Great Northern has reopened its giant sandpit and free family-friendly play area just in time for the school summer holidays.
Looking to get the children out of the house and to engage in some fun, creative play now that home schooling is done, dusted and out of the way?
Well you’re in luck because the Great Northern Warehouse’s iconic amphitheatre has reopened its newly redesigned playhouse and ever popular giant sandpit this week for families to enjoy throughout the summer.
Open play spaces that are free and family friendly can be tricky to come across when you’re in the heart of a city centre, which is why the Great Northern community is key as the amphitheatre is solely dedicated to providing a fun space for kids to play and let their imagination run wild while parents and guardians relax.
Bringing a new pop of colour to the outdoor space, the playhouse has been totally redecorated by Manchester street artist, Moze. With a combination of colourful fruits and flowers, the vibrant exterior is now perfect to brighten up any dull day in the city.
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Great Northern
The playhouse is COVID-safe for children however, the books and small toys have been removed to prevent unnecessary contact for now.
The ever-popular giant sandpit will be open for children to play in and enjoy, but once again, in the name of safety, the sand toys will not be be put out, so you are advised to bring your own.
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To allow families the chance to sit and enjoy an afternoon together in the sun, colourful picnic benches are situated in the amphitheatre, or if you book in advance, you can visit one of the recently reopened café’s or restaurants at Great Northern, including Almost Famous, All Star Lanes, Evuna and more.
Mark Schofield, Centre Director at Great Northern, said: “We are proud to provide an outdoor space in the community for families to enjoy.”
“You can never count on the weather here in Manchester, but when it is sunny we know that young families count on free spaces like this for children to play in. It’s been a tough few months for everybody having to stay indoors, but now that summer is here we hope that visitors will be able to make the most of our sandpit and playhouse, as well as visit some of our amazing bars and restaurants which also recently reopened.”
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As with all public spaces, COVID-safety measures are in place across the entire Great Northern side and these include the usual careful management of the sandpit, as well as one way systems and cashless payments for many brands.
For more information and bookings, visit the Great Northern website here.
What's On
Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
What's On
Massive student night returns to Trafford Centre next month with up to 50% off on big brands
Emily Sergeant
Students can get themselves up to 50% off on food, activities, and loads of big-name brands at the Trafford Centre next month.
With thousands of new and returning students starting to arrive for the new academic year at Greater Manchester‘s universities, one of the region’s biggest student nights will be making a long-awaited comeback for one night only next month – and there’ll be loads of exclusive offers and free entertainment to make the most of across the evening.
Taking over the Trafford Centre in early October, the popular one-off student night is happening in partnership with Student Beans, and gives cash-strapped students the chance to shop a variety of incredible discounts all under one roof.
Just some of the big brands offering big discounts include 25% off at Levi’s and Boux Avenue, 20% off at Gymshark, Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch, and 15% off at KIKO, Rituals, and Sephora.
It’s not just retail brands you’ll be able to save some pennies on either, as many of the Trafford Centre’s restaurants and cafes will also be offering discounts and freebies on the night too.
Alongside the offers, students can expect plenty of live entertainment and in-store experiences throughout the evening, including a DJ set and drinks at Calvin Klein, in-store fitness challenges and at Gymshark, an exclusive piercing event at Lovisa, and a Beauty Hub takeover at Sephora.
There’ll also be ‘spin-to-win’ opportunities at places like schuh, River Island, and YO! Sushi.
Massive student night returns to Trafford Centre next month with up to 50% off on big brands / Credit: Supplied
“Student Night is one of the highlights of our autumn calendar, and we’re excited to welcome students for an evening of brilliant offers and feel-good experiences,” explained Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at the Trafford Centre.
“Whether they are updating their wardrobe, stocking up on beauty favourites, grabbing a bite to eat or enjoying the atmosphere with friends, there is plenty to discover across the centre.
“With simple transport links from Manchester city centre and across the region, Trafford Centre is the perfect place for a student night out.”
The Trafford Centre’s Student Night is happening on Thursday 1 October from 6-10pm, and students can now reserve themselves a spot by registering online HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
14th July 2020 
