Children and parents visiting The Rock Shopping Centre have enjoyed bags of fun this Easter.
The shopping and leisure destination installed an Easter display featuring three giant shopping bags complete with bunny faces.
The installation, which is in situ until Wednesday (12th April) has proved to be a big hit with shoppers and families posing for photos.
And on two dates, Wednesday 5th April and Saturday 8th April there was a special surprise as the large blue bunny bag came to life.
Children were able to experience the magic of chatting to and engaging with the bunny bag for a chance to win a prize.
Over the two days, hundreds of prizes were given out, including lots of chocolate treats as well as vouchers to spend at The Rock’s retailers.
Arnold Wilcox-Wood, Centre Director at The Rock, said: “We’ve had great fun this Easter and the installation has been very popular with children and adults alike. On our event days it was wonderful to see children get into the spirit of things – we saw lots of impressive bunny hops and heard lots of Easter jokes.
“If you’ve stopped by for a photo in front of the installation, we’d love to see it. You can share them with us on social media by tagging @therockbury.”
Hundreds of shoppers were surprised with a free bunch of flowers whilst visiting The Rock Shopping Centre ahead of Mother’s Day.
Over three days we handed out 900 bunches of tulips as part of our campaign celebrating Bury’s blooming marvellous mums.
Our floral-themed event team hosted a pop-up flower cart and gave out flowers as a way to thank mums for all they do.
The flowers were handed out to shoppers including mums, grandmas, daughters, aunties and children on Thursday 16th, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th March.
Arnold Wilcox-Wood, Centre Director at The Rock, said: “This Mother’s Day we wanted to do something special to celebrate mums and we were so pleased to be able to surprise so many of our shoppers over the three day period, it has been lovely to make so many people smile with such a small gesture. We hope it went a long way to brightening their day.”
Shoppers with a sweet tooth are in for a treat following the official opening of Kaspa’s Desserts in Bury.
The dessert house has now opened at The Rock Shopping Centre and offers a range of delicious desserts.
The brand officially opened on Friday 3rd March and can be found in the block which is also home to Racconto Lounge and Bob and Bert’s.
The eatery has created 25 jobs in the town and sells a huge variety of hot and cold desserts. Their emphasis is on high quality desserts, good customer service and an amazing dining experience for their customers.
A spokesman for Kaspa’s Desserts said: “We are so excited to be open in Bury and we can’t wait to welcome our new customers and for them to try out our delicious desserts. Our menu includes a huge selection of ice creams, gelato, crepes, waffles, milkshakes, smoothies and sundaes.”
The retailer is the latest of a number of brands to join the tenant mix since the turn of the year. Vanilla official opened last week and Skechers is set to open later in March.
Arnold Wilcox-Wood, Centre Director at The Rock, said: “It’s a really exciting time for The Rock Shopping Centre, with a host of new store openings and Kaspa’s is a great addition to our restaurant and leisure offering. We’re sure it will be a big hit with our visitors.”
Shoppers in Bury had to look twice when glitzy roller skaters roamed through The Rock Shopping Centre – all with the aim of spreading the love.
On Saturday 11th February, The Rock’s gameshow host donned the suit of love and hit the mall with two roller skating cherubs to surprise customers ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Visitors were asked some fun questions, or lyrics to classic love songs and if answered correctly they were rewarded with a token of love from The Rock and its retailers.
Throughout the day more than 80 prizes were handed out to customers, including vouchers from The Rock’s retailers.
Arnold Wilcox-Wood, Centre Director at The Rock, said: “We were so pleased to be able to surprise and delight so many shoppers in time for Valentine’s Day – our theatrical brand ambassadors certainly brightened up Bury and made a lot of people smile.
“This is the first of our events for 2023 and it kicked off the promotional calendar in style.’
Having recently rebranded as The TCB Unlimited Dining Experience, at THE Chinese Buffet Group we have now introduced high tech team members to do the leg work when it comes to serving their customers.
Their restaurants now have robots, or ‘Bella’ as they call her in-house, to deliver food directly to your table, reducing the hundreds of journeys to and from the kitchens by our team, each time a new order is placed, which as you can imagine, is pretty frequently now everyone is ordering via the app.
Paolo Hu, our Managing Director said…
“The hospitality industry is having a hard time recruiting staff at the moment, so anything we can do to make team members feel more valued and their jobs easier goes a long way towards keeping staff motivated and happy.
“Bella Bot is a great new addition to the team, making it possible for front of house staff to spend more time attending to the needs of our customers.
“Bella never tires, she just keeps on going, making the return journey between kitchen and tables, literally hundreds of times a day, so our people can focus on helping our customers have a great time”.
At TCB they recently took the bold decision to replace their traditional, eat as much as you like buffet style service, with a more sophisticated dining experience.
Paolo went on to say…
“During the first COVID lockdown, we had to make some big changes, with social distancing and restricted movement around the restaurant and we devised the ‘Table Buffet Service’, which many of our customers really liked.
“So we decided to embrace it and develop it even further to still be able to deliver an ‘eat as much as you like’ service but with a more sophisticated feel, very close to an a la carte service.
“And it’s really worked, ordering via our bespoke app, customers can relax at their table, enjoying time with their friends, while we do all the running around and now Bella has come to make it even easier for us”.
Having a comfortable and secure place to live has never been so important. 2020 was the year when our living spaces turned into home offices, classrooms or gyms; maybe even all three! Many of us revisited abandoned DIY projects and gave our homes a much-needed makeover.
If you’re keen to give your home a spruce-up yet aren’t sure where to start, retailer Next has analysed Google search data for hundreds of home décor queries to find out what the UK’s most popular home décor themes and trends could be for 2021.
Their research covers how searches for particular home décor queries have evolved over the last four years, as well as how they differ from region to region.
For example, out of all the counties analysed, Manchester is the place most likely to search for “home theatre” – with a sizeable 28.6% of the average monthly searches coming from the Greater Manchester area.
Other popular search terms for Greater Mancunians are “black and gold living room” (a trend that residents of West Yorkshire and the West Midlands are also Googling) and “basketweave floor”.
Feeling inspired yet? Keep reading to get all the home inspiration you need before you head to The Rock Next store post-lockdown!
1. MODERN COUNTRY
During lockdown, many of us searched for a way to incorporate the country feel of a weekend away or rural escape into our own home décor. By analysing Google searches between March and October last year, Next discovered that “French country décor” increased by a monumental +515% in searches, with “country cottage décor” and “modern farmhouse decor” also rising significantly.
Next Home’s design manager Susie Gibson believes that the modern country trend is here to stay in 2021: “Modern country is a pared back country style inspired by British boutique hotels. Next’s Charlbury or Gosford sofas reference classical details and form with a pared back feel. The Gloucester lighting range is smart and stylish, perfect for an upgraded elegant country style.”
Similarly to the country theme, queries for rustic-related furnishing rose in popularity throughout 2020. The most popular searches were “rustic desks” and “rustic living rooms” which increased by 260% and 90% respectively last year. Interior designer Nicola Burt emphasises the versatility of the rustic theme:
“A relaxed rustic look with dark, dull metals would suit an industrial urban space, whereas a more ‘cottagecore’ country look may work better in a rural or period property. […] This look requires layers – whether that is pattern, texture or colour – to make it look cosy and inviting.”
If you’re a fan of countryside-inspired décor, be sure to take a look at Next’s collection of rustic home décor, available to click and collect at The Rock.
2. COCOONING FURNITURE
Creating your own safe haven and cocooning yourself in your own furniture is set to be a big trend in 2021 – whether it’s snuggling up in a beanbag chair or spending a Sunday with the family on a comfy sofa.
“There is a desire for ultra-comfy low-level loungers, in fabrics such as velvet, bouclé, and soft, natural linens. […] Homeowners want deeply comfortable seating – a sofa to lie down on, as well being large enough for everyone to sit on together,” says Nicola.
When choosing your cocoon furnishings, it’s important to take shapes and colours into account. Nicola believes that rounded shapes and rich colours are the key to creating one’s own sanctuary:
“Squishy sofas, curved furniture shapes, and tactile, snuggly fabrics are in demand. Sofa trends feature rounded curves and geometric patterns, as well as 1920s-inspired occasional chairs with scalloped backs in rich tones of emerald green, royal blue, paprika or deep burgundy.”
If cosy furnishings take your fancy, then take a look at Next’s Home Sanctuary edit for inspiration.
3. BIOPHILIA
Studies have shown that spending more time outdoors has great health benefits such as reducing stress and increasing productivity. As such, it’s no wonder we were searching for ways to bring the outside in during 2020. Google searches for “indoor plant pots” grew by a huge +173% between March and October last year, whilst “indoor hanging baskets” jumped in searches by +50%. Nicola believes that our newfound appreciation of nature in 2020 will continue this year:
“During the pandemic people wanted to feel close to nature and many don’t have access to a garden, so they brought plants into their homes instead. […] Plants are not only good to look at and bring life to a space, but many indoor plants have health-giving properties; detoxifying the air so we can sleep better, for example.”
As we live in such a digital world, Biophilia helps to inject some much-needed nature into our home décor. Injecting some green into our lives instantly helps to uplift our moods and circulate the air indoors.
“Biophilic design gained more awareness during the pandemic, when everyone’s desire for outside space increased, and the realisation that nature makes us feel good and is beneficial to our health both physically and mentally. […] Along with the upsurge in biophilic design, the colour green has also increased in popularity. Just looking at something green can help to decrease your heart rate and decrease stress,” says Nicola.
With December now fully upon us, many of us will probably have our beautiful trees up, as well as most of the decorations in place. Home décor is a huge part of festive fever – in fact, a recent survey by Next, one of our resident retailers here at The Rock, found that one in five adults admit to being competitive when it comes to having the most lavish decorations…
So, if you’re looking to impress this year and want to turn your home in a winter wonderland, have a read of our top Christmas homeware picks from Next below, featuring luxury candles, colourful bedding and a fun singing penguin doorstop!
You can find the below at Bury’s premier retail and leisure destination, The Rock shopping centre.
Christmas bedding
This year we’ll likely be spending more time at home so finding ways to spread Christmas cheer throughout the house is more important than ever.
If you’re still not sure what style to go for, just ask a wonderful staff member at Next to guide you through the selection.
Christmas Kitchenware
This year more than ever we need to give the heart of the home the attention it deserves for the holiday season. From preparing dinner with your family to baking endless trays of cookies, there’s no denying that the kitchen is a high-traffic space during the season.
A delicious home-cooked meal will always win your family’s heart so why not make it extra special and cook it in a beautiful heart shaped casserole dish? Also, don’t forget to spice it up with traditional winter ingredients like cinnamon and dried fruits, which you can easily store in an elegant glass and wood spice rack.
Fill that cart and get ready to cook up a feast this Christmas!
Candles & Diffusers
Beautifully scented candles or diffusers are the best way to complete any home’s décor. Not only are they a beautiful source of light and joy, but they are also amazing mood-boosters and make your house smell beautiful, something that has become invaluable as we spend most of our time at home. They can create a magical atmosphere which will give that extra layer of warmth to the house.
Enjoy a walk through the candle section at Next and find the scent that best represents your Christmas style, from a delicious Gingerbread Diffuser to a festive Christmas Tree Jar Candle.
Tableware
When it comes to holiday dinners, we all want to have a beautiful table display that’s full of sparkle and Christmas cheer – especially since Christmas dinner is often the focal point of the day!
If you’re hosting a dinner at your home and want to impress the rest of your household, say cheers with a beautiful set of shiny flute glasses, and store any leftovers from the day in a fun set of festive cake tins too.
Festive doorstops
If you’re looking to take it to the next level, why not decorate around the doors within your home too? It’s a small detail, but it can really lift your spirits.
A few of our top picks are the classic Don Dachshund door stop which features a dog with a red nose dressed in a Santa hat and festive Christmas jumper. Alternatively, why not go for a super fun singing penguin doorstop, simply press the button in the middle of his belly and sing along to the lyrics of ‘’Jingle bells’’.
If you’d like to explore all the options Next has to offer this Christmas, come and visit us at The Rock shopping centre in Bury every day for a fun shopping session.
Creative schoolchildren from across Bury will see their unique colouring competition designs brought to life at The Rock Shopping Centre this October half term.
The shopping and leisure destination has been working with local schools as part of its Autumn Sheds campaign.
Earlier in the year, youngsters from: Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary School, Millwood Primary Special School, Tottington Primary School and Sunny Bank Primary School took part in an in school competition to design a ‘Spring Shed’ and come up with a colourful, creative design.
Due to lockdown the activity was put on hold but now, a few months later than planned, each school’s winning design is being brought to life and painted directly on to the sheds in front of shoppers.
Artists will be ‘live’ painting the designs onto the sheds in the shopping centre from Saturday 24th October and will continue daily throughout the school half term.
A public vote will also take place where visitors can vote for their favourite Autumn Shed.
The school children’s designs include creations from:
Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary School Pupils: Sadie Cohen (Year 5) Harry Jamil (Year 5) and Amelia Joseph (Year 4)
A full school submission from Millwood Primary Special School
Tottington Primary School pupils: Sophia Hogg (Year 4) and Brooke Spindler (Year 4)
Sunny Bank Primary School pupils: Ayla Rashid (Year 4), Zaynab Ali (Year 5) and Thomas Hughes (Year 6)
As well as the four colourful Autumn Sheds, a larger shed will be painted by artists and later donated to Bury-based Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.
The winner of the public vote will be announced in November. Once the sheds are removed they will be donated back to the four schools for their own use.
The Rock’s Centre Director, Arnold Wilcox-Wood, said: “We are very excited to be running this special legacy project with four of the town’s primary schools.
“This activity was just due to run during the Easter break but was put on hold. At the time of postponement so much of the work had already been done and we already had all the competition entries so we have been working hard to fulfil our promise of bringing these designs to life and are pleased to have been able to turn our Spring Sheds into Autumn Sheds
“We have thoroughly enjoyed working all of the schools on this project. We hope the completed sheds will add some colour to our malls and our customers enjoy seeing the artists at work. We’re sure the finished sheds will be put to great use back at the schools.”
Voting will now conclude on Wednesday 4th November
It can be difficult to find the motivation to exercise at home, especially if you’ve been sitting at a desk all day and want nothing more than to relax in front of the TV.
With a little help from retailer Next, who has recently partnered with Nike to create a home workouts series led by trainer Naomi Heffernan, we’ve put together some tips for working out at home, including suggestions for appropriate and comfortable workout gear, available to shop in-store at The Rock Shopping Centre.
1. Shop the right gear
Having the right clothing to exercise in is super important. Comfort and breathability are an absolute priority – you don’t want anything that’s going to make you too hot or self-conscious.
Nike trainer and Barry’s instructor Naomi Heffernan stresses the importance of having a well-fitting sports bra.
“A sports bra is probably the most important item if you’re working out. You want to make sure you are nice and secure, you are protected when you’re jumping around – you want to make sure you’re held in properly.”
Ideally, you should also own at least three tops, leggings and shorts to exercise in, of differing lengths so that you’re suited for all weather. If your workout wardrobe is in need of a revamp, Next has a great selection of sportswear available in store at The Rock Bury.
The correct footwear is also a must when it comes to exercising, as unsuitable shoes can lead to injury. Nike have recently released their latest Metcon 6 Trainers, available to order online and collect in store.
“They’re a really stable shoe to train in, so if you are doing things like squats or working with weights, they’re amazing because they’ve got such a solid base. They’re also really grippy on the sole [and] because they’re mesh-fronted as well, they’re going to keep you really nice and cool.”
2. Make sure you’re eating right
Staying fit and healthy isn’t all about exercise. For a lot of us working from home, the temptation to make regular trips to the fridge has become a habit. While there’s no shame in that, it’s important to eat healthily and stay hydrated, especially when you’re working out.
The best thing to eat pre-workout are foods which release a lot of slow burning energy, and are rich in proteins and carbohydrates. These include oatmeal or porridge, bananas, peanut butter and granola bars. Any of these are a great way to start your morning and invigorate you for the day ahead.
3. Set realistic goals
These days it can seem more difficult than ever to plan from one day to the next, especially with the demands of a busy work schedule. With this in mind, set yourself easy and measurable targets that you know you can commit to. Write your goals down and schedule them into your calendar to help you keep on track.
Trial working out in the morning and then in the evening to see which works best for you. According to Naomi, both have their benefits and it ultimately comes down to personal preference:
“If you decide to work out in the evening, you’re probably going to lift heavier and maybe run faster than you would in the morning purely because your body is so warmed up, you’ve been up for 12 hours already and you’re raring to go.”
Social media can also really help you meet your targets. Apps like Strava help you monitor your progress, and let you see how your friends are doing. Take it to the next level by creating an Instagram fitness account, and update it regularly.
4. Mark out a home workout space
Marking out your own space to work out in is a must. It doesn’t need to be huge, so long as you’ve got enough room to move around in. Try not to exercise in the same place you work, eat or sleep – this will help keep you focused, and separate your workout time from your other responsibilities.
There are plenty of workouts that can be done without equipment.
If you’re in need of inspiration, the Nike x Next home workouts videos are available online until the 29th October, offering equipment-free exercises designed to be carried out at home, along with info on the latest Nike product releases, available to shop online and collect in-store at The Rock Bury.
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