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.

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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.”

Time line

Mar 2004 : News of the slope broken on SnowboardClub.co.uk
Apr 2005 : Planning permission received
Aug 2006 : Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd appointed as contractors
Aug 2006 : Work starts on site
Sep 2006 : Terms agreed with Snow+Rock for anchor store
Feb 2007 : Skeleton of structure completed
Feb 2007 : Chill Factore used as location for BBC drama ‘True, Dare, Kiss’
Jun 2007 : Topping out ceremony takes place
Jul 2007 : Alpine Village 90 per cent let to big name brands
Jul 2007 : Slope completed
Jul 2007 : Luge completed
Sep 2007 : Bookings start to be taken
Sep 2007 : First snow produced
Nov 2007 : Grand opening

More information

Real snow is one of the major features of Chill Factore. The snow is made from compressed air and water which are blasted into a chilled atmosphere. On hitting the freezing air temperature, snowflakes are formed. This process will take place every night and produce a fresh covering of 5mm. The composition of real and artificially produced real snowflakes is the same; the physical difference can only be spotted under a microscope. However whereas real snowflakes take hours to form artificially produced real snow takes just seconds.

A ‘Centre of Excellence’ will be set up at Chill Factore with BASI Chairman Andrew Lockerbie establishing the premier instruction centre in the country where skiers and boarders of all levels can be taught by a team of technically outstanding instructors.

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 – testament to Chill Factore‘s excellent facilities.

Superior design is a key aspect of Chill Factore. The two ski lifts on the main slope will be suspended from the ceiling, rather than from towers, so that there is less obstruction on the slope. There will also be two ‘travellators’ or moving walkways leading to the top of the nursery slope for ease of use by beginners.

Chill Factore consists of three separate but inter-connected snow areas – the main slope (180m long x 40m wide), the nursery slope (40m long x 40m wide), a multi-activity slope for use by parties (40m long x 20m wide). There will also be a luge (approx 60m long) and a play area for children where they can enjoy real snow all year round.

The high profile location alongside the prestigious Trafford Centre is fast becoming one of the most exciting leisure hubs in the region and includes a Playgolf Driving Range, David Lloyd Health & Fitness Club and JJB Soccer Dome, and is served by four hotels within walking distance.

The venue itself is adjacent to The Trafford Centre; one of, if not the most successful shopping centres in Britain with more than 30 million visits per year.

The Stats

Chill Factore will boast the UK’s longest (180m) and the world’s widest (100m) single real snow indoor ski slope.

The height of the building is 45m. The main slope starts at 40m at the top widening to 100m at the bottom.

The area covered by snow is 10,200 sq m. This equates to around 1,632 tonnes of snow, based on a snow depth of 40cm. The compacted snow density is 0.4 tonnes per cubic metre.

An average of sixteen tonnes of snow is produced per day.

The indoor temperature will be a steady –1.5 degrees C.

Maximum capacity on the slope will be 260 people.

More than 500 jobs will be created at Chill Factore with around 260 people employed in the ski section alone.

Some 2.5 million visitors are expected to visit Chill Factore each year – so it’s already anticipated to be one of the country’s Top 20 visitor attractions on a par with the Tower of London or Alton Towers.

Six million people live within a 45-minute drive time with nine million people living within an hour’s drive time.

For more information visit the website www.chillfactore.com

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