Barbie fever has fully gripped Manchester, with pink displays in every window, pink cocktails and bakes appearing on menus, and everyone digging out their best pink outfits.
The film, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has already been a record-breaker and screenings across the city have been selling out.
But why would anyone choose to go and sit in a regular old cinema when you could watch the Barbie masterpiece in a venue decorated almost entirely in pink?
Who would opt for a bog-standard chair when you could recline on a plush beanbag-style seat?
And who on earth says ‘yes’ to a normal floor when you could watch Barbie on a sandy beach!?
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Backyard Cinema arrived back in Manchester a few weeks ago, this time styled as a Miami Beach-inspired wonderland, and the programme is packed full of Barbie screenings.
The rooftop experience is the perfect setting for the film – nostalgic, playful, colourful, and the ideal place to practice the very important job of ‘beach’.
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The former platform area of the long-lost Mayfield train station has been transformed into an impressive movie-grade set, creating the exterior of an art deco Miami Beach hotel.
Guests are greeted by ‘hotel porters’ at Backyard Cinema in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupA Miami Beach hotel has been built on the rooftop of Depot Mayfield in ManchesterPalm tree-shaped cocktails on hand for Barbie screenings at Backyard Cinema. Credit: The Manc GroupThe retro pink paradise of Backyard Cinema is perfect for Barbie. Credit: The Manc Group
On arrival, you’re greeted by enthusiastic hotel porters, blasting tunes from the ‘check-in desk’ and dressed in retro shades of pink and turquoise.
Cocktails like daiquiris and mojitos are served in palm-tree shaped vessels, alongside branded bags of popcorn to take into your screening with you.
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As you head into the main auditorium of the Backyard Cinema experience, past a Barbie box photo opportunity, you’ll find the closest thing to a beach you can get in Manchester.
Rows upon rows of comfy custom-made seating are laid out on a bed of real sand. In the corner stands an American-style lifeguard hut. There’s even a jet ski wedged in the corner.
Even before the film starts rolling at Backyard Cinema, the experience is extraordinary – and then comes the world of Barbie.
The enormous hype surrounding Greta Gerwig’s latest creation is proving itself justified, with positive reviews from critics and legions of cinema-goers flocking to immerse themselves in Barbieland.
And if you’re going to lean into her world, there’s nowhere better than Backyard Cinema.
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You can book tickets for Barbie at Backyard Cinema Manchester here and find out more about the experience here.
Greater Manchester’s newly-opened indoor activity park is offering families the chance to visit for half price this spring holidays.
In case you missed it, Salford was chosen by Oxygen Activeplay as the location for its next venture, an officially opened the doors to its newest state-of-the-art equipment facility above bustling food hall Kargo MKT, inside the former site of I’m a Celebrity Jungle Challenge down at Quayside MediaCity in mid February.
Since opening to the public, Oxygen MediaCity has already been helping lots of local families stay active and have fun at the same time.
Following a £2.5 million investment, the new park features more than 30 trampolines, a mega-air bag, a high ropes course, a ‘Rollglider’ aerial ride which flies over the facility, and Oxygen’s signature illuminated sensory experience ‘Excite Tunnel’, along with even more “epic” activities.
A series of optional games and dance parties are also on offer during each play session, and the new Manchester park also hosts ‘Peaceful Play’ sessions designed for neurodivergent guests, who prefer a calmer and quieter playing environment, as well as there being a ‘Toddler Venture Zone’.
A cafe serving drinks, snacks, and meals also overlooks the park, so once you’re all bounced out, you can recharge with a full feast from the new menu before heading home.
Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park is offering 50% off tickets over half term / Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
And thankfully, once schools are out for the spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, families can get themselves one of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Easter Holiday Pass, which gives pass holders the chance to visit the park on any five days of the two-week break – including on weekends and bank holidays – for 60 minutes of ‘Open Play’.
For a limited time only, you can save some pennies and take advantage of a half price offer and get your hands on an Easter Holidays Pass for only £30.
The queen of British rap, the one and only Little Simz, is coming back to Manchester for what will be her biggest headline show in this city to date.
A whole three years on from her last album No Thank You, the rapper from Islington is heading back out on the road after wrapping up the recording of her sixth studio LP, Lotus.
The first single ‘FREE’ has already dropped, and despite the release date itself being pushed back, news of a new Little Simz tour later this year more than makes up for it, if you ask us.
Little Simz already has two NME Awards to her name for Best British Solo Act and Best British Album, not to mention a BRIT itself for Best New Artist in 2022; oh yeah, and she won the Mercury Prize as well as a BET Hip Hop Award over in the States for ‘Best International Flow’ – all before she turned 30.
With that in mind, you can understand why so many are frothing at the mouth to hear her new record when it does finally drop.
There doesn’t appear to be any problems with the album itself: Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, to use her full name, is simply busier than ever and has just booked a role in a film because, yes, she acts too.
Lotus will now drop on Friday, 6 June, just in time for fans to get learning the lyrics ahead of festival season, which we have no doubt she’ll play a big part in.
You can hear the first taste of the next chapter down below:
Little Simz returns to Manchester for a Co-op Live debut on 16 October with tour supports still yet to be announced.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 9 April from 10am for official Co-op members and general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (11 April).
Daisy Jackson -
1st August 2023 
