A magical Harry Potter movie marathon that comes complete with afternoon tea and wizardy-themed cocktails is coming to a little cinema in Manchester city centre.
And it’s all to celebrate the 20th anniversary the iconic film franchise.
If you’d consider yourself to be a pretty big Potterhead, then you’ll probably want to get yourself down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, as the venue will be marking the occasion in style at its very-own exclusive cinema by screening all eight films in the franchise over the course of two extended weekends this month.
King Street Townhouse’s vintage-style cinema isn’t always one that everyone’s familiar with, as it’s tucked away and seats only a handful of people at a time for the ultimate viewing experience.
The Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Cinema Package includes your traditional afternoon tea, a magical Harry Potter-themed cocktail, all of your in-cinema treats – including popcorn and sweets – and the ticket for one movie screening, where guests can choose which movie from the franchise they’d like to watch.
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It also includes “all the usual magical ingredients which make up an extraordinary cinema experience at King Street Townhouse” too.
The Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Cinema Package comes complete with afternoon tea and wizardy-themed cocktails / Credit: King Street Townhouse
Here’s the full schedule for the Harry Potter movie marathon:
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Friday 21 January: Philosopher’s Stone – 1pm & Chamber of Secrets – 4pm
Saturday 22 January:Prisoner of Azkaban – 1pm & Goblet of Fire – 4pm
Sunday 23 January:Order of the Phoenix, 1pm & The Half-Blood Prince – 4pm
Friday 28 January:Prisoner of Azkaban – 1pm & Goblet of Fire – 4pm
Saturday 29 January:Order of the Phoenix – 1pm & TheHalf-Blood Prince – 4pm
Sunday 30 January:TheDeathly Hallows Part 1 – 1pm & TheDeathly Hallows Part 2 – 4pm
The Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Cinema Package will set you back £65 per person.
If Harry Potter isn’t really your thing, then there’s plenty of other cinema packages being offered at King Street Townhouse, including the ‘Movie Night In’ package, which gives you exclusive use of the whole private cinema to yourselves, and your party can pick any movie, documentary or sporting event to watch.
The ‘Reunion Cinema Package’ is also another popular one, which gives you and your friends and family private use of the cinema, the choice of what to watch, and also the option to add on a three-course dinner with wine at the King Street Townhouse Wine Cellar.
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King Street Townhouse’s vintage-style cinema is tucked away and seats only a handful of people at a time / Credit: Facebook (King Street Townhouse)
Other packages available to book include the ‘Cocktail Cinema Package’, the ‘Cinema Brunch Experience’, and the ‘Cinema Afternoon Tea’.
You can find more information and get booking on the King Street Townhouse website here.
Featured Image – King Street Townhouse
City Centre
Manchester urged to ‘come together against hate’ ahead of Britain First march in the city this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is being urged to ‘come together against hate’ ahead of the Britain First march planned in the city centre this weekend.
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, has addressed the local community directly, asserting Manchester’s core values as a welcoming city with ‘diversity and respect’ at its heart, and reaffirming that the message from the region’s leaders is one of ‘unity’ and togetherness against hatred ‘in all its forms’.
“Manchester does not welcome Britain First to our city because they seek to divide our communities and spread hatred,” Cllr Craig declared.
We are stronger together…
Which is why we are making a poster available for residents, communities and local organisations to download, share and display.
Founded by anti-abortion campaigner, Britain First is described as being a far-right British fascist and neo-fascist political party and hate group formed in 2011 by members of the former British National Party (BNP).
The party itself, however, states on its own website that it is as a ‘patriotic political party that will put our own people first’.
In an emphatic statement speaking out against Britain First’s views and their intentions to march through the city centre this weekend, Cllr Bev Craig said: “We understand the alarm and distress that comes when a group like Britain First, which is widely regarded as a far-right hate group, chooses to gather in our city.
“However, UK law protects the right to freedom of expression and assembly, and this means that protests are allowed on the condition they engage fully with the local police force.
Cllr Bev Craig urges Manchester to ‘come together against hate’ / Credit: Manchester City Council
“GMP have given assurances that they will be policing this protest seriously, robustly and with public safety as their top priority.
“At a time when groups promoting division seek attention, our strength comes from standing united – celebrating our diversity and supporting one another. Let’s come together and send a clear message that hate has no place in our city.”
Cllr Craig closed out her statement declaring that Manchester ‘stands together’.
“Our unity is stronger than hate and the values that unite us will always hold firm.
“We are a welcoming and friendly city, with a proud history of tolerance, fairness and respect. But the hate and division that Britain First foster has no place here. We have no time for racism or hatred.”
Featured Image – Matthew Waring (via Unsplash)
City Centre
New stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House to arrive in Manchester this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
A brand-new stage adaptation of a bestselling horror novel and TV series is coming to Manchester this Halloween.
Following the critically acclaimed Netflix hit series that introduced a new generation to the eerie masterpiece, author Shirley Jackson’s famous The Haunting of Hill House is being turned into a brand-new stage adaptation later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester’s most iconic stages at the spookiest season of all.
Written by Olivier and BAFTA award-winner Stef Smith, and directed by Martin Constantine, the new production is set to conjure the iconic supernatural thriller on stage.
It will be making its world premiere with a UK tour this autumn, stopping off in several major towns and cities along the way.
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, The Haunting of Hill House follows a group of daring investigators who take on the mystery of Hill House, before their curiosity quickly descends into fear.
A new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House is coming to Manchester this Halloween / Credit: Supplied
“The Haunting of Hill House is one of the greatest supernatural novels of the last hundred years and to have the chance to adapt it for the stage is a true privilege,” explained writer Stef Smith, as the UK tour was announced this week.
“I find Shirley Jackson’s world intoxicating, thrilling and gut-wrenching.
“I believe there is something so deeply theatrical at the heart of Hill House. From the spooky, to the surreal, through heartache and hope. I hope that our cast of characters will take the audience along for a ride quite unlike anything else. Above all we will examine that the biggest horrors are usually human.”
The brand-new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House will arrive in Manchester and take to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre from Tuesday 27 October right through to Halloween itself (Saturday 31 October 2026).
Emily Sergeant -
12th January 2022 
