It appears roller skating rinks are like buses – you wait years for one, then two come along at once.
Details of a new roller skating rink at Depot Mayfield have been released, spanning a whopping 8,000 sq ft alongside Escape to Freight Island.
Good Life Skates will be inspired by skating scenes around the globe, from underground Berlin to the sidewalks of Brooklyn and LA.
The new concept will open this June as part of the massive Depot Mayfield development, just beside Manchester Piccadilly.
Credit: Escape to Freight Island
It will take over the mezzanine level, giving skaters a bird’s-eye view of the huge street food and entertainment venue – and they’ll be able to order food directly from the traders below.
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The drinks menu will centre around alcohol-free cocktails suitable for all ages , though any drink can be topped up with your chosen spirit for a ‘playful concept perfect for drinkers and non-drinkers alike’.
The Good Life Skates experience will be geared towards skaters of all abilities, from accomplished athletes to wobbly beginners.
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Good Life Skates will open this summer. Credit: Supplied
It will also be available for exclusive hire, including a self-contained room next to the roller-skating rink for kids’ parties and group days out.
Passionate skaters will be able to take home their own Good Life Skates clothing, from hoodies to t-shirts to bucket hats.
It joins another roller skating rink set to open just days before – Paradise Skate World will be an ‘intergalactic’ experience at the Great Northern Warehouse, from some of the team behind Junkyard Golf.
The Good Life Skates pre-sale will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday 10 May to those who sign up at goodlifeskates.com. A general sale will be available on Wednesday 11 May from 10am.
Tickets are priced from £8.50 for off-peak hours and £10 for peak hours, which include a 50-minute session per ticket per person, with reduced price for double sessions booked together.
Good Life Skates opening hours, from Wednesday 1 June, are Wednesday and Thursday (from 4pm to 11pm), Friday (from 4pm to 1am), Saturday (from 10am to 1am) and Sunday (from 10am to 8pm).
Featured image: Unsplash
What's On
Chester Zoo’s popular FREE Nature Fest returns this weekend with its biggest event yet
Emily Sergeant
A free festival helping people connect to nature is returning for its 10th anniversary, and organisers say it will be their biggest event yet.
Nature Fest is returning to Chester Zoo this weekend, and is set to explore the relationship between nature and wellbeing, with lots of new activities designed to help festivalgoers experience the benefits of connecting with the natural world
Around 4,000 people, and lots of families, are expected to attend across the weekend.
Visitors can take part in animal yoga sessions, relax in a zen den, and explore an interactive nature adventure based around the five pathways to nature connection, traveling along tunnels and through a tree along the way.
There will also be live music, puppetry, crafts, workshops and talks, alongside opportunities to discover how conservationists work to protect wildlife.
Chester Zoo’s popular Nature Fest returns this weekend with its biggest event yet / Credit: Chester Zoo
On top of that, the festival will feature stands from various nature organisations and community groups across the North West, talks and tips from nature professionals, and wildlife-friendly gardening sessions with the zoo’s schools team.
Chester Zoo has also teamed up with Outside Lives Ltd on the festival, giving visitors the chance to take part in other activities like crazy golf, den building, and willow weaving.
“We’re hoping our 10th Nature Fest will be the biggest yet,” commented Chris Ablett, who is the Community Volunteer Assistant Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Chester Zoo is well known for supporting conservation across the world but protecting nature here in the UK is just as important.
“We want people to know there are simple things they can do to help wildlife at home, and Nature Fest is a great way to link up with people and learn new skills you can put into practice in your community, all while enjoying a great day out.”
Chester Zoo’s Nature Fest returns for 2026 this weekend on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. It’s free to attend, parking is also free, and no booking is required.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
What's On
Greater Manchester’s spooky steam trains are returning this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is right around the corner, and one of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events is returning.
What’s Halloween without East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains at this point? Generally selling out each year, the heritage railway’s Halloween Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for some ‘spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around.
And 2026 is expected to be no different… in fact, it’ll be even creepier than normal, because the scream train has had a spooky makeover.
You can expect flickering lights, eerie sounds, creepy surprises, and perhaps a very unwelcome visitor climbing aboard.
Those brave enough at lending the Monster Squad a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.
Before you join them though, you’ll need to prove you have what it takes by making it through the Halloween Walkthrough on the footbridge with a fair few jump scares.
Once you reach the platform, you’ll be greeted by Halloween favourites, Vampire Brian and Veronica the Witch, who’ll prepare you for your terrifying train trip with a song, a dance, and probably a scream or two.
Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR
As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows on your journey, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and as always, screaming and singalongs are to be expected – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.
Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day too, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child ‘full of tricks and treats’ awaits.
Daisy Jackson -
6th May 2022 
