City Centre

Northern Quarter institution Shack is slashing prices in January – including in its new basement bar

Shack and its basement bar Lost Weekend have launched some massive discounts for January.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 12th January 2022

The first month of the year is always a good time to grab a bargain meal out, with restaurants and bars across the city slashing their prices to entice us all out of our post-Christmas slumber.

The Northern Quarter institution Shack – which moved across to a new site on High Street a couple of years ago – is no exception.

The popular bar and grill is knocking its food bills in half throughout January if you dine between Monday and Friday.

That means 50% off burgers (including the massive Shack Attack burger and the Salt and Pepper chicken stack), buttermilk chicken, loaded fries and mac and cheese bowls.

  • Food at Shack in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc Group
  • Food at Shack in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc Group

It also means half-price brunches, with full breakfasts, chicken and waffles, and French toast all on the menu.

The 50% off discount is available to anyone who books in advance, though even if you fancy a walk-in Shack will knock 20% off your food bill.

Shack’s usual deals – like its happy hour drinks offers and the weekend bottomless disco brunch (£30 per person with prosecco, mimosas, bellinis and selected beers, or £40 to upgrade to bottomless pornstar martinis and frozen margaritas) – are still available too.

The fun carries on in its new basement bar, Lost Weekend, too.

  • The Lost Weekend basement bar at Shack in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc Group
  • The Lost Weekend basement bar at Shack in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc Group

The underground late-night bar is kitted out with pool tables, beer pong, air hockey and more – and they’re offering free gaming all month.

Visit between Thursday and Saturday and you can play for free, and enjoy two cocktails for £10 all night long.

There’ll be a small food menu on offer at Lost Weekend too.

Read more: A bakery in Manchester has created these incredible giant Rolo cookies

Looking ahead to next month, Shack is planning a massive Superbowl party.

They’ll be screening the all-American sports event through the night (kick-off isn’t until 11.30pm UK time), including the half-time show which this year will star Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar.

You can see the full Shack menus and make a booking for 50% off food at shackbarandgrill.co.uk.

Featured image: The Manc Group

City Centre

Andy Burnham reveals plans to build underground tram and train line in Manchester by 2050

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Underground train

Andy Burnham has announced some ambitious long-term plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester.

As Greater Manchester sets its sights on a new era of economic growth, on the way to becoming a ‘second city’ to rival any other on the planet by 2050, Mayor Andy Burnham shared the city region’s blueprint for a ‘greener, fairer future’ this week – with underground transport plans being right the heart of it.

Mr Burnham says his vision for the next decade is to create a ‘thriving’ city region where everyone can ‘live a good life’.

At the launch of The Greater Manchester Strategy 2025-2035 this week, the Mayor announced everything from plans to build thousands of new homes, including social housing, to intentions to transform the region’s technical education system through delivery of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc), and more.

Andy Burnham reveals plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester / Credit: TfGM

But it’s public transport where it seems some of the most significant changes are set to be made before 2050 arrives.

The Mayor revealed plans for new bus routes, tramlines, and train stations to connect ‘thriving communities’ across the city region with an integrated lower-cost transport system that’ll help more people get out and access new opportunities. 

Construction of a tram stop to service new homes at Victoria North will also start by 2028, it has been confirmed, while work to bring Metrolink to Stockport – which has already been announced to huge support – will begin by 2030.

Two commuter rail lines will join the Bee Network next December as well, with another six joining by 2028. 

The headline-grabbing announcement, though, has to be that Mr Burnham has also announced plans to unlock ‘transformative’ investment in transport infrastructure, so that by 2050, Manchester Piccadilly has an underground tram and train station with a high-speed rail link to Liverpool.

He’s also looking to boost regeneration of the surrounding area, effectively making it ‘the Kings Cross of the North’.  

“We’re the UK’s fastest growing economy and stand on the cusp of what I believe could be our best decade since the Victorian era,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, “and our task for the next decade is to build a platform for success for all our residents.

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“Our vision is ambitious, but in my eight years as Mayor, I’ve learned that, when we pull together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

“There’s a long and proud tradition of collaboration in Greater Manchester. Devolution has turbocharged that and now we’re ready to deliver a new model of growth where no one is left behind.”

Featured Image – Maria Lupan (via Unsplash)

City Centre

The first-ever Horrible Histories live concert is coming to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Horrible Histories live concert Manchester tickets

Any fans of childhood favourite Horrible Histories in the house? Well, you might want to pay attention because the iconic kids’ show is bringing its first-ever live concert to Manchester.

The beloved educational comedy by CBBC was, for many of us, the first time we showed a proper interest in history, and we’ll confess, we still go back and comfort-watch it from time to time.

Running from 2009 until 2014, it featured countless funny faces that went on to become stars in the UK comic scene and even spawned a smash-hit live show, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

With that in mind, to help celebrate the milestone, the team behind the cult classic are putting on a special a pretty extensive series of live shows to bring the music of Horrible Histories to domestic audiences, including two right here in Manchester.

horrible histories live show
horrible histories the concert tickets
Credit: BBC/Supplied

Teaming up with Birmingham Stage Company and Lion Television, the BBC and Horrible Histories crew will soon be playing all the hit songs from the TV programme in the flesh.

Based on the books, CBBC show and the success of the theatre show, this unique music-driven live format is written by the TV series’ writers Ben Ward and Claire Wetton.

Led on stage by the Horrible Histories song master, Richie Webb, himself – who has written all the songs from the smash-hit BBC series – you’re getting the full, authentic experience.

Featuring a live band performing the sensational TV songs, including guest appearances from Charles II, Dick Turpin and a bunch of Vikings that we couldn’t stop barging through the stage door, this is one show you don’t want to miss.

You can find all the 32 ‘Horrible Histories: Live (And Dead)! – The Concert’ UK tour dates down below:

Early 2026Spring 2026
– Fri 23 January, Darlington Hippodrome 
– Sat 24 January, Darlington Hippodrome 
– Fri 30 January, Bristol Beacon 
– Sat 31 January, Bristol Beacon 
– Sun 1 February, Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
– Fri 6 February, Manchester Opera House
– Sat 7 February, Manchester Opera House
– Fri 13 February, Liverpool Empire
– Sat 14 February, Liverpool Empire
– Tues 17 February London Royal Festival Hall
– Fri 20 February, Birmingham Alexandra
– Sat 21 February, Birmingham Alexandra
– Fri 27 February, Milton Keynes Theatre
– Sat 28 February, Milton Keynes Theatre
– Sun 1 March, Cambridge Corn Exchange
– Sun 8 March, Sheffield City Hall
– Fri 13 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre
– Sat 14 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre
– Sun 15 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre
– Fri 20 March, Glasgow Theatre Royal		– Sat 21 March, Glasgow Theatre Royal
– Sun 29 March, Nottingham Concert Hall
– Thur 2 April, Southampton Mayflower
– Fri 3 April, Southampton Mayflower
– Sat 4 April, Southampton Mayflower
– Mon 6 April, York Barbican 
– Tues 7 April, York Barbican 
– Thur 9 April, Brighton Concert Hall 
– Fri 10 April, Brighton Concert Hall
– Sat 11 April, Brighton Concert Hall
– Fri 17 April, Sunderland Empire
– Sat 18 April, Sunderland Empire
manchester opera house
Credit: The Manc Group

Coming to the city centre and the storied Manchester Opera House for two evenings early next year, if you’re a fan of the series or the live theatre act, this one has to be on your list.

The whole cast for the tour is yet to be fully confirmed, but you can expect plenty of humour and talent from start to finish.

ATG+ presale has just gone live, and general admission will be available from Friday, 11 July, with prices starting from £18 and school tickets costing just £13.50

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC/The Manc Group

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