One of Manchester’s most historic industrial spaces is set to play host to the RHS’s first-ever indoor gardening show next year.
Depot Mayfield has lived countless lives throughout the decades, but for four days next year, it’s set to be transformed into “an urban grower’s paradise”, as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced plans to hold a brand-new ‘Urban Show’ for the first time ever.
Manchester‘s former railway station will be filled with small-space gardening inspirationto “encourage and inspire” city residents to grow plants for both indoor and outside areas.
Expected to be ‘very different’ to the RHS’s current roster of Flower Shows that are hosted annually all across the UK, the RHS Urban Show in Manchester will take inspiration from its industrial indoor city centre location by showcasing a range of ‘immersive experiences’ designed for those who live in cities with limited or no outdoor growing space.
The RHS is hosting its first indoor ‘urban’ flower show in Manchester city centre / Credit: RHS
While urban growing will be at the heart of the show, according to the RHS, the influence that horticulture has on interior design, art, wellness, and sustainability is also set to be explored over the four-day event.
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Innovative design inspiration for small city spaces will be accompanied by immersive plant installations, a host of talks, advice and practical workshops, and a carefully-curated selection of plant nurseries that will be selling a huge variety of houseplants and small-space friendly plants.
The RHS says it chose Manchester as the home of its first-ever Urban Show because of the city’s industrial landscape, but also as there’s been so much work done to make the city greener in recent years.
Mayfield Park, and Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester city centre / Credit: Studio Egret West | National Trust
“In recent years, there’s been a real gardening boom,” explained the RHS’s Director of Gardens & Shows, Helena Pettit.
“We believe more young people living in cities are now growing plants, and so we are so excited to be bringing a new RHS Show dedicated to urban gardening to the centre of Manchester next year.
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“The RHS Urban Show aims to bring gardening to a new audience and demonstrate that if you have plants you are a gardener. There is so much great work already happening across Manchester to make it greener, and we are excited to help support this growing movement.
📢 Introducing the brand new RHS Urban Show!
From 18 to 21 April 2024, we will transform Manchester's Depot Mayfield into a botanical paradise brimming with gardening inspiration for city dwellers 🌱
“We want to get even more people living in the UK’s second largest city inspired to grow plants and connect to the natural world.
“With over 80% of the UK population living in towns and cities, the new show will enable more urban dwellers to garden, especially where access to green spaces can be limited.”
The first RHS Urban Show in Manchester will take place from 18 – 21 April 2024.
Tickets for all 2024 RHS Shows go on sale to RHS members first on Monday 21 September, before being available to the general public on Monday 28 September, and you can grab yours here.
Featured Image – RHS
What's On
Smash-hit West End musical Trainspotting is coming to Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester.
30 years on from the film that changed everything, and following its successful world premiere run in London’s West End, Trainspotting The Musical is heading out on a major UK tour later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages in the autumn.
Written by Irvine Welsh – as adapted from his best-selling debut novel – and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Trainspotting The Musical has been described by critics as ‘radical, invigorating and life-affirming’ since its premiere.
It’s said to be an unforgettable production that’ll have even the most sceptical audiences leave on a ‘consciousness-altering high.’
➕ ATG+ PRESALE ➕
CHOOSE LIFE.
Trainspotting: The Musical is coming to the Palace Theatre this November. Written by Irvine Welsh.
Groups presale 👉 Tues 12 May 10am General sale 👉 Wed 13 May 10am
— Palace & Opera Mcr (@PalaceAndOpera) May 11, 2026
In 1996, the breakthrough British film of the same name was released and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year, winning a slew of awards in the process – including a BAFTA for Best Screenplay, and even being ranked tenth in the BFI’s top 100 greatest British films of the 20th century.
Now, three decades later, the industrial drug crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture are back… but this time, live on stage.
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester later this year / Credit: Supplied
“I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film,” creator Irvine Welsh commented as the UK tour was announced this week.
“People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off. It’s what being human is all about. We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”
Trainspotting The Musical will taking to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre later this year from Monday 2 – Saturday 7 November 2026, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May) from 10am.
A beloved Manc gig venue is hosting a special afterparty following Manichester tribute festival
Danny Jones
A much-loved live music institution in Manchester is set to host a dedicated afterparty for the inaugural ‘Manichester’: the live tribute festival in memory of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Seeing the grassroots music scene gathering together in moments like this is the kind of stuff that would make the man himself SO proud.
With Manichester 2026 announced this past March and set to take place later this month in honour of the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, tickets for the main event sold out very quickly.
This came as no surprise, of course, but now other Manc venues are joining in toasting the life and career of Mani for one very special evening.
Shared by Madchester.com, who are helping organise the Manichester ’26 along with surviving members of the Mounfield family, as well as Mani’s friends and peers such as his brother Greg and Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene, gig space Gorilla are hosting it.
The small-cap live music room, bar and restaurant has hosted many a special night over the past decade or so – hosting multiple War Child charity shows in the past few years, for instance – and even when they’re not hosting a set themselves, they’re always more than happy to join in the celebrations.
With that in mind, there always likely to pay their respects to the late, great and iconic local musician in some way, but now they’re teaming up with Madchester directly.
Positioned as the official ‘aftershow’ following the mini tribute festival, as you can see, there will be just 600 tickets available, with general admission for the main event already gone as mentioned.
At one point, it looked like the kind-spirited and well-meaning idea might be scrapped altogether after some confusion between the organising partners.
Thankfully, that all looks to have been put to bed, and all those involved can focus on what’s important: honouring Mani in the best way possible – with a load of live tunes and a good time.
In terms of those who will be playing on the night ahead of the aftershow, the likes of the equally legendary Peter Hook, Rowetta, The Kowloons, Jon McClure from Reverend and the Makers, plus many more, have been announced as part of the lineup.
There is also still a ‘AAA’ headliner still yet to be confirmed, so watch this space.
As for the Manichester afterparty at Gorilla, keep an eye out on socials for the ticket link to drop and, hopefully, we’ll see you there for a night to remember.
Emily Sergeant -
25th August 2023 
