Manchester is preparing for one of its busiest nights of the year, as two huge music legends take to the stage and the football season draws to a close.
There’s no denying that Manchester‘s social calendar has been getting busier and the summer starts to arrive, and we all know we’ve got a huge weekend of festivals coming up to celebrate the late May bank holiday, but it actually seems like tonight (20 May) may be one of the busiest nights the city has seen all year so far.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is encouraging people to make the most of public transport and active travel options, as nearly 100,000 people are expected into the city for two huge concerts and a footballing finale tonight.
Rock legend Bruce Springsteen is set to play to a sold-out Co-op Live, pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her ‘Tension Tour’ to the AO Arena, and Manchester City play their final home game of the season at the Etihad Stadium with an 8pm kick-off.
Manchester is preparing for one of its busiest nights of the year / Credit: TfGM
Not only is it a big deal that two of music‘s biggest names are performing in the city tonight, but over at the Etihad, it will also be legendary midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s final home game for Manchester City.
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At the Etihad Campus, it’s expected that there will be a crossover with City and Springsteen fans arriving at the same time for their respective events, and then with City planning a ‘lap of appreciation’ following the final whistle for De Bruyne’s departure, it’s thought that both the football and music fans could be leaving at a similar time too.
This is why a travel warning has been issued, and as always, it’s advised to ‘plan ahead’.
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If possible, TfGM is recommending that it’s best to travel to and from your respective events outside peak times, as this is when the roads and tram network will be at their busiest, so instead, Springsteen fans may wish to take advantage of the 4:30pm early entry at Co-op Live.
Alternatively, there will also be express and shuttle bus services to and from Co-op Live and the Etihad Campus for both Springsteen and City fans, as well as trams – many with ‘double trams’ – operating every six-minutes from the city centre, and several ‘Park & Ride’ options for those wishing to drive.
Those who choose to travel by car, though, it should be noted that there will be a closure on Chapel Street heading towards Salford (westbound), between Blackfriars Road and New Bailey Street, and although a diversion is in place, you may want to plan an alternative route.
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For Kylie fans, the AO Arena is served by multiple tram and train lines, and bus networks, all of which will be running throughout the day, as well as being just a 15-minute walk from the heart of Manchester too.
TfGM says its control room will also be monitoring the transport network during the evening and responding to any incidents as they develop.
For more information and to plan your journey this evening, head to the Bee Network website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
Travel & Tourism
Soho House Manchester finally has an opening date – and we don’t have long to wait
Daisy Jackson
Soho House Manchester has finally locked in an opening date for its huge members’ club – the first in the North of England.
With a heated rooftop pool, on-site restaurant, late-night bar, and plenty of spaces perfect for networking and working, it’s been one of the biggest openings our city has seen in years.
And we’ve been waiting a while – Soho House had initially locked in 2022 for its launch into Manchester, but unavoidable delays with the building has pushed this back.
Its transformation of the historic Granada Studios building, at the gateway to the new St John’s district, has been ticking over for several years, and the site is finally almost ready to launch.
Soho House Manchester has confirmed Tuesday 25 November as its opening date, with memberships starting from £2,400 per year.
The members-only space will span across three floors of club space, as well as the rooftop and pool, taking over the upper levels of the old Granada Studios.
Members will have access to a specially curated programme of events, all year round.
Soho House at White CitySoho House Manchester. Credit: Supplied
On the eighth floor will be the main club floor, home to The Drawing Room (with a special menu for Soho House Manchester); the House Kitchen, serving classic dishes all day long; and the Pool Lounge, with morning coffees to evening House Tonics.
On the floor above will be the Club Bar, a late-night space with a dedicated bar and live DJs; and the Orange Room, a space for parties and gatherings with a backdrop of the city’s skyline.
Back down on level seven is The Studio, a space for meetings, events and parties.
Also opening later this year will be Mollie’s Motel, a stylish American-style hotel also created by Soho House.
Soho House opens in Manchester on 25 November – you can apply for a membership HERE, with prices from £2,400 per year.
If you want to know more of what Soho House Manchester will offer, head HERE.
Mancunian Way set for more closures while ‘vital’ inspections are carried out
Emily Sergeant
Mancunian Way is set for yet another round of ‘vital’ closures next week.
As Manchester City Council looks to ‘improve’ what is, by far, one of Manchester’s busiest and most-used roads, given the fact it is the main thoroughfare in and out of the city centre, it has been confirmed that a part-closure of Mancunian Way is set to take place so that essential inspection works can be carried out.
With an estimated 15 million journeys taken along this road annually, the Council says it’s vital that inspections are conducted to keep traffic flowing.
As a result, plans are now in place to close the inner lanes of Mancunian Way next week from Monday 29 September through to Saturday 4 October.
The inner lanes will be closed in both directions of the road along its entire length.
🚧🚗 MANCUNIAN WAY INSPECTION🏍️🚧
From 29 September to 4 October, the inner lanes of the Mancunian Way will be closed overnight in both directions for an important central reservation inspection.
Partial closures are necessary so that engineers are able to safely carry out an inspection of the central reservation to ensure that the road remains safe for motorists, and this is ahead of the replacement of parts of the central reservation – which is due to take place in 2026.
To keep disruption minimal, the Council has confirmed that the inner lanes are only to be closed from 7pm to 6am, with traffic management removed during the day for normal usage of the road.
The other two lanes will be open to use as normal, as will the slip roads.
Mancunian Way is set for more closures while ‘vital’ inspections are carried out next week / Credit: Pixabay
Speaking ahead of the upcoming closures, Councillor Anthony McCaul, who is the Deputy Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment, and Transport at Manchester City Council said: “We’re grateful for people’s patience during these inspection works.
“The Mancunian Way is a vital piece of the city’s transport infrastructure and it’s really important that we regularly ensure that it is safe for use.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th May 2025 
