Haigh Hall has been a country park serving Wigan for a very long time. Back in the 70’s, when we were young, the park was somewhere we often visited to ride the miniature train and the tractor train, visit the zoo, mini golf etc. Over the past decade, it had become run down and a little bit sad although it remained a popular place for walking especially with dogs!  It is currently undergoing somewhat of a transformation with some quite wonderful changes!

​We visited on a cold but sunny December day at 3.30pm and were amazed at the crowds of people enjoying the weather and the beautiful surroundings.

Perhaps the biggest change has been the transformation of the stables into the Haigh Hall Kitchen Courtyard which now contains a selection of quality shops.

​A M Flowers – a personal favourite – run by the wonderful Angela and Julie who provided the flowers for our daughter's wedding, used to be quite lonely in the courtyard but have been joined by a bakery, chocolatier, ice cream shop, foragers meat and veg shop and even a brewery! 

​Julie & Angela create the most beautiful floral arrangements for every occasion at a very reasonable cost. Their creations for Lucy’s January wedding were beautiful and we have been frequent visitors since. One of their Christmas creations was so lovely it stayed up in our house all year! Too nice to put away!

We sampled the ice cream from Holden’s Ice Cream shop for the first time this Christmas. We went in to get an accompaniment for some Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, but were unable to agree on a flavour! Luckily the lady who served us was very accommodating and we came home with four flavours in two tubs! Brandy butter for Grandad, Gingerbread for Mum and a chocolate and vanilla for anyone who was feeling less adventurous. Strangely some of the people who did not want to try the brandy butter flavour decided that was their favourite! The ice cream was delicious and on our late afternoon visit the shop was packed with people eating ice creams and drinking hot chocolate!

Shortly after it had opened we had lunched with the Grandparents in the All You Knead Bakery and Coffee Shop and had a delicious lunch of home made pies and sandwiches – all freshly made on delicious bread. They sell their own artisan breads and will even make you a posh picnic!
​
Luisco Chocolates we popped into and once again they were doing a roaring trade in hot chocolates – lovely smells and lots of smiling faces! We sampled their salted caramel dark chocolate which was delicious.

With quick and easy access via the Metrolink we were all soon waiting for the tour to start in the museum area which is quite compact but full of some great memorabelia. My favourite? Has to be Colin Bell's shirt from the 1969 FA Cup Final - sorry any Leicester fans! I still think the red and black stripes were superb and I can just about remember having a similar shirt way back in the day.

From there the tour took us to the main stadium and a look around the Chairman's Lounge - impressive stuff and a long way away from other facilities I've seen at a number of sports grounds.

Then it was out into the stadium and a chance to sit in the Directors/VIP seating area with heated leather seats. Comfy.

The pitch was having a blast of heat and light treatment which gave everything an eerie yellow glow in the dim light.

After that it was downstairs to the press and media room which hosts the after match interviews with Pep and the team. Yes, we got the chance to sit on stage and imagine what it must be like being under scrutiny from the press - especially if things arent going too well!

Then into the home team dressing room - the real inner sanctum. With all the players kit hung up in their positions as per a match day. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting. Maybe something a bit more lavish? However it is obviously  a functional/working area and would look and feel very different on a match day.

Then off to the final part of the tour - a walk up the tunnel, past the man of the match interview backdrops and, to the sound of a genuine pre-match tunnel warm up and crowd noise, which did actually make you tingle a bit,  out onto the side of the pitch with access to the dugouts and technical areas.

By this time it was raining and it made you only too aware that despite the money involved and importance of the managers and coaches - if it's raining you'll still get wet!

So a great couple of hours, a super tour guide and a real mix of people on the tour. From Ajax fans from Holland to Ecuadorian Leyton Orient supporters (!) and a group of Chinese visitors who had been to the "other" ground earlier and were still carrying their Man United bags with them.

I can thoroughly recommend not just to City fans but to anyone  wanting an insight into an important part of Manchester's life and soul.

Whilst the legends of previous teams - Bell, Lee, Summerbee, Trautmann etc never played at the Etihad their spirit and contribution is not forgotten and looms large as an integral part of the stadium, the club and its history.

And that's just how it should be.  


If you fancy a tour full details can be found here.