Chill Factor E Indoor Ski Centre. [Archive] - Page 2

flange

June 26th, 2007, 01:57 PM

Residents claim poor TV reception is snow joke

URMSTON residents claim to have been left without television reception as a result of disturbance caused by the construction of Europe's longest real snow ski slope.

People living on the Wimpey Estate off Barton Road are blaming the building of Chill Factor e, which is next to the Trafford Centre, for poor television reception where they live.

The construction work for what will be an indoor Alpine ski slope began in November 2006, which is when residents claim that they lost their television signal and their picture started to break up.

One resident of the Wimpey Estate who did not wish to be named told the Messenger: "When we tried to get a new aerial we were told that this was a problem area because of the building of the ski slope and that the reception would get better once the cranes were taken down. However since the cranes went down the problem has got worse and now our television goes onto standby mode automatically.

"People on the estate are so annoyed with not being able to watch television that they're organising a petition to try to combat the problem."

A Trafford Council spokesperson said: "At the time the council dealt with the planning application for Chill Factor e, the issue of television reception was not taken to be a problem because of the distance of the nearest houses from the development."

David Sterland, the managing director of Chill factor e added: "We have recently commissioned a detailed, independent survey into television reception in the area and are currently analysing the results. We are in contact with Trafford Council and hope to identify the extent of the problem shortly."

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/display.var.1496946.0.residents_claim_poor_tv_reception_is_snow_joke.php

The Longford

June 26th, 2007, 07:48 PM

^^ Another reason to hate the place.

matherto

June 30th, 2007, 01:39 AM

so does it having a climbing wall/centre?

flange

June 30th, 2007, 12:51 PM

yes it will have a climbing wall within the centre itself

http://www.chillfactore.com/activities/climbing/

flange

July 6th, 2007, 08:33 PM

Salomon selects Chill Factore for first UK Test Centre operation

Snowsport fans at Chill Factore – the North West’s first real snow, indoor Alpine Village, at Trafford, Manchester – will have the unique opportunity to preview and try out the latest Salomon skis before they reach the shops.

Salomon, one of the world’s leading snow and outdoor sports companies, has signed an agreement to operate its first and only UK Test Centre from the £31m development, which is due to open in November.

This means that the latest developments in ski technology from the world’s leading name will be available first to those taking to the slopes at Chill Factore.

Andrew Lockerbie, Chill Factore‘s Operations Director, said: “This is another amazing coup for Chill Factore – four months before it even opens to the public. The fact that an outstanding and respected brand like Salomon has chosen our venue as the location for its only UK Test Centre is testament to the quality of our snow-side offer – from the snow itself to the calibre of the instructors.

“Coming just weeks after the announcement that the British Disabled Ski Team have selected Chill Factore as the UK location for their group training programme ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics, this will further enhance our reputation as the country’s snowsports Centre of Excellence.”

Sonia Prior, General Manager of Salomon, said: “The opening of our first UK Test Centre is a very exciting new venture for Salomon – and also for the users of Chill Factore who will have the opportunity to try out the latest equipment, enabling consumers to test the product on snow, before they decide to buy.”

http://www.chillfactore.com/news/

marni1971

July 12th, 2007, 04:48 PM

As if the building wasn`t bland enough... I noticed yesterday the south east supports (under the highest end, facing Junction 10 of the M60) were covered in Peel-owned advertising signs. Even Liverpool....sorry, John Lennon, Airport gets one. Jeezz...

woody

July 12th, 2007, 08:32 PM

flange

July 20th, 2007, 08:30 PM

Armstrong win six-figure contract from Chill Factore!

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1095/armstrongom4.jpg

Salford Quays-based Armstrong Communications has beaten off stiff nationwide competition to win a major telecoms contract for Chill Factore – the North West’s real snow indoor Alpine Village.

Capable of handling and processing more than a thousand calls an hour, the Inter-Tel 5000 is custom-designed to ensure it grows with Chill Factore. The network-centric communications solution utilises Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. This runs the telephone calls over the local area network and internet for increased efficiency.

As well as supplying, implementing and maintaining the telecoms system, Armstrong Communications is also supplying Chill Factore with a radio communications system for personnel located around the 250,000 sq ft (23,225 sq m) site.

Steve Donovan, Managing Director of Armstrong Communications, said: “We are delighted to be associated with the North West’s most exciting new leisure destination. The challenge facing Chill Factore is to deal swiftly and efficiently with the large volume of calls received at any one time so we have provided a personalised, flexible solution that will meet the businesses needs as it expands.”

David Sterland, Managing Director of Chill Factore, said: “The telephone booking system is the backbone of the company. As we are creating the region’s newest and most exciting new attraction we wanted the best and most professional solution available.”

http://www.chillfactore.com/news/

flange

July 20th, 2007, 08:35 PM

Dare 2b selects Chill Factore for first ever standalone store!

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2792/dar2bpj4.jpg

Chill Factore has announced that adrenalin sports brand Dare 2b is to open its first ever dedicated store at the North West’s first real snow, indoor Alpine village.

Manchester-based Dare 2b, which until now has always sold its stock through other retailers across Europe, is opening its first ever standalone outlet in the company’s seven year history and has signed an agreement to lease a 2,000 sq ft (186sq m) unit at Chill Factore.

The store will sell a full range of Dare 2b’s performance clothing and accessories suitable for all kinds of mountain activities during winter and summer.

David Sterland, Chill Factore's Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome on board one of the UK’s most innovative all year round adrenalin brands. The fact that they have selected us as the site for their very first dedicated store illustrates the appeal that Chill Factore‘s outstanding location has for retailers. With easy access and excellent visibility from the M60 and close proximity to The Trafford Centre with its 30 million visits per year, I do not think there is a better catchment area in the country.

"With its mix of snowsport activity, shopping and dining we are confident that we are creating one of the country’s most outstanding leisure venues in one of the finest locations.”

Graham Rickard, Dare 2b’s Marketing Director, said: “This is a very exciting new venture for Dare 2b and marks an important milestone for our business and our brand. We had been looking into the possibility of opening our own store for a while and the opportunity presented by the opening of Chill Factore and the target audience it will attract was too good to miss.”

http://www.chillfactore.com/news/

http://www.dare2b.com/

flange

July 21st, 2007, 07:02 PM

Recent Pictures inside Chill Factor E taken from http://www.chillfactore.com/construction/gallery/

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4750/slope1hf1.jpg

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8630/slope2em6.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9329/slope3vo1.jpg

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2234/slope4em2.jpg

It is all starting to come together you can see the childrens section where the toboggan pipe is and the way the shopping area with correspond with the ski slope

flange

July 30th, 2007, 08:43 PM

Ices bring chill to the slopes

A family ice-cream business is hoping for peak performance after they revealed a new branch is to open at the UK's biggest indoor ski centre.

Frederick's, whose famous ices have been enjoyed by generations of Chorley folk, are to enter the high-end leisure sector when they open an outlet at Chill Factor e, which will bring the Alps to the Trafford Centre later this year.

Donna Townson is a partner in Frederick's, which currently has three parlours in Bolton Road and Cunliffe Street, in Chorley, and Mesnes Park in Wigan.

She said: "This is a very exciting venture for the business and everyone is looking forward to it.

"We hope to start fitting out the unit in August and be ready to serve up our full range of products once the centre opens in November."

The new business will create more than 30 mostly part-time jobs.

Frederick's will be located on a themed Alpine street scene alongside other shops, bars and restaurants with panoramic windows and balconies overlooking the slopes.

The Chill Factor e will use real snow to ensure an authentic Alpine experience and will include three interconnected snow slopes.

The £31m development will also include a rock-climbing wall, a toboggan run, an indoor skateboard park and children's play zone and igloos.

Frederick's have been in business as a family run firm for more than 100 years.

They manufacture, wholesale and retail Italian style ice cream.

The company was established by Mattia Federici and his brothers in 1896 when they arrived in England after having to leave Italy to find work.

Mattia's son Matthew married May Amelia Massa, whose family had been making ice cream in the Chorley area since 1892.

When they married in 1936 they received the Bolton Road shop as a wedding gift from the Massa family.

http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/display.var.1520565.0.ices_bring_chill_to_the_slopes.php

Architecty

July 31st, 2007, 02:46 PM

Driving past at the weekend it is now part clad in bright red and bright blue transparent plastic; looks a bit odd....

....and yes driving, but Im sure the one thread wonder wont be reading that.

flange

July 31st, 2007, 07:14 PM

http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/2149/chillfactore3kr4.jpg

Ice cream and coffee for ski centre

A LANCASHIRE ice cream maker and an Australian coffee bar chain were today unveiled among the brands which have signed up for outlets at the £31m indoor ski attraction being built near the Trafford Centre.

Frederick's, a family-owned ice cream manufacturer based near Chorley, and Gloria Jean's Coffee, which has just one other shop in England, will occupy shops at Chill Factor, which is due to open in November.

Fast-food chain Nandos and bar operator Wetherspoons will also have a presence there.

On the retail side, urban lifestyle brand Adrenaline Junkie, snowboard store Subvert and Evans Cycles are among the signings.

The deals mean 13 out of 16 units are now assigned.

Managing director David Sterland said: "We are delighted with the calibre of tenants that are being attracted, especially the number of exciting 'firsts' and brands that are new to the UK."

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1012/1012473_ice_cream_and_coffee_for_ski_centre.html

Big brands race to take space at Chill Factore

Big brands race to take space at Chill Factore More than 90 per cent of the lettable retail and restaurant space in Chill Factore's Alpine Village is already leased or under offer – three months before the North West's first real snow indoor Alpine ski village opens to the public.

And negotiations are well-advanced with other adventure and leisure brands for the last remaining retail units, adjacent to The Trafford Centre, Manchester. Just three out of a total of 16 units remain.

The latest big names to exchange include Wetherspoons which, in line with Chill Factore's stylish ambiance and Alpine theme, is opening an upmarket bar with chill-out lounge and real open fire, while Aussie favourite Gloria Jean's Coffee – the world's second largest coffee retailer with stores throughout Australia and more than 20 countries – has chosen Chill Factore as the location for only its second franchise store in England.

The North West's leading family owned and managed Italian-style ice cream manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer Frederick's Icecream, and Nandos – the home of Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken - have also exchanged agreements to lease.

On the retail side new signings include trendy urban lifestyle brand Adrenaline Junkie, independent board store Subvert, which started life in Manchester, and major cycle specialist Evans Cycles.

They join the UK's leading wintersports and outdoor specialist retailer Snow +Rock which signed an agreement to lease the 10,010 sq ft anchor store last September, and adventure sports brand Dare2b, which recently announced it had selected Chill Factore as the venue for its first ever dedicated store.

David Sterland, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted with the calibre of tenants that are being attracted to Chill Factore; especially the number of exciting 'firsts' and brands that are new to the UK – from Dare2b's dedicated flagship store to Gloria Jean's.

“We set out to create an appealing and varied shopping and socialising experience for our customers - both the snowsports fans and the people who just want to pop in to soak up the atmosphere - with an ambiance like no other in the country in an easily accessible, prime location. The interesting mix of quality tenants on board so far means we are well on the way to achieving this goal.”

The three units still available range from 270 sq ft to 2,336 sq ft.

In addition, Chill Factore will itself own and operate a variety of food and beverage outlets including two restaurants, a sports/ski bar, and a slope-side coffee shop, all of which offer panoramic views of the action on the real snow slopes.

The £31m development, just off J10 of the M60, close to The Trafford Centre, is on schedule to open in November. Its authentically themed two storey Alpine street sets it apart from other indoor ski slopes in the UK.

The snow experience – which features the UK's longest and the world's widest real snow indoor ski slope – includes three separate but inter-connected real snow slopes, catering for skiers and boarders of all abilities, plus a cresta-inspired luge run, and a separate children's snow-play area offering a unique year-round opportunity to experience snow and adventure play.

http://www.ifyouski.com/news/newsarticle/?ObjectID=8073515

flange

August 10th, 2007, 11:51 AM

Weatherspoons will be taking Unit 1 facing the car park there planning applications for the signage for the unit has gone in today it will be called Castle In The Air

http://planning.trafford.gov.uk/MVM/Online/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningTechAppraisalPK.xml&PARAM0=2512274&XSLT=/MVM/SiteFiles/Skins/trafford/xslt/PL/PLTechAppraisalDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/MVM/SiteFiles/Skins/trafford/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

No documents yet

flange

August 10th, 2007, 04:38 PM

A possible opening date has been found on the Wetherspoons as they have a webpage up for Castle In The Air already

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubfinder/details.php?OutletNumber=755

The opening date for Chill Factor e could possibly be 12th November

flange

August 11th, 2007, 12:12 PM

A few more pictures have been added to the gallery page on the Chill Factor e webpage http://www.chillfactore.com/construction/gallery/

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3483/thestreet1fm2.jpg

We can now see how 'The Street' is coming together now with the view through that large window which is what people will see when walking through 'The Street' and we can also see more of the toboggan run has been completed.

flange

August 12th, 2007, 04:24 PM

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5528/dsc00070001cx6.jpg

New photo of Chill Factor e taken by myself in the Trafford Centre Car Park next to John Lewis today (12th August)

Chogmook

August 12th, 2007, 10:28 PM

My mum says it looks like the titanic sinking!

ill tonkso

August 14th, 2007, 08:24 PM

Excellent another indoor Snow Slope :D I love the one in Tamworth (tis where i learnt to board) very busy and popular with the Brummies too!

ANd for the guy who said a Snowboard was just a plank and some shoes....
A Snowboard is a highly advanced piece of flexible wood, with a soft jelly like centre. The rims are also fitted with a high quality metal strip designed to chafe the snow allowing the user to slow down.

Also the shoes or 'Bindings' are also an expensive piece of kit. They are fitted to the snowboots with a Rachet device and have the ability to rotate on the board at the users disgression.

Snowboards arent just skateboards with the wheels removed ;)

Sir Miles Platting

August 14th, 2007, 11:52 PM

^^ I will go to bed tonight a much happier person for that invaluable snippet of information on snowboardology.

They're not just a bunch of Canadian pot-heads after all....;)

flange

August 15th, 2007, 11:26 AM

Steve brings a taste of the Alps to Manchester!

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/1976/foodmanagerla1.jpg

Steve Batty, Chill Factore's Food & Beverage Manager

It already boasts celebrity chef restaurants but Manchester’s reputation for fine food is about to increase – with the opening of the city’s first restaurants that invoke the cuisine and atmosphere of holidays on the ski slopes.

And the man making it possible is Steve Batty – newly appointed Food & Beverage (F&B) Manager at Chill Factore, the North West’s first indoor real snow Alpine ski village.

He will oversee the smooth running of the Chill Factore restaurant, creperie, coffee shop and ski/sports bar, as well as the state-of-the-art conference facilities.

They will be the only place in Manchester where diners can sample genuine Alpine-inspired cuisine with stunning views over the three real snow slopes. The menus will now be developed following Steve’s recent fact-finding mission to ski slopes and resorts overseas, but will use produce from local suppliers. The restaurant will also host Manchester’s first Raclette* Evenings.

Steve brings experience from both sides of the catering industry, having started his career as a chef in London, before becoming executive chef at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest, and then taking up various catering management roles in Manchester and Birmingham. His most recent role was Food and Beverage Manager at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest.

He said: “I am very excited by the personal challenge Chill Factore presents. An opportunity to get involved in such an ambitious scheme right from the beginning doesn’t come along very often.

“We are creating a destination for everyone – from the more casual eateries where the whole family can drop-in for snacks following a session on the slopes to the smart restaurant with its unique menu that will warrant diners making a special trip out with friends in the evening.”

Steve’s remit also extends to the management of Chill Factore‘s four state-of-the-art conference areas. Catering for between 25 to 100 people they will be available for corporate events, private parties and weddings.

Steve added: “We are already being inundated with requests for children’s parties and business conferences, which is a fantastic result three months before the venue even opens. An area which we intend to grow is the team-building sector. Nowhere else in the North West can work colleagues take part in corporate presentations, etc, followed by a get together on the unique environment of a real snow ski slope.”

* Raclette is a traditional dish from parts of Switzerland and France. The Raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners' plates; the term raclette derives from the French racler, meaning "to scrape". Traditionally, it is accompanied by small firm potatoes (Bintje, Charlotte or Raclette varieties), gherkins, pickled onions, dried meats such as prosciutto and viande des Grisons.

http://www.chillfactore.com/news/

flange

August 24th, 2007, 11:29 AM

A few new pics have been added to the gallerry on the Chill Factor e website

http://www.chillfactore.com/construction/gallery/

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/4853/chillfactoreoutsidejy0.jpg

This picture shows the unit that Evans Cycles will take, it will be the unit on the left and then there is another unit next to it which so far on the letting plan is unlet, you can just about see the wall that splits the unit into two on the picture and you can see the doors for the entrance/exits of the stores.

flange

September 3rd, 2007, 08:41 PM

Hit the slopes in Manchester

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4683/chillfactore2qt6.jpg

An artist’s impression of the new Chill Factor E attraction

November will see the opening of Chill Factor E, a new £31 million attraction located next to the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
It has been designed to resemble an alpine ski village and will be home to what is believed to be the UK’s longest and widest real snow indoor ski slope.

The attraction will also house a number of specialist shops, bars and restaurants including wintersports retailer Snow+Rock, Wetherspoons and Frederick’s Ice Cream.

The ski slope, which will be 180 metres long and 100 metres wide, will include a nursery area for beginners, a children’s play area and a luge run. There will also be a giant moutain scene mural along the slope which is intended to enhance the ski experience.

Panoramic windows and balconies have been fitted to ensure the slope is visible at all times from the various shops, bars and restaurants, aiming to create an enjoyable apres ski environment.

Entry to the attraction will be free; however there is a charge for the ski slope. Group rates will be available, which include the hire of boots, boards, skis and poles. Clothing hire, tuition and luging will cost extra.

For further information telephone 0161 747 0606

http://www.grouptravelorganiser.com/sections/news/uk-news/hit-the-slopes-in-manchester-20070902/

flange

September 4th, 2007, 11:22 AM

Video from a facebook group showing the inside of Chill Factor e

http://player.narrowstep.tv/skins/0018/nsp.aspx?player=channelm&void=77899

From Channel m a few month ago

flange

September 4th, 2007, 12:31 PM

A new letting plan for Chill Factor e is now online shows the location of Nandos which will be next to Billabong and also shows that Subvert has moved location into a unit next to the one they used to be at, there are now just 2 stores Available and 3 Under Offer.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6283/newlettingplansept07hj7.jpg

http://www.chillfactore.com/lettings/contact/planPDF.pdf

dannyb

September 4th, 2007, 07:44 PM

good video, cheers flange!

flange

September 4th, 2007, 08:38 PM

Here is the landscaping plan for Chill Factor e

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/2715/chillfactorelandscapinglc4.jpg

flange

September 4th, 2007, 08:40 PM

Here is what Castle In The Air (Wetherspoons) will looks like at Chill Factor e

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/2483/caslteintheairfrontsy8.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3843/caslteintheairsidesw9.jpg

ill tonkso

September 5th, 2007, 04:05 PM

Cant wait for this to be done, ill probably finally make that trip up to Manc when its finished :)

flange

September 13th, 2007, 01:26 PM

Landscaping work has now started for the car parks and planting you can notice it on the webcam where the actual slopes that they have started the landscaping.

http://www.chillfactore.com/construction/gallery/webcam.aspx

flange

September 15th, 2007, 07:18 PM

The adverts for the Trafford Centre and Liverpool John Lennon Airport that were underneath the slope have now been taken off and the grey cladding is being put up to complette this area

Picture of where the ads used to be (not taken by me)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinneyhead/1094929710/

flange

September 17th, 2007, 10:03 PM

I rang Chill Factor E this afternoon, it is going to open for sliding on the 10th of November and shall be £22 for 90 minutes at peak times and £17 off peak(Mon - Fri 08:00 to 18:00).

from http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,78531,78543,quote=1

Seems to fit what with Castle in The Air (Wetherspoons) opening date set for 12th November

andysimo123

September 18th, 2007, 12:17 AM

£22? I'd like to know is that with or without skis! It does sound abit much for 90 minutes skiing, I mean if you go aboard like France or Austria. Its about 200 Euros for the week and you can use that pass on a number of huge slopes in the area. That just the skiing btw, skis, travel, hotel etc not included.

flange

September 19th, 2007, 11:38 AM

Chill Factore ‘snowed under’ with job applications

Interviews for a range of positions at Chill Factore, the North West’s first real snow indoor Alpine Village, are starting this week following an avalanche of first rate applications from all over the country.

The company has been snowed under with emails from hundreds of people who have already registered via www.chillfactore.com for jobs ranging from receptionists to snowsports assistants. More than 300 top calibre job applications have come in from would-be ski and boarding instructors alone - but there are still plenty of opportunities at what is going to be the leisure destination in the North West.

In total Chill Factore will employ around 100 full time and up to 250 part time staff. Around half will be working on and around the slopes, with the rest in the fine dining restaurant, crêperie, ski/sports bar, and slope-side coffee shop.

Recruitment – including for Father Christmases’ for the children’s Snow World - will be continuing at the Jobs Spectacular Fair held at the Trafford Centre on September 19 (11am-6pm, see www.traffordcentre.co.uk or call 0161 746 8516).

Andrew Lockerbie, Operations Director, said: “We knew that Chill Factore would be a really appealing place to work but even we have been astounded by the sheer numbers who registered their interest about positions here.

“It’s great news for us that so many talented people want to be a part of our team, but it’s also fantastic for the visitors. We are absolutely determined to have the highest standards of service here – and this tremendous response from would-be staff means that we’ll be able to recruit the best people for every role.

“We already know that we’ll be offering visitors the best tuition in the country, on the finest real snow indoor slopes, with year-round perfect conditions and in a genuine Alpine environment. To match that, we need the most capable and experienced staff for our restaurants and bar, so that the levels of service will be top rate across the entire operation.”

Located next to The Trafford Centre off J10 of the M60, Chill Factore is due to open in early November. The Alpine Village will be a year-round leisure destination, with an unrivalled mix of restaurants, bars and specialist shops alongside the country’s longest and the world’s widest real snow indoor ski slope.

The village is now almost completely let, with only two small units remaining in the main street. The mix includes a two-storey Snow+Rock, Dare2be, Wetherspoons, Australian favourite Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Frederick’s Icecream, Nandos restaurant, urban lifestyle brand Adrenaline Junkie, board store Subvert and cycle specialist Evans Cycles.

http://www.chillfactore.com/news/

flange

September 19th, 2007, 10:09 PM

Official Snowsport GB training HQ at Chill Factor e

Chill Factore, the Alpine village due to open just outside Manchester in November, has been chosen as the UK’s championship skiing centre.

It will be the official indoor training headquarters for Snowsport GB, the body which represents competitive racing and snowboarding at international level.

Chill Factore has already been chosen by the British Disabled Ski Team (BDST) as the UK venue for its group training ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics, and the national ski and snowboard charity Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK) has also announced that it is to operate its north of England HQ from the venue.

Operations Director Andrew Lockerbie said: “This is fantastic news, and confirms what we have always set out to be – the finest indoor real snow snowsports facility in the country.

“With the UK’s top ski teams now due to train here, we are firmly established as the premier snowsports centre of excellence. The vote of confidence that these prestigious national bodies have given in choosing our venue as their indoor training centre is testament to the quality of our excellent facilities.”

Mark Simmers of Snowsport GB said: “We are delighted that our world class skiers will have access to such a superb venue. The partnership will contribute to the future success of the UK snowsports teams, with our members able to train in year-round perfect conditions before they hit the mountains and compete at international level.”

Chill Factore will boast the UK’s longest and the world’s widest real snow, indoor ski slope. The main slope will be completely unobstructed, with the two ski lifts suspended from the ceiling rather than from towers.

The facility will be home to the best qualified instructing and coaching team in the country, led by Andrew Lockerbie, one of Europe’s top ski instructors and Chairman of the British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI). The teaching and coaching programme is designed to appeal to all and will be unparalleled in the UK, with world-class tuition available right up to Olympic standard.

Global mountain sports giant Salomon will supply all ski and snowboard rental equipment and host events and promotions. They will operate their only UK Test Centre from the venue, meaning visitors can be the first to try out the latest technology and equipment.

The £31m Alpine village is nearing completion next to the Trafford Centre, just off junction 10 of the M60. It will be a major social and sporting addition to the region’s top attractions, providing a total, year-round, weather-reliable destination.

The Alpine village will have an unrivalled mix of speciality shops, bars and restaurants bringing the total ski resort experience to the UK for the first time.

Panoramic windows and balconies will provide stunning views for non-skiing visitors across the slopes, the toboggan run and the separate children’s snow-play zone featuring igloos, ice-castles, animatronics and slides.

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-trafford.html

flange

September 20th, 2007, 08:34 PM

A picture update from the facebook group for Chill Factor e

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=4088883538&view=all

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5377/entranceoneis8.jpg
One of the two entrances either side of Gloria Jeans Coffee.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5866/gloriajeanskp3.jpg
Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop, Evans Cycles can be seen to the far right here.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8018/thestreet2js9.jpg
One of the store entrances on 'The Street,' i think this will be where Snow & Rock will be located.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/553/thestreet3li1.jpg
'The Street' on the right Boost Juices Bars will be located here

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9265/wetherspoonsuy3.jpg
And finally this is Castle in The Air (Wetherspoons), signage for Castle in The Air, Evans Cycles and Gloria Jeans will be going up soon as planning applications are in for all three of them

flange

September 21st, 2007, 07:43 PM

The plans for Evans Cycles are now online

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9055/evanscyclesbd4.jpg

http://planning.trafford.gov.uk/MVM/Online/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningTechAppraisalPK.xml&PARAM0=27704251&XSLT=/MVM/SiteFiles/Skins/trafford/xslt/PL/PLTechAppraisalDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/MVM/SiteFiles/Skins/trafford/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

flange

September 22nd, 2007, 04:59 PM

Snow & Rock and Frederick Ice Cream have now got job applications online for there stores now

Snow & Rock

Sales Staff - Chill Factor

Ref : CF

Job Location: Chill Factor - Manchester

Snow and Rock, the UK's leading Ski and Outdoor retailer is opening a fantastic new and exciting store at Chill Factor in Manchester.

With the added bonus of real snow, this is a fantastic opportunity for sales staff with knowledge of ski equipment, board equipment, boot fitting experience, or winter clothing knowledge.

We are looking for staff to start in Mid October at this exciting new store.

If you are interested in applying please e-mail your CV to hr@snowandrock.com

http://www.snowandrock.com/jobs/job.asp?job_id=172

Fredericks Ice Cream

Retail Sales Assistant

Frederick's Ice Cream Ltd is the North West's leading family ice cream business manufacturing,retailing its award winning luxury icecream since 1896.

Frederick's will be opening its fourth and largest ice cream parlour at the new Chill Factore Alpine Ski Village in Trafford, Manchester in November.

We are currently recruiting staff for the Chill Factore ice cream parlour and are looking for energetic, customer-focused people for all levels of our team.

We have a range of full- and part-time opportunities: Team Leaders Senior Sales Assistants Sales Assistants The teams in our ice cream parlours have a professional approach to their work, whilst using their expert ability to create a fantastic customer experience that keeps our customers returning again and again.

If you think you have the personality and enthusiasm to join our award-winning team, then apply online at www.fredericksicecream.co.uk or contact Donna Townson on 01257 263154 for an application form.

http://www.fish4.co.uk/ls/nwqmsngrnwspprs/jobs/advert?adId=17231862&sid=s5D5FF1A57571948&pos=2&src=search&tot=45&src=search

flange

September 24th, 2007, 04:52 PM

Report on Chill Factor e from Granada Reports from there online news service

http://www.itvlocal.com/granada

Type Chill Factor e in the search and it will come up, the news piece is called 'The Big Chill.'

flange

September 25th, 2007, 07:58 PM

Chill Factor e prices

I guess many of you have been waiting for this, so we thought we'd post it up as soon as we got it. You'll be glad to hear that SCUK have negotiated a 30% discount on CFe's Annual Membership package and we'll announce full details of that nearer the time.

General Price List

Off peak 7am – 6pm weekdays
Peak 6pm – 11pm weekdays and all day weekends, plus Bank Holidays

Standard adult ticket £22 peak; £17 off peak
Standard junior/OAP ticket £18 peak; £14 off peak
Valid for 1.5 hours and includes lift pass, boots and ski/snowboard hire

Family ticket prices start from £38 for one adult and two children (aged 6-16)
Valid for 1.5 hours and includes lift pass, boots and ski/snowboard

Ski/snowboard taster sessions
Adult £22 peak; £17 off peak
Juniors/OAPs £18 peak; £14 off peak
Valid for 50 minutes and includes lift pass, ski/snowboard hire and tuition

Annual membership
Adults £100
Juniors/OAPs £70
Family (2 adults and 2 juniors under 16) £270
Corporate and club memberships available
Membership gives 30 per cent discount on lessons (excluding taster) and lift passes, plus receipt of regular and exclusive mailings and newsletters

Clothing hire[b/] £5

[b]Luge
30 minutes £12 adults; £10 juniors/OAPs

Children’s snowplay area
From 30 minutes £4.50

Tubing
From 30 minutes £10 adult; £8 juniors/OAPs

Special rates apply for family tickets, school bookings and group bookings, ski and board lessons, freestyle coaching and race coaching.

Function rooms are available for hire and parties catered for – prices on application.

Check out the website www.chillfactore.com or call Chill Factore's booking hotline on 0161 749 2222 for more information.

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-trafford.html

flange

September 25th, 2007, 09:28 PM

Pictures of the first snow at Chill Factor e

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9177/firstsnow1lw9.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6237/firstsnow2px7.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/346/firstsnow34dc1.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3992/firstsnow4li0.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9231/firstsnow5qq7.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4159/firstsnow6up1.jpg

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/531/firstsnow7xq6.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5296/firstsnow8mz6.jpg

from http://3401.e-printphoto.co.uk/nqcheshiremessenger/index.cfm?z=z&action=newsearch&keywords=&searchtype=pics&c_id=34848

andysimo123

September 26th, 2007, 12:12 AM

Is there no like yearly pass or monthly pass or anything? If you live nearby, like me you don't want to have to pay every single time you go. I just don't see the point.

flange

September 26th, 2007, 07:58 PM

Plans for Gloria Jeans Coffee at Chill Factor e are now online

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/622/gloriajeansplanev1.jpg

http://planning.trafford.gov.uk/MVM/Online/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningTechAppraisalPK.xml&PARAM0=99104&XSLT=/MVM/SiteFiles/Skins/trafford/xslt/PL/PLTechAppraisalDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/MVM/SiteFiles/Skins/trafford/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

flange

September 28th, 2007, 12:21 PM

Snow place like it

WINTER came to Trafford early this week as the UK’s largest snow-filled ski centre produced its first ever real-life blizzard.

The snow-making machines were officially turned on at Trafford Park’s £31m Chill Factore – pronounced factory – on Monday, ready for its grand opening in November, when they will produce an average of 16 tonnes of snow a day.

The centre was frozen to -6°C in preparation for the 1,632 tonnes of snow needed to cover the centre’s 10,200 square metres of slope.
The real snow, which will be kept to a constant temperature of -1.5°C, is made from jets of compressed air which falls on the slope as snow when it freezes.

But any concerns about the environmental impact of having a giant freezer next to the M60 have been dismissed by operations director Andrew Lockerbie. He said all the centre’s energy is being provided from a “green source” by the company Powergen, while heat produced by the building will be reused to provide underfloor heating for the changing areas.

He added: “We are very, very conscious that we use the greenest energy supply we can find.”

The centre may seem expensive – adult peak prices are £22 for one and a half hours, while children aged six to 16 get in for £18, and off-peak prices are £17 for adults and £14 for children.

But groups get a discount, with parties of up to 12 paying £100 for a session and family tickets starting from £38 for one adult and two children.

Mr Lockerbie emphasised that the centre will be accessible to the nine million people living within an hour’s drive of the slope. He said: “It is going to be less than £10 per lesson, and there are a range of lessons.

“We will also be creating 260 jobs for local people who will all have access to the centre for free, and their families will also get a discount.” Mr Lockerbie, who is also chairman of the British Association of Ski Instructors, said the centre’s snow is no different to that found on the pistes of the Alps.

He said: “It is absolutely the same. There are no chemicals added. Perhaps the big difference is that there won’t be any wind in the new centre.”

Chill Factore has three main areas – the 180m-long and 11m-wide main slope, which can fit 260 skiers, the nursery slope, a multi-activity slope for use by parties, as well as a 60m long luge, and a play area for children.

More than 500 jobs will be created at the centre, with about 260 of these within the ski section alone.

Snowsport GB is establishing its UK national training centre at Chill Factore, while the British Disabled Ski Team will also use the venue for training ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Chill Factore will also own and operate a range of food outlets and shops.

http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1017848_snow_place_like_it

flange

September 28th, 2007, 12:45 PM

First bits of tarmac have now been layed for the car park around the back of the centre near the actual slope

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1117/chillfactorecarparkij6.jpg

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2048/chillfactorecarpark2sl9.jpg

from http://www.chillfactore.com/construction/gallery/webcam.aspx

flange

October 1st, 2007, 08:11 PM

Countdown to Chill Factor e

Posted Monday, October 1, 2007 by dunx

The snow cannons were officially turned on at Chill Factore just a few days ago and over the next five weeks, they will operate continuously ahead of the November 9 opening.

SCUK have negotiated a 30% discount for all SCUK members on the CFe membership costs, which in turn will give you 30% off slope use. Full details on that soon.

We thought you might like to have a quick reminder of what it's all about.

Imagine the scene: restaurants overlooking sparkling snow slopes, great active lifestyle shopping, year-round perfect snowsports conditions, world class ski instruction. Can it get any better?

The North West’s Chill Factore - home to the widest real snow indoor ski slope in the world – will bring the Alpine ski village experience to the UK for the first time.

With the first real snow forecast to flurry down the slopes in September, thousands of snowsports enthusiasts are expected to pre-book their places ready for the opening of the £31 million development in early November.

Chill Factore, located off J10 of the M60 and adjacent to the high-profile Trafford Centre, is the country’s first indoor, real snow Alpine ski village. It boasts three separate, but interconnected, real snow slopes - including a dedicated nursery area just for beginners - and a cresta-inspired luge run. Kids can also enjoy the magic of snow all year round in the children’s play area.

At 180 metres long and 100 metres wide, it boasts the UK’s longest and the world’s widest real snow, indoor ski slope. The main slope is column-free and has roof-suspended Poma button lifts to give skiers a unique opportunity for unobstructed activity. A giant mountain scene mural along the slope is guaranteed to enhance the indoor skiing experience.

But visitors will not only be wowed by the world-class snowsports facilities – and tuition to match - excitement is also mounting over the après-ski experience on offer. Adjoining the slope, the authentically themed Alpine street caters for snowsport fans and a whole range of other visitors, with specialist shops, bars and restaurants featuring panoramic windows and balconies that showcase stunning views across the real snow slopes.
Chill Factore will own and operate a range of food and beverage outlets, including a fine dining restaurant, crêperie, a ski/sports bar and a slope-side coffee shop.

The remaining 16 units in the Alpine street, ranging from 270 sq ft to 10,010 sq ft, are almost fully let to big brand names. Anchored by the UK’s leading wintersports and outdoor specialist retailer, Snow+Rock, they include Subvert, Adrenaline Junkie, Evans Cycles, Wetherspoons, Nandos and the North-West’s own Frederick’s Ice Cream. And Dare2B, the adrenaline sports brand, has selected Chill Factore as the venue for its first dedicated store.

A ‘dream-team’ of leisure-brand experts is behind the creation of the 250,000 sq ft development. The former MD of Center Parcs, Peter Moore, is Chairman and David Sterland, the project’s originator and Managing Director, was one of the experts behind the Xscape indoor snow concept. Andrew Lockerbie, one of Europe’s top ski instructors, and Chairman of the British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI), is Operations Director.

Between them, the talented trio intend to establish Chill Factore as the country’s snowsports Centre of Excellence. Already Snowsport GB – the body that represents, at international level, all competition racing and snowboarding – is establishing its UK national training centre at Chill Factore, while the British Disabled Ski Team will also use the venue for training ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Furthermore, Salomon, one of the world’s top action and outdoor sports companies, will establish its only UK on-site test centre at Chill Factore, where customers can try out the latest technology and equipment before it hits the shops.

Peter Moore says Chill Factore is ‘much more than a conventional indoor ski slope’.

“Activities around the slope will be outstanding, but the stylish après-ski buzz will undoubtedly add another dimension. We have focused on creating a total year-round, weather-reliable destination - as appealing to the non-snowsports enthusiast - where the sports facilities and the retail and dining all complement each other,” he said.

David Sterland added: “It will be a wonderful venue for people in the North West and an attractive addition to Manchester’s social scene but there’s no doubt it will also attract visitors from much further afield.

“The venue will offer some of the most exceptional retail, bar and restaurant opportunities and is served by a fantastic road and motorway network with almost 6.5 million people living within a 45-minute drive time. I doubt whether there’s a better location anywhere in the UK.”

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-trafford.html

flange

October 5th, 2007, 11:24 AM

I have already posted some of these photos but this time there are no watermarks and they are bigger pictures

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9605/snow2wd7.jpg

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9374/snow1bo8.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/537/snow3kp9.jpg

Pictures from Chill Factor e, courtesy Richard Holton, Stretford & Urmston Messenger

flange

October 8th, 2007, 08:04 PM

Chill Factor e opens on November 3rd and has its grand opening on November 9th it is all on there brand new website http://test.chill-factore.co.uk/

Also 3 new retailers have been confirmed which means there are now only 2 units remaining and they are the smallest units in the centre, the 3 new retailers are

Chiquito restaurant (opening next to Nandos)
The Vedas restaurant (opening next to Evans Cycles)
Quicksilver retailer (opening inbetween Castle in The Air and Adrenaline Junkie)

And the restaurants that Chill Factor will run and own have also been named

Cafe Extreme
Chillis
The Eiger
The Mont Blanc

macc

October 9th, 2007, 10:49 AM

That website is making me feel sick. i like it though.

The slope is going to stay open until 11pm every night.

I might book myself in for a lesson.

flange

October 10th, 2007, 05:44 PM

Image Group faces uphill battle with super large-scale print

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/320/mnchill13nk3.jpg

Vinyl print: mountain-sized task

Manchester-based The Image Group has taken on its most demanding job to date, installing a 3,500sqm vinyl print at the Chill Factore, a snow-based indoor amusement park next to the Trafford Centre.

The 12-week installation will be on view from November, as a backdrop for Europe's longest and widest real snow indoor ski slope – the centrepiece of the 23,225sqm venue.

The 35-strong large-format digital print specialist used six abseilers on 61m of rope plus two cherry pickers to create the installation, the largest in the company's history.

The Image Group sales director Rick Jervis said the project presented enormous logistical problems.

"We were given a blank canvas by Chill Factore and asked to recreate an alpine scene," Jervis said. "It's been our biggest challenge yet, requiring the largest vinyl print we've ever completed, but printing the artwork was just the beginning."

He added: "We knew this was never going to be a straightforward installation. We couldn't drill into the walls because the finished environment needs to be temperature controlled. And we couldn't use scaffolding because of the weight, cost and time."

Jervis said the cherry pickers worked well for the first six weeks of the installation, but were too heavy to use once the tin floor was laid, as it contained glycol pipes to create the alpine temperatures.

"That's when we called in the crack abseiling team using can-span machinery to control ascent and descent. There was no room for error. We needed to line up each image perfectly on the overlap or the effect would have been ruined. We often relayed two or three times to ensure a perfect match."

http://www.printweek.com/news/743554/Image-Group-faces-uphill-battle-super-large-scale-print/

flange

October 10th, 2007, 08:04 PM

Videos of the the construction workers of Chill Factor e enjoying the facilities that they have built

Chill Factore Unofficial Run 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IVqQui16gg

Chill Factore Unofficial Run 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tq7EAQgo8U

And also Chill Factor e Tobogan Run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ov1M7PDFX8

flange

October 10th, 2007, 09:53 PM

Castle in The Air will now open on 26th November instead of 12th November

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubs/pub-details.php?PubNumber=5647

Sir Miles Platting

October 10th, 2007, 11:52 PM

I firmly believe that this venue will be very successful.

Year-round skiing will be a magnet to the ever-increasing appeal of snow sports enthusiasts from all over the north-west.

Next time I'm in Manchester I'll definitely visit it.

Not to ski though.

Dodgy knees...

macc

October 11th, 2007, 10:27 AM

Those clips are great. It gives a better scale to the seeing people on the slope. they look like they're having a great time.

I hope they don't get into trouble for posting the clips though.

The Longford

October 11th, 2007, 10:44 AM

Here is another Chill Factor clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjzPVOXbJ84

eyesparky

October 11th, 2007, 06:34 PM

I know I am lazy and have not read all the thread but how does the length of the run here compare with Tamworth?

The Longford

October 11th, 2007, 06:54 PM

I know I am lazy and have not read all the thread but how does the length of the run here compare with Tamworth?

Three times longer and two times wider.....and four times snowier.

flange

October 11th, 2007, 08:21 PM

The Vedas restaurant that will be located next to Evans Cycles in the centre will be the local based restaurant from Todmorden.

It is good to see another local/ independant retailer opening within the scheme alongside Fredericks Ice Cream.

Sir Miles Platting

October 11th, 2007, 10:55 PM

Three times longer and two times wider.....and four times snowier.
Yer hearts not really in this project is it Longy? :lol:

The Longford

October 12th, 2007, 01:03 AM

Yer hearts not really in this project is it Longy? :lol:

That obvious is it?

Sir Miles Platting

October 13th, 2007, 12:08 AM

That obvious is it?
You ski bum...

flange

October 13th, 2007, 04:02 PM

Looks like Nandos at Chill Factor e will not open in November when Chill Factor opens, instead it will open in 6 months times so March/April 2008

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3294/newopenmiddlehn6.jpg

http://www.nandos.co.uk/

Brummyboy92

October 13th, 2007, 04:53 PM

How the hell did I miss this, I want it in my city. Anyway this will do wonders for Manchester and will be fantastic. Can someone tell me when it will be finished and what is that slide.:)

flange

October 13th, 2007, 04:59 PM

It will open 3rd November and the slide is the luge/ tabogan run

Is all on the Chill Factor e website

http://test.chill-factore.co.uk/

flange

October 15th, 2007, 08:16 PM

Ready to Chill out

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2954/chillfactorinsideqj1.jpg

indoors: Finishing touches are being put to the indoor ski slope, near the Trafford Centre, which is due to open next month

A COOL new activity venue set to open next month and just a quick trip down the motorway from Bolton is guaranteeing snow 365 days a year.

And for sports fans it is welcome news.

Thousands of motorists using the M60 near the Trafford Centre over the past year have watched with interest the emergence of a towering structure alongside the motorway.

Now, the true scale of "Chill Factor e" is finally being revealed.

It is Europe's biggest indoor ski slope, which will be coated with snow so realistic that the flakes are almost indistinguishable from nature's own. But instead of taking hours to form here, they will be created in seconds, and they "fall" on schedule every night.

The £34 million project started taking shape last August at the hands off builder Sir Robert McAlpine.

On offer is not only a 180-metre long and 100-metre wide uninterrupted ski slope for accomplished skiers and snowboarders, but nursery slopes, a luge toboggan run and a snow play area for children.

It is all housed in luminous blue and rose buildings and has its own Alpine village of shops, boutiques and restaurants in a quaint indoor street.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5295/chillfactoroutsidenv9.jpg

outdoors: The exterior of Chill Factor e in Trafford

Enormous murals of mountain scenes adorn the walls and the décor is all "Alpine woodland meets exclusive ski resort shopping centre".

Nor is this simply a leisure facility. Some of the country's most competitive snow sports organisations have pledged their allegiance to Chill Factor e, glad to find first-class facilities in the UK.

Can Winter Olympic sports greatness be far behind?

Company chairman Peter Moore said: "I'd like to think we can help create more champions."

Mr Moore, managing director David Sterland, and operations director Andrew Lockerbie, form the three-man team behind Chill Factor e. They have impressive track records in business and innovation, and are keen skiers.

"This place is a space to turn people on, to offer something for everyone - whether you are a keen skier or snowboarder, whether you enjoy shopping or dining, or you want somewhere different for the children to enjoy themselves," says Mr Moore.

You can watch the snow action from many spots, including the sports bar, restaurants and the walkways above the street of shops.

Winter sports and outdoor specialist retailers are setting up shop, and there is even a spot for that doyen of North-west ice-cream makers, Frederick's.

There are conference facilities and the opportunity for themed parties for all ages.

There will also be job opportunities in their hundreds.

Its position, close to the Trafford Centre, hotels and the motorway network, means it will become a magnet for snow fans from all over the region.

For one special area of Trafford, the daily outlook will be snow showers and low temperatures all the way, although the commercial future is far warmer.

For thousands of skiers and snowboarders from Bolton to Bangor, that is excellent news.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/display.var.1760527.0.ready_to_chill_out.php

deep sea buildings

October 17th, 2007, 07:01 PM

monkey_rat

October 17th, 2007, 07:33 PM

tool.

its about 20 quid to get in, I doubt it will be full of povs.

flange

October 17th, 2007, 07:38 PM

Some new outside pictures (not taken by me) of Chill Factor e from the chill factor e facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=4088883538&view=all

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/883/chillfactoroutside1un3.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8201/chillfactoroutside2ae6.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/761/chillfactoroutside3cx0.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2973/chillfactoroutside4bf3.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1514/chillfactoroutside5aw9.jpg

MVITA

October 18th, 2007, 09:03 AM

tool.

its about 20 quid to get in, I doubt it will be full of povs.

I thought it was free to get in?

monkey_rat

October 18th, 2007, 02:45 PM

I meant to use the slope. Either way I can't see it ended up in the state described above.

Mancunian Monkey

October 18th, 2007, 05:20 PM

The Longford

October 18th, 2007, 05:24 PM

The King

October 18th, 2007, 07:57 PM

its no way near the largest in europe where the fuck do some so called reporter get there information from it really pisses me off

The King

October 18th, 2007, 07:57 PM

loooks very nice saying that and are great fun too im a regular at milton keenes

Manc Guy

October 19th, 2007, 12:34 AM

MVITA

October 19th, 2007, 11:35 PM

Wolverhampton.....Burburry caps and jungle music and thats about all that comes to mind.

Machine

October 20th, 2007, 12:47 PM

This is bound to be full of absolute low-life if its next door to the Trafford Centre. Not quite the quiet serenity of an alpine village - more the drug fueled chaos of a northern council estate. I'd advise that people go during the week when the scum are busy shoplifting!

Another depressive Brummie...although living in Wolverhampton im not surprised...get out while u still can friend...surely a better life awaits elsewhere...but if u cant get out any time soon then :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
its ur only real escape :ohno::ohno::ohno:

flange

October 21st, 2007, 04:42 PM

Some more videos of Chill Factor e this time the Snow Crew taking advantage of there being no customers there yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVEZ9Dzq33s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gbkf15Bh0o&mode=related&search=

Sir Miles Platting

October 21st, 2007, 09:57 PM

Those lads are going to be some of the best patrons...

flange

October 29th, 2007, 08:39 PM

The Chill Factor e signs are now up on the outside of the building

flange

October 30th, 2007, 08:28 PM

Salomon arrive at Chill Factor e

Ski-mounting - the setting up of ski and snowboard equipment - has taken place at Chill Factore as preparations for the imminent opening of the North West’s real snow indoor Alpine Village continue.

More than 400 sets of skis and 200 snowboards were delivered to the site and racked up by teams from Chill Factore and top action and leading outdoor sports company Salomon, which is supplying all hire equipment.

The snow cannons, which produce the real snow, were switched on last month and the ski-mounting is the next significant step in the build-up to the eagerly anticipated opening of the £31m development, near Manchester’s Trafford Centre, in November.

The delivery included the quality rental equipment, plus the prestige skis and boards that will be available to try out at Salomon’s on-site Test Centre – the only one of its type in the UK.

The prestige hire equipment provided by Salomon includes all mountain and freestyle skis such as the X-Wing and Thruster, as well as telemark skis.

Visitors can also try out Axess snowblades, which are easy-to-use and bundles of fun. Snowboarders can choose from a good range of freeride and freestyle snowboards.
Skis will be available in a whole range of lengths and once Chill Factore opens visitors will be matched with the appropriate equipment via a high-tech computerised system.

Chill Factore’s Operations Director Andrew Lockerbie said: “Following the start of snow-making last month, another key milestone has taken place in preparation for our opening in November. The quality of our facilities and the technical excellence of the equipment provided by Salomon will ensure Chill Factore is the finest indoor real snow skiing facility in the country.”

Salomon’s National Sales Manager Eric Davies said: “We are extremely excited about the forthcoming opening of Chill Factore. Snowsports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample our latest freeride, freestyle and piste-carving designs, but we have also put a lot of care into selecting a top-quality range of equipment for budding skiers and boarders. This will ensure visitors can make the most of the outstanding facilities on offer at what will be the UK’s premier snowsports centre of excellence.”

Chill Factore features the UK’s longest and the world’s widest real snow, indoor ski slope, a luge, a separate children’s snow play area, an indoor climbing wall and an Alpine village boasting an unrivaled mix of speciality shops, bars and restaurants with panoramic windows and balconies overlooking the real snow slope.

The facilities have been given a vote of confidence from prestigious national bodies such as Snowsport GB and The British Disabled Ski Team (BDST), who have made the venue their official indoor training headquarters.

The teaching and coaching programme on offer will be unparalleled in the UK, with world-class tuition available right up to Olympic standard. The facility will be home to the best qualified instructing and coaching team in the country, led by Andrew Lockerbie, one of Europe’s top ski instructors and Chairman of the British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI).

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/tb.php?1193736595,21557,

flange

October 31st, 2007, 12:28 PM

McCanns brings Alps to the M60 with Chill Factor e campaign

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/61/chillfactortvsh9.jpg

McCann Erickson is set to wave its magic wand and plant an Alpine range next to the M60 for the next few weeks.

A chilling vision of the futureThe Prestbury based team is achieving the feat across TV, press, radio and online platforms for the launch of the UK’s biggest indoor snow resort, the Chill Factor e, on 16th November.

The campaign marks a real team effort from McCanns, as it has handled the creative task, the online and website activity and the media (through Universal) for the client. In a multi-faceted approach Granada and Extreme Channel viewers will see a mountain range spring up next to the Trafford Centre in 10 and 30 second ad slots, while listeners to Key 103 may notice a slight change as the station re-brands as Skey 103 for the opening week. Web users won’t be left out in the cold either at http://www.chillfactore.com/

Commenting on the activity, Chill Factor e chairman Peter Moore OBE noted: " It communicates perfectly the extent of the indoor snow and leisure experience that we have created here in the North West. It also highlights the wealth of the retail and leisure facilities surrounding Chill Factor e which supports our vision to be the best end destination leisure and retail experience in the UK".

Dave Price was the creative director for the ad, working in tandem with James Colton and Dawn Hoskinson. Guy Beardsley planned the campaign for Universal.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-marketing-services/mccanns-brings-alps-to-the-m60-with-chill-factor-e-campaign-200710311252/

flange

November 1st, 2007, 09:56 PM

New pictures of Chill Factor e from there facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=4088883538&view=all

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/13/castleintheaireqz9.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5236/chillfactorefinishedel5.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/9100/chillfactoreoutsidefiniaj5.jpg

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1503/chillfactoreoutsidefinihk9.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/3870/chillfactoreoutsidefiniuf5.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/9151/chillfactoresign1xb6.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/4648/chillfactoresigngg0.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/2352/chillfactoreslopesignkd6.jpg

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/4718/evanscylesthevedasvn0.jpg

jrb

November 1st, 2007, 10:12 PM

Chill Factor E report on tonights Granada Reports. Other reports/stories before the Chill Factor E report.

http://www.itvlocal.com/granada/news/

flange

November 1st, 2007, 10:24 PM

The website has had a mini update

http://www.chillfactore.com/

flange

November 2nd, 2007, 09:02 PM

Chill Factor e has just been on BBC North West Tonight and is also going to be on Five News within the next half hour.

Mancunian Monkey

November 2nd, 2007, 09:47 PM

Hmm, looks better than I thought it would. I'll look forward to this one opening.

flange

November 2nd, 2007, 09:51 PM

An ad has just been on ITV1 in the break for Coronation Street it was well good, as the article above says it is mainly a mountain growing next to the M60 then it shows an alpine village and a skier coming down the snow, and the voiceover mentions about the Grand Opening being on 16th November.

jrb

November 2nd, 2007, 09:52 PM

It was also on BBC news this morning. Another great addition to Manchester's leisure industry. Should be packed.

BeardedGenius

November 3rd, 2007, 12:46 PM

It was also on BBC news this morning. Another great addition to Manchester's leisure industry. Should be packed.

Defo - a real tourist attraction

andysimo123

November 3rd, 2007, 05:46 PM

It was also on BBC news this morning. Another great addition to Manchester's leisure industry. Should be packed.

I'd go when it opens but its going to be so busy its going to be stupid. Unless its petty dead as a Skier you won't be able to get the full feel of the place. Am probs going to give it afew weeks and find a time when its quite. Going Skiing in Canada next year so this gives me the chance to bush up on my skills and get some new Ski gear. Great addition really.

retep68

November 3rd, 2007, 06:30 PM

Bachy Soletanche

November 3rd, 2007, 06:35 PM

Probably just me, looks like Dillfactor from the M60?

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/2352/chillfactoreslopesignkd6.jpg

flange

November 3rd, 2007, 10:50 PM

Thumbs up for downhill

STARS from Great Britain's ski team were among the first to sample the giant slope at Manchester's latest attraction.

Chill Factore is a 45-metre high ski run near the Trafford Centre.

The £31m building will be opens to the public on November 16 but the country's experts - including north-west ski star Dave Ryding - got the first taste of what is in store for customers yesterday.

Dave, from Leyland, and his colleagues gave the huge construction the thumbs-up describing it as a `vital asset' to the winter sports team.

The thought behind the project is to merge ski and après-ski under one roof.

Perfect ski conditions will greet enthusiasts all year round on the longest and widest real ski slope in Britain.

The centre caters for skiers and snowboarders and includes rock climbing and toboggan runs.

Off-piste bars and restaurants overlook the slopes along with an Alpine street.

The snow itself is made from compressed air and water, blasted into a chilled atmosphere to form snowflakes.

Snowguns will operate every night to produce a fresh 5mm covering.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1022763_thumbs_up_for_downhill

andysimo123

November 3rd, 2007, 11:40 PM

Still think it'll be a shit tip within a few years - hope I'm wrong.

It's crap (even if not busy) for anyone who can ski to any sort of decent standard (10-20 seconds and you're down). Surprised it's only 10 meters longer than the Snowdome in Tamworth - that place is crap.

Skied in Whistler and Banff (Lake Louise, Norquay and Sunshine) - brilliant. Easily the best places I've ever been.

I was thinking that. I've been Skiing a number of times in the Alps and you can spend a good while Skiing down some mountains if you don't stop for a break. This really isn't going to compare at all but theres a ski shop in the place so am going to get my self some decent Skis. Ski Hire can cost quite abit and am not into hiring anything. I always end up with problems. I bet there no speed skiing ethier haha gives me an idea. What's the world record for the fastest skiing speed in doors?

delores

November 4th, 2007, 12:44 AM

looks really great apart from the car park.

flange

November 9th, 2007, 11:08 AM

SCUK visits Chill Factor e

Dunx takes a trip to Trafford to quiz the management of the UK's latest slope, to take some shots and have a slide.

It's a long drive from London, but worth it. The Chill Factore building is striking from the outside and parking is free. Once inside one thing immediately hits you - the slope holds centre stage. Talking at length to Peter Moore, the man behind Center Parcs in the UK and Chairman at CFe, you realise that he's driven by this as a leisure destination and that having the slope looming large through a floor to ceiling window two storeys high simply emphasises that.

"The Street" winds its way from the entrance, past handy cash points, shops and restaurants towards the 180m slope, climbing wall and changing/rental village. Upstairs is a creperie, posh restaurant and a bar with conference facilities. There’s heaps of stone and wood, cosy seating areas and the whole feels unified, with the retail outlets complimenting the slope and delivering the desired alpine feel without feeling at all cheesy. Whilst the slope is the UK's longest, the quantity of shops is not overwhelming. This is a slope with shops that fit the theme, not a Mall that has a slope tucked around the back.

I'm going to avoid comparisons to other UK slopes, as they all have their good and bad points, but the atmosphere is more like Tamworth SnowDome and the snow box is more akin to a SNO!zone, but with some well-thought out detailing. The whole length of the slope is decorated with a mountain mural, visually extending the slope and whilst you're not quite fooled in to thinking you're in Chamonix, it's nicer than plain walls. The slope has two large balconies; one overlooking the lesson, luge, snowplay and snowtubing area and one overlooking the main slope.

The snow was great, crunchy underfoot and a pleasure to ride. We'll see how it holds up, but Peter knows only too well that the quality of their snow is the most important element of their whole package. The rideable slope is served by two Poma button tows and although you'll see it mentioned that the slope is 100m wide at the bottom, the reality is that this is a 180m long, 40m wide slope. Cleverly, the Pomas are suspended from the ceilings and walls, meaning there's no Poma pillars. This allows them to easily groom all the way to the wall and so they don't foresee the need to install a track under the uplift to maintain a smooth uplift. The dismount at the top of the Poma is flat and wide and should give beginners no problems.

They already have a set of rails funded by Dare 2 Be, who also have a large shop on The Street. The management appreciate the importance of freestyle, especially during the off-season months. Initially there will be a single freestyle session on a Saturday night between 7 and 10pm, with coaching, prizes, live bands/DJs fed through from the bar, which will have drink promotions. This session comes in at a hefty £50 for adults (junior rates haven’t been announced yet), which we think is rather steep. I’m sure regular users can feedback on that when the slope is up and running! The CFe membership scheme would give you 30% off all slope use and lessons and remember that SCUK members can purchase the membership for £70 instead of the usual £100. Outside this session, their aim is to have some freestyle available at all times and the slope is certainly big enough for this. The slope also has video recording equipment and this is delayed and played back in the bar I think so you can check your steez over a pint and peanuts.

The large changing area has plenty lockers, which will hit you for a quid… we forget to check whether this was refunded. There are a good number of large changing cubicles and also some benches where you can boot up. The hire gear is all Salomon and they go down to 125 in boards and size 2 boots. They also have some premium Salomon boards, which will cost you £5 extra. I am reminded too that Subvert Boardstore will have boards available to demo and they’re located pretty much opposite the changing area.

Slope access is using the Ski Data Swatch style system. I didn’t use it, but it’s known to work in well in resort and I see no reason why it wouldn’t work well here.

The guy in charge of tuition is BASI Chairman Andrew Lockerbie, so he knows his stuff. There are currently about a dozen permanent instructors and I’m told between 80 and 100 part-timers. They can teach kids as young as 8 years old how to snowboard.

The slope “soft” opens today, 9th November, with a full opening to the public on Friday 16th November with the first freestyle session the next day.

Thanks to Peter Moore and his team for inviting me along and making me feel very welcome, with special thanks to Maureen for giving me the tour and to Dean, one of CFe’s permanent ski/snowboard instructors, for showing me the slope for a few hours.

To sum up, Chill Factore feels like a great place to come and snowboard. The Street feels intimate – almost cosy, whilst the slope feels vast – just like a real resort. They’ll be finding their feet for a while, so be patient with them and feedback positively for improvements and changes where you’d like to see them. SCUK wishes CFe the best and will be in regular contact with the management and operations staff to keep you all informed of the latest news, slope layouts and event info.

Don’t forget to check out the Gallery and if you have any immediate questions I can perhaps ask, then let’s take it to the SCUK Forum.

[By Dunx, Snowboard Club UK]

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/events-scukcfe.html

flange

November 9th, 2007, 11:12 AM

A gallery of pictures to go with the article above

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/events-scukcfe-page-gallery.html

Here are just a few pictures from the gallery

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9523/chillfactoreatnightxs7.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5282/rockwallcf6.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8918/thestreetfinished1oq8.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7572/thestreetfinished2gc9.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5281/thestreetfinished3re3.jpg

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8180/thestreetfinished4ve6.jpg

flange

November 9th, 2007, 11:15 AM

Evans Cycles Manchester Chill Factore NOW OPEN

Our new store is located in the new Chill Factore complex at the Trafford centre (just off junction 10 of the M60). Chill Factore is the biggest indoor ski centre in the country and will bring the Alps to your doorstep!

Our store stocks a wide selection of bikes, hybrid and road bikes for the area’s growing number of cycle commuters, and of course a huge range of mountain bikes for the beginner or expert rider.

And if you’re interested in cycling for the family we have a great range of kids bikes, BMX & jump bikes and all the other kit you need to get the whole family in the saddle.

Our store is open from 10am until 8pm weekdays, have a fully equipped specialist workshop and most importantly are staffed with knowledgeable and friendly sales assistants who are only too happy to provide you with the advice you need to make the most out of your cycling.

Opening discounts - Save up to 20%

To celebrate the opening of our new store we're offering customers 10% off 2008 bikes, 15% off clothing and accessories and 20% off servicing! To take advantage of these offers simply download a discount voucher and present it in-store when making your purchase.

http://www.evanscycles.com/news.jsp?item_id=656

happy gilmore

November 9th, 2007, 03:49 PM

the night picture looks briliant.

flange

November 10th, 2007, 05:47 PM

Application Process Opens for the First-Ever The North Face Ski Challenge

San Leandro, CA - Ourdoor apparel, equipment and footwear company The North Face this week announced that it is accepting applications for its upcoming The North Face Ski Challenge Tour. A European ski event for young freeskiers, the 2007-2008 Ski Challenge Tour allows girls and boys aged 12-18 to compete in freestyle and freeride events, in hopes of qualifying for the finals in Val Thorens, France on April 12-13, 2008.

The U.K. qualifying session is going to be held in Manchester at the newly opened Chill FactorE at the Trafford Centre, home to the country’s longest and world’s widest indoor ski slope.

To apply, competitors should visit www.thenorthface.com/skichallenge to download a PDF application

The North Face evolved its popular Ski Challenge into a traveling Tour in order to give more up-and-coming skiers a chance to compete. As such, the application period for the Ski Challenge is open until one day before each respective qualifying session.

A list of 60 riders pre-qualified for the finals in Val Thorens will be posted on the website on March 20, 2008. Ten additional riders may be invited to Val Thorens at the discretion of the event organizers.

For 2007-2008, the Ski Challenge Tour will include nine grassroots-style qualifying sessions in both freeride and freestyle ski categories. Final confirmed tour dates are as follows:

Nov 16-17, 2007 - Landgraaf, NL
Nov 30-Dec 1, 2007 - Manchester, UK Chill Factor
Jan 12, 2008 - Zermatt, CH
Jan 19, 2008 - St. Anton, AU
Jan 26, 2008 - Garmisch, DE
Feb 16, 2008 - Livigno, IT
Feb 23, 2008 - Åre, SWE
Mar 1, 2008 - Ruka, FIN
Mar 5, 2008 - Chamonix, FR
Apr 12-13, 2008 - Val Thorens, FR (Finals)

Each stop on the Tour is set-up as a one-day event, where the morning is dedicated to freeride skiing skills on both groomed slopes and off-piste. In the afternoon, competitors will test their freestyle skills in the park. The combined results of both freestyle and freeride events will determine which skiers qualify for the finals. During the Val Thorens finals, the first entire day of competition will be dedicated to freeriding. The second day will be ruled by freestyle skiing in one of the world’s best parks.

All category winners will receive prizes and gear giveaways from The North Face, and the overall male and female winners of the 16-18-year old category will receive a sponsoring contract with both The North Face and Dynastar-Lange.

The Ski Challenge Tour is open to all European residents, male or female, aged 12-18 in 2008. Riders of other nationalities currently residing in Europe may also apply.

http://www.firsttracksonline.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3195

jrb

November 10th, 2007, 06:05 PM

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9523/chillfactoreatnightxs7.jpg

Great picture. Looks fab inside. I was expecting a McDonalds/Burger King fit out. Nothing of the sort.(thank God) :)

jrb

November 13th, 2007, 09:22 AM

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/901.$plit/C_71_article_1023953_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?

Chill Factor hits the heights
Simon Donohue
13/11/2007

McCANN Erickson Communications House is the advertising agency responsible for bringing the Alps to Manchester as part of a dramatic multi-media campaign which sees Trafford engulfed in snow.

The Manchester agency's work for the Chill Factor - the ski and snowboard complex which opens in Trafford this this week - has featured on TV, press, online and radio.

In addition to this, Manchester radio station Key l03 has worked with Chill Factor and Universal McCann to re-brand the radio station `Skey 103' for the opening week.

McCann's have also been responsible for the Chill Factor website creation where customers can explore the north west's ski village and book online.

Chill Factor chairman Peter Moore OBE said: "We are absolutely delighted with the campaign created by McCann Erickson.

"It communicates perfectly the extent of the indoor snow and leisure experience that we have created here in the north west. It also highlights the wealth of the retail and leisure facilities surrounding Chill Factor which supports our vision to be the best end destination leisure and retail experience in the UK."

Simon Buchanan, campaign director and managing partner at McCann's, commented: "This has been an extremely exciting project to work on.

"We have really enjoyed creating an integrated campaign that communicates the appeal of this 250,000 sq ft venue for all levels of skiers, as well as all the excitement of a ski resort, with its restaurants, shops and cafés under one roof."

Public relations activity for the Chill Factor is being handled by Staniforth, Didsbury.

flange

November 13th, 2007, 08:03 PM

Attractions put borough on tourist map

TRAFFORD is to get its very own London Eye.

The news comes hot on the heels of the opening of the Chill Factor e on Friday.

The 55m high wheel, which is the same model as that in Exchange Square, Manchester, will be located at the Trafford Centre.

The director of operations, Gordon McKinnon, hopes that the structure is installed by the start of December.

He said: "Arrangements will be in place with restaurants in the Orient for passengers to dine on the wheel and we hope this will encourage corporate events and parties."

The attraction will operate seasonally with Trafford Council stipulating the wheel is dismantled after Easter 2008. If successful it could get a licence to run annually.

The wheel will have 42 enclosed pods each with room for eight occupants, and new bus routes and parking access will be factored in to accommodate the structure.

The wheel, which takes between five and seven days to erect and roughly four days to dismantle, will be lit with LED lights that can be dimmed if the glare proves to be a problem for residents.

Chill Factor e opens its doors on Friday. Thousands of skiers and snowboarders have already booked in for lessons and sessions and many more are expected to make the journey to the centre over the next few months.

The £32million complex includes three real snow slopes - the main one of which at 180m long is the UKs longest and with a combined width of 100m are the world's widest.

Away from the snow is an authentically-themed Alpine street complete with paved flooring, oak wood detail and stone pillars. Along the walkway are an array of wintersport and outdoor specialist retailers and a selection of eateries including a sports bar with ice block-style seating, a creperie and a fine dining restaurant. Huge panoramic windows look out onto the slopes but keep the -1C temperatures at bay.

Peter Moore, chairman of Chill Factor e said: "We set out not just to create a technically excellent set of slopes but to create a little Alpine village. I'd almost say the final result is beyond our expectations. It's been so thrilling to see it translated into the real thing."

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/display.var.1829747.0.attractions_put_borough_on_tourist_map.php

jrb

November 15th, 2007, 11:17 PM

Popped in this afternoon. Very nice and understated inside. Had a nice warm homely feeling about it. The slate affect walls looked wonderful. No bright tacky colours at all. Oh, the slope looks reallly good aswell. Success. :)

markydeedrop

November 17th, 2007, 06:09 PM

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/022-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/021-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/020-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/019-5.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/018-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/016-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/015-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/010-6.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/008-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/006-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/005-7.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/004-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/003-10.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/002-8.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/markydeedroppics/001-8.jpg

andysimo123

November 18th, 2007, 12:14 PM

spoonsbeatfish

November 18th, 2007, 12:42 PM

Found out today off a mate that you have to be a good skier to go on the slope. If you go on saying you can ski and then you can't or your not upto their level, they'll kick you out. I thought that was abit harsh after paying 20 odd quid.

I disagree, it may seem harsh but if you can't sky properly you can cause quite serious accidents. As long as they make their policy clear before you go on (which I found was very clear at Castleford and Milton Keynes, guessing it would be same there, apologies if not) then its a sensible precaution to ensure safety of all.

spoonsbeatfish

November 18th, 2007, 12:53 PM

andysimo123

November 18th, 2007, 12:59 PM

I disagree, it may seem harsh but if you can't sky properly you can cause quite serious accidents. As long as they make their policy clear before you go on (which I found was very clear at Castleford and Milton Keynes, guessing it would be same there, apologies if not) then its a sensible precaution to ensure safety of all.

If you can't ski fair enough but if can ski but you haven't been for afew years you need afew runs to get you going, its not really on.

b4mmy

November 18th, 2007, 04:03 PM

Not sure what everyone is on about but I've JUST GOT BACK from a snowboard lesson for me and my 10 year old... it was bloody fantastic! The facility is really geared towards families, if you want an off-piste experience then this is going to be a bit pedestrian, but it is what it is and I loved every second of it.

Major selling point for me is the fact that I didn't have to take my guy to the alps to find out whether he would like it or not, and it was actually damn good fun. The only criticism I have is the queue is too long (thank god I pre-booked), and the till set up was woefully inadequate.

The car park was completely full as well... which told me before I got in that the place might be busy, and it was!

All said, the training staff were excellent... intelligent, considerate and genuinely nice people. The kit I loaned was brand new, and fitted like a glove, and my son was absolutely made up, and I was sooo proud of him for being brave at something neither one of us had done before.

So, I'm definitely going back and we are having a course of lessons. Ace. Loved it!

:banana:

andysimo123

November 18th, 2007, 04:17 PM

b4mmy

November 18th, 2007, 04:52 PM

That's understandable. The slope is very very busy, nothing like the photos earlier on in the thread, and if it gets held up by a complete novice then it would definitely be dangerous, or ruin it for everyone else....

flange

November 19th, 2007, 05:56 PM

JD Wetherspoon opens at Manchester's indoor ski slope

(19 November 2007 15:42)

Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has opened the Castle in the Air, its pub in the Chill Factore, the £31m indoor ski slope in Manchester.

The site opens today after a £1.4m development project and will create 40 jobs in the alpine village section of the Trafford Quays site.

Pub manager Mike Dixon said: “I am looking forward to welcoming customers into the new-look pub and believe it will be a good addition to the facilities available at Chill Factore.”

Other outlets at the Chill Factore include Nando’s, Boost Juice Bars and Gloria Jean’s Coffees.

The pub will be open from 8am until midnight on Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The interior design is based on a ski chalet and features include a fireplace, textured glass and exposed timbers.

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/11/19/317354/jd-wetherspoon-opens-at-manchesters-indoor-ski-slope.html

Metrolink

November 19th, 2007, 06:54 PM

jrb

November 19th, 2007, 07:01 PM

Right, I need some ski / medical advice.

I really want to go and have some snowboard lessons with mywife however, I have a couple of questions...

How much is it for 2 people to have snowboarding lessons (how long do they last?)?

Also, since one of my recent operations has left me with foot drop - essentially my right ankle and foot is paralysed and has literally no strength or mobility - will this stop me from being able to snowboard?

Here you go Metrolink.

Chill Factore
Trafford Way
Trafford Quays
Manchester
M41 7JA

Tel.: 0161 749 2222
email: info@chillfactore.com

b4mmy

November 19th, 2007, 07:14 PM

Right, I need some ski / medical advice.

I really want to go and have some snowboard lessons with mywife however, I have a couple of questions...

How much is it for 2 people to have snowboarding lessons (how long do they last?)?

Also, since one of my recent operations has left me with foot drop - essentially my right ankle and foot is paralysed and has literally no strength or mobility - will this stop me from being able to snowboard?

...about £20 each for you to join a group lesson lasting 50 minutes. Plus £5 for waterproof kit if you didn't bring any. The boots are extremely rigid and basically hold your feet in a line that follows your lower leg. All the action comes from your knees and thighs, you only need your feet to stop you from falling over basically.

Metrolink

November 19th, 2007, 07:21 PM

Good stuff, just been talking about it to my wife, once all the holes in my back and abdumen are healed I will be straight down there.

b4mmy

November 19th, 2007, 07:31 PM

it's great fun metrolink... you'll love it mate :)

skit_uk

November 20th, 2007, 12:02 PM

You might find it a bit hard to be honest with a paralysed foot. But if you can walk ok then you should just manage it.

It's worth a try at least anyway:) Have fun

andysimo123

November 21st, 2007, 09:38 AM

Off to do some skiing this morning! Keep watching for some pics.

andysimo123

November 21st, 2007, 04:34 PM

I have good news and that is Chill Factore is a total success! Wasn't too keen on their Ski boots through, legs are killing but for £17 quid for around 90 mins is good. I stayed on for about 2 hours because no one checking the passes so I got my moneys worth. I didn't bail but I watched a novice take some women out which was very funny. It happened in slow mo, I was about 10 meters behind him and you could see it coming and then bang. One of her poles had a 90 degree angle in it.

I also got some pics but there not very good because I was on the move.

This was the clearest one.... the others are really bad!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Photo-0114.jpg
burly ....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Photo-0111.jpg
going up the lift....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/andysimo123/Photo-0112.jpg

flange

November 21st, 2007, 05:59 PM

Trafford freezes over

Vanessa Lees finds herself going down hill fast at Chill Factore

Tis almost the season to be jolly and as sure as festive flatulence and crap crackers, William Hill bookies are taking bets for a white Christmas.

If you are a gambling man, the safest bet is to head just off junction 10 on the M60 where it snows every morning and every evening. Trafford’s answer to Chamonix is finally open for business.

This is good quality snow. The British Skiing Team can vouch for that as they’ve made the Chill Factore their official headquarters. If you’re a speed fiend, you can complete one run in less then twenty seconds

If there was any icy doubt in anyone’s mind as to whether the widest and longest indoor ski slope in the world (200m x 50m) would have much pulling power, it was soon thawed by the Chill Factore’s open rates - totally booked out in its first weekend.

It’s no great shock really is it? Considering thousands of us take to the slopes each year as a healthy and exhilarating alternative to sweating it out on the Costa Del Sol. Although there are no breath taking mountains views (apart from digital images reminiscent of shaky studio back drop in early Bond movies) the set up is very professional and slightly more accommodating then the real thing. There’s a whizz of a weigh-in machine, which assesses your height and feet, determining boot size and ski length plus you can hire all equipment including clothing. The whole process is as smooth as the slope.

This slides us nicely onto the skiing, or boarding - whichever gets the blood pumping. Skiing is my sport. Snowboarding remains a mystery. If I wanted to spend most of my time on my arse, I’d have gone tobogganing.

This is good quality snow. The British Skiing Team can vouch for that as they’ve made the Chill Factore their official headquarters. If you’re a speed fiend, you can complete one run in less then twenty seconds and then it’s back to the top again. Repetitive? Yes, but any indoor ski slope is going to be slightly limiting in that respect. What it does achieve is helping seasoned snow adventurers find their ski legs and relocate muscles that have been hibernating since last year. It’s also makes snow sports accessible to the masses. Snow whites can take lessons on the beginner’s slopes to discover if they are akin to the sport before splashing out £500 on a holiday and getting ski fright. For a just-for- fun angle, there’s tubing, the luge, off piste and there’s a climbing wall.

But it’s not just the skiing that’s attracting such a wide market. The Alpine Village features specifically chosen retail outfits such as Snow and Rock, Adrenalin Junkie, Dare 2b and a variety of restaurants with a view of the slopes.

Peter Moore, Chairman of Chill Factore, has an impressive repertoire of success in the leisure industry including being the driving force behind the re-invention of Alton Towers and creation of Center Parks. He explains: “This is a leisure destination not a ski slope. The main drive was to create a shopping experience which was part of a real snow location, so whatever retail there is, had to be authentic, as you would find in an Alpine Village. It’s the exhilaration of the slopes and the après ski buzz combined.”

That might be stretching things a little. Tasteful design and the use of natural materials is one thing, convincing you that you’re in the Alps, might only happen if the Orient in the Trafford Centre convinces you you’re in China. It’s all good fun though, and that slope is really massive

All that’s missing is the hot tub, sauna and naked Germans. But we’re sure Peter’s working on it.

The Chill Factore will prove tremendous fun and be hugely popular. If you’ve never skied before then you’ve got to give it whirl. And if you have then you might want to get down there yourself.

From £14 for an individual ski up to £420 for group lessons.
Mon–Fri 10am–late
Sat-Sun 9am – late

http://www.manchesterconfidential.com/beautyhealthfashion/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwU6JlEkNwB6IaqiNwA&

skit_uk

November 22nd, 2007, 12:06 AM

Quite interested in going. Is the ski and boot hire included in the basic price? Also, are there any speed limits, is there an expert section where the learners don't go?

andysimo123

November 22nd, 2007, 12:31 PM

Quite interested in going. Is the ski and boot hire included in the basic price? Also, are there any speed limits, is there an expert section where the learners don't go?

Ye its included, you get normal Skis and some horrible Ski boots. You can pay extra for Snow blades, double tipped skis etc. I don't think there are any speed limits, I was going petty fast at times and as long as its controlled I don't see it as dangerous. I didn't see any learners, I think they start on a nursery slope to the left of the normal slope. Also on a Saturday night they do free style Skiing, like jumps plus grinding if your into that.

skit_uk

November 22nd, 2007, 01:40 PM

Excelent, i'm def going to go then.

The jumps thing sounds good. I always end up falling backwards when trying to do jumps. Can never get my take off right.

Sir Miles Platting

November 22nd, 2007, 09:09 PM

I'd have to be piste before you'd get me on skis.

I'll get me parka...

jrb

November 22nd, 2007, 09:36 PM

Spoke to one of the Chill Factor E staff at the B2B event at GMEX today. He told me you can save 30% on the cost of skiing everytime you go for a one-off payment of £70.

flange

December 2nd, 2007, 12:04 PM

Mad fer it – we’re going skiing in a £31m shed

The Chill Factore is Britain’s newest and longest indoor ski slope, recreating an Alpine resort in Manchester. Sean Newsom joins the cool crowd trying it out

Manchester’s Trafford Centre doesn’t look as though it belongs in Britain. A shopping mall of gargantuan proportions, it’s flanked by freeways (well, the M60) and girdled with car parks the size of rugby pitches. Approaching it by car, you have to pinch yourself and wonder: “Did I just get teleported to the outskirts of Chicago?”

Just when you think it can’t get any weirder, you glimpse a great big blue and grey shed stuck into the side of the world at a 20-degree angle, like a crash-landed spaceship. It doesn’t get any more normal when you venture inside.

There are a few reassuring shops, a cafe or two, a cashpoint and then, at the far end of a rather fetching internal street, the pièce de résistance: a vast indoor slope covered in snow, full of people skiing and boarding.

Welcome to the Chill Factore – or as you and I might like to think of it, the nation’s biggest fridge. It’s been four years in the making and cost £31m to build. And in order to provide its customers with something approaching an authentic Alpine experience it’s covered in about 1,600 tons of man-made snow.

There are two drag lifts serving the main slope, a moving carpet next to the beginners’ area, and a mini-luge and tubing run. On dank Wednesday nights in winter the place is packed.

I suppose I shouldn’t be so surprised. After all, many of the world’s mountain resorts rely heavily on man-made snow to supplement their natural cover, and the idea of moving the snow cannons indoors has been around for years.

The world is now peppered with indoor snow slopes – in Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia and across the flatter bits of Europe. There’s even one in the middle of the desert of Dubai. I skied it once when the temperature outside was a modest 30C, in the company of an instructor who’d just been recruited from the Atlas mountains of Morocco. We sat on the chairlift (this was Dubai, remember, so of course there was an indoor chairlift) and agreed it was the last place in the world we ever thought we would ski.

In fact there are already four indoor snow slopes in Britain, the first of which opened in Tamworth, Staffordshire, back in 1994. The wonder of it really – given the Brits take an estimated 1.3m ski holidays a year – is that there aren’t more of them. You’d have thought London would have been ringed with them by now.

Let’s hope the Chill Factore gives the trend extra impetus. It deserves to. A lot of money has been spent on making it look – inside, at least – less like a shed and more like an Alpine resort. The internal walls of the shopping street, bars and restaurants are tricked out in cedar shingles, oak and stone. There’s a roaring fire in one of the restaurants, and even a terrace outside one of the bars so you can sit and watch the skiing.

Above all, there’s the slope, which at 180 metres (590ft) is the longest in the UK. That’s not much compared with the side of a proper mountain – Red 7, one of the world’s finest intermediate pistes, set in the Italian resort of Cervinia, runs for five miles and drops through 4,600ft. But it is just long enough to give you a buzz. Every time I skidded to a halt at the bottom, I was hungry for more.

Skiing is a simple pleasure: the best way I can think of to describe it is as a great big sense of “Wheeeeeeee!”. But it’s also a powerful one. By the time I emerged into the car park at the end of my session at the Chill Factore my mood was completely winter-proofed.

I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Two university ski clubs, from Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan, were having Wednesday night socials on the slopes when I was there, and for a couple of hours it was more like Tignes in France than the Trafford Centre.

Clearly a lot of them had already spent a season in the mountains, and they tore the place up with a seamless display of tricks, jumps, impromptu races and the occasional spectacular wipeout. Then they all piled into the bar for a little après, just like they would in the mountains.

“No it’s not the Alps,” said Maddie Williams, a 21-year-old student from Manchester Metropolitan. She should know – she spent three months in Méribel, France, a couple of years ago training to become a ski instructor and now teaches part-time at the centre. “But that’s the point really, isn’t it. It’s here, in Manchester, and I don’t have to get on a plane to get a taste of my favourite sport.”

Anyone with a ski holiday on the horizon – or indeed anyone who’s looking for a more challenging Saturday activity than mooching round the shops – would be mad not to join her.

Indoor slopes around Britain

Don’t want to look a fool the first time you ski a real mountain? Need to sharpen up existing skills? Then check out one of the UK’s real snow centres, where you can book lessons or go for a burn on your own. Other activities such as tobogganing and snow tubing are usually available too.

Snowdome, Tamworth, Staffordshire (08705 000 011, www.snowdome.co.uk ) The original indoor snow slope, featuring a 170-metre (560ft) doglegging slope. A one-hour group lesson for adults costs £28pp, including skis, boots and poles.

SNO!zone, Xscape, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (0871 222 5670, www.snozoneuk.com ) The original SNO!zone, in the large Xscape mall in Milton Keynes, features both a main slope for regular skiers and a separate area for beginners. One-hour group lessons cost £27pp, including skis, boots, poles, gloves and helmets.

SNO!zone, Xscape, Castleford, West Yorkshire (0871 222 5671, www.snozoneuk.com ) The design of Castleford’s SNO!zone is similar to that of the Milton Keynes slope. It opened in 2003 and is loaded with 1,500 tons of snow. One-hour group lessons cost £27pp, including skis, boots, poles, gloves and helmets.

SNO!zone, Xscape, Braehead, Renfrew (0871 222 5672, www.snozoneuk.com ) Indoor snow in Scotland? It seems odd in a country with five outdoor resorts, but in 2006 Braehead, outside Glasgow, got its own snow shed. One-hour group lessons cost £27pp, including skis, boots, poles, gloves and helmets.

Call 0161 749 2222 or visit www.chillfactore.com for details. A 90-minute session for adults starts at £17pp, including ski and boot hire; four-person family tickets start at £48. Three 110-minute beginner lessons cost from £130. Be sure to book ahead for weekend and evening visits, when the centre is busy – your best chance of getting in at the moment is to aim for a midweek morning or early afternoon

http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/winter_sports/article2975374.ece

flange

December 4th, 2007, 07:15 PM

Regarding the car park situation the land to right of the entrance is now being prepared as additional car parking.

Shahid

December 5th, 2007, 04:55 AM

Inside looks boring compare to Dubai one..

Dubai is better.

kids

December 5th, 2007, 05:08 AM

:lol:

kids

December 5th, 2007, 05:09 AM

nah, manc pwns dubai!

This thing looks surreal to say the least. Anyone ever been to a korn concert?

Chogmook

December 5th, 2007, 10:14 AM

Inside looks boring compare to Dubai one..

Dubai is better.

But it's not the widest in the world is it?! Manc's is! :cheers:

flange

January 21st, 2008, 05:39 PM

Chill Factor warms up for expansion drive

Indoor ski operator Chill Factor is gearing up for expansion across the UK following the successful launch of its first scheme beside the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

The £31m Manchester Chill Factor boasts the UK’s longest real snow indoor slope at 180 metres long. In addition it has a range of food and beverage outlets in a themed Alpine village, with balconies and views over the slopes.

Shops in the Alpine street include Snow+Rock, Adrenaline Junkie, Subvert, Evans Cycles, Wetherspoons, Nandos, Chiquito’s, Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Boost Juice bar and Frederick’s Ice Cream. Dare2B, the Manchester-based active sports brand, selected Chill Factore as the venue for its first dedicated store.

Now the company has set up a new development division to look for new sites, under the direction of managing director David Sterland. And ex-Airtours and Football League chief executive David Burns has come on board as chief executive at the Chill Factor site in Manchester.

Sterland said: “As regards expansion, we have several sites in mind but we are keeping an open mind about all opportunities at the moment, looking at both the potential for new centres like Chill Factor in Manchester or for developing an existing facility. But the enthusiasm for the concept of Chill Factor is huge, so we are extremely excited about the future.”

http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2381/Chill_Factor_warms_up_for_expansion_drive.html

More Chill Factore's a possibility

Christmas events and the January sales had serious competition in the North West this year as people from all over the region flocked to the UK’s first real snow Alpine village and snowsports centre, Chill Factore.

The enthusiasm of local people for Chill Factore‘s mix of snowsports, slope-side restaurants and active lifestyle shopping has been matched by that of developers in other parts of the country to such an extent that the company is expanding its executive team and bringing forward its plans to launch a new development division.

Former Airtours (now MyTravel) and Football League chief executive David Burns comes on board as Chief Executive at Chill Factore in Manchester while current Managing Director David Sterland becomes MD of the new development division which will concentrate on rolling out the Alpine village concept initially in the UK.

David Sterland said: “The first six weeks of Chill Factore were phenomenally busy. We were confident that we would have large numbers of experienced skiers and snowboarders coming along to test the slope, but we were delighted at the number of first time skiers who booked our taster sessions to get their first feel of the snow.

“As regards expansion, we have several sites in mind but we are keeping an open mind about all opportunities at the moment, looking at both the potential for new centres like Chill Factore in Manchester or for developing an existing facility. But the enthusiasm for the concept of Chill Factore is huge, so we are extremely excited about the future.”

David Burns was most recently director of leisure with the Trevor Hemmings group (which includes hotels, theme parks and Blackpool Tower) and chief executive of cruise and escorted travel specialists Page and Moy, ahead of the company’s recent successful sale as part of the Travelsphere Group.

He said he was delighted to be involved with what he described as “one of the most exciting innovations in the leisure industry in the last 10 years.”

He went on: “Chill Factore is a fabulous visitor destination offering a snow experience second to none, allied with quality restaurants and leading brand retailers.

“There is a great atmosphere in the bars and restaurants – friendly, welcoming and a real flavour of the Alpine ski villages I have experienced.”

The £31million Chill Factore is off J10 of the M60 and is right next door to the renowned Trafford Centre. At 180 metres long, it is the UK’s longest real snow indoor slope.

Chill Factore owns and operates a range of food and beverage outlets within the Alpine village, with balconies and views over the slopes. These including the Eiger, its fine dining restaurant, the Mont Blanc crêperie, ski/sports bar Chilli’s and the Café Extreme slope-side coffee shop.

Shops in the Alpine street are leased to big brand names. Anchored by the UK’s leading wintersports and outdoor specialist retailer, Snow+Rock, the outlets include Adrenaline Junkie, Subvert, Evans Cycles, Wetherspoons (Castle in the Air), Nandos, Chiquito’s, Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Boost Juice bar and North-West favourite Frederick’s Ice Cream. Dare2B, the Manchester-based active sports brand, selected Chill Factore as the venue for its first dedicated store.

Chill Factore has the country’s best qualified instructing and coaching team and has been acknowledged as the UK’s indoor snowsports centre of excellence. Snowsport GB – the body that represents all competition racing and snowboarding at international level – has established its UK national training centre at Chill Factore, while the British Disabled Ski Team will use the venue for training ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

And Salomon, one of the world’s top action and outdoor sports companies, has established its only UK on-site test centre at Chill Factore, where customers can try out the latest technology and equipment.

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-6573.html

andysimo123

January 22nd, 2008, 12:35 AM

I like the sound of that. What they need to do is make it longer or build a second larger slope next to it.

flange

May 16th, 2008, 11:46 AM

Trafford takes a Chill pill

16.05.08

Five months since its opening, things have been far from downhill at the UK’s biggest indoor ski slope.

By Paul Unger

With The increasingly random weather – remember the snow at Easter? – it might seem as though there is no need for a £31m indoor ski slope to the west of Manchester.

But in the five months since its doors first opened on 16 November 2007, the owner of the 250,000 sq ft Chill Factore in Trafford Park claims that more than 1 million people have passed through. Entry to the chilly interior, a steady –1.5°C, is free and most people simply come to have a look at Greater Manchester’s latest cool attraction. But around 250,000 people have paid to have a go on the UK’s longest real snow slope, which is 180 metres long and 100 metres wide at the bottom.

Chill Factore’s chief executive, David Burns, is a leisure expert with a CV that includes managing Trevor Hemmings’ leisure interests, running cruises for Airtours and even a spell managing the Football League. He says the Trafford scheme has been ‘so far, so good’.

‘The good thing for us has been the number of people on the snow,’ he says. ‘We are slightly ahead of where we predicted in the original business plan, but we are coming into a quieter season now.’

There are four snow areas: the main slope; the luge – a frozen helter skelter; rubber ring rides; and a play area at the bottom of the main slope for children and parents.

It is perhaps ironic that the all-year-round, covered slope still responds to skiing season trends. While 50,000 people paid in each of the first three months of the year, the snow goers dropped to 40,000 in April – although this is still 2,000 ahead of target. And Burns says the summer will inevitably be less busy.

‘Some of the most popular areas are those that require no skill – the luge, taster lessons, the play area, the climbing wall with an instructor,’ he says. ‘This suggests we will be OK year round and not busy just with the good skiers in season.’

The xscape factor

Burns joined in January. His appointment freed up David Sterland, Chill Factore’s founder and the former director of rival Xscape, to pursue the rollout programme and identify sites for Chill Factores two and three (see box). Since arriving, Burns has been busy monitoring visitor patterns and eyeing growth opportunities.

The big success has been party bookings, and the original model of only offering groups access at weekends was quickly expanded to include weekdays. Corporate bookings from Monday to Friday – Manchester employers such as Adidas and the Royal Bank of Scotland have flocked to the site – typically involve booking private rooms at the Chilli’s bar for a work meeting, followed by skiing and apres-ski.

Burns adds: ‘Not everybody is active and able to show off their turns on the snow, so they can just have a coffee and blueberry muffin and watch fellow staff have a go.’

Another change has meant the starting time for lessons was brought forward from 10 am to 8 am because of demand. As summer approaches, various packages aimed at families and children in particular will be marketed with one-, two- and five-day passes available on promotional offers to help pass the school holidays.

Chill Factore aims to turn over £11m in its first year. It should be able to draw on a 9 million population within an hour’s drive, many of whom are from the affluent Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire suburbs that leisure operators dream of tapping into.

During peak hours, after 6 pm and at weekends, one and a half hours of snow time costs £22 for adults and £17 for children. The respective off-peak rates are £17 and £14.

‘Skiing has been seen as elitist,’ says Burns. ‘We want to make it much more accessible.

Two hundred schools have come to have a look and many now book regular trips: 40 kids on a coach, having a series of lessons, say, on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon just as they would for swimming.

‘A lot of this interest has come simply from the launch marketing and we have not done much more thus far.’

That will change at the end of the month when the off-season kicks in, with a campaign including television advertising and a leaflet drop to hotels in the area.

The snow-based areas are anticipated to account for 75% of revenue. The four self-managed cafes, bars and restaurants should provide a further 15%, and the final 10% is due to come from rents on the scheme’s additional retail and leisure outlets.

The 27,000 sq ft of shops on the model Alpine street are nearly all let with only two units of 3,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft still available. Among the tenants are sports goods retailers Snow & Rock, Evans Cycles and Dare 2b. JD Wetherspoon and Nando’s are among the tenants in the additional 24,000 sq ft of bars and restaurants.

The Chill Factore building is held on a long lease from landlord Peel Holdings, the omniscient north-west investor-developer famous for the Trafford Centre next door. Chill Factore pays an undisclosed share of turnover as rent, and now forms the forefront of Peel’s emerging Trafford Quays Leisure Village. Among the other attractions already trading at the park are a JJB Soccerdome five-a-side football centre, a Playgolf driving range and a David Lloyd Leisure centre. Peel is in talks with an Airkix, the skydiving simulation operator, to open one of its ‘silo’ centres there.

Burns has identified 25,000 sq ft of void space under the slopes that was never in the operational plan but which he is keen to bring into use. ‘We have looked into it and we can open it up,’ he says. ‘I’m not going to tell you what we’ll use it for, but we want to build on the strength of non-skilled, group activities which have proved so popular. There are a couple of options we are looking at and we would manage the space ourselves.’

If Chill Factore’s early success continues and the attraction adds even more reasons to visit, the leisure side will be as famous as the shopping in Trafford before too long.

Ice dreams for expansion

Trafford’s Chill Factore is the UK’s fifth indoor snowdome, following the original in Tamworth in the Midlands, and Capital & Regional’s Xscapes managed by PY Gerbeau in Milton Keynes, Castleford in Yorkshire and Glasgow. Bourne Leisure is currently converting the outdoor slope at Hemel Hempstead to an indoor centre.

Chill Factore was set up by former Xscape director David Sterland and Peter Moore, previously managing director of Center Parcs.

Among the investors that own stakes are Bridges Ventures, the social fund manager and Pemberstone, the private investment company. Allied Irish Bank provided a mezzanine loan and the Royal Bank of Scotland provided a senior development loan. The directors own a minority holding, and the trade partners own smaller stakes.

The company has already had offers to open centres overseas and is in talks with landowners and investment agencies in the US, Iceland and Germany.

Sterland says talks were ongoing with two parties over sites in other English regions with high-density population centres.

‘We hope to do the first deal within the next two to three months,’ he says. ‘We see ourselves as an operating company, and we can either come in to operate a scheme someone is doing themselves or we can develop and run our own centres.’

http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=39&storycode=3113496

Sir Miles Platting

May 17th, 2008, 11:54 PM

So for every paying punter there are three looky-lou's.

I suppose that should bode well for future business.

The proposed skydiving thingy sounds interesting. They use powerful updraughts and you can 'freefall' for ages over a mere few feet! :nuts:

flange

June 25th, 2008, 05:34 PM

Snow, fashion and live music extravaganza at Chill Factore

Inject some excitement into your social life next week. Treat your clients or friends to a fantastic event at Manchester's most unusual new venue.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5529/chillfactoremastgn1.jpg

On Tuesday 1 July, Chill Factore in Trafford Quays will host a 'Snow, Fashion and Music Spectacular'. Featuring displays by some of the best snowboarders and skiers in the world, live music from up-and-coming artists, and fashion from Selfridges, it promises to be an exhilarating and highly-enjoyable evening.

Guests will witness an awe-inspiring show on the slopes culminating in a finale of sound and light. With commentary from Angela Powers from Sky Sports, top athletes will show off their skills and professional boarders will amaze you with stunts. Ski Sunday will be filming it for broadcast later in the year – but that won't compare to the thrill of seeing it firsthand.

Following the demonstration, pro-boarder Zoe Gillings (rated number seven in the world) and Team GB skier Alain Baxter will answer questions from the audience. If you're a winter sports fan or want to hear professional athletes talking about their achievements, it's not to be missed.

The fashion show is expected to be equally popular with Selfridges showcasing next season's looks for both on and off the slopes. And if that isn't enough to keep you entertained, there will also be performances from singer-songwriter TJ Smith and local artist Adam Glover, who has been dubbed the next Michael Bublé.

With champagne, food and a fantastic atmosphere, it will be a night to remember. Tickets cost £30 or £50 for the VIP package which includes access to the VIP area and the opportunity to chat with celebrities and athletes. It's ideal if you want to surprise clients with an imaginative event in a stunning venue – or if you just want a great night out with friends.

To get your ticket, email info@realityprandevents.com or call 07775 618575

http://www.manchesterconfidential.com/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwY6IlTkIHqiNwF6IHqi&realname=Snow,_fashion_and_live_music_extravaganza_at_Chill_Factor<i>e</i>

robb01

October 24th, 2008, 10:08 PM

This place is amazing, I've not been in yet though

http://1person1million.com/img/158/r08c1006bidc/biggrin.gif

Comdot

February 26th, 2009, 02:40 PM

aerial video of the place shot during construction- http://archive.skyworks.co.uk/footage/flyover-road-into-manchester.html

flange

May 13th, 2009, 08:00 PM

Compass Chill Factore deal

Kevin Feddy

May 13, 2009

CATERING giant Compass Group's Milburns leisure division has landed a £35m, 10-year contract at the Greater Manchester indoor ski attraction, Chill Factore.

Milburns will open a new Costa Coffee venue and revamp the Mont Blanc restaurant at the site near Trafford Park.

Milburns will also manage the conference and events business at Chill Factore, which has a 180m real snow indoor slope and accommodates up to 300 people for a drinks reception or 200 for dinner.

The contract adds to Milburns' operations in and around Manchester, where it provides catering at the Manchester Art Gallery, the Museum of Science and Industry and Imperial War Museum North.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1114950_compass_chill_factore_deal

andysimo123

May 13th, 2009, 11:34 PM

Costa Coffee? Its all about Starbucks if I dare say it!

flange

June 2nd, 2009, 12:46 PM

Costa Coffee are now open in the unit that Gloria Jeans Coffee used to be.

Surfanic are opening soon at Chill Factor e in the unit that Adrenaline Junkie used to be in.

http://www.surfanic.com

flange

June 30th, 2009, 12:40 PM

Budding restaurateur opens Cafe Mef at Trafford's Chill Factore

9:35am Tuesday 30th June 2009

A BUDDING restaurateur has chosen Trafford's Chill Factore to open his first restaurant.

Café Mef - run by Byrom Erdemli, 47, of Albert Square in Bowdon - opened for business this month.

The Mediterranean-themed restaurant will cater for diners visiting the Alpine ski village and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

Mr Erdemli has run his own food outlet, The Mouth in Northenden, for the past 15 years.

He said: "After 20 years working in the catering sector, I decided to put the skills I have learned over the years to good use and open a restaurant of my own."

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/4465679.Budding_restaurateur_opens_Cafe_Mef_at_Trafford_s_Chill_Factore/

They are open in the former The Vedas unit at Chill Factor E

http://www.cafemef.co.uk/apps/index.xhtml

munklefish

September 8th, 2009, 11:30 PM

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/4465679.Budding_restaurateur_opens_Cafe_Mef_at_Trafford_s_Chill_Factore/

They are open in the former The Vedas unit at Chill Factor E

http://www.cafemef.co.uk/apps/index.xhtml

OMG! Frozen pizza bases and toppings!

Arron21

November 2nd, 2009, 10:26 PM

OMG! Frozen pizza bases and toppings!

Frozen Pizza?

I dont think so, I am pretty sure they are done daily on premises unlike Mont Blanc

flange

August 12th, 2010, 01:40 PM

Chill Factore backers put in £1.9m to halt downward slide

12th August 2010

By Mike Fahy - Assistant Editor

THE OWNERS of the £30m Chill Factore ski slope attraction are having to inject £1.9m of new equity into the Trafford-based business in order to complete a refinancing.

Bridges Community Ventures, the London-based equity fund run by Sir Ronald Cohen and Worcester-based property developer Pemberstone will put in the cash by the end of the month, according to its chief executive Stephen Evans.

Chill Factore's parent company has been in breach of its banking covenants for more than six months and newly-filed accounts show that its net debts have increased to almost £34m.

Mr Evans told TheBusinessDesk.com that the funding would be used to settle a couple of title claims outstanding since the resort's construction as well as providing ongoing working capital.

Accounts have just been filed for the year to October 31, 2009 which showed a marginal growth in sales to £7.5m (2008: £7.4m) but continuing pre-tax losses of £1.1m. Its net debt increased by £1.2m to £33.9m and its liabilities outweighed its assets by more than £14m.

Mr Evans, who joined Chill Factore in 2008, said that Chill Factore's parent company still enjoyed the support of its bank, RBS - to whom it owes more than £25m.

"The bank are very supportive and are very comfortable with the way the business is performing," he said.

Indeed, he argued that in the 22 months since he he has taken charge he has put in measures that have significantly improved Chill Factore's profitability, such as taking its phone booking system back in-house, offering incentives to potential tenants to reduce the number of empty units and introducing initiatives to boost visitor numbers.

As a result, he said that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation have climbed from £800,000 when he took over to their current level of around £2.8m.

"There are lots of small things that have contributed to our improved profitability," he said.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/

jrb

August 12th, 2010, 06:53 PM

Hope it doesn't go the way I'm thinking it will. If it does, I'm sure Peel will take it over. At a knocked down price of course.

Business Desk.

Chill Factore backers put in £1.9m to halt downward slide

THE OWNERS of the £30m Chill Factore ski slope attraction are having to inject £1.9m of new equity into the Trafford-based business in order to complete a refinancing.

Bridges Community Ventures, the London-based equity fund run by Sir Ronald Cohen and Worcester-based property developer Pemberstone will put in the cash by the end of the month, according to its chief executive Stephen Evans.

Chill Factore's parent company has been in breach of its banking covenants for more than six months and newly-filed accounts show that its net debts have increased to almost £34m.

Mr Evans told TheBusinessDesk.com that the funding would be used to settle a couple of title claims outstanding since the resort's construction as well as providing ongoing working capital.

Accounts have just been filed for the year to October 31, 2009 which showed a marginal growth in sales to £7.5m (2008: £7.4m) but continuing pre-tax losses of £1.1m. Its net debt increased by £1.2m to £33.9m and its liabilities outweighed its assets by more than £14m.

Mr Evans, who joined Chill Factore in 2008, said that Chill Factore's parent company still enjoyed the support of its bank, RBS - to whom it owes more than £25m.

"The bank are very supportive and are very comfortable with the way the business is performing," he said.

Indeed, he argued that in the 22 months since he he has taken charge he has put in measures that have significantly improved Chill Factore's profitability, such as taking its phone booking system back in-house, offering incentives to potential tenants to reduce the number of empty units and introducing initiatives to boost visitor numbers.

As a result, he said that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation have climbed from £800,000 when he took over to their current level of around £2.8m.

"There are lots of small things that have contributed to our improved profitability," he said.

Comdot

August 18th, 2010, 12:13 PM

It's a shame the only place they could build it doesn't have good public transport meaning its competition is other entertainment venues that can only be reached by car, of which there are many within 30 mins. One of which is the countryside. Massive customer base missed. I would have gone, I live in Manchester but don't own a car. I'm reluctant to pay what they charge for somewhere that is hastle to get to.

flange

August 25th, 2010, 03:49 PM

Chill Factore completes refinancing

25th August 2010

By Mike Fahy - Assistant Editor

CHILL FACTORE, the £30m indoor ski slope next to Peel's Trafford Centre, has received an extra £1.2m in equity funding from existing investors Bridges Community Ventures and property developer Pemberstone as part of a refinancing exercise.

As revealed by TheBusinessDesk.com earlier this month, the attraction's backers have put in new equity in a bid to help the firm's parent company, Extreme Cool Ltd, to reduce its debt pile and provide additional working capital. By its most recent year end of October 31, 2009, the company had net debts of £34m.

Despite this, Chill Factore chief executive Stephen Evans argued that the resort's visitor numbers and profitability were both continuing to improve.

“The refinancing deal has been concluded after substantial improvements in visitor numbers and the overall performance of the business over the last eighteen months," said Evans.

"This capital investment is confirmation of our shareholders' confidence in Chill Factore."

He added that the resort had enjoyed an "extremely strong" summer and was now preparing for a busy peak winter period.”

Bridges Community Ventures and Worcester-based Pemberstone remain as majority shareholders in the venture. Last year, Extreme Cool achieved a marginal growth in sales to £7.5m (2008: £7.4m) but continuing pre-tax losses of £1.1m. Its liabilities also outweighed its assets by more than £14m.

Stewart Baird, interim Chairman of Chill Factore commented: “We are pleased to see the business on a firm footing and well positioned to embrace future success."

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/

flange

June 7th, 2011, 12:52 PM

Brazen out on the piste with Chill Factore

Tuesday, 07 June 2011

Brazen has won the PR brief for Chill Factore in Manchester. It comes as the indoor snow centre looks to increase its marketing and communications activity over the summer and for the rest of the year.

The PR agency’s first job will be to broaden the appeal of the venue and promote its newest activity - Airboarding. This is where families head down the slopes on an air-inflated board.

“Chill Factore is a brilliant family leisure attraction and the North West is lucky to have it in its back yard. We intend, through every channel available, to show consumers just how good it is and how much it has to offer other than skiing,” said Brazen deputy MD Gary Bramwell.

Brazen will handle all of the centre's PR activity including online and social media as well as stunts, events and launching new features.

“Chill Factore welcomes over a million visitors a year from around the North West and beyond, and we wanted a PR partner who could capture the excitement of the venue and attracting new visitors,” added Chill Factore CEO Morwenna Angove.

“Brazen’s creative flair combined with their newsmaking credentials, plus their impressive track record in leisure PR showed they are the perfect PR match for Chill Factore.”

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-marketing-services/brazen-out-on-the-piste-with-chill-factore-2011060711173/

andysimo123

June 7th, 2011, 01:51 PM

Not been in there for along time now, to be honest for the skier it's nothing more than a small beginners slope. It's alright for those learning to snowboard but I think the fad has worn off now. If they want to see profits increase they need to do two things. One build a bigger slope and two make sure any future metrolink link that goes to the Trafford centre also ends up near the slope and Salford City Reds.

Seasonedbest

June 8th, 2011, 12:46 AM

thecityofgold

June 8th, 2011, 10:54 AM

They need to reduce prices if they want more people to go. It's a tiny slope and not worth the money for anyone beyond complete beginners. You can get up to Scotland in a few hours, where they have whole mountains of snow costing less for a days lift pass than a couple of hours at Chill Factor.

jrb

July 21st, 2011, 01:44 PM

TBDNW.

BUILDING consultancy firm Powell Williams has been appointed by the owners of Manchester-based tourist resort Chill Factore on developing the void space underneath the 590ft-long indoor ski slope.

Powell Williams has been appointed to advise on building surveying issues at the centre by longstanding client Blue Marble Properties, which is part of the Pemberstone Group. Pemberstone is one of Chill Factore's key investors alongside London-based Bridges Community Ventures.

It has asked Powell Williams to carry out an analysis to determine how much work would need to be done to develop space under the slope and to enclose it within the existing development.

David Heatherington, senior partner at Powell Williams, will manage the project from the firm’s Birmingham office with support from the Chester team.

“This is quite a unique space and its development throws up a lot of interesting challenges.

"Temperature control, insulation and ventilation are obviously vitally important and the work we have undertaken will inform any future tenant of their obligations to the rest of the building.”

Chill Factore is now run by chief executive, Morweena Angove, who is a former sales and marketing director at Alton Towers. She replaced former chief executive David Moore in December 2010, following a refinancing of the business in August last year which saw Pemberstone and Bridges inject a further £1.2m of equity into parent company Extreme Cool.

Angove said: “Chill Factore is continuing to celebrate sustained growth and has established itself as one of Manchester’s premier leisure attractions.

"We are always considering ways to increase our offering and improve the visitor experience. This area was identified as wasted space and we were keen to understand the potential for its use.

"Following the completion of Powell Williams’ feasibility study, we are able to open negotiations with potential tenants and are confident any development of the space will be professionally and expertly handled.”

Chill Factore is based close to Peel's Trafford Centre development alongside other leisure attractions including the JJB Soccerdome and the Airkix skydiving centre.

In the year to October 31, 2009, Extreme Cool declared a pre-tax loss of £1.1m on sales of £7.5m.

The Manchester office of property consultancy Colliers is letting agent for the retail element of the scheme.

flange

July 21st, 2011, 01:47 PM

^^

Looks like Chill Factore is going to be getting a play centre, it will be built underneath the slop itself and looks like it will be called Play Factore, the plans are online now.

Chill Factore, 7 Trafford Way, Trafford Park, M41 7JA

External alterations to east elevation to provide entrance to proposed Children's Playcentre beneath existing ski slope. Associated alterations to existing car/coach parking area to provide additional parking.

http://planning.trafford.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning Applications On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=395896&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/SiteFiles/Skins/Default_AA/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning Application Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/SiteFiles/Skins/Default_AA/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/7027/playfactore.jpg

From the planning documents the equipment for the play centre could be coming from SPI Play. http://www.spiplay.com/

Play Factore at Chill Factore confirmed

Chill Factore have now let the 25,000 sq.ft void under the slope for a children’s play zone called Play Factore. It was essential that the strengthening and improvement works were undertaken before the letting commenced to ensure there was no disruption once the new tenant takes occupation.

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/news-9862.html

flange

August 8th, 2011, 12:43 PM

Chill Factore catches a cold

8th August 2011

By Mike Fahy - Assistant Editor

THE company which owns the Manchester's Chill Factore indoor ski slope has said it intends to "increase its appeal to wider markets" and broaden its product mix in order to generate more income so it can pay down its debt pile.

Extreme Cool, which received a £1.2m cash injection from co-owners Pemberstone Group and Bridges Community Ventures in order to shore up its finances in August 2010, said that its aim was to "maintain growth in revenues and cash so as to strengthen the balance sheet and better equip the company for the future".

Newly-filed accounts for the year to October 31, 2010, reveal that Extreme Cool's pre-tax losses widened to £4.9m (2009: £1.9m) as sales slipped by 6.5% to £7.1m.

The increased losses meant that the company finished the period with net liabilities of £18.9m - up from £14.5m at the end of the previous year.

The Chill Factore resort, next to the Trafford Centre, opened its doors in November 2007 after Extreme Cool raised around £31m from investors including not-for-profit private equity firm Bridges Community Ventures, Worcester-based property developer Pemberstone and bankers RBS and Allied Irish.

The refinancing which took place last August also saw the company restructuring its loans with the two principal bankers until 2013.

Following the deal, an overhaul of its management took place with former Alton Towers sales and marketing director Morweena Angove brought in as the company's new chief executive in December last year.

A report prepared by directors said the firm struggled during 2010 as a result of the ongoing recession and the bad weather early in the year when the resort is at its busiest as skiers prepare for winter holidays.

"Heavy snow falls in the North West severely disrupted transport access in the site, whilst the availability of free snow activities in public areas temporarily reduced the attractiveness of several product lines."

Chill Factore has recently appointed agents Colliers to look at its current retail mix, while building consultancy Powell Williams have been taken on to investigate potential uses for the large void space under the existing slope.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/