Another month, another set of new openings to shout about – and boy are there some crackers coming to Manchester this July.
From a spanking new late-night music venue, late-night bar and restaurant over on Oxford Road, to a teeny-tiny Japanese street food stall, there’s loads to look forward to this month.
Keep reading to discover our top picks to try out this July.
Rise Pizza
Image: The Manc Eats
After years spent cooking in high-end Michelin kitchens, chef Sam Astley-Dean has switched his chef whites for jeans and a tshirt, applying his skills to new one-man pizza pop-up Rise.
Pizza here celebrates quality ingredients, made with the likes of organic tomatoes and mozzarella, planet saving flour, imported italian basil and parmigiano reggiano di solo bruna.
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Sam can often be found popping up all over Greater Manchester, but for the month of July you can be sure to find his brilliant pizzas at Track’s taproom every Friday and Saturday between the hours of 3 and 9pm.
1 July, Track brewery taproom
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Read more:The Michelin-trained chef running a one-man pizza pop-up in a Manchester taproom
Primo Bagel
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Founded by three friends who have all previously worked together at esteemed Manchester bakery Pollen, Primo has spent the past few months popping up at the Cloudwater brewery taproom on Picadilly Industrial Trading Estate.
As of this month, though, the trio officially has a new home inside the Seesaw co-working space on Princess Street previously occupied by Batard.
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Find them serving up a host of generously-stuffed bagels alongside sweet bakes, hummus and chips, fermented cabbage, and bialy – a Polish treat made using leftover bagel dough, baked with half a red onion inside – with a selection of eight different bagels in flavours like salt, marbled malt, sesame, everything, pumpernickel, plain and poppy.
As for fillings, think salt beef with Swiss cheese and Russian dressing; spicy, pickled jalapeno schmear with bacon from Littlewood’s butchers; smoked salmon and ‘everything’ cream cheese with lemon, dill, seeds, onion and garlic; and a whipped Marmite cream cheese bagel with spring onions.
There are sweet cookies too, and a new ‘off/secret menu(ish) type of thing’ for those in the know combining a toasted bagel with plain cream cheese and apricot jam.
Liverpool favourite Maray will open its doors this month in the Bruntwood Works’ Union building on Brazennose Street next to ‘The Hidden Gem’ church.
In a central location that’s slightly off the beaten path, it will form part of the transformation taking place around the Town Hall and Lincoln Square.
Founded in 2014 by James Bates, Tom White and Dom Jones, the concept was originally inspired by the owners’ experiences in the Le Marais district of Paris – a vibrant area of the city famed as a culinary melting pot of Middle Eastern flavours and stand out cocktail bars.
In a nod to this, the menu at Maray features a selection of mezze, and small plates like falafel, lamb shawarma and baked halloumi.
It also boasts an extensive vegan and vegetarian offering – think wild mushrooms with cannellini beans, sweet potato with tahini and date molasses, and spiced lentil and rice mejadara.
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16 July, Lincoln Square
The Flat Baker
The Flat Baker is opening its first little shop in Ancoats this month, serving specialist treats and classic pastries with a Brazilian-inspired twist from a window hatch on Radium Street.
Opening on Saturdays only, here pastry and bread lovers will find a multitude of croissants and cruffins, pastel de natas, cinnamon swirls and faviours breads, including focaccia, cornbread, Pão de Queijo (cheese bread) and boozy brioche.
Elsewhere, there’ll be more specialist Brazilian treats for sale too, like carrot cake topped and filled with creamy chocolate truffle (brigadeiro), guava polenta cake, tonka bean brownies, and passion fruit and lime meringue tarts.
Frankie’s Toasties will open a new toasted sandwich stall at Manchester’s Arndale Market this month, selling retro Breville delights stuffed with everything from supernoodles to all the ingredients of a Full English breakfast.
Adding to its existing site on Portland Street, the new Little Frankie’s branch will offer daily grab-and-go toasties throughout the day until the market closes at 6pm.
The new food stall will offer all the same goodies as its existing site — albeit in a slightly smaller package – with Full English breakfast toasties, chilli con carne toasties, a toastie stuffed with four-cheese macaroni, chocolate and loads more all set to be on the menu.
Another new addition to Manchester Arndale, this time in the council-run market on the High Street side of the centre bordering the Northern Quarter.
Christmas market favourites Panc are taking over the former Salt and Pepper unit this month, bringing all their savoury favourites with them – as well as a range of sweet desserts under the new banner Yum Yum
Splitting the stall into two, Panc and Yum Yum will each be housed in their own individual sections – one serving up tasty vegan ‘junk’ food like kebabs, burgers, loaded fries, hot dogs and ‘chick’n’, the other focusing exclusively on milkshakes and desserts.
Yum Yum will boast a brand new chimney cake offering alongside vegan soft serve, bringing plant-based ice cream to the Arndale market for the very first time alongside Panc’s popular churros, loaded PANCakes and Belgian waffles.
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8 July, Arndale Market
The Ancoats Lad
Image: Google
Tiny Oldham Street boozer The Ancoats Lad is being given a new lease of life five months after its owners’ bit farewell via a heartbreaking letter plastered to its shutters.
Long known as a place that ‘encouraged awkwardness’ with ‘old-school’ customers, the miniscule pub, sandwiched between Gullivers and Chakalaka, will reopen as The Mancunian next month – with a hyper-local offering to reflect its new moniker.
Drinks will come from the likes of Salford Rum, Manchester Union Lager, Manchester Gin, Shindigger, Seven Brothers and more. “Pretty much everyone you could think of”, Perry and Josh tell us, adding they want to keeping everything as traditional and Manchester-based as possible.
Manchester’s first-ever dedicated sake bar, Monkey Trio will open at the Circle Square development on Oxford Road this month.
It will offer drinkers a range of different Japanese sake styles, as well as various Japanese-made whiskies and craft matcha beers.
TBC, Circle Square
Takoyaki Master
Image: The Manc Eats
New Japanese street food stall Takoyaki Master specialises in little fried balls stuffed with diced octopus, bonito and sweetcorn.
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Run by Violet and Pong Ho, it is pretty much a brand new arrival at the market. The pair have only been in Manchester a few months – having moved over here from Hong Kong, where they tell us they ran a very successful Takoyaki stall for “many years”.
There are two styles of takoyaki on offer – one topped with scallions, and one without. Both come filled with diced octopus, sweetcorn and bonito soup, then topped with bonito and seaweed flakes, Japanese mayo and Okonomi sauce.
If you don’t like octopus, though, they’ll happily switch it out for chicken, cheese or beef.
Open now, Arndale Market
Tsjuiri
Image: Tsujiri
Popular matcha dessert tea house Tsujiri is also tipped to open inside Circle Square this month.
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It is the second Manchester site for the brand, which already has an existing cafe in Chinatown.
Here, you’ll be able to pick up everything from mochi balls to matcha basque cheesecakes, black sesame chocolate tarts and tubs of matcha and roasted soy bean ice cream. Elsewhere, the menu will feature a range of bubble teas and lattes.
TBC, Circle Square
Cherry’s Boba Shop
Image: Supplied
From the cocktail wizarding team that brought Stockport Cherry Jam comes a new bubble tea shop, the first of its kind in the neighbourhood.
Cherry’s Boba Shop sees cocktail bartender Neil Garner turn his hand to wild and wacky and wonderful boba tea creations in flavours like strawberry shortcake, banana split, mango cheesecake and PB&J.
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In his own words: “If Willy Wonka made boba tea, this shop would sell them all.”
Opening opposite Red Rock Cinema at the start of July, there are also some cocktail-inspired (but alcohol-free) serves like Cherry’s Mojito and the Popstar Marteani (passion fruit and vanilla fruit tea with passion fruit popping boba).
1 July, Stockport
Canvas
Image: Supplied
A new music, entertainment and wellness venue, Canvas will open its doors this month at Oxford Road’s Circle Square development.
With live music, club nights, a members’ lounge with a programme of events, a late-night bar and restaurant, and a digital platform, it’s set to bring a whole new late-night offering to the busy student side of town.
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An official opening date is yet to be announced, but Canvas is expected to open in the second week of July.
TBC, Circle Square
Feature image – The Flat Baker / The Man Group / The Manc Eats
Manchester
Manchester Christmas Parade 2025 – all you need to know-ho-ho
Danny Jones
Now we’re into December, the Manchester Christmas Markets have returned both to the city and even to Albert Square for 2025, not to mention it’s bloody COLD, we think it’s fair to say the holiday season is well and truly underway – plus, the annual parade is now just around the corner.
Time to wrap up warm, pick your perfect spot, grab a hot drink and watch as a train of coloured ribbons and giant puppets flood the streets.
Yes, that’s right: not only can Mancs enjoy the return of the festive firework display this winter, but this year’s Christmas parade is taking place this weekend, and the fun-for-all-ages event is promising to be as magical as ever.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2025 edition.
We managed to catch it right at the start last year. (Credit: The Manc)
MCR Christmas Parade 2025 – all the important info
When is the Manchester Xmas Parade this year?
For starters, if you’re wondering what time the Manchester Christmas Parade starts this weekend, the fun will be kicking off from 1pm on Sunday, 7 December and will last around an hour from start to finish.
MCR Xmas Parade route
As for where it will be heading and when, the procession will follow a circular route that starts and ends back at Manchester Cathedral, before heading through the city centre, running along some major roads and passing notable landmarks.
It is as follows: Manchester Cathedral – Victoria Street – Deansgate – John Dalton Street – Cross Street – Market Street – St Mary’s Gate – Deansgate – Victoria Street – Manchester Cathedral.
There will be two accessible viewing areas available on a first-come basis – one on Cross St (outside Boots) and one on Deansgate (outside House of Fraser).
You can see a full map of the Manchester Christmas Parade route for 2025 down below.
Credit: Manchester City Council (supplied)
People coming into the city centre for the parade should note that the busiest sections of the parade route are likely to be previously mentioned Cross St and St Mary’s Gate.
Manchester city centre road closures for Sunday (7 Dec)
8am-5pm
Victoria Street (Deansgate to Cathedral Approach)
Cateaton Street (Deansgate to Exchange Square)
11am-3pm
Victoria Bridge Street (Chapel St to Deansgate)
Deansgate (Victoria St to John Dalton St)
John Dalton Street (Southgate to Clarence St)
Cross Street (John Dalton St to Corporation St)
Market Street (Cross St to Exchange St)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange St to Deansgate)
11am-6pm
St Ann’s Street (Deansgate to Cross St)
As well as the city now having entered what is expected to be one of its busiest periods, it’s also worth reminding that the Metrolink tram service is scheduled for more strikes this weekend, so plan accordingly when heading into town.
It’s also worth noting that these closures will obviously affect parking and bus lanes, as well as some trams and taxi ranks.
There are, of course, always new additions each year, and there’s more never-before-seen content coming for 2025, too.
With even more community groups now taking part than ever, the completely free, family-friendly parade will not only be led by the usual ‘Reindeer Ensemble’ – a talented troupe of eight synchronised dancing reindeer – but a new fantastic ‘Festive Fantasy Candyland Castle’.
Think Christmas meets Willy Wonka, meets Sugar Rush from Wreck-It Ralph and more.
Standing more than four metres tall and surrounded by a giant cavalcade of stilt walkers and dancers, the spectacularly decorated castle slowly rotates as it glides along and is sure to be a particularly must-see moment for the youngsters this year.
Credit: Supplied)
We’re not going to spoil too much else for you this year, as we always find it’s more fun to be surprised by what we see whilst stopping roadside.
Let’s just say there’ll be plenty more Christmassy characters and fantastical festivities in store.
Local councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for MCC, said of the 2025 parade: “Manchester is one hundred per cent the best city in the world when it comes to celebrating the festive season.
“There is nowhere that does Christmas quite like we do, and our iconic Christmas Parade has been a big part of our celebrations over the last three years, helping make magical memories for thousands upon thousands of Mancunians.
“It’s the heartwarming event of the season and our special Christmas gift to the city. Grab your Santa hat and some tinsel, and come down and join us. Don’t miss it!” There’s plenty more on this week, too…
Featured Images — Manchester City Council (supplied)/The Manc Group
Manchester
8 European Christmas markets you can fly to from Manchester, from £27 return
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s Christmas Markets may be fairly famous in their own right – but for those of us who live here they’re perhaps a little less magical than they are for visitors (drinking a gluhwein immediately outside your office takes the shine off it a bit).
Which is why Manchester Airport has now rounded up eight European Christmas markets you could jet off to from as little at £27 return.
That means you could be hitting cities across the continent that have their own time-honoured festive markets to enjoy, from Switzerland to Poland and beyond.
The airport has singled out eight festive destinations from its network of more than 200 that won’t break the bank.
So get packing your comically small Ryanair bag and check this lot out.
Brussels
Brussels is one of the cities you can fly to from Manchester for a European Christmas break. Credit: Luna Zhang on Unsplash
Head to the Belgian capital and you’ll find twinkling Christmas markets sprawling right across the city.
This is a perfect European destination if you like your Christmas season to be filled with beers (for which Belgium is world-famous), chocolate, and fries.
The heart of the action is Grand Place, but the markets sprawl out across a number of other locations like the Marché aux Poissons, with more than 200 stalls; and the Place de Brouckère, which offers an ice rink and funfair rides.
Fly with Ryanair from £27pp return| Market dates 28 November – 4 January
Milan
You’ve surely seen Milan’s jaw-dropping cathedral – well this is the backdrop to the Italian city’s Christmas Markets, which fill the Piazza Duomo every December.
You’ll find stalls selling handmade trinkets, cheese, and charcuterie, as well as panettone which actually originated right here in Milan.
Fly with Ryanair from £29pp return | Milan Christmas market runs from 1 December – 6 January
Gdansk
Stop what you’re doing right now and get ready to book flights, because you could jet off to Europe’s best Christmas market from just £30 per person.
Gdansk is big on spectacle and covers the city in Christmas lights and street performances, with stalls filling the picturesque Old Town.
It’s also a bargain for British visitors, with beer less than £3 and Polish delicacies like Pierogi dumplings costing even less than that.
So you can stuff your £8.50 bratwurst in Manchester, frankly.
Fly with Ryanair from £30pp return | Gdansk Christmas market runs from 21 November – 23 December
Oslo
If you want an authentically white Christmas, this might be the place to try – Oslo is one of the most northern major cities and that means a good chance of snow – and maybe even a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
The markets themselves have food stalls, a Ferris wheel, an ice rink and a carousel for a picturesque and varied experience.
And if you head out of town you’ll have Norway’s beautiful lakes, fjords and woodlands to explore too.
Fly with Ryanair from £30pp return | Oslo Christmas market runs from 8 November – 4 January
Riga
Another affordable European Christmas spot on the list from Manchester Airport is Riga, the Latvian capital.
Music runs through the markets’ veins, with live performances throughout December from folk banks to Christmas choirs and even DJ sets at the weekends.
These are proudly local markets too, with artisanal stands selling local handmade products.
Fly with Ryanair from £37pp return | Riga Christmas market runs from 29 November – 1 January
Bratislava
Bratislava is one of the fastest-growing markets in Europe, and is another one that’s both authentic and refreshingly affordable.
Wander the streets of the Old Town to be surrounded by Viennese-inspired architecture and charming market stalls, selling classic fare like bratwurst as well as more local favourites.
Don’t miss langos (a savoury fried bread with sour cream) and lokshe (a potato pancake).
You can also head across to Bratislava Castle to explore a medieval-themed market.
Fly with Ryanair from £38pp return | Bratislava Christmas market runs from 27 November – 6 January
Bucharest
Right in front of the Romanian Parliament building you’ll find Constitution Square, and Bucharest’s festive activities.
There are more than 130 stands to explore here, selling handmade gifts plus Romanian and international food at reasonable prices.
There’s also a main stage with musical and dance performances, and a Santa’s Grotto where the little ones can meet elves and reindeer.
Fly with Ryanair from £45pp return | Bucharest Christmas market runs from 29 November – 28 December
Nowhere captures a magical Christmas scene quite like Switzerland, and if you fly over to Zurich at this time of year you’ll be able to wander the Christmas markets with the snow-capped Alps in the distance.
The largest markets are actually indoors, in the grounds of the city’s main train station, where you’ll find Swiss traditions like raclette and mulled wine plus a giant Christmas tree.
Swiss Airlines and easyJet both fly to Zurich from Manchester.
Fly with easyJet from £79pp return | Zurich Christmas market runs from 20 November – 23 December
Georgina Pellant -
1st July 2022 
