Manchester Wine Festival

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Book now

Manchester Wine Festival

New Century, Manchester
21 September 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Manchester Wine Festival
Ian Jones
Book now

The very first Manchester Wine Festival will take place on Saturday 21 September at New Century HallThis brand new event is designed for Manchester’s rapidly growing community of wine lovers, delivering a grape-packed line-up of the best wine bars, producers, brands, tastings, talks, DJs, activities and more.

Among them will be local brands such as Kerb, Reserve Wines, Sterling and Grape to Grain plus names like Minuty, Top Cuvée and Piper Heidsieck on board, who will be hosting the Piper-Heidsieck champagne lounge. The team have also secured a partnership with the Coop, who will be working alongside fair trade wineries at the event, with sales providing support to vital community projects in Argentina, South Africa and Chile. 

Expect tastings, a bottleshop, masterclasses and pairings with local favourites such as Chorlton Cheesemonger plus expert activations from names like Tony Park and “sherry revolutionary”, Diatomist Sherry. Top Cuvée will also be supplying cocktails to the house bar.

Manchester Wine Festival is the brainchild of founders, Felix and Harriet Howell-Black, a husband and wife duo who each have a decade in hospitality under their belts. Why? A shared interest in all things wine, of course. 

“We decided to launch the festival as the wine scene across Manchester has absolutely exploded and we wanted to put all of that together – our love of wine, the city’s love of wine and our incredible bars and brands, both local to Manchester and UK wide. We want to showcase what the city has to offer and take away a bit of the snobbery around wine as well. Manchester Wine Festival is open to anyone however much or little they know!” Felix Howell-Black.

“People are really interested in learning about what they’re drinking, how it’s made, the story behind it and where it’s come from and I think that comes with a great opportunity for producers, wine bars and brands to come and interact with the consumer directly on an informal level. We’re looking to break away from stuffy wine tastings and create an accessible point of contact between the vendors and the drinkers along with DJ’s, great food, incredible drinks and entertainment in an iconic Manchester setting.” Harriet Howell-Black 

Tickets include entry to the Manchester Wine Festival, access to tastings/talks and samples.

Where to go near Manchester Wine Festival

Image of the outside of Altogether Otherwise at night with people inside
Manchester
Event venue
Altogether Otherwise

Altogether Otherwise is a haven of activity where all are encouraged to make, do, dance, read and enjoy pursuing creativity with no pressure.

Manchester
Event venue
Old Bank Residency

The Old Bank Residency is a twelve-month occupation of a disused bank, allowing a space for creative practices to experiment, collaborate and grow. This project is funded and supported by NOMA to make Manchester an even more interesting place to be.

The exterior of The Pilcrow
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Sadler’s Cat

The Pilcrow is now Sadler’s Cat, a contemporary community pub at the heart of the NOMA neighbourhood. Overlooking Sadler’s Yard.

City Centre
Restaurant
Allpress
at NOMA

Allpress at NOMA is a home to all things coffee, with a café and seasonal menu incorporating locally sourced ingredients.

City Centre
Restaurant
Ciaooo – Pizzeria

Calling all pizza lovers, this hipster hotspot is going to be your own slice of heaven. Slow-rising sour dough pizzas and a great selection of cocktails, all at fabulous prices.

City Centre
Event venue
Sadler’s Yard

Sadlers Yard is a public square and events space in Manchester from NOMA Mcr. Home of the Pilcrow Pub and PLANT NOMA.

Manchester
Restaurant
Mackie Mayor

A Grade II listed market building in the Northern Quarter, Mackie Mayor is a key fixture in the ever-growing Northern Quarter food and drink scene.

Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art CFCCA by Michael Pollard
Manchester
Gallery
esea contemporary

esea contemporary is widely regarded as the number one place for experiencing East and Southeast Asian contemporary art in the UK. 

What's on: Food and Drink

Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom
Until
Food and DrinkBlackpool
Afternoon Tea at Blackpool Tower Ballroom

Step into the majestic Blackpool Tower Ballroom for an experience like no other. With stunning architecture, live music and treats galore, Afternoon Tea here is highly recommended.

From £60.00
Craft Beer Tour Around Manchester
Until
ActivityManchester
Craft Beer Tour Manchester

Join Craft Beer Tour Manchester for a journey through some of the cities best local breweries and artisanal beer serving bars. Discover the personality of Manchester’s beer through a diverse

From £45

Culture Guides

Music in the North

Manchester’s starting the new year with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.

Textured portrait image of Jarman
Theatre in the North

Theatre across the North West splits between festive escape and sharp, urgent work exploring politics, power and resistance.

Food and Drink in the North

Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

A doll with makeup peeks out of a hanging wall of butter yellow fabric. Red and black threads descend and cascade around the doll.
Exhibitions in the North

This season, exhibitions across the North West feel attuned to the world beneath the world – the forces and stories shaping how we see, feel and imagine.

A performer in a bright red costume sits on a snowy stage set, holding a large snowball between their legs with a surprised expression. The colourful winter backdrop features snowflakes, hills, a snowman, and a traffic light with glowing lights.
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.