Village Books on Oxford Street is a cultural utopia.
Offering a selection of contemporary art, design, fashion and photography publications, sourcing self-published and small press zines from artists around the world and supporting not-for-profit gallery spaces.
Check out their website to browse what they have in, if visiting for a particular purchase, or to read their regular blog.
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
Rock-informed, techno-adjacent musical collagists Moin perform at Band on the Wall this spring.
from £16.50
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
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
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
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 range of pints.
from £35
Dance a Céilí with Altogether Otherwise as part of their singing and dancing months in May and June.
free entry
This rock n’ roll greasy spoon on Stevenson Square in Manchester’s Northern Quarter is the place to be weekend mornings.
Coffee, walls of sound and smart conversation at this pop-up cafe in the Northern Quarter.
New Orleans reaches Manchester with this dedicated jazz club in the Northern Quarter – a reliable choice for a good night out.
The Northern Quarter pub with Live-music, outdoor seating and friendly staff, making this venue a more than enjoyable visit.
Taking over the space previously occupied by The Quick Brown Fox, Mecanica is a smart neighbourhood bar based in the Northern Quarter.
Comedy club in Manchester on the corner of Oldham Street and Great Ancoats. A popular stop on the stand up comedy circuit, Frog and Bucket has seen the likes of Peter Kay, Richard Herring and Johnny Vegas take to its stage.
The latest iteration of long-standing Malaysian restaurant Ning, Penang is a small tastefully-lit space with eye-catching purple floral decor, based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
Head north on Oldham Street and you’ll come across Gullivers, a ‘no gimmicks and no pretensions’ pub and gig venue.
The very best of South African cuisine in an intimate, friendly space in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
A pub with a 200 year-long history on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the Castle Hotel has a musical past.
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.
Rubber Soul is an excellent barbers at the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.
Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.
Crocodile-themed Easter egg hunts, sense-sational museum trips and more this Easter!
Spring is here and the North is buzzing with must-visit new restaurants and bars.
Open air clubs, new festivals and long-awaited gigs. The North West's live music scene is heating up this spring.
Willow weaving, textile collages, digital arts and ecology - all this and more in our exhibition top picks this month
We've got many a good time in store this month as we round up the best walking tours, cultural classes and makers markets in the land.
If it's inspiring, inclusive events and avant-garde, experimental afternoons you're after, look no further than live literature this spring – we've got you covered.
