Prepare for a very sweet Santa’s grotto at the Trafford Centre this year, as details have now been confirmed for the 2026 event

The Trafford Centre has announced the details for this year’s big Christmas Grotto – and it will have a rather unique new theme for the 2026 return. For the shopping centre is collaborating with sweetie giant Haribo for the first time for a new “interactive family adventure”.

Haribo opened its first standalone store at the Trafford Centre last year to the delight of shoppers. Now, it is partnering with the mall to bring the brand new “HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto” to life this November and December.

A statement from the mall said: “Trafford Centre is bringing even more festive magic to Manchester this Christmas with the launch of the brand-new HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto – an interactive family adventure where children can help Santa prepare for the big day.”

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Families are already praising the news on social media, with one shopper saying: “Haribo Santa… Is this a dream?” and another adding: “What a partnership”. Bosses say it will “combine the magic of a traditional Santa visit with the playful world of HARIBO”.

The festive experience will feature larger than-life installations, hands-on games, memorable family moments and plenty of Christmas cheer. Throughout the experience, every child will become an official “Holly Jolly Helper”, joining Santa and his elves on a mission to make sure everything is ready in time for Christmas.

Along the way, families will take part in a series of interactive activities inspired by some of HARIBO’s best-loved sweets, collecting stamps on their Jolly Holly Helper Checklist before enjoying a magical one-to-one visit with Santa himself.

Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto to Trafford Centre this Christmas. Families are always looking for magical experiences they can enjoy together during the festive season, and this exciting new attraction combines the much-loved tradition of meeting Santa with the colourful, playful world of HARIBO.

“We can’t wait to welcome visitors to experience all the festive fun and create memories they’ll treasure for years to come.”

Phil Murphy, Chief Marketing Officer, HARIBO UK & Ireland said: “At HARIBO, our mission is to create moments of childlike happiness and Christmas is one of the most special times of year to bring that to life for families and loved ones. After opening our Trafford store during the festive season last year, we’re delighted to build on that relationship with the Trafford Centre community through the HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto.

“It is another exciting opportunity to serve our customers here, bringing the colourful world of HARIBO to life and helping families create sweet Christmas memories together.”

The festive journey includes designing your own digital sweet treat at a Creation Station, bringing a giant cola bottle to life through animated bubbles at the Fizz the Festive Cola Lab, exploring the glowing HARIBO Ring Reflections installation and sharing magical moments together at the interactive Cherry Seat.

Designed to delight children of all ages, and the young at heart, the HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto promises a “festive day out full of laughter, imagination and magical memories, making Trafford Centre the ultimate destination for Christmas celebrations in 2026” bosses say.

This event is produced and delivered by the award-winning creators of interactive theatrical events, Bakehouse Factory, in collaboration with HARIBO and the Trafford Centre.

Trafford Centre bosses have confirmed that the new Christmas experience will be located in a new purpose-built structure outside the Great Hall.

How to book tickets

Tickets are on sale now for the Trafford Centre HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto. It will run daily from November 20 through to December 23 this year.

Tickets are available from £20 for children and £8 for adults during off-peak periods, with standard tickets from £25 for children and £10 for adults. Family bundle ticket options will also be available.

Quieter sessions for SEND and carers are also now available to book.

For more information and to book, see the Trafford Centre website here.

Over the years, I’ve accumulated various Carl Friedrik luggage items, including the carry-on hybrid in silver and tan, the Granville weekender in chestnut, and the compact weekender in nubuck. Durable, stylish and designed for ease while on the go, this trio has travelled with me around the world, from Marrakech to Vietnam and Australia.

York Council planning officers have refused Tiddlywinks Nursery’s application to convert a bungalow in Osbaldwick Village so it can increase the number of spaces by 15 to 73.

The nursery’s plans stated it was an important community resource, looked after local children and provided them with a safe environment where they could build their confidence.

But objectors including the local ward councillor and the council’s public protection team called for the plans to be blocked because of the impact of noise on neighbouring homes.

Council planning officers stated complaints against the nursery were already being investigated and extending it to bring in more children would likely make the noise worse.

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Refusal of the plans follows several attempts by the nursery to convert the bungalow since 2023, with an application refused in 2024 prior to the latest bid.

Applications to extend the existing nursery, which is in an old school house, and to construct a new building were also refused prior to the bungalow plans.

The nursery first opened in 2004.

The latest plans would have seen changes made to the bungalow including building a new porch and converting its garage into an office and staff room.

Children aged between nine months and two years would have used the building and the number of staff onsite at any given time would have increased to 17.

The plans are the latest in attempt by the nursery to expand (Image: Supplied)

A separate but related application also applied to allow the nursery to use the bungalow’s garden as an outdoor ‘forest school’ twice a day for an hour a time.

The nursery’s plans stated it had twice been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and the expansion would help meet the demand for extra places in York.

Plans stated: “This expansion is in accordance with the well-established and ongoing need for additional nursery places in York.

“This is demonstrated by the applicant’s extensive waiting list which has grown following the recent Government childcare reforms.

“The works will enhance the appearance and functionality of the bungalow without causing harm.”

But 40 objections from 15 people were lodged against the plans, including Osbaldwick and Derwent’s Restore UK councillor Mark Warters and the local parish council.

They claimed it would make existing noise problems worse and disturb neighbouring residents in their gardens and raised concerns about traffic attracted by the increase in places.

Council public protection officers stated the nursery’s application had not provided enough information to show that noise would not be an issue.

Officials said: “Public Protection are still investigating complaints about noise from the current activities at the nursery.

“This proposal for additional children and an additional external play area will increase noise levels.”

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service shared an update on wildfire near Glossop with people urged to stay away

New eerie pictures show crews battling a huge wildfire in smoke-covered moorland at Tintwistle as the blaze rages on.

The photos show masked firefighters and crews tackling hotspots on the moorland near Glossop. The area is blanketed in thick smoke with the features of the crew lost in the hazy scenes.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) shared the pictures alongside an update on the fire on Thursday (July 16). The service said around 80 firefighters worked on the scene on Wednesday with crews working to ‘contain and supress’ the fire today.

Follow live updates from the scene here

The wildfire at Tintwistle, above Woodhead Road in Glossop, first broke out nearly three weeks ago. DFRS declared a major incident as it spread over the moorland and burned an area the size of at least 350 football pitches.

The blaze, which is burning at the same time as another major fire near Dovestone Reservoir, has sent huge plumes of smoke across our region and beyond. The main focus of firefighting operations today is at Arnfield Moor, the fire service said.

Crews will ‘remain in action’ throughout the day and people have been urged to continue to stay off the moorland. The fire service also urged people to keep their windows and shut if affected by the smoke.

In full, the update at 10.15am today said: “Firefighters returned this morning to the major wildfire incident at Tintwistle after scaling back operations overnight. Yesterday, around 80 firefighting personnel were working at the scene. Crews continue to contain and supress the fire while protecting nearby communities, property and the environment.

“Today, firefighters are tackling hotspots in the Digsbury Intake, Featherbed Moss and Crowden areas. The main focus of operations is currently near Arnfield Moor.

“Ground crews and aerial firefighting resources will remain in action throughout the day, supported by neighbouring fire and rescue services and partner agencies. Please continue to support us by avoiding the area and staying off the moorland.

“If you must travel through the area, please expect some disruption on the nearby section of the A628 while safe access to the incident scene is maintained. People in the surrounding area may continue to see or smell smoke from the wildfire at Tintwistle Moor, or from the nearby wildfire at Dovestones Reservoir in Greater Manchester.

“Smoke levels may vary depending on wind direction and weather conditions. If affected, please keep your windows and doors closed.”

The blaze at Dovestone is also continuing to rage on today after the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) declared a major incident. On Wednesday Paul Fearnhead, Incident Commander at GMFRS, described the area near Dovestone as ‘really, really challenging’ as the ‘extensive wildfire’ continued.

“Currently we have around just short of ten fire engines, including our wildfire capabilities at this scene and they’re deployed across the moorlands in this warm weather, which is being hampered by smoke and wind”, he said.

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“If you’re a member of the public in the area, we are asking you to stay away. It’s a small area for us to work in, and the moors at this time are very smoky, and we’d ask you not to come across this area.”

Firefighters were first called to Dovestone on Saturday night. A major incident was declared on Monday afternoon with 70 firefighters tackling the blaze.

Residents reported hearing ‘loud bangs’ prior to the fire taking hold with videos of youths setting off fireworks. The incident came after Karl Holland, 18, died after getting into difficulty at Dovestone Reservoir.

A woman, aged 20, was arrested on suspicion of arson. Shania Care-Slede, of Market Street, Hyde, has been charged and appeared in court on Tuesday.

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As a freelance editor with bylines in Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, The Mail, Forbes, Livingetc, House Beautiful and, of course, The Standard, I’m an expert on things lifestyle. I also work with some of the biggest brands on the high street to advise and create content, so I understand products, what goes into making them and how they perform. In particular, I’m a foodie and a keen cook – although I’m the first to admit my husband is better and does the more complicated recipes – so I demand a lot from my kitchen kit, which now includes a pizza oven.

The summer window is firmly in full flow as Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all work on major signings with the World Cup approaching an end. Arsenal have reignited their interest in Julian Alvarez and remain very keen on both Morgan Rogers and Bruno Guimaraes. With Leandro Trossard having left for Besiktas, the Gunners are now expected to step up their interest in Christos Tzolis. Antonio Nusa is a new target.