It's the biggest and busiest of all Santa's Grottos across Greater Manchester. And the Trafford Centre's new Santa Experience has officially opened its festive doors.
The Grotto: Dear Santa experience has taken over a magical new location this year, with its own dedicated festive house. This is the white building just outside the Great Hall which regular shoppers may remember as Frankie & Benny's.
It's now become "The North Pole Headquarters" right through until Christmas Eve, where children and their adults are invited to head inside for an exclusive top secret tour with the help of Santa's Elves.
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And it's conveniently located next to all the main winter attractions at the Trafford Centre this year, with the return of the Tinsel Town fairground and ice rink which fully open this weekend (November 22). And new this year which is available to book now is the Christmas Trail in Wilderspool Woods which is right next to the Grotto.
The Grotto officially launched at the weekend, with a smattering of celebrity guests first through the doors, including former Corrie star Helen Flanagan and Love Island's Hannah Elizabeth with their cute kids.
Bosses have promised an "immersive winter wonderland" at the Grotto. Families get to embark on a "whimsical adventure through Candy Cane Land, The Enchanted Forest, The Merry Makers Studio, Santa’s Study, and finally, the cosy cabin to meet the big man himself".
Last year the Grotto welcomed hundreds of families across the festive season at a shopping unit inside the Trafford Centre. But this year it has its own magical spot which gives a new festive lease of life to the former restaurant site, located just off the car parks next to the entrance to The Great Hall at the Trafford Centre.
It was famously The Orangery when the Trafford Centre first opened before becoming a Frankie & Benny's, and most recently it was the location for the pop-up Broadway Diner. But it has lain empty since the diner closed in June.
What to expect
Families will walk along a fairy light strewn bridge to head to the entrance of the Grotto, with the Big Wheel looming behind, before heading inside to wait for your timeslot. You are advised to arrive ten minutes before your booked time.
Inside there is a small entrance lobby, where young guests are given a letter that they will write to Santa. You then wait until some very eager elves open the big red curtains to let in families.
You can expect to be in a small group with four to five other families on the first elements of the festive journey. This all starts in Candy Cane Land where snow has fallen, and kids get to sit at a little red desk where they are encouraged to fill in their letters to Santa.
The elves return to guide kids through to the next section of the journey through the Enchanted Forest. Here, kids get to play some funny snow games that will have them in stitches
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Families are then invited through to the Merry Makers' Studio, new for this year, which is a pretty impressive log cabin themed area where the elves have been busy making and wrapping presents.
Families all take a work station to complete a puzzle, before each are given their own "key" to meeting Santa.
It's then through to another new magical room - Santa's Study. Each family get to do this individually and it's a very special place indeed where an elf will talk kids through how Santa's operation works, as well as inviting them to post their own letters in a special post box.
It's then through to your personal audience with the Big Man himself. He is nestled in a cosy cabin with a fireplace, Christmas tree and naturally some big piles of presents.
Kids get to sit next to him on little stools for a bit of Santa banter, and to chat about what they've asked for for Christmas.
Do you get a present?
Yes, kids get an "age appropriate" present after their chat with Santa. Santa very kindly tells the children that they can either save it until Christmas, or is happy for them to open it sooner if they like.
Presents are only for the kids though, so parents need not expect their own treat along the way. Aside from seeing their kids' happy faces of course.
Do you get a photo?
You can take your own photos along the way, and once inside Santa's log cabin your children will be invited to pose up for an official photo with Santa. Adults are also able to pose for a professional photo with their children too.
Then, after you leave you get to see your offiicial photos on the screen and are given the payment options for these. The prices for photos start from £10 for a print inside a frame. You can also get your photo in a bauble for £11.50, in a snow flake for £12.50, in a snow globe for £13.50 or a glitter frame for £14.50.
There are also "photo bundles" if you are thinking of buying a few items, priced silver for 3 photo frames at £25 (saving £5), gold is 2 photo frames and a bauble for £24.50 (saving £7) or platinum for 2 photo frames, 1 bauble and 1 glitter frame for £35 (saving £11).
How much are tickets?
Ticket prices have stayed the same as last year, so families are looking at paying £25 + booking fees for children (which includes a gift) and £7.50 +booking fees for adults. Tickets can be booked on the link here.
If you're thinking of booking in December, the best availability now is mid-week, as the initial sessions released for weekends have already sold out. Grotto bosses say more sessions may be added to cope with demand.
Dedicated ‘Whispering Winter’ sessions are also be available to book, with quieter music, dimmer lights, and fewer visitors. The Trafford Centre this is to "ensure that every child can enjoy the enchantment of meeting Santa in a comfortable and inclusive environment."
