Buzzing new things to see and do in Manchester this summer
- Written by I Love MCR
- Last updated 5 months ago
- Best of, Events, Featured, Food & Drink
Manchester is gearing up for what promises to be an incredible summer 2024.
From world-class dining experiences to amazing bars, new hotels, and gigs – you name it, we’ve got it.
And with just the small matter of England (say a prayer) winning the Euros this summer too – there are loads of fantastic places to watch football come home.
While we’re praying, we may as well stick in one (just incase eh) for some sunny skies and some good weather, given how blessed we are with so many great beer gardens and places to eat outside, and even incredible rooftop bars and restaurants with a view.
Here’s to a sensational Manchester summer 2024.
New openings this summer
Skof
Great British Menu and Roux Scholarship winner Tom Barnes has opened his first solo restaurant, Skof, in Manchester’s NOMA neighbourhood.
Barnes, a protégé of Simon Rogan, brings a farm-to-table ethos, sourcing from local suppliers like Cinderwood Market Garden and Lake District Farmers, alongside produce from Rogan’s Our Farm.
Skof offers a welcoming space with interiors reflecting Barnes’ Cumbrian roots and Manchester’s industrial history. The menu features 12 and 15-course tasting options, priced at £120 and £165 respectively, and a four-course lunch at £50 per head. Highlights include roasted sladesdown duck and Berkswell cheese sable biscuit.
Tender at Stock Exchange Hotel
Manchester’s 5-star Stock Exchange Hotel has opened its doors to a new luxury dining experience called Tender.
It has opened under the stewardship of chef-in-residence, two-time Michelin star Niall Keating, who achieved both of these stars under the age of 30—an incredible achievement.
Named after the tender care put into crafting each dish and with a nod to the heritage of the hotel, Tender offers high-end, gourmet food for everyday dining within the opulent and historic dining room of the Stock Exchange Hotel.
Tender opened officially on the 5th of June, in the newly renovated dining room.
They say it will cater for a variety of culinary experiences, offering weekday brasserie lunch, a la carte dinner, afternoon teas, a special Sunday roast and chef’s table and special tasting menu, all created by Niall Keating.
Habbibi
Habbibi Manchester, located in Spinningfields’ XYZ building on Hardman Boulevard, is bringing a taste of Middle Eastern flavours infused with European cuisine.
The restaurant, which opens on Saturday, 8 June 2024, has undergone a £3 million renovation, featuring elegant and luxurious interiors with plush seating and decorative accents.
With a seated bar area, private dining room, and outdoor shisha terrace, Habbibi aims to attract visitors from across the city. The menu, crafted by Head Chef Djafar Yousfi, includes standout dishes like lamb tagine, lobster ravioli, and Josper-grilled Argentine Angus x Hereford ribeye steak.
Owned by Zack Issak of Dabangg Hospitality Group, Habbibi offers a dynamic dining experience with unique cocktails, DJs, dancers, and a variety of shisha flavours. Reservations are now open.
Mother Mary’s
Manchester’s Font Bar is set to be reborn as Mother Mary’s, a new independent music venue and Irish bar, opening this June with live performances and great food.
The venture, which is being headed up by nightlife veterans Greg Dwyer, Joseph Finegan and Chris Sharp will see a complete refit with brand new bars, a bespoke sound system and a stunning lighting system that will illuminate two epic stages, breathing new life back into the iconic space.
The two stages which will be split across both floors are set to be the backdrop of everything Mother Mary’s is about – live bands, stand up and wonderful performances whilst providing a platform for new and upcoming DJs and performers.
The menu will feature all-day breakfasts, brunch, hearty Irish favourites and a show-stopping Sunday roast. Irish and American classics will make up a large part of the menu with plans to make Mother Mary’s breakfast and its trophy Sunday roast one of the best in the city.
A dedicated cocktail menu will also be launched alongside a selection of some of Manchester’s best beers, wines, cities and craft ales.
The menu will also pay homage to the history of the site’s former resident serving a £2 cocktail called ‘The Font’ with the ingredients and inspiration to change every three months.
HM Pasties Oldham
HM Pasties is moving into a larger bakery in Oldham after securing £300k in funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The new 1,700 sq ft site, triple the size of its current facility, will enable expansion and create opportunities for ex-offenders and local residents.
With plans to triple batch sizes and expand its product range, HM Pasties is poised for remarkable growth while maintaining its commitment to a great cause, the rehabilitation of offenders.
The company’s turnover has more than doubled in recent years, and it aims to reach £1.2m in 2024.
Rat & Pigeon
The historic pub with a grisly past, Mother Mac’s has now re-opened as the Rat & Pigeon.
Once the site of a massacre in the 70s, those days are long behind this new three-story, two-bar boozer.
It’s in a fantastic spot on Back Piccadilly, so expect it to be a huge hit.
Leo & Roobs
From the team behind the Black Friar pub in Salford, comes the friendly, ‘family affair’ cafe Leo & Roobs.
Owners say it’s going to serve artisanal coffee, brunch classics and house-baked crumpets.
Named after the owner’s children, Leo and Ruby, this café aims to create a warm atmosphere.
Offering everything from artisanal coffee and fresh juices to delicious brunch and lunch options, the new café will be open from the early morning to afternoon, seven days a week.
Classic brunch dishes will be available, alongside summer salads, wraps and toasties.
However, the star of the show is the house-baked crumpets, featured in several dishes, including the soon-to-be-famous “Leo’s Stack,” which includes a juicy sausage patty, poached egg, American cheese and tomato chutney. Sounds perfect.
Louis
Louis is an exciting new opening in Spinningfields based on classic New York Restaurants.
Guests will be welcomed into intimate booths, surrounded by excellent cocktails and beautiful cooking. The big draw will be live performances providing a classy soundtrack to the evening.
Think singers, piano, and jazz. Guests will be served a menu developed and overseen by Executive Chef Ippokratis Anagnostelis, who recently launched FENIX, although the food at Louis will be entirely different.
Handmade fresh pasta will be made onsite from a dedicated pasta workshop adjacent to the Louis kitchen. They will also serve 12 ‘Classic American Cocktails’ curated by Will Meredith.
An unusual twist? No phones allowed – Louis is all about the here-and-now.
Onda
Viral sensation Onda, which hit the big time after showing us the one thing every house should have, a tiramisu draw – is opening a new restaurant in Circle Square.
They were a huge hit at The New Cross bar in the Northern Quarter, serving some of the best pasta you can get in the city – and that quality is now being rewarded with a swankier home.
The restaurant was founded by Michelin-trained chef Sam Dean, who also works with Gooey.
They initially opened at Exhibition, before moving into The New Cross site last year.
Incredibly, the owners raised £60,000 (currently nearly £70,000) through a crowdfunding initiative. So it’s all go for the new opening – which is expected this summer.
Treehouse Hotel
Designed to appeal to the child in all of us, Treehouse Hotel Manchester takes over the former Renaissance Hotel on Deansgate.
This playful and nostalgic hotel features 224 vibrant and pet-friendly rooms. It will have two restaurants and a rooftop bar, with menus curated by acclaimed chefs Mary-Ellen McTague and Sam Grainger.
Expect sustainable, locally sourced cuisine and eclectic Southeast Asian dishes. The hotel also offers unique event spaces perfect for private celebrations.
Caravan
Caravan will open an all-day restaurant, bar and roastery – for morning brew, breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, pudding and drinks – at St Johns, off Quay Street, Manchester.
Blacklock
Blacklock, renowned for its modern take on the Great British chophouse, is set to open its sixth restaurant and first outside of London in a Grade II listed building on Manchester’s lively Peter Street this Summer.
Guests can look forward to a delectable array of chops and steaks cooked over charcoal, complemented by cocktails crafted with a pip to peel philosophy and wines on tap.
The restaurant is also famous for its signature white chocolate cheesecake, served table side with a charming ‘say when’ approach.. but what if we never say when?!
Blacklock’s mission centres on quality produce and exceptional value. Their meat is sustainably sourced from award-winning Cornish farmers and butchers Philip and Ian Warren
The Manchester menu will feature new dishes highlighting the best local produce, alongside their celebrated Sunday Roast, complete with whole joints roasted over coals, Yorkshire puddings, duck fat potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and plenty of Blacklock gravy. Because there can never be enough gravy.
Soho House (maybe)
Soho House has been just about to open, for about a year and a half now so this is a definitely maybe… That being said, this will be a huge addition to the city.
Located in the iconic Old Granada Studios building, Soho House Manchester will occupy the top three floors, featuring a Cecconi’s restaurant, a rooftop swimming pool, a music venue, and a Mollie’s bar and diner.
Founded by Nick Jones, Soho House has expanded globally, catering to the creative industries. The Manchester branch will reflect the city’s vibrant culture, with local music and programming.
Membership includes access to an extensive gym, rooftop pool, late-night bar, live music space, and flexible event spaces. You can apply for membership on the Soho House website.
Events this summer
For a full list of what’s on, check out our what’s on guide.
Pride Weekend across The Gay Village & the city centre
23rd to 26th August 2024
An unforgettable line-up of LGBTQ+ performers and global icons including Jessie J, Katy B and Eurovision queen Loreen in celebration of queer life and love at the Gay Village Party, right here in Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village!!
With a vibrant array of bold and diverse performances across The Village Stage, The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena, our line-up aims to centre and empower the diversity of Greater Manchester’s incredible LGBTQ+ talent, showcasing the importance of party as protest and bringing Pride back to its roots.
The world-famous Manchester Pride Parade returns to Manchester Pride Festival and this year it is ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer’!
The iconic worker bee, deeply rooted in Manchester’s history, emerges as the focal symbol for this year’s Pride Parade theme – ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer – A Hive of Progress’. Dating back 150 years to the Industrial Revolution, the bee has evolved beyond a mere emblem; it has become a powerful representation of Mancunians’ hard work ethic and the bustling energy that defines the city as a hive of activity.
The 100 Story Hotel at Z-arts
July 20th – Thursday 21st February 2025 – Tickets from £9.50
Step into a whimsical world at The 100 Story Hotel, where storytelling and play come to life! This interactive experience features a cast of delightful characters, including lions, tigers, dinosaurs, and even sausage dogs throwing a beach party. But there’s a mystery to solve—one of the hotel’s amazing stories has gone missing, and it’s up to you to track down the naughty culprit!
Created by bestselling, multi-award-winning author and illustrator Rob Biddulph in collaboration with Discover Story Centre, this enchanting adventure is perfect for families with children aged 1-8.
Join in the fun as you follow clues and explore this imaginative hotel filled with surprises around every corner!
Location: Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, M15 5ZA
Summer Factory at Aviva Studios
25th June – 1st September 2024 – FREE
Get ready for a dream summer of live events and long afternoons on the banks of the River Irwell. From 25th June to 1st September 2024, join Factory International for a packed programme of live music, immersive art, skate demos, film screenings, family activities, and delicious street food – all by the riverside at Aviva Studios.
Discover headline activities and performances this Summer:
Sweet Dreams(11th July – 1st September 2024)
A new immersive adventure served up this summer by the award-winning artist collective Marshmallow Laser Feast. Deliciousness awaits inside…
Build Manchester (27th July – 8th August 2024)
Adidas Skateboarding is heading to Manchester for a 12-day stop of its global skateboarding event Build.
Alongside these amazing events, there is a full calendar of free events inside and outside Aviva Studios. Free events include Manchester Run Club, a 40-minute run every Tuesday until 6th August; Summer Holiday Drop-Ins where you can entertain the kids with free creative activities every Tuesday and Thursday in August; and late-night music from Funkademia, Chicken Party, and Street Symphony X La Suerte.
Factory Square is open Thursdays to Sundays where you can sit back and enjoy the summer vibes. You’ll find a brand new taco truck, outdoor bar, and coffee cart. On event days, expect local street food traders, pop-up wellness events, and DJs bringing the tunes. Plus, enjoy Summer Happy Hours.
Hairspray The Musical at Palace Theatre
16th to 17th July 2024: tickets from £30.00
After breaking box office records and delighting audiences in the West End, Broadway and on the big screen since 1988, the smash hit musical-comedy Hairspray is heading back out on tour around the UK and Ireland.
Stockport Krazy Races Soapbox Derby
Sunday 28th July
Stockport’s town centre is about to get transformed into a wacky race track, with chicanes, obstacles and a whole host of surprises.
The route will lead competitors through key landmarks such as St Peter’s Square and Mesery Square, passing the iconic plaza theatre before a sharp turn towards the Air Raid Shelters.
This year’s derby will see between 20 to 40 teams battling it out, each gunning for glory.
Trophies are up for grabs, so bring your A-game!
Manchester Day
Saturday 27th July
The city centre turns into Manchester’s biggest-ever playground this summer when Manchester Day: Let the Games Begin! rolls into town.
Inspired by an international summer of sport, the day will be full of pop-up performances, astounding acrobatics, and have-a-go activities on the streets for a day of free, family-friendly fun.
All activities run from 12 noon to 6pm. Here’s what’s planned where for the big day.
Cathedral Gardens
Big-screen sporting action: Catch all the Olympic action from the games in Paris, including the opening ceremony, at our special screening site.
Have a go sport activities: Take on the target goals challenge in the Manchester United Foundation Panna Cage. Get into the swing of Manchester Day with free tennis taster sessions, swingball, and cornhole.
Deansgate
Winners’ enclosure, main stage, and Circus House: From family acrobatic and aerial hoop workshops, to comedy skits and duelling ukuleles, it’s all happening on Deansgate.
Actual Reality Arcade: Immerse yourself in larger-than-life console games, visit Circus House to learn a new skill, or simply soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the performances on the main stage. You’ll also be able to play a giant board game, courtesy of our major sponsor, Manchester Airport Group.
Exchange Street
Vintage Fairground: Test your strength, skill, and steadiness with traditional fairground games, including a coconut shy, hoopla, soft archery, cork shooting, buzz wire, and a strong human challenge.
New Cathedral Street
School Sports Day: Take part in our School Sports Day, with roaming referees, tantrum-throwing tennis players, and the world’s only mobile football stadium providing entertainment. Watch pop-up performances and listen to local vocals from Manchester musicians throughout the day.
St Mary’s Gate
Showtown: Hula hoop your way to glory with Danielle De La Wonk’s interactive workshop, watch No Fit State defy gravity as they build and scale towering bamboo structures, and enjoy Football Crazy, an interactive walkabout performance.
St Ann’s Square
Hip-hop wrestling ring: Join us in our hip-hop wrestling ring for wrestling, a spot of opera, and a dash of drag. Watch performers fly through the city on a forest of poles in the daring dance-circus production Wild, presented by Motionhouse. Plus local food and drink traders.
St Peter’s Square
Pedal Party: Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a complete beginner, you’re invited to the Manchester Day Pedal Party. Hop onto a balance bike, try out an e-cargo bike, or test a top-of-the-range road bike, in collaboration with British Cycling and Manchester Active.
Exchange Square
Capri Beach Club: Kick back with a cocktail at the Capri Beach Club, enjoy coffee and a cake, or pick up a tasty treat from the street food market.
So without further ado – on your marks, get set and let the games begin as we celebrate Manchester Day 2024 together!
The Hundred at Old Trafford Cricket Ground
July & August 2024
Combining a short, fast format of cricket, with each game lasting less than three hours, and incredible entertainment beyond the sport, The Hundred is making cricket more accessible and reaching a broader audience. It’s simple: 100 balls per team, most runs wins, so every ball counts. It really is edge-of-your-seat-cricket!
Manchester Remembers charity football match
28th July 2024; tickets from £10
The charity football match set up in the wake of the Manchester Arena attack has announced its return for the third year. Manchester Remembers will consist of a team of Celebrities V Legends, and marks the seventh anniversary of the attack, it will also raise money for six different charities founded in the aftermath of the bombing as well as supporting ‘A Friend of the Foundation’
Backyard Cinema – Romeo + Juliet
12th to 27th August 2024; tickets from £32.00
Get lost in Baz Luhrmann’s classic 1996 film adaptation of Romeo + Juliet. Celebrate Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed 1996 cult classic Romeo & Juliet, screened under the stained glass windows and amongst candle-lit aisles of Albert Hall Manchester. A live choir will perform stunning interpretations of iconic songs from the soundtrack, including Young Hearts, Everybody’s Free, Kissing You and Doves Cry.
This is an extremely limited run of shows so don’t miss out and book now.
A Chorus Line at The Lowry
23rd to 27th July 2024; Tickets from £23.00
A Chorus Line is a musical masterpiece that revolutionised Broadway, with creator Michael Bennett using real-life testimonies from late-night recording sessions with dancers. Celebrate the lives of theatre’s unsung heroes, as they tell searing stories of ambition, shattered hopes, and what it really costs to follow your dreams.
The legendary Adam Cooper (Singin’ in the Rain, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake) and Carly Mercedes Dyer (The Drifters Girl Tour, Anything Goes, Barbican Theatre, Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre) reprising their roles as Zach and Cassie which they played to great critical acclaim at Curve in 2021.
Bluey’s Big Play at The Lowry
31st July to 11th August 2024; Tickets from £18.50
Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush.
Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life in this UK premiere.
Great Northern Graduates at Waterside Arts
Until 28th July; Free entry
Launched in 2010, Great Northern Graduates was an established exhibition within the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair for nine years.
Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford have been working closely with the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair to reintroduce the exhibition across both venues; offering exciting opportunities for these talented graduates to showcase their emerging collections and creating the perfect chance for visitors to see and buy from the strongest graduate talent.
The exhibition includes work from the two recipients of the Creative Industries Trafford Development Award 2023, Hannah Baxendale and Niamh Grimes.
The award winners were selected from the BA (Hons) Product Design & Craft course at Manchester School of Art for their distinctive approach to their crafts.
UFC 304 at Co-op Live
27th July 2024, Tickets on sale 7th June 2024
Arriving in Manchester on Saturday, July 27, UFC 304 is the first-ever sporting event announced for Co-op Live, the UK’s largest indoor arena.
The card marks the first sporting event announced for Co-op Live, the UK’s largest and most sustainable live entertainment arena.
With state-of-the-art technology and a carefully curated unique design, the venue promises to bring fans right into the heart of the action.
Zip World Manchester at Heaton Park
Nestled in the heart of the famous Heaton Park, escape the city life for a few hours with a unique and exciting treetop adventure, whether it’s tackling obstacles under the canopy, or bouncing to your heart’s content on elevated bouncy nets
Built with the whole family in mind, Zip World Manchester offers the ultimate escape for any age.
Unleash your inner Tarzan on the Mini and Full Trek adventure courses, where you and your loved ones will zip, climb and balance your way along the trees on a selection of unique and exciting obstacles.
Brave adventurers from ages 4+ can enjoy Mini Trek, whilst Full Trek is reserved for bigger kids and adults!
Batman Unmasked
16 July – 26 August 2024
This year, Manchester will welcome Batman Unmasked – a journey through an elaborate collection of Batman items from the famous Warner Bros. archives, offering fans an exclusive opportunity to experience the cinematic world of Batman like never before.
Opening its doors at Depot Mayfield in Manchester on 16 July and running until 26 August, The experience brings the cinematic world of Batman to UK fans in celebration of DC’s Caped Crusader’s 85th anniversary throughout 2024.
See more events and what’s on in Manchesterhere
Bolton Food and Drink Festival
The UK’s biggest food and drink festival will return to Bolton this summer, taking over the town with a bank holiday weekend extravaganza featuring live cooking shows from top TV chefs James Martin and Ainsley Harriott and global cuisine from over 180 vendors, fused with live music, street entertainment and activities for the whole family to feast on.
Live music and gigs this summer
New Order on 24th August 2024
Blossoms on 25th August 2024
See more upcoming Manchester gigs here
- This article was last updated 5 months ago.
- It was first published on 7 June 2024 and is subject to be updated from time to time. Please refresh or return to see the latest version.
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