The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest is nearly here and it’s genuinely one of our favourite events of the year, so we’ve already started shortlisting places to watch it right here in Manchester.
With the contest itself starting on Tuesday, 9 May and the Eurovision Grand Final taking place on 13 May, there’s still plenty of time to plan where you’re going to watch it.
The city might have just missed out on hosting it this year but since it’s just down the road in Liverpool, is going to be a big occasion not only for the UK in general but the North West, in particular. The competition is even set to be shown on big screens in Piccadilly Gardens.
That being said, there are only going to be so many seats in the Gardens and we don’t want you to miss a second of the fun, so if you’re still wondering where to watch Eurovision in Manchester this year, here are 10 great options.
We’re going to start with one of our favourites and a bit of throwback to our uni days with the University of Manchester‘s Student Union. The SU over at UoM usually holds an annual watch-along party for Eurovision and this year is no different. Tickets for the Club Academy go quick but they’re also holding a screening upstairs in the main bar, so best grab yours quick.
Second on our list is one of the best places to watch movies in town, so why wouldn’t it be just as good a spot to watch Eurovision? A ticket to Everyman‘s viewing party includes entry a drink on arrival, snacks and a scorecard so you can join in with the action and, of course, there’ll be plenty of cocktails, dancing and people singing their hearts out — they’re encouraging fancy dress too, don’t let us down.
The next viewing party on our list is at one of our old nightclub faves, The Venue, along Jackson’s Row. We’ve spent many a night dancing our cares away in Venue and we’re sure it’ll be just as good a time for the Grand Final. Opening their doors from 6, there’ll be DJ playing Eurovision tunes and two big screens for the main event. They’re even encouraging people to bring food along for the night before they switch back to their usual indie stompers and a Sam Fender Disco until 4am. Book your spot HERE.
Everyman isn’t the only cinema chain showing Eurovision this year either, as Vue Quayside and Vue in the Printworks will also be airing the Grand Final on 13 May. Those who go along won’t only be treated to the usual perks of a movie theatre, but they’ll even get to experience exclusive bonus content courtesy of the BBC. You can grab your tickets HERE.
5. BarPop
Canal Street is consistently one of the best places to watch Eurovision in Manchester and while there’ll be plenty of spots throughout Gay Village showing the contest, BarPop has to be on our list. Teaming up with The Church (formerly Churchills), both will be airing it across their big screens. Secure your spot to watch the Grand Final HERE.
The third lot of cinemas that will be showing the Eurovision 2023 Final is Odeon, with screenings available at both the Great Northern Warehouse and The Trafford Centre. It’s the first time ever that the competition has ever been shown in movie theatres, so plenty are looking to join in with the fun. If you fancy comfy seats, big screens and plenty of food and drink to see you through the night, book HERE.
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7. GRUB
Just outside the city centre in the Green Quarter, GRUB is doing a full Eurovision takeover across every room in their Cheetham Hill venue. With tickets costing just a tenner and including a welcome drink and a fresh lineup of food inspired by the contest. The best part is that the entire event will act as a fundraiser for would-be hosts, Ukraine, with charity tombolas, donations and karaoke all on the cards. You love to see it.
The Refuge is one the prettiest spaces in all of Manchester and that’s what makes it an ideal place to watch one of the biggest spectacles on the annual TV calendar. The epic screening event will be hosted by Family Gorgeous inside The Vault, where there’ll be lots of cheeky commentary, DJs, activities and surprise performances throughout. There’ll also be special cocktails, an exclusive pizza from Crazy Pedros and more, not to mention a Eurpop party until the early hours. Grab your ticket HERE.
9. Native Ducie Street Warehouse
Credit: Ducie Street Warehouse (via Instagram)
Ducie Street is also hosting a must-not-miss Eurovision viewing party for 2023 that starts at 4pm and runs all the way until the early hours. It’s absolutely free to attend with tables available for bookings in the lounge for the pre-party where DJ Niallist will MCing for the pre-screening set. As for the watch party itself, this place is sure to be packed from 8pm onwards, so we’d book a table now if we were you.
Last but not least, we have the beautiful New Century Hall. We absolutely love everything about this venue and with a whole host of food vendors to choose from, non-stop music; a fancy dress competition, chances to win a £100 bar tab, tickets to ABBA tribute legends, Bjorn Again, hotel stays and much more up for grabs, it’s going to be a belter.
There’s even a special £2 Eurovision cocktail with every penny going to charities supporting Ukraine. Now, that’s what we like to hear. Once again, this one’s totally free to enter, you just make sure you have a good time when you get there. Tickets are available now.
With Song Contest now just a few days away, that should give you a few possible places to watch Eurovision in Manchester.
It goes without saying that this is by no means an exhaustive list and there will of course be plenty of other options if you don’t manage to sort a ticket to one of these or they simply don’t tickle your fancy.
Either way, since it’s being hosted right here on home soil, Eurovision 2023 is set to be the biggest in years and we look forward to seeing the city get into the swing of the pageantry and festivity of it all.
We just hope the UK performs as well as they did last year!
Featured Image — Ducie Street Warehouse/Eurovision/BarPop (via Instagram)
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Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American girl group Pussycat Dolls have reunited for a UK tour, stopping off at Co-op Live in Manchester with their powerhouse pop anthems.
Releasing their first LP in 2005, this pop girl group have a variety of radio hits to their name like ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Buttons’.
Over the years, the Pussycat Dolls lineup has gone through significant changes with this latest reunion comprised of Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.
The trio even released some brand-new material to coincide with the announcement of their UK and EU tour titled ‘Club Song’.
Now the girls are about to put their Doll Domination to the test as they bring their PCD Forever Tour in arenas across the nation.
Gig guide – Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live, Manchester
Doors for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live open from 6pm with a start time listed of 7pm with Lil’ Kim and rising girl group Deja Vu kicking things off.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home and loosen your ‘Buttons’, hopefully before the clock strikes twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Queer Up North launches digital archive full of visual art and more from legendary Manchester festival
Lydia Mastrolonardo
A new digital archive documenting the legendary Queer Up North festival has launched this month.
Running for an illustrious decade from 1992 to 2002, Queer Up North was the first multi-artform LGBTQ+ festival in Europe, but its significance has extended far beyond the arts as a beacon for queer culture, and is largely described as being one of the most pioneering and influential festivals ever.
From the very start, Queer Up North had an international standpoint – gaining support and recognition from much further afield as well as here in Manchester.
The festival emerged during a period where Manchester’s queer communities were navigating new ways to gain visibility and to create culture on their own terms.
It played a central role in uniting artists, performers, audiences, and venues – helping to establish Manchester as an international destination for LGBTQ+ arts and culture.
The newly launched digital archive shares materials from the iconic festival’s history, making them easily accessible to the public online for the first time, and for free.
The curated collection features 1420 images, 275 artefacts, and 29 oral histories revealing amazing stories about the people, performances, art, club nights, cabaret, and comedy that all helped to shape culture in Manchester during the 90s.
It offers a chance to explore a pivotal decade of Manchester’s history and understand how a generation of artists, performers, and audiences created a whole host of new opportunities for the Mancunian queer community.
Queer Up North launches digital archive full of visual art and more from legendary Manchester festival / Credit: Jonathan Keenan (Supplied)
It also facilitates a platform for new work, inspired by the legacy of Queer Up North, with founders emphasising that its purpose is as much about the future, as it is the past.
Tanja Farman and Gavin Barlow, founder-directors of Queer Up North shared: “The festival set out to be pioneering, innovative, international and inspirational, and looking back 34 years later, is it incredibly exciting to see that history preserved and celebrated.
“The Queer Up North Archive ensures that the creativity and contributions of LGBTQ+ artists and communities are remembered, while opening up their work and stories to a new generation.
Danny Jones -
6th May 2023 
