A new ice cream shop is opening in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, bringing sweet, cold and creamy treats to Stevenson Square in time for summer.
Called Sweet!, it is set to open in the city centre later this month serving up ice creams, milkshakes, slushies and more – with a huge giveaway planned for its launch date.
Brought to Manchester by the team behind The Quarter House, Hula and The Fitzgerald, the new dessert shop will take over a suntrap patch next door to their popular Stevenson Square boozers.
Serving up locally-sourced ice creams and other goodies to hungry Mancs this summer, those heading down can expect to find fresh dairy-farmed ice cream straight from a farm on the Ribble Valley.
Image: Mrs Dawson’s
Image: Mrs Dawson’s
Based in Blackburn, Lancashire, Mrs Dowson’s award-winning ice cream comes from a third-generation dairy farm and boasts ‘honest, quality ingredients’.
ADVERTISEMENT
The all-natural, farm-made dairy ice cream uses full cream milk fresh from their dairy herd and local ingredients.
As well as serving up Mrs Downson’s popular classic flavours like strawberry, mint choc chip, chocolate and vanilla, ice cream fans can expect to find some surprises alongside vegan-friendly sorbets for those of the plant-powered persuasion.
There will be seating stretching out into the square for those wanting to enjoy an al fresco treat on site, as well as tubs and cones for those who’d prefer to take their ice cream away.
With an opening date set for Wednesday 26 April, from 12pm Sweet! will be giving away 200 free ice creams to the first customers through its door.
ADVERTISEMENT
Located at 9 Stevenson Square, next door to The Quarter House, make sure to get down from 12pm if you want to get your hands on a freebie.
With an opening date set for Wednesday 26 April, from 12pm Sweet! will be giving away 200 free ice creams to the first customers through its door.
Located at 9 Stevenson Square, next door to The Quarter House, make sure to get down from 12pm if you want to get your hands on a freebie.
Featured image – Google Maps
Eats
There’s a midsummer party coming to IKEA with a live ABBA tribute act
Thomas Melia
Swedish household furniture giant and flatpack masterminds IKEA are hosting a midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute, because why the hell not?
I definitely don’t need to be soundtracked by a live ABBA tribute while shopping for new homeware, but hey, don’t threaten me with a good time…
IKEA‘s Manchester branch is hosting a party with a three-course meal, drinks and live music from none other than the Abberettes, a duo which covers classics by Swedish pop icons, ABBA.
Starters include a marinated salmon plate, salmon wrap or a small salad bowl, while one of the mains also features this fish favourite served with a bean mix.
The friendly Ikea team will be able to assist any queries on the day.
There are two more main menu options in the form of their menu highlights: meatballs, which always go down a treat, and veggies get to sample the meat-free alternative, plant balls.
In terms of a sweet treat, there are two dessert choices, both of which are equally delicious. Partygoers can choose from a Daim cake or an apple pie, and all guests are entitled to a hot or cold drink too, yum.
Kids can choose from the famed meatballs, plantballs or a tomato pasta meal, alongside a soft drink and a piece of fruit, a super meal for your little ‘Super Trouper’.
If you’re worried this special midsummer party and live ABBA tribute is going to cost you lots of ‘Money, Money, Money’, fear not as tickets are only £7.50 for Ikea family members and get this – kids eat free.
The Abberettes are doing two performances throughout the day, one from 5:30-6:15pm and a second show at 6:45-7:30pm, ‘Mamma Mia’.
Here’s a taster of the kind of crowds they pull in:
All I have left to say is I’ll have to get my tickets fast before they end up ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ or before ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
The midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute is coming to Ikea in Ashton, Greater Manchester, on Thursday, 19 June from 5pm, with tickets available now.
Drink prices at Parklife 2025 as festival-goers face £9.50 gin tins
Daisy Jackson
Parklife festival is a bucket list item for a huge swathe of young Manc music-lovers, with a massive line-up of dance, electronic and house music up in the fields at Heaton Park.
As the biggest party in the calendar, tens of thousands save up for tickets and to let their hair down for two days of the summer.
But as with all music and entertainment venues, prices for everything are creeping ever-higher.
And Parklife is not immune to the rising price of drinks, with spirits, beer, wine, and even pre-mixed cans more expensive than ever.
In our opinion… still worth it.
Here are the drink prices across Parklife 2025.
Spirit and mixers
Smirnoff No.21 Vodka- £11.80 for double, £7.90 for single
Captain Morgan Spiced Gold – £11.80 for double, £7.90 for single
Captain Morgan Black Spiced – £11.80 for double, £7.90 for single
Johnnie Walker Black Label – £11.80 for double, £7.90 for single
Gordon’s London Dry Gin – £11.80 for double, £7.90 for single
Gordon’s Pink Gin – £11.80 for double, £7.90 for single
Casamigos Blanco Tequila – £14.80 for double, £10.90 for single
Included mixers: Pepsi Max, Pepsi Max Cherry, 7Up Free, Ginger Beer, Tonic, Soda, Grapefruit Soda
Rockstar Energy drink mixers: Tropical Guava, Peach Zero Sugar, Original – +£1
Georgina Pellant -
20th April 2023 
