Summer is well and truly here, and Manchester is a city that knows how to make the most of it before 2021 is over.
With the government having confirmed that the country’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ will in fact be happening on 19 July – with rules on the wearing of face masks, social distancing, mass gatherings, and more all set to ease – it’s understandable that many of us have now decided to properly start making our summer plans.
And a bottomless brunch is sure to be on the hit list for plenty of people.
What’s better than a bottomless brunch though? A themed bottomless brunch of course – and luckily, there’s a whole host of them happening in Manchester city centre over the next couple of months.
Each of the immersive brunch events are being hosted by The Brunch Club, who has been working closely with Revolution Parsonage Gardens in Manchester to make each them happen, and those who book will be kept continuously updated with any changes.
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There will be an inclusive menu of grilled brunches, avocado toast and pancakes – with options available for vegetarians, vegans and those following a gluten-free diet – all on offer, and of course with these being bottomless brunches, you can also sip on a tipple or two, with everything from Aperol Spritz and Prosecco, to Bloody Marys, a range of beers and so much more to choose from.
Alternatively, you can skip the booze and just stick to the brunch by itself if you’d prefer.
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From events inspired by singing superstars, to cult-classic films and musicals, we’ve rounded up five of the best themed bottomless brunches taking place in Manchester this summer.
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1. Beyonce Karaoke Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
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Sunday 26 September
Calling all the single ladies, girls who run the world, or anyone who’s crazy in love – this one’s for you.
An immersive Beyonce-themed karaoke bottomless brunch experience is arriving at Revolution Parsonage Gardens this September, and it’s perfect for a proud member of the ‘BeyHive’, or anyone who fancies belting out Queen B’s greatest hits, all while sipping on a cocktail.
Each 90-minute event is set to be full of “fun and madness”.
While the “singing sessions” are sure to be the main event, you’re also encouraged to come dressed for the part to be in with a chance of bagging some exciting prizes in the costume competition.
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Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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2. Pirates of the Caribbean Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 22 August
Credit: Disney Pictures
A 90-minute bottomless brunch event based on the iconic 00s film franchise Pirates of the Caribbean is sailing into Revolution Parsonage Gardens this August.
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A description for the highly-anticipated event from The Brunch Club website reads: “Calling all pirates, wenches, mermaids and scallywags, if you’ve been waiting for the opportune moment, then this is it.
“Will you be made to walk the plank? Will you be cut in two during our live pirate sword fight? Will you be enchanted away by one of our mermaids? Will you find the hidden treasure?”
The brunch may be the main event, but there’ll also be “a quiz to test your pirate knowledge”, plenty of games, competitions and special prizes up for grabs to keep you on your toes, and while fancy dress is not compulsory, there will also be prizes for the best dressed attendees.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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3. Spice Girls Karaoke Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 26 September
Credit: Spiceworld: The Movie
Ready to spice up your life?
A Spice Girls-themed karaoke bottomless brunch is arriving at Revolution Parsonage Gardens this September, and it’s perfect for any 90s pop fan who fancies singing along to the iconic girl band’s greatest hits while sipping on a cocktail.
Each 90-minute event is set to be full of “fun and madness”.
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Once again, while the “singing sessions” are sure to be the main event, you’re also encouraged to come dressed for the part to be in with a chance of bagging some exciting prizes in the costume competition.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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4. Dancing Queen! Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 22 August
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Credit: Universal Pictures
The laid-back Greek island lifestyle and Mediterranean sunshine is coming right here to Manchester city centre this August.
This Mamma Mia-themed immersive brunch experience will have you singing, dancing and testing your movie trivia knowledge with a bunch of themed quizzes in the aim of trying to win some of the exciting prizes up for grabs.
There’ll also be a costume competition, all of the greatest Mamma Mia tunes blasting out, and a few sing-alongs accompanied by “a great band” thrown in there too for good measure.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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5. Musicals Bingo Manchester! Grease
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 8 August
Credit: Paramount Pictures
Grease is always near the top of the list when reeling off the most beloved musicals.
First released as a musical 1971 before going on to become a critical and commercial success in the form of a smash-hit film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in 1978, Grease depicts the lives of greaser Danny Zuko and Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson who develop an attraction for each other.
It developed a cult following of fans in the process – but how well do you reckon you know the story and the songs?
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Now’s your chance to put your knowledge to the test at this ‘musicals bingo’ bottomless brunch.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
What's On
Manchester’s new real-life Pac-Man experience is coming soon and you can grab early bird tickets
Danny Jones
Manchester already boasts a whole host of interactive games bars and activity destinations to boast, but we feel pretty confident in saying that there are very places on the planet where you can find a place to play a real-life version of Pac-Man.
First announced back in October and now scheduled to debut in March 2025, the Pac-Man Live Experience is the newest addition to Manchester’s growing entertainment scene and it’s promising to be a popular one too.
This brand-new life-sized immersive experience plunges players into the nostalgic world of the iconic video game we all know and love, only instead of using joysticks on an old-school arcade machine, they’ll physically sprint, dodge, and chomp their way through a maze.
Although the launch itself is still a few months away, the team behind this ingenious idea are getting ready for the frenzy and putting early bird tickets on sale ahead of opening day.
Credit: Concept Image (supplied)
So how does it work?
Good question: participants can gear up in a PAC vest and step into the role of the instantly recognisable yellow chomper, collecting power pellets, dodging the classic ghost characters – BLINKY, PINKY, INKY, and CLYDE – and racking up points on their way to victory.
Guided through an epic 12-level adventure, players will be led by the ‘PAC-MASTER’: a lively gameshow host who serves as commentator and referee; players will also be accompanied by immersive in-game effects like sound bites, lighting, and haptic (vibration) feedback to elevate the experience. Cool, right?
The striking Arcade Arena will feature two massive PAC-MAN courts projected onto the floor, while dynamic visuals transform the walls, fully immersing participants in the retro arcade universe. There’s no need for headsets either, so players can embark on a multi-sensory adventure, seamlessly blending the real world with augmented reality.
Created by Tom Lionetti-Maguire, the CEO and Founder of Little Lion Entertainment – the same team behind The Crystal Maze Live Experience, Tomb Raider, and Chaos Karts to the likes of London and more recently Manchester –
The whole thing has been brought to life in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment, lending the proper licensing to make the experience feel both fun and authentic. It’s the real deal.
Credit: Supplied
Early bird tickets for Pac-Man Live Manchester
If you’re not sold on playing a human-sized, real-life game of Pac-Man in a huge augmented-reality arena right here in Manchester then we don’t know what to tell you, to be honest – all we know is that we’ll be first in line when it arrives.
The Pac-Man Live Experience comes to the Arcade Arena on 22 March next year in line with the game’s 40th anniversary, and they’re inviting players of all ages and providing engaging gameplay for younger participants while delivering a nostalgic throwback that parents and grandparents will cherish.
Better yet, if you book during the early bird window, you can access discount ticket prices from just £25 per person too.
Early bird tickets go on sale at 12 noon today (Thursday, 21 November) – you can grab yours HERE.
Blood Brothers at Palace Theatre, Manchester – a timeless classic
Greg James
Bill Kenwright’s production of Blood Brothers surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End making it one of only three musicals ever to achieve that monumental milestone – and now it’s visiting us here in Manchester.
“Oh Bright New Day”, Blood Brothers has just landed back at the Palace Theatre. This musical written by Willy Russell is a British piece of theatre that is a staple in the musical theatre tapestry of our country.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this iconic story, it is an emotional tale of two twins who are separated at birth and grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with the most fateful of consequences.
The story’s central character, Mrs Johnston is the linchpin in this whole story and carries us through the show.
This role has been played by many superb women over the years including Mel C, Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson and nearly all of the Nolan Sisters. This time, Mrs Johnston is performed by Vivienne Carlyle who provides a lovely maternal performance.
The other two lead roles are Mickey and Eddie, played by Sean Jones and Joe Sleight respectively.
These are really complex roles to play as the actors have to portray the characters from early school years to grown adults.
The cast of Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack MerrimanSean Jones, Gemma Brodrick and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman
Sean Jones has been playing the role of Mickey now for nearly 25 years and so he is no stranger to this character. And I must say, he still fantastically plays the part, even when playing young Mickey, and the show really takes off when he enters the stage.
Joe Sleight is someone who I had not seen in the role of Eddie before and he gave just as strong a performance as Jones. He offered a real contrast to his counterpart with a really beautiful, touching performance.
The whole ensemble did a gorgeous job of helping to carry these characters throughout the musical, showing a real flair for multi-roling and beautiful musicality in the group numbers too.
Something which elevates this already gripping story though is the music. There are many recurring musical motifs throughout the show that on the surface may come off as repetitive but they offer perspective on how things can evolve and change over time.
Of course the song though that everybody is perhaps familiar with is the power ballad, ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’. This is the climax of the show and what a climax it is. There’s not a dry eye in the house when we reach this point of the story, I can assure you!
So, whether you are returning to watch this show again, perhaps know the story from studying it in English GCSE or seeing it for the first time, it will always be an absolutely timeless classic.
Blood Brothers is on at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 30 November. Tickets are available HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
9th July 2021 
