And it’s doing so in a way that only Point Blank knows how by giving visitors the chance to book shooting simulation sessions for free all day every day when you spend over £15 per head on food and drink at the Manchester and Newcastle branches.
This unmissable offer isn’t sticking around for long though, so you’ll have to be quick on the draw and head down there this week if you want to take advantage of it.
Not only that, but for the first time ever, it is opening its doors to those under 18 years of age and offering free shooting over the half term break to experience a family-friendly and COVID-secure day out that is quite literally like nothing else in the country, let alone Manchester.
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If you’re looking for somewhere completely different to occupy the kids’ minds and let off some steam during the school holidays, then you really need look no further.
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Unfamiliar with the concept of this unique venue? Haven’t heard of Point Blank before?
This newly-established player in the city’s activity and hospitality scene – which arrived with a bang last summer and has sold out almost every Friday and Saturday that it has been open since – is the UK’s first fully-immersive shooting simulation range based on Deansgate.
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It offers customers the chance to experience the very latest first-person firing technology, but that’s only half the story.
While there’s no doubting it’s certainly a hive of activity for thrill-seekers, it’s also a spot for the cocktail crowd looking for something new, a den for the foodies hoping to try a different spin on classic night-time cuisine, and in a time pre-COVID, it was also quite the popular pre-drinks space for the party people looking to warm up before the nightclub.
And now, you can add family-friendly day out destination to that list too.
Point Blank
As well as it’s impressive Prohibition era-inspired bar serving an eclectic collection of tipples and mocktails, Point Blank’s extensive menu takes inspiration from our transatlantic cousins.
It specialises in hot wings, hot dogs and hot cheese nachos – which remain firm-favourites among customers – and there’s also mac and cheese nuggets, lemon sole bites, BBQ belly pork, and wide selection of top-notch veggie and vegan dishes to get stuck into as well.
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With all of this on offer, and the free shooting sessions available for a limited time only this week, you’re going to want to get your slot secured now as Point Blank has said that the ranges are booking up fast.
To book your slot in advance of your visit, head to the Point Blank Manchester website here.
What's On
Horror film festival Grimmfest announces fear-filled return to Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is just around the corner, and now a popular horror film has announced its return to Manchester next month.
Grimmfest, also known as Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, has confirmed its 2026 return dates, and has also announced its the full lineup – with four fear-filled days planned, showcasing the best in brand-new horror genre cinema.
You can expect some ferocious feature films, a savage selection of shorts, hair-raising horror classics back on the big screen, and more premieres than ever before.
Returning to Odeon Great Northern early next month, Grimmfest audiences will have an exclusive opportunity to see many of the films on the lineup long before their formal release – with both world, UK, and international premieres on the cards.
Some of the programme’s highlights this year include the UK premiere of Zachary Wigon’s darkly comedic period piece, Victorian Pyscho, shot in Ireland and starring big-name stars Maika Monroe, Jason Isaacs, Thomasin McKenzie, and Ruth Wilson.
Ángel Gómez Hernández’s Crawlers will also make its UK debut at the festival, and horror fans are also said to be eagerly awaiting Jason Lei Howden’s Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon – which is the highly anticipated follow-up to the beloved cult metal comedy-horror, Deathgasm.
There will also be an array of incredible short films screened throughout the festival, all in a huge range of styles, themes, and twisted sensibilities, proving that when it comes to Grimmfest, good things often come in small packages.
Grimmfest has announced its fear-filled return to Manchester next month / Credit: Grimmfest | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
It’s not just new releases you can expect either, as some absolute horror classics are also set to return to the big screen for their anniversaries.
Respected guests from all around the world are set to descend on Manchester for the festival, and that include the film makers and actors from many of the selected films.
And of course there will be plenty of film introductions, Q&As, and signings for fans.
Grimmfest 2026 returns to Oden Great Northern from from 8 – 11 October, and you can see the full lineup and get tickets here.
Featured Image – Grimmfest (Supplied)
What's On
Jersey Boys at Palace Theatre, Manchester – Oh, what a night
Amy Williams
20 years, 65 major awards (including Tonys, a Grammy, and an Olivier), and seen by over 27 million people worldwide – it could only be Jersey Boys, and now it’s back at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
This is one of those shows where you realise just how many songs you know and love by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, but may not know the story behind the band themselves. How they started, how big they became, how they fell apart, and how they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It follows the four boys from Jersey (who each narrate their parts of the story), how it started as just Tommy and Nick and a range of different guys along the way, until they found the one who has a voice like an angel, Frankie Valli, and this started to change the direction of their success.
But they were missing a key part, a good song writer – enter Bob Gaudio, and the creation of The Four Lovers, who then became The Four Seasons.
Mixed with issues of debt, loan sharks, prison time and more, it wasn’t the smoothest of sailing for them, and as they said themselves, they didn’t create a movement like the Beatles. But The Four Seasons were for the factory workers, the dads, the working class people who could relate to them.
One thing we need to talk about, is just how INCREDIBLE the vocal performances are in this tour of Jersey Boys, staring Luke Baker as Frankie Valli, Carlo Boumouglbay as Tommy Devito, Lewis Kennedy as Nick Massi, and Toby Miles as Bob Gaudio.
Jersey Boys is back in Manchester, for a run at the Palace Theatre
A special mention for Luke Baker, because as iconic as Frankie Valli’s voice is, he very perfectly matched it.
The musical features some of their biggest hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Beggin’, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Walk Like A Man, and of course, December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) which had everyone up on their feet dancing at the end.
This show is incredible from beginning to end, and would recommend everyone go to see this.
Jersey Boys is running at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 19 September, and you can grab your tickets HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2020 
