An exciting new era of spontaneity is set to land in the North-West as Cambeo, the completely FREE app that turns “What shall we do tonight?” into an instant adventure, officially soft launches in Manchester.
Created by hospitality insiders, college friends & local lads Sam Howkins (The Mews Bar & Charcuterie) and Ethan Davis, Cambeo is an independent start-up initiative, connecting people to live, limited-time offers from pubs, cocktail bars, breweries, street-food kitchens, independent gig venues and more—no advance booking, no hidden fees.
The app is designed to make spontaneous city adventures effortless and rewarding. Simply download it, set your vibe—whether it’s live music, craft beer, retro arcade games, or late-night pizza—and get notified when a nearby venue launches a live, time-sensitive offer that matches your interests.
From sunny outdoor tables and empty bowling lanes to unsold gig tickets or leftover shuffleboard slots, local businesses use the app to fill spaces in real time. When the alert hits your phone, all you have to do is show up, redeem, and enjoy. It’s like a surprise button for your social life – connecting you with the best the city has to offer, while helping local businesses thrive exactly when they need it.
Unlike traditional advertising or outdated discount platforms, Cambeo goes beyond food and drink. Users can discover experiences such as indie gigs, comedy nights, escape rooms, art classes, VR arcades, board-game cafés and late-night vinyl sessions (to name just a few). All in one place, separate from your social media. After all, you shouldn’t have to follow every pub, bar & restaurant in Manchester just to keep up with what’s happening.
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Since launching, local hospitality partners include games bar Electric Shuffle, Crown & Kettle, The Freemount, Kongs Nq, 53Two, Quarter House and more, taking part in the app’s private BETA testing phase last month. With many more onboarded for its public beta.
Both Howkins and Davis feel passionately about supporting the local hospitality industry, having grown up in Manchester and established careers in hospitality.
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Sam Howkins, co-founder of Cambeo, said: “I’m a firm believer that the best days & nights out are the truly spontaneous ones, where you meet up with friends after work for one drink and before you know it you’re dining out in a restaurant you’ve never heard of and tagging along to a last-minute gig. We’ve worked really hard to bring that concept of spontaneity into the app, to help people be more spontaneous and explore new experiences.
Whether you’re struggling for ideas for date night, wanting to dine somewhere different with friends, or looking for an experience to socialise without it being based entirely around drinking, we’re looking to offer everything all within one app. No more scouring dozens of websites.
We’re confident we’ve created a truly win-win situation for everyone with Cambeo, businesses are able to instantly combat quiet periods of trade, while users can experience somewhere new, save money AND know they’re helping local businesses.
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I’ve worked in hospitality for over 11 years, so I know the struggles that the industry is facing with more and more businesses closing every week. Everyone wants to support their local, but it’s tough on the consumer also. We’re aiming to help fix all of that.
I’ve had the idea for the app for about 9 years, working on it for the past 3 and I’m really, really excited for the people of Manchester to experience it, I only wish I had started on it sooner!”
Ethan Davis, co-founder of Cambeo, said: “The current struggles aren’t just limited to hospitality, so Cambeo is a platform that is open to all businesses which have quiet times, from bars & restaurants, independent pubs, experiences, activity venues, gig venues, theatres, museums & art galleries. You name it, we want to help you experience it. If you’re a business that wants to welcome more people through your doors, Cambeo is here for you.
Hopefully people want to live more in the moment and try somewhere new? And best of all, it’s completely FREE!”
Cambeo is available to download from Monday 29th September on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Early adopters will unlock surprise launch perks and become Manchester’s go-to experts for where to head next.
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Following the soft launch in Manchester, Cambeo will be expanding to cities across the UK, helping users to find places and recommendations personalised to them. With plenty more features to be added into the app.
The app remains in its early stages, with the team encouraging support & patience from the people of Manchester as it continues to grow. As a small start-up focused on strengthening the hospitality industry during a challenging period, the initiative also aims to provide users with valuable opportunities to save money.
Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
Daisy Jackson -
29th September 2025 
