Looking for a unique way to spend a day or night out in Manchester? Think you’ve seen everything the city centre has to offer?
Think again.
From bowling, to axe throwing, and everything in-between, there’s so many fun and quirky activities to get involved right across the city, so whether it’s a first date, a work night out, or you’re just looking for something to do on a rainy day, Manchester never disappoints.
Here’s 10 of the best activities to do in Manchester.
Whether you have a birthday party, family day out, or social with colleagues or friends, Tenpin is the place to be, with an array of indoor activities, from bowling and an arcade room, to pool and table tennis – there’s something for everyone.
ADVERTISEMENT
If you’re looking for a night out with friends, the beer pong tables are a must to kick start your night (or day), and the karaoke is a massive hit too with thousands of songs to choose from and specially-designed music pods so you can sing your heart out, embarrassment free.
Experience one of the oldest games in the world while tucking into gastro pub BBQ-style food and delicious cocktails in a truly English style.
ADVERTISEMENT
Using cutting edge elite sports technology, at Sixes Social Cricket, you can hire a batting net and take part in the world’s first immersive social cricket experience where you will be able to test your batting skills and compete with friends on a global leader board.
Downstairs is a cosy champagne bar area where bottomless brunch is served on weekends, with beer, cocktails and of course champagne to choose from.
Base Bar
Millow Street
In its own words, this place is for the “fastballin’, batswingin’, ballsmashin’ junkies”.
Base Bar has three batting cages to swing in and each has their own ground baseball graffiti style, so you can practise your swing over a few beers, and it’s also the perfect place to go with family and friends if you want a fun and interactive day out.
ADVERTISEMENT
It offers a wide range of hotdogs and snacks, and also serves a fantastic array of cocktails as well as other drinks too, as well as a separate bar area if you have or haven’t got a batting cage booking.
Tenpin / Credit: PrintworksSixes Social Cricket / Credit: Sixes
This over 18’s bar is a strong favourite for gaming lovers.
NQ64 has all the retro games you can think of, as well as classic consoles, so whether you’re wanting a nostalgic experience being transported back to the 80s, or if you’re a video game addict looking for something quirky to try, NQ64 is the perfect place to go.
Dubbed as a geek’s paradise with an amazing atmosphere, there’s also great-value drinks with a strong craft beer and cocktail menu, making it a must-go for anyone.
Think classic darts but reinvented 21st century-style, as with a range of exciting multi-player games, Flight Club will keep you hooked and entertained for hours. Whether you’re an expert at darts, or a complete beginner, everyone has a chance of winning when they play thanks to the multiple throw lines to choose from.
Flight Club has a distinct vintage feel about it, and this unique bar offers a range of bespoke cocktails, tasty pizzas, and delicious sharing boards too.
Flight Club Manchester / Credit: Flight Club
Junkyard Golf Club
First Street
This is a firm-favourite with many people.
ADVERTISEMENT
This mini crazy golf club has three themed courses, and each course has a fun name and a different vibe to each of them.
As the name suggests, all the courses are made up from pre-loved and reclaimed junk.
Gary is a course full of tyres, written-off cars and scrapyard junk littered around the course. Pablo is a tropical madness filled with pirate speedboats and skulls. Finally, Bozo is full of creepy clowns and circus freaks with a ferris wheel and hall of mirrors.
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Treetop Adventure Golf is Manchester’s answer to the tropical rainforest with the Tropical Trail course. Or maybe crumbling temples and ancient ruins take your fancy? Visit the Ancient Explorer course instead.
ADVERTISEMENT
Each course has 18 holes, and is the perfect way to spend a day with friends and family.
After playing 18 holes, you can take a seat in The Market for well-deserved tropical cocktails, local beer and amazing jungle grub, and there’s also freshly handmade pizza available by Pizza Cabana too.
If you want a night filled with competitive games to soundtrack of rock and indie music, then Roxy Ball Room is the place to be.
Dubbed as an adult’s playground, choose from and array of classic ball games like bowling, pool table tennis, beer pong, or ping pong to name a few, it’s the perfect place for parties and groups and has an amazing cocktail menu and drinks packages to finish off a fun filled night of great games, food, drinks, and music.
ADVERTISEMENT
With fantastic service and great value for money, what’s not to like?
Junkyard Golf Club Manchester / Credit: Junkyard GolfPoint Blank Manchester / Credit: Point Blank
Point Blank is the UK’s first shooting speakeasy, and has over 200 simulated shooting scenarios to kickstart your night with a bang. The range has five real replica guns and the systems are used worldwide to train professional shooters, so the experience is fully-immersive and has exceptional realism.
There’s also a great range of bespoke cocktails, beers, wines and snacks to enjoy while shooting or if you’re just at the bar.
This is the UK’s first urban axe throwing venue, and with the vibrant venue, expertly-trained instructors, and a suitably-pumped-up soundtrack, you’ll be slinging axes like a pro by the end of the night.
Perfect for going with a group of friends, or if you want a quirky date idea.
Don’t worry if you’ve never thrown an axe before though, as you’ll have a blast and learn something new, and you can also get involved with mini competitions against your own group, or other groups to become the axe throwing king or queen.
___
Featured Image – NQ64
Gigs & Nightlife
Thousands of FREE tickets to The Big Night of Musicals at AO Arena have been released
Thomas Melia
There are thousands of free tickets up for grabs to attend ‘The Big Night of Musicals’ in Manchester next year which features a variety of theatre classics.
The curtain has risen once again as returning favourite, The Big Night of Musicals, is coming to AO Arena for a fourth year.
Hosted once again by the one and only Jason Manford, this event contains segments from some of the world’s greatest theatre productions.
Fronted by The National Lottery, this showcase is a thank you to all players whose money has supported more than 20,000 theatre-related projects totalling £1.3 billion.
These funds have been used on many performing arts resources including restoring theatres and enabling hundreds of musical-related projects to commence.
This isn’t something to be missed out on as the bill is shaping up to be one of the event’s biggest to date featuring stars from the West End and some of the most notorious shows.
Attendees can expect to hear some familiar favourites in the likes of Bat Out of Hell, Here & Now: The Steps Musical, Mean Girls and more.
There’s even an exclusive preview of the upcoming theatre adaptation of a Disney superhero as snippets from ‘Hercules’ will be performed live.
Guests even have a chance to be in the same room as musical theatre legend Carrie Hope Fletcher as she takes on the role of Calamity Jane in the theatre show of the same name.
Dear Evan Hansen is also on the bill and if you aren’t free for the musical ensemble, it’s running at Palace Theatre Manchester from 18-22 February next year and tickets are available right now.
This event has a super varied lineup too, from throwback pop bangers to Wild West heroines, this night really caters to everyone.
In true musical style, there will be big, bold performances and, of course, lots of excellent surprises all set to make a fantastic night of live music at the AO Arena.
All National Lottery players have the chance to reserve up to four tickets, the only cost is proof they’ve purchased a product from the National Lottery and a £2 booking fee per ticket.
Tickets for the ‘Big Night of Musicals’ on 25 January are already on sale you can try your luck at grabbing some free seats HERE.
The UK’s much-loved ‘day rave’ with Vicky and Jon McClure returns to Manchester for New Year’s Eve
Thomas Melia
One of the UK’s most popular new club events and pioneering ‘day rave’ is returning to Manchester this New Year’s, featuring founders Jon and Vicky McClure, as well as some very special guests.
The Line of Duty star and Reverend and the Makers frontman started the parent-friendly event back in January of this year as an alternative day out for those looking to have a party and still manage an early bedtime. Since then it’s gone on to become a real phenomenon and is only getting bigger.
With Vicky swapping UK dramas and crime thrillers for the discotheque and ‘Big Jon’ switching lanes from his usual rock, indie and alternative roots to favour timeless dance tracks to still get people up on their feet, Day Fever has gone down a storm all over the country.
With their first year coming towards a close, they now look set for arguably their biggest day rave to date as Day Fever will be hosting a special New Year’s Eve for their final hurrah of 2024 right here in Manchester city centre – and no, you don’t need to be able to stay up until midnight.
The two McClures – unrelated, by the way, they just share a name and a fantastic taste in music – and the rest of their crew will be partying between 3-8pm for a much more tame and friendlier night (day) out, commanding the decks alongside some other special guests.
Not only does this alternative way to party promise a more responsible curfew, meaning clubbers don’t have to worry about missing the last train home but it’s also geared towards over 30s whilst still being super inclusive.
This day-time clubbing event is designed to reminisce on the old days and all those dance-filled memories of evenings spent out on the tiles, just minus the late-night finish – and hopefully the hangover but that’s down to you really, isn’t it?
In their words: ‘There’s no dress code, no egos—just pure positivity’; there’s nothing we love to hear more than the sweet relief of not having to get dolled up for a big night when we just can’t be bothered.
With New Century Hall hosting the Day Fever once again for their first-ever NYE party here in Manchester, along with two other events being held simultaneously in Edinburgh and Birmingham, you can get all your partying done way with plenty of time to get cosy in bed before the calendar turns over.
Just in time to watch Jools Holland’s famous Annual Hootenanny, as they put it.
Jon McClure and Vicky’s co-star, Martin CompstonVicky McClure leading the dance routines
This is guaranteed to be an evening to remember for everyone in attendance, especially when you’re joined by stars of stage and screen who will be powering you through with some proper dance bangers as they have done all year long.
The New Year’s Eve party isn’t just the last dance of the year either, it’s also effectively the prequel to next year’s raft of shows as Day Fever has already announced more than a dozen big dates in January and February.
This batch of 2025 dates sees the gang taking on lots of other cities, including North West neighbours Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds and Hull over in Yorkshire, two Newcastle shows and plenty more.
So, if you’re feeling those clubbing blues, that pesky seasonal affective disorder or just still not booked up for NYE 2024, why not make the most of this day-time opportunity?
Tickets for both the New Year’s Eve and the rest of their 2025 events are available on the official Day Fever website HERE.
Oh yeah, and help get Rev to Christmas number one – it’s for a good cause and they deserve it!
Alice Gerrard -
15th October 2021 
