So, that’s it. 2021 is over, and we can all take a breath. Even by the insane standards of recent history, this was a year that managed to leave a trail of eye-rubbingly implausible stories in its wake.
After a deadly pandemic put Blighty’s famous ‘Blitz Spirit’ to the test in 2020, we’d have all settled for a simple 12 months with some normality. But what we got instead was another unpredictable, topsy-turvy chapter that seemed to crawl and fly by simultaneously.
Bookended by the grim spread of COVID variants with some light in the middle of the tunnel, 2021 has turned out to be as much of a rollercoaster as its predecessor. It all began with a winter of discontent as everyone hid indoors, and it looks set to finish in a similar way. But en route there was plenty to talk about. And some of the strangest stuff happened right on our doorstep.
Here, we look back at the most peculiar episodes during another wild year in Manchester. The result is a list that features giant pigeons, penis enlargement adverts and ‘Julie’s I Pad’…
Flying for a beef sandwich
This fella flew from Salford to Preston for a beef butty in lockdown / Image: Chipping Farm Shop
In March 2021, lockdown was in full force, but there was hope on the horizon. The government’s ‘roadmap to freedom’ had been unveiled, COVID cases were falling, and businesses were finally preparing to reopen their doors to customers. Within a matter of days, we’d be able to head to pubs and restaurants and dine outdoors.
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But one helicopter pilot didn’t feel like waiting until the restrictions eased. He was hungry now, and what he really fancied was a beef butty.
So, he hopped in his chopper, took off from Salford, whizzed 80 miles across to the Chipping Farm Shop in Preston, and collected his sandwich before flying back home.
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Pictures of the man receiving his order were posted on social media and the story made quite the splash, but authority figures didn’t see the funny side.
One councillor labelled it a “fragrant abuse of lockdown rules”, and police forces said they opened an investigation into the matter.
Two thieves took refuge in Robinsons Brewery / Image: David Pickersgill
Picture this: You’re in Stockport, you’re on the run, and you need a place to hide. Where do you go?
Two suspected burglars faced this conundrum in March 2021. And they chose badly.
Having already been identified as fugitives by police and with sirens hot on their heels, the duo decided to dive into Robinsons Brewery.
At the time, it might have seemed like a decent spot to stay until the heat died down. The famous building on Lower Hillgate is big, dark, and best of all, full of beer.
In April 2021, a press release sent Gary Neville into meltdown.
“I’m disgusted,” he snarled, his gnashing teeth obscured by a padded Sky Sports microphone.
“Absolutely disgusted. I’m disgusted with Manchester United and Liverpool most.”
The former England footballer was delivering an emotional on-screen response to the published plans for the European Super League (ESL) – a new breakaway division featuring 12 of the continent’s biggest football teams (including Premier League sides Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea).
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The contest effectively amounted to an elite members’ club where the same sides would play one another over and over again and the rich owners would get richer. It was foul.
Neville was one of the first to start frothing at the mouth in response, but he would not be the last. Within days, the vitriolic backlash against the ESL saw panicked clubs pull out and the competition folded like a house of cards. But fan power’s fight continued – with supporters using the victory over the ESL as a springboard to battle back against the club owners who had signed up to join the division in the first place.
On May 2, with the world watching, Manchester United fans held a demonstration against the Glazer family at Old Trafford before their match with old rivals Liverpool. The barriers were breached and several hundred people broke into the stadium before kick-off.
The match was abandoned – and the passionate scenes made headlines across the globe.
The incident prompted the Premier League to bring in a new owners’ charter designed to stop any future attempts to join a breakaway league. It also led to the Glazers briefly opening a dialogue with supporters via a fans forum – the first communication of its kind during nearly 16 years of ownership.
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Fans had won the battle, but not the war. Ringleaders over at Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona still want to revive the ESL project when the time is right. And the vilified American Glazer family remain at the helm at Old Trafford.
This one isn’t over.
The chaotic parish council meeting in Handforth
Handforth Parish Council’s emergency meeting was an unlikely global hit / Image: ma0sm
A year ago this month, a council meeting was taking place in Handforth – a little town just outside of Greater Manchester – that would end up shooting its participants to stardom.
The group had arranged an emergency online forum to talk politics, with question marks hovering over the conduct of certain members.
The whole thing was a typical Zoom huddle of blurry faces, scrambled audio and people talking over one another. But when a recording of it was posted to social media in February 2021, everything changed.
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The footage revealed a council meeting so jaw-droppingly chaotic it proved a monster hit online – generating thousands of views in a matter of minutes.
Handforth Parish Council became its very own soap opera: Introducing us to a rich mix of four dimensional comedy characters that ranged from the tooting Brian Tolver to the enigmatic Julie’s iPad.
The breakout star, of course, was Jackie Weaver – a member of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils who’d seemingly been drafted in to get the Handforth house in order. Weaver gained worldwide fame for remaining stoic in the face of disruptive members during the meeting, responding to an onslaught of cries and accusations by coolly kicking complainers out of the call.
The endlessly quotable (“You have no authority here Jackie Weaver!”; “Read the standing orders! Read them and understand them!”) footage has done the rounds all year – and even led to the council changing its name to “move away from the toxic side of Handforth”.
Weaver, meanwhile, has published a book titled You Do Have The Authority Here! and become one of Handforth’s most famous associates, even being invited to switch on the town’s Christmas lights in 2021.
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Giant pigeon parades through Piccadilly Gardens
“These pests at Piccadilly are really getting out of hand now” / Image: LeafyLeg via Reddit
You can usually find something peculiar happening in Piccadilly Gardens at any time of day. It’s a part of Manchester where seemingly anything goes. Even human-sized pigeons.
Pigeons are so populous in Piccadilly Gardens they ought to be paying rent. Walking down the paths here involves tiptoeing around dozens of pests all fluttering and cooing by the fountains, whilst dozens more swoop in to feed on scraps left behind by commuters, shoppers and loiterers. They’re everywhere. Which might explain why a mammoth bird almost managed to get across the gardens unnoticed in 2021.
It was a piping hot August day, and everyone was simply minding their own business, when someone dressed in a huge pigeon suit began plodding through Manchester’s central square.
One person nearby managed to capture a snippet of video, but few others seemed to bat an eye.
We’re apparently so used to pigeons round these parts, even the gigantic ones can blend in…
On a cold, dark January evening, supermarket staff working the late shift were stunned to witness an ambulance rock up in the car park with its blue lights flashing, before an entire family spilled out of the vehicle to do some shopping.
Puzzled police turned up and proceeded to pull the driver aside, discovering they had no insurance and were wanted by the court.
It was later revealed that the ambulance had been purchased second hand, and that the driver had been taken into custody for the incident.
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So, just to recap: An uninsured, wanted driver bought an emergency services vehicle and used it to take his family shopping, turning on the lights in the process. During lockdown.
Ridiculous.
Swarms of bees descend on the city
Bee-MW… / Image: The Manc Group
Something miraculous happened in Manchester this summer. For a magical moment, it seemed like the bee symbols dotted right around the city had all sprung to life.
On at least three separate occasions during June, thousands of bees were found swarming to specific spots of Mancunia. First, they took over the back window of a BMW, before settling on a sign for Manchester International Festival on Peter Street. Later in the month, a few thousand more were spotted around the corner as they engulfed a canopy outside of Albert’s Schloss bar.
The sudden appearance of these pulsing gold and black blankets was a sight to behold – but it also invited many questions. Why had these insects apparently decided to reclaim Manchester?
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According to the British Beekeepers Association, it’s not unusual for honeybee colonies to swarm on warm days between May and July – ordinarily after a queen departs. Scout bees search for a suitable new spot to make a nest, whilst the other bees wait together until a home is chosen.
That’s apparently what we were seeing back in summer. And it was pretty amazing.
Sunny Brow Park made the headlines in 2021… for a very strange reason / Image: Wikimedia Commons
Lots of Gorton residents head into Sunny Brow Park when the weather is good, either to enjoy a leisurely stroll with river views or take the kids to the playground.
In many ways, it’s a park like any other. But in June 2021, this unassuming little green space on Knutsford Road made the headlines for a very strange reason.
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A couple were spotted – and pictured – engaging in some frisky activity in broad daylight below a tree.
First at around midday. Then again at 2pm.
The incident(s) resulted in stunned by-passers calling the police, and the duo were arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency.
Yikes.
Posters for penis enlargement pop up in shop windows
The peculiar posters appeared on Market Street in autumn / Image: The Manc Group / TikTok
Head-turning artworks have a habit of appearing overnight in Manchester. Throughout 2021, we’ve woken up to huge posters lambasting Boris Johnson for his failures in government, and a stencilled spray painting of a boy flying a kite in Stockport (which was initially rumoured as a Banksy before Salford artist Mr Eggs took credit). But the most bizarre of the bunch was an ‘advert’ for free penis enlargement.
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In November, an image materialised in a shop window on Market Street joking that drivers of specific vehicles could be eligible for the enhancing treatment.
The caption read: “Do you drive a 4×4, Jeep or Range Rover in the city? You could be entitled to FREE penis enlargement therapy on the NHS.”
A phone number was displayed below images of the vehicles, alongside a logo for a company called Megacorp.
This prank, promotional device, or political stunt – whatever it might be – has apparently been done before, with the Metro reporting that a similar poster was seen three years ago in the Midlands, albeit with a different contact number listed.
The Manchester Evening News believed the latest posters had been put together by an anonymous designer working under the alias Foka Wolf.
The real purpose remains unclear. But it definitely raised a few smirks at the time.
10 things we can’t believe happened in Manchester in 2025
Daisy Jackson
Another year has passed, and once again, Manchester delivered more than its fair share of surprises.
From the Oasis reunion that took over the entire planet this summer, to silly criminals doing very silly things, to absolutely nuts developments in the world of property, there was a lot going on.
Remember when a Damien Hirst concrete swordfish statue fell into the dining room at Sexy Fish?
Or when that woman commented ‘Hey guys’ on her own wanted appeal and then tried to hide from police under a pile of toys?
Or when that person spent the equivalent of a small terrace house in one night in a local club?
That was all this year – here are the 10 strangest things that happened in Manchester in 2025.
There are a lot of extravagant restaurants interiors in Manchester (especially around Deansgate), but not many boast an actual Damien Hirst sculpture collection.
And now neither does Sexy Fish…
One of the restaurant’s enormous 3D, glittering, sea creature-inspired art pieces collapsed into the dining room in the middle of a lunch service back in September, sending chunks of concrete swordfish scattering everywhere.
You’ve done the queue. You’ve bought your merch. You’ve forked out almost a tenner for a pint, found your seat, and are ready to see one of the biggest gigs of the year.
JUST KIDDING, it’s cancelled.
That’s what happened to tens of thousands of Mancs back in July, when Jeff Lynne’s ELO cancelled the show with the Co-op Live arena already full of fans.
Obviously, health comes first, but seeing that many people pouring out of the venue just minutes before the gig was meant to start was wild.
Hey, big spender
‘Exclusive’ Manchester nightclub shares customer’s eye-watering £88k bill
The cost of living crisis seems to have skipped this one particular person, who racked up an eye-watering bill of £88,589.60 in ONE NIGHT.
The bill was shared by The Continental Club, otherwise known as The Conti, which stands in the same spot as the old South nightclub.
And this customer spent the equivalent of a small terrace house on drinks, including £9.5k bottles of tequila, £2k magnums of Dom Perignon, and 48 Red Bulls.
The Poznań went global
To be honest, Oasis getting back together was hands down the weirdest thing that happened in 2025. We literally never thought we’d see the day.
But even us lot here in Manchester were stunned at just how much the Live ’25 tour snowballed across the planet, including getting hundreds of thousands of not-Manchester-City fans to do The Poznan.
Never quite understood where the trend for turning your back on Oasis came from? Here’s your explainer.
A new green space! Just not for you
You know what we really love? A brand-new green space that is completely untouched – and by that we mean you literally can’t touch it because its locked off behind big black bars…
This all came about because developers are waiting for planning permission to build a new student accommodation tower block right off Deansgate-Castlefield, but Manchester City Council has insisted the patch of dirt be spruced up in the meantime.
So the developers put turf down. And then put a big fence around it. Okay.
Have you heard of B&M?
Imagine going out for a nice drink in one of the city’s most long-standing bars, and then falling in love with their furnishings so much you decide to take it home with you.
That’s exactly what happened to Atlas Bar at the start of 2025, who shared CCTV of some customers making off with £180-worth of cushions.
And even weirder, that’s not the first time it’s happened in here – back in 2019 they had a similar incident where a woman stuffed a cushion up her top and ran.
News of a new Zara megastore (plus a new Bershka and Pull & Bear) at The Trafford Centre travelled fast – and once the doors actually opened, it was all anyone could talk about.
That’s because the new Zara is so futuristic, it’s like stepping inside ‘Kim K’s wardrobe’.
TikTok suddenly exploded with videos of women getting completely lost inside the concept store, including one who was separated from her friend for so long she thought they’d started a game of hide and seek.
‘Hey guys’
You’re on the run from the police, and doing a good enough job that they’ve had to issue a public appeal for information to find you. So far, so good.
But then it all unravels… because you commented… on your own wanted appeal… on Facebook. Sigh.
This actually happened back in February, when a 22-year-old suspect commented ‘Hey guys’ to Greater Manchester Police’s appeal, leading them to find her attempting to hide under a pile of toys.
The Kardashian of Cheshire
Jack Watkin, also known as the Kardashian of Cheshire / Credit: Cheshire Police
More bizarre news from the crime world came in June, when a Cheshire influencer-turned-fraudster’s lavish lifestyle caught up with him.
Jack Watkin, who called himself the ‘Kardashian of Cheshire’, pleaded guilty to a £200k handbag scam.
He’d been using the lure of an Hermes handbag to scam people out of their cash, to fund a ‘breathtaking’ amount of luxury goods and hotel bills.
Robert De Niro what you doin here?!
Nobu Hospitality co-founders including Robert De Niro broke ground on Nobu Manchester this week
Manchester has its fair share of famous faces passing through (no surprise when we have two of Europe’s largest arenas, plus a couple of football stadiums), but they don’t get much more famous than this.
Robert De Niro, bona fide A-list movie star, popped up in town last month to break ground on his new project, proving that he might actually be quite a hands-on member of the Nobu Hospitality group.
The star grabbed a shovel and market the start of the build of the new Nobu Manchester tower, which will be the tallest in Manchester.
10 of the biggest and best gigs coming to Manchester | 2026
Thomas Melia
Manchester has some fantastic live music lined up for next year, and we’ve rounded up 10 of the biggest live gigs and concerts coming in 2026.
This city is synonymous with having some of the best gigs around, so it will come as no surprise that 2026 is shaping up to be another jam-packed year of live music and unforgettable performances.
Whether your dream gig has to contain some jazz scatting, acoustic guitars or heavy EDM hits, this list has got most music bases covered.
So allow us to present to you 10 of the biggest live gigs and some of the concerts we’re most excited for in the New Year at Audio North, with acts and artists across a variety of genres.
10 of the biggest Manchester gigs in 2026
Mariah the Scientist – Manchester Academy (Wed 14 January)
When Mariah the Scientist last visited the musical capital of the North in 2024, she opted for Gorilla; this time, the US R&B singer-songwriter has chosen Manchester Academy.
She’s added another LP to her discography since, titled Hearts Sold Separately, it features the standout track ‘Burning Blue’, which has become her most successful single to date.
Ms Scientist is playing this venue’s biggest stage, playing out to over 2,000 fans will be ready to sing along to all her impressive hits, like ‘Is It a Crime’: her collaboration with Kali Uchis, and many others that have made her one of our artists to watch in 2026.
Off the back of their Co-op Live gig earlier in December, English folk-rockers Mumford & Sons are the gift that keeps on giving as they’re heading back to the city in February for a more intimate show.
Playing at Albert Hall in Manchester city centre, these London lads will be celebrating the release of their newest musical addition, Prizefighter, popping up in smaller venues across the UK for a one-of-a-kind album launch gig.
The celebrations don’t stop there as the trio will soon surpass a huge milestone with their hit ‘Little Lion Man’ close to one billion streams, a feat most artists dream of achieving – Tickets HERE.
Raye – Co-op Live (Tues 17 and Wed 18 February)
One of our leading vocalists, Raye, is stopping off at Co-op Live twice / Credit: Press shot (supplied)
Tooting talent Rachel Keen, widely recognised by her artist moniker Raye, is taking over Co-op Live for two nights of magical music, but as the title of the shows preface, This Tour May Contain New Music.
Her songs are addictive and distinctive, like the EDM/rap-fusion of ‘Escapism.’, or the big band-inspired ‘Where Is My Husband?’ – this South London star knows how to craft a pop hit.
Her career started in the Dance/EDM genre, where she contributed vocals and writing skills to a number of records. In previous shows, she usually merges these songs into a stripped-back showcase.
Unfortunately, general on-sale tickets have sold out, but you can still try and find premium seats for both dates HERE.
Lily Allen – AO Arena + Aviva Studios (10 and 11 March + 19 and 20 June)
This storytelling vocalist is returning to 0161 as part of the biggest headline tour of her career and getting ready to sing her latest tracks like ‘Tennis’, ‘Ruminating’ and more.
Allen is getting ready to turn both Aviva Studios and AO Arena into her pop-up ‘P*ssy Palace’ for four nights of ‘Lily Allen Performs West End Girl‘.
The London star announced her arena tour after selling out a string of theatre dates one week prior. We expect these extra dates to be just as exceptional; the only thing we don’t know is “Who’s Madeline?”
Both Aviva Studios dates are sold out, but don’t start ‘Ruminating’ just yet, as there’s plenty for her AO Arena shows HERE.
Basement Jaxx – Aviva Studios (Sat 28 March)
EDM icons Basement Jaxx are also coming to Aviva in 2026 / Credit: Jean-Luc Brouard (via Press Shot)
Felix and Simon – more commonly recognised as electronic act Basement Jaxx – are heading to Aviva Studios, and they’re bringing banger after banger.
Whether you’re ready to groove to ‘Romeo’, dance the night away to ‘Red Alert’ or lose control when ‘Do Your Thing’ blasts out the speakers, this night will be stacked with some huge tunes.
This EDM duo know how to command a crowd, so don’t wait for your friends to ask you, ‘Where’s Your Head At’ – get those tickets booked HERE.
The Scottish star is touring up and down the country, including Wigan, Preston and Blackpool, just to name a few, and has kindly decided to bless Manchester with her bouncy and upbeat tracks.
Get ready to be ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’ when soul singer-songwriter Brooke Combe plays out her cathartic tunes at this packed-out Manchester gig hotspot HERE.
Lusaint – Band on the Wall (Tue 14 April)
Local artist Lusaint is coming to Band on the Wall / Credit: The Manc Group
This time, Stretford soul singer Lusaint has chosen to bless Northern Quarter institution Band on the Wall with her next hometown performance.
She’s been slowly adding to her music catalogue since her last Manchester gig, and with the newly-released single ‘Blind’ as well as her latest EP, Apothecary Pt.1, Lusaint is ready to wow crowds with her incredible vocals – Tickets HERE.
Olivia Dean – Co-op Live (Sat 25 and Sun 26 April)
Superstar Olivia Dean is ready for Manchester – are you? / Credit: Jack Davison (via supplied)
2025 was Olivia Dean’s year; four singles charting in the UK Top 10 simultaneously and a number one album in the form of The Art of Loving, she’s unstoppable.
Playing two nights at Co-op Live in Manchester and a SIX-night residency (yep) at The O2 in London, Dean has captured audiences across the country with hits like ‘Nice To Each Other’ and ‘Man I Need’.
Her success is no surprise, being a Brit School graduate and her middle name inspired by R&B royalty Lauryn Hill, now she’s playing out to a combined 47,000 over two nights.
As you can expect, tickets for this one were snapped up pretty quickly, but there are a number of premium tickets for both dates HERE.
If you missed out on your chance to catch Neo-soul hitmaker Olivia Dean, why not check out this class local act at O2 Ritz Manchester instead?
Titled after one of Manchester’s busiest motorways, M60, this indie rock band aren’t just one of our favourite artists right now, they’re Gary Neville’s too.
Their biggest song, ‘I Don’t Mind,’ has amassed over five million streams, and ‘Honey’ is not far off with over one million streams. Give them a listen and catch them live HERE.
Doja Cat – Co-op Live (23 May)
Multi-talented musician Doja Cat knows how to put on a performance, and she’ll be doing just that when she arrives in Manchester with her ‘Tour Ma Vie‘.
Her music pays homage to her pop predecessors like ‘Jealous Type’, an ode to the aesthetics and sounds of 80s music, or her smash hit ‘Say So’, which is heavily inspired by 70s funk and disco.
This indoor Co-op Live date will be a lot drier than her last visit to Manchester took place at Parklife Festival, where the star found herself performing during one of this city’s infamous downpours.
‘Get Into It’ with Doja Cat as there’s an array of tickets available HERE.
The Weeknd – Etihad Stadium (11 June)
The Weeknd is returning to the Etihad / Credit: Sebastian Nagy (supplied)
Initially, The Weeknd had Manc fans contemplating the four-hour journey down to the Big Smoke with his tour dates originally listed for Wembley Stadium in London.
Since the first announcement, the Canadian R&B record-holder surprised Northern fans with a large-scale gig right here in Manchester city centre at the Etihad Stadium next June.
This latest live appearance is labelled as ‘The Weeknd: After Hours Til Dawn Tour’, but it now incorporates his most recent album Hurry Up Tomorrow and features support from Rap act and collaborator Playboi Carti, and you can still get your hands on tickets HERE.
The Manc -
1st January 2022 
