A much-loved local space which is on the very doorstep of the Oasis reunion shows is launching a huge ticket giveaway.
Heaton Park Cafes, which operates the beautiful Lakeside Cafe, The Stables Cafe, and the boating lake at the park, have got a pair of Oasis tickets to give away to fans for free.
The lovely spot has announced the news this week with a pretty eye-catching stunt – popping Liam and Noel Gallagher onto a couple of swan pedalos.
Alright fine, it’s not actually Liam and Noel, rather a pair of very warm staff members in parkas and face masks, but it’s had a pretty eye-catching effect anyway.
The faux Gallagher brothers kept pretty tight-lipped on how to actually win tickets, but fret not, we’ve got all the info you need.
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Heaton Park Cafes has got a pair of tickets to one of the massive Oasis summer reunion gigs to give away to one lucky customer.
The two tickets are for the final night of their hometown run, Sunday 20 July.
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‘Noel’ with sandwiches at Heaton Park CafesNoel and Liam on an iconic swan boatThe swan boats have been renamed after Oasis songsHeaton Park Cafes’ Lakeside CafeHeaton Park Cafes are hosting an Oasis tickets giveaway
And to be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is spend a bit of your hard-earned cash at this fabulous business.
Every time you spend £10 in the cafe, you’ll be given the chance to enter yourself into the prize draw.
And you’ll also be given an opportunity to enter the ticket draw if you rent out one of the boating lake’s iconic swan-shaped boats, row boats or electric boats (if you book online HERE you’ll be sent a link to enter, or if you rent a walk-in boat you’ll be able to enter on the spot).
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To give you a taste of the treats you could get at the cafe – stacked sandwiches like a classic BLT; hearty breakfasts including Full Englishes and loaded breakfast sandwiches; and a full menu of ‘ultimate’ toasties.
They also have a few Oasis-inspired summer specials, like a refreshing strawberry lemonade.
The Lakeside Cafe is popular for a post-Parkrun coffee and cake, a delicious milkshake in the sunshine, or a full lunch after a dog walk (there’s even a dog menu), with stunning views across the boating lake.
You have until 16 July to be entered into the prize draw for Oasis tickets – head to The Lakeside Cafe, The Stables Cafe, or the boating lake in Heaton Park to win.
James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Daisy Jackson -
20th June 2025 
