Where to celebrate the Jubilee bank holiday weekend in Manchester

Earlier this year, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

To celebrate this anniversary, there will be a four day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.

And there are plenty of ways to celebrate across Greater Manchester, from street parties and festivals to themed food and drink, royal raves, and even ‘Trooping the Corgis’.

Jubilee street parties, garden parties and fêtes

A street party at Hatch

Hatch will be adorned with bunting and party decorations as we head into a five day party weekend, kicking off on Wednesday 1st June right through to Sunday 5th June.  

All Hatch’s food and drink vendors will be open throughout the festivities providing the most amazing dishes and drinks to make sure people don’t go hungry and, of course, all the retailers will be open across the weekend too.

Stretford Community Fête

Stretford Community Fête, in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, will be taking place on Thursday 2nd June.

The family-friendly Jubilee celebration will be taking place outside Stretford Mall and in the grounds of St Matthew’s Church from 12pm-6pm.

A free and fun day out for all the family, visitors can expect a vibrant festival atmosphere with pop-up play areas, food, drink, live music and more.

A terrace party at the Refuge

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel are throwing their own street party celebration with a difference from The Refuge’s Terrace on Friday 3rd June to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in royal style. 

In true Refuge style, the Jubilee Street Party will showcase a diverse range of up-and-coming talent alongside established names from around Manchester playing music with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the royal family from 2pm-10pm.

A celebratory garden party at Stamford Quarter

Stamford Quarter is gearing up for a bumper bank holiday weekend of entertainment to honour Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Taking place on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June, the Not So Secret Garden will be home to a celebratory garden party full of activity as well as entertainment spanning along George Street.

The Not So Secret Garden will once again offer a whole host of activities, food and drink, entertainment and family fun to the local community. Think afternoon tea, face painting, strawberries and cream and Pimms as well as exciting live music and roaming performers

A roof terrace garden party at 20 Stories

Manchester’s highest restaurant and bar 20 Stories invites guests to celebrate the Jubilee at their British themed Garden Party on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields on Thursday 2nd June. 

The stunning roof terrace will play host to a ‘right royal’ British party celebrating Her Majesty The Queen and all things ‘Best of British’.

From 2pm – 4pm there will be live music from the resident DJ and a quintessentially British Afternoon Tea served alongside stunning views of Manchester, with a selection of sandwiches, signature cakes and desserts including a Pornstar martini cheesecake.

Stockport’s Secret Street Party

Hosted on the Underbanks on 4th June, Stockport’s Secret Party will feature live music from The Tall Faces Band as well as local duo Blank Cheque, and DJ sets from DJ Clint Boon and SK1 Records.

The music will range from the 1950s, when the Coronation of Her Majesty the Queen took place, to the present day.

A pre-Jubilee weekend at Trafford Palazzo

Trafford Palazzo, the unique retail and leisure destination located within TraffordCity, has announced a fun-filled weekend to celebrate the build up to The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 

Taking place ahead of the planned celebrations, Trafford Palazzo will launch their ‘right royal party’ on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May.

Trafford Palazzo’s event space will be transformed into a quintessentially British street party’.

Jubilee-themed food and drink 

An alternative celebration at GRUB

Between 1st June – 4th June 2022, GRUB will host an array of alternative events to celebrate the Jubilee bank holiday.

This includes a two day Red Bank Cider Fête in partnership with Hogan’s Cider, a British themed edition of their free Family Fridays, and a special edition of their sell out Disco Bingo event, in the theme Britpop. 

Afternoon tea at The Lowry Hotel

You can experience the royal life with a beautiful British tradition, carefully crafted to create the perfect afternoon tea.

Sweet and savoury dishes fill the menu, joined by a decadent serving of both fruit and plain scones, Cornish clotted cream and sumptuous strawberry jam.

Afternoon tea at The Lowry Hotel has never been so indulgent. 

Elizabeths dine for free at The Alan

To celebrate the Jubilee, The Alan is inviting all Elizabeths to dine for free in the hotel’s design-led restaurant from Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th June.

All you have to do is quote ‘Elizabeth’ upon booking and bring your ID along with you.

Dine like a queen at The Ivy

Celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022, The Ivy Spinningfields has launched a limited edition menu of royal-themed cocktails, a special dessert and an afternoon tea fit for a queen.

Launching on the bank holiday weekend on Thursday 2nd June, the specials will be served alongside The Ivy Spinningfields’ extensive spring menu and firm favourites.

Guests visiting between 12-3pm on Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June will also have the opportunity to greet and take photographs with the “Queen’s Guards”, who will stand to attention at the entrance to the restaurant.

Lager and ping pong at Manchester Union taproom

Manchester Union are opening up their taproom on the bank holiday jubilee weekend where you can drink some lager, eat some pretzels and play some ping pong.

Their neighbours at Alphabet Brewing, Wander Beyond and Beer Nouveau will all be open too so you can make a day of it.

It’s open Saturday 4th June, 12pm – 8pm.

Festivals and family-friendly festivities

Cool Britannia at Irlam Live

The Irlam Live festival will take place over the Jubilee weekend with performances from Bananarama, Marti Pellow, Boyzlife, N-Trance and more.

The party kicks off on Thursday 2nd June with Cool Britannia – a full day of fun for the whole family.

The day will feature a host of the UK’s finest tribute bands – including Now I’m Here – Queen Tribute, headlining of course, with lots of flag waving guaranteed.

City centre celebrations

Over the Jubilee weekend, from 2nd June until 5th June, Manchester City Council will be holding a packed schedule of events across the city centre for all ages.

Piccadilly Gardens will be hosting a party fit for royalty throughout the Jubilee weekend, from 11am till 7pm. The area will be completely transformed into a bustling market and, will be the home to a large program of live music and dance performances throughout the extended weekend.

From donuts to tipples, Piccadilly Gardens will be serving up scrumptious food and drink all weekend – an essential part of any party.

At 9.45pm on Thursday 2nd June, a beacon will be lit in St Peter’s Square to mark the historic occasion.

For Jubilee party-seekers, Sackville Gardens will be hosting an all-weekend dance party, and there will also be a Sunday Funday in Central Library.

The Queen’s Jubilee Trail at Manchester Flower Show

Taking place over the four days of the band holiday weekend (Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th June 2022), city centre shops and businesses are transforming Manchester into a floral extravaganza featuring the most beautiful (and Instagrammable) gardens and flowers.

Headlining this year’s event is The Queen’s Jubilee Trail – 10 stunning professional displays located across the city centre inspired by the Queen’s 70 years of service, the Crown Jewels, the Changing of the Guard, the Queen’s love of horses and more.

A blooming great prize at The Royal Exchange

The Royal Exchange‘s floral arches will be Jubilee themed, and they have teamed up with Verdure Floral Design to create an incredible installation inside the Arcade as part of the Manchester Flower Show trail.

Titled ‘The Crown Jewels’, the display will include a throne-inspired chair, to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, that visitors are encouraged to sit on in order to be in with a chance of winning a £100 voucher to spend at Verdure. 

To be entered into the competition, visitors need to post a picture (or pictures!) of themselves on the ‘Crown Jewels’ throne and to tag The Royal Exchange Manchester and Verdure Floral Design.  

A royal bash in Symphony Park

On Friday 3rd June, Circle Square is throwing a royal bash in Symphony Park at Manchester’s newest neighbourhood.

The Blossoming Big Red Bus will make Circle Square its destination for the Manchester Flower Show. Celebrating 70 blooming years of service, the red double decker has a ‘Queen’tessentially’ British floral display, perfect for creating picture moments with friends and family.

Symphony Park will be brought to life by a host of pop-up food and drink vendors from around Circle Square including Tahi with its freshly baked goods and speciality teas and coffees, Hello Oriental with its ‘queen’ bear ice cream cones and jubilee inspired bubble tea and Tsujiri with its signature matcha ice creams. 

Throughout the day, there will be a variety of family-friendly activities and live entertainment including amazing walk around characters to grab a selfie with and stilt walkers. 

Trooping the Corgis in Altrincham

Altrincham’s ‘Trooping the Corgis’ Jubilee event will include contributions from Britain’s best loved punk poet Dr John Cooper Clarke, Russ Meehan aka Qubek best known for his Mancunian Bees murals, and internationally acclaimed contemporary textile and fibre artist Alice Kettle.

The event which is a joint project between Altrincham BID, who produce Visit Altrincham, and Inch Arts will take place between 1st-29th June when 50 life-sized decorated Corgis will be displayed around the town to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

A tea dance and a beacon at Trafford Centre

The Trafford Centre will host a day full of celebrations on Thursday 2nd June between 2pm and 10pm with festivities including dancing, music, children’s entertainment, and the traditional lighting of beacons.

Between 12pm and 3pm is a Tea Dance, bringing all age groups together to take part in contemporary and traditional dances to numbers including Elton John, Spice Girls and Queen. 

Moving into the evening, Trafford Centre, and Girlguiding Greater Manchester West will host a Jubilee Beacon, one of the official events of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. 

The official beacon lighting is an opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate this historic milestone and will take place outside the Great Hall, to be lit at 9.50pm. 

Approximately 600 local Girlguiding members from Salford and Trafford will be joining in the festivities at Trafford Centre throughout the day, whilst performances by Louby Lou and local musicians take place on the main stage in The Orient. Members of the public are welcome to watch and enjoy the stage performances, suitable for all the family.

A four-day festival in Oldham

A four-day festival of Platinum Jubilee celebrations will take place across Oldham from Thursday 2nd  June.

With an array of exciting events lined up over the extended bank holiday weekend, as well as more than 230 street parties being funded in neighbourhoods across the borough, there’s lots for residents to enjoy to mark this truly historic occasion.

Free festivities at Salford Shopping Centre

Salford Shopping Centre has announced plans to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee on Thursday June 2nd with a fun day of free festivities for all the family. 

Starting at 11am, children and adults alike can have their face painted, and there’ll be a roaming balloon-ologist creating clowns and corgis, alongside flower fairies handing out sweet treats.

A beacon in Bolton

Bolton Council has announced plans to light a beacon for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on the evening of Thursday 2nd June 2022.

The beacon is one of thousands being lit in the UK and the Commonwealth, and forms part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee Weekend.

The beacon will be lit at the Parish Church, and it will be one of over 2,022 lit by charities, communities and faith groups all over the UK.

The event will begin at 9.15pm with the beacon lighting taking place on 9.45pm.

Jubilee nights out

Jubilee drag queen music bingo at Pong & Puck

Pong & Puck’s special Jubilee Drag Queen Music Bingo event will be taking place on Thursday 2nd June, from 7pm-10pm.

Miss Ginger Hunter will be sashaying her way to Great Northern Warehouse for 80s, 90s & 00s musical bingo, crown making competitions, prosecco pong and a royal quiz.

Party until 5am at Hula

Hula knows how to throw a party – and they will be extending their opening hours in celebration of the Jubilee weekend.

Expect non-stop partying until 5am Wednesday to Saturday.

Everyone is welcome – if you can keep up…

Jubilee night at Bongo’s Bingo

To help the celebrations get into the fullest and wildest of swings, the award-winning Bongo’s Bingo has got a Jubilee date in Manchester at The Albert Hall on Sunday 5th June.

Since starting in April 2015, Bongo’s Bingo has reinvented what it means to go out.

Uniting crowds for nights of escapism and mayhem, it’s rejuvenated the quintessential quaint British pastime as an experiential and immersive live show and rave with nostalgia-soaked revelry.

Comedy and live music at The Fitzgerald

The Fitz will be hosting a comedy night on Thursday 2nd June, and a singer will perform after taking us into the early hours of the morning.

They will also have live music Friday and Saturday from 10pm and Sunday from 6.30pm.

Retro parties at Revolution

Vodka bar Revolution will be kicking off on the Jubilee weekend of 3rd and 4th June, with a weekend of themed parties to celebrate their recent revamp with a throwback to the era in which it was born. 

Guests can expect two floors of exceptional music, with the loft dropping disco and indie classics and the main bar celebrating the sounds of the mid-90s up to the early 2000s.

There will also be dancers, a mirror man sax player and food and drink samples. The parties will take place on both Friday and Saturday night.

A royal rave at Rendition

Cocktail bar and kitchen Rendition is offering a right royal rave next weekend, as the venue kicks-off with the Platinum Blonde Weekend in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee.

Friday night is “God save The Queen for the Ancharist in you”, a Jubilee twist from 6pm – 2am with a free cocktail.

Getting in the Queen spirit, on Saturday all staff will host the Platinum Blonde special of the Get Down in the most royal of drag, and once again there will be a free Platinum Blonde cocktail for every guest on arrival.

Royal exhibitions

Archive photos at IWM North

From 1st June, the striking architecture of IWM North’s main exhibition space will host projections of rarely seen archival film and photography that depict The Queen’s long history of involvement with the military and demonstrate the various roles she has played in war and peacetime.

It runs until 30th June 2022.

The Queen’s connection to Manchrester at Central Library

Manchester City Council, Archives+ and Manchester Metropolitan University have collaborated to curate an exhibition to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.   

The exhibition is a celebration of the triumphs of Queen Elizabeth II and a way that visitors of all ages can learn about the queen’s life and, her lasting connection to the city of Manchester.  

It runs until 30th June 2022.