Some of the north’s coolest events in recent years have seen some unusual spaces transformed into incredible pop-up cinemas, and it’s all the work of one small events team at The Village Screen.
The Village Screen has taken over everything from a Peak District cave to an Edwardian swimming pool, filling these sometimes-forgotten spaces with light, sound, street food and entertainment.
The business was first created in 2015 by Claire Atkinson and Eamonn Hunt, who already ran the Village Green Events company and saw a gap in the market for experiential cinema events up north.
The very first Village Screen event was up on top of a Q-Park car park in the centre of Sheffield. After that, they screened The Little Mermaid at an outdoor swimming pool in Hathersage.
A previous Village Screen event at Hathersage swimming pool in the Peak District. Credit: The Village Screen
Pop-up cinemas have appeared everywhere from The Monastery in Gorton, the Park Hill Flats in Sheffield, the Winter Gardens glasshouse, the grounds of stately homes and several woodland areas.
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Their time spent at Manchester’s Victoria Baths, over in Chorlton-on-Medlock, has been particularly special though.
Emily Dexter, production manager at The Village Screen, said: “Our first event there was a screening of Jaws in 2016 and since then we have organised over 30 events inside this hidden gem. It was built in 1906 and was known as the ‘most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country’.
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The Village Screen at Victoria Baths. Credit: Supplied
“It underwent renovation in 2007 and they have restored lots of its original features; tiled walls, stained glass windows and they even kept the original changing rooms – it’s such a unique and special place to many people.”
She added: “Our most memorable venue has to be the Peak Cavern cave. We’ve done over sixty events there since 2017 and it still blows us away every time we go.
“It’s such an incredible location and being able to experience the beautiful surroundings of Castleton makes the experience that much better. We also love the fact that it’s half way between Sheffield and Manchester, meaning that our audiences from both cities can enjoy the events there.
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The Village Screen at Peak Cavern in the Peak District. Credit: Nathan Dainty at It’s Nate (@itsnate.uk / www.itsnate.uk)
“Although it’s a stunning place, it is a challenging set up to say the least. It takes around two-to-three days to load all of our cinema equipment, chairs, bar and décor inside the cave, which we do using a small buggy that fits up the very narrow path leading up to the cave. It’s hard work but seeing our customers’ reactions as they enter the cave makes it all worth it!”
As well as the film screenings themselves, the Village Screen has dozens of added details that make it so much more special than a regular trip to the cinema.
The incredible venues help, of course, but they also roll in live bands, street food, themed decor, state-of-the-art lighting set ups and friendly staff to make for a memorable day out.
The Village Screen at Peak Cavern in the Peak District. Credit: Nathan Dainty at It’s Nate (@itsnate.uk / www.itsnate.uk)The Village Screen at Peak Cavern in the Peak District. Credit: Supplied
The small team behind the pop-up cinemas have done everything from hanging hundreds of floating candles to rigging fake bodies from the ceiling to set the right atmosphere for each screening, even recreating the iconic toilet scene from Jurassic Park.
Emily said: “People who haven’t been to our events before might think we are like a standard chain cinema, but really we’re creating experiential and imaginative events that people can enjoy with their friends and family.
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“As we’re a local independent business, we love to use local suppliers, staff, vendors, freelancers and entertainment as much as possible. So each time we run an event we’re supporting businesses and people in the local area, which I think our customers really love to see as well.”
She added: “Our ethos has remained the same since 2015. We are still about creating exceptional events in quirky locations, but we’ve grown from two to five members of staff and we work on all kinds of creative events, including weddings and experiential events like Secret Supper Clubs for charity clients.”
Although The Village Screen has built up an impressive schedule of events – they’re about to take over the Peak Cavern again – they’re not stopping here.
Emily said: “We’d love to do more events in an outdoor swimming pool with people lounging on inflatable chairs while in the pool, but we love any quirky location. The quirkier the better.
“We’d like to keep doing our events in the north of England, so if anyone has any venue suggestions, feel free to drop us an email or message on our socials.
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“We’re always on the look out for new and exciting places and if we love the venue, then we’ll do everything we can to do a cinema event there.”
Upcoming events with The Village Screen
Thursday 27 October – Scream (1996), doors at 6pm, film at 8pm Friday 28 October – Ghostbusters (1984), doors at 6pm, film at 8pm Saturday 29 October – The Dark Knight, doors at 5.30pm, film at 7.30pm Sunday 30 October – Hocus Pocus, doors at 2.30pm, film at 4pm Sunday 30 October – The Lost Boys doors at 6.45pm, film at 8.45pm Monday 31 October – Poltergeist, doors at 6pm, film at 8pm
Friday 18 November – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, doors at 5.30pm, film at 7.30pm Saturday 19 November – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, doors at 5.30pm, film at 7.30pm Sunday 20 November – The Goonies, doors at 2.20pm, film at 3:50pm Sunday 20 November – The Lost Boys doors at 7.00pm, film at 8.50pm
The Village Screen team can also organise smaller garden party cinemas as well as private parties and weddings, with a treasure trove of hire items.
You can get in touch with them here to find out more.
What's On
Moovin Festival announces 2025 lineup for much-loved Stockport event
Danny Jones
The much-loved Moovin live music festival over in Stockport is back for 2025 and the lineup is looking udderly brilliant.
Sorry…
In all seriousness, the increasingly popular festival is one of the Greater Manchester borough’s biggest dates on the calendar and we can’t wait to mosey back on over to Whitebottom Farm this summer.
Set to return for it’s 11th year, Moovin Fest is shaping up to be one the best yet, as proven by every single one of the early bird tickets being snapped up in a flash – here’s the lineup:
Moovin Festival lineup 2025Last year was a stormer
Taking place at the idyllic and eco-friendly outdoor space located within Etherow Country Park in the villahge of Compstall, Whitebottom is often used for weddings and other special events – but none quite as big as Moovin.
It may have started out with a little over a few hundred people back in 2014 but since the flag-flying Stockport music festival has grown to a capacity over more than 5,000; while it’s still a fairly modest affair compared to other Northern contemporaries, its just as rich in culture and entertainment.
As you can see, the 2025 lineup is headlined by the revolutionary jazz-fusion ensemble, Ezra Collective, whose innovative sound has garnered international acclaim.
Fresh from their awe-inspiring Wembley show, a Mercury Prize win back in 2023 and a four BRITs nominations thus far, Ezra’s music is a masterful blend of jazz, afrobeat and soul, characterized by infectious grooves, intricate melodies – music you simply have to dance to.
Joining the festivities will be the French house maestro and WHP favourite, Folamour, renowned for his soulful and emotive sound, as well as his captivating onstage charisma, making his performance an absolute must-see.
The lineup continues to impress with the inclusion of drum and bass pioneers Fabio and Grooverider as well as Roni Size; local funk and soul luminary Craig Charles, Manc legends Graeme Park and DJ Paulette, hip-hop royalty in The Sugarhill Gang and MANY more.
Be it rising stars or old-school Hacienda icons doing what they’ve done best for the past few decades, there’s something for everyone.
They’ve welcome everyone from Orbital and Groove Armada to De La Soul, Basement Jaxx, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Lee Scratch Perry and countless others in the past and we’ve never heard bad word about this lively but equally family-friendly weekend.
Speaking ahead of this year’s return, the organisers said: “Moovin Festival is an exceptional celebration of sonic brilliance, eclectic music and quirkiness, all set within a beautiful and intimate environment.”
“Attendees can expect a lot of quirkiness and a host of amazing DJs and bands playing across cutting-edge sound systems alongside holistic healing treatments, yoga sessions, and captivating circus performances, all infused with a warm and welcoming vibe.”
As they go on to add: “There are no VIP areas, no overbearing security teams—just a hint of 90s free party magic and a close-knit community of music lovers who welcome everyone with open arms.”
Spread across six fantastic stages, including the aptly named ‘Barn’, the next Moovin Festival takes place from Friday, 13 to Sunday, 15 June 2025.
Meanwhile, Stopfordians are being forced to wait a little longer for their fist taste of festival season as another cult favourite has sadly been postponed.
Take a look inside the new Operation Ouch! interactive exhibition opening in Manchester tomorrow
Emily Sergeant
Fancy plunging headfirst into the incredible world of our senses?
Well now you can, as back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! has landed in Manchester once again, and this time around, you can journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
The major new exhibition for children and families, which is titled Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You, is officially opening down at the Science and Industry Museum from tomorrow.
Visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies, and You is opening in Manchester tomorrow / Credit: Science Museum Group
Mini Manc medics can explore their brilliant brains by banging on an eardrum, venturing into a massive eyeball, and even taking a whiff of a ‘smell library’ during what sounds like a properly playful and lively interactive adventure at the museum.
You’ll get to enter Dr Chris’ brain headquarters through his giant ear, making sure to dodge the earwax, before venturing through the five senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste with loads of hands-on science experiences, as well as discovering some of the secret senses that help us with our balance, know when it’s time to sleep, and even when to go for a wee.
Educational as well as entertaining, you’ll even get to find out about how our sensory experiences can vary from children who are living with disabilities.
Video appearances from Dr Chris, Dr Xand, and Dr Ronx from the hit BBC children’s TV series, Operation Ouch!, will pop up throughout the exhibition to help visitors understand more about the science behind the fun.
Ahead of the opening of the exhibition, Steven Leech, who is the Curator of Exhibitions at the Science and Industry Museum, commented: “From sight and sound, to some lesser-known senses, our bodies are truly sense-sational.
Visitors can plunge head-first into the incredible world of our senses / Credit: Science Museum Group
“Our brains rely on our senses to help us understand and explore the world around us, and in this exhibition, you will take part in an epic experiment that is bursting with brilliant brain science.
“Just like our previous Operation Ouch! exhibition, Brains, Bogies and You will offer a playful experience that builds confidence in young people who want to explore science, so get ready for the trip of a lifetime and come and get stuck into the science inside all of us.”
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You opens at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester city centre tomorrow (14 February 2025) and will run right up until 4 January 2026 – with tickets priced at £10 each and now on sale.