It may look like a very traditional pub; complete with dart board, bar billiards, skittles and even a piano in the corner – but The Smithfield Tavern is much more than that. Welcoming staff, dog-friendly and obviously an excellent changing selection of beers from the likes of Blackjack Brewery, Runaway, Track and loads more… you will instantly feel at home here.
Band on the Wall bring people together to make, as well as watch, music. Join them to learn folk tunes from all over the world.
Join in the celebration of creative communities in the heart of Manchester with MCDC’s new exhibition ‘Connecting Spaces’.
Free entry
Beat the Frog is a legendary amateur comedy night, taking place each and every Monday. Many famous names prove it’s the real deal.
Free entry
Every Monday night upstairs at Fierce Bar, The Comedy Vault hosts an outrageously funny open-mic night. Come and try your hand or just to watch and laugh.
Free entry
An insanely committed seven-nights-a-week, Creatures of the Night Comedy Club opens its doors (20.30-22.30 typically, though please check) for evening after evening of side-splitting comedy.
From £5.00
esea contemporary presents the first UK institutional solo show by Slavs and Tatars with ‘The Contest of the Fruits’.
Free entry
With sardonic wit, towering hooks and distortion dialled high, Blondshell lands at New Century this September, armed with album number two.
From £24.00
Juno Dawson brings her wit and charm to queer lit as she discusses the themes in her new book Human Rites.
From £5.00
Band on the Wall is one of Manchester’s most legendary live music venues, the place where Joy Division, The Buzzcocks and Oasis got their first breaks.
The Rose & Monkey Hotel is one of the Northern Quarter’s best music-led bars, with a truly impressive beer garden. Our new favourite Manchester pub.
Excellent Mexican cuisine based in Mackie Mayor in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
Stylish modern bar serving sophisticated cocktails in the Northern Quarter.
The Northern Quarter’s self-styled ‘happiest place in Manchester’, based at the old Bluu site.
Pull Up is a bustling Caribbean restaurant in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
The Firehouse serves up quality food and drink at its new Wednesday evening supper club.
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.
Noi Quattro is an independent pizzeria at the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
No-frills bar on Manchester’s Swan Street. A wide selection of beers and ciders mixed with a great jukebox make this an ideal pre-Band on The Wall drinking spot.
New Orleans reaches Manchester with this dedicated jazz club in the Northern Quarter – a reliable choice for a good night out.
Get stuck into some talking, baking and walking in this months top picks of Tours and Activities in the North.
August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.
From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.
Our latest round-up features plenty of one-off live literature events to wrap your ears about, so get those diaries ticking over...
August and beyond brings all sorts of family joy - with a huge amount of science, creativity and more.
From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.
Here’s our summertime guide to great food and drinks across the North.
