Beloved Manchester-founded burger brand Archie’s has revealed its latest venture – an all-pink roller rink, diner and arcade, Archie’s Atomic.
The huge new venue will officially open its doors to the public next week, but we have, of course, had a little sneak peek for you.
This exciting addition to Greater Manchester includes the north’s largest leisure roller rink, geared towards skaters of all abilities.
You’ll be able to rent a pair of Archie’s Atomic roller skates before going for a spin beneath a huge spinning disco ball on the bespoke bright pink rink.
There’s plenty of space around the sidelines for your mates to cheer you on (or laugh at you, depending on your skating ability).
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This massive new 750-capacity entertainment destination also has a state-of-the-art arcade, including games like basketball hoops, prize grabbers, driving simulators, and dance machines, in partnership with SEGA.
An immersive gaming platform will let you challenge your pals in interactive competitions, with a soundtrack of 80s, 90s and 00s hits.
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The huge pink roller rink at Archie’s Atomic. Credit: The Manc GroupArcade area at Archie’s Atomic. Credit: The Manc Group
And it wouldn’t be Archie’s without burgers and shakes, would it?
The 5000sq ft Archie’s Atomic has a full diner with smash burgers and delicious sides.
For the first time ever, the new venue also has a dedicated milkshake bar serving shakes, waffles, coffee and ice cream by the scoop.
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Passes for the roller rink, which get you an hour on the floor, start from £15, or a full any-time Skate Club membership is £60 per month.
Archie’s Atomic has a full diner serving its signature burgers and shakes. Credit: The Manc GroupArchie’s shakes are on the menu. Credit: The Manc Group
There are party packages available for groups of more than eight people, starting from £25pp for children and £30pp for over-14s.
Archie’s Atomic is at the Trafford Palazzo, next to to Nerf Action Experience and Sea Life Manchester.
Doors will officially open at 10am on Thursday 7 November, with opening hours from 10am to 10pm seven days a week.
‘Breathtaking’ new 360° immersive dinosaurs exhibition to open in Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
A ‘breathtaking’ new immersive dinosaurs exhibition is set to open in Manchester later this year.
Fresh off the back of announcing its programme of events for the upcoming autumn-winter season last week, Factory International has now revealed that another new Lightroom experience will be arriving later this year, and it’s one any budding paleontologist will want to keep an eye on.
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs blends iconic moments from Apple TV’s Emmy nominated Prehistoric Planet with never-before seen content.
It’s set to take audiences back in time to experience dinosaurs closer than ever before.
Narrated by critically acclaimed actor, Damian Lewis, the new 360° immersive experience is a celebration of our natural world told through captivating storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and groundbreaking technology, with visitors will be transported back in time, 66 million years ago, to experience dinosaurs up close.
Damian Lewis guides audiences through the fascinating role dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures have played in shaping our world – from Ammonites and Mosasaurs, to the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Lightroom’s state-of-the-art 360 projections will allow viewers to see these majestic animals at an awe-inspiring scale and travel alongside them through volcanoes, soaring skies and the deep sea.
As escapist as it is educational, audiences will not only experience some of the most beloved scenes from seasons one and two of Apple TV’s Prehistoric Planet, but they will also be immersed in exclusive extended CGI sequences and bespoke illustrations that bring the show to life in entirely new ways.
And to make it even better, the experience is set to an original score by multi-Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, alongside Anže Rozman, and Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music.
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs opens at Aviva Studios, and tickets go on public sale tomorrow (Friday 26 June).
Featured Image – Supplied
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Prestigious Edinburgh TV Festival to move to Manchester for first time in 50 years
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester will become the new host city for the TV Festival from 2027 onwards it was announced today.
For the first time in five decades, following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process – which was launched in 2025 – the prestigious festival is set to move from its home in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to our region from 2027 onwards, beating out other major northern cities like Newcastle in the process.
As part of a UK-wide strategic review into the event’s long-term future, the Festival’s board of directors say the review was undertaken in order to ‘examine how the TV Festival could continue to grow’ amid increasing challenges around accessibility, affordability, and sustainability across the television industry.
Greater Manchester‘s ‘successful and comprehensive’ bid included commitments around affordability, infrastructure, industry partnership, and long-term growth potential.
Plans include holding the Festival in locations in the newly developed St. John’s creative and cultural district.
“Greater Manchester presented a vision for the Festival that combined genuine creative ambition and future-facing energy with practical accessibility and affordability for delegates,” commented Campbell Glennie, who is the CEO of the TV Festival and The TV Foundation.
“This means we can radically reduce the costs associated with attending the Festival as well as the cost of passes.
“The city reflects the expanding ambition of the UK television industry, while still offering the scale, connectivity and unique cultural identity needed for an event of this significance – it gives us the strongest platform to grow the Festival’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said being chosen as TV Festival hosts is ‘brilliant news’ for Greater Manchester, adding: “It speaks to the growth, success and strength of our screen sector in the city region and the strong partnerships and talent we have here.”
The final Edinburgh edition of the TV Festival will take place this August, and dates and further details for the TV Festival in 2027 will be shared later this year.
Daisy Jackson -
30th October 2024 
