Looking for a unique way to spend a day or night out in Manchester? Think you’ve seen everything the city centre has to offer?
Think again.
From bowling, to axe throwing, and everything in-between, there’s so many fun and quirky activities to get involved right across the city, so whether it’s a first date, a work night out, or you’re just looking for something to do on a rainy day, Manchester never disappoints.
Here’s 10 of the best activities to do in Manchester.
Whether you have a birthday party, family day out, or social with colleagues or friends, Tenpin is the place to be, with an array of indoor activities, from bowling and an arcade room, to pool and table tennis – there’s something for everyone.
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If you’re looking for a night out with friends, the beer pong tables are a must to kick start your night (or day), and the karaoke is a massive hit too with thousands of songs to choose from and specially-designed music pods so you can sing your heart out, embarrassment free.
Experience one of the oldest games in the world while tucking into gastro pub BBQ-style food and delicious cocktails in a truly English style.
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Using cutting edge elite sports technology, at Sixes Social Cricket, you can hire a batting net and take part in the world’s first immersive social cricket experience where you will be able to test your batting skills and compete with friends on a global leader board.
Downstairs is a cosy champagne bar area where bottomless brunch is served on weekends, with beer, cocktails and of course champagne to choose from.
Base Bar
Millow Street
In its own words, this place is for the “fastballin’, batswingin’, ballsmashin’ junkies”.
Base Bar has three batting cages to swing in and each has their own ground baseball graffiti style, so you can practise your swing over a few beers, and it’s also the perfect place to go with family and friends if you want a fun and interactive day out.
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It offers a wide range of hotdogs and snacks, and also serves a fantastic array of cocktails as well as other drinks too, as well as a separate bar area if you have or haven’t got a batting cage booking.
Tenpin / Credit: PrintworksSixes Social Cricket / Credit: Sixes
This over 18’s bar is a strong favourite for gaming lovers.
NQ64 has all the retro games you can think of, as well as classic consoles, so whether you’re wanting a nostalgic experience being transported back to the 80s, or if you’re a video game addict looking for something quirky to try, NQ64 is the perfect place to go.
Dubbed as a geek’s paradise with an amazing atmosphere, there’s also great-value drinks with a strong craft beer and cocktail menu, making it a must-go for anyone.
Think classic darts but reinvented 21st century-style, as with a range of exciting multi-player games, Flight Club will keep you hooked and entertained for hours. Whether you’re an expert at darts, or a complete beginner, everyone has a chance of winning when they play thanks to the multiple throw lines to choose from.
Flight Club has a distinct vintage feel about it, and this unique bar offers a range of bespoke cocktails, tasty pizzas, and delicious sharing boards too.
Flight Club Manchester / Credit: Flight Club
Junkyard Golf Club
First Street
This is a firm-favourite with many people.
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This mini crazy golf club has three themed courses, and each course has a fun name and a different vibe to each of them.
As the name suggests, all the courses are made up from pre-loved and reclaimed junk.
Gary is a course full of tyres, written-off cars and scrapyard junk littered around the course. Pablo is a tropical madness filled with pirate speedboats and skulls. Finally, Bozo is full of creepy clowns and circus freaks with a ferris wheel and hall of mirrors.
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Treetop Adventure Golf is Manchester’s answer to the tropical rainforest with the Tropical Trail course. Or maybe crumbling temples and ancient ruins take your fancy? Visit the Ancient Explorer course instead.
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Each course has 18 holes, and is the perfect way to spend a day with friends and family.
After playing 18 holes, you can take a seat in The Market for well-deserved tropical cocktails, local beer and amazing jungle grub, and there’s also freshly handmade pizza available by Pizza Cabana too.
If you want a night filled with competitive games to soundtrack of rock and indie music, then Roxy Ball Room is the place to be.
Dubbed as an adult’s playground, choose from and array of classic ball games like bowling, pool table tennis, beer pong, or ping pong to name a few, it’s the perfect place for parties and groups and has an amazing cocktail menu and drinks packages to finish off a fun filled night of great games, food, drinks, and music.
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With fantastic service and great value for money, what’s not to like?
Junkyard Golf Club Manchester / Credit: Junkyard GolfPoint Blank Manchester / Credit: Point Blank
Point Blank is the UK’s first shooting speakeasy, and has over 200 simulated shooting scenarios to kickstart your night with a bang. The range has five real replica guns and the systems are used worldwide to train professional shooters, so the experience is fully-immersive and has exceptional realism.
There’s also a great range of bespoke cocktails, beers, wines and snacks to enjoy while shooting or if you’re just at the bar.
This is the UK’s first urban axe throwing venue, and with the vibrant venue, expertly-trained instructors, and a suitably-pumped-up soundtrack, you’ll be slinging axes like a pro by the end of the night.
Perfect for going with a group of friends, or if you want a quirky date idea.
Don’t worry if you’ve never thrown an axe before though, as you’ll have a blast and learn something new, and you can also get involved with mini competitions against your own group, or other groups to become the axe throwing king or queen.
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Featured Image – NQ64
Gigs & Nightlife
Social media unite in search for ‘crazed’ fan who stole drum from AO Arena gig last night
Thomas Melia
This past weekend, people online began pulling together to try and find a fan after they stole a drum from a major music artist’s concert at the AO Arena on Sunday night.
When you say the words, “I’ll never forget that gig”, it usually means you had a really great night and, for this fan in particular, we think it’s fair to say that they be forgetting this night anytime soon – you know, many because they took a piece of the set home with them.
That’s right, following Twenty One Pilots’ massive Manc gig at AO Arena as part of their ongoing world tour, some fans were practically frothing at the mouth as the alternative duo did what they do best.
In fact, one individual clearly loved the concert so much that they just had to claim a keepsake, to such an extent that they want as far as steal band member Josh Dun’s drum directly from the stage.
As far as merch and memorabilia go, that might just be the biggest souvenir we’ve ever seen someone swipe from a rock show.
In terms of the night itself, the highly anticipated return to Manchester was a huge success, with the band playing out to flurries of red, orange, yellow and black, thanks to fans sporting the same colours as Twenty One Pilots‘ latest album cover, Clancy.
In the video, the drum – which features the band’s logo on a red-splattered drumhead in the Clancy aesthetic – can be seen being carried out of the venue by a fan from the general standing floor area.
As a result, not only did people on social media quickly begin sleuthing and trying to find the drum thief, but they’re also questioning why fans near the culprit weren’t doing more to get it back to the band.
One user wrote, “Ok but like I would have stopped her?” while another commented, “So I was scared to even take too much confetti with me and she casually STOLE THE DRUM??”
The fan who originally uploaded the video online aid in a subsequent post, “Guys, please, don’t put us to blame for not stopping her, we did all we could but literally no one around us cared about it.” They went on to add: “You’re not putting the blame of her stealing the drum on us, I’m sorry but I’m not having it.”
As you can see, the instrument was eventually located, with Twenty One Pilots’ videographer Sax uploaded a picture to his Instagram profile along with the caption, “We have the drum”, thanking fans for all their efforts in helping track down its whereabouts.
Featured Image –Ashley Osborn (publicity picture /@tillitaint (via X)
Gigs & Nightlife
Olly Murs at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more
Thomas Melia
The ‘Troublemaker’ himself, Olly Murs, is ready to cause some more chaos and this time he’s returning for his second night in Manchester with boyband Blue.
X Factor and British star Olly Murs is embarking on his latest UK arena tour, which does feel a little bit ‘likely lads’ on tour-esque with a helping hand from UK boyband, Blue.
Back in the late noughties, it was hard to escape the blazer-wearing, top-hatted, popstar as he was dropping back-to-back bangers like ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ and doo-wop inspired ‘Dance With Me Tonight’.
Now, this cheeky-chappy is embarking on the ‘15 Years Of Hits – Live 2025‘ tour, where he’ll be belting out all those classics as well as some more recent tunes too. Here’s how he sounded last week:
There are just a few tickets left for Olly Murs at AO Arena, so make sure you bag yours before your ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ HERE.
Olly Murs 15 Years Of Hits setlist
Olly Murs is coming to AO Arena in Manchester this week.Credit: Marcos Moreno via Wikimedia Commons
This Essex chap might have a solid setlist which he follows night in and night out, but he’s no stranger to being a bit ‘Unpredictable’. I mean, he is bringing a flamethrower on stage with him…
After being on our screens and airwaves for almost two decades, it’s no surprise that this setlist is lengthy, totalling at just over 20 songs – give or take the 80s medley weaved into the mix.
Who doesn’t love a bit of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ paired alongside Murs’ stacked setlist?
Troublemaker
Right Place Right Time
Please Don’t Let Me Go
Thinking of Me
Oh My Goodness
Heart Skips a Beat
Kiss Me
Army of Two
Hand on Heart
Up
Die of a Broken Heart / I Found Her / Dancing on Cars / I Hate You When You’re Drunk (Marry Me Medley)
Seasons
You Don’t Know Love
I’m Your Man / Never Gonna Give You Up / Livin’ On a Prayer / Beat It / Careless Whisper / I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) / I’m So Excited (80s Medley)
What are the stage times for Olly Murs in Manchester?
AO Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning concertgoers can be ‘Wrapped Up’ in the Essex popstar’s hits without having to worry about getting home too late. It’s a school night after all!
Doors for Olly Murs’ 15 Years Of Hits – Live 2025 are scheduled for 6:30pm with a start time of 7:30pm and support from 2000s UK boyband, Blue.
The BRIT-winning, Eurovision-performing, chart-toppers are back together once again and about to take us back to pop school as we quickly re-learn the words to boyband textbook classics ‘All Rise’, Best in Me’ and more.
How to get to AO Arena
Olly Murs sporting his usual blazer and top-hat style back in 2013.Credit: InfoGibraltar (via Flickr)
Tram
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
Getting there by car and parking
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
Alice Gerrard -
15th October 2021 
