Manchester Museum is finally ready to reopen to the public after an ambitious £15m transformation project.
The cultural institution has expanded into a modern new two-storey extension, with new exhibition spaces and inclusive facilities added into the space.
Manchester Museum, which is part of the University of Manchester, will officially reopen this weekend after an 18-month refurbishment.
New spaces inside include a brand new Exhibition Hall, which will open with the blockbuster exhibition Golden Mummies of Egypt.
Visitors can get unparalleled access to more than 100 objects and eight mummies in a UK debut.
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The new extension also includes the South Asia Gallery (a partnership with the British Museum), which will be the UK’s first permanent space to explore the lived experience of South Asian diaspora communities.
The new extension at Manchester Museum. Credit: The Manc GroupThe South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum. Credit: The Manc GroupThe South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum. Credit: The Manc GroupThe new exhibition hall at Manchester Museum. Credit: The Manc Group
Purcell has designed the extension, cladding it in green-glazed terracotta tiles, paying homage to craftsmanship as well as Victorian and Edwardian period buildings in Manchester.
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Manchester Museum first opened in 1890 and is one of the largest university museums in the country, housed inside a neo-Gothic building designed by Alfred Waterhouse.
Inside its doors, the popular attraction has more than 4.5 million objects from natural sciences and human cultures.
April the dinosaur near the Fossils gallery at Manchester Museum. Credit: The Manc GroupThe shop at Manchester Museum. Credit: The Manc Group
One of the most immediate differences that’s resulted from the £15m transformation is the new accessible entrance straight off Oxford Road, which brings visitors straight into a stunning new gift shop.
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There’s a new dinosaur in town too, joining the museum’s legendary T-Rex Stan.
April the Tenontosaurus has taken up her place in the former entrance, beside the Fossils Gallery – she dates back to the Cretaceous period and was found in Montana, USA.
Other new features include a Changing Places toilet, prayer room, quiet room, picnic area and therapy room.
Esme Ward, Museum Director of Manchester Museum, says: “The reopening marks a huge moment in Manchester Museum’s rich history as we open our doors following a major transformation.
“We have extended the building, making room for more joy and learning and evolving into the Museum Manchester needs. Beautiful new galleries and exhibitions will showcase the best of the Museum’s historic collections, as well as addressing the urgencies of the present day and highlighting the complexities of our world.
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“We have also listened to advocates with lived experience, and inclusive new spaces and features are incorporated throughout. We are delighted to welcome our visitors back.”
Blood Brothers at Palace Theatre, Manchester – a timeless classic
Greg James
Bill Kenwright’s production of Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End making it one of only three musicals ever to achieve that monumental milestone – and now it’s visiting us here in Manchester.
“Oh Bright New Day”, Blood Brothers has just landed back at the Palace Theatre. This musical written by Willy Russell is a British piece of theatre that is a staple in the musical theatre tapestry of our country.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this iconic story, it is an emotional tale of two twins who are separated at birth and grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with the most fateful of consequences.
The story’s central character, Mrs Johnston is the linchpin in this whole story and carries us through the show.
This role has been played by many superb women over the years including Mel C, Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson and nearly all of the Nolan Sisters. This time, Mrs Johnston is performed by Vivienne Carlyle who provides a lovely maternal performance.
The other two lead roles are Mickey and Eddie, played by Sean Jones and Joe Sleight respectively.
These are really complex roles to play as the actors have to portray the characters from early school years to grown adults.
The cast of Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack MerrimanSean Jones, Gemma Brodrick and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman
Sean Jones has been playing the role of Mickey now for nearly 25 years and so he is no stranger to this character. And I must say, he still fantastically plays the part, even when playing young Mickey, and the show really takes off when he enters the stage.
Joe Sleight is someone who I had not seen in the role of Eddie before and he gave just as strong a performance as Jones. He offered a real contrast to his counterpart with a really beautiful, touching performance.
The whole ensemble did a gorgeous job of helping to carry these characters throughout the musical, showing a real flair for multi-roling and beautiful musicality in the group numbers too.
Something which elevates this already gripping story though is the music. There are many recurring musical motifs throughout the show that on the surface may come off as repetitive but they offer perspective on how things can evolve and change over time.
Of course the song though that everybody is perhaps familiar with is the power ballad, ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’. This is the climax of the show and what a climax it is. There’s not a dry eye in the house when we reach this point of the story, I can assure you!
So, whether you are returning to watch this show again, perhaps know the story from studying it in English GCSE or seeing it for the first time, it will always be an absolutely timeless classic.
Blood Brothers is on at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 30 November. Tickets are available HERE.
Peter Kay adds MORE Manchester dates to record-breaking arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Peter Kay has just announced brand new dates for his record-breaking arena tour, including even more shows here in Manchester.
The Bolton-born comic legend has already performed 100 stand-up shows at the AO Arena, breaking all attendance and performance records.
He’s also the first artist in the world to perform a monthly residency at The O2 in London.
Demand to see Peter Kay has been through the roof – several ticket sites crashed when the tour was first announced – and now he’s added some new shows to the unbelievable run of dates.
The tour first started in December 2022, with shows all the way into the middle of 2025.
Now with these new dates, Peter Kay will be delivering his side-splitting stand-up show all the way into 2026.
The new shows include two hometown nights in Manchester, plus his first gigs in Aberdeen, Brighton, Bournemouth and the Isle of Man.
And heartwarmingly, Peter Kay has promised to still keep ticket prices low, with tickets starting at just £35.
Peter Kay adds MORE Manchester dates to record-breaking arena tour
In the advert, which you can watch below, he’s seen carrying a golden toilet into his mum’s iconic bungalow.
Peter Kay said: “It’s been wonderful doing what I love most, stand-up comedy.
“Laughter is more important than ever in these challenging times and with the cost of living still at an all-time high, ticket prices for the new dates will start from £35.”
Tickets for the new dates will go on sale at 10am on Saturday 23 November HERE.
Peter Kay new tour dates in full
Friday 7 February 2025 – Manchester AO Arena
Saturday 8 March 2025 – Leeds First Direct Arena
Saturday 3 May 2025 – Sheffield Utilita Arena
Friday 16 May 2025 – London The O2
Friday 30 May 2025 – Aberdeen P&J Live
Saturday 31 May 2025 – Aberdeen P&J Live
Friday 6 June 2025 – Birmingham Utilita Arena
Friday 20 June 2025 – London The O2
Thursday 10 July 2025 – Dublin 3Arena
Thursday 7 August 2025 – Belfast Sse Arena
Saturday 23 August 2025 – Newcastle Utilita Arena
Friday 19 September 2025 – Manchester AO Arena
Thursday 23 October 2025 – Glasgow Ovo Hydro
Friday 21 November 2025 – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
Saturday 20 December 2025 – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Friday 9 January 2026 – Brighton Centre
Saturday 10 January 2026 – Bournemouth International Centre
Friday 23 January 2026 – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Saturday 24 January 2026 – Cardiff Utilita Arena
Friday 20 February 2026 – Isle Of Man Villa Marina
Saturday 21 February 2026 – Isle Of Man Villa Marina
Daisy Jackson -
16th February 2023 
