I don’t know about you, but I am a bit sick of bank holidays at the moment. Three in a row? Bah humbug!
I’m not going to be too much of a grinch though, at least I have all this to keep me occupied…
All Weekend
Neighbourhood Weekender
Warrington welcomes the Neighbourhood Weekender this week with performances from the likes of George Ezra, Richard Ashcroft and the Vaccines among many, many more. Running on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th, you can get the best of the festival experience with a day on the other side so you can recover. Amazingly, there are still some tickets left, so if you find yourself at a loose end this weekend, grab a ticket and get involved with this star-spangled weekend of music!
Cottonopolis Extended Brunch
Not content with offering up quite possibly the most delicious Brunch menu in the city every Saturday and Sunday, this Bank Holiday sees Cottonopolis extend their brunch hours to include Monday 27th– meaning you can tuck into their Bottomless Prosecco Brunch 3 days in a row if you so desire. You might think you’d start getting a bit bored of it by Sunday but I assure you-you definitely won’t. Just make sure you try their brilliant wagyu brisket crumpets. You won’t regret it. Plus, there is an impressive roster of DJ’s on all weekend so feel free to stay there all weekend!
Hugh Jackman @ Manchester Arena
Prepare for some serious squeals ladies and gentleman because the one, the only, real-life Australian heartthrob that is HUGH JACKMAN is here in Manchester in the flesh. He is at the Manchester Area ALL WEEKEND (Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th) where he will be singing all of your favourite and strangely addictive tunes from last year’s blockbuster ‘The Greatest Showman’ and other favourites. I have no idea how, but there are STILL tickets left for all three dates so you, your mum, auntie and sisters can still be in the presence of the man himself with knickers in hand ready to pelt at him I’m sure.
Detox- Retox Bottomless Brunch @ FoodWell
From 10am-2pm Sat-Mon we will be getting our fill of the Detox – Retox bottomless brunch at FoodWell. Choose from one of their stunning small plates, followed by a brunch dish from their plethora of meaty, veggie and plant-based options. You will also enjoy bottomless drinks including DETOX juices (£20) if you are on a health kick or summery mimosas, Bloody Marys, Estrella or Prosecco if you are on the REOTX (£35). There is something for everyone!
Berliner Weisse Party (AKA Sour Fest) at Beatnikz
Beatnikz Republic are celebrating all things sour this bank holiday weekend. Expect the very best sour brews from the likes of Omnipollo, Vault City Brewing, Lost and Grounded Brewers and Yonder Brewing & Blending on the taps. There will also be live DJ sets all weekend from some very special guests and a very special beer slushy machine which is a reason to make an appearance in itself!
Beatnikz Republic Bar, 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF
beatnikzrepublic.com/
Extended Brunch at Volta
Word on the proverbial street is Volta in West Didsbury offers one of the finest brunches in the south of Manchester. If you haven’t had an opportunity to give it a go, they will be serving the menu on Saturday, Sunday & Monday for you to enjoy. Tuck into their infamous shawarma hash with a legendary Bloody Mary or two…or three..or four!
Urmston Festival
As soon as the festivals start rolling in, it starts to feel like summer. On the 25th and 26th May, you can pop down to Moorside Road to get involved with Urmston festival which is headlined by 1970’s legends The Osmond’s on the Saturday and Bootleg Beatles on Sunday. The event takes place on the Urmston Sports Club which will be the perfect place to enjoy some live music on a (hopefully) sunny day.
Bottomless Brunch @ Dog Bowl & Black Dog
So, Black Dog and Dog Bowl have only gone and got themselves a brand new brunch menu which includes the likes of the Waffle Burger, the Steak Benedict and the outrageously enormous Full English. Naturally, the whole thing is bottomless (Prosecco, Bloody Mary’s, wine, larger + soft drinks) for just £25 per person which means it is A) the perfect hangover cure and B) the perfect pre-game to your weekend activities. They are open for brunch on Monday too!
Live Music @ Mash Tun
Mash Tun is the latest gastro-pub to join in the fun on King Street. Not only is it home to an impressive 24 different taps offering only the best craft beers, but Mash Tun is also the place to be if you like a little live music on the weekends. This bank holiday is no different, and what’s more, you will get a FREE hot dog with every pint you buy. How about that?
Pinkster Gin Bottomless Brunch at The Bay Horse Tavern
Bottomless Brunch is everywhere at the moment, so it can often be difficult to filter the good from the bad from the ugly. However, The Bay Horse Tavern does things a little differently with a bottomless Pinkster gin offering with four delicious cocktails up for grabs with your brunch dish. This one is perfect for a catch up with the girls or as a way to kick off your bank holiday in style.
Our Friends Electrik @ The Refuge
Is a Bank Holiday really ever a holiday if you don’t spend it at The Refuge? These guys are experts in putting on a wide programme of events which are fun for all the family. This time, there’ll be a takeover by Whitworth Art Gallery, Yoga, Eco-friendly fashion from Stitched Up, a masterclass from Urban Decay and top tunes from The Refuge residents – get involved!
The Refuge, Oxford Street, Manchester M60 7HA
Friday
Rhythm Roulette @ Eat New York- The Bagel Shop
After a SELL OUT debut… the GENRE WHEEL returns to our favourite night time eatery- Eat New York. This time we’re getting classy with a truly British spin as we add two new genres to the wheel. Choose from Disco, House, Techno, Ska & UK Garage- spin the wheel and play where it lands. No two nights are ever the same and it will make a top start to your long weekend!
Dot to Dot Festival Manchester
Dot To Dot is a metropolitan festival taking place in Manchester on Friday 24th May, Bristol on Saturday 25th May and Nottingham on Sunday 26th May. The Manchester Line-up which is spread over a number of fantastic venues includes performances from Crystal Fighters, The Orielles and the Viagra Boys to name but a few. It makes a great way to start off your long weekend…
Marcell Dettman @ Hidden
If you like blaring techno and staying up til 5 am you will be pleased to hear that German DJ Marcell Dettman is coming to Hidden on Friday. The event is hosted by The Warehouse Project which means it is definitely going to be good and just what you need to satisfy you until the WHP season kicks off again towards the tail end of the year.
Kamasi Washington @ Manchester Academy
I didn’t know who Kamasi Washington was until about three hours ago when someone asked me if I wanted to go this Friday. For fear of looking like a complete imbecile I then went and listened to everything his name has ever been attributed to including a short clip from Mr Washington’s school nativity play where he played ‘Shepard Number 2’. Anyway, he is a jazz saxophonist who is really quite good and he’s playing this week at the Academy. There are still tickets left so get involved!
Saturday
Homoelectric @ Hidden
Manchester’s favourite non-stop exotic disco for homos, heteros, lesbos and don’t knows Homoelectric is BACK this bank holiday at their spiritual home at Hidden. Sexual orientation and music genres are irrelevant on the dancefloors but expect sets from the likes of Will Tramp, Gina Breeze, Chris Massey and Ladybeige for a start. Jump into the melting pot where they throw disco, house, techno, garage, pop, dirt, and glamour with no pomp or pretension.
Envirolution Festival
Ten years on, and Envirolution has changed just as much as Manchester, but the environmental festival makes its return to Platt Fields Park year after year. The aim is a simple one; to fight climate change, and Envirolution knows that the best way to do this is to engage the community – hence the festival. Details are kept on the DL but I can tell you GRUB is on it with the food as well as some amazing music acts and traders. Come and learn about climate change and celebrate how far we’ve come already in making positive changes!
Bank Holiday Blow Out @ Dive
As always, Dive is doing things the right way this bank holiday! Start things off at 10 pm and go right through to the wee hours with DJ Lemmi playing RnB, Hip Hop, Reggae, Mash-Ups & more!! And with our Prinks Menu running from 7pm-1am with bottles of Ciroc, Hennessey and Jack Daniels at just £80, we know you’ll be dancing the night away! Why not book yourself a booth, and receive waitress service all night long? Start the party before 12 am for free entry or join Dive after midnight with a £5 ticket.
Dive NQ, Oldham St, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1SH
divenq.co.uk
Sunday
Jamie Groovement (AKA Agent J) @ Honey Trap Club
Manchester-born Jamie Groovement headlines HTC the second bank holiday this May, with a night of hip hop, jazz, funk and soul. With many years behind the decks, Jamie curated and played at bar sessions all over Manchester and can be found warming up for hip hop and soul acts across the city, as well as holding down his own monthly residencies and guest spots. This night is free to attend and will be open until 3 am – so plenty of time to get down on the bank holiday Sunday.
Honey Trap Club, 14 Little Lever St, Manchester M1 1HR
www.honeytrapclub.co.uk
Roots Before Branches @ Electrik
After a short hiatus, the original Roots residents are back! Electrik is excited to welcome the Roots guys back through the doors for a special bank holiday party with a vibe that is sure to move your body. Residents Chris Roots & Tom RBB will be dropping sounds of House, Disco, Soul, Funk, Boogie, Afro, Jazz & more! Free entry and guaranteed good vibes!
Electrik, 559a Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, M21 0AE
www.electrikbar.co.uk
Beatnikz Beach Party @ Sandinista
Beatnikz Brewery are the kings of making summer brews- think Beach Bum and Tropic Fiesta if you want some evidence. Sandinista have teamed up with Beatnikz this Bank Holiday to bring all the summer vibes with free drinks, 2-4-1 Zombies and Mai Tais as well as some delightful beer flights. DJ’s and free entry all day and night long until 3am. See you there!
Sandinista, 2 Old Bank St, Manchester, M2 7PF
www.sandinistagroup.co.uk
Bottomless Cocktails at Blind Tyger
This weekend, all you need is a purple drinking voucher and a password to gain entry to one of the most exclusive events all weekend. Enjoy bottomless cocktails for two hours as well as some extra treats from their top-notch bartenders. This event is the real deal, so expect table service the entire time in the relaxed, beautiful environment of Blind Tyger.
Craig Smith @ The Pen & Pencil
The Pen & Pencil welcome Scottish mixer Craig Smith to the decks on the bank holiday. With 20 years of experience, Craig mixes his influential sounds of boogie, jazz funk and soul with his modern production and sounds of Dance music. Supported by resident DJ’s A Deeper Groove, this is a bank holiday you won’t forget.
The Pen and Pencil, Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
www.thepenandpencilnq.co.uk
Devils Jukebox One Deck @ Volta
Celebrating summertime down Burton Road by welcoming the musical offerings by that duo of Jedi style crate digging & thrift shop scourging, Chris Maude & Fritz Lakes aka Devils Jukebox to provide the one deck vibes for late May bank holiday Sunday! Expect an ever-changing selection of sounds from soul, folk, afro, Latin, jazz, AOR, soundtracks, roots, reggae & anything else that is certified ‘cool as heck’.
Volta, 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN
http://www.voltafoodanddrink.co.uk/
The Fairfield Cider Fete – Fairfield Social Club
Manchester’s ONLY totally dedicated cider festival lands this weekend on bank holiday Sunday. With over 90 different ciders from 20 producers including Piltons, One Upon a Tree, Kentish Pip, Tiny Rebel, Turners, Cotswold Cider and Ross Cider, this event will prove to be any cider-lovers dream come true! Spread across two tasting sessions (12 pm – 5 pm and 6 pm – 11 pm) with plenty of street food from the likes of legends like Holy Crab- this Cider Fete is the perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday if you ask us.
Funkytown @ Cloud Water Brewery Unit 9
A literal piss up in a brewery, you say? Sounds bloody marvellous, especially when you throw some serious FUNK into the mix! Join the Cloudwater guys for funky beers and funky beats and a limited amount of rare beers from Bellwoods Brewery, De Garde Brewing, American Solera, The Bruery, Jester King Brewery, Dugges Bryggeri, Hill Farmstead Brewery and many more! Kick off is at 12 pm, be there or be square…
Unit 9, 9 Piccadilly Trading Estate, M1 2NP Manchester, United Kingdom
https://cloudwaterbrew.co/
Ate Days a week @ 33 Oldham Street
In a music and food event like nothing we have ever seen before in Manchester, The chefs at 33 Oldham street will be taking influence from a city steeped in musical history to create a delicious four-course set menu complete with matching cocktails based on iconic Manchester songs, stories and traditions. The feasting will be followed by a DJ set from ex-Inspiral Carpets legend Clint Boon on our bespoke sound system. Join them for an evening that sounds as good as it tastes for just £30 all in.
