In the wake of the current coronavirus pandemic, local businesses across Greater Manchester are understandably suffering.
In an attempt to lend a helping hand, we reached out to our Twitter community to help us create a list of local businesses which sell gift cards and experiences in an attempt to ‘pay it forward’. The idea behind the initiative is to ask locals and visitors to the region to purchase gift cards, make online orders and buy experiences for later in the calendar year.
This generates income for those businesses which are suffering, and gives those who are purchasing something to look forward to for when the situation is more stable.
📢 Calling local businesses 📢
We know times are particularly difficult right now and we want to help.
We're creating a list of Manchester businesses who offer gift vouchers, in the hope that people can buy them now and treat a loved one at a later date when this is all over
— I Love Manchester (@ILoveMCR) March 12, 2020
We still want to encourage any local businesses that are feeling the brunt of the last few weeks to drop us a message or add their link to our Twitter thread. Below is a list of all of the current gift cards, offers and experiences currently made available to us.
Let’s stick together and get through this. We’re resilient. We’re Manchester.
HOME
Gift Vouchers are available to purchase from the Box Office and online. They can be exchanged for most goods and services provided by HOME.
These include theatre, cinema and event tickets, bookshop purchases, and/or food and drinks.
20 Stories
Specially crafted gifts and experiences at 20 Stories include treats such as a 3 course lunch, spirit tasting and craft beer tasting.
Wood Manchester
Wood restaurant offers both monetary vouchers and certificates for their (very reasonable) tasting menu. Choose from 2 or 3 course theatre menus, 5 or 7 course tasting menus, or the chef’s table experience for up to six people, as well as monetary vouchers from £25 to £200.
Abode Manchester
Abode Manchester offer anything from full champagne afternoon tea and cocktail master classes in Brasserie Abode to sleepovers and dinner, room and breakfast.
The Lowry
Why not treat someone to a Lowry Theatre gift voucher?
Vouchers can be redeemed for tickets, car parking online and over the phone. Vouchers redeemed in person at the box office counter can only be used for tickets.
Vouchers are not redeemable in The Lowry Gift Shop, theatre bars, Pier Eight restaurant or for merchandise.
San Carlo
Available in denominations from £20 right up to £500, San Carlo’s gift vouchers can be used at any of their Manchester restaurants (except House of Fraser and Selfridges venues), including their flagship Italian.
They’re available by email or post.
Kala and Hispi
Vouchers for Gary Usher’s top bistros Kala on King Street and Hispi in Didsbury are available in denominations from £20 up to £300, and can be delivered via email or post.
Postal vouchers are presented in a beautifully presented gift pack.
TNQ – The Northern Quarter Restaurant & Bar
With vouchers available in values of £25, £50, £75, £100 and combinations thereof, all TNQ gift vouchers are dispatched in a PDF format via email. It could not get much simpler.
Manchester Hall
The fam over at Manchester Hall offer vouchers you can use at their fine establishments including Masons Restaurant and Vanitas.
Royal Exchange Theatre
The perfect gift for theatre lovers. Royal Exchange Theatre gift vouchers can be redeemed for theatre tickets (including online), workshops and tours, as well as being used in the Theatre Shop, Costume Hire and in the The Rivals Bar & Restaurant.
The Lowry Hotel
Buy gift experiences like champagne afternoon tea, winter wellbeing spa packages, a 3 course chef showcase menu, monetary gift certificates, plus loads more at The Lowry Hotel: Manchester’s first five star hotel.
Hey Little Cupcake
Have fun with your friends decorating your very own Hey Little Cupcakes! Decorating classes include a welcome drink, create basic sugar paste decorations, buttercream demo, create 6 cupcakes with different decorating techniques. Decorating class vouchers are available to buy now.
The Spinningfields Gift Card
The perfect gift for foodies and fashionistas alike, the Spinningfields Gift Card allows you to treat friends, family or colleagues to an experience in Manchester’s luxury dining and shopping destination. Venues include: 20 Stories, Bagel Nash, Bill’s, BLVD, Carluccio’s, Comptoir Libanais, David Wayman, Fazenda, Hey Little Cupcake, Iberica, Mr Male Grooming, Mulberry, Nando’s, Nudo Sushi Box, The Oast House, Oliver Sweeney, Phillip Stoner, The Refinery, The Slug and Lettuce, Tattu, Thaikhun, TM Lewin, and Wagamama.
Cloudwater Brew Co
Their beer is [drooling face] and they’ve got really cool merch. And Cloudwater Brew Co do vouchers, too!
Palace Theatre and Opera House
Give a gift that gets a standing ovation. Gift vouchers for live theatre make the perfect gifts. Avoid buying the wrong ticket or booking the wrong show and let your loved ones decide by picking a show themselves.
These vouchers are valid for any show at Palace Theatre and Opera House Manchester – and in 31 other UK theatres for that matter. All you need to do is choose the voucher amount, add a personal message and they’ll do the rest.
Barber Barber
Get gift vouchers for clean cuts and close shaves at Manchester’s coolest barber shop, Barber Barber.
Flight Club
Fancy treating someone to an epic social darts experience?
Whether they’re a cocktail connoisseur, love a good share plate or just love a bit of friendly competition, they can use their Flight Club gift voucher to eat, drink and play, all thanks to you.
From Christmas to ‘just because’ – it’s guaranteed to be a gift to remember.
Escape Hunt
Give the gift of adventure. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gift voucher for the most exciting experience they’ll have all year? Sad people whose favourite colour is beige, that’s who. Anyone with an ounce of personality would be delighted with such an unusual present.
So go ahead, make their day with a cool gift voucher or gift box from Escape Hunt, and guarantee your place in the gift-giving Hall of Fame.
Cosy Club
Cosy Club serve up a sense of being somewhere special with a hint of nostalgia. Think mansion splendour meets village hall eccentricity. From a lazy breakfast to family lunch or a night out in your glad rags, treat your loved one to a gift of splendid food and drink.
Salvi’s
Salvi’s have gift vouchers available for the restaurant which come in values of £10, £20 and £50. It also has gift vouchers for pasta and pizza masterclasses.
Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant
Gino Gift Cards make the perfect gift for friends and family and can be easily redeemed for dining throughout the day or evening. Vouchers start from £25 and are available to purchase online for instant and postal delivery.
Mowgli
Mowgli gift vouchers are available in denominations of £25, and the option to bundle it in with a cheery cookbook or tote bag.
Banyan
Banyan’s gift cards can be used for a cocktail master class as well as on food and drink.
Alston Bar & Beef
Alston Bar & Beef Manchester exclusive Gifts now available to purchase securely online. Personalise a gift voucher, add a message, preview and send it instantly by email, text or 1st class post.
Doner Haus
The latest cool addition to the Corn Exchange offers gift vouchers from £10.
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We encourage any local businesses feeling the brunt of the last few weeks to drop us a line so that we can let people know where to find you. Let’s stick together and get through this. We’re resilient. We’re Manchester.