There’s loads of festive film favourites showing at Manchester‘s huge new rooftop cinema right through until Christmas.
In case you haven’t heard, Backyard Cinema has brought its immersive moviegoing experience to the north for the first time ever, and it arrived on the rooftop of Depot Mayfield in the heart of the city centre at the end of last month
Here in Manchester for a limited time only, the impressive 330-capacity indoor cinema venue not only features a cosy purpose-built cinema room, but it also comes complete with an Enchanted Forest, two bars, a whole host of different street food trucks, and even a live music stage too.
Having popped-up on what was the 150-year-old former Mayfield Railway Station platform, the whole magical Backyard Cinema experience transports you to a theatrical land – using film sets, themed tunnels, and live actors to bring it all to life.
Manchester’s huge new rooftop cinema is showing loads of festive film favourites / Credit: Backyard Cinema
The station’s old waiting room has been converted into a pizza and pints bar, while a huge fairytale-style shopping street now takes up most of the platform space with snow-covered shop windows, and a Tavern bar with a castle turret jutting out of it – including Dr Portelli’s Antiques and Curiosities, which is a mock-shop filled with colourful glass bottles and trinkets.
Inside the cinema itself, audiences are taken on a magical journey to a cinema like no other.
The cinema room is filled with custom-made giant bean bag seating for guests to get cosied up in, and there’s even ushers walking around serving seasonal cocktails and sweet treats to create the most magical place to watch a movie.
If all of this didn’t sound exciting enough as it is, there’s of course a full lineup on the agenda to suit absolutely everyone.
Backyard Cinema has brought its immersive moviegoing experience to the north for the first time ever / Credit: Supplied
Movie lovers have already been able to catch a series of brand-new releases, including the acclaimed Elvis biopic starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks (2022), the new Top Gun: Maverick (2022), and The Batman (2022) – but, with the festive season right around the corner, the cinema has now begun showing everyone’s favourite classic Christmas films.
During these last few weeks of November and throughout December, you can settle down to watch screenings of cult-classic Christmas films like Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Muppet’s Christmas Carol, and Miracle on 34th Street.
Die Hard, The Grinch, Gremlins, Bad Santa, The Best Man Holiday, and The Greatest Showman are also all on the agenda during the festive season.
Backyard Cinema Manchester at Depot Mayfield is open every right through until 2 January 2023, with screening times at 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm – although these will vary depending on the day.
Scare City returns to abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Scare City will be back in the North West once again this Halloween with its spine-chilling immersive horror experience.
After having firmly cemented itself as the region‘s favourite horror event for the past five years running, Scare City has announced that it’s getting ready for ‘another year of terror’ over in Lancashire, and although it may be the middle of summer right now and spooky season is some time off, tickets are currently on sale.
One summer is over, the nights draw in, and the temperatures begin to drop, Scare City will be taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park once again from this September, just as it has done for the past four years following the success of its initial 2020 launch as a drive-in cinema.
This year’s event is set to feature a selection of terrifying zones.
Scare City returns to an abandoned North West theme park for another year of terror this Halloween / Credit: Jason Roberts (Supplied)
The abandoned theme park will be transformed into a sprawling post-apocalyptic nightmare, featuring new immersive experiences.
Some of the new zones include desolate woodland ‘The Hollow’, and the ‘Puppet Master’, a toy maker’s workshop where innocent toys hide deep dark secrets, as well as the return of a number of familiar spooky spots like ‘The Slaughter House’ and ‘Carnivalley’.
The frightening Abyss is also set to return as ‘Abyss 2.0′, where thrill-seekers’ bravery will be put to the test in claustrophobic darkness, all while they’re unsure of what, or who, might be within reach.
Don’t worry though, if you need a bit of a break from all the terror, then once you’ve made it halfway around the attraction, you’ll arrive at the aptly-named the ‘Resurrection Zone’, so you can take a moment to fuel up on the feast of food and drink freshly-prepared by on-site vendors, all ready for the second half of the harrowing Halloween spectacular.
Scare City 2025 will take over Camelot Theme Park, in Charnock Richard near Chorley in Lancashire, from Thursday 25 September and run until mid-November.
Tickets are now available to book at £29.50 for standard entry, or £44.50 for the ‘Gold Entry’ (both plus a booking fee), which allows you to fast-track queues at the main entrance and at all zones, if you just can’t wait any longer to be scared.
Get your hands on tickets via the Scare City website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Manchester Arndale is hosting FREE workshops to help you ‘rework, restyle, and recycle’ your wardrobe
Emily Sergeant
Is your wardrobe feeling a little bland? Need to make some changes, but your bank account isn’t quite on the same wavelength? This event is here to help.
Those looking for some new ways to get creative with their style and put a spin on the clothes they already have are invited to head down to Manchester Arndale this weekend, as the Reimagine Your Fashion event is set to be a fun hands-on weekend celebrating personal style, smart choices, and sustainable ideas.
Whether you’re into upcycling, love yourself a styling session, or you just fancy doing something different in the city this summer, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into this weekend.
You can expect creative workshops, curated fashion rails, live styling tips, and a chance to give your pre-loved clothes a second life.
Oh, and did we mention it’s all free to take part in? Perfect.
There’s a collection of free ‘REWORK’ workshops taking place over the two-day event on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, where you can learn how to turn old into gold – from patchwork denim makeovers, to scrunchie making, custom tote design, and loads more.
There’s no need to be a sewing pro either, as the workshops are beginner-friendly and designed to be relaxed and creative with all tools provided, so all you have to do is bring along the clothing items you want to upcycle.
Manchester Arndale is hosting free workshops to help you ‘rework, restyle, and recycle’ your wardrobe this weekend / Credit: Priscilla Du Preez | Ashley Diane Worsham (via Unsplash)
At the ‘RESTYLE’ sessions, Rosie, who is the stylist behind Manchester Arndale’s summer campaign, will break down this season’s biggest trends and show you how to style what’s in store now, as well as being on-hand for styling tips and outfit advice.
And finally, there’ll also be a ‘RECYCLE’ station and drop-off point where you pass on your clean pre-loved clothes to two brilliant local charities doing vital work right here in Manchester – MASH, which supports women involved in sex work and those facing homelessness or gender-based violence, and Mustard Tree which works to tackle poverty across Greater Manchester.
“Your clothes could be someone else’s fresh start,” a spokesperson for Manchester Arndale said ahead of the event.
Reimagine Your Fashion is taking place at Exchange Court in Manchester Arndale on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July running from 12pm, and you can find out more information and the times of the free workshops online here.
Emily Sergeant -
21st November 2022 
