Hall, Station Building and the Air & Space Hall.  Each houses a host of exhibitions, some temporary, most permanent.  There is also a wonderful steam train that runs on selected weekends and holidays on site which you can ride for a small fee.  We were lucky enough to have a ride on the train and Freddy loved feeling the wind in his hair as the train chuffed down the track, giving us a great view of all the surrounding buildings.

Experiment! is the hands on interactive zone where children can learn all about science by playing with the exhibits.  Exploring magnetism, light, sound, shapes, liquids, temperature and electricity proved a lot of fun for everyone, kids and adults alike.  

We also had our photograph taken to appear up on big screens in a huge digital sculpture which is part of the Revolution Manchester Gallery.  You get a bar code card that allows you to register and log in from home to access a series of games and challenges online, keeping the MOSI experience alive.

There is so much to see and do at MOSI.  It is all very family friendly with a focus on fun.  There is a coffee shop, picnic area, gift shop and restaurant on site.  There is also a 4D theatre and a motion simulator, Morphis (charges apply).

MOSI is open from 10am-5pm and has onsite parking (chargeable).  

Entry is free but a £3 donation is suggested to help maintain and preserve the historic site.

Find out more at www.mosi.org.uk