Royal ragers: our pick of the best places to celebrate the royal wedding

Wedding bells are almost ringing as Harry and Meghan’s big day draws closer. My invite still hasn’t turned up yet. Weird.

If you’re not one of the lucky few who made their way onto the guest list for the wedding of the year, don’t fret. There are tons of celebrations happening here in Manchester, so all you royalists can join in the festivities on 19th May when HRH Prince Harry and his soon-to-be princess exchange their vows.

Boozy bottomless brunch at Cloud 23

What better way is there than spending the day tucking into a royal bottomless brunch (£35) which also includes unlimited bellinis, G&Ts and Bloody Marys? Or, perhaps a spot of afternoon tea (£45) is more your thing? There’s free-flowing champagne and a selection of foods and sweet treats to sink your teeth into, including lemon, poppy and elderflower cake in honour of Harry and Meghan’s choice.

And for you fine diners, the Hilton Hotel’s restaurant Podium is offering a three-course meal of bubbles and beef. Tuck in to three courses and a bottle of prosecco to share for £25 per person, with the added extra of watching the day’s events live on screen.

Cloud 23 has got it all, and the fun doesn’t stop there – they will be continuing the royal celebrations into the early hours with a live DJ to keep the party going strong.

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High G&Ts and kronuts at Alberts Schloss

Quirky Bavarian palace Alberts Schloss, named after HRH Price Albert (Queen Victoria’s husband), will be hosting a garden party to commemorate the royal nuptials. You can keep up-to-date with the latest from the royal wedding as the ceremony will be screened throughout the venue, and they are offering guests a barrage of treats over the weekend including a royal wedding breakfast, silver service, royales and spritzers, high G&Ts and quintessential kronuts and cruffins.

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Regal afternoon tea at Great John Street Hotel

This boutique hotel will be hosting a royal soirée on its stunning rooftop terrace offering guests a regal afternoon tea with a view. Providing fizz on arrival and a lavish street party themed event while watching all the happenings in Windsor live on the big screen. Once the royal couple say ‘I do’, an exquisite spring-inspired afternoon tea will be served including delicate finger sandwiches of Lancashire cheese with tomato chutney, chicken and chive mayonnaise, cucumber and mint crème fraiche, egg mayonnaise and cress open sliders, and smoked salmon mini-bagels. For dessert there will be papaya mousse with orange jelly, chocolate profiteroles, Victoria sponge and almond cake.

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All Aboard Prince Henry

Fancy doing things a bit differently to celebrate the royal wedding? The Prince Henry narrowboat, originally commissioned by Princess Diana for the Trafford Narrowboat Trust in 1992, will be celebrating the day with free boat trips along the Bridgewater Canal. Princess Diana herself visited Trafford to launch Henry’s sister boat, Prince William, with Henry arriving later – and the owners wish to honour this link to the Prince with boat rides departing every half-hour from Streford’s oldest building, the Watch House Cruising Club. The Clubhouse will also be open for refreshments and free children’s activities throughout the day. Donations are welcome, and all money raised will be divided equally between Stretford Food Bank and the Invictus Games Foundation for which Prince Harry is a patron.

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Free Meghan Sparkles cocktails at The Refinery

Stunning Spinningfields venue The Refinery have created a signature cocktail to mark the occasion – the Meghan Sparkles. It’s a new twist on the classic prickly bramble, which includes Ketel One vodka, lemon, blackberries, blueberries, prosecco and violet liqueur. And, in celebration of the royal affair, everyone at The Refinery on Harry and Meghan’s big day will be given a complimentary Meghan Sparkles on arrival. How posh! The Refinery will also be screening the royal televised events throughout the day, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the day’s proceedings while sipping on your free cocktail.

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Free champagne for Meghans and Harrys at Epernay

Fast-growing social enterprise Foodinate has teamed up with Manchester champagne bar Epernay to offer a free glass of fizz or champagne cocktail to anyone called Harry or Meghan (or Megan) who attends the bar on the day of the royal wedding. But if you don’t share those namesakes, don’t worry. You’ll still benefit from knowing that for every glass of house champagne or champagne cocktail you buy between midday and midnight, Epernay will provide a free meal to a person in need via Foodinate. That’s worth raising a glass to.

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Pitchers of Pimm’s at Home Sweet Home

This weekend Home Sweet Home at The Great Northern will be having a royal gin garden party with some delicious summery drinks specials including Pimm’s cocktails and Kensington garden party cocktail pitchers to share. They’re doing a special royal afternoon tea, too – think mini smoked salmon bagels, peaches and cream Eton mess and millionaire shortbread cake truffles.

Tipsy tea at Slug & Lettuce Piccadilly

The Slug and Lettuce’s latest venture on Piccadilly Gardens will be joining in with the festivities on Saturday. Offering guests a tipsy afternoon tea, which comes with either a glass of prosecco or two cocktails per person (I know what I’ll be opting for), the franchise will also have 2-4-1 cocktails running all day and night as part of the celebrations to ensure all royalists have an unforgettable time. They’re also offering booth packages and have reworked some of their signature cocktails, creating the Sparkle Like Markle and Chambord Royal, so guests can drink in style. They’re also 2-4-1. Bargain!

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Free shots for redheads at Walkabout

Royal wedding party mania is almost upon Walkabout, who will be screening all the action from midday. And as a cheeky nod to HRH Prince Harry, they’re giving out free shots to all redheads who visit throughout the day. DJ Matt Tighe will be getting the party started early. And with some awesome drinks deals including two bombs for £6 and three tequilas or sambuccas for £5, it’s safe to say it’ll be a messy one at Walkabout. VIP table bookings are also available for those who want to make the day’s festivities extra special.

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