An enormous new festival-style outdoor venue opens its doors on First Street in Manchester today, Friday 28th May.
Bringing the likes of Russell Howard down to perform live at its open-air theatre, as well as running a special ‘Manchester’ stage showcasing live performances from some of the city’s finest musical and comedy talents, this is definitely one to put on your list.
Curated by local theatre, film and arts centre HOME, Homeground has taken over a previously disused patch of land that’s three times the size of Albert Square.
Empty no more, it’s now home to three huge arenas: a 400-seat Cabinet of Curiosities-themed theatre space called Showground, a 1,100 capacity food and drink terrace, and a Bruntwood Stage hosting live performances from some of Manchester’s hottest local talents.
Vegan bao buns from street food trader Vertigo
Entry Is free and you won’t need a ticket – with the exception of the theatre shows at Showground, which people are being encouraged to book in advance for.
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Dotted around the site are 11 classic Manchester signs riffing off iconic places in the city, from the Arndale and Dutch Pancake House to Withy Grove Stores and Hulme Hippodrome.
Elsewhere, old Metrolink bus stop signs demarcate the outdoor picnic tables – so if you’re meeting your friends and need a landmark, you can say “meet me at the 192.”
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The Food & Drink Terrace
Street food and drink vendors setting up shop at the site for the summer include vegan eatery Vertigo, wine connoisseurs Cork of the North, Wolf at the Door, Tampopo, Bean and Bubble, Triple B Bagels, and HOME’s own chefs cooking up a selection of pizzas and fried chicken.
On top of all this, there’s. a fun cocktail bar and a Budvar truck selling super-fresh czech beers on tap.
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The Bruntwood Stage
The Bruntwood Stage will host a range of free shows fro local talents throughout the summer
The Bruntwood stage, which will host music and other live performances throughout the summer, is flanked with two giant tiffany lamps borrowed from Blackpool Illuminations.
And more retro pieces from the Blackpool Illuminations collection are spread around the site – as are pieces of work from local artist David Bailey.
All entertainment here is completely free, with a programme spanning comedy, live music, DJ sets and more over the next four months.
Original Hacienda resident DJ Paulette has curated a ‘tea party’ of 50 different DJ’s to carry sets across the summer, including the likes of Clint Boon, Katbrownsugar, Hattie Pearson, Jamie Groovement and Werkha.
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There are also some takeovers on the cards here from the likes of Manchester Camerata, RNCM, and Manchester Jazz Festival, plus appearances from Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, New Order’s Stephen Morris, Contact Theatre, and Bourgeois and Morris.
Showground
Showground: the new 400 capacity, socially-distanced open air theatre venue
HOME has also collaborated with local favourites like Frog & Bucket, Contact theatre, and Trans Creative to contribute to their theatre programme at Showground. These will complement bigger performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Alice In Wonderland, with a special vogueing performance expected from Manchester’s own Contact theatre.
All events at the venue’s huge socially distanced theatre Showground will be ticketed. These can be bought in advance or at the door, with tables seating up to six people together in line with government guidance.
If that wasn’t enough, Homeground’s also got a few surprises up their sleeves for later this year – including a fourth arena space in which they hope to host some q&as and family events.
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To find out more information and purchase tickets, head over to the Homeground website.
FAQ’s
Homeground on First Street is a socially distanced space a five minute walk away from HOME and is suitable for all ages
All spaces on-site at Homeground will be fully accessible. The site has been working with consultants Attitude is Everything to ensure facilities are suitable for all audiences.
Please be aware that it is an outdoor site, so there may be some uneven ground, however the full space is on one level with no steps.
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Plenty of seating is provided and staff will allocate seating in the Food & Drink Terrace on arrival.
There is a drop-off point for those arriving by car on James Grigor Square off Medlock Street.
There are plenty of toilets available on the site including four accessible cubicles.
Homeground will be adhering to all government guidelines in relation to COVID-19.
News
Amorim replacement: the three top candidates being linked with the Man United manager’s job
Danny Jones
Following the news of Manchester United sacking head coach, Ruben Amorim, a number of potential replacements are already being linked with the role.
The question is – who, if anyone, can crack the latest ‘impossible job’?
After Amorim was let go by the board on Monday, 5 January, a flurry of names quickly began floating around online as to who could step in as a replacement.
The club have also made it clear that they don’t plan for interim Darren Fletcher to be in post for too long, nor for him to be the caretaker until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, with a full-time appointment expected in the summer.
Manchester United aren't planning to hire a permanent manager until the summer 👀 pic.twitter.com/srfc1zRmND
But once again, there appears to be no tougher task in world football (perhaps other than England gaffer) at present than getting the Red Devils back on track, so who do football fans, pundits, bookies and more think has the CV and/or the belief to take it on next? Well, here are a few suggestions…
Head coaches who could become the next Man United manager
Enzo Maresca
The first on the list and seemingly everyone’s lips, at first glance, appears to be the former Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, who quit the club in rather spectacular fashion earlier this month.
Maresca, 45, won the 2025 Club World Cup and last season’s UEFA Conference League title during his time at Stamford Bridge – not to mention the Championship with Leicester – but recently resigned following a rift between him and the board – not unlike the man he could potentially succeed.
He was a big hit with the Foxes…but his time at Chelsea ended very sour to say the least.Credit: Timfilbert/Oscar0123 (via Wikimedia Commons)
However, the manner of the Italian tactician’s exit from his last club has raised several red flags, and he is said to have held talks with both Manchester City and Juventus to become their next boss when the time comes. It seems that merely convenient timing could be behind much of the Maresca-Man United talk.
Xavi
Xavier Hernández, to give him his full name, is one of the other big names to be connected with the club over the past year or two, especially as he has also won a couple bits of silverware since retiring and moving into management.
The Barcelona and Spain legend lifted the La Liga trophy and the Spanish Super Cup in 2023, helping them get back to winning ways after a tricky albeit relatively brief blip in their long period of supremacy.
Also 45, Xavi wanted to step down from the role, but was eventually convinced to stay, only for him to be ultimately let go by Barca back in May 2024. He’s also one of the few candidates who not only boasts some proven pedigree but is currently a free agent. Could 2026 be the year they actually bring him in?
Third on the list of supposed favourites is Crystal Palace manager, Oliver Glasner, who has impressed at Selhurst Park and also famously shares the most similar kind of system.
At 51 years old, he is the most senior of the apparent frontrunners currently being tipped for the top job at Old Trafford, and has won things of late: the 2022 Europa League, Palace’s first major trophy EVER after beating Man City in the FA Cup, as well as besting Liverpool in last year’s Community Shield.
Though the Austrian head coach has been no way near as tied to one formation as Amorim appeared to be, the principles of play seemed to be more like what the now ex-United boss envisioned as his proper ‘3-4-3’, meaning he could be a good fit for the squad now in place.
On the other hand, is this the kind of setup INEOS want to try and stick with after struggling to make things click thus far?
Some other individuals being suggested include Roberto De Zerbi, who was reportedly touted by Man United in the past during his tenure at Brighton, as well as Thomas Tuchel.
However, both are still at the relative start of their own sporting projects with Marseille and the Three Lions, respectively.
Rumours have also been rumbling around two other very FA-esque picks, such as Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe and, rather fittingly, the former national team leader, Gareth Southgate.
It’s far from the first time that the latter has been hinted at, but it is worth noting that he has currently stepped back from coaching for the foreseeable.
We’re sure a few others will crop up in the coming weeks and months, but who would you like to see take on the role of Manchester United manager next, Reds?
Tyson Fury has announced he is returning to boxing yet again
Danny Jones
Tyson Fury has confirmed that he will once again be returning to the boxing ring for what feels like the umpteenth time.
Honestly, he’s come in and out of retirement so many times now that we’ve genuinely started to lose count at this point…
The Manc fighter last ‘retired’ back in January 2025, so it’s only fitting that, quite literally, almost exactly 12 months on from his last sabbatical, ‘The Gyspy King’ is making another comeback.
Sharing the almost entirely expected news at this point on social media, Fury said: “2026 is [the] year. Return of the Mac. Been away for a while, but I’m back now, 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.”
Even prior to his own announcement, the Wythenshawe-born boxer had shared multiple updates online about ‘sharpening the edge’ following his hiatus.
Earlier this month, he posted another video of himself sparring along with a caption that read: “This is how I spent my New Year. Grinding and working my ass off!
“Couldn’t think of anything better to do than this! Great things come to those who work hard. All in the name of Jesus, Little by little, on the daily, we keep climbing.”
Another clip of him hitting the punchbag with fight coaches and other members of his entourage has also surfaced online.
There’s no question that he’s still one of the biggest pugilists on the planet, but not everyone is convinced he’s tacked on the right kind of mass.
Fury often piles on weight between bouts and has fought plenty with size on his side, too.
He notably trimmed down to one of his lightest competitive statures ever for the first fight against heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, but even bulking back up wasn’t enough to secure victory.
As for his next opponent, the expectation of a third fight against Usyk is there somewhere down the line, but many feel this could also be the time we finally get to see Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
Georgina Pellant -
28th May 2021 
