Trafford Centre, is the country's first indoor, real snow Alpine ski village. And the world's widest.
9 September 2007
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 will have 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.
There's a range of après-ski experiences 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 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.
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.”
For more information visit the website www.chillfactore.com