Arctic Monkeys are set to play two massive shows at Emirates Old Trafford as part of their sold-out 2023 UK tour this week.
After having the crowd in the palm of their hands as they took to the stage in two other major UK cities this week, the Sheffield indie rock icons are finally making their way to visit us here in Manchester and will be be playing to around 50,000 adoring fans over two nights at Emirates Old Trafford.
The beloved four-piece, fronted by Alex Turner, with Matt Helders on drums, guitarist Jamie Cook, and bass player Nick O’Malley, are undoubtedly one of the most successful British bands of the 21st century after bursting onto the scene with their debut album back in 2006 – which became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.
That’s just one of a handful of records the indie rockers have to their name throughout their celebrated careers, as well as claiming six UK number one albums, selling over 12 millions records, and taking home countless awards – including BRITs, GRAMMYs, and the coveted Mercury Prize .
They’ve also had headlining slots at some of the world’s most famous music festivals, including Glastonbury twice.
The band are playing in Manchester this week as part of their 2023 UK tour following the release of their critically-acclaimed seventh studio album, The Car, back in October 2022.
And they look set to put on a seriously memorable show.
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So if you’re heading to see Arctic Monkeys at Emirates Old Trafford Manchester this weekend, then here’s everything you need to know.
Arctic Monkeys are playing in Manchester as part of their 2023 UK tour / Credit: Arctic Monkeys (via Instagram)
When are Arctic Monkeys playing in Manchester?
Arctic Monkeys were originally only booked to play one night at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 2 June, but after tickets sold-out in absolutely no time at all, the Sheffield band were quick to add a second Manchester date into the mix.
The band will now take to the stage on both Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June.
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With Emirates Old Trafford having a maximum gig capacity of 50,000 people, this means that up to 100,000 fans could see the indie rockers live over the two nights.
Are there any tickets still available?
Given the sold-out first night, and the decision to add a second night due to the absolutely overwhelming demand by fans, as you might expect, tickets to both Arctic Monkeys dates in Manchester are extremely hard to come by at this point.
At the time of writing, popular ticketing website Ticketmaster showed their were no tickets available to purchase, although this could change at any moment, so it’s worth continuing to check.
Also make sure to keep your eye on SeeTickets here for any last-minute releases.
And if you try to buy tickets second-hand, please make sure you’re using a reputable resale site so you don’t get caught out by scammers.
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Who is supporting Arctic Monkeys in Manchester?
Arctic Monkeys have two support acts lined up for both of the Manchester gigs.
The HivesThe Mysterines
The Hives
The Hives are the first of two acts supporting Arctic Monkeys on both Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June.
With six studio albums to their name, the Swedish five-piece rock band rose to prominence in the early 2000s during the garage rock revival, and their mainstream success followed with the release of their second album, Veni Vidi Vicious, which featured the hit single ‘Hate to Say I Told You So’.
The band has been acclaimed by music critics as one of the best live rock bands of the 21st century, so concertgoers are in for a real treat.
The Mysterines
The Mysterines are the second act supporting Arctic Monkeys, with the British alternative rock band hailing from Liverpool and the Wirral, and fronted by Lia Metcalfe, having enjoyed recent success following the release of their debut album, Reeling, back in March 2022 – which reached number nine on the UK Albums Chart.
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Stage times
These are expected stage times, although everything is subject to change on the night.
Gates Open – 5pm (Friday) and 4:30pm (Saturday)
Support Acts – The first support act is expected on stage around 6:40pm.
Arctic Monkeys – Expected on stage anywhere from 8:45pm – 9pm.
Emirates Old Trafford says the gig will finish “no later than 10:30pm”, and you can find more FAQs on the venue’s website here.
The Sheffield quartet will play Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June / Credit: Arctic Monkeys (via Instagram)
What is the potential setlist?
Although nothing is confirmed, with artists and bands known to switch setlists up from gig to gig and throw in a few surprises here and there, depending on the energy of the crowd and what they’re feeling that night, Arctic Monkeys have been roughly following a particular order of songs since their 2023 UK tour began.
Here’s the setlist from their gig in Bristol earlier this week.
Arctic Monkeys is fronted by Alex Turner on vocals and guitar / Credit: Arctic Monkeys (via Instagram)
How to get to Emirates Old Trafford
There are, of course, a number of ways to get to Emirates Old Trafford, but as more 300,000 people are expecting to be descending on Manchester’s major venues for musical events this week, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has been advising that the Metrolink will be the “quickest and most-reliable way” of travelling in and around the city centre.
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TfGM has also strongly encouraged that people making their way to either of the two Arctic Monkeys “plan ahead” due to coordinated rail strikes by Aslef and RMT unions on both Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June.
📣 It's a busy time for Manchester over the coming week! Here is a brief overview of what's to come:
– Rail strikes – Coldplay at the Etihad – Arctic Monkeys at Emirates Old Trafford – Elton John at AO Arena
The closest Metrolink stop is Old Trafford, which is located next to Emirates Old Trafford, but it will be busy both before and after the concerts, so you could also use Trafford Bar for both southbound journeys on the East Didsbury or Airport lines, and for journeys back to the city centre.
The last tram from Old Trafford to the city centre will depart at 1:08am and towards Altrincham at 12:29am, while the last tram from Trafford Bar to East Didsbury will depart at 11:46pm and to the Airport at 11:31pm.
Drivers are being asked to add “a significant amount of additional time” to their journeys”, with congestion expected in the city centre and on the Inner Ring Road across the weekend.
You can read more about TfGM’s travel advice for this weekend here.
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Featured Image – Zackery Michael (via SJM)
Feature
Finding Emily – the hit new romcom that really romanticises Manchester
Daisy Jackson
When news broke of a new romcom filmed and set in Manchester, forgive us for an eyebrow raise.
You see, when TV shows and films choose our city as a backdrop, it can sometimes get a little slapstick, a bit gimmicky, riddled with stereotypes (see: Jack Whitehall’s BRITs gags).
Either that, or the local sets are so aggressively styled for the screen, they’re barely recognisable as Manchester anymore (see: every Harlan Coben drama).
But then we kept catching glimpses of the Finding Emily cast and crew around town a couple of years ago, taking over iconic boozers and milling around legendary gig venues, and that sceptical eyebrow came down a peg or two.
So imagine our delight after seeing the film and finding a well-researched, authentically Manc, love letter to our city that actually romanticses what it’s like to live here in the present day – not a Hacienda stripe in sight.
The plot of Finding Emily follows Owen (Spike Fearn) on his mission to track down ‘Emily’, a girl he met on a night out who mistakenly wrong-numbered him, with the help of another Emily (Angourie Rice).
Throughout the film, the duo drink, dance, and dig for clues in all corners of the city, with backdrops that will be very familiar to those of us who live here.
There’s a bar crawl all along Canal Street, including a drag cabaret show at VIA; a job hunt in Piccadilly Records; a queue joined outside Rustica.
We see scenes set inside some of Manchester’s most beautiful spaces, like the Whitworth Cafe and the Sackville Street Building, and plenty of iconic cityscapes like the view from Deansgate station and the backdrop of the University of Manchester.
They even play darts in the Peveril of the Peak.
Finding Emily romanticises the less glamorous, more authentic side of the city too – Northern Quarter alleyways, a Fallowfield house party, a proper kebab on the Curry Mile, and an all-nighter in the Central Library.
While a lot of film crews hop over to leafy Didsbury to house their characters, our lead figures in the film instead live in terraces beneath the viaducts in Smedley, or in a converted mill apartment in Chorlton Mill.
It’s not only the location scouts that put in the work on Finding Emily – there’s also a respectable number of local characters and artists who pop up with cameos.
Antony Szmierek features heavily on the soundtrack, and appears in-person in the closing credits.
There’s a video game played by Owen’s brother with graphics designed by celebrated local artist Stanley Chow.
Anna Phylactic performs on stage on Canal Street, W.H. Lung headline a gig at Night & Day, Luke Una stands behind the decks as a disgruntled ‘No requests’ type of DJ, and Stockport’s beloved Blossoms perform at the cast’s graduation ball.
I’m not sure we’ve ever seen a film or TV show so perfectly capture Manchester before, celebrating all its beauty and all its edges. It’s not performative at all.
If you’re a Manchester local, Finding Emily is a must-watch. But even if you’re not, this is a modern romcom with likeable characters and plenty of charm.
The best butties in town – the top 20 sandwich shops in Manchester and beyond
Danny Jones
There’s nothing better than a good filling between two fluffy slices of bread, and we’re here to tell you the best places to find them in Manchester – that’s right, it’s the sandwich list.
From hot roast sarnies and hefty subs as long as your arm, to solid breakfast butties, giant Sardinian schiacciata and saucy Napoli-inspired cuzzetiello, if you’re a sandwich lover in Manchester, then you’re well catered for.
We’re not happy to settle for a simple Subway or premium meal deal; we want big, honking artisan ‘heroes’ that’ll leave Tony Soprano talking with his most expressive hand gestures. Keep reading to find some of the best places to get a butty in Manchester and beyond.
Open your belt loop a notch, folks.
20 of the very best sandwiches in Greater Manchester
1. Marleo – Northern Quarter and Pollard Yard
Up first is one of our favourite underdog tales in recent memory, as Sicilian street food traders turned Manc sandwich specialists have gone from serving out of a shipping container yard to now taking over their very own flagship butty shop.
Maria and Leo (hence the name) have been mainstays at pretty much every possible Maker’s Market and pop-up stall just in the city centre, but all around Greater Manchester and even further out into the North West. It may have been a slow and steady journey, but years of hard graft are finally paying off.
Having added a Northern Quarter shop alongside their OG Pollard Yard base, you can now get their incredibly well-filled focaccia sandwiches and more on Oldham Street; we’d heartily recommend going for the classic mortadella, their signature ‘Marleo’ sandwich, or for that frankly ridiculous porchetta one.
If you’re a fan of things in bread (and honestly, who isn’t), then fellow NQ Italian sandwich dealers Ad Maiora are one that you absolutely need to get down your neck if you haven’t had it before. You could argue they walked so the likes of Marleo could run, and they, too, have a really great backstory.
Once collected from a door on a back street or for delivery, we’re talking giant handmade spongy schiacciata generously stuffed with the likes of ‘nduja, spicy Tuscan sausage, smoked scamorza, mortadella, burrata and red pesto.
With a total of nine different options to choose from, expect a huge array of different cheesy and meaty delights, including Parma ham, gorgonzola DOP, truffled brie, Milano salami and crumbled pistachios, plus a gorgeous vegan option with Italian hummus, roasted aubergine, olives, sundried tomatoes and rocket. We’re so glad they’ve also now got a proper brick-and-mortar base these days.
It was long overdue, but now it’s quickly become THE go-to place for Man City players on cheat days.
3. Katsouris Deli – Deansgate/Bury Market
First established in Bury‘s historic markets over half a century ago, this cross-cultural deli and cafe celebrates the mixed roots of its family with produce from Cyprus, Poland and Italy, plus plenty more from across Europe.
Specialising in sandwiches as well as boasting an impressive salad bar and carvery, its second home on Deansgate is just as well established after 30 years in town. An iconic sandwich spot, the lunchtime queues speak for themselves.
Made with bread from Chorlton’s award-winning bakery, Barbakan, the ciabatta is a favourite here, but you do have other options. If you’re in a rush or just in need of something comforting, the hot roast pork with crackling, apple sauce and stuffing hits the spot every time.
Other highlights include the veggie-friendly ‘Zorba The Greek’, and the hangover-curing breakfast sandwiches filled with your choice of bacon, sausage and fried egg.
Big portions and good value.Oof.Credit: The Manc Eats
4. Fat Pat’s – Chinatown
This hefty hole-in-the-wall sub sandwich spot drew fans from near and far when it opened in 2022, and it hasn’t stopped since.
The allure of a hidden alley walk-up, combined with mouth-watering Philly cheesesteaks, hot honey fried chicken and meatball parm baguettes, has earned it a place in our hearts and bellies forever.
Located just off Portland Street in the backstreets of Chinatown, ordering is done online in advance, and they tend to sell out quickly, so you need to be fast if you want to secure one of these beauties.
Ancoats Deli is a gorgeous little sage green deli just off a sunny courtyard, with shelves stuffed with wine, mini canned cocktails, antipasti, meats and cheeses, plus sunny seats outside for sipping on a wine or a spritz.
It’s also got the best meal deal we’ve seen – for a tenner you can get a HUGE sandwich stuffed crust to crust with delicious fillings, plus either a packet of crisps or olives, and either a coffee or soft drink.
You’ll often find a special or two, but you can’t go wrong with the classics – ‘jamon beurre’, egg mayo, and a tasty tuna melt are all absolutely banging.
This family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Manchester’s Chinatown opened in lockdown and has become popular for its bahn mi, which are available from midday and often sell out within the hour.
Only made ‘for the tradition’ in limited quantities for the lunch service, this fresh pickle and herb-topped Vietnamese sandwich can be ordered with either sweet soy, sriracha or spicy mayo.
Typically made by scooping out the inside of the baguette-style roll, here the chefs like to press the bread down instead to make more space for their fillings. Popular choices include chicken and king prawn, with beef, pork, tofu and avocado also available.
Giggs reacted how everyone does…
7. Rack – Stockport and Manchester Arndale
This tiny Stockport sandwich joint might have started out as a small but mighty little corner in the town centre, but with sandwich fans travelling across Greater Manchester to sample its wares, they’ve managed to expand its reach to a pair of sites.
There’s not much room to sit down in the original shop, but there is a very cute outdoor terrace that catches the sun perfectly at lunchtime, and you’ll find plenty of people queuing up to scran a quick bit of dinner from here.
At each venue you’ll find a big chalkboard menu that lists its various options, with everything from egg mayo and Italian meats to a funky vegan option with handmade onion bhaji, chutney and pickles – they even do big fish finger butties nowadays.
Toasted sandwiches are a big speciality here, with highlights including a peppery Reuben, a three-cheese classic served with red onion dipping gravy on the side, as well as their hugely popular birria toastie, which is as naughty as it sounds.
Egg & Co specialises in gooey scrambled egg butties, with loads of different options to try, including sausage patty, turkey bacon, avocado or caramelised onions.
Do your stomach a favour: have this in the morning with a side of crunchy truffle hash browns and start your day the right way.
You can find them at Kargo Mkt at Central Bay in Salford Quays (as well as over in Sheffield), and now along the main Deansgate strip just down the road from its more expensive competitor.
First established in 2015, the grilled cheese OGs have been serving Mancs their naughty, cheesy sandwiches for nearly a decade. We know they’re toasties to most of us here in the UK, but we’re not in control of what foodie terminology sticks.
Widely considered one of the best places to grab a toastie in the city, its classic house staple features a blend of three different molten cheeses, all sandwiched in between golden sourdough bread, and is entirely customisable with extra free fillings.
For the adventurous, wilder Northern Soul options include the ‘Bacon Frazzler’ with Frazzles crisps, streaky bacon, blue cheese, onion and sriracha, and the Mexican Junkie with chipotle mac n’ cheese, jalapenos and Chilli Heatwave Doritos.
It would also be rude of us not to shout out their annual ‘Crimbo Dinner’ toastie – complete with gooey brie cheese, cranberry, stuffing and even a pig in blanket – which we still believe is one of the best sandwiches in Manchester full stop. We loved this place since, well, forever, basically.
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Credit: The Manc Group
10. Bada Bing – NQ
In at number 10, we’ve got arguably the goat of all Manchester sandwiches, the return of the king if you will: Bada Bing has been bada BACK for a while now, and they’ve been biblically good ever since they returned to the scene.
Serving giant hoagies, heroes, subs – whatever you want to call them, they’re well worth the £10-13 price stage and you likely won’t need to eat again that day if you finish one.
From the self-titled ‘Bing’ packed with cured Italian meats, salami and yes, gabagool done just like Tony Soprano himself likes, to a stacked turkey offering, a veggie pistachio one that genuinely surprised, and a Chicago beef inspired by another US TV favourite, The Bear, we’ve happily devoured all of these.
Next up is one that has taken a loyal following over in Stockport and started expanding further out into Greater Manchester, combining brilliant brunch and brews for a tried and tested combo.
While it may not be a dedicated sandwich shop per se, their lineup of four fantastic sarnies are all well worth shouting about individually in their own right.
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Choose from the classic ‘Caesar Royale’ flavour, another breaded and fried option called the ‘Emerald Chicken’, the Thai-influenced sriracha tuna, or their trademark steakhouse melt that is just pure gooey and just the right amount of greasy satisfaction.
Arguably best known for their more bistro-esque dishes like those big rotisserie chickens, Tartuffe, located within Side Street, quietly does very good sandwiches – especially if you like proper crusty French loaves.
We always feel like we could do with more baguettes in our lives, so we’re heavily biased towards the chicken Kyiv one on toasted garlic herb bread; the steak and brie one is also a combo we never expected to hit as hard as it does.
That being said, they also do a great club sandwich and a Niçoise variation for those who like something a little softer. Make no mistake, by the way: these might be on the ‘lunch’ menu, but they’ll fill you up just as much as any proper tea.
Returning to NQ and a Manchester staple through and through, Rustica isn’t just a long-standing city centre favourite, it’s nothing short of a local institution.
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This humble little hatch, right in the heart of the neighbourhood, has been feeding the people for 25 years, and owner Jeanette isn’t just the modest Manc mum archetype personified, she’s an absolute legend who looks after he own.
One reason we adore these guys so much is the no-nonsense approach to everything; it’s an old-school butty shop down to a tee that welcomes everyone from builders and tradies to uni students and trendy townies. It may be no frills, but it always hits the spot, and the prices are still as great as ever.
14. Gooey – NQ, Circle Square, Manchester Airport, Trafford Centre
Now this one has one foot firmly in that viral spot that daytrippers organise entire schedules around when they visit Manchester, but Gooey have been making great butties well before they ever made it onto ‘the ‘gram’ or TikTok, etc.
Yes, they may be known for their sweet treats such as doughnuts, cookies, buns and more, but we think they’re still criminally overlooked when it comes to things bookended by bread.
Famous faces have sung their praises for the tofu sandwich, specifically, but the rest of their brunch and guest butties are also well worth writing home about. With several branches across the region, including NQ, Selfridges Foodhall at Trafford Centre, the Airport, and most recently Oxford, you can’t ignore them.
If you haven’t tried them already, what are you waiting for?
15. Half Dozen Other – Green Quarter and Oxford Road Corridor
From one bakery to another, Gooey and Half Dozen Other have lots in common, including some very good bread, which unsurprisingly makes for great sandwiches.
Their bakehouse in Red Bank might be the place to pick up a fresh focaccia/a roll or two to make your own at home, but another thing they share with Gooey is an invisible fence, for lack of a better phrase, as they’re also neighbours on Circle Square.
At this cafe location, they’re available from 10am onwards, either to eat in or take away, and once they’re gone, they’re GONE, so you’d best be quick about it.
Head inside the shopping emporium and indie paradise that is Afflecks, and you’ll find Panino 23 up on the first floor, serving up delicious Italian paninis (the plural, in case it hadn’t clicked).
They feel somewhat understated at first glance – maybe it’s because they’re tucked away inside a much larger, often overwhelming building – but it only takes one bite to know that they’re the standout in here when it comes to food and drink.
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Menu-wise, it’s small but simple and satisfying, but we will say that the sandwiches themselves are more like big Italian-American style subs than what most of us may think of when we hear ‘panino’.
Either way, who cares? Just look at the state of this stack:
Up next, Provisions over in Bolton might be one of the furthest you’ll potentially have to go for a barm on this list, but we will say that if you’re in the area any time soon, you simply have to pop in here.
A family-run deli in the old Lancashire stronghold, many may still argue whether or not they’re in Greater Manchester, but there can be no question about the quality of produce on show.
It’s far from just things sandwiched between slices of bread here, but even if it were, we’d make the journey for the healthily-layered muffaletta, a toasted ham and cheese croissant, or that simple, salty and superb ‘Parisian’ alone.
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Whether you try their Bromley Cross shop or the Heaton venue, you won’t be disappointed.
From one deli to another, this Vietnamese variant on the edge of Salford and Manchester city centre knows exactly how to scratch that very specific Southeast Asian itch.
This Blackriars bahn mi spot does offer lots more, but we’re not going to pretend this isn’t why most people head here on their dinner hour or for a quick grab-and-go bite.
Fairly simplistic in components but saucy, well-stuffed and satisfying, the cafe is just two minutes away from Deansgate and also serves sublime egg coffees.
Credit: The Manc
19. Loafi – Ramsbottom
Another one that’s a little bit further out, Loafi may be known for all manner of sweet bakes and pastries, but they also have a fabulous savoury offering too, like sausage rolls made with meat from Walmsley’s Butchers, and bacon butties on soft milk rolls.
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Four or so different sandwiches drop onto the counter at 11am every day, each of them guilt-free, fuss-free, and affordable.
The fillings change regularly but are always local ingredients, prepared and made right in front of you, from cured hams and corned beef to coronation chicken.
One last dive into cheesy, gooey, toastie goodness, Grubfellas over at the likes of Ghost x Kitchens is arguably the most takeaway-type addition to this round-up.
Nevertheless, we thought we’d throw it in the mix right at the last minute because they serve as yet more proof that sandwiches are just a snack or the default launch back-up; done properly, and they can be the most satisfying meal around.
You don’t even have to eat in – just order for delivery and make a mess like Dean on almost every single episode of Takeaway Champions:
Last but not least, our go-to in the city centre for fresh falafel, technically this is a wrap, but we’re going to allow it. It’s not just the herby chickpea goodness that does it for us here – it’s all the salads, pickles and other saucy accoutrements that go in alongside it too.
Their wraps are stuffed with your choice of pickled cabbage, potato, salad, tahini, chilli sauce and lashings of fresh hummus, with grilled aubergine and an optional extra. Go Falafel also makes its own fresh juices to order, which are well worth a try.
With multiple locations across the North, including Piccadilly, Deansgate and Rusholme, they’ve looked after us for a long time, so show your appreciation.
And that should be your fill. To be honest, if you’re still hungry and looking for more after that, then we’d be seriously worried about your health and/or addiction to butties, though we do sympathise.
Bread is, after all, one of the single greatest inventions in human history.
Last but not least, we hope it goes without saying that this is by no means a totally exhaustive list of the best sandwiches in Greater Manchester, and we’re sure you can find the perfect place for you elsewhere in the 10 boroughs if you don’t find it here – and please let us know where it is if you do!
Every week is National Sandwich Week if you ask, so you might as well celebrate properly.
Emily Sergeant -
31st May 2023 
