The Science and Industry Museum, one of Manchester’s leading cultural institutions, has begun work on one of its Grade II-listed buildings.
The ‘critical’ repair work will see the historic roof of the New Warehouse replaced – a roof that’s the size of two Olympic swimming pools.
In fact, if you lined up the gutters surrounding the building end-to-end, it would be the same length as London’s Tower Bridge.
The landmark museum’s New Warehouse is more than 140 years old, having first been built as essential storage space for the bustling Liverpool Road Station.
The roof work at the Science and Industry Museum is part of the extensive, multi-million-pound heritage restoration project taking place across the historic site.
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Visitors will be able to see the engineering in action, as scaffolding is erected around the New Warehouse, but the building will remain open for visitors throughout the work.
And there’ll be – as always – a packed programme of events, exhibitions and displays to explore, including the hugely popular Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You.
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Inside the New Warehouse building of the Science and Industry Museum, there are three permanent galleries, three changing exhibition spaces, the main museum entrance, a cafe, shop, and conference space, all spread across three floors.
The Science and Industry Museum’s New Warehouse is having a new roof fitted. Credit: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
The urgent repairs to its roof will allow them museum to continue its incredible work inspiring new generations of scientists and innovators.
The works are taking place thanks to the museum’s £14.2m worth of capital funding by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
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As The New Warehouse dates back to the 1880s, the vital work will be undertaken with Manchester-based architects Buttress, who specialise in restoring listed and historic buildings.
This will involve making the roof – a massive 100m x 40m in size (or two Olympic-sized swimming pools) – watertight, completely re-tiling it with 60,000 Welsh Slate tiles from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales.
They’ll match the original slates and will even be nailed in in a traditional way to honour the building’s heritage.
Lower Byrom street warehouse, Liverpool road station, Manchester 1983. Credit: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
The work will also make the building more sustainable, with masonry and windows restored and roof lights upgraded.
The final piece of work for this phase will see the gutters replaced with cast iron ones that reflect the building’s history.
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Sally MacDonald, Director of the Science and Industry Museum says: “We are delighted that the next stage of the site’s multi-million-pound restoration project is underway. This marks an exciting moment as we carry out vital repairs to our main museum building, including a brand-new roof.
“Whilst this repair work will bring some disruption to our site, including our largest scaffolding structure to date, the changes taking place now will mean visitors can enjoy our museum for years to come.
“We’ve always been a place of change and transformation and the work on New Warehouse is our next step to future-proof our historic site.”
Alex Scrimshaw of Buttress says: “This is a key milestone for the Science and Industry Museum. The comprehensive repair and renovations reflect our commitment to ensuring that the 140-year-old New Warehouse building will be welcoming visitors for many years to come.
“It’s very exciting to be re-slating the roof with a sustainable national Welsh slate. Traditional lead-lined gutters have been reintroduced, to cope with the ever-increasing pressures imposed by extreme weather.
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“The re-roofing works also provide the opportunity to significantly improve thermal performance; seeing the introduction of an innovative wood fibre insulation; as well as carrying out the meticulous masonry, stonework and window repairs required of a building of this grand stature.
“The project will also incorporate facilities which will enable inspections to monitor and check the building’s precise condition.
“Together with the project team, we are keen to embark on this journey to deliver a museum building fit for the 21st century.”
The New Warehouse work is expected to be completed by mid-2025, with the Power Hall reopening in Spring 2025.
Featured image: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum – Lee Mawdsley
Art & Culture
There’s a midsummer party coming to IKEA with a live ABBA tribute act
Thomas Melia
Swedish household furniture giant and flatpack masterminds IKEA are hosting a midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute, because why the hell not?
I definitely don’t need to be soundtracked by a live ABBA tribute while shopping for new homeware, but hey, don’t threaten me with a good time…
IKEA‘s Manchester branch is hosting a party with a three-course meal, drinks and live music from none other than the Abberettes, a duo which covers classics by Swedish pop icons, ABBA.
Starters include a marinated salmon plate, salmon wrap or a small salad bowl, while one of the mains also features this fish favourite served with a bean mix.
The friendly Ikea team will be able to assist any queries on the day.
There are two more main menu options in the form of their menu highlights: meatballs, which always go down a treat, and veggies get to sample the meat-free alternative, plant balls.
In terms of a sweet treat, there are two dessert choices, both of which are equally delicious. Partygoers can choose from a Daim cake or an apple pie, and all guests are entitled to a hot or cold drink too, yum.
Kids can choose from the famed meatballs, plantballs or a tomato pasta meal, alongside a soft drink and a piece of fruit, a super meal for your little ‘Super Trouper’.
If you’re worried this special midsummer party and live ABBA tribute is going to cost you lots of ‘Money, Money, Money’, fear not as tickets are only £7.50 for Ikea family members and get this – kids eat free.
The Abberettes are doing two performances throughout the day, one from 5:30-6:15pm and a second show at 6:45-7:30pm, ‘Mamma Mia’.
Here’s a taster of the kind of crowds they pull in:
All I have left to say is I’ll have to get my tickets fast before they end up ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ or before ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
The midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute is coming to Ikea in Ashton, Greater Manchester, on Thursday, 19 June from 5pm, with tickets available now.
Massive music-filled takeover planned as 1.3m tourists descend on Manchester this summer
Emily Sergeant
Plans for a massive music-filled takeover of Manchester have been announced ahead of 1.3 million tourists descending on the city centre this summer.
It comes as no surprise that this summer is set to be a big one for music in Manchester.
Parklife weekend has just been and gone, but in 2025, the fun is far from over, as there will be countless global megastars taking to the stage at some of our city’s biggest music venues, such as Co-op Live and the AO Arena, over the next couple of months, and there’s also the Sounds of the City concert series to look forward to at Castlefield Bowl, as well as a handful of Wythenshawe Park gigs.
Oh, and in case you’ve been living under a rock, there’s also the small matter of Manchester’s most legendary band, Oasis, reforming for a run of gigs at Heaton Park next month too.
Sure, Manchester is big for music all year round, but as you can imagine, 2025 is set to be bigger than ever, which is why Manchester City Council has now announced its very-own musical takeover called MCR Live ’25 to help celebrate what promises to be a sensational summer of sound.
On the setlist: 🎸 A star-studded guitar trail, courtesy of Wild In Art 🛍️ Pop-up markets to explore 🎡 A festival bar to soak up the summer vibes 🥳 And much, much more!
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 12, 2025
There’ll be everything from a pop-up bar in Piccadilly Gardens with surprise live acts doing sets, and markets in St Peter’s Square selling vinyl and vintage goods, to block parties in the Northern Quarter, and the already-announced Music for the Senses art trail dotted around all the well-known city centre sights.
The Piccadilly Gardens space, known as The Hub, is designed to be the ‘basecamp’ for Manchester’s music tourists, and will be an easy place to drink at the bar, sample some of the best street food in the North West, catch surprise acts and DJ takeovers on the outdoor stage, or bring the family along during the day for some music-inspired fun.
If you head to St Peter’s Square, this is where you’ll find the pop-up markets running alongside Oasis’ legendary homecoming gigs, which will bring together local makers, artists, and indie traders for a celebration of sound, style, and city pride.
A massive music-filled takeover is planned as 1.3m tourists descend on Manchester this summer / Credit: David Oates Photography
Several ‘block parties’ will be taking over the Northern Quarter on selected Fridays and Saturdays in both June and July, so it’s your chance to head on down to Edge Street and Thomas Street and take in all the action happening over two stages – with DJs and live acts playing throughout the day.
There’ll also even be an ‘Oasis Week’ at Manchester Central Library, with legendary Supernova live sets, Gallagher look-alike competitions, a Big Oasis Quiz, Supersonic film screenings, and so much more.
But the stand-out event has to be the art trail, which is titled Music for the Senses: an art arrangement for a musical city, running across the city centre from early July until the end of August, and is a collaboration between global art producer Wild in Art – the creators of the famous Bee in the City project – and the Council.
There’ll be pop-up bars, music markets, block parties, and loads more dotted around the city / Credit: MCC
At the heart of the exhibition will be an interactive installation called ‘Guitar Street’ created by Manchester artist Liam Hopkins, known as Lazerian, which will lovingly repurpose 100+ broken guitars, all donated by members of the public.
“We’re already known the world over for the music we make and for our unrivalled music scene, and this summer we’re going all out with MCR Live ’25 to harness the moment and celebrate the massive contribution that music makes to the city,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
You can find out everything happening for MCR Live ’25 on the VisitManchester website here.
Of course, the annual Manchester Day celebrations will also be back and taking over the city centre’s main streets on Saturday 26 July too, and this year, that’s also music-themed… because why wouldn’t it be? It makes sense.
Daisy Jackson -
31st January 2024 
