Eats

Festa Italiana 2022 – full line-up, opening times and how to get there

Brought to Manchester by Salvi’s, the festival has become something of a favourite amongst local foodies

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 17th August 2022

Festa Italiana, the free-to-enter weekend-long festival celebrating Italian food, drink and culture is returning to Festival Piazza this August bank holiday weekend for its fifth year in the city.

Taking place from 26 to 28 August 2022 at Cathedral Gardens in Manchester city centre, it will bring together some of the city’s best Italian and Sicilian eateries alongside a host of live music, Italian bars and special chef masterclasses.

Featuring street food pop-ups from the likes of Pasta Factory, T’arricrii and Lucky Mama’s, to a dedicated Aperol Spritz bar and Airstream bar selling Italian craft lagers, and a special intimate chef’s dinner event, there is a lot for foodie fans to get excited about this year.

What is the street food line-up at Festa Italiana 2022?

Over the course of the weekend, foodie fans can enjoy sweet treats from Café Cannoli, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas from  I Knead Pizza and Proove, and ‘rasta pasta’ from Chorlton-via-Eccles favourites Lucky Mamas.

T’arricrii will bring along handbuilt arancini and fritto misto, whilst the Pasta Factory will be on hand with its authentic plates of fresh Puglian-style pasta dishes.

Elsewhere, there’ll be sweet treats from festival founders Salvi’s, doughnuts from Destination Doughnut and grilled paninis, cakes, drinks and snacks from Kickback Coffee.

What bars are on offer at this year’s Festival Piazza?

The main festival bar will serve Italian favourites including fine Italian wine, Ponte prosecco, Luxardo, gin and tonics and other popular Italian spirits.

An Airstream Bar from Birrificio Angelo Poretti will serve Italian craft beers, whilst an Aperol Spritz bar will be on hand serving up everyone’s favourite low-ABV aperitivo. Soft drinks and coffees will also be available on-site across the weekend.

Live music

This year, Compagnia Sole Luna will bring traditional folk music from Naples, revisited in a folk-rock style from southern Italy.

There will also be a full lineup of local artists and bands including the city’s best-loved opera singer The Manchester Tenor, while DJs will be spinning records each night.

What events and masterclasses are taking place?

Festa Italiana Feaast – Dine with legendary Italian restaurateurs, authors, and UK TV favourites at the Festa Marquee

On Saturday 27 August an intimate chefs’ table dinner featuring top-class Italian TV celebrity chefs, Gennaro Contaldo, Giancarlo Caldesi, and Aldo Zilli, hosted and cooked by Salvis-owner Maurizio Cecco, with fresh pasta made from scratch by Carmela Serano Hayes. Guests and chefs will dine alongside one another, enjoying a four-course meal and drinks reception hosted by Gin Mare.

Festa feast tickets available here

Masterclasses inside the Festa Marquee

Carmela’s Kitchen – Carmela Sereno Hayes will be hosting ‘Carmela’s Kitchen’ across the entire weekend, with free drop-in sessions on the hour, every hour teaching pasta-loving adults and kids how to make the perfect pasta.

Friday 26 August

1.30pm – Festival founder Maurizio Cecco hosts a cooking masterclass with his daughter Sienna.

2.30pm – The team from I Sapori di Corbara Tomatoes will be flying in from Naples and doing a talk showcasing the brand and their products

3.30pm – Giulia Martinelli of The Pasta Factory will be showyou how to be a pasta master

4.30pm – A drinks masterclass from the Luxardo Maraschino team, whose versatile cherries are used in desserts and drinks across the world.

 5.30pm – A drink making Campari masterclass.

Saturday 27 August 

1.30pm – Maurizio Cecco hosts a pasta masterclass

2.30pm – Masterclasses and book signings from Gennaro Contaldo, UK brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, (Saturday Kitchen, Two Greedy Italians, Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast)

3.30pm – Masterclasses and book signings from celebrity chef and award-winning restaurateur, Aldo Zilli (The One Show, This Morning, Celebrity Masterchef) 

4:30pm – A drinks masterclass from the Aperol team, showcasing the methods behind some of the most loved Italian drinks

Sunday 28 August

1:30pm – Masterclasses and book signings from Giancarlo Caldesi (Return to Tuscany, Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch

2:30pm – Gennaro Contaldo returns for a masterclass

3:30pm – A masterclass from Great British Bake Off 2021 winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno 

4:30pm – A very special pizza making masterclass by the team from Pizzeria Da Michele

When is Festa Italiana 2022 and what are the opening times?

Festa Italiana 2022 will take place from 26 to 28 August 2022 at Cathedral Gardens.

It will open across the weekend from 11am to 11pm, Friday to Sunday.

How do I get to the Festa Italiana festival hub?

Located opposite Manchester Victoria Station, the Festa Italiana festival hub sits in Cathedral Gardens. It can easily be accessed via tram, bus or train and is a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly.

Eats

A much-loved Manc drinking spot is handing out FREE spritzes to Sounds of the City gig-goers

Danny Jones Danny Jones Society handing out free spritzes to Sounds of the City ticket holders

Popular Manchester city centre drinking spot, Society, is handing out free spritzes to gig-goers heading to this year’s Sounds of the City festival.

The annual series of live music events returned at the start of the month, with Castlefield Bowl once again being turned into one of the best amphitheatres in the country – not that we’re biased, or anything.

And since we’re in a month packed with outdoor gigs (pretty sure there’s some local band on at Heaton Park), what better drink to help you get a bit loose before the party starts than a refreshing spritz in the sunshiiine?

Better yet, if you fancy copping a complimentary one, Society beer and food hall are handing out freebies for those going to Sounds of the City 2025.

As you can see, the deal is simple: turn up to the beautiful Society beer garden or equally lovely indoor space and show your ticket to the bar staff to get your hands on a free spritzer.

Now, there is a catch, as they’re only promising 100 free drinks in total across all seven concerts this July, and three of them have already been – which could be a blessing or a curse – and they’re available on a first come first serve basis from 4pm on each event date.

However, we’ll admit we were a little late to the news on this occasion, so there’s a chance plenty of others haven’t heard about the offer either, meaning you could still be able to sort yourself a free Sarti or Aperol Spritz (only 50 of each available).

With another foodie resident having recently opened at Society, joining a lineup of legendary local kitchens, there’s more reason than ever to make this your pre-gig meeting place and fuelling station.

Come on, just look at how refreshing they look…

aperol spritz manchester
Salivating.
sotc 2025 manchester
Sounds of the City is just a short walk from Society.
Credit: The Manc Eats/Audio North

With 2025 season openers, Elbow, having kicked things off in true Manc style, as well as The Charlatans and Shed Seven having already played, the word may have gotten out, but it’s still worth a crack. Besides, Society is still a brilliant summery drinking spot regardless.

The deal is available across all remaining concert dates: 

  • Wed, 9 July – The Black Keys, with support from Miles Kane 
  • Thurs, 10 July – Bloc Party, with support from The Royston Club 
  • Fri, 11 July – Rizzle Kicks, with support from Maverick Sabre and Abbie McCarthy 
  • Sat, 12th July – Basement Jaxx, with support from Mike Skinner (DJ Set) and Storm Mollison 

Oh, and if you’re wondering what SOTC 2025 has been like so far, the neighbouring balconies have been full as always, Castlefield Hotel has been packed, and we got Guy Garvey to wave at a train driver…

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Society (supplied)

Eats

The UK’s best kebab is coming to Manchester as legendary shawarma bar announces Deansgate site

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A brand-new shawarma bar is set to open its doors in Manchester this summer.

If you’re ever across the Pennines over in sunny Leeds, then you will have most likely heard of SQEW – a modern Lebanese-inspired eatery that has established itself as a cult-favourite amongst locals.

And it’s not just those Yorkshire folk who think it’s great, SQEW has recently been scooping up the accolades including most recently, Deliveroo’s Best Kebab of 2025.

The rumour mill has been turning for quite some time now but luckily for us they are in fact true, SQEW will be bringing its bold, elevated take on the kebab to 75 Deansgate, taking over the former Rola Wala site.

Owner of SQEW standing outside of his eatery in Leeds.
Images: The Manc Group

From humble beginnings to national recognition, SQEW was founded in 2015 by passionate chef and founder Mitch Renshaw, who wanted to give the often-overlooked kebab the love it truly deserves.

What began as a single idea serving slow-cooked meats and house-made sauces quickly boomed into a local sensation, eventually landing a permanent home in 2021 on Leeds’ Boar Lane.

Customers can expect a menu rooted in Lebanese flavours with a modern twist, all served with good old fashioned northern hospitality.

SQEW's new site on Deansgate.
Image: The Manc Group

Speaking about the expansion, Mitch Renshaw, Owner and Founder of SQEW, said: “Were absolutely thrilled to announce our move over the pennies. We’ve been searching for the perfect site since 2023, and when we came across 75 Deansgate we jumped at it. We have a few surprises up our sleeves for Manchester and can’t wait to reveal more. 

Having spent the last few weeks in Manchester, I’m brimming ear to ear, the people, the culture, the operators, we just can’t wait to be part of it.” 

The new site will feature an all-day shawarma bar concept with seating, takeaway, and delivery options – so you can get your SQEW fix however way you want it.

We’ll keep you updated with more details in the coming weeks, but you keep an eye on SQEW’s socials for more sneak peeks.

Read more: Bundobust and Madre announce bold new Indo-Mexican collaboration

Featured image – The Manc Group

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