Pop-up park and bar to open in Manchester with F1, Wimbledon and cinema screenings

A new pop-up park and bar will be opening in Manchester this week ahead of a lively summer calendar featuring big screen screenings of sports and movies. The Green will open on Grape Street in the St John’s district, by Aviva Studios , on Thursday evening (May 29) and will become a ‘new kind of public space’ bringing together the sunny and chilled vibes of a local park with a fully licenced bar and a cinema-grade screen. Taking over the space directly by acclaimed venues Trading Route, Caravan and the Stables’ Tavern pub , the grand opening on Thursday will see 200 free pints handed out by Jubel and Freedom Brewery as well as eight opportunities to bag a £100 bar tab. Click here for the latest on Manchester's food & drink scene, gigs and more in our CityLife newsletter Across the summer - from June 1 to August - the space will also become the go-to spot for live sports events, with screenings of major Wimbledon games as well as coverage of the F1 British Grand Prix, The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, and Tour de France daily stages.

Open daily from 12pm until 10pm, The Green’s regular calendar of events will also include a Friday night cinema, weekly wellness sessions on the lawn, and family-themed Sunday mornings sessions with the full roster to be rolled out. In addition to the bar area, street food will also be available to order with local businesses also set to be involved in the offerings. Speaking about the plans, organisers behind The Green said: “Designed as a properly considered urban square, the space will be open daily from 12pm to 10pm, welcoming residents, workers, visitors and anyone looking for an outdoor spot to relax, socialise and enjoy Manchester’s summer atmosphere. “The Green’s summer programme runs from 1 June through August and features a curated mix of live sport, outdoor cinema, wellness sessions on the lawn and a rolling programme of social events and activations. “The launch reinforces the continued evolution of St. John’s as a key destination for culture, leisure and entertainment in Manchester city centre , blending green space, hospitality and large-scale public programming in one integrated setting.” Previously considered to be one of Manchester's 'forgotten' areas, after Granada Studios departed the part of town in favour of MediaCity back in 2013, the St John's district has recently seen a resurgence in popularity due to its fresh intake of venues and operators.

The former Granada Television's, now named the Old Granada Studios building, is now home to Mollie's Motel and Soho House. Production still takes place at the nearby Versa Studios, with the likes of Bullseye amongst the shows recently filmed there. The district has also become the location for top bars and restaurants including Courts Club, Fenix, and Louis, which has held private events for Manchester City stars and also hosted a special one-off intimate performance from Hollywood actor Jason Momoa earlier this year. A regeneration project led by Allied London at the cost of over £1bn has helped attracted big names and prospects to the area, with its high-rise apartments and office blocks also attracting residents and workers into the space.

The area is also a short walk away from the Science and Industry Museum, as well as the leading Crystal Maze and PAC-MAN experiences for families. The Green at St John's opens on Thursday (May 28) at 5pm. You can follow on Instagram for events.