A free wellbeing showcase aimed at helping people reset after the toughest month of the year is taking place at Unity Place this Thursday, 29 January.

Running from 11am to 2.30pm in the Urban Food Market, the Pop-Up Wellbeing Showcase will bring together local wellbeing experts, community organisations and practitioners offering practical, accessible ways to support mental, emotional and physical health.

Open to the public and free to attend, the drop-in event forms part of Unity Place’s wider Wellbeing at Unity Place programme and is designed to give visitors simple tools they can use immediately — from mindful movement and nutrition to emotional resilience, grief support and mental health advice.

Visitors can enjoy complimentary drink sampling from MOJU, offering daily vitality, immunity and gut-health shots, alongside naturally refreshing live-culture drinks. A variety of interactive wellbeing pop-ups will also be available throughout the event.

Highlights include a cycling-based mindfulness experience from Cycle Your Heart Out, an innovative wellbeing project founded by poet and Heartful Cycling Guide Sarah Bayaidah, which blends gentle movement, creativity and reflection to help people slow down and reconnect. The event will also feature The Man Cave UK, supporting men’s mental health and connection, alongside practical wellbeing advice from a range of local specialists.

The showcase will welcome Sarah Brason, a Grief Navigator and certified grief coach, who supports individuals and organisations to better understand and navigate grief in all its forms, from bereavement to life changes such as relationship breakdowns, identity shifts or changes in health. Her work focuses on helping people move from isolation and fear toward connection, strength and compassion.

Also attending is Hope & Wellbeing Hub, offering a gentle, chair-based five-minute emotional reset using headphones. This simple, self-guided pause is designed to help people settle, reflect and recharge during a busy day.

Visitors can also find out about upcoming community wellbeing workshops including breathwork classes and take away optional resources to continue their practice at home.

Additional wellbeing partners taking part include Mind BLMK, Tiny Terra, Puzzle-Peace Coaching, S.A.M Clinics – Skin, Aesthetics & MediSpa, and more.

Find out more about the free Wellbeing Showcase here:
https://www.unityplace.co.uk/whats-on-milton-keynes/pop-up-wellbeing-event-at-unity-place/

Location: Unity Place, Urban Food Market
Date: Thursday 29 January
Time: 11:00am – 2:30pm
Cost: Free, drop-in

Willen Hospice has officially opened the doors to its brand new clearance outlet in Stacey Bushes, welcoming more than 500 customers on the first day.

With everything priced at just £1, £3 or £5, shoppers were queuing around the block on Thursday to be the first to grab a bargain and support the outlet’s launch. The city’s Mayor, Councillor James Lancaster, and Hospice Chief Executive, Kate Broadhurst, were present to cut the ribbon.

More than 2,600 items were sold on opening day alone, half of which were women’s clothing. This raised vital funds that will help the Hospice continue providing life-changing care for the community.

As well as a great selection of women’s and men’s clothing and homewares, the shop also features a concession from Off The Record – the Hospice’s hugely popular independent music store based in central Milton Keynes. This was a big draw for some shoppers, with more than 500 vinyls and CDs being sold.

Ian Palmer, Associate Director of Retail at Willen Hospice, said “The opening of our clearance outlet has exceeded all our expectations. We were delighted that so many of the community came along to support us, and this shows how important sustainable shopping is to local people. The average item price is £2, so this really is a great place to get a bargain! We’re also incredibly grateful to our staff and volunteers who worked so hard to get the shop ready. Seeing the community come together like this reinforces why this shop matters and the positive impact it will have.”

The Hospice needs to raise £9.6 million each year to provide its expert care services for local people with a life-limiting illness. Its 13 charity shops across Milton Keynes and neighbouring areas are one of its most important and reliable sources of income. Through shopping sustainably, customers are directly helping care for patients and their families.

The new clearance outlet is located at the front of Stacey Bushes Trading Centre on Erica Road, with plenty of free parking and makes a new permanent addition to the Hospice’s growing retail presence. Opening hours are 10am-4pm Wednesday to Sunday (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). To keep up to date with shop events and sales, follow Willen Hospice Shops on Facebook and Instagram.

If you’d like to get involved in running the clearance outlet, the Hospice is currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful difference, meet new people and be part of a team. For more information, pop into the shop, visit willen-hospice.org.uk/volunteer-in-retail or call 01908 306998.

The Milton Keynes branch of John Lewis, in partnership with the UK and Ireland tour of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, is showcasing costumes from the production ahead of its arrival at Milton Keynes Theatre, where it will play from Tuesday 27 January – Saturday 7 February. The costumes are on display now until 9 February.

Designed by set and costume designer Mark Thompson, costumes on display at the store include replicas of the iconic gold fringe dress worn by Tina Turner for her landmark performance of Proud Mary on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970, and the unforgettable red leather outfit from Tina’s 1988 Rio de Janeiro concert. This unique opportunity gives Milton Keynes shoppers the chance to see the costumes up close.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is the story of legendary artist Tina Turner, the twelve-time Grammy Award-winning Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her iconic hits, including The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High, the musical is an inspiring true story of a woman who dared to dream fiercely, shatter barriers and defy the bounds of age, gender, and race to conquer the world against all odds.

Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy will share the iconic role of Tina Turner alongside David King-Yombo as Ike Turner. Martin Allanson will play Record Producer Phil Spector, with William Beckerleg as record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach, Rushand Chambers as Tina’s father Richard Bullock, Claude East as Tina’s grandmother Gran Georgeanna (GG), Isaac Elder as Tina’s Manager Roger Davies, Georgia Gillam as Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, Letitia Hector as Tina’s mother Zelma Bullock, Kyle Richardson as Tina’s first love Raymond Hill, Bree Smith as Standby Tina Turner and Gemma Sutton as Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is produced by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is dedicated to the memory of Tina Turner, who sadly passed away in May 2023.

Book your tickets now at ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes

After all the fun, food and chaos of the festive season, there’s nothing quite like a New Year (and your New Year’s Resolutions) to give you a little bit of time to pause, reflect and re-focus on your wellbeing.

Whether you’re looking to spend more time outdoors, take on a new hobby or challenge yourself by trying something new, Xscape Milton Keynes has got everything you’re looking for under one gigantic roof.

SET YOUR GOALS

Looking to get out of your comfort zone? Or are you hoping to improve your PBs and master your favourite activity? From booking onto a climbing session at Gravity Rocks to completing all six themed escape rooms at Escape Hunt, Xscape is here to make all of your 2026 goals both fun and achievable. Between working on your Volcano Falls par, gearing up to bowl a perfect game at Hollywood Bowl or setting up a new Nuffield Health routine and shaping healthy habits, you’ll be levelling up your skills and reaching your goals in no time at all.

GET MOVING

From 5Ks to marathon training, if you’re looking to get outdoors and get moving this January, the first thing to do is plan a visit to Ellis Brigham, Trespass and Evans Cycles. Before you step into your new training regime, make sure you’re kitted out for everything with all the latest high-quality gear for everything from winter walks to summer hikes. If you prefer to stay indoors, there are still plenty of ways to increase your movement at Xscape – dive into the pool at Nuffield Health, burn off some energy with an open jump session at Gravity and increase your fitness as you race to the top of the Gravity Rocks climbing wall.

EMBRACE NEW CHALLENGES

It’s officially the time of year to take on a new challenge or two – and Xscape Milton Keynes have plenty to choose from! Whether you’re starting small and looking to challenge yourself to beat the high score on your favourite Funstation arcade game or you’re thinking bigger and wanting to dive into a new hobby and progress your flight skills at iFLY, you’re in the right place. Want to learn a new skill? Check out Snozone’s beginner courses. Looking to become your friend group’s biggest movie buff? Head to Cineworld and challenge yourself to watch a new film every week. And then, of course, there’s the biggest challenge of all…deciding what to explore first!

Visit the Xscape Milton Keynes website

Milton Keynes shoppers are invited to kick off 2026 with a burst of colour, fun and feel-good vibes as Midsummer Place launches its Balloon Bingo – turning January Blues into Woohoos!

Taking place every Saturday throughout January, starting 10 January at 12pm, the centre will host Balloon Bingo at the Bandstand in the Boulevard, an exciting giveaway event with £1,000 worth of prizes up for grabs.

Each Saturday, 100 balloons – each with a unique number – will be handed out from 12pm and until they have gone – on a first come first served basis. Then at 1pm, one of MKFM’s illustrious presenters will start the Balloon Bingo! When your number is called — it’s time to celebrate.

Lucky winners will receive a £25 voucher to spend at a retailer within Midsummer Place. Prizes will be selected via a fun lucky dip, with vouchers available for a range of popular stores including LEGO, Hollister, Levi’s, Zara, Waterstone’s, Five Guys and more.

Kirsty McGiff, Marketing Manager at Midsummer Place, said: “January can feel like a long month for many people, so we wanted to create something fun, uplifting and genuinely rewarding for our visitors. Balloon Bingo at Midsummer Place is all about spreading positivity, bringing people together and giving shoppers a little extra reason to look forward to their weekends at Midsummer Place.”

Balloon Bingo is free to take part in and open to all visitors, with balloons available on a first-come, first-served basis each Saturday at 12pm.

For more information about upcoming events and news from Midsummer Place, visit:
https://midsummerplace.co.uk/

The festive season has officially arrived at Midsummer Place as its much-loved Christmas Tree Festival launched on 14 November, bringing together local businesses, creativity, and community spirit in one of Milton Keynes’ most heart-warming traditions.

Running until 24 December 2025, the annual festival sees 13 beautifully decorated Christmas trees line the mall, each one uniquely designed and sponsored by a local business in support of a chosen charity.

Shoppers are invited to admire the dazzling displays and vote for their favourite, helping raise awareness and funds for important local causes.

This year’s participating businesses and their supported charities include:

Søstrene Grene Limited – supporting Milton Keynes University Hospital

Warner Planning – supporting St Mark’s Meals

Plumbing and Gas Solutions Ltd – supporting YMCA

Ridgeway Centre – supporting UnityMK

Franklins Solicitors – supporting Arthur Ellis: Mental Health

Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) – supporting UnityMK

Tikford Security Systems – supporting Hazard Alley

Slimming World by Jane – supporting Alzheimer’s Research

Blossom Room – supporting Medical Detection Dogs

WD-40 Company Limited – supporting Men in Sheds

Abbey Hill Golf Centre – supporting Samaritans

Makewell / ECG – supporting YMCA

Pennings Group – supporting The Shelter MK

Each sponsor has paid a donation, with 100% of the proceeds contributing to a collective prize fund that will be distributed among the three trees with the highest number of public votes — 50% to first place, 30% to second, and 20% to third.

“We’re thrilled to see the Christmas Tree Festival return this year, bigger and brighter than ever,” said Kirsty McGiff, Marketing Manager at Midsummer Place. “It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the season — uniting businesses, charities, and our local community in a truly festive display of creativity and generosity.”

Visitors can vote for their favourite tree by scanning the QR codes displayed beside each tree between 14 November and 24 December, and winners will be announced on Christmas Eve.

This year’ festivities at Midsummer Place promise to bring something new and magical to central Milton Keynes – and we can reveal some of the details.

The spirit of Christmas starts from early November as Midsummer Place welcomes some truly sweet treats and indulgent goodies from the Fudge Bus, Crumble desserts, Chocolate Kisses, The Cheese Stall and much more.

The popular Christmas Tree Festival, featuring over a dozen dazzling trees decorated by local businesses, charities, and community groups will line the mall from 14 November. Visitors can vote for their favourite tree and help decide which sponsor will receive a charitable donation for their chosen cause.

On 22 November, Midsummer Place joins the city centre in turning its lights on and will officially start the countdown to Christmas. New decorations shower the shopping centre with baubles cascading from the centre’s roof, plus the festive-selfie-star, giant reindeer and thousands of twinkling lights.

Then it’s Black Friday on 28 November where shoppers can expect exclusive offers and on-site promotions across the weekend. White walls in-centre will spotlight the best bargains and limited-time deals from Midsummer Place retailers, helping visitors make the most of the shopping season.

From the 29 November, The Christmas Emporium, located in the former GAP unit, will take place every weekend in December for shoppers to discover local traders, artisan gifts, and handcrafted treasures, while indulging in the season’s best treats

This Christmas, Midsummer Place is also bringing back “Santa Chat”, a heartwarming collaboration with MKFM. Families will have the chance to share their Christmas wishes live on air, with laughter, stories, and plenty of festive spirit to go around.

The festive favourite returns! From 1–12 December, Midsummer Place will be giving away £1,000 worth of prizes in its annual Advent Calendar competition, don’t miss your chance to win a little Christmas joy.

Nothing says Christmas like carols, and Midsummer Place is inviting local choirs, community groups, and schools to perform live in-centre throughout December — spreading festive cheer to shoppers and visitors.

“Christmas is always one of our favourite times of the year,” says Kirsty McGiff, Marketing Manager at Midsummer Place. “Christmas at Midsummer Place is more than decorations and shopping, it’s about connection, creativity, and community. From our local makers to our choirs and charity partners, we can’t wait to celebrate the joy of giving together this season.”

Don’t forget to look out for Minty the Mouse who is hidden in the centre somewhere…

For more information, event details, and festive updates, visit www.midsummerplace.co.uk

Midsummer Place is proud to announce the launch of its new Sensory Bags, specially designed to support shoppers with additional needs and sensory sensitivities.

Launched on Purple Tuesday (4 November), the initiative forms part of the centre’s commitment to making shopping a more inclusive and comfortable experience for everyone.

The Sensory Bags are free to use and can be borrowed during a visit to the centre by asking a member of the team or calling 01908 557000. Each bag contains a variety of items such as fidget toys, noise-cancelling ear defenders, and sensory aids that help to create a calmer, more manageable environment for users who may find busy shopping spaces overwhelming.

Purple Tuesday is a global movement dedicated to improving the customer experience for disabled people and promoting accessibility and inclusion across all sectors. By introducing the sensory bags, Midsummer Place is proudly aligning itself with the campaign’s mission to make everyday activities – like shopping – more welcoming and accessible to all.

Simon Martin, General Manager at Midsummer Place, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and included when visiting Midsummer Place. Launching our sensory bags on Purple Tuesday is an important step in helping to make our centre a more supportive space for shoppers with additional needs. This initiative reflects our ongoing effort to create an environment where everyone can enjoy their visit with confidence and ease.”

The sensory bags are available to use from Tuesday 4 November and can be collected by contacting the number provided on signage throughout the centre or by speaking to a member of the Midsummer Place team.

A deposit will be required to borrow the sensory bag, which is fully returned when the bag is returned also.

For more information, event details, and festive updates, visit:
www.midsummerplace.co.uk

To mark Purple Tuesday on 4 November, centre:mk is set to encourage its retailers, as well as its guest shoppers, to ‘Think Accessibility’.

Purple Tuesday is a global movement, with participation from thousands of businesses and organisations in over 30 countries. The huge initiative highlights the challenges disabled people face in navigating public spaces and services, shining a spotlight on their needs and supporting the implementation of ways to improve their visitor experience.

This year’s initiatives follow the success of 2024, when centre:mk was at the heart of city-wide efforts to make Milton Keynes the UK’s first accessible ‘Purple City’.

For 2025, centre:mk has announced it is the first UK shopping centre to deliver Unseen Aware Training to 100% of its staff and retailers. Between 70-80% of disabilities are unseen, so the news marks an important moment for improving accessibility for all.

Unseen Aware helps to normalise the conversation by giving those with unseen disabilities the confidence to speak up, and giving those who don’t have an unseen disability the confidence to reply. It gives individuals access to an online training portal, with a series of training videos to complete to become an Unseen Disabilities Ally.

The course equips the trainee with the skills and principles to interact with people with unseen disabilities, covers the range of unseen disabilities and the support that individuals may need. The training also provides a weekly newsletter covering new topics that further enhance the training platform. By providing the stores that have taken part in the training with a decal for their window, and staff with an unseen aware badge, shoppers with unseen disabilities can be confident that the staff in that retailer will be able to give them the customer service that they need, for the best possible experience.

Commenting on the milestone, Social Entrepreneur and Founder of Unseen Aware, Simon Houghton, said: “As someone with hearing loss, I know the day-to-day challenges of a hidden disability all too well. Unseen Aware aims to give staff the confidence to approach and interact with others who have a hidden disability, so it’s hugely encouraging to see centre:mk delivering this vital training across its entire staff and retailers.”

Unseen Aware enhances centre:mk’s existing unseen disabilities training, including dementia awareness and basic sign language. The fully-flat centre now also has 17 Mental Health First Aiders and operates a sunflower lanyard scheme.

The centre launched its first sensory room in November 2024, offering a quiet and calming space for families and individuals to take a break from the busy shops and public spaces environment. Since its launch, the sensory room has proved a valuable addition to centre:mk’s accessibility efforts, having been used 128 times over the past 12 months. centre:mk also offers mobility scooter and wheelchair hire free of charge, has a Changing places toilet and a hearling loop in the guest services lounge.

The centre is also a proud partner of an audit of public spaces across Milton Keynes, alongside MyMiltonKeynes (MyMK) BID and accessibility organisation AccessAble. The results, in the form of online summaries of destinations and spaces, mean that disabled people can plan their visits and understand the facilities available to them in advance.

For Purple Tuesday this year, MyMK will be conducting a questionnaire to gain feedback and ideas into how accessibility can be further improved in Milton Keynes city centre and what modifications and enhancements people would like to see. The questionnaire will be available online and via a QR code in centre:mk’s Guest Services lounge – decorated in honour of Purple Tuesday alongside the centre’s purple-lit cark park.

Ahead of Purple Tuesday 2025, Kim Priest, Head of Marketing at centre:mk, said:
“centre:mk is already an incredibly accessible centre, all on one level with excellent facilities. Our “Open to All” commitment is the delivery of an inclusive, welcoming environment to everyone, all year round and that is at the heart of the training we have delivered with Unseen Aware. We are the first shopping centre to have 100% completion by our retailers and staff, bringing us another step closer to achieving our vision of creating the first “Purple City” in collaboration with MyMK and other businesses across the city centre.”

The region’s premier shopping destination, centre:mk, welcomes new Peter Rabbit and Friends™- themed Grotto for festive celebrations in Milton Keynes this festive season.

Santa’s grotto opeed on 21 November and brings a brand-new festive adventure to share with visitors at centre:mk, in partnership with Penguin Books.

Up until 24 December, when Santa must fly off for a busy night on his sleigh, families visiting the Grotto will first meet Mrs Rabbit, who will tell the children about Peter’s lost Christmas presents. Children will use clues to help Mrs Rabbit search for the missing presents, before adventuring out into the snowy forest through Peter’s secret tunnel. They’ll also decorate gingerbread biscuits for the Christmas feast, before meeting Santa himself to complete their festive journey. Each child will receive their decorated biscuit and a lovely gift from Santa.

Kevin Duffy, Director of centre:mk, commented: “Christmas is always a special time for us, and this year we’re especially pleased to welcome Peter Rabbit and Friends™ to Santa’s Grotto with a brand-new adventure. centre:mk is here to make the festive season unforgettable for families and visitors from across the country, with our enchanting events, huge range of shops and variety of cafés and restaurants on offer. At the heart of it all is the joy of creating magical memories for children and giving families a truly special day out.”

Starlight Square’s magic continues beyond the Grotto with a series of magical rides and attractions, including a Christmas Virtual Reality sleigh ride, a train ride, an old-school full-size Helter Skelter, a double-decker Victorian Carousel and a Christmas Market featuring independent local businesses and festive food & drink.

Along with thousands of twinkling lights, decorations throughout the centre and free selfie points to capture the perfect Family photo, centre:mk is a destination where you can really find that festive feeling in a wonderful day out.

centre:mk is one of the top 10 shopping destinations in the UK, located 30 minutes from London in Milton Keynes.

Tickets for Santa’s Grotto are now on sale, priced at £14.50 for children, £6 for adults and £4.50 for babies under the age of one from November 21^st to 24^th. During December, tickets are priced at £16 for children, £6.50 for adults and £5 for babies under one (prices exclude booking fee).

For more information and to book your tickets, visit:
https://www.centremk.com/whats-on/events/santas-grotto-with-peter-rabbit-friends/

Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes is brewing up a spook-tacular week of fang-tastic fun this October half term — and you’re invited to join the ghoulish goings-on!

From potion-making to petrifying performances, there’s something for every little monster to enjoy – and all the activities are FREE and no need to book.

A purr-fect Halloween Hunt

Find the Black Cats – 25–31 October

Our mischievous black cats have escaped! Hunt them down around the centre between 25 and 31 October for a chance to win a prize – we have seven lucky £25 vouchers up for grabs – that’ll make you purr with delight. Keep your eyes peeled — they’re fur-tunately good at hiding!

Witchy Wednesday Potion Making – Wednesday 29 October 11am-4pm

Double, double, toil and bubble! Budding witches and wizards can mix up their very own magical brews during our Potion Making workshop. Expect sparkles, spells, and spine-tingling surprises — no prior witchcraft experience required! Find us by the bandstand.

Halloween fun fest: Friday 31 October

Face Painters 11am–4pm

Transform into your creepiest or cutest Halloween alter-ego with our frightfully talented face painter. Whether you fancy being a sparkly skeleton, a ghostly ghoul, or a batty vampire, we’ve got you covered (in paint, that is).

Disco Dracula 11am–4pm

Fangs for the memories! Horizon Radio’s very own Dracula will be swooping into Midsummer Place for a day of dancing, disco, and devilish fun. Join the Count himself for sweet treats and blood-curdling beats that’ll get your heart racing.

And beware the wandering ghouls! Our spooky walkabout characters will be haunting the centre throughout the week — perfect for eerie encounters and boo-tiful photo ops.

Kirsty McGiff, Marketing and Commercialisation Manager at Midsummer Place, said: “Halloween is one of our favourite times of the year and we can’t wait to welcome families for a week filled with fun, frights, and plenty of treats! Whether it’s mixing up a magical potion, spotting our hidden black cats, or joining Dracula on the dancefloor, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’re encouraging everyone to come along in costume and make it a Halloween to remember.”

So, grab your broomsticks, dust off your capes, and prepare for a monster mash like no other. Midsummer Place is the place to creep it real this Halloween!

For more information, visit www.midsummerplace.co.uk

Prime Midsummer Place mall space opens to local businesses

Midsummer Place is delighted to announce that its much-anticipated Christmas Tree Community Festival is officially open, launching a festive celebration that offers local businesses prime festive exposure in exchange for supporting local charities.

From 15 November through to 24 December 2025, participating businesses will have the unique opportunity to sponsor and decorate one of the 20 available Christmas trees within the mall – giving their business huge exposure during increased footfall.

Previous business sponsors have included Red Bull Racing, Franklins Solicitors LLP, Hays Travel, Redway Runners and many more.

The fee to secure a tree is just £300 and all proceeds collected during the campaign will be added to the prize fund and distributed among the three trees receiving the most public votes—50% for first place, 30% for second, and 20% for third.

“Kicking off today, the Christmas Tree Community Festival offers local businesses not just tremendous visibility in our mall over the festive period, but also a meaningful way to give back to our community,” said Kirsty McGiff, Marketing Manager at Midsummer Place. “We’re excited to welcome creative entries that shine throughout the season and help make the holidays brighter for everyone.”

Shoppers will be able to vote for their favourite trees between 15 November and 24 December 2025.

Businesses and organisations interested in sponsoring a tree are encouraged to complete the application form via the Midsummer Place website. Be Part Of Our Community Christmas Tree Festival | Midsummer Place