Barbie fans forced out in the rain as Manchester cinema is evacuated

On one of the most highly-anticipated weekends for film in recent times, Manchester cinemagoers were forced outside in the rain following an evacuation. Movie lovers were told to leave HOME in the city centre as a fire alarm sounded in the building at around 3pm today (July 23).

Those forced out included people attending a screening of the new Barbie film, along with others waiting at the HOME restaurant before the next screening of the Hollywood hit was due to begin. Coun Chris Northwood, who represents Ancoats and Beswick on Manchester council, was in the restaurant with friends before they were due to see Barbie.

She told the Manchester Evening News: "A fire alarm came on and there was an employee telling people to evacuate the building. We went outside, it was 45 minutes before the showing.

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"We went and stood in the arch. Staff came out with a message to say they were really sorry, there was a fault with the alarm system - it might be an hour or it might be two or three hours before it's resolved."

Coun Northwood says people were given the option of waiting or getting a refund, and eventually she decided to leave. She added: "I think it was just some sort of fault with the alarm system - it would stop now and then for about a minute, but it would start again."

Some viewers from the Barbie screening wrote on Twitter about how they had to leave before the film had ended. @TotalLeftie wrote: "Hey @HOME_mcr will we get the chance to see the film again...we were halfway through?"

@TheRachelMorris tweeted: "Anyone know what’s happening at @HOME_mcr? We’ve just been evacuated half way through Barbie!

"20 mins before the end of