This Bank Holiday is a biggie. The last one before (hopefully) all of these restrictions disappear at the end of June – so everyone is going ALL out.
In addition – it’s also pay day. So expect this weekend to be BUSY. Like very busy. Get booking everything now darlings…
KANTINA Weekender
Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday
This is it. A huge food and drink weekender down at Escape to Freight Island, one which features a super-long list of chef collaborations and some truly impressive pairings. There’s two Michelin-starred chefs coming together to create a Sunday Feast, there’s the Higher Ground team creating a massive 7-course menu, plus some special menus from Baraxturi, Patty Queen (Fried Rabbit Burger!), Plant Grill x Where the Light Gets In, Madre x Brad Carter (Grilled Beef Heart Tacos!) and tonnes more. There’s a few tickets left – so BE QUICK
The Manchester Flower Show 2021
From Saturday 29th May
“Mark the summer with a city-wide trail of colourful floral displays, green installations and alfresco dining”. Kicking off this Saturday throughout the city, The Manchester Flower Show looks set to transform areas of Manchester into floral delights, including secret gardens, knitted trees, and even The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail with loads of city centre venues getting involved.
Ducie Street’s Weekend
Friday 28th – Monday 31st May
They’re going ALL OUT this Bank Holiday weekend down at Ducie Street Warehouse in the NQ, with a packed 4 days of awesome tunes and some seriously great food and booze. They’ll be welcoming Mix-Stress & Friends and Steam Radio, as well as hosting an all dayer from music legends Me Gusta, and even an Eastern Bloc Takeover on the Saturday featuring their very own ‘micro’ record store. Grab some mates, make a booking, order some massive sharer plates (1kg cheese wheel anyone!?) and have a brilliant weekend.
Homeground OPENS
From Friday 28th May
3x the size of Albert Square and with a diverse events and live music calendar over the summer – Homeground will be opening with a bang this weekend. It’s on that bit of land just behind First Street and promises to be an exciting new venue for the city. They’ve even got a ton of FREE events going on – as well as food pop-ups, cocktails from Wolf at the Door and theatre shows. It looks set to be one of the city’s must-visit places of the summer – so get yourself there this weekend before everyone else.
Eat MCR x The Refuge
From Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th May
Last week saw the team at Eat MCR launch their street food terrace takeover at The Refuge, bringing Birria Brothers Tacos and Long Boi’s Bakehouse from Levenshulme to what is arguably one of the best outdoor spaces in the city. Birria Brothers have been serving up insane tacos at Koffee Pot for a couple of months now, and if you’ve not had one yet – you NEED to get involved. Long Boi’s are massively popular down in Levvy – and once you bite into one of their baked goods – it’s not hard to see why. Pop down for some food and a few drinks all weekend.
Drag Race Domination @ Albert Hall
Sunday 30th May
Featuring a load of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants – Drag Race Domination comes to Albert Hall this Sunday. Presented by Baga Chipz, the drag show will feature the talents of 2021’s winner Lawrence Chaney, finalists Ellie Diamond and Tayce and a couple of others who didn’t do so well – Asttina Mandella and Ginny Lemon. It promises to be a proper good party though – and if I’m being honest – I’ll be there with bells on.
53Two Theatre Bar OPENS
Sunday 30th May
This weekend sees the much-anticipated theatre and bar – 53Two open their doors down in the arches over on Watson Street. As you can imagine, it’s been a pretty mad year or so for all arts and theatre venues, but hopefully they’re out of the worst and we can all get back to enjoying some cracking local productions in this very impressive space. I popped down this week to have a look at the bar and it looks mega! They’ll be open for walk-ins from this Sunday.