The Arndale welcomes The Cube Live and burgers all the way from Amsterdam
It always pays to look up in Manchester. Not simply for the opportunity to spy a superb oriel window or a resplendent festoon but to spot a new business opportunity.
The steely-eyed city strollers among you might have noticed a strip of blue neons lighting up the windows above Corporation Street over the past couple of weeks. These have revealed themselves to be part of the new The Cube Live coming soon to Manchester Arndale. Part of Urban Playground, a “revolutionary entertainment venue” comprising “competitive socialising, cutting edge technology and unique experiences.”
The Butcher has made a name for itself by putting down roots in some of the coolest cities across Europe so it's not surprising that Manchester caught its eye
Setting up shop in the now empty retail units that were once home to Miss Selfridge, Evans, Dorothy Perkins and Burton Menswear, Urban Playground is owned by The Mellors Group which also has fingers in east coast amusement park Fantasy Island, dozens of arcades and bingo halls across the midlands and Skegness Pier.
Keeping it social
Pit yourself against The Cube, just like you’ve seen on telly. And, if you're lucky, you might just have an explosive argument with your significant other as you attempt to fit hundreds of tiny red balls in to a small plastic box for the amusement of passers-by.
Manchester is now awash with this kind of activity - we’re now home to social cricket, social axe-throwing, social baseball and, disturbingly, social prison - so it may not be a totally unique experience but the popularity of The Cube ITV gameshow should pique the public interest.
Amsterdam-style Aberdeen Angus
Now, you know us and we think we know what our readers are interested in, so yes, there will be food there. Food from The Butcher who purports to not only build the “best bloody burgers in Amsterdam” but also in Ibiza, Berlin and now, Manchester apparently.
The Butcher serves Aberdeen Angus beef burgers in several guises including The Daddy which is smothered in melted Dutch Edam cheese (of course) and barbecue sauce as well as something called The Ugly presented with avocado and sour cream on a tortilla wrap.
Despite its knife-wielding name, you'll also find veggie and vegan-friendly offerings with chickpeas and sesame paste. And if fries aren’t your side of choice, popcorn chicken and mozzarella sticks also make it on to the menu.
Hailing from the Netherlands’ capital city, The Butcher has made a name for itself by putting down roots in some of the coolest cities across Europe so it's not surprising that Manchester caught its eye.
Plenty of room to play
Also coming to Manchester Arndale’s Urban Playground is Putters “tech-infused” golf alleging to deliver “the best putting experience in the world.” Hefty claims for a crazy golf course, but the inclusion of on-screen animations and audio might be just the ticket for any golfers keen to sharpen up their short game.
Urban Playground opens at the end of January and if you sign up to the mailing list you could be one of the first people to experience The Cube Live - if that's your kind of thing.
Header image: The Butcher
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