Social Cricket comes to Manchester with the opening of Sixes Clubhouse
Three state-of-the-art cricket nets are available to hire for 30 minutes, with the venue kitted out with a champagne bar, 70-seater dining space and open kitchen.
The “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” is coming to the Corn Exchange this August with the opening of Sixes Manchester.
A “social cricket” sports bar, Sixes offers the chance to swing for the boundaries whilst enjoying a wide selection of high-quality food and drink.
Sixes is kitted out with three state-of-the-art cricket nets available to hire for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, a champagne bar, a 70-seater dining space and an open kitchen.
The Sixes Batting Nets are fun for all ages and abilities, whether you’re a complete beginner or seasoned pro. Simply pick up a bat, aim for the targets and climb the leaderboard!
Sixes offers the “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” / Image: Sixes
Sixes offers the “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” / Image: Sixes
A signature British BBQ-inspired menu has been created for the Sixes experience, including the best of British meats, seafood and vegetables – flamed, roasted and grilled on the robata grill.
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Items include low and slow chicken wings, house-smoked sausages you can order by the half metre, overnight coals sweet potato, vegan burgers and the signature Sixes meat volcano, comprising house sausage, beef burnt ends, bubble & squeak pakoras, mac & cheese croquettes, smoked chicken Caesar bowl and beef dripping flatbreads.
There’s also a variety of craft ales, fine wines, bespoke cocktails like the Eton Mess, Ashes Manhattan, Sixes Fruit Cup and Tea Time – a very British cocktail containing actual Yorkshire Tea.
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The Manchester venue is the first Clubhouse outside of London – with Sixes already operating two sites in the capital.
Sixes offers the “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” / Image: Sixes
The Clubhouse kitted out with three state-of-the-art cricket nets available to hire for 30 minutes / Image: Sixes
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Calum MacKinnon said: “Cricket has a rare, unifying quality, capable of connecting people from all backgrounds. Sixes is no different.
“We’re combining our love of sport with a passion for quality food and drink, creating a welcoming and relaxed experience where anyone can enjoy the game we love.”
“From complete beginners to seasoned club regulars, Sixes is proudly inclusive and open to all.
“Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology from partners, Batfast, the level of challenge can be scaled up or down to suit the batter at the crease, making it as much fun for an 8-year-old’s birthday party as it is for the Lancashire Lightning squad’s night out!”
The Manchester venue is the first Clubhouse outside of London – with Sixes already operating two sites in the capital / Image: Sixes
The opening of the Manchester venue coincides with a new and exclusive game at Sixes called The Hundred, named after the 100-ball cricket tournament involving eight men’s and eight women’s teams in major cities across England and Wales, taking place for the first time this summer.
The ENTIRE Manchester Village Pride lineup cost £20k less to book than ONE headliner last year
Daisy Jackson
Bosses behind Manchester Village Pride have revealed that the entire lineup has cost significantly less than the amount spent on just one headliner last year.
In a statement promising transparency, organisers said that the entire weekend of artists has cost less than one single headliner from 2025.
And by some margin – £20,000.
The announcement comes less than a year after the previous Manchester Pride organisation entered voluntary liquidation amid rising costs, declining ticket sales and an ‘ambitious refresh’ of the festival format.
That refresh included moving the main music portion of the annual LGBTQ+ celebration away from the Gay Village itself, and over to Depot Mayfield.
The collapse of Manchester Pride followed reports that performers from the 2025 event were still waiting to be paid, with entertainment union Equity later saying its members were more than £70,000 out of pocket.
Manchester Village Pride was subsequently established as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, with organisers promising a more community-focused approach and greater transparency around finances.
The 2026 event is being delivered with unpaid directors, while organisers have also signed an Equity agreement guaranteeing fair pay and professional standards for performers – the first UK union agreement of its kind for a Pride event.
Performing at Manchester Village Pride this year are major artists like Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic home-grown talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
In their statement, Manchester Village Pride said: “Transparency time! Booking this entire weekend of fabulous artists cost us £20k UNDER what was spent on a single headliner last year. This is what community Pride looks like!”
Manchester Village Pride will once again take place over the August bank holiday weekend, with the party running for four days from Friday to Monday.
The celebrations will culminate in the moving candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens.
Ticket prices this year, even with just over a week to go, are only £40 for the full three-day festival, or £25 for one day. Monday will be free to attend.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
The Manc -
20th August 2021 
