Christmas in Manchester: ice rinks & hot chocolate
An ice rink, 'penguin dodgems' and tip-top hot chocolate... It's time to wrap up warm and look forward to festive season at the Great Northern Warehouse
At the hands of programming collective Future Artists, the Great Northern Warehouse and its surrounding square have become a destination for great food, drink and one-off events over the course of 2015.
Now, they're getting in the mood for Christmas (hold that groan – it's November and totally legit to start digging out your Xmas knits) with plans for an ice rink outside the building, and warming treats served up inside.
The group's head honcho, Mark Ashmore, told us what we can look forward to this season.
The Skinny: You filled the square with activities over the summer – and we hear you've got more planned for the winter. Can you give us an overview of what's in store?
Mark Ashmore: In response to this whole #NorthernPowerhouse thing that is going around at the moment, we decided that we should really make the square into the default northern destination this Christmas, so we have built a 300-capacity ice rink which will go over our amphitheatre, with a 30-metre high helter skelter sat nicely outside. We have called it 'Manchester on Ice,' but of course all skaters are welcome, from wherever they live!
There's a lot of competition when it comes to Christmas in Manchester, with many different markets and activities all across town. What makes the Great Northern's plans different?
Two things: Star Wars and the only ice rink in Manchester. You can go see the movie of the year [at the AMC Cinemas] and then pretend you're on the planet Hoth being attacked by AT-AT Walkers on our ice rink!
Will there be special events on the ice rink?
There are quite a lot of things happening on the ice; our tenants Almost Famous, Home Sweet Home and All Star Lanes all have special events planned. We are hosting a New Year's Eve countdown on 31 Dec, so will be open 'til 12.30am on the ice – that's pretty special. And I personally am organising for children's charities and those displaced by war and climate change to be able to come and experience Manchester on Ice for free, so if you work for a children's charity and want to book a free slot, email info@futureartists.co.uk and we can send you info.
What else will we be able to do to stay toasty?
We are in talks with some famous former Olympic champions to come on down and teach you how to do some pro skating tricks, so that should keep you toasty! All our restaurants on the square have nice cosy warm heaters so if it gets too cold, head into, say, Home Sweet Home for an amazing hot chocolate.
Were any penguins harmed in the making of the 'penguin dodgems'?
These are one of my favourite things – our penguin dodgems are hopefully going to become the thing of Manchester folklore.
Avoiding the question there...! We've talked a lot about the square – what will you be going to make the inside of the Warehouse as festive as outside?
Well, we have B.EAT STREET holding about ten Christmas parties in their space, so that will be busy, and with Spectre and Star Wars coming out, alongside the final part of The Hunger Games, the AMC will be busy. We have decided to give the inside a bit of an action theme this Christmas, so expect street art and some interesting interpretations of Christmas. You might see John McClane running by with vest and no socks!
And finally: tell us what the New Year has in store for the Great Northern and Future Artists.
In short, each month will have a major event that is on an international level, from local events such as the Manchester 10k to Manchester Day Parade (which we sponsor each year), to the Manchester International Film Festival, which will see its second year with us. We will be hosting an international street art festival, a summer fair and a few secret surprises.
Manchester on Ice opens on 6 Nov. To book tickets go to manchesteronice.com
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