A series of Stranger Things-themed skating sessions are taking over one of Manchester‘s newest roller rinks next weekend.
There is absolutely no denying that much of the world is Stranger Things obsessed at the moment, with all eyes firmly on the fourth series of the smash-hit science fiction horror drama – which has recently been released in two instalments on Netflix, and has broken a handful of streaming records on its way.
Starring Winona Ryder and David Harbour, and making household names out of its young cast of stars – including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, and many more – Stranger Things has gone on to develop a dedicated fanbase.
Since first hitting Netflix back in July 2016, the show has also received widespread critical acclaim for its characterisation, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, directing, writing, and for paying plenty of homages to 1980s film and pop culture.
Most recently, Stranger Things 4 has just become the first English-language series in streaming history to rack up over one billion hours viewed in the first four weeks of release.
And now, Good Life Skates is set to properly celebrate the popular programme in style.
In case you missed it, the brand-new roller rink opened its doors above Escape To Freight Island’s main hall last month, and now, the retro venue has revealed plans for its first summer on wheels – with a whole host of events in the coming months.
One of the stand-out events has to be the ‘Skatefire Club’, with the venue inviting fans to “celebrate all things Stranger Things” next weekend.
“Lace up your skates and boogie along to the soundtrack of the show we all know and love.”
Taking over the roller rink on Friday 15-Sunday 17 July, tickets for the Stranger Things-themed ‘Skatefire Club’ are now on sale, and fans can find out more and book here.
Off peak ticket prices range from £8.50, with peak hours from £10. Bring Your Own Boots (BYOB) costs from £7. The daily sessions run on Thursday and Friday from 4pm to 10pm, Saturday from 10am to 10pm, and Sunday from 10am to 9pm.
You can expect pop classics all day on Saturdays with ‘Stop, Pop & Roll’, plus fun sing-along sessions too.
What’s more, is that the mezzanine rink can also be hired for private parties and kids parties, with a private room adjacent to the rink available.
Loads of the UK’s best culture and heritage sites will be open to visit for FREE this autumn
Emily Sergeant
The UK’s largest festival of history and culture has returned, and there’s thousands of free events on the lineup.
Always proving to be a smash-hit success, both here in Greater Manchester and nationwide, over the last 30 years, the National Trust‘s Heritage Open Days are back by popular demand for the next couple of weeks.
This means loads of the UK’s top attractions will be open to visit for free from this autumn.
Heritage Open Days are run by thousands of local organisations and volunteers, and they’re all about bringing people together to celebrate their culture, community, and history.
From historic houses, factories, and museums, to music halls, formal gardens, and graveyards, countless of places and spaces across the country will be open to the public again this month, all without having to spend a penny.
Heritage Open Days’ is back by popular demand this autumn / Credit: Paul Harris (via HODs)
This year sees the biggest programme yet in the festival’s 31-year history, with more than 5,800 events – including some at a wide range of places that usually charge entry fees, and access to many locations that aren’t usually open to the public.
You can expect workshops, talks, hidden spaces, walks, family-friendly activities, and so much more, so no matter whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time visitor, there’s something for everyone.
This year’s theme is architecture, and that means there’s plenty of chances to nosy around beautiful buildings and places not usually open to the public.
Loads of the UK’s best culture and heritage sites will be open to visit for free / Credit: Paul Harris (via HODs)
Visitors can explore the hidden chapels of Canterbury Cathedral, climb the striking Tower of Spite in Halifax, get lost in the hard-to-reach spaces of Forester Hall with a VR headset in Liskeard, or even step inside the grand Banqueting House at Gibside.
Up here in Greater Manchester, whether it be the glamour of the Stockport Plaza Super Cinema, or the serene surroundings of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Oldham, the festival offers a rare opportunity to uncover the stories behind England’s most fascinating spaces.
“2025 is set to offer the most ambitious and wide-reaching Heritage Open Days programme yet, and it’s brimming with great things to do,” said Liam Montgomery, HODs Marketing & Projects Manager.
“Whether it’s well-known landmarks and hidden architectural gems or community-led talks and immersive experiences, the sheer diversity of places and stories on offer is extraordinary.”
Heritage Open Days will be running from 12-21 September this year, and you can find out more about this brilliant UK-wide event here.
Featured Image – Paul Harris (via HODs)
What's On
Darts returns to Manchester as Premier League dates are confirmed for 2026
Danny Jones
The schedule for the 2026 Premier League Darts tour has been officially announced, with the PDC’s annual championship returning to Manchester once again.
PDC Premier League fixtures continue to grow in popularity both in TV figures and live match attendance, with a whole new generation of fans getting into ‘the arrows’.
Just as it has for decades now, league darts is coming back to Manchester city centre and the legendary AO Arena once again, with our date landing right in the middle of the season.
Booking a big night right in the middle of a crucial period in the competition? It sounds like 0161 is set to welcome another blockbuster night up at the oche.
Confirmed on Thursday, 11 September, next year’s PDC Premier League Darts campaign will get underway in February, spanning the course of four months and eight countries.
Of the European cities on the circuit, the tournament will be heading to Belgium for the very first time, as the AFAS Dome in Antwerp replaces Exeter.
Elsewhere on the continent, there are two other mainland evenings in Germany and the Netherlands, along with multiple Northern dates here in the UK, such as Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield.
As for Manchester, we’ve been selected for round nine of 17 (including the finals), with the AO Arena set to welcome multiple favoured competitors from the North West, including 18-year-old phenomenon Luke Little from down the road in Warrington, as well as Stockport’s very own Nathan Aspinall.
It was an unforgettable experience for Aspinall last time around in his local event, as he finally managed to win a PDC Premier League night on home turf for the first time in his career.
Those hoping to enjoy a night of darts in front of a Manchester crowd on April 26, 2026, still have to be patient for now, as general admission is still a little way off.
However, if you are interested, you can sign up for the AO’s newsletter to find out more information and get yourself on the waiting list early.
Better, if you go straight through the PDC, you can throw your hat in the ring for the presale window right now and be first in line to grab tickets when they go live.
You can do so HERE and, until then, get your signs and fancy dress at the ready because we’ll be heading back to the ‘boring, boring tables’ soon enough.
See the 2026 PDC Premier League Darts schedule in full down below:
Emily Sergeant -
6th July 2022 
