Forum Centre News

Off-peak badminton offer

Forum Leisure has introduced a special promotion for badminton. Play badminton before 4pm any day of the week and pay £4 instead of £6.20. Bookings can be made on 0161 935 4020.

Sixty Second Spotlight - Wed 18 Jan

South Manchester business networking group, Handbags & Briefcases, is running a '60-second spotlight' event at the Forum on 18 January, from 9.30am to 12.30pm. The meeting commences at 10.00am and there will be a brief tour of Forum facilities at 9.30am. This is a popular event so please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your place or for further details. Cost is £2 per person, payable on the day. Free car parking is available at the Forum, with additional parking around the site and in the town centre multi-storey. The chef from Forum Flavours has promised some tasty lunchtime snacks to finish off the event.

If anyone misses the first tour, another tour of facilities will take place at the end of the event if required. Further details about the event from http://www.handbagsandbriefcases.co.uk/events

Kids Get Creative Weekend

The Forum hosts a weekend of fun and creativity for children age 3-14, on Saturday 4th (from 10am to 5pm) and Sunday 5th February (from 10am to 4pm). Activities include pot painting, t-shirt printing, cupcake decorating, face painting, rhyme and music time. Plus... there will be some special guests to meet.

Younger children will also enjoy the colouring competition, with a prize on offer. There will be special offers for party bookings taken on the day and visitors have the chance to win a unique 'Pudsey' pot by entering the raffle in aid of BBC Children in Need.

All activities are on the concourse and are run by Lynn Bingham, creator and founder of Zippy n Zappy Parties. Further information from Lynn on 07891 627 996, by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at www.mypaintedpots.co.uk

Special offers on food and drink are available at Forum Flavours, the concourse cafe.

A Grand Day Out

Manchester City Council is launching an initiative aimed at getting older residents out and about, meeting new people, and taking part in healthy and fun activities.

Whether it is socialising and making new friends, silver surfing in libraries, exercising through active lifestyle sessions or taking part in tea dances - residents shoud get themselves ready for 'a grand day out.

The pilot project, jointly run by the Directorate for Adults and Culture & Leisure services, launches at the Forum Centre on 11 January from 10am to 4pm, for residents who are over 55 and want to broaden their horizons. It will continue each Wednesday.

The programme provides a range of structured activity and leisure opportunities. It will give people the chance to mix with others of different ages and abilities, as well as encouraging people to access facilities and activities available in their own community.

Councillor Glynn Evans, executive member for Adults said, "We are offering people a place to meet and socialise, and more importantly, the opportunity to get involved in activities with the guidance and expertise of our officers and volunteers. It can be daunting for older people to suddenly take up a new activity, so officers will be on hand to help and to build the foundations of this group so that people get the support they need in whatever they want to do. Our ultimate goal is for this group to be motivated to run themselves, to reduce social isolation, to inspire confidence and to make a difference to older people's lives".

Councillor Mike Amesbury, executive member for Culture and Leisure said, "We are not reinventing the wheel but offering people the chance to get together in a safe, supported and secure environment. We want to open doors and show people what is already available out there; maybe get them involved initially in some healthy activities to improve their health and wellbeing".

Once this community hub has been shown to be successful, the project will be rolled out to other areas of the city.

Lots of Flavour

Forum Flavours, the concourse cafe and catering provider at the Forum, has launched a new hospitality menu. Whether you are planning a private or a business function you can easily select from the priced options from the menu, or speak to the head chef who will work with you to design a menu to suit your specific requirements. All dietary needs are catered for and the Forum Flavours team is experienced in catering for large events of up to 1,000 people. Contact Stephen Lindop, Head Chef, on 0161 935 4053 or by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The menu can be downloaded from the right hand side of the page.

Turn the Clocks Back

Did you use the Forum Centre when it first opened in 1971? Were you a customer, a member of staff, did you go to any of the events or were you a member of one of the many clubs and associations that used the Forum as their base during the 70s or 80s?

If so, we would love to hear from you to help us commemorate the Forum's 40th anniversary. Images from the 1970s at the Forum are currently on display in Forum Library and on the concourse.

The Wythenshawe Forum Trust aims to create a series of displays and interactive exhibits to celebrate this anniversary. If you would like to have your memories featured on film or within our displays, please contact the Trust administrator on 0161 935 4039, e-mail us via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or use the contact page on the website.

Alternatively, cards are available by the photograph display on the concourse for you to record your memories. These can be passed to reception staff for possible reproduction or someone will contact you if you would like to participate in the filming.

Making Ends Meet

Forum News now offers convenient bill payments through 'Paypoint' and 'Payzone'. Customers can pay towards their television licence, utility bills, telephone or mobile telephone, and can even purchase bus tickets.

Based on the Forum concourse, the shop stocks a full range of magazines, newspaper and confectionary. Tickets for both the National Lottery and the Health Lottery can also be purchased along with hot and cold drinks 'to go'.

With convenient opening hours from 7.30am weekdays and 9.00am at the weekend, Forum News also stays open late when there is an evening event on in Forum Hall or the concourse.

Turn the Clocks Back

Did you use the Forum Centre when it first opened in 1971? Were you a customer, a member of staff, did you go to any of the events or were you a member of one of the many clubs and associations that used the Forum as their base?

If so,  we would love to hear from you to help us commemorate theForum's 40th anniversary.

The Wythenshawe Forum Trust aims to create a series of displays and interactive exhibits to celebrate this anniversary. If you would like to have your memories featured on film or within our displays, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or telephone 0161 935 4039.

Local Flavour

Wythenshawe based Delicious Sauce Company has been working with Forum Flavours head chef, Stephen Lindop, to create a number of unique recipes destined for a cook book later this year.

Visitors to Garden City Festival in Wythenshawe town centre on 17 September can get a sneaky preview of some of the recipes, demonstrated in the food zone by Stephen. Tasters and the full range of sauces will also be available from the Delicious Sauce stand.

With six flavours ranging from mild to hot sauces, Delicious Sauce Company has literally moving from strength to strength since Adam Mustafa and his wife Marinha started the business in 2009. A regular at many of the local farmers’ markets; the products are also available online and through delicatessens and independent speciality food outlets around the north-west.

Adam Mustafa, “We started our catering business on Wythenshawe Market and it was a real springboard for us to develop into sales with our range of products, largely thanks to the positive feedback we received from our customers there.”

Visit www.delicioussauce.co.uk for more information.

Animal Magic

Buchanan Veterinary Practice of Timperley and Baguley, is inviting entries into its pet show on Saturday 17 September. Cats and small caged animals are welcome.

The pet show is part of Garden City Festival and will be held at the Forum Centre, Wythenshawe from 11.00am to 2.00pm. Pets must be registered to take part but it isn’t necessary to enter the competition and pets can simply be shown on the day.

Visitors to the show can take advantage of advice from veterinary nurses, also from other stalls on the day providing welfare, grooming and nutrition advice.

Baguley pet store, ‘Pets at Home’, will bring a selection of small animals and will provide information on their services for pet owners, or those thinking of bringing an animal into the family.

Various prizes will be awarded on the day for pets wishing to enter the competition.

For further information and registration form, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact Claire Allen on 0161 945 0880.