After the last 10 days of nationwide mourning and the cancellation and postponement of many of the city’s events, we’re back to normal again this week.
It’ll come as very welcome news to the thousands of students who have arrived in the city ready for the start of the new term, after some pretty horrible years gone by due to COVID – there shouldn’t be anything stopping them from getting out and about in what looks to be a pretty rowdy Freshers Week for all.
Elsewhere we’ve got the postponed Manchester Food & Drink Festival hitting Cathedral Gardens from Thursday, plus the long-awaited opening of the city’s first public park for over 100 years, as Mayfield opens their gates for all on Thursday.
50% OFF Gin Cocktails & Wood-Fired Garden Eats at The Black Friar
Wednesday 21st – Friday 23rd September
It’s the end of the Summer, and therefore The Black Friar are reining in their garden, getting it all ready for the dark, cold autumnal nights. Raising a glass to the end of the long hazy garden days (until next year at least). So they’re offering 50% OFF Didsbury Gin cocktails and their wood-fired food dishes from Wednesday to Friday this week. Tuck into wood-fired topped flatbreads, whole honey roasted ham hocks, fabulous sharing boards and more – all washed down with our quintessentially English Didsbury Gin cocktails – all half price, all day!
Tim Peake: My Journey to Space
Wednesday 21st September
Time Peake became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station to conduct a spacewalk (and run a marathon!) whilst orbiting Earth. Now, he’s embarked on a UK tour – giving you a personal guide through life in space, with unprecedented access, breathtaking photographs and never-before-seen incredible footage. It’s a fascinating insight into what it’s really like to be an astronaut; from training to launch, spacewalk to re-entry, Tim reveals the secrets, the science and the everyday wonders of how and why humans journey into space.
New Opening: Super Happy
Wednesday 21st September
Taking over the Counter at Ducie Street Warehouse this week is Super Happy, serving up a range of breakfast and lunch items; fresh sandwiches made using Batard’s own freshly baked bread, babka slices, an amazing grilled cheese sandwich made with two types of cheese and white potato bread, as well as a whole long list of freshly-baked sweet treats. Pop down and say hi and give their grub a try this week – you won’t be disappointed!
Mayfield Park Opens
Thursday 22nd September
The city’s first public park in more than 100 years opens this week as the long-awaited Mayfield opens its gates this Thursday from 12.30pm. From then on it will be open from dawn until dusk, seven days a week – which is in line with all other parks in the city – providing local residents, visitors and communities across Manchester with a city centre oasis of green space and beautifully landscaped river walkways.
Professor Brian Cox – Horizons
Thursday 22nd September
Continuing this week’s foray into science and space, this Thursday sees Professor Brian Cox take to the stage at the AO Arena with his new stage show, including a chance to get up close and personal with the man himself with an interview hosted by his The Infinite Monkey Cage co-host Robin Ince. Horizons takes audiences on a dazzling cinematic journey; a story of how we came to be and what we can become. Using state-of-the-art LED screen technology, Arenas will be filled with images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and a time before the Big Bang.
Manchester Food & Drink Festival 2022
Thursday 22nd – Sunday 25th September
Following guidance from Manchester City Council, Manchester’s Food & Drink Festival was delayed by a week in order to fall in line with the national mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II – meaning it’s now taking place this weekend, and then the weekend after too. There are tonnes on – way too much to start listing it all here, so the best thing to do is to click the link below and plan your weekend around that…
Shell Dung with Danny Rankin, Yemz, AK Gramm b2b Slowpo and more at The Old Abbey Taphouse
Friday 23rd September
There’s a biggie this Friday at Manchester’s most notorious boozer as Shell Dung presents Danny Rankin AKA Decoy from Kurupt FM, bringing the finest UK Garage out in the yard. In addition, Yemz will be providing Garage, UK Funky and crazy edits, while an epic b2b with AK Gramm and Slowpo should keep you going right through until 3am.
Me Gusta Collective: Afro-Dance Special
Friday 23rd September
Me Gusta are back this week after 3 months away, hitting up YES on Friday with an Afro-Dance Special. It’s a new live show concept for them and will see a whirlwind of electric West African, Nigerian and Caribbean body-moves from Trinidad & Tobago, featuring the amazing Steadman & Afro King. There’ll also be residents Atiké / Obeka / Yohan with 5 straight hours of non-stop energy and musical unity.
How To Keep Up With The Kardashians
Friday 23rd September
Fresh from their Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut, So La Flair, a Manchester-based self-made creative collective of emerging artists, are bringing their brilliant ‘How to Keep Up With The Kardashians’ show to the city this Friday. The concept is a fearless examination of an individual’s relationship to themselves whilst analysing the impact the Kardashians have on young people and their bodies in a culture of abnormal aesthetic values. Based on interviews with women and non-binary people aged 5 – 60, this is a dance party protest about dancing to the rhythm of your own drum, reclaiming power by redefining beauty and confronting the ugly truth of our obsession with perfection.
Ghosts of Garage at Hidden
Friday 23rd September
Ghosts of Garage kicks off a return to Manchester and a start of the autumn season with a massive line-up at Hidden, including Rich Reason, Anubis, DJ PRAEDA, THTGRL, DaiSu, T-MAN, Polyphylum an HIGGO. The night will also include the Manchester debut of both SOULECTA and Drinks On Me.
£7 Cocktails for Pen & Pencil’s 7th Birthday
Saturday 24th September
The Pen & Pencil celebrate their 7th birthday this weekend with a massive FREE party and they’re offering £7 cocktails from 7pm – 9pm. Also, Hacienda legend Dave Haslam will be on the decks, alongside A Deeper Groove. Should be a top one!
BENT: All Queer, All Day at The Derby Brewery Arms
Saturday 24th September
The final all-day courtyard party of the year at the Derby Brewery Arms in Cheetham Hill, BENT will feature six local artists and DJs with 100% of all profits going to LGBTQIA+ charities. On the roster for the day is stan, Lucky Pete, Jase Jeffery, Egg On Toast, David James and aalice.
Manchester Wing Fest
Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th September
A celebration of all things chicken wing this weekend as Wing Fest takes over The Trafford Centre with 20 different street food traders, restaurants and BBQ teams serving over 200,000 wings across the two days.
Champagne Disco Brunch at Ducie Street Warehouse
Saturday 24th September
Ducie Street Warehouse are launching a new and improved Bottomless Disco Brunch this Saturday, a party celebrated in style with the very finest French champagne. The warehouse will present an elevated Disco Brunch experience with a themed party paying homage to disco culture around the world; with inspired entertainment alongside exceptional cocktails and a menu curated by Head Chef Andrew Green, which includes both savoury and sweet dishes. The restaurant will be transformed into a disco wonderland with sounds from the finest DJs from 11am until 4pm, before the decks are moved back into the lounge where the party will continue.
Butta NQ
Saturday 24th September
DJs, games, “daft cocktails” and a good time, Butta NQ debuts in the city this Saturday. It’s members only – so follow the link below to get signed up and then head on down to VUDU on Spear Street on the weekend…
Mica Millar ‘Heaven Knows’ Album Launch
Sunday 25th September
Join Mica Millar for her hometown album launch at the iconic Albert Hall performing her brand new debut album ‘Heaven Knows in full, with her eight-piece live band. Self-written and produced, Heaven Knows explores a variety of themes drawing inspiration from a plethora of vintage soundscapes – most notably soul, blues, gospel and jazz. Respectful nods are paid to girl groups of the 60s and 70s and classic Motown, giving her songs a timeless quality that is both reassuringly familiar yet distinctively Mica Millar.
