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Manchester Science Festival announces jam-packed full lineup for 2024

This year's festival is all about "tackling the extremes of our world".

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 11th September 2024

You can explore the extremes of nature, human capability, and creativity at Manchester Science Festival next month.

In case you missed it, Manchester‘s massively-popular Science Festival confirmed back in January that it would be making a grand return for 2024 later this year, and would be offering visitors the unique opportunity to become a genuine part of history through a wide range of hands-on events and activities when it did.

And now, the full programme for the exciting festival has been released this week – with loads of immersive experiences lined up.

Manchester Science Festival – which is produced and staged at Manchester’s legendary Science and Industry Museum in the heart of the city centre every other year – is one of the UK’s largest and most popular science festivals, and the lineup for 2024 only goes to prove why that is the case, as there’s something for people of all ages to get stuck into.

This year, organisers say the festival is all about “tackling the extremes of our world”.

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Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about some of science’s most cutting-edge developments through multi-sensory experiences and hands-on family fun.  

Manchester Science Festival has announced its jam-packed lineup for 2024 / Credit: Science Museum Group

Interactive events will take place throughout the 10 days of the festival, with the Science and Industry Museum itself playing host to a significant majority of them, but other city centre-based hubs like Manchester Arndale also involved.

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At the Science and Industry Museum, you can expect incredible immersive artworks with the new installation State of Mind by Squidsoup, which explores the impact of smartphones and apps on our brains, while the major exhibition Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine – which opened at the Museum back in July – considers the extreme challenges faced during the pandemic.

STEM champion, social entrepreneur, and computer scientist, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, will join forces with Libby Jackson OBE, who is the UK Space Agency’s Head of Space Exploration, for the first time for a special conversation around AI in Space.

The incredible Arachnobot, a giant spider puppet, will make its way through Manchester Arndale Centre in an “unmissable” and “enchanting” spectacle.

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The popular 10-day event is returning to the city next month / Credit: Science Museum Group

Families can also visit fun-filled activity zones at the Museum too, all of which will be looking at the extremes of human performance and our planet.

There’ll be loads of different activities to do throughout the week, including some from fesrtival partners including Natural History Museum, and the universities of Manchester and Salford.

And there’ll be a special science-themed BBC CBeebies Bedtime Story during your visit too.

Ella Wild, who is the Head of Festivals and Events as the Science and Industry Museum, said the Museum is “delighted” that Manchester Science Festival is back with “an unmissable programme packed full of fun” this year.

There’ll be loads of immersive experiences and hands-on activities for all the family / Credit: Science Museum Group

She added that there’ll be lots of “playful experiences designed to ignite curiosity about our world”.

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“The festival is a brilliant opportunity to bring together visitors of all ages and interests to be inspired by science in action,” Ella commented, “and it’s a wonderful way to showcase Manchester’s long-standing position as a leader in innovation, so we can’t wait to welcome everyone in October.”

Manchester Science Festival 2024 kicks off on Friday 18 October and runs right through to Sunday 27 October, and tickets are officially now on sale.

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Find out more and grab yourself some tickets here.

Featured Image – Orbie Pullen (via Science Museum Group)

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The impressive plan to transform Manchester’s landmark Pall Mall building

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

Work is now well underway to completely revamp one of Manchester’s most recognisable buildings, Pall Mall. 

The Grade II-listed building on the beautiful King Street will be totally transformed into a new city centre innovation hub by Bruntwood SciTech. 

You’ve probably walked past it hundreds of times, but soon there’ll be a chance for freelancers, start-ups, and established businesses to step inside and call it home. 

For those self-employed of you out there, there are no scary commitments to worry about when Pall Mall reopens – you can just walk in and book a pay-as-you-go-desk, work at the cafe, sign up for a coworking membership, or go all the way to serviced offices or sign up for the sort of office space you can put your own stamp on – all with flexible payment options. 

Once completed, there’ll be 12 floors of work spaces for between one and 70 people across three interconnected towers.

If you spend your 9-5 in one of the office spaces at Pall Mall, you’ll have access to a free state-of-the-art gym, a contemplation room, a lounge and library space, and a roof terrace with panoramic views across Manchester city centre. 

There’ll also be secure EV charging points and a large cycle hub, plus plenty of greenery added through an outdoor piazza and revitalised entrance space. And every communal space will operate at net zero carbon. Snazzy. 

Pall Mall is a 90,000 sq ft giant in the heart of Manchester, with a rich cultural and historical significance and is an example of a high-quality post-war site. 

CGIs released as part of the plans show bright and open work spaces with lots of fully fitted offices ready to move straight into, plus a totally overhauled outdoor space to make use of an often-overlooked external space in the city centre. 

Pall Mall will have a revitalised piazza outside. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
Pall Mall will have a revitalised piazza outside. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
There'll be a cafe on site at Pall Mall. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
There’ll be a cafe on site at Pall Mall. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

The ambitious £30m project comes from Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s largest dedicated property platform dedicated to growing the science, tech and innovation sectors, which is a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, who last October announced that they would be investing a further £500m into building or refurbing work-class spaces for these types of businesses, and Pall Mall was one of these first commitments.

Principal contractor Dragonfly has been appointed to build the Sheppard Robson-designed development and local teams also working on the development include Ramboll as sustainability consultants, Deloitte as planning consultants, heritage consultant Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture and structural engineers DWLLP.

Businesses will be able to move into adaptable and flexible workspaces, with different lease lengths available to cater for businesses as they grow. 

Those moving into Pall Mall will be part of a culture that prioritises sustainable growth, from the net-zero communal spaces to the net-zero construction, with the building’s original structure being maintained to save 7,900 tonnes of additional carbon (the equivalent of one passenger making 26,000 flights from London to New York). 

There’ll be an all-electric heating and cooling system, a smart building management system, and new mechanical ventilation heat recovery units to maximise energy efficiency and provide fresh air control to businesses. 

Pall Mall will have a gym. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
Pall Mall will have a gym. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

Once complete, Pall Mall is targeting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and EPC A rating – a significant achievement for a Grade II listed, 1960s building.

Their green credentials have been noticed – Pall Mall is a finalist in the 2024 edie Awards for Green Building Project of the Year, and also won Best Commercial Unbuilt Project at the 2024 Manchester Society of Architects Awards.

Start-ups, scale-ups and global businesses alike will gain access to a UK-wide network of 1100 like-minded businesses across Bruntwood SciTech’s community, which spans 31 city centre hubs and nine science and technology campuses in six cities, and in Manchester includes the likes of Circle Square, Manchester Science Park, Bond, Bloc, 111 Piccadilly and Blackfriars in Manchester. 

There are big names who already operate from Bruntwood Scitech’s Manchester innovation hubs including – to name but a few – Roku, Deliveroo, AO, Social Chain, Mills & Reeve, and tonnes of freelancers. 

They can access Bruntwood SciTech’s growth support, including direct access to funding and investors, highly skilled talent, new markets, and an extensive clinical, academic and public partner network.

Ciara Keeling, Chief Operating Officer for Bruntwood SciTech said: “Bruntwood SciTech has a strong blueprint for creating innovation ecosystems, having undertaken significant projects across many of the UK’s cities and regions. 

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CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech
CGIs show how Pall Mall will look when the work is complete. Credit: Bruntwood SciTech

“We believe that these hubs are not only essential to the development, growth and success of many exciting innovation-focused businesses, but can play a significant role in transforming our regional economies and putting the UK on a path to achieving its ambitions of being an innovation powerhouse. 

“Work commencing on our redevelopment of Pall Mall marks an important step in our mission to power economies through innovation, supporting Manchester to continue growing its support for the knowledge economy, and becoming a more environmentally sustainable city. 

“Core to our vision for the building is to develop a workspace that caters specifically to the needs of disruptors and innovators, whilst also remaining acutely conscious of our responsibility to champion the building’s heritage and inherent character.”

Pall Mall’s redevelopment is targeted to complete in 2025, and is supported by Savills and CBRE.

Want to call Pall Mall home for your business? Enquire today.

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Featured image: Supplied

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A Manc’s guide to Piccadilly East – Manchester’s up-and-coming new neighbourhood

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Manchester is an ever-evolving beast.

Just when you think the city centre has reached its peak, entire new neighbourhoods with exciting new openings spring up out of the blue. 

Take, for example, Ancoats – just a few short years ago it was more run-down mill than run clubs and martinis, and now it’s a buzzing neighbourhood with a Michelin star and some of the UK’s most respected restaurants and bars. 

The newest contender for the coolest neighbourhood in Manchester is Piccadilly East, a previously overlooked tangle of roads, warehouses and canals just behind Piccadilly train station. 

It’s all change round here though, with loads to see and do to keep you entertained. 

And it’s not all about the food and the drink and the culture and the nightlife (though there is a lot of that) – it’s also about the new homes that have been built here, like The Castings. 

The design-led development has 352 homes, ranging from well-thought-out studios to spacious three-bedroom apartments, some of the best views in the city, and unreal amenities. More on that later. 

For now, this is your essential guide to Piccadilly East. 

Burgerism and Sureshot Brewery / Credit: The Manc Group

Food and drink

Diecast* – The big name in this new neighbourhood is Diecast, a sprawling food, drink and music spot with masses of outside space, 64 combinations of frozen daiquiri, New York-style pizzas, and even retro caravans you can sit in. 

Ramona and The Firehouse* – It started as a teepee serving Detroit-style pizzas slices, and has now expanded into the neighbouring MOT garage, which has been transformed into a glittering party palace serving fire-cooked meats, flatbreads, and pure disco. 

Tariff and Dale* – A long-time favourite in the Northern Quarter, with the sort of natural industrial charm that so many have tried and failed to replicate, Tariff and Dale is known best for its classic cocktails, British beers, and wood-fired pizzas. 

Freight Island – Want to be spoilt for choice for your dinner? Piccadilly East rubs shoulders with Freight Island, a massive food hall and entertainment space that plays host to loads of great traders from across the North West, including the award-winning Burgerism. 

Diecast and Cloudwater Brewery / Credit: The Manc Group

Cloudwater* – Arguably the most well-known craft brewery in Manchester, if not the UK, Cloudwater has its own taproom here in Piccadilly East, where you can sip on delicious beers directly above the brewery itself. 

Track – Another spot where you can drink your beer as close to the source as possible is Track (happily, directly across the road from Cloudwater), which has built a beautiful taproom inside its huge brewery where you can crack open a can while you watch beers being canned in front of you. 

Sureshot – Part of the unofficial Piccadilly Beer Mile (there are a lot of brewers working around here) is Sureshot, a brewery with some of the funniest beer names in Manchester and an excellent taproom too. 

Shopping

Northern Flower* – Want a new little leafy mate for your new pad, or a bunch of flowers to treat a special someone (that special someone could be yourself)? Then Northern Flower is the spot for you. It’s a long-standing florist in the Northern Quarter, a short walk from Piccadilly East.

The Norah Store – Okay this is technically in Ancoats, not Piccadilly East, but the beauty of the new neighbourhood is that it’s very central. The Norah Store sells vintage-inspired womenswear, all designed by female designers and other small independent business owners. 

Literally the entire Northern Quarter – Actually, if you end up living in Piccadilly East you’re incredibly well-placed for some of the best independent shopping in the North West. In the Northern Quarter alone you’ll find vintage shops, boutiques, comic book shops, florists, bakeries, record shops, lifestyle stores, and more.

Northern Flower and The Norah Store / Credit: The Manc Group

Nightlife and hotels

The Warehouse Project – When it comes to nightlife, Piccadilly East is at the heart of quite possibly the most famous clubbing series in Europe – The Warehouse Project. Taking over Depot Mayfield every autumn and winter, it attracts the biggest names in dance, electronic, house and more for several weeks of pure fun. 

Leonardo – Time to rest your weary head? The new Leonardo Hotel has plenty of spacious bedrooms, and is a familiar sight now thanks to its striking Jenga block-style exterior with plants spilling out from every level. 

Dakota – Another hotel in this neck of the woods is Dakota, a luxury spot with phenomenal rooms that’s played host to more than a few celebrities since it opened in 2019 (cough cough, Hugh Jackman…)

Culture

Mayfield Park – One of the best things for locals to do around Piccadilly East is to check out the new Mayfield Park, Manchester’s first new city centre park in 100 years. It was recently awarded a prestigious Green Flag award, with judges saying they had ‘never seen such an outstanding urban park’.

Ancoats Marina – There’s more valuable outside space to be found near Piccadilly East, with Ancoats Marina and all its charms right across the road. You can grab a coffee, a pastry, a wine or a pint, and soak in the waterside views. 

Co-op Live and Mayfield Park / Credit: The Manc Group

Co-op Live – Piccadilly East is walking distance for most people to the brand-new Co-op Live arena, a staggering new music venue that’s already hosted some of the biggest music names in the world, with plenty more to come. 

Events – There are always things happening at all of the places we’ve mentioned already, whether you’re wanting to browse a Maker’s Market, dance into the early hours, or even go to a Batman exhibition (this one has sadly departed but something similar will surely follow).

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Property

The Castings – When it comes to where to live in Piccadilly East, The Castings is a clear favourite. Its apartments have been finished to the highest standards with huge bedrooms with massive built-in wardrobes, well-equipped kitchens complete with top-of-the-range appliances, and stunning living spaces that are flooded with natural light. 

The building also has its own gym, kitted out with Technogym equipment that includes a free weights zone, squat rack, and cardio equipment, or taking on a class in the studio where virtual instructors are available seven days a week. 

Then there’s an on-site home working hub with 12 desk spaces, three private booths, and a bookable meeting room, plus a media room with a huge sofa and 86” TV.

And just off the working hub is one of several roof terraces which looks out over a small but green square below. 

The Castings / Credit: The Manc Group

Transport

The easiest commute in the world awaits you from Piccadilly East, which is (as the name suggests) right beside Manchester Piccadilly and all the many trains that pass through it every day. 

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You’re also very close to key stops on the Metrolink tram stop, bus routes, and are walking distance from all of Manchester city centre. 

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From here, you can hop on one train or one tram all the way to the airport if you want to get further afield. 

*Indicates that The Castings residents can get discounts and perks at these neighbourhood heroes.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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