Pink Floyd - At the Sherwood Observatory & Planetarium
At HQ, there’s not much we don’t discuss over a brew—while being jack-of-all-trades at our desks. Music plays a big part in our world, and we can turn our ears to most genres.
This afternoon’s topic? Things to do solo. Cool things.
But how do you even define “cool”? Is it a ride in a Spitfire? Skydiving? Or something as simple as a walk in the Peaks? Cool means something different to everyone.
While casually browsing the internet, Anthony mentioned the Sherwood Observatory & Planetarium. Funny really—I drive past this place every Tuesday, and every other Sunday, taking my daughter to football. I’ve watched it rise from the ground all the way to its grand reopening in November 2024. I’d always wanted to visit, even though I’m not exactly a big stargazer (the universe does fascinate me, though).
The place is genuinely impressive—built inside and above an old Victorian reservoir. It's well worth seeing for the clever design alone.
What really caught my eye, though, was this:
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon Show
"Immerse yourself in the original, psychedelic, fulldome Planetarium visualisation of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, The Dark Side of the Moon.
More than fifty years on, Pink Floyd’s iconic album is being brought to life again with the help of modern technology and stunning visuals played out to 42 minutes of The Dark Side of the Moon.
The show is divided into the 10 tracks of the album, each with its own theme—some futuristically looking forward, some a retro nod to Floyd’s visual history—all wrapped in a time and space experience that only a planetarium can offer."
That was all I needed.
Entertainment, not education. I noticed there were a few tickets left for the 5pm showing, so I booked myself in. It sounded cool to me, anyway.
I arrived early, knowing there was a café on site. After checking in, I headed up for a light afternoon snack and looked out over the landscape. The only blot on the horizon? A massive Amazon warehouse. I suppose that’s progress. Still—it’s a big sky, which is exactly why the observatory is here.
As the queue began to build, I took in the crowd—every age you can imagine. From those who probably bought the vinyl back in the day, to the younger, Spotify-streaming generation. Good music transcends age, and it was great to see such a mix.
With a seating capacity of 59, this was going to be an intimate affair. The planetarium itself is surprisingly spacious, with large reclining seats—ideal for a sneaky afternoon nod.
And then the show began.
42 minutes of surround sound and captivating visuals.
An album listening party like no other, designed to take you on an immersive journey through time and space.
It was fantastic.
Slightly trippy and hypnotic at times, but absolutely amazing.
It’s a good album on its own—but when combined with the visuals and space journey, it took on a whole new dimension.
P.S. The images above are from the internet—I stuck to the rules.
Photos of the show were strictly forbidden (copyright and all that). The 42 minutes flew by, and you could tell the audience would’ve happily stayed longer.
Stepping back into the bright May sunshine, my eyes and ears had been thoroughly treated.
I drove home in 32K hyper colour.
For me, it was definitely cool.
If you like Pink Floyd, it’s a no-brainer.
If you like cool experiences, it’s a definite.
And hey—it’s always good to support local.
