Yes, you heard us right, there’s a brand new edition under the arches on Sheffield Street, in Manchester’s Piccadilly East neighborhood.
This new venue is fully equipped for summer with an outdoor terrace, a screen for the footy, pizza from Nell’s – AND they’re giving away 1,000 free pints.
Now I’ve got your attention, let me introduce you to Pigeon Beer Wanderer, a specialist beer parlour and bottle shop boasting ‘Europe’s finest beers,’ which has opened this week.
This welcome addition to Manchester’s beer scene is situated within the ever-growing ‘Beermuda Triangle,’ a corner of the city where craft beer is king, amongst some of our favourite independents including Track, Cloudwater, Balance and Sureshot.
Founder and Northern beer specialist, Joshua Lightfoot, has one clear aim – ‘to celebrate beer with the same care, craft, provenance and ceremony traditionally associated with wine.’
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Pigeon aims to provide a nest/welcome space for beer enthusiasts and newbies alike, to land and come together in a venue that facilitates the discovery of the world-class brewing culture on offer here in Manchester.
He says: “Every beer has its own provenance, its own character and its own ideal way of being served. Pigeon is about celebrating that in a way that feels exciting, welcoming and social.
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“We want people to discover styles, breweries and serving traditions they may never have experienced before.”
Pigeon beer bar in ManchesterIt’s joined the many taprooms in the ‘Beermuda Triangle’The bar at Pigeon Beer Wanderer
The team at Pigeon pride themselves on their carefully curated and constantly rotating selection of craft beers, that push boundaries and reward exploration, from some very well-known breweries including Weihenstephan, Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, Fürstenberg and Kasteel.
Pigeon is home to a variety of rare fermentations and small-batch independent releases, from heritage pilsners, weisse beers and saisons to aged wild ales and lambics – so there’s always something new to try. Not to mention they also supply a great range of natural wines from Vibeyard, if that’s more your thing.
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What’s more is that guests can click and collect some top-notch, New York inspired, pizza from the well-known and loved Nell’s Pizza, located only a few doors down.
The menu will supply all of our favourites including ‘Double Down Pepperoni,’ Do You ‘Roni Honey?’ and ‘Little Caesar,’ available by the slice or as a whole, accompanied by their sauces all made in house and all carefully selected to pair perfectly with the world-class pints available at Pigeon.
We can’t think of a better combination, can you?
This venue is kicking off its opening with a summer long festival atmosphere, screening FIFA World Cup games on their big screen, creating the perfect destination for footy fans on the hunt for a great atmosphere, without having to compromise on the quality of food and drink.
There really is no time like the present – Pigeon are set to give out 250 free pints a day, between Thursday 4 June until Sunday 7 June.
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Simply give @pigeon_beer_wanderer a follow on Instagram and head on down to celebrate the launch this week, to get your hands on your complimentary crisp pints. Don’t hesitate – visit the venue while stocks last or you could miss out.
The UK’s largest wine festival is returning to Manchester this autumn
Lydia Mastrolonardo
The UK’s biggest festival of wine will be coming back to Manchester this year, with more than 300 wines on offer plus plenty more.
The Laithwaites’ Wine Festival is returning up north, following the major success of last year.
As well as having hundreds of wines to showcase, the festival will also offer a chance to discover a selection of luxury spirits, plus join expert-led tastings, and visit artisan food stands, all under one roof.
As the UK’s longest-running wine tasting event, with 40 producers from 17 different countries, and artisan food all accompanied with carefully paired wines at each stall, it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing.
Struggling to think of a birthday present or ideas for how to celebrate with loved ones? Look no further – each ticket includes a tasting guide to help plan your route around the room and a complimentary tasting glass to sample over 300 different wines – trust me, they will love it.
As part of the Friday evening entertainment, guests can also expect a special appearance from wine presenter and communicator Tom Gilbey. Here, fans will be able to talk with Tom and sample the Signature Six case, which is a collection of wines approved by the man himself.
What’s more, is that this year, guests are invited to get creative at their brand new ‘design a wine label’ competition. You never know, maybe a few top-quality glasses of wine is the sweet spot for your drawing abilities to show themselves.
It is also possible to upgrade each ticket to gain access to expert-led masterclasses, with tutored tastings of sparkling wine, sherry and food, or cheese with wine. Fine Wine ticket holders will also be granted access to the Fine Wine Room and its rarer bottles.
Whether you spend ages aimlessly deliberating in a supermarket aisle, pick the cheapest bottle and call it a day, or you can smell the bottle and tell me the exact province it is from – this event welcomes all wine-drinkers, no matter the level of expertise.
The festival will be hosted at Manchester Central, starting with an evening session (6pm to 9pm) on Friday 20 November, as well as a lunchtime (12pm-3pm) and evening session (5pm to 8pm), on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Tickets are on sale now, starting at £40 per session. Click HERE to grab yours now.
Award-winning Manchester cocktail bar Red Light announces surprise return in new location
Daisy Jackson
Red Light, an award-winning cocktail bar that closed its doors earlier this year, has announced it’s making a grand return.
The celebrated watering hole had been at Kampus in the city centre for three years before it closed for good in August.
But now, in news that will thrill a lot of us in Manchester, the bar has announced it’s returning, with plenty of new ’surprises’ to come.
Announcing Red Light 2.0 this evening, they revealed a brand-new location, with all the cocktails we all loved before, plus a new bar snack offering.
Also new with its reopening will be a dedicated clubbing space (operating in a residential area was one of the reasons Red Light closed at Kampus) and the return of its legendary street parties.
They said: “Your love and support has meant the absolute world to us since we closed the doors to our Kampus venue.
“It’s been a tricky secret to keep but we’re thrilled to share that we’re back and in a brand new location!
“This one feels special, it’s not often you get a second chance at things in the current climate.”
They added: “We can’t wait to welcome you with open arms. Red Light NQ. LETS GO BABY!”
Although they’ve not announced the location, they have teased some pictures – and unless we’re very much mistaken, they’ll be moving into Tariff Street, in the old El Capo site.