A huge warehouse on the industrial outskirts of Manchester city centre is set to host a huge Qatar World Cup 2022 fan zone.
Love Factory, a new cultural building on Dantzic Street, will show the games on a huge indoor central screen and projectors throughout the venue.
As well as actually screening the matches, Love Factory’s commitment to football will continue with a huge exhibition of World Cup jerseys from Classic Football Shirts.
There’ll also be a range of local food and drink traders, including Ate Days A Week, who’ll create a rotation of pie fillings inspired by the different countries competing in the tournament.
Love Factory is set to open its doors this winter and will operate as an adaptive events venue, kicking things off with its Qatar World Cup 2022 programming.
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VIP booths at Love Factory’s World Cup celebrations in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
An Official Carling Fan Zone will take over the huge space, alongside general seating, and even dedicated Singing Terraces as a nod to the days when football grounds rarely had seating.
All the zones will have uninterrupted views of the action and will be within easy reach of the food and drink offerings.
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There are also hospitality boxes for group hire, with flatscreens, fine-tuned sound systems, and food and drink packages.
Love Factory Manchester. Credit: Jody HartleyAte Days A week at Love Factory Manchester. Credit: SuppliedLove Factory Manchester. Credit: Supplied
At halftime, there’ll be live halftime punditry from talkSPORT, with commentators providing match commentary.
Exclusive items like Copa90 boots, classic football shirts worn by legendary squads throughout history, archive images and rare posters will be displayed.
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Classic Football Shirts, the sporting treasure trove on Deansgate, will be creating an exhibition celebrating past iconic World Cup moments, including match-worn England shirts including 1990 Home, 1998 Home, and more.
Limited coaching sessions with Football Kings will be available for kids between five and 13 years old outside the ticketed match days.
There’ll be a five-a-side pitch campaign on Thursday 17 November made up of teams of influencers, including Stretford Paddock, Habitat, EATMCR, Love Factory, Classic Football Shirts, Football Kings, and Miss Kick.
Tickets for Love Factory x Qatar World Cup 2022 are £5 for standing; £7 for seating; £10 per person for hospitality seating. Tickets are available to purchase HERE: lovefactory.uk/theworldcup
Private Suites are also available at £75 per person which includes private space with champagne on arrival, complimentary food and drinks, state-of-the-art flatscreen, fine-tuned sound systems, and access to cocktail bars. For further enquiry, please email [email protected].
You can line dance to Lily Allen’s West End Girl in full right here in Manchester
Thomas Melia
After a fun way to kickstart the New Year? Some people might suggest hobbies like ‘Tennis’, but how about a line dancing class playing Lily Allen’s new album in its entirety – we know which we’d rather do.
Grab your nearest ‘Nonmonogamummy’ or take ‘Madeline’, if you know one, because there’s a line dance class where you get to line dance to Lily Allen’s West End Girl in full right here in Manchester.
Hosted by Red Rodeo Club, a queer line dancing group based in Manchester, who have hosted monthly artist-inspired events city wide including Chappell Roan, Beyoncé, Charli XCX and more.
This troupe even managed to line dance all the way to one of Manchester’s most reputable LGBTQIA+ nights of the year, performing on the Archive stage at Homobloc just last month.
Now, Red Rodeo is returning with another special night that is sure to interest all the West Endand North West girls across Manchester, as it prepares a Lily Allen line dance spectacular later this month.
If you’re ‘Ruminating’ about attending this event, there’s absolutely no pressure or dance experience needed as the group prides itself on providing ‘classic boot-scootin tutorials with a party vibe’.
You’ll definitely be in good company regardless of your dance partners, as hosting the event is Violet Blonde, known for their extraordinary outfits and love of Country icon Dolly Parton.
We’re already onto a winner…
Your dance instructor for the night is the remarkable Shanika Sunrise, a rapper and producer, who boasts a seriously impressive roster of acts they’ve opened for, including Chappell Roan, Cupcakke and Moonchild Sanelly.
Opportunities like this aren’t always feasible for everyone, which is something this line dance group is aware of as they’re offering a ‘Red Rodeo Club Low Income Ticket’, suited for students, unwaged and disabled attendees.
Red Rodeo Club is bringing the ‘Lily Allen edition’ line dance class to Fairfield Social Club in Manchester on Thursday, 29 January 2026, from 7-10:30pm.
If you’re interested in grapevine stepping or electric shuffling your way to the Lily Allen West End Girl line dance event in Manchester, you can find tickets HERE.
A ‘Bubble Planet Experience’ with giant ball pits and an infinity room is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Manchester will soon welcome a ‘dreamlike world’ filled with giant, colourful bubbles, when Bubble Planet Experience makes its Manchester debut.
Expect giant ball pits, giant balloons, floating soap bubbles, and an infinity room in this brand-new-for-us immersive experience.
Bubble Planet Experience has already been visited by more than four million people in cities across the globe, including New York, Los Angeles, and London – now it’s time for its first trip to Manchester, where it’ll pop up inside Depot Mayfield.
Visitors will be able to explore 10 themed rooms, each one offering a different surreal landscape that will ‘blur the boundaries between dream and reality’.
Highlights include the Bubble Ocean, a vast expanse of bubbles designed to evoke calm and serenity, and the Infinity Room, where mirrors and shifting lights create the illusion of endless space.
Underwater Bubbles will transport visitors into a hypnotic aquatic world, recreating the magic and mystery of deep-sea exploration.
An infinity room at Bubble Planet Experience
There’s also a Bubble Dome, where younger visitors can unleash their creativity in a play area, plus the chance to go on a virtual reality adventure.
Expect dazzling light displays, interactive installations, and unexpected textures.
Bubble Planet Experience is co-produced by family entertainment producer Exhibition Hub and Fever.
Hamza El Azhar, CEO of Exhibition Hub, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Bubble Planet to Manchester for the very first time alongside the team at Fever, and to be part of a city with such a strong and celebrated cultural identity.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to experience a joyful, immersive adventure that sparks curiosity and wonder for all ages.”
The waitlist for early access to tickets is available HERE.