99% you can bring your own but at £25 a box the stuff they use is pretty good... still got a box sitting in my room... will have to use it soon, but funds are dangerously low (well under 50p)
even if its not on the 5th come to a northern quarter newbie day the guys there ar as sound an a shilling and really helpful not to mention loads of ppl off of the forums will be there
If you can't make the NQ on the 5th (due to work) - then why not come and visit M-9 on any Sunday morning? There is always kit going to borrow (usually FOC) - so getting you going won't be a problem.
You can always attend the next newbie day at the NQ in September (I think they are monthly).
I'm in the good old Dale...Rochdale that is. It's about 15 minutes away by train, but not many people know Rochdale, so it's easier to say Mankunia than Rochdale