Manc Mystery: What is Escape to Freight Island?

If you’ve been out and about in Manchester city centre over the past few weeks, you may have noticed some mysterious posters popping up here and there. The relatively minimalist posters simply state ‘Escape to Freight Island’, along with a web address, which doesn’t really lead to any more information – the website simply allows you to sign up via email for ‘more information on advance bookings’, and an imperative to ‘all meet at Platform 15 and begin our escape’. There is no Platform 15 at Piccadilly Train Station – it was supposed to be built as part of a ‘Northern Hub’ project first announced six years ago. Could this be a tongue-in-cheek reference to fantasy of this ‘Platform 15’? The North has no shortage of pop-up bars and party spots converting old locations like warehouses into the coolest place to be (if only for a night). Maybe Freight Island could be some kind of vamped-up old freight train ready for a post-lockdown party? Whatever it turns out to be, it seems well worth signing up to find out more info about this intriguing new mystery. What do you think Freight Island will be? Let us know in the comments below!