A magical cinema experience built inside an interactive film set is coming to Manchester

After nearly a decade of reinventing what it means to watch a movie in London, Backyard Cinema has now turned its attention to the North. This autumn the team will be heading to Manchester with a cosy and immersive, purpose-built 330-capacity indoor Winter cinema on the platform of Broadwick Live’s Depot Mayfield.

Visitors can expect to watch classic films and new releases within an interactive, movie-grade set, accompanied by great food and drink. It will run for a limited ten week period which begins on Friday 21st October.

Backyard Cinema started as a passion project in its founders’ own back garden and, having now screened to over half a million customers, has since grown to be one of the UK’s leading alternative cinema experiences.

With their very first event outside of London, audiences in Manchester can expect to be transported on a magical journey to a cinema like no other through movie-grade sets featuring tunnels of trees and magical doors to eventually discover the Enchanted Forest and home of the Lost Theatre.

The screening room will be filled with custom-made giant bean bag seating for guests to get relax while ushers serve a range of seasonal cocktails and sweet treats.

Over the ten weeks, Backyard Cinema will be screening a mixture of new releases such as ELVIS (2022), Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), cult classics The Greatest Showman (2017), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ‘40th Anniversary’ (1982), and all-time favourite Christmas films including Elf (2003), Home Alone (1990), Love Actually (2003) and The Holiday (2006). The programming will be suitable for all ages and groups and will be announced when tickets go on early release sale on Wednesday 7th September – Don’t miss out, sign up here.

Joining Escape to Freight Island and The Warehouse Project as two of Depot Mayfield’s partners, Backyard Cinema will be set on the platform of the former Mayfield Train Station, where it will be the first destination project to occupy the 34,000-square-foot rooftop space. The immersive experience, which also features two communal drinking areas, street food and a live music stage, is converting the four derelict railway tracks, platforms, original ticket office, waiting room and signature cast iron roof structure to create a truly unique set up overlooking Mayfield Park, Manchester’s first new public park in 100 years.

Founder and CEO of Backyard Cinema Dominic Davies said: “We are excited to take our alternative cinema pop-up outside of London for the very first time and we are proud to be joining The Warehouse Project and Escape to Freight Island in one of Manchester’s most exciting regeneration projects at Depot Mayfield.

“Manchester is such a unique creative city with lots of cultural happenings and we look forward to being part of the community and offering the most magical cinema experience to all.”

Simeon Aldred from Broadwick Live, added: “Backyard Cinema has built a first-rate reputation with audiences for creating immersive and exciting film experiences in landmark venues, and so it seemed like a natural partnership for Depot Mayfield.

“This building played a central role in Manchester’s industrial past, and is now a major driving force in the city’s booming cultural scene, as well as acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area.”

Tickets for Backyard Cinema Manchester

Register HERE to unlock exclusive limited early bird access for 48 hours only (pre-sale opens on Wednesday 7th September)