This year is an important milestone for all the team at the Holland's Pies bakery, since it marks 160 years of them being the North West's favourite producer of pies, puds and pastries in Lancashire.

To celebrate this special anniversary, they're putting on a fun display at MOSI which will also include some Holland's memorabilia and photographs from the past, telling the story of Holland's Pies over the years.

Feel free to bring in some Holland's Pies for us to sample during your English lessons at Active English Academy!

Born in France, Adolphe Valette was to make his name in Manchester. As teacher of LS Lowry, he saw his pupil’s fame outstrip his own, but while this exhibition explores the relationship between these two artists, it also celebrates Valette’s own skills as a painter.

Valette introduced his own brand of Impressionism to the city in a series of paintings that captured the atmospheric mood of the streets, squares, waterways and buildings, seemingly forever shrouded in fog and pollution. Less well known are his light-filled, beautifully coloured landscapes and domestic scenes painted in France, many on show at the Lowry for the first time.

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with one of the largest annual events in Manchester city centre.

Head down to Chinatown and Albert Square to browse the stalls, enjoy the performances and marvel at the spectacular fireworks display.

Last year, over 65,000 people for came to the celebrations making it the biggest Chinese festival in the North - 2012 is set to be even bigger and better with Manchester's high pole lion dance performance promising to be the most spectacular in the UK so far!

Get 2012 off to a bang with

20% off your Business English Course

OR

10% off your General English and Business English Workshop Course

Take a look at www.activeenglishacademy.com, choose your course and get in touch!

We’ve got a new website, new name and some new courses but we still have the same small class sizes, excellent teachers and friendly atmosphere as we've always had.

Maybe you have some work colleagues, friends or family who may wish to benefit from this promotion. Why not spread the Active English Academy message and send this promotion to them?

Contact us at info@activeenglishacademy.com with the code AEA20PROMO and let us know which course you would like to book and your course dates. We will then send you a secure link for payment and booking. This promotion is valid until June 2012.

We look forward to seeing you in Manchester soon!

In a Northern pub, a landlord and landlady welcome you to join the colourful collection of people who make it their local.  In this public place, you'll glimpse some private moments as we overhear snippets from the bittersweet lives and relationships of the regulars.  Share an evening with two incredible actors as they conjure up every one of Cartwright's distinctive and original tales, exploring the highs, lows, triumphs and disasters that are part and parcel of being one half of 'two'. A fabulous play at the beautiful Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester city centre.

Happy New Year AEA fans!!!

Journey deep into the North Pole among the giant polar bears...in Manchester city centre! Sit in the chalet style pop-up venue and sip hot cocktails such as Manchester mulled wine (with Vimto) and Spiced Rum Punch or chow down on tasty gourmet burgers and sausages. Click on this link and get two for one cocktails at the North Pole Bar in Cathedral Gardens and warm your cockles!

Christmas shopping is a festive day out at Manchester's Christmas Markets. Considered to be amongst the best in UK and Europe, the markets transform the city centre with their charming traditional wooden chalets. Get into the Christmas spirit while browsing the twinkling stalls and soaking up the unique, bustling atmosphere. The markets are bigger than ever, now at 8 city centre locations, all within an accessible square mile. New for 2011, the Triangle stalls are now wooden houses and new weekend stalls can be found on King Street.

Head to Albert Square and join a host of celebrities and special guests to celebrate the lights switch on and dazzling Firework Finale. Headlining this year are multi talented Nicola Roberts and chart topping Tinchy Stryder. Enjoy a special performance by cast members from Dirty Dancing, coming to the Palace Theatre this Christmas and an appearance by Suzanne Shaw, who is starring in the Opera House Christmas pantomime Cinderella, plus a very special message from a star of Scrooge showing at the Lowry.

Get down to the Avenue in Spinningfields to see a parade of pampered pooches pose for judges from the Legally Blonde musical.

It is the first event to be held in Spinningfields' new event space next to Flannels and All Saints so you can enjoy a spot of window shopping before the dog show begins.

All breeds from Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to Chihuahuas and Chinese Crested are on show for the general public to see for free. The first doggy do kicks off at midday so grab yourself a hot dog and see some hot dogs!

It is the eleventh year of the Manchester Comedy Festival and this year should be a fabulously funny fortnight with 240 comedy shows in 32 venues all over Greater Manchester and the city centre. We have big UK names such as Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard and Lee Evans to look forward to as well as the next big things like Quentin Reynolds, Marcel Lucont and Miles Lloyd. Have a laugh!

Active English Academy are really excited about the Manchester Food and Drink Festival this year!

Events not to miss include the Real Ale Festival, Chilli Lovers Fair, Manchester Chocolate Festival and The Alchemist's Cocktail Creation...start your diet after the Festival!

This week in 1843 the great Charles Dickens, author of Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby, was in Manchester and said it was "a great distinction" to be giving a speech at the Athenaeum. The Athenaeum was recently taken over by Browns and made over as a swish restaurant and bar where you should go for a cocktail this evening in honour of Charles Dickens.

Love horror, Sci-fi and fantasy movies? Then GRIMM UP NORTH film festival is for you!  Three days of horror films, meeting casts and crews, competitions and premieres should be right up your street. Visit the Grimm Up North headquarters in the Great Northern just next to the AMC box office for gifts, souvenirs and further information in preparation for Halloween!

Latest work placements available:

PAID Work Placement as an Events Manager at a top Manchester law firm. No previous experience necessary, just a passion to learn and work in the area.

UNPAID Work Placements as Legal Assistants at a top Manchester law firm. Learn about the UK legal system first hand and add a valuable asset to your CV that employers will love.

Whilst we are not looking forward to saying goodbye to the Summer we can't wait to enjoy The Last Day of Summer Festival here in Manchester this Saturday, 24 September.

Set in the historic Castlefield Basin the day long festival will combine creativity, culture and music from artists and musicians from here in Manchester and overseas.

The live music line up will include a DJ set from Zero 7 and performances from Manchester based acts such as Broke 'N' English and The Quangos. Local graffiti artists and illustrators will be painting live on walls and canvasses whilst free runners perform on specially commissioned street sculptures. Giant puppets Oscar the Skeleton and Joana the Eagle will be parading around the festival ground as the best B-boys from the UK and Slovakia take part in break-dance battles on the main stage!

With a secret cinema, enormous inflatable Finnish house and live digital art it is set to be a great day out - not to be missed.

Tickets costs between £8 - £15. Visit the Last Day of Summer Festival website to book and for more information.

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It's your last chance to see the Andy Warhol exhibition 'Warhol and the Diva' here in Manchester this week.

"When I think back on all the beauties we knew, I realize there was something special about the way they all held their heads and moved their arms."  Andy Warhol

The exhibition, which has been installed at The Lowry, Salford Quays since mid-June, ends this Sunday 25 September and includes Warhol's iconic portraits of 1950s and 1960s Hollywood legends like Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. 

Whilst you're at The Lowry take a look at the permanent 'Lowry Collection' - an exhibition of the works of famous Manchester artist L.S. Lowry. His paintings capture the stark industrial landscape of mills and factories in Manchester and Lancashire in the early 20th century - you can see just how much Manchester has changed over the last century!

Visit The Lowry's website for more information on their fantastic exhibitions, theatre and activities.

Salford Quays and The Lowry are easily accessible by Metro (tram) from Manchester City Centre. View the Metrolink website for travel information. 

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Business people and companies from all over Manchester and the North West come together at the Radisson in Manchester for an afternoon of creating business contacts and networking to promote their companies to potential clients. Watch presentations from local companies and visit various stands on Wednesday afternoon (21/09/2011).

Pin-Up is a unique 1950's style diner and bowling alley serving retro cocktails and hosting exciting events in Spinningfields next to the Big Screen.

You can knock down skittles, knock back White Russians and burgers then live it up at events such as Funkademia and the Grease Closing Party.

But don't wait around! Get your skates on as it's only here until November 6th!

Welcome to our Latest News area where we will be updating you with all the latest news from Active English Academy. We'll also be providing information on the best pick of upcoming cultural and social events here in the city of Manchester to help you to plan and enjoy activities during your stay.