Great Northern has reopened its giant sandpit and free family-friendly play area just in time for the school summer holidays.
Looking to get the children out of the house and to engage in some fun, creative play now that home schooling is done, dusted and out of the way?
Well you’re in luck because the Great Northern Warehouse’s iconic amphitheatre has reopened its newly redesigned playhouse and ever popular giant sandpit this week for families to enjoy throughout the summer.
Open play spaces that are free and family friendly can be tricky to come across when you’re in the heart of a city centre, which is why the Great Northern community is key as the amphitheatre is solely dedicated to providing a fun space for kids to play and let their imagination run wild while parents and guardians relax.
Bringing a new pop of colour to the outdoor space, the playhouse has been totally redecorated by Manchester street artist, Moze. With a combination of colourful fruits and flowers, the vibrant exterior is now perfect to brighten up any dull day in the city.
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Great Northern
The playhouse is COVID-safe for children however, the books and small toys have been removed to prevent unnecessary contact for now.
The ever-popular giant sandpit will be open for children to play in and enjoy, but once again, in the name of safety, the sand toys will not be be put out, so you are advised to bring your own.
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To allow families the chance to sit and enjoy an afternoon together in the sun, colourful picnic benches are situated in the amphitheatre, or if you book in advance, you can visit one of the recently reopened café’s or restaurants at Great Northern, including Almost Famous, All Star Lanes, Evuna and more.
Mark Schofield, Centre Director at Great Northern, said: “We are proud to provide an outdoor space in the community for families to enjoy.”
“You can never count on the weather here in Manchester, but when it is sunny we know that young families count on free spaces like this for children to play in. It’s been a tough few months for everybody having to stay indoors, but now that summer is here we hope that visitors will be able to make the most of our sandpit and playhouse, as well as visit some of our amazing bars and restaurants which also recently reopened.”
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As with all public spaces, COVID-safety measures are in place across the entire Great Northern side and these include the usual careful management of the sandpit, as well as one way systems and cashless payments for many brands.
For more information and bookings, visit the Great Northern website here.
What's On
Elbow teams up with Co-op Live to donate equipment to Manchester grassroots venues
Thomas Melia
Bury band Elbow have joined forces with Manchester’s biggest indoor arena, Co-op Live, in aid of supporting local grassroots venues.
The funds will help improve the already incredible music scene in Manchester, benefitting staples likes Night and Day Café, Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, SOUP and more.
All of the donations will be distributed across six independent music venues and will be used for various instruments, PA equipment, backline technology and other necessities depending on the requirements of each site.
Elbow have teamed up with Co-op Live in aid of supporting Manchester grassroots venues.Credit: Supplied
This initiative has been keeping Manchester’s Northern Quarter in the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to live music as well as the impressive Co-op Live.
Alongside providing vital resources for these local institutions, Elbow teaming up with Co-op Live also helps cement the North West as one of the main powerhouses in relation to live music.
The latest efforts from the largest indoor arena in Manchester fall in line with celebrating one year of bringing some of the best live music to the city, being officially open for 12 months in May.
Co-op Live have made a commitment to the people and the planet, promising to donate £1 million annually to the Co-op Foundation.
The stunning Co-op Live venue, Manchester’s largest indoor arena.Elbow performing at Co-op Live, marking history as the first act to grace the venue.Credit: Audio North/Supplied
Manchester’s latest live music venue also contributed significantly to selected charities, including Happy Doggo – chosen by Liam Gallagher and Eric Clapton’s addiction recovery centre, Crossroads.
As Elbow teams up with Co-op Live, even more money is making its way to necessary resources, this time in the likes of crucial live music establishments.
Elbow front-person Guy Garvey says: “Playing Co-op Live’s opening night will stay with us for a lifetime, not least because of how incredible the room sounded.”
“When the venue donated funds in our name to support the city we love, it made complete sense to carry that through to the Northern Quarter and to venues that have meant so much to my bandmates and I throughout our career.”
Guy Dunstan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Co-op Live, adds: “In the past year, I have been proud to see Co-op Live become an integral part of such an incredible city.”
“Teaming up with Elbow to directly support the venues that first put Manchester on the map, and to share something so intrinsic to us as venues – proper sound – is something truly special.”
Award-winning The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon to kick off UK tour in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Multi award-winning musical Sunny Afternoon is set to kick off its UK tour here in Manchester later this year.
Following a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre, the musical production featuring all the hit songs by legendary rock band The Kinks opened to critical acclaim at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End, where it ran for two years ahead of its sensational UK and Ireland tour throughout 2016/17.
It also collected four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies, along the way.
Award-winning The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon is kicking off its UK tour in Manchester / Credit: ATG Tickets
Set against the backdrop of Britain on the cusp of the rebellious 60s,Sunny Afternoon is described as being an ‘exhilarating and moving’ celebration of the music, life, and the band that changed it all, The Kinks.
Sunny Afternoon celebrates The Kinks’ raw energy, passion, and timeless sound.
Charting the ‘euphoric highs’ and ‘agonising lows’, the smash-hit production tells the band’s story through an incredible back catalogue of chart-toppers – including ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Lola’, ‘All Day and All of the Night’, and of course, ‘Sunny Afternoon’ itself.
Tickets are on sale now from just £15 each / Credit: Kevin Cummins
Producers Sonia Friedman Productions and ATG Productions announced last week that the show would be returning for another UK tour later this year, and it’ll be opening right here on one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages.
The hit musical will open at Manchester’s Palace Theatre on 10 October 2025 and it will run right through until 18 October.
Sunny Afternoon has music and lyrics, and an original story, all by the band’s frontman Ray Davies, along with a book by Joe Penhall, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether, and choreography by Adam Cooper.