Valentine’s Day is set to be a little different this year.
While it is very much true that we are somewhat used to adapting our seasonal celebrations for the circumstances nowadays, the loved-up among us will likely remember that Valentine’s Day is new ground for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as it was one of the last events to take place ‘normally’ before the stark realities of the crisis set in last March.
This is why one Manchester-based immersive entertainment company is eager to put a unique and lockdown-friendly spin on the national day of love.
Starting on Friday 12th February and running for three nights, Park N Party – the team behind a series of sell-out drive-in cinema and theatre performances in Manchester – is adapting amid the third national lockdown by bringing the full Valentine’s Day date night experience direct to your door.
And they’ve aptly-named it the Lockdown Love-IN.
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So yes, while this Valentine’s Day will be a little different, there’s no need to miss out on feeling the love with your special someone – all from the comfort of your own home.
With a variety of packages available, each ticket includes access to the Lockdown Love-IN – an exclusive streaming platform which sees singer and media personality Chrissy Bray provide one hour and 30 minutes of fun and games, entertainment and music, accompanied by your choice of menu package, which has been expertly-crafted by top chefs, including options from the team behind Michelin star restaurant, Simpsons, prepared to simply reheat at home.
Access to the streaming platform includes dancers, strip hand balance artists, fire, trapeze, electric violin and singers, for a twist on a typical night in.
Drinks packages are available from £50 for two people, and range to £150 for three-coursed meals.
Gary Barlow announces TWO huge gigs in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
Gary Barlow has announced the dates for his 2025 UK tour this morning, and it includes two Manchester shows.
If you’ve missed this boyband heartthrob in all his live show glory, then you can catch him not once but twice in this city centre local music venue.
On top of being a household name and massive eye candy for mums, the Cheshire-born singer has had impressive musical career – with 15 UK number ones, 12 of those as part of boyband Take That – as well as his first two solo singles both reaching the top spot in 1996 and 1997.
Three of his solo studio albums have also achieved pole position too, most recently in 2020.
His face may be very recognisable, but his songwriting credits are even more so.
The 53-year-old has writing titles on ‘Candy’ by fellow boyband member Robbie Williams, and even for current I’m A Celebrity campmate Tulisa and her group N-Dubz, as well as also featuring on our screens over the years, most-notably as a judge on The X Factor.
The songwriting titan has aged like a fine wine, and ironically, even has his own self-titled vino brand ‘Gary Barlow Wines’, so fans can hope there’s lots of drinks flowing at his upcoming tour dates.
So, whether you want to watch Barlow ‘Sing’ his hits in Manchester, or treat yourself to a nice staycation next year, then ere’s 41 UK tour dates to choose from – including some of the next closest to Manchester being Blackpool, Halifax, and Liverpool.
Gary Barlow is bringing his ‘Songbook Tour 2025’ to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 8 and 9 May next year, with tickets going on sale this Friday (29 November) at 9:30am here.
Featured Image – Publicity Picture
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 25 November – 1 December 2024
Emily Sergeant
Our final week of November is here, and that means it’s time to say hello to the most wonderful time of the year.
That’s right… festive season is FINALLY here.
We’ve been talking about Christmas for weeks on end now, but it’s officially 1 December this Sunday, and that means there’s absolutely loads of festive events and activities for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide to help you out.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 25 November – Sunday 22 December
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 / Credit: Manchester City Council | Flickr
Manchester Christmas Markets are now back open for 2024.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites all lining the streets of our city centre.
Visitors are able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 here.
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Bar Hütte
Kampus & Great Northern
Monday 25 November – onwards
Bar Hütte / Credit: Supplied
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights are now open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
A brand-new festive light trail has arrived in Greater Manchester for the winter, transforming the hidden Wilderspool Woods at the Trafford Centre into a twinkling wonderland.
The 4.5-acre event running until early 2025 has brought dozens of jaw-dropping light and interactive illuminations to the woods, filling paths and treetops with festive magic, from giant overhead shooting stars to huge illuminated presents.
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
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Back once again for 2024, Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
After proving to be a huge success in 2023, the magical Land of Lights has returned to Gulliver’s World once again, and this year features all-new lanterns inspired by the wonders of nature, leading visitors around a twinkling wonderland filled with light and colour.
With a WonderWild theme, the breathtaking spectacle over in Warrington has a unique blend of “animal-inspired artistry with a fantastical twist”.
A brand-new festive hub has arrived in Spinningfields, and you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
Winter Assembly at Courts Club is home to the city’s newest, fully-independent ice rink, On Ice, as well as lots of different food traders serving up winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials, and so much more.
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park have been transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ for the festive season.
Families will be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
The Grotto at the Trafford Centre / Credit: Supplied
The main man is making our northern city his new home at one of Greater Manchester’s biggest shopping centres this winter time.
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Running all the way up until Christmas Eve, Santa is swapping the cold air of the North Pole for the cloudy skies of Manchester, as he starts his annual journey around the world by making a visit to our region.
Not only is Santa travelling with his grotto, he’s also giving visitors the chance to experience the world of the North Pole as he brings the chilly destination to the Trafford Centre.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake / Credit: Lowry | New Adventures
Matthew Bourne’s rule-breaking reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Swan Lake, is back on stage in Greater Manchester.
This world-renowned production – which is known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble – first premiered almost 30 years ago, but it will take flight once more in a major new revival for the next generation, with The Lowry being one of the stops on its major UK tour.
Described as being “thrilling, bold, witty, and emotive”, it’s time to turn tradition on its head, and this is not one to miss.
Christmas Screenings at King Street Townhouse / Credit: KSTH
Elf, Love Actually, and Home Alone are just some of the classic Christmas films hitting the big screen at a hidden cinema in Manchester.
Film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun are being invited to get themselves down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, in the run-up to the big day itself, as it’s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a jam-packed lineup of fan-favourite festive films over the next couple of weeks.
Spectrum: A World of Illumination / Credit: Supplied
A brand-new Christmas attraction is opening this week, and it’s hoping to get us all into the festive spirit.
Just outside of Manchester, titled ‘Spectrum: A World of Illumination’, this spectacular never-seen-before trail is lighting up Cheshire with a month-long residency in Knutsford, and will be running every day in December besides Christmas Day, plus a few extra dates in November.
The immersive maze will feature moving giant candy canes, overhead Christmas-inspired installations like a laser show, and tunnels of light.
A popular Festive Winter Fair is set to returning to Victoria Baths to kick off the Christmas season this weekend.
For those keen to escape the hustle and bustle of the main Manchester Christmas Markets, and soak up all the festive spirit on a smaller scale instead, the beautiful Grade II-listed Victoria Baths wil be transformed into a cultural Christmas hub for the day.
Visitors will be able to browse and shop from a carefully-curated selection of 50 stalls that feature art, decorations, ceramics, clothing, glassware, jewellery, and so much more.
The Hallé Christmas Family Concert / Credit: The Bridgewater Hall | The Hallé
Manchester’s very-own Hallé Orchestra is hosting a festive adventure for all the family to kick off the first day of December.
You’re invited to gather the family, pop on your favourite Christmas jumper and accessories, grab your jingle bells, and head on down to The Bridgewater Hall for a morning of festive fun this Sunday, where Pippa the Christmas Bat and Santa’s reindeer will guide you through the night sky on a sing-along spectacular.
GRUB is rounding up all of its favourite independent Manchester makers and creatives, and bringing them together all under one roof for a gorgeous festive market this Sunday.
Kicking off from midday, you can expect more than 15 stalls from local small businesses selling a variety of artisan gifts, as well as delicious festive food, hot drinks, mulled wine, and more from some of the venue’s best vendors.
Entry is free, and you can find out more and get tickets here.
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Featured Image – Victoria Baths | New Adventures | The Hallé
Emily Sergeant -
20th January 2021 
