An immersive rooftop winter cinema is opening and you can get tickets now

An immersive cinema experience is opening on the rooftop of Manchester’s Depot Mayfield next month for a winter residency.

Perfect for both movie-lovers and adventure-seekers, Backyard Cinema offers a unique cinema experience that is ‘more than just the movies’.

And after nearly a decade of hosting these cinema experiences in London, Backyard Cinema is coming to the north for the first time with a purpose-built 330-capacity indoor winter cinema on the platform of Depot Mayfield, the home of Escape to Freight Island and Warehouse Project.

The cinema will be in Manchester for a limited ten-week run commencing from Friday October 21st.

Backyard Cinema

Upon arrival, audiences will be taken on a magical journey through tunnels of trees doors in the ‘Enchanted Forest’ before arriving at the ‘Lost Theatre’.

The theatre 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 enchanting place to watch a film.

Taking residency on the platform for this limited 10 week run, Backyard Cinema will be screening a mixture of brand new releases such as ELVIS and Top Gun: Maverick, cult classics like The Greatest Showman and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ‘40th Anniversary’, and all-time classic Christmas films including Elf, Home Alone, and Love Actually. 

Other films on the line up include The Batman, Die Hard, Hocus Pocus, Addams Family Values and Beetlejuice.

Backyard Cinema

Backyard Cinema will be situated 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

To do this, the four derelict railway tracks, platforms, original ticket office, waiting room and signature cast iron roof structure will be converted to create a truly unique set up overlooking the stunning Mayfield Park, Manchester’s first new public park in 100 years. 

The cinema will also feature two communal drinking areas, a number of local street food vendors and live music. 

Dominic Davies, founder and CEO of Backyard Cinema, said: “We are so 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.

Backyard Cinema

“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.”

Backyard Cinema Manchester will be open from Wednesdays to Sundays from October 21st until December 4th, and from Mondays to Sundays from December 5th until January 2nd. It will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 27th, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Show times are 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm, though this will vary each day.

Tickets for Backyard Cinema are on sale NOW – get booked in here.