Royal Exchange celebrates 100 years by asking Mancs to share their memories
Things have changed a lot in the past century - and the Royal Exchange is asking for residents to share any stories, memories or pictures they may have associated with the building.
One of Manchester’s most iconic buildings is set to celebrate a century in the city in 2021 – and people are being invited to share their greatest memories of the Royal Exchange as it prepares for its 100th birthday celebrations.
Opened by King George V and Queen Mary following a seven-year remodelling in 1921, the Grade II-listed Royal Exchange has undergone numerous transformations over the past ten decades.
Some residents, for example, may remember the basement containing antique style shopping centre and Brannigan’s nightclub – a popular haunt accessed via a door at one end of the Arcade.
In the 1950’s, the Royal Exchange even had an air terminal check-in on its Cross St side (a site now occupied by Danish retailer Sostrene Grene).
Today, the beautiful venue is home to the grand Royal Exchange theatre and a unique collection of independent boutique shops, premium brands and eateries – with a members-only gym soon opening below ground.
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Things have changed a lot in the space of 100 years – and now members of the Royal Exchange are asking for Mancunians to share any stories, memories or pictures they may have associated with the building.
The Royal Exchange is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2021 / Image: Wikiwand
Building Manager Tim White says: “While we’re clearly not expecting any memories from around the time of the official opening, we are hoping to hear tales from people about their memories of our shops and cafes from over the years.
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“We know many people have fond memories of the shopping centre in the basement or partying the night away at Brannigan’s so we’d love to hear about them, as well as any others.”
If anyone has any stories or pictures they’d like to share on social media, tag @royalexchangemanchester (Facebook and Instagram) or @TheRoyalExMcr (Twitter) and use the hashtag #ExchangeMemories.
Alternatively, you can email f[email protected] with #ExchangeMemories in the subject line.
Featured image: Wikipedia
Art & Culture
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 5 – 11 October 2026
Emily Sergeant
It’s a new month and our first full week of October, so there’s loads happening across Greater Manchester.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, no worries, as we’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured, so take a look.
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Scare City
Camelot Theme Park
Monday 5 October – onwards
Scare City / Credit: Jason Roberts (Supplied)
Scare City will be back taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park this spooky season.
And this year, there’s eight new chilling horror zones to discover.
There is no single story to survive. Instead, guests will be thrown from one nightmare into another – from a Victorian barber with blood on his hands, to a demonic orphanage, a cannibal settlement, a cursed forest, and a military bunker where the deceased are no longer dead.
Find out more about this year’s Scare City experience and book tickets here.
50% Off Kids Tickets at SEA LIFE / Credit: Supplied
Families looking for an affordable day out over the next couple of weeks can make the most of a new offer from a popular attraction, with 50% off child one-day tickets when purchased alongside a full-price adult ticket.
The offer gives families the chance to enjoy an underwater adventure for less at either SEA LIFE Manchester inside Trafford Palazzo, or even a tad further afield at SEA LIFE Blackpool.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: BBC | Science Museum Group (Drew Forsyth)
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos has made its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum, and is inviting visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System.
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Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition encouraging visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition propels families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Grimmfest, also known as Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, is back this week with four fear-filled days showcasing the best in brand-new horror genre cinema.
You can expect some ferocious feature films, a savage selection of shorts, hair-raising horror classics back on the big screen, and more premieres than ever before.
Find out what’s on the lineup and get tickets here.
Salford is set to become the canvas for a spectacular celebration of its people when Salford Everywhere premieres this week.
Created by award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Matthew Rosier, the monumental artwork features more than 1,500 Salfordians, from NHS workers and builders to schoolchildren, supermarket teams, athletes, Royal Mail staff, dementia support groups and food bank volunteers.
Video artworks featuring the local contributors will be projected onto buildings across the city.
Stockport, you lucky lot – Prologue has now opened right on your doorstep.
This beautiful new bookshop is stuffed with the latest releases, award-winners, cult classics, and plenty more. And while you can cosy up with a coffee and a book in the daytime, by night, it’s all about fantastic cocktails and great wines.
Home is where the pudding is, as one of the city’s most-talked about dessert brands, Buttercup, has now officially opened the doors to its new home on Deansgate.
What started as a home-based baking project has now transformed into a gorgeous new cafe, where you can tuck into a range of puddings and load them up with all your favourite toppings.
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Find out more about this glorious new opening here👇
There’s a lot happening inside New Century this autumn.
First up, there’s the new 450-capacity Locker, which is bringing grassroots live music to the ground floor space, while In Hand by New Century Kitchen is taking care of the all-important gig food with Detroit-style pizzas, chicken tenders, and more.
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The two spaces are opening alongside a packed season of live shows, making this a pretty big new chapter for one of Manchester’s best-known music venues.
Autumn has officially arrived, and the pumpkin patches are finally opening their doors… or, should we say, fields.
Right across the region, there’s fields of pumpkins for you to pick for yourself, and many even have more inside in case it’s raining or if you don’t fancy heading into the field.
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So, without further ado, here’s some of the best pumpkin patches in and around Greater Manchester for you to choose from👇
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in September so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new to eat this week, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too.
Did you hear that iconic Manchester music movie, 24 Hour Party People, is returning to UK cinemas this month?
If you’re a fan of Manchester’s music history, this one’s for you. 24 Hour Party People is returning to UK cinemas from this week – 24 years after it first hit the big screen, and this time, it’s been remastered in 4K.
The cult classic tells the story of Manchester’s legendary music scene from 1976 to 1992, following Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, played by none other than Middleton-born Steve Coogan, alongside the likes of Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays.
Loads of iconic spooky films are returning to Greater Manchester cinemas this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Lots of iconic spooky films are returning to Greater Manchester cinemas this Halloween, alongside some new releases.
Now that October is here, there’s no denying that the spooky season is right around the corner, and Vue has announced that a whole host of creepy classics and the latest frightening flicks set to hit the big screen over the next couple of weeks – ranging from undeniable horrors, to family-friendly gems perfect for viewers of all ages.
Several cinemas across Greater Manchester will be taking part, including Vues in Manchester Quayside, Printworks, Bolton, Bury, and Altrincham.
Disney’s much-loved Hocus Pocus kicks off the lineup this month, returning to cinemas from today (2 October), before supernatural classicsThe Others and The Craft are back to terrify moviegoers from 16 October.
Iconic slasher film Scream – which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year – also returns to cinemas from 23 October.
Cult-classic Donnie Darko and Guillermo Del Toro’s masterpiece Pan’s Labyrinth round out the re-releases on 30 October, to celebrate their 25th and 20th anniversaries, respectively.
Loads of iconic spooky films are returning to Greater Manchester cinemas this Halloween / Credit: Scream (1996) | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
Then, when it comes to new releases, you can settle in to watch new psychological thriller, Verity, adapted from the acclaimed Colleen Hoover novel of the same name and starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, also arriving today (2 October).
Meanwhile, Ghosts: The Possession of Button House, based on the beloved and award-winning BBC comedy, arrives on 23 October.
Other new releases include The Other Mommy, DC’s Clayface, and Crawlers.
And if the lineup wasn’t good enough as it is on its own, film lovers at Vue Quayside, Printworks, and Bolton can also enjoy Vue’s biggest and comfiest seat, the ‘Ultra Lux’ – which are strategically positioned to give the best possible view of the big screen with extra-wide armrests, a personal table for snacks and drinks, and a state-of-the-art beverage cooler.
“This October, we’re thrilled to be able to put on a raft of new and classic films for fans of scary and spooky films,” commented Mike Anton, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Printworks.
“From family-friendly comedy horrors to cult favourites, we know how gripping scary films can be and want to provide the very best big screen experience for people to enjoy every laugh and every scare this Halloween, leaving them with an experience they’ll feel forever.”
Find out the full lineup of films near you and book tickets online here.
The Manc -
19th May 2021 
