Perfect for movie-lovers and adventure-seekers, Backyard Cinema offers an immersive cinema experience that is more than just the movies, and it has now arrived in Manchester. What once started as a passion project in its founders’ very own back garden, Backyard Cinema has now grown to be one of the leading alternative cinema experiences in the UK.
After nearly a decade of reinventing what it means to watch a movie in London, they have now turned their attention to the North for their very first event outside of London. The immersive cinema experts have created a purpose-built 330-capacity, indoor winter cinema on the platform of Depot Mayfield for a limited run which started from October 21, however the original 10-week run has been extended until January 25, 2023.
Audiences can expect to be transported on a magical journey to a cinema like no other. Having to make choices as visitors explore movie-grade sets, through tunnels of trees, 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 cosied up in with ushers serving seasonal cocktails and sweet treats to create the most magical place to watch a movie.
Taking residency on the roof of Depot Mayfield for a limited time, Backyard Cinema will be screening a mixture of brand new releases such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, Avatar: The Way of Water, cult classics The Greatest Showman, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ‘40th Anniversary’, and of course all-time favourite Christmas films including Elf, Home Alone, Love Actually and The Holiday.
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 the stunning Mayfield Park, Manchester’s first new public park in 100 years.
Dominic Davies, Founder and CEO of Backyard Cinema, 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.”
The Backyard Cinema in Manchester Christmas programme:
The Greatest Showman
December 30, 12pm; January 2, 8pm; January 13, 8pm
Elf
December 21, 12pm (subtitled); December 23, 4pm; December 28, 4pm; December 30, 4pm; January 2, 4pm
Home Alone
December 23, 12pm; December 24, 12pm; December 29, 4pm; January 2, 12pm
Love Actually
December 21, 8pm; December 23, 8pm; December 28, 8pm; December 30, 8pm
The Holiday
December 22, 8pm; December 29, 8pm
The Muppet Christmas Carol
December 21, 4pm; December 22, 4pm; December 28, 12pm
The Grinch
December 22, 12pm
It’s A Wonderful Life
December 24, 4pm
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
January 4, 8pm; January 5, 8pm; January 7, 4pm
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
January 5, 4pm; January 7, 12pm; January 8, 4pm; January 14, 12pm; January 18, 8pm; January 21, 4pm; January 22, 4pm
Avator: The Way of Water
January 6, 8pm; January 7, 8pm; January 8, 8pm
Strange World
January 8, 12pm; January 22, 12pm
Top Gun Maverick
January 11, 8pm
Pretty Woman
January 12, 8pm
Labyrinth
January 14, 4pm
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
January 14, 8pm; January 15, 8pm; January 19, 8pm; January 21, 8pm; January 22, 8pm
Beauty and the Beast
January 15, 12pm
Back to the Future
January 15, 4pm
Rocketman
January 20, 8pm
The Goonies
January 21, 4pm
Backyard Cinema Manchester is open from Monday to Sunday, from December 5 until January 2, and the extended run in January will run every Wednesday to Sunday until January 25, 2023. Backyard Cinema Manchester will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 27, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Show times are 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm– and it varies each day, with some midnight showings.
Exclusive for January deals, from January 4, Backyard Cinema Manchester is offering 50% off for showings on Mondays to Thursdays throughout the month. Whilst Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows are priced at off-peak prices, reduced from December’s Christmas film prices. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.