Manchester’s newest cinema is set to open on the roof of Depot Mayfield next month, as Backyard Cinema brings its immersive movie going experience to the north for the ver first time.
Coming to Manchester for a limited 10-week run, it will feature way more than a cosy purpose=built cinema room, coming complete with an Enchanted Forest, two bars, street food trucks and a live music stage to boot.
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Due to open on Friday 21 October, the 330-capacity indoor cinema has just released its upcoming films for the Autumn / Winter season and there are some absolute crackers in there.
Movie fans should expect a mixture of brand new releases including the acclaimed Elvis biopic starring Tom Hanks (2022), the new Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and The Batman (2022), plus cult classics and Christmas hits later in the year.
Image: supplied
The team has just teased out a list of cult classics too, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Die Hard (1988), Hocus Pocus (1993), Addams Family Values (1993), Beetlejuice (1988), plus other favourites such as The Greatest Showman (2017), Frozen 2 (2019), Beauty and the Beast (2017).
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Elsewhere, there’ll be a run of family favourites showing including The Greatest Showman (2017), Frozen 2 (2019), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and the brand new Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022).
Then come Christmas time, organisers are planning to go all-out with screenings of festiva favourites like Elf (2003), Home Alone (1990), Love Actually (2003), The Holiday (2006), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)and Miracle on 34th Street (1947).
Audiences can expect to be transported on a magical journey to a cinema like no other, with waiter service inside the cosy screening room ensuring they don’t need to miss a second of the action.
Filled with custom-made giant bean bag seating for guests to get cosied up in with ushers serving seasonal cocktails and sweet treats to create the most magical place to watch a movie, this is one winter experience you won’t want to miss.
Backyard Cinema will open from Wednesday to Sunday, starting from 21 October until 4 December, and from Monday to Sunday, from 5 December until 2 January. Show times are 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm, although these will vary depending on the day.
Visit the Backyard Cinema website here to check screening times and buy your tickets.
Feature image – The Art of Banksy / Supplied
City Centre
First look inside Gail’s on King Street as it opens in Manchester
Georgina Pellant
This week, the famous London bakery Gail’s opens its first ever cafe in Manchester city centre.
The build-up has been substantial, with the team first launching in the neighbouring towns of Wilmslow and Altrincham before venturing into the heart of the city.
Newly arrived on King Street, the brand new cafe spans two floors, with extensive seating beneath its bakery and more stretching out into the street with a sun trap al fresco terrace that opens daily from 11am.
Due to open tomorrow, we popped down ahead of the opening for a sneak peek to see what the team has in store for Manchester.
The new cafe’s exterior is covered in handpainted murals by local artist Amy Coney, created as part of the city’s recent flower festival, whilst inside it’s all warm, burnished wood and sage-coloured coffee appliances.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
A huge bakery counter overflowing with warm quiches, croissants, cakes and other bakes is the first thing to greet you, flanked by a wall stacked floor-to-ceiling with loaves of bread – all freshly baked this morning.
Loaf choices include classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
As for coffee, this is specially roasted for Gail’s cafes and changes four times a year with the seasons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
As part of the new opening, the team has commissioned a beautiful floral mural to be painted in its windows by local artist Amy Coney.
Gail’s will also be working with local restaurant-backed charity Eat Well MCR to help provide nutritious meals to local people in need as it looks to establish itself in Manchester.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
City Centre
Police launch investigation into ‘possible manslaughter’ of newborn baby at Manchester hospital
Emily Sergeant
A police investigation has been launched into the “possible manslaughter” of a newborn baby girl who died just hours after being born at a Manchester hospital.
Polly Lindop died within 24 hours after being born at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Manchester city centre on 13 March 2023, and after concerns were raised to both the coroner and Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the force’s Major Incident Team are now investigating the tragic situation as a “possible gross negligence manslaughter”.
GMP says the matter is being investigated after “careful consideration”.
Police said the hospital has been “fully cooperative” throughout the investigation so far, and also confirmed that a number of hospital staff have been spoken to as witnesses by officers.
No arrests have been made at this stage.
“First, I want to express my condolences to the parents of Polly at what is an extremely difficult time for them,” DCI Mark Davis, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, explained of the investigation, “And our thoughts will remain with them as we carry out our investigation.
Police launch investigation into ‘possible manslaughter’ of newborn baby at Manchester hospital / Credit: GMP
“A number of hospital staff have been spoken to as witnesses by officers and no arrests have been made at this time. The hospital trust has been fully cooperative with the police and all relevant authorities have been kept informed.
“The investigation into Polly’s death is ongoing and her family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”
Polly’s parents told the MEN that they vowed to “never give up the fight” for answers over her death in a tribute to the newborn, adding: “We would like to thank everyone at GMP for their continual efforts every day in gaining us answers.
“Our beautiful brave baby girl Polly, we love you and miss you every day. Sleep tight my darling.”
A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) said: “GMP is investigating an incident that happened in March 2023. Our thoughts continue to be with the family and we are cooperating fully with the police investigation.”
The Manc -
14th September 2022 
