Victoria Baths will become home to a pop-up cinema screening comedy and romance classics to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
With the annual day of love only a few weeks away now, independent event production company The Village Screen is returning to Manchester next month to transform this unique and historic venue into a “Cupid-approved pop-up” cinema for Valentine’s – and Galentine’s – with a handful of film favourites on the agenda.
Tina Fey’s 2004 cult classic comedy Mean Girls will be screened first on Thursday 10 February to celebrate Galentine’s Day.
Never heard of of ‘Galentine’s Day’? Coined in 2010, the second season of hit US mockumentary show Parks and Rec included an episode called “Galentine’s Day” where the main character Leslie gathered a group of her closest gal pals on the day before Valentine’s Day for a brunch full of waffles and love – and it’s taken off ever since.
The next flick on the lineup is the 1994 dark, funny, and violent film True Romance, which has a screenplay written by legendary director Quentin Tarantino, and stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette.
ADVERTISEMENT
True Romance will be show on Friday 11 February to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Victoria Baths will become home to a “cupid-approved” cinema / Credit: Victoria Baths
You can choose to snuggle down on candy-striped deckchairs inside the old Gala Pool, or on the original wooden seating that overlooks the empty pool on the Balcony level.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’ll be a delicious selection of independent street food traders on site, as well as a number of drinks and snack options – including hot chocolates, themed-cocktails, Prosecco, freshly-cooked popcorn, and more – and to make your experience that little bit more special, you can even write a love letter to your special someone which will be shown on the big screen before the films begin.
Or you can add a ‘snuggle package’ to your ticket too to make it an extra cosy date night to remember.
The Village Screen – which have been hosting cinematic events at Victoria Baths since 2016 – are a small, independent event production team known for running experiential cinematic events in various cities across the UK for the past six years.
With no expense spared in the design and construction of the building, the façade has multicoloured brickwork and terracotta decoration, the interior spaces are clad in glazed tiles, most of the windows have decorative stained glass, and at the opening ceremony of the venue, the Lord Mayor described it “a water palace of which every citizen of Manchester is proud”.
For 86 years, the baths provided both essential and leisure facilities, with private baths and a laundry housed there alongside three swimming pools and Turkish Baths, and in 1952, the first public Aeratone (Jacuzzi) was installed.
Although the baths were closed in 1993, the Grade II listed building is still intact, with most of the stained glass and original tiling remaining – and now, it’s being transformed into a cinema.
You can find out more information, and grab your tickets here.
Featured Image – Victoria Baths
What's On
Smash-hit West End musical Trainspotting is coming to Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester.
30 years on from the film that changed everything, and following its successful world premiere run in London’s West End, Trainspotting The Musical is heading out on a major UK tour later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages in the autumn.
Written by Irvine Welsh – as adapted from his best-selling debut novel – and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Trainspotting The Musical has been described by critics as ‘radical, invigorating and life-affirming’ since its premiere.
It’s said to be an unforgettable production that’ll have even the most sceptical audiences leave on a ‘consciousness-altering high.’
➕ ATG+ PRESALE ➕
CHOOSE LIFE.
Trainspotting: The Musical is coming to the Palace Theatre this November. Written by Irvine Welsh.
Groups presale 👉 Tues 12 May 10am General sale 👉 Wed 13 May 10am
— Palace & Opera Mcr (@PalaceAndOpera) May 11, 2026
In 1996, the breakthrough British film of the same name was released and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year, winning a slew of awards in the process – including a BAFTA for Best Screenplay, and even being ranked tenth in the BFI’s top 100 greatest British films of the 20th century.
Now, three decades later, the industrial drug crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture are back… but this time, live on stage.
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester later this year / Credit: Supplied
“I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film,” creator Irvine Welsh commented as the UK tour was announced this week.
“People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off. It’s what being human is all about. We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”
Trainspotting The Musical will taking to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre later this year from Monday 2 – Saturday 7 November 2026, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May) from 10am.
A beloved Manc gig venue is hosting a special afterparty following Manichester tribute festival
Danny Jones
A much-loved live music institution in Manchester is set to host a dedicated afterparty for the inaugural ‘Manichester’: the live tribute festival in memory of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Seeing the grassroots music scene gathering together in moments like this is the kind of stuff that would make the man himself SO proud.
With Manichester 2026 announced this past March and set to take place later this month in honour of the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, tickets for the main event sold out very quickly.
This came as no surprise, of course, but now other Manc venues are joining in toasting the life and career of Mani for one very special evening.
Shared by Madchester.com, who are helping organise the Manichester ’26 along with surviving members of the Mounfield family, as well as Mani’s friends and peers such as his brother Greg and Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene, gig space Gorilla are hosting it.
The small-cap live music room, bar and restaurant has hosted many a special night over the past decade or so – hosting multiple War Child charity shows in the past few years, for instance – and even when they’re not hosting a set themselves, they’re always more than happy to join in the celebrations.
With that in mind, there always likely to pay their respects to the late, great and iconic local musician in some way, but now they’re teaming up with Madchester directly.
Positioned as the official ‘aftershow’ following the mini tribute festival, as you can see, there will be just 600 tickets available, with general admission for the main event already gone as mentioned.
At one point, it looked like the kind-spirited and well-meaning idea might be scrapped altogether after some confusion between the organising partners.
Thankfully, that all looks to have been put to bed, and all those involved can focus on what’s important: honouring Mani in the best way possible – with a load of live tunes and a good time.
In terms of those who will be playing on the night ahead of the aftershow, the likes of the equally legendary Peter Hook, Rowetta, The Kowloons, Jon McClure from Reverend and the Makers, plus many more, have been announced as part of the lineup.
There is also still a ‘AAA’ headliner still yet to be confirmed, so watch this space.
As for the Manichester afterparty at Gorilla, keep an eye out on socials for the ticket link to drop and, hopefully, we’ll see you there for a night to remember.
Emily Sergeant -
28th January 2022 
