Missed out on Glastonbury tickets this year? Don’t worry – one of Manchester’s best-loved venues is showing the festival live on big screens all weekend instead.
As the UK’s biggest festival, and one of the longest-running in the world, there’s absolutely no denying that Glastonbury is an icon of music and contemporary arts culture – but there’s also no denying that tickets to the festival are some of the hardest there is to secure.
Every summer, around 200,000 lucky people make their way to the Somerset countryside for the biggest music event of the year – which takes place over five days at Worthy Farm in June – but every summer, there are hundreds of thousands more who are desperate to attend, but weren’t able to get hold of tickets.
And this is why one popular Manchester city centre venue is offering up “the next best thing” for people still keen to “bask in the festival atmosphere” around dozens of others.
Manchester’s largest street food fair and social events hub, GRUB, is gearing up to host the aptly-named ‘GRUBstonbury’ in just a few weeks time.
Of course running over Glastonbury weekend, not only will there be several big screens set up throughout the hugely-popular venue – which is currently based down at the Red Bank Project in Cheetham Hill – but ‘festivalgoers’ can also expect a whole weekend of street food, live DJ sets, a glitter bar, tap takeovers, and so much more.
There’ll even be a family-friendly party courtesy of ‘Born To Be Wild Child’, a dedicated garden rum bar, a series of different activity workshops, and film screenings inside the venue’s cinema Cultplex.
ADVERTISEMENT
The weekend “packed full of festival fun” kicks off on Friday 23 June with a ‘Glastonbury Bangers’ special edition of GRUB’s ever-popular Disco Bingo event, and continues right through until the festival’s closing day on Sunday.
GRUB promises “fun and games” scattered all throughout the weekend.
Manchester venue to show Glastonbury live on big screens across full festival weekend / Credit: GRUB
And of course, it wouldn’t be a GRUB party without some of the best independent street food traders thd city has to offer serving up a feast fit for any festival – with food coming from the likes of Gatto Pizza, Desert Island Dumplings, Korean Grub Club, Spicy Baby, Tiny Beast, Bakes, and Mary’s Cakery Makery.
ADVERTISEMENT
North Brewing Co are on the lined-up for a tap takeover, while Sparkle Creations will be offering up a festival ‘Glitter Bar’, and Witch Kings are hosting their very-own Rum Garden Bar takeover.
There’ll also be flower crown and macrame workshops to get involved in.
New stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House to arrive in Manchester this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
A brand-new stage adaptation of a bestselling horror novel and TV series is coming to Manchester this Halloween.
Following the critically acclaimed Netflix hit series that introduced a new generation to the eerie masterpiece, author Shirley Jackson’s famous The Haunting of Hill House is being turned into a brand-new stage adaptation later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester’s most iconic stages at the spookiest season of all.
Written by Olivier and BAFTA award-winner Stef Smith, and directed by Martin Constantine, the new production is set to conjure the iconic supernatural thriller on stage.
It will be making its world premiere with a UK tour this autumn, stopping off in several major towns and cities along the way.
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, The Haunting of Hill House follows a group of daring investigators who take on the mystery of Hill House, before their curiosity quickly descends into fear.
A new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House is coming to Manchester this Halloween / Credit: Supplied
“The Haunting of Hill House is one of the greatest supernatural novels of the last hundred years and to have the chance to adapt it for the stage is a true privilege,” explained writer Stef Smith, as the UK tour was announced this week.
“I find Shirley Jackson’s world intoxicating, thrilling and gut-wrenching.
“I believe there is something so deeply theatrical at the heart of Hill House. From the spooky, to the surreal, through heartache and hope. I hope that our cast of characters will take the audience along for a ride quite unlike anything else. Above all we will examine that the biggest horrors are usually human.”
The brand-new stage adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House will arrive in Manchester and take to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre from Tuesday 27 October right through to Halloween itself (Saturday 31 October 2026).
The full cast and creative team for the new production is set to be announced shortly, so keep your eyes peeled.
Tickets go on pre-sale tomorrow at 10am, before general sale begins on Friday (20 February), again at 10am, and you book your place here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
Adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month
Emily Sergeant
A popular adults-only ‘after hours’ event is returning to Manchester next month.
Fancy releasing your inner child? If you need an excuse to leave the little Mancs at home, then one of Manchester’s most visited museums might have just what you’re looking for, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced that its popular After Hours event especially for adults is returning for one night only next month.
You’ll get to celebrate the energy that ‘sparked a revolution’ with an evening of interactive games, live music, and unique experiences as you explore the Museum once it’s closed for the day.
It’s your chance to be among the first to explore the newly re-opened Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery after dark, and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of engine-driven ideas that started in Manchester and went on to change the world.
An adults-only ‘after hours’ event is coming to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month / Credit: Science Museum Group
The Museum’s permanent galleries and displays will also be open after hours, so you can get hands-on with science in Experiment, meet mighty machines in the Textiles Gallery, and discover Manchester‘s rich legacy of industrial innovations, creativity, and world-changing ideas in Revolution Manchester.
You’ll also be embrace your inner child with free access to the brand-new world premiere exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, which just opened last week in time for half term, and of course, indulge your playful side in Power Up – with more than 150 consoles to choose from in the ultimate gaming exhibition.
Especially for this particular evening, you can look forward to some very special one-off events, as well as the chance to take part in a whole host of high-energy interactive games.
There’ll be an ‘unforgettable’ performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Viola, celebrating all things power with a spectacular combination of violin and vocals, as well as a set from musician Mike Cunningham who’ll light up the evening with bold and colourful LED drumming inspired by the sounds of Manchester’s industry and creative spirit.
And of course, as this is an adults-only event, the museum’s events bar will be popping up on the night, and will be serving up a wide range of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks to wet your whistle while you’re looking around, with some delicious food to accompany too.
Emily Sergeant -
24th May 2023 
