Manchester’s Backyard Cinema is set to open tonight on the rooftop of Depot Mayfield – and it’s absolutely incredible.
It’s not just about the film screening itself here (though that’s pretty luxurious too).
The whole experience will transport you to a theatrical land, using film sets, themed tunnels, and live actors to bring it all to life.
Cinema-goers enter the experience through the 150-year-old former door to Mayfield Railway Station, popping out on what was previously the train station’s platform.
Inside the cinema space itself. Credit: The Manc Group
The old waiting room has been converted into a pizza and pints bar, with dark green tiles around the bar.
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A huge, fairy-tale style shopping street now takes up most of the platform space – think snow-covered shop windows and even a Tavern bar with a castle turret jutting out of it.
Once you’re suitably fed and beered in the courtyard, it’s through the door into Dr Portelli’s Antiques and Curiosities, a mock-shop filled with colourful glass bottles and trinkets.
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Feeling the magic yet? There’s loads more to come.
One of the Backyard Cinema experience rooms. Credit: The Manc GroupYou enter Backyard Cinema through a Narnia-style wardrobe. Credit: The Manc Group
Next, Backyard Cinema’s actors throw up the doors to a wardrobe full of fur coats, and your Narnia-style journey continues.
Squeezing through the racks of clothing, you’ll find yourself in a tree-lined tunnel dotted with ancient lanterns overhead.
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Then it’s choose-your-own-adventure as the maze continues – a rose-lined Beauty tunnel or the much more mysterious Bravery tunnel.
The Waiting Room bar. Credit: The Manc Group
Whichever you choose, you’ll come to a trickling fountain, with more doors leading off to each of the four seasons.
When you’ve had enough of exploring, it’s into the enormous cinema space itself, where rows and rows of plush custom bean bags line up in front of a state-of-the-art cinema screen.
We’re talking waiter service, blockbuster films, and seasonal cocktails.
Choose your own adventure in the Backyard Cinema maze. Credit: The Manc Group
Movie fans should expect a mixture of brand new releases including the acclaimed Elvis biopic starring Tom Hanks, the new Top Gun: Maverick and The Batman, plus cult classics and Christmas hits later in the year.
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The team has just teased out a list of cult classics too, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Die Hard, Hocus Pocus, Addams Family Values, Beetlejuice, plus other favourites such as The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Beauty and the Beast.
Elsewhere, there’ll be a run of family favourites showing including The Greatest Showman, Frozen 2, Beauty and the Beast, and the brand new Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Then come Christmas time, organisers are planning to go all-out with screenings of festiva favourites like Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually, The Holiday, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Miracle on 34th Street.
Backyard Cinema will open from Wednesday to Sunday, starting from 21 October until 4 December, and from Monday to Sunday, from 5 December until 2 January. Show times are 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm, although these will vary depending on the day.
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Visit the Backyard Cinemawebsite here to check screening times and buy your tickets.
Featured image: The Manc Group
What's On
There’s a non-alocholic pairing dinner coming to Manchester this Dry Jan
Thomas Melia
A one-night-only pairing of two dining out staples from the food and drink world is coming to Manchester next month, and it also happens to be non-alcoholic for anyone doing Dry January.
Taking place at the wonderful Maray over on Lincoln Square, each dish served throughout the night will be expertly paired with a non-alcoholic drink from zero-per cent experts, Lucky Saint.
This Middle Eastern eatery is always surprising its diners, last September they made their infamous roasts free for one day only, and this upcoming event is sure to be as exciting with its unique tastings.
Lucky Saint came to fruition after partnering with a historical brewery in Bavaria who’ve produced beer for over 400 years, creating a non alcoholic alternative which greeted UK drinkers in 2020.
Lucky Saint will be readily available and paired with every meal.Diners can expect some sensational food as always from Maray. Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Titled ‘The Official Beer Of Dry January’, supplying IPAs and lagers to a host of stockists, not only are their products fully non-alcoholic but they’re also entirely plant-based – meaning they’re the perfect tie-in with Veganuary.
If their website is anything to go by, diners are set to enjoy refreshments such as their unfiltered lager and a 0.5% ‘Hazy’ IPA which contains juicy tropical notes. Don’t mind if we do.
Although it’s hard to say what the food offerings may be, it’s guaranteed that anyone who attends is in for a treat as this site has even served famous faces like Dua Lipa back in 2022 while she was on tour.
Their vegan menu features some meat free feasts like a falafel sharer and a delicious oyster mushroom shwarma, it’s a well-loved restaurant.
Vegans are certainly catered for at this event as it’s not only the free-flowing drinks that contain no animal products, there will also be an entirely vegan menu on hand.
Maray have multiple locations but anyone who couldn’t get enough of the flavours the first time in Manchester can attend their Liverpool pairing dinner which is happening the very next day.
The Maray x Lucky Saint Dry January Pairing Dinner is coming to Manchester on Wednesday, 15 January from 7-9:30pm with tickets live HERE.
And if you’re looking for other places to enjoy a guilt-free drink in the city centre this month, we’ve got a few suggestions for you:
Doing #DryJan doesn't have to mean staying in or saying goodbye to the pub. 🍹
Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hundreds more free tickets for Big Night of Musicals will be released this morning ahead of its return to the AO Arena in Manchester.
New shows have also been announced for the dazzling spectacle, which brings some of theatre’s biggest West End and touring shows to our city.
Just announced on the line-up are Cabaret, Chicago, Mary Poppins and Titanique, joining a show-stopping billing that already included Disney’s Hercules, Mean Girls, Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell The Musical, Here & Now – The Official Steps Musical, Calamity Jane and Dear Evan Hansen.
Presented by Jason Manford, The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals saw its first release of tickets sell out within just 24 hours.
So now hundreds more are being released to National Lottery players from 10am today, Friday 10 January, on a first-come, first-served basis.
The show on Monday 27 January, now in its fourth year, serves as a special thank you to National Lottery players who have helped support more than 20,000 theatre-related projects to the tune of £1.3b.
As well as all those dazzling musicals, the evening’s line-up will feature some unique performances, including musical theatre star Michael Ball, as well as a preview of some of the exciting new shows coming to the West End and on tour this year.
Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester which now includes Chicago. Credit: Tristam Kenton
Jason Manford said: “It’s an honour to be back hosting The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals for the fourth time!
“It’s always a pleasure to host in Manchester to give a northern audience the chance to see some spectacular performances and appearances from the stars of the West End – and this year’s line-up is stronger than ever.
“Once again, one of the best aspects of the show is that tickets are free as a thank you to National Lottery players who help ensure the performing arts industry thrives by playing each week.”
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will also be broadcast by the BBC later this spring.
The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Monday 27 January – final release free tickets are available from 10am HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
21st October 2022 
