Escape to Freight Island is bringing its highly popular Winter Island back to Manchester this November, just in time to get you in the mood for the approaching holiday season.
Landing at Depot Mayfield‘s premier event space and cargo park on 12 November, this year’s Winter Island promises everything from DJs, live entertainment and Massaoke, to Christmas workshops, pop-up markets and all the festive food you could hope for.
With the hordes of people gathering for the Christmas markets scattered around the city centre, escaping to Freight’s Winter Island where you can find plenty more than just food and drink stalls might be the one for you.
Live entertainment and fun for all the family
As well as live music from the likes of Norman Jay MBE, Greg Wilson, the AMC Gospel Choir and more, the winter markets also include dedicated family sections complete with grottos for the kids, a pantomime and cinema club as well as the ever magical Christmas tree forest.
They’re even showing the Festival of Football next door to make sure you don’t miss a minute of the 2022 World Cup. What more could you ask for?
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Oh yeah, and there’s all this food and drink to be scoffed from some of the best local and independent traders. There is some serious deliciousness on show here.
Food glorious food (and drink)
Great North Pie Co.Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
From Manchester favourites like Northern Soul grilled cheese and the award-winning Great North Pie Co. to Ancoats chocolatiers Cocoa Cabana, who will be letting you create your own boozy hot chocolate (the best kind), there’s so much to tickle your festive fancies.
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And, of course, no winter festival is complete without a Mulled Wine Barrell Bar serving everything from the classics to a special hot Vimto, not mention a brand new Freight Island Tap Room with a healthy selection of beers and a Grey Goose sponsored Après Bar for you lot feeling all posh this Christmas.
Something for everyone
Seriously, they’ve got pretty much everything on here – you can even buy homewares, specially printed t-shirts and handcrafted jewellery from Wonderhaus, all made right in front of you. Ever wanted to take an art or candle-making class from an expert? This is your chance.
Better still, if you’re looking for a seasonal space to book out for corporate events or just for a little work’s night out, you can also book Winter Island tickets for groups as big as 2,000 people at a time. That’s the Christmas do sorted then!
Winter Island is open Wednesday-Sunday starting from Saturday 12 November, before it opens for a full seven days a week from Wednesday 7 December, concluding on Friday 30 December.
Opening hours are 4pm-11pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm-1am on Fridays; 12pm-1am on Saturdays and 12pm-10pm on Sundays.
While the special festive space is obviously closed on Christmas and Boxing Day, there will be a special New Year’s Eve event announced soon.
Booking in advance is recommended to secure your preferred dates and times for a table, especially if booking for several people. Walk-ups are available but will be subject to availability.
Manchester’s Barton Aerodrome announces huge line-up of outdoor gigs including McFly, JLS and UB40
Daisy Jackson
Three new shows have been announced for an open-air gig series at Barton Aerodrome this summer.
Barton LIVE has today confirmed that McFly, JLS and UB40 will be taking to the stage, where the backdrop will be the bustling runway of Barton Airport.
The summer series also includes performances from The Jacksons Live, 90s Baby Festival, and Boogietown North.
Barton LIVE’s summer series takes place at one of the country’s most unique and exhilarating settings at Barton Aerodrome, where the worlds of music and aviation come together.
The three new shows that have just been announced kick off with McFly on Thursday 12 September.
The pop-rockers, famed for their hits like Five Colours In Her Hair, All About You and Obviously, will take centre stage with a typically high-energy performance.
Then on Saturday 14 September, the stage will be given over to British boy band royalty JLS, whose chart-topping hits include Beat Again, Everybody in Love, and She Makes Me Wanna.
Their signature blend of R&B, pop, soul and silky-smooth vocals will be part of Barton LIVE’s star-studded end-of-summer line-up.
Finally, on Sunday 15 September, legendary reggae band UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will perform.
They’ll be whisking audiences away to the warm and vibrant Caribbean through their iconic reggae rhythms and songs like Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Kingston Town.
Tickets for McFly, JLS and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell at Barton LIVE will be available on Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up for tickets via www.bartonlive.co.uk
Over the course of the summer, the stage at Barton Aerodrome will welcome the likes of Ronan Keating, The Jacksons, Peter Andre, Blue, Eternal, Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Boney M and many more.
Barton LIVE line-up in full for outdoor gig series at Barton Aerodrome
Friday 19July – The Jacksons LIVE (The Jacksons, Kenny Thomas, Soul Boutique Collective) – tickets £39.50 plus booking fee via Skiddle here.
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July – 90s Baby Festival (Ronan Keating, Eternal, Peter Andre, Blue, Five, A1, Scott Mills, 911, Sonique, Blazin Squad, Dave Pearce, Phats & Small, N-Trance, Happy Clappers Ft Sandra Edwards, Baby D, Alison Limerick, Ultrabeat, JX, Livin Joy Ft Luzahnn, Urban Cookie Collective, Nick Coulson + support) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Saturday 27 July – Boogietown North (Sister Sledge Ft Kathy Sledge, Soul II Soul, Tunde Of Lighthouse Family, Boney M, Trevor Nelson, Craig Charles, Gina Breeze, Supernatire Disco, Nick Coulson) – tickets £39.50 from Skiddle here.
Thursday 12 September – McFly – tickets £44.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Saturday 14 September – JLS – tickets £49.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Sunday 15 September – UB40 featuring Ali Cambell, tickets £39.50 plus booking fee, on sale Friday 26 April at 9am. Sign up via bartonlive.co.uk
Featured image: Supplied
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Popular Manchester Italian restaurant launches great-value express menu and mouth-watering new dishes
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s best Italian restaurants is ready to launch a brand new menu – with a top-value express deal too.
Italiana Fifty-Five, formerly known as the foodie favourite Cibo, is expanding its offering with even more authentic pastas, pizzas, salads and seafood dishes.
The restaurant has sites across Greater Manchester, including in the Great Northern, on Liverpool Road, and in Didsbury, all serving up authentic Italian food.
And now the family-friendly eatery is ready for a new season, with a whole host of new dishes to sink your teeth in to.
Italiana Fifty-Five’s new menu features a brand new Rigatoni Italiana, a spicy and rich pasta dish that’s baked so that it becomes a bubbling bowl of molten cheese and creamy tomato sauce.
Meatballs at Italiana Fifty-Five. Credit: The Manc GroupBurrata bruschetta and tiger prawns from Italiana Fifty-Five. Credit: The Manc GroupRisotto Zafferano with king prawns
They also have a new Risotto Zafferano, a risotto cooked in saffron and pecorino cheese so that it arrives glowing a healthy yellow, with the option to add king prawns on top.
For starters, there are new dishes like a mozzarella, avocado and tomato salad, meatballs swimming in a hearty tomato sauce, and a seafood stew with gigantic prawns and mussels.
You can also order huge tiger prawns cooked in garlic and chilli, their tender meat served still in their shells, or a roasted tomato bruschetta topped with fresh burrata.
All these new menu items (and more) are available at Italiana Fifty-Five now, along with a brand new Italian Express set menu.
Dishes on Italiana Fifty Five’s express menu. Credit: The Manc GroupSalami pizza at Italiana Fifty FiveDishes on Italiana Fifty Five’s express menu. Credit: The Manc Group
If you dine from the Express menu, you can get a delicious Italian dish served with a tea, coffee or soft drink, for only £14.75.
Choose from a creamy mushroom risotto funghi, the aforementioned Rigatoni Italiana, a classic chicken Caesar salad, pan-fried seabass with parsley, lemon and spinach, or a fiery Diavola pizza covered in spicy salami and red onion.
To find out more about Italiana Fifty-Five and to book your table, click here.