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Inside Urban Playground, where Mancs can take on The Cube

Daisy Jackson - 3rd February 2022

A massive new attraction is opening in Manchester next week, giving visitors the chance to take on The Cube.

Urban Playground has taken over a row of units that once housed Arcadia shops Burton, Miss Selfridge, Evans and Dorothy Perkins.

Inside, there’s also a high-tech mini golf experience and the first UK branch of burger restaurant The Butcher.

Spread over two floors and spanning 4,000 sq metres, the first Urban Playground site is set to open on 10 February.

ITV’s The Cube will be brought to life at Urban Playground, with teams of four taking on deceptively simple tasks inside the high-pressure confines of the familiar perspex box.

There are seven games to try, like taking on obstacles blindfolded and collecting balls in a set time window.

Tickets for The Cube Live range from £30 to £45.

Urban Playground is also home to Putters, a mini golf experience made up of three themed nine-hole challenges, where screens and animations bring every hole to life.

Putters can be played in groups of up to six, with tickets priced between £7 and £20.

Cocktail bar Putters Bar will serve a range of premium beers, wines, spirits and cocktails.

The Butcher, which has a number of high-end restaurants in The Netherlands, Germany and Ibiza, will be serving top-quality burgers.

The brand uses Aberdeen Angus beef, fresh vegetables, signature sauces and semi-brioche buns to created a ‘high-end yet casual burger bar with an international charisma’.

Yossi Eliyahoo, founder and co-owner at The Entourage Group said: “Over the past years, within The Entourage Group, The Butcher has developed into a successful brand with a lot of potential for further growth.”

Mellors Group, which is behind Urban Playground, is also responsible for some of the biggest theme parts and attractions in the world.

Edward Mellors, director of Urban Playground, said: “Mellors Group are thrilled to launch Urban Playground at Manchester Arndale. The Cube Live is the first of its kind along with a state-of-the-art Tech-Infused Putters mini golf and food franchise, The Butcher.

“We hope this is the first of many Urban Playground attractions to be produced across the UK and cannot wait for doors to open to the public for the very first time.”

Holly Pye, commercial director at Objective Media Group, said: “We are very excited that The Cube is joining Urban Playground. At last members of the public will get the opportunity to play these iconic games for themselves and get a taste of the adrenaline that has had viewers hooked for over 11 series.”

Colin Finn, spokesperson for Manchester Arndale said: “It is great news that Urban Playground – which includes The Cube Live – has chosen Manchester Arndale as its first location in the UK.

“Urban Playground is a truly exciting, high-profile use with a unique experiential offer and a key addition to the centre’s leisure provision.

Read more: Mancs will soon be able to slide over the River Medlock, Mayfield Play Yard plans reveal

“Experiential attractions are rapidly becoming key features of UK shopping destinations and are helping to draw in more visitors from a broader catchment tempted by a multi-purpose visit.

“This, in turn, attracts other occupiers enhancing the centre’s appeal and vibrancy. Urban Playground will be a huge asset to Manchester Arndale, reinforcing the centre’s position as one of the premier shopping destinations in the north west.”

Tickets are on sale now at urbanplayground.co.uk/book-tickets.

Featured image: Supplied