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.
Pulling from gothic post punk and motorik menace, South London’s Heartworms brings her brilliant debut album to Manchester.
From £16.50
Manchester’s Christmas Gospel sees Manchester and London’s finest gospel artists, including Wayne Ellington, Sharlene-Monique, and Matt Maijah.
Fusing West African funk and disco with modern post-punk and electro, trust Ibibio Sound Machine to inject some much-needed energy into dreary January.
From £29
After a sold-out night earlier this year, Me Gusta Collective is back at Band on the Wall for the big one: New Year’s Eve.
From £10
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.
Create stunning pottery, jewellery, sketches, watercolours and more with the vast array of craft workshops at MCDC.
From £45.00
Marcos Kueh explores labour diasporas and Manchester’s industrial history at his first institutional solo show.
Free entry
This walking tour explores the neighbourhood’s streets, stories and hidden corners, offering a closer look at the places and people that have made Manchester.
From £12.00
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.
Stylish modern bar serving sophisticated cocktails in the Northern Quarter.
Excellent Mexican cuisine based in Mackie Mayor in Manchester’s 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.
Winter brings a huge haul of seasonal shows, as well as productions that resolutely veer away from the fairy lights.
Manchester’s closing out the year – and looking to the new one – with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.
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.
Manchester’s family‑friendly scene is buzzing this season with storytelling, theatre, and hands‑on fun for all ages.
In galleries around the North this autumn, you'll find tactile sculptures, Treasures with a capital 'T' and plant magic.
Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.
