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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
A pop-up apres-ski bar with yurts, live music and steins has opened in Greater Manchester
Daisy Jackson
All the vibes of an apres-ski experience have landed in Greater Manchester with the arrival of a full Yurt Village.
Inside each cosy space you’ll find log fires, Christmas trees, ski racks, cable cars and fur throws for the perfect Alpine atmosphere.
The YurtBar pop-up in Sale has several different event spaces of varying shapes and sizes, each one named after and inspired by iconic European ski resorts.
Just imagine gathering all your loved ones together to sip on mulled wines, steins of beer and ski shots surrounded by twinkling lights. Bliss, right?
If you’re planning a party this winter, whether it’s your work Christmas do, a birthday, or just a festive get-together with friends, YurtBar is a perfect party spot for the season.
A pop-up apres-ski bar with yurts, live music and steins has opened in Greater Manchester. Credit: Supplied
While the yurts can be booked for groups up to 152 people, you can also just enjoy the apres-ski atmosphere in much smaller groups, with tables available for six people too.
On arrival at the festive Yurt Village you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink before tucking into an Alpine-themed three-course meal by The Hog and Apple.
And to get the party started there’s a full cocktail bar, plus live music with a DJ and saxophonist.
You’ll be able to document your festive celebration in a photobooth with an Alpine themed backdrop, as well as a 360 degree videobooth.
Billed by previous customers as ‘the best night of the year’, YurtBar bookings are now open for minimum tables of six.
To feel like you’ve been whisked off to the mountains without ever leaving town, click HERE.
And you can save money on your booking using the code Organisergoesfree!
Huge Black Friday sale launches on flights from Manchester to New York, Barbados and Orlando
Daisy Jackson
Anyone who says money can’t buy happiness clearly hasn’t booked themselves a discounted flight to a bucket list destination.
The Aer Lingus Black Friday sale is now live, with huge savings on trips between Manchester and dream locations like New York, Barbados and Orlando.
Direct flights with Aer Lingus from Manchester are now on sale from just £379 return, valid on trips all the way through until next summer.
As well as those deals on direct flights already mentioned, Aer Lingus’s Black Friday sale will also whisk you off to other hotspots like Las Vegas, LA, Chicago, Boston and more, via Dublin.
The sale is live now and will run until 3 December, valid on flights until 30 June 2025.
In just a matter of hours you could be relaxing on white-sand beaches and sipping on coconuts in beautiful Barbados.
Or Aer Lingus could jet you off to the city that never sleeps, New York City, ready for a winter soaking in the sights or a spring break scrolling around Central Park.
There are also amazing deals to Florida, whether you’re seeking an action-packed holiday filled with theme parks or just relaxing on one of the state’s many sunny beaches.
Keep your eyes peeled in Manchester city centre on Thursday 28 November, as Aer Lingus will be in town with a spin-the-wheel activation where you can win short- and long-haul flights.
Aer Lingus will be in Manchester Arndale between 10am and 8pm on Thursday.
You can browse all the Aer Lingus Black Friday deals HERE – T&Cs apply.
Emily Sergeant -
21st November 2022 
