February’s in full swing, and this week we’re celebrating the international day of love.
Given that the vast majority of Plan B restrictions in England have now been lifted, and the first day of this new week is Valentine’s Day itself, 2022 is really starting to kick into action now, and there’s plenty packed into the events calendar.
So we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best things happening across the region this week to put together another fresh edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond.
As always, some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, which is for those looking to keep things on the cheaper side, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Here’s our top picks.
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Looking for some last-minute plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Manchester city centre?
With so many great restaurants in Manchester, if you’re looking to take your other half out to eat this Valentine’s Day, you are quite literally spoilt for choice.
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For those lost in a sea of menus and wondering where to book, we thought we’d help make things a little bit easier by recommending some of our favourite romantic restaurants and a few other popular date night spots to help get you started.
Credit: Peru Perdu | Dishoom MCR
You can see our picks for romantic city centre restaurants here.
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Urban Playground
Manchester Arndale
Monday 14 February – onwards
Did you see that a massive new attraction has opened in the heart of Manchester city centre, and it’s giving visitors the chance to take on The Cube?
Spread over two floors and spanning 4,000 sq metres, Urban Playground has taken over a row of units that once housed Arcadia shops Burton, Miss Selfridge, Evans and Dorothy Perkins, and inside, there’s a high-tech mini golf experience, and the first UK branch of burger restaurant The Butcher.
ITV’s The Cube has also been brought to life at Urban Playground, with teams of four taking on deceptively-simple tasks inside the high-pressure confines of the familiar perspex box, with games like taking on obstacles blindfolded and collecting balls in a set time window.
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Tickets for ‘The Cube Live’ range from £30 to £45, and you can find out more here.
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Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition
Trafford Palazzo
Monday 14 February – onwards
Credit: The Manc Group
The Sistine Chapel is home to arguably the most awe-inspiring work of art on the planet – and now it’s been recreated here in Greater Manchester.
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Previously, people would have to travel to Vatican City to see the collection of intricate paintings that cover the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but now the frescoes have been recreated as huge prints covering walls and ceilings at a new immersive exhibition that’s taken over Trafford Palazzo (formerly Barton Square), giving visitors a chance to see them on the same scale as Michelangelo.
Running between Friday 11 February and Sunday 27 March, it gives a life-size perspective of this remarkable feat of artistry.
The popular drive-in cinema at Cheshire Oaks is screening some classic romantic films to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
While the Ellesmere Port-based shopping village – which is the largest Designer Outlet in the UK, and is home to over 400,000 square feet of retail space, with more than 150 boutiques, restaurants, and cafés to choose from – is more often the place you’d head on down to if you’re in need of a bit of retail therapy, on the international day of love as the sun goes down, overs can park up to watch most well-loved romantic films too while you’re at it – Dirty Dancing.
Tickets for the ‘Valentine’s Drive-In Cinema’ are £20 per car, and the car park opens from 5pm.
All proceeds from ticket sales will go to Cheshire Oaks’ Charity of the Year for 2022, and you can find out more and grab tickets here.
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Van Gogh Alive
MediaCityUK
Monday 14 – Sunday 27 February
Over 100,000 people have been to visit theVan Gogh Alive experience since it arrived at MediaCity UK a couple of months back.
And it’s now extended its Salford stay right through until 27 February.
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Van Gogh Alive takes people on a trip through the periods of Van Gogh’s life that defined him as an artist and showcases 3,000 images, including some of his most iconic works like Starry Night and Sunflowers, and lesser-known paintings inspired by his love of Japanese woodprints. The exhibition is home to a life-sized walk-in representation of Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom in Arles’ painting, a ‘Sunflower selfie room’ – a 360° mirrored space complete with hundreds of sunflowers, and so much more
Tickets are priced at £23.50 for adults and £16.50 for children, with concessions and school group discounts available. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to make a donation to The Christie charity either when purchasing tickets, or while at the exhibition.
From taking a journey around the human body, to discovering the birth of computing, and more, there’s so much happening Science and Industry Museum this February half term, so if you’re looking for some science-filled fun and discovery when the schools are out in Greater Manchester, then one of the city’s most-loved museums is giving you the chance to explore a whole host existing exhibitions and take part in some exiting experiments.
Cancer Revolution: Science, innovation and hope and A Quiet Afternoon in the Cloud Cuckoo Valley are two of the most-popular exhibitions currently on at the museum, and there’s plenty of other shows, including the Revolution Manchester Show, to catch too.
You can find out more about what’s on at the Science and Industry Museum, and grab your tickets here.
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Six Nations at Escape to Freight Island
Depot Mayfield
Monday 14 February – onwards
The 2022 Six Nations Championship kicked-off last week, and Manchester’s ever-popular food, drink, and events hub, Escape to Freight Island, is hosting the biggest fanzone in the UK outside of London to present all of the games throughout the tournament, in partnership with event sponsors Guinness.
A dedicated space within the much-loved Depot Mayfield venue has been transformed for rugby-lovers to stay and watch the games.
Street food will come courtesy of residents Ace Dogs, and another trader soon-to-be-announced.
The Manchester Open is one of the most successful exhibition in HOME’s history.
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The first region-wide exhibition of its type to welcome entries from people of any background and level of experience – including established professionals, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs and first-time artists – HOME’s Gallery walls have been filled with work from 400+ Greater Manchester residents, which have been selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
With an amazing 2,271 artwork entries, the judging panel have said they were impressed by the range, quality, differing artistic styles, and inspirational work being created across Greater Manchester.
One of the standout experiences on the 2022 East Lancashire Railway (ELR) events lineup has to be the chance to go on a ‘wizarding adventure’ and ride a Harry Potter-themed train through Greater Manchester.
Aspiring witches and wizards can gather at the ELR for a day of sharing spells and magic-themed fun.
This interactive adventure will see visitors, both young and old, enjoy a range of performances from colourful characters and magical creatures – provided by performance company Funcast – all before boarding the ‘Wizard Express’ for a two-hour round trip journey through the Irwell Valley of wonders.
In what is undeniably the stuff of dreams for cheese lovers, you can now take part in a cheese and wine crawl around Manchester city centre.
Manchester is city that’s packed with culture.
But if you don’t fancy seeing the sights through one of the more typical tours, The Manchester Cheese Crawl will take you around some of the cheesiest spots the city has to offer for two hours of non-stop cheese-related fun – including everything from blue cheese tasting, to cheese quizzes, competitions, and more.
Tickets cost just £25 each, and include cheese samples, optional bread and crackers, and some red wine to complement.
Two of the most popular foodie favourite events are back at Manchester’s largest street food fair GRUB – which is currently based at the Red Bank Project just outside of the city centre in Cheetham Hill.
The GRUB Food Fair this week will see the likes of El Contador, Igloo Pizza Kitchen, Sri Lankan Experience, and Munchie Mummy’s serve a wide range of mouthwatering delights for you to try, while on Sunday, whether you’re plant based or just curious, there’ll be big handful of the finest vegan food traders there for Plant Powered Sundays to show you what it’s all about.
Both events are free to attend, and you can find more information here.
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Crafty Families at The Lowry
Salford Quays
Saturday 19 February
Credit: The Lowry
Crafty Families is an exciting and engaging art class for families and under 11’s with a different theme each week, meaning you’ll leave the session having created your own piece of art.
This week, you can join artist Charlotte Dearman to create your own block print inspired by the theatre’s newest production, The Smartest Giant in Town, and during this session, Charlotte will teach you and your children to design their own foam tile and create a print from it.
Featured Image – The Manc Group | Science and Industry Museum
What's On
Manc actor Max Beesley shares touching moment with his dad after latest Hollywood role
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester-born actor Max Beesley has shared a heartwarming story from when he first got into acting, not to mention how he tried to repay the support since day one by his biggest fan, his dad, more than three decades later.
A familiar face in British film and television over the years, the now fully fledged Manc movie star has booked some of the biggest gigs of his career of late.
Having gone from appearing in UK classics like Looking For Eric and landing parts in the Sky drama Jamestown back in 2019, to appearing in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen TV series and more recently Netflix’s Hijack with Idris Elba, he’s becoming a more recognisable face not just here in the North.
But there was a time when becoming a full-time actor was just a pie in the sky dream of a Burnage boy who fell in love with films – all thanks to his father’s fantastic taste in movies…
As the now 55-year-old actor wrote on social media: “1992. South Manchester. I watched a film, turned to my dad, and told him I was going to New York to become an actor. No agent. No contacts.
Just a flight and a plan. He didn’t laugh. He said, ‘Go for it, son.’ Thirty-four years later, he came to the Jack Ryan set. Best mate I’ve ever had.”
He also went on to credit another key name in the caption, adding, “The coach who helped me then and still today is the queen of acting, the best in the business in my opinion: Sheila Nieves Gray. Life-changing techniques and tools. I love you too, Sheila.”
Gray – who has been running an acting school from NYC since 1990 – was evidently one of the first people Max met when he arrived in the States, and clearly had a huge impact on his professional life.
You just have to love stories like this; we still remember watching shows and thinking he was a standout.
These two BBC and Sky One (remember that?) cult hits are among his best-known TV appearances.
After working with her all that time ago, his career has been on a gradual climb ever since, and while you could argue he’s had multiple ‘breakout’ roles, his progression feels very much like slow and steady wins the race; good things come to those who wait, and all that.
As for his dad, Maxton Beesley Sr., it sounds like he couldn’t have been named after and raised by a more supportive parental figure than any stereotypical, model dad you’ll see in the movies.
Having also starred in the second Gentlemen spin-off flick, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (starring Jason Statham, Hugh Grant, Aubrey Plaza and more), this latest project is the second feature-length adaptation of an existing streaming service hit, with John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan now on the big screen.
You can see the trailer for Jack Ryan: Ghost War down below.
His last two jobs were both Emmy-nominated – let’s see how this one lines up against them.
Featured Images — Max Beesley (screenshot via Instagram)/Amazon Prime Video (still)
What's On
Great Manchester Run guide for 2026 – route map, waves and start times, travel advice and more
Danny Jones
‘Marathon season’ may be over for some, but not for those taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester, which returns this year for its 23rd edition.
The 2026 Great Manchester Run takes place this Sunday, 31 May, and tens of thousands of Mancs and more are set to take on the challenge, be that the fan favourite and super flat 10k, or the equally popular half-marathon.
Whatever distance you’re doing, or even if you’re just turning up to cheer on your mates and loved ones, we’ve put together a list of all the important details ahead of another sell-out event – but places
Here’s everything you need to know…
Great Manchester Run 2026 – all the key info
The GMR course map for 2026
If you’re wondering what the route for this year’s Great Manchester Run is like, it’s largely the same as most other years, no matter which race you’re talking about.
As a brief overview, the 10k course takes you from the start line on Portland Street, towards Old Trafford and the edge of Salford Quays, before heading back into town.
Meanwhile, the half-marathon route covers the same ground, but you also take along the Mancunian Way and over to the Nexen Bridge to Manchester City’s Etihad Campus and then back over the elevated motorway for the two main bits of your elevation.
Best of all, both share that box office finish line on the main Deansgate strip, where you can drink in all the glory; you can see a more in-depth look at both down below.
The 2026 route map, including water stations and toilet stops. (Credit: AJ Bell Great Manchester Run)
What are the Great Manchester run waves and start times?
Now, for those of you who are putting the great in Greater Manchester this year, the first thing on the docket for 2026 is the information point opening bright and early, before elite runners and those with visual impairments start assembling from 7:15am.
After that, the warm-up and subsequent waves (which you’ll find on your tour bib along with your participant number and RFID chips) will set off in staggered intervals until just after half past eight.
For anyone who hasn’t yet received their race pack, you can visit the info point, and your access point to the start line will also be signposted according to your corresponding wave colour.
As for those doing the shorter dash, here’s your breakdown:
10k running order (pun intended)
7:55 – Elite Wheelchair Athletes Start
11:00 – Assembly Opens: Fast Paced, Orange and Green Waves
11:30 – Elite Women Start
11:32 – Warm Up
11:40 – Visually Impaired (VI) Participants Start
11:45 – Elite Men, Fast Paced and Orange Wave Start
12:05 – Green Wave Start
12:25 – Assembly Opens: Purple and Pink Waves
12:40 – Warm Up
12:50 – Purple Wave Starts
13:10 – Pink Wave Starts
AJ Bell’s Junior and Mini children’s races – Great Manchester Run
As always, 2026 will also see the joint junior and mini races for kids, which takes place separately from the main course and hordes of runners on the Sunday.
Getting underway on Saturday, 30 May), mini runners (aged 3-8) race through a 1.6km dash, and junior runners (aged 9-15) will take on a 2.5km challenge.
Supporters are encouraged to come along and experience this joyous spin-off over at the Etihad Campus, with stars from the hit BBC reboot of Gladiators set to join in the party.
If your little ones have speedy feet, keep an eye out for 2027 sign-ups when they go live.
📢 Calling all future running stars!
Super Saturdays are BACK for 2026 🎉🦸
Join the UK’s best kids running series, packed with fundraising, family time and fun at our Junior & Mini events 🙌
Great MCR Run travel advice, diversions and road closures
Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 40,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.
Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day, and various other arms of the Bee Network (who have a full guide ahead of the event) will be there to get people around the event.
If you do end up driving into the region for the action, we would recommend you use one of Greater Manchester’s multiple park and ride sites and then use one of our many Metrolink services to travel into the city centre itself.
Whitworth Street West: 6.30am – 2.45pm (includes parking restrictions)
It’s also worth noting that there will be a number of bus diversions on the day; you can consult the adjusted timetable HERE.
Event village + other pre- and post-race extras
This year’s event village is based on St Peter’s Square and is open to everyone; it’s set to feature a wide range of activities, charities and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy.
From giveaways and competitions in partnership with the AJ Bell ‘Money Matters’ team, as well as Solgar, Mitchum, Liquid I. V. and SiS energy gels (we’re sure enough of you will be more than familiar after the run is all said and done), there’s a lot of different bits and bobs up for grabs.
We don’t know about you, but we’ll be heading straight to the mobile Lucky Saint bar, which will be serving ice-cold, refreshing, alcohol-free beers – they’re going to hit SO different after a run in the sun.
Credit: Supplied (via Great Manchester Run/Lucky Saint)
Cheer zones and support hubs: best spots to watch the Great Manchester Run
For those of you set to line the streets and provide your much-needed support on race day, there are some key sections where the atmosphere from the crowd will be injected into the runners.
As well as drummers, local choirs and lots more surprises to keep your energy pumping throughout, there’ll be some big corners to look out for your loved ones.
You can find some of the main supporter hotspots and where they are along the route down below, but we’d personally recommend the roundabout coming heading towards Chester Road, the small grassy mounts and central reservation either side of Cornbrook, and the corner of Deansgate-Castlefield.
Half marathon
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5-mile marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 10/11-mile marker
Cornbrook – 12-mile marker
Deansgate-Castlefield exchange – for the finish line
10k
St Peter’s Square – for the start line
Cornbrook – 2km marker
Old Trafford – 4km marker
Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6km marker
Cornbrook – 9km marker
Deansgate-Castlefield corner – for the finish line
We want this kind of energy all day long, please and thank you:
Every year, we always get to see a fair few celebs and noteworthy names either taking on the 13.1-mile/21.1k dash, be that out on the start line with the rest of you, teaming up with the official BBC presenting team, or simply helping cheer on in their own way.
This one is no different – familiar faces to look out for include: Traitors stars, Reece Ward, Jessie Roux and Jack Butler, Race Across the World winners, Kush Burman and Joe Diop, siblings Katie and Harrison Devine, Caroline Bridge, along with Emon Choudhury, running in memory of the late Sam Gardiner.
Cast members from Waterloo Road will also be there, such as Jason Merrells (Jack Rimmer), Maisie Robinson (Portis Weaver), Tillie Amartey (Stace Neville) and Cory McClane (Ashton Stone); the same goes for Corrie and Emmerdale stars.
Before we wrap this thing up, there’s also the matter of how to track runners on the day as they make their way along the course. The easiest way to do this is by downloading the Great Run app, where you can simply enter runners’ names and race numbers to follow along. You can find it HERE.
Obviously, there are also options such as the FindMy apps and the likes of WhatsApp, where you can share location for several hours throughout the duration of the day.
There is also the dedicated AJ Bell ‘Motivation Station’ along the last stretch of the city centre track, where people can write messages of support for those final metres and yards. Enter yours now.
Last but not least, you can find the official event guide in full on the Great Run website, with all the info above and more, plus plenty of other extras.
Once again, we’d also encourage you all to download the official app, which should help you access all these key details quickly and easily, not to mention have your tracker to hand so you don’t miss the all-important runners on the day.
That’s just about it; all we have left to say is have a wonderful Great Manchester Run and have an incredible day – and for those of you running: go and absolutely smash it! We’re proud of you already.
Emily Sergeant -
11th February 2022 
