Free play Fridays return to Great Northern – with a beach themed twist

The Great Northern is relaunching its free Friday play sessions for families on 18th June, with On the Beach Tots events running in its outdoor amphitheatre throughout the summer. 

The weekly events, in partnership with On the Beach, one of the UK’s biggest beach holiday specialists, will be overseen by a highly experienced and professional play-facilitator, and will aim to inspire parents and encourage imaginative play whilst children interact with the beach-inspired natural materials provided.  

The sessions are designed for under 5s and will run from 10am – 12pm each week. Sessions are free but must be booked as places are limited in-line with COVID restrictions.

“We not only recognise the value of outdoor play for children, but have also seen how parents enjoy having some help and inspiration to play with their little ones in different ways – which is exactly what our play facilitators are brilliant at,” said centre director for the Great Northern Warehouse, Mark Schofield. 

“The Great Northern provides a central hub in the city for all ages, and we think play sessions like these can contribute towards building a stronger Great Northern community, particularly after almost 18 months of disrupted family time thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions.

“Our sandpit and the beach-themed sessions also provide families with the chance for some seasonal fun that they might not have enjoyed due to lockdown travel restrictions – and while Manchester city centre can’t substitute a trip away, our On the Beach Tots sessions still offer opportunities galore to soak up the sun and have some seaside-inspired fun.”

The free sessions will be managed by Forest School Practitioners who are fully DBS checked, and will take place weekly until September as part of On the Beach’s takeover of the Great Northern Warehouse’s amphitheatre.

“After the past year, we know that what people want more than anything right now is their summer beach holiday,” said On the Beach marketing director, Steve Seddon.

“Until things become a little clearer, this may not be possible, so in the meantime we’re bringing the beach to Manchester and giving kids the opportunity to have some fun in the sand and make up for some of the experiences they may have missed out on in the past 12 months. 

“We can’t wait to see you there!”

For more information on the sessions, visit the Great Northern Warehouse website here.