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A snowboarder on the main slope

And now the forecast: sixteen tonnes of snow is expected to fall in Manchester every night for the foreseeable future. Skiiing and snowboarding will be possible.

Isn’t technology brilliant? I mean, living at the dizzy altitude of about three feet above sea level, we see snow about as often as we see Santa. But with the opening of the UK’s longest indoor real snow ski slope, we can now enjoy year-round snow – right here in Manchester.

Booted and suited: getting kitted out

As any kid – or big kid like me – will tell you, real snow is knee deep in fun. Which is the big selling point for Manchester’s newest attraction.

Towering above junction 10 of the M60, Chill Factore is that huge wedge-shaped structure you may have seen taking shape near the Trafford Centre.

What they’ve created is a massive artificial ski slope with real snow. The scale of this £31 million pound venture certainly takes the breath away – as does the -1C temperature. But it’s the tiny snowflakes that make it.

Each night, compressed air and water are blasted into the chilled atmosphere to create the snowflakes which cover the slope to a depth of 40 cm. Or so says the press blurb.

Real snow?

But does it feel like real snow? And what’s it like to ski on? In the interest of research, you understand, I had to give it a go.

Geoff: "Smile!"

First, I was kitted out with skis (snowboard if you prefer), boots and waterproof gear and then it was out onto the slope with Geoff, one of the ski instructors. Geoff worked for 18 seasons on the slopes in Andorra, so I was in good hands.

The sub-zero temperature certainly feels like the chill air of the piste. And there’s a satisfying crunch to the snow underfoot.

It’s a few years since a skiing holiday to the French Alps so I thought I’d get my ski legs back on the 40m x 40m nursery slope. OK so far.

There’s a button lift to take you to the top (I’m told there will be two by the time it opens). If you’ve not used one before, there will be plenty of young ski dudes to help you on and off.

And then we were at the top of the main slope. “Keep your weight on your downhill ski, bend your knees - and smile!” said Geoff. “Then at least you look like you know what you're doing!" he added reassuringly.

Richard: on the piste

Now I’m a novice skier. I was reasonably confident of getting down though without too much flair. Which was exactly as it turned out. Downhill from the top takes about 20 seconds for someone like me, half that if you're more experienced.

The thing is: it’s not that steep and it’s fairly even which makes it even for beginners who they’ve clearly pitched it to. 

But if you’re after the adrenaline rush of the black runs at Chamonix or mogul skiing, then you might be underwhelmed.

Après ski

Chill Factore is much about fun. And as Rolf Harris used to say, the kids will love it. For non-skiers or snowboarders, it has an activity slope they can go down on inner tubes. And there’s a 60m luge if you fancy the high speed tea tray approach.

Alpine: that village look

As for the après-ski? Chill Factore boasts the Eiger restaurant, the Mont Blanc creperie and Chillies Bar with views over the piste - all done very tastefully in an Alpine style.

And of course, no Alpine village would be complete without the requisite outdoor shops ranging from Snow & Rock to chain eateries like Nandos and Wetherspoons. There's even a climbing wall too.

Chill Factore is a bold vision: to bring the fun of the piste to the North West of England. And it kind of works.

Of course, alpine fun comes at a price. An off peak family ticket is going to set you back £48 for a 90 minute lift pass, although admission does include ski, boot and snowboard hire. Lessons are £60 minimum.

But then flights to Geneva don’t come cheap either. So if you want snow, you know where to go...

Chill Factore is off junction 10 of the M60 motorway. Entrance is on Trafford Way off Trafford Boulevard.