Half term fun at Rochdale Town Hall

The beautiful Rochdale Town Hall will be the location for top notch family fun this February half term, with a series of activities set to keep the young ones entertained.

On Tuesday 18 February, a free family fun day will bring art workshops, circus acts and more to the town hall, with families able to drop in between 10am and 12pm and again between 1 and 3pm.

Visitors can take part in art workshops run by Touchstones Museum and the Pioneers Museum and create something beautiful to take home.

The Skylight circus will give young guests the chance to play and explore their circus skills, while Rochdale Borough Council's library service will also be bringing creative activities along.

The family fun day is free of charge, but booking is essential.

On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February, Goofus Theatre will be presenting ‘The Tale of Nobody Nose’. The audience is invited to follow them as they go on a magical wintry journey, led by three clowns (Boz, Yolo and Flo), who travel where their magical map of dreams takes them. Tickets are priced at just £4 each, with performances at 11.30am and 2.30pm on each day.

Finally, families can join 'Fantastic Tales'. This magical immersive tour on Monday 17 February will feature ‘the Folcaonians’, the keepers of secrets and tellers of fantastic stories. This event is most suitable for families with children aged 3+ and lasts around 45 minutes. Tickets are £4 and babes in arms go free.

The events are part of the town hall’s wider offer for children, with activity sheets and dress up available every day, alongside a children’s menu in the Martlet restaurant on the ground floor, including mini fish and chips, tomato pasta, soup of the day and chicken breast.

During the half term break, parents can also pick up a kid’s lunch box for £1, containing a sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and drink, with every adult sandwich bought in the pop up café, which is located on the first floor, close to the Great Hall. The pop up café will be open every day from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 February between 10am and 3pm.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and cooperation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The restoration of his glorious Grade I listed building was all about giving it back to our residents so they can enjoy everything it has to offer and our packed annual events programme is a great way of bringing people into this spectacular space.

“We’re particularly delighted to welcome our younger guests, some of whom will never have been into the town hall, and we’ve ensured these events are either free of charge or low cost because we want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy them.” 

Anyone who would like to find out more about the events, including booking their place, and the Martlet restaurant, including the children’s menu, can go to: rochdaletownhall.co.uk