Manchester’s newest social experience Escape to Freight Island has just announced its ‘next stage of evolution’ at Depot Mayfield.
After what has been the monumental success of the summer, the team behind Escape to Freight Island – currently housed at Depot Mayfield – are “proud to announce the true vision for this unique urban destination” with the addition of ‘The Ticket Hall’.
The Ticket Hall is the next chapter of Escape to Freight Island’s story, which started with the extraordinary arrival of Platform 15 – the original outdoor area that opened in the summer – and from Friday 30th October, will see a whole host of new food vendors descend on the venue and take over the industrial indoor space.
The fully-heated new opening will feature table seating, a wine shop, bars and a bike cloakroom.
The Ticket Hall is positioned underneath the original and striking roof structure within Depot Mayfield, and will see the vision for Escape to Freight Island unfold into a sprawling indoor market, which captures the atmospheric charm of the imposing building.
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Food vendors joining the original and much-loved Baratxuri, Voodoo Rays, Patty Queen and Madre will be:
Sugo Pasta Kitchen – The critically acclaimed Manchester-born pasta restaurant that takes its inspiration from its deep-rooted southern Italian heritage.
Mi & Pho – The award-winning family-run restaurant, which will offer authentic Vietnamese dishes.
Plant Grill– A vegan offering of modern cuisine created by Dan Hope of Fire Bird Hope and Krum fame.
El Boleto – A San Sebastian-style Deli selling small plates and the freshest produce to enjoy at home or on site.
The Jane Eyre – A cocktail bar serving classic drinks with a twist.
The Ticket Hall will have two tap rooms – Camden Town and Pomona – serving a tasty range of beers, plus the independent wine shop Forever Changes will add to the market takeaway vibes.
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Another addition to the multifaceted urban space, and a first for the city of Manchester, is a bike cloakroom, which is brought to Escape to Freight Island in partnership with world-renowned cyclewear brand Rapha, and it will enable visitors to safely park their bikes while they enjoy the full experience.
Co-creator Luke Cowdrey said: “When we launched Platform 15 at Escape to Freight Island this summer, we created one of the most forward-thinking venues of its time, in this country. It’s a place of positivity; somewhere that people can safely meet with their family and friends and experience some of the most beautifully crafted food and drink with world-class entertainment.
“The Ticket Hall is the next phase in our long and interesting journey developing Escape to Freight Island.”
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James Heather – Development Director at U+I for the Mayfield Partnership – added: “The extraordinary success of Escape to Freight Island this summer has underlined Mayfield’s role as an outstanding location for culture and entertainment.
“With Freight Island expanding further into Depot Mayfield, we’re excited to welcome yet more visitors to enjoy this distinctive space and contribute to the soulful regeneration of Mayfield.”
The Safe + Social Manifesto means Escape to Freight Island has been designed as a space where you are able to socialise safely with your party, maintain social distance from others, and remain alert to the risks of coronavirus (COVID-19), while being part of the overall urban festival atmosphere.
Platform 15 is also set to change, with more information on this to be announced soon.
You can find more information and book tickets via the Escape to Freight Island website here and you can follow Escape to Freight Island on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Science and Industry Museum announces new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’
Emily Sergeant
A major new exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ is making its world premiere in Manchester next year.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will invite visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System when it launches at the Science and Industry Museum next February.
Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition will encourage visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition will propel families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Left teetering on the edge of our Solar System, explorers will then find themselves staring into the dark depths of space, on the lookout for any extra-terrestrial life that could be staring back.
Whether its sniffing astronauts’ smelly socks, dancing on an alien disco planet, feeling the tremors from a mysterious moonquake, or launching a space rocket, organisers say this new adventure will engage all the senses in a truly immersive experience.
This is the first time Horrible Science has been brought to life as a major exhibition.
The Science and Industry Museum has announced a new major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ / Credit: BBC | Science Museum Group
Visitors will get to see familiar characters from the BBC series – like Dr Big Brain, in particular – on their mission to find out more about our fascinating Solar System through interactive experiments, playful challenges, and sensory exploration.
The exhibition is being developed by the Science and Industry Museum in collaboration with producers of the Horrible Science TV show, BBC Children’s and Education, and Lion Television, together with Scholastic, who are publishers of the much-loved Horrible Science book series by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles.
‘Unmissable’ objects from the Science Museum Group’s world-class space collection will also be on show when the exhibition premieres.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will open at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 13 February 2026 for an 11-month run before heading down to London, and tickets are now on sale priced at £10 – with family discounts available, and under-threes going free.
Manchester Cathedral to host charity Christmas carols service to raise money for local NHS hospitals
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a charity Christmas carols service to raise money for our local NHS hospitals.
Organised by Manchester NHS Foundation Trust Charity and now in its twelfth year, Christmas Carols in the City will take place in the spectacular surroundings of Manchester Cathedral in a couple of weeks time, and it’s sounding set to be an enchanting experience for the whole family to be involved with this festive season.
The Grade I-listed Manchester Cathedral is one of our city’s most unique buildings, with the Gothic architecture truly being a thing to behold.
Christmas Carols in the City is being described as a ‘great way’ to start the festive season in style.
Hosted by Hits Radio’s Mike Toolan and sponsored by PG Tips, performances on the night will come from local Manchester choirs.
The event is family-friendly and festive fun for everyone, all while raising funds for the Foundation Trust’s family of NHS Manchester hospitals.
Every penny raised from this year’s event will help to build and run a MediCinema on the Oxford Road hospital campus, which will aim to bring the ‘therapeutic magic of the movies’ to patients of all ages cared for by hospitals such as Manchester Royal Infirmary, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
Manchester Cathedral is hosting a charity Christmas carols service to raise money for our local NHS hospitals / Credit: Supplied
With room for wheelchairs, hospital beds, and medical equipment, and supported by dedicated nurses and trained volunteers, the new MediCinema will offer 260 screenings a year of the latest releases, alongside much loved film favourites.
In recognition of the MediCinema Appeal, Christmas Carols in the City will feature some much-loved Christmas movie classics at this year’s concert too.
Christmas Carols in the City will return to Manchester Cathedral for 2025 on Tuesday 11 December, with doors opening from 7pm and tickets now on sale.
Emily Sergeant -
1st October 2020 
