If you’re looking for something a little different to entertain your mini Mancs this weekend, then how about taking them to meet Kung Fu Panda?
In case you hadn’t heard, the fourth installment in the beloved DreamWorks Animation film franchise, Kung Fu Panda, has just been released today, and there’s no better way to celebrate the long-awaited new flick than taking the kids down to meet the legendary Dragon Warrior himself right here in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Po will be setting some time aside from his busy schedule of Kung Fu mastery to make his way over to Manchester’s landmark entertainment complex, Printworks, this Saturday (30 March) for a very-special meet and greet.
He’ll be meeting his Manc fans every hour, on the hour, from 11am right through to 3pm, and families will need to head to the ‘Printworks Pumpyard’ to grab a selfie with the popular character.
You can also expect loads of FREE giveaways to be up for grabs throughout the day too.
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“We are always looking for exciting new experiences for families at Printworks, and are thrilled to bring the fun of Kung Fu Panda to our venue,” commented Kristian Brennan, who is the Marketing Manager at Printworks, ahead of this weekend’s meet and greet.
You can take the kids to meet Kung Fu Panda in Manchester this weekend / Credit: Printworks (Supplied)
“As part of the recent re-launch of Printworks following extensive refurbishment, Kung Fu Panda 4 has been the first commercial partner to take space on the giant ceiling screen amongst a host of unique content.
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“This partnership will spark a whole host of entertainment, fun and adventure with our young visitors, and we can’t wait to welcome them this Bank Holiday weekend.”
And then, once you’ve met the main man (or main panda, we should say), you can even extend your bank holiday family fun by sitting down to watch the film itself, as Kung Fu Panda 4 finally arrived on the big screen at Vue in Printworks.
Manchester’s landmark entertainment destination Printworks is the place to meet Po himself / Credit: Printworks
It means that, for the first time in almost a decade, you’ll get to see comedy icon Jack Black return to his role as the world’s most unlikely kung fu master.
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With regular screenings available to book throughout the Easter school holidays, families are encouraged to grab some popcorn, kick back, and get ready for a hilarious butt-kicking experience.
Tickets to watch Kung Fu Panda 4 at Vue Manchester Printworks can be pre-booked here, and you can find out more about Po’s meet and greet here.
Featured Image – DreamWorks Animation / Universal Pictures
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Three major events announced for finale of Salford’s 100th birthday celebrations
Daisy Jackson
Salford’s 100th birthday celebrations are heading towards a spectacular finale, with three major events set to bring the city’s communities, creativity and history into the spotlight this autumn.
Following a packed programme of celebrations, performances and art commissions since the city’s official birthday in April, Salford City Council has revealed what’s still to come – including a huge outdoor projection featuring more than 1,500 local people, the biggest-ever Wagon Train finale, and a special live performance celebrating the sounds of Salford.
The free events have been co-produced by Salford creative organisations Walk the Plank and From The Other, with public funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council England.
The Salford 100 autumn events follow a year of activity designed to explore Salford’s past, celebrate its present and imagine its future.
The celebrations officially began on 21 April, Salford’s centenary birthday, with Birthday City — a day of surprises for residents who shared their birthday with the city.
Seven Salfordians were selected for special birthday treats, including a teaching assistant who had worked at the same school for more than 20 years, a nine-year-old boy, and the founder of local suicide prevention charity Jak’s World.
Performances from Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, Manchester Dhol Players and the BBC Philharmonic, alongside dancers and a giant birthday cake, appeared in unexpected locations around the city – including on a commuter train, at workplaces, a school and even a supermarket.
With the final major events now approaching, Salford’s centenary celebrations are set to end the year on a high.
And best of all, all three autumn events are free to attend.
For more information about Salford’s centenary programme Salford 100, and individual commissions, head HERE.
Salford Everywhere: A City Gathering
Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October, from 6pm – Peel Park
Salford 100
Salford is set to become the canvas for a spectacular celebration of its people when Salford Everywhere premieres this October.
Created by award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Matthew Rosier, the monumental artwork features more than 1,500 Salfordians, from NHS workers and builders to schoolchildren, supermarket teams, athletes, Royal Mail staff, dementia support groups and food bank volunteers.
On 9 and 10 October, video artworks featuring the local contributors will be projected onto buildings across the city.
The main free gathering will take place at Peel Park from 6pm to 10pm, where a 45-minute film will be projected at huge scale onto the University of Salford’s Maxwell Building, with two screenings each evening.
The film will be accompanied by a live musical score celebrating Salford’s rich musical heritage, featuring local choirs and brass bands. The score has been arranged by Michael Betteridge, with music direction from Salford-based composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE.
Meanwhile, Salford Shopping Centre in Pendleton will be illuminated from 7pm to 10pm, with the 1,553 local participants projected at monumental scale.
Rosier said the project captures the ‘humour, togetherness and toughness’ of Salford, after spending a month editing footage of the people who took part.
It promises to be a powerful celebration of the people who make Salford what it is today.
The Wagon Train Centenary Finale
Sunday 25 October, 6pm – Seedley Park, part of Buile Hill Park
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After travelling around Salford throughout the summer, the Wagon Train is heading to Seedley Park for its biggest celebration yet.
Created by outdoor arts curators Walk the Plank, the spectacular family event will welcome an audience of around 3,000 people, bringing together performance, music, fire and plenty of Salford spirit.
Expect aerial performances, a glittering glowing Time Capsule and the Wagon Train of Inventions, celebrating Salford innovations from electricity to space exploration.
And yes – the giant birthday cake is making a return.
The event will also celebrate Salford’s entertainment heritage, with dancers taking audiences on a journey through the city’s nightlife, from ballroom to northern soul. Drummers and DJs will provide the soundtrack.
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There will be plenty for younger visitors too. Children will work with artists to create Fuel of the Future — willow and tissue-paper lanterns that they can carry as part of the performance.
The evening will culminate with Pride of Salford torch bearers igniting a huge fire drawing designed by young people, followed by a short fireworks finale.
More than 350 Salfordians are expected to take part in the show.
Walk the Plank co-founder Liz Pugh said the finale will bring families and communities together ‘with a bang’, while celebrating homegrown talent and looking towards Salford’s future.
Songs of Salford: Live Preview
Saturday 14 November, 7.30pm – Swinton Grand Palais. Free tickets, limited spaces, details to be released soon
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Artists involved in Songs of Salford. Credit: Daniel Johnson
Salford’s centenary celebrations will also get a musical send-off with the first live performance of Songs of Salford.
From The Other and award-winning producer Charlie Deakin-Davies have brought together five Salford artists to create a new record reflecting the city, its people and its communities.
The project features classically trained vocalist and pianist Salo, spoken-word artist The Thirsty Poet (Matt Concannon), battle rapper and youth worker Che3kz, Zimbabwean-born songwriter and poet Meduulla, and singer-songwriter Sam Seth.
The record also brings together communities from Age Friendly Salford, Salford Youth Zone, Monton Community Choir and music engineering students from the University of Salford.
On 14 November, audiences will get the first chance to hear the complete record performed live at the iconic Swinton Grand Palais.
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The performance will feature all five artists alongside a 10-piece ensemble from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Songs of Salford record itself will be released in 2027.
The family-run gem doing tapas, craft beer, cocktails and live music just outside Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A good neighbourhood restaurant should be somewhere you can pop in to at any time of day, for just about any occasion.
Whether it’s coffee and a bake after the school run, a tapas night with your mates, a cosy cocktail with your partner, or even somewhere to end the night listening to live music, Gin & Brews is one such neighbourhood gem.
This brilliant family-run venue opened in an old bank in Garstang in 2023 and quickly spilled over into the unit next door, expanding its offering as it went.
It’s gone from a cosy bottle shop and microbar to a true neighbourhood haunt, with fantastic deals (like two pizzas and a bottle of wine for £25 on Thursdays) and cocktails made with their own distilled spirits.
The food is a big part of the appeal, particularly the tapas.
There’s bread and oils, chorizo and prawns, goat’s cheese and loaded potatoes, with plenty designed for sharing – you might want to order more than you think you need, but at £12 for three dishes, that’s no hardship.
You can get three tapas dishes for £12Lemon curd French toast
Then there’s the homemade honey and sea salt butter. It’s the sort of butter you try once and immediately want to tell everyone about.
For daytime visits, the brunch menu brings out perfectly poppable eggs and seriously good French toast, with the lemon curd a particular must-try.
And if you have dietary requirements, Gin & Brews is unusually well set up for gluten-free diners, with almost everything on the menu gluten free – even the beer – plus a generous selection of gluten-free bakes.
The drinks offering is where things get particularly interesting.
The team make their own spirits under the Garstang Gin name, with the distillery growing from just three spirits to an impressive 46.
It’s a natural progression for the owner, who previously worked in the drinks industry before leaving to set up her own gin distillery.
They distill their own Garstang Gin spirits for cocktailsInside Gin & Brews
Those spirits now make their way into the cocktails at Gin & Brews, giving the bar plenty of its own character and making it a particularly good shout if cocktails are your thing.
There’s also a constantly changing selection of craft beer, with the range switching up regularly, alongside the bottle shop, so there’s always something new to discover.
For somewhere that has grown so quickly, Gin & Brews still feels firmly rooted in its community.
Much of what goes onto your plate is sourced from businesses on the high street, including local butchers and egg suppliers. Even some of the cakes and cookies are made by one of the members of staff.
It feels fitting for a venue in Garstang, which is recognised as the world’s first Fair Trade Town.
Bakes at Gin & Brews are made by a member of staff
And while Wednesday and Thursday evenings are already busy, the team are keen to bring more people through the doors during the day. They certainly have the offering for it.
There are coffee-and-cake afternoons, brunch dates, tapas lunches, craft beer, cocktails and plenty of gluten-free treats to take away.
Then, when the sun goes down, the music comes on, with live performances at weekends and regular events bringing the place to life.
If you’re looking for a reason to venture out of Manchester for something a little different, this might just be it.
Gin & Brews has only been around for a few years, but it already feels like one of those places that has been part of the local scene forever.
And if the homemade butter doesn’t convince you, the cocktails probably will.
Emily Sergeant -
28th March 2024 
