Manchester’s underground arcade bar NQ64 is gearing up to open another city centre venue this month, and there’s an unmissable competition giveaway to celebrate.
If retro gaming, classic consoles, and craft beer are up your street – we’ve got a treat for you.
Ahead of the opening of the second location of the iconic “neon-splattered drinking den full of retro arcade games and classic consoles” on Peter Street next week – which will take over the old Club LIV site next door to Albert’s Schloss – The Manc has teamed up with NQ64 to give away some seriously impressive prizes.
NQ64 Peter Street is a “levelled up” version of the original venue – which has been luring gamers into the Northern Quarter since 2019.
Containing all the bar’s hallmarks of neon lighting, retro art, classic consoles and more, the site will also boast a bigger bar area, more seating and a variety of new arcade machines.
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Accompanying the likes of Pac-Man, Time Crisis 2 and Guitar Hero will be additions such as the Mario Kart arcade game, Time Crisis 3 and NBA Jam, and NQ64 Peter Street will utilise the same ‘token system’ in which users swap cash for game tokens to play.
MegaDrive, PlayStations, GameCube and Super Nintendo consoles will all be free to use.
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A new themed cocktail list featuring NQ64 classics such as Princess Peach, Bubble Bobble and Pacs a Punch will also be available too.
NQ64’s Peter Street venue is a “levelled up” version of the original venue / Credit: NQ64
It’s definitely as cause for celebration – and there’s no better way than with a giveaway.
The competition – which has been exclusively launched with NQ64 on The Manc’s Instagram (@the.manc) – will see the lucky winner take home 3x classic consoles (GameBoy, MegaDrive, Gamecube) WITH games, some NQ64 merch and an NQ64 Black Card (unlimited tokens for a year), alongside a whopping £250 bar tab and some goodies Hooch.
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That’s not all either, as there’s some cracking prizes for two runners-up too, who will also get their hands on some NQ64 merch, an NQ64 Black Card, a £250 bar tab and their own supply of Hooch to accompany.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP_MxF0o2zH/
Fancy it then?
To be in with a chance of winning, all you’ll need to do is follow these four simple steps:
Then make sure to also follow @nq64mcr on Instagram too.
Tag as many mates as you like on the post, one comment = one entry.
Share the competition post on The Manc to your Instagram story for bonus entries, and make sure you tag @the.manc so we see it.
The competition has already received a massive amount of attention since first being launched, but there’s still plenty of time to get your entries in before NQ64 Peter Street opens its doors on 21 June.
The winners will be announced via DM from The Manc’s official verified Instagram account only.
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The Manc is already aware of a number of fake Instagram accounts which have been created in our name with the intention to scam competition entrants, so we urge you to remain vigilant and never provide your personal details / information to anyone.
You can find more information and get your entries in here.
Featured Image – The Manc
Gigs & Nightlife
‘Big John’ is bringing his ‘BOSH’ bingo to Manchester
Danny Jones
Attention, all you ‘Big John’ lovers, the man himself is coming to Manchester this year for his very own ‘BOSH Bingo’ show.
Excessively large takeaway order not included*
That’s right, ‘Big John’ Fisher has gone from being a viral sensation famous for eating shedloads of Chinese and saying that one catchphrase to hosting his very own live bingo tour.
Even by his standards, his announcement video was an eye-catching one, to say the least – and we expect the event itself to be equally hilarious.
— big john the boshfather (@Johnfis08605918) January 7, 2026
For anyone somehow unfamiliar with ‘The Boshfather’, there isn’t a single sentence that isn’t completely accurate, and that doesn’t sum up pretty much everything you need to know about the man, the myth, the legend.
Besides his son, Johnny Fisher Jr., being an aspiring boxer and fellow influencer on the side, as well as having appeared on Newsnight to talk about the UK’s multiculturalism being what makes this ‘Great Britain’ (legend), his legacy will very much be written online and on the back of a take-out menu.
Or will it?…
Riding the back of his growing popularity and being quite literally the physical representation of a British bulldog, he’s now preparing to do live shows all over the country.
Set up at the start of the New Year, the 51-year-old will be heading to Manchester city centre and more throughout 2026 for his debut BOSH Bingo tour.
Visiting 12 locations in total, he is promising “rave intervals, on stage competitions, ‘bosh’ prizes and, of course, a sprinkle of chicken balls for good measure.”
Put simply, not only the chaos of everyone’s favourite Bongo’s, “This is not your average bingo night, it’s BOSH BINGO!”
Sounds ridiculous… We’re SO there.
Coming to The Grosvenor on Oxford Road on 21 February, before heading to the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield, just to name a few, you can grab your tickets right HERE.
Let’s just say there’s some very silly but nevertheless fun and fantastic stuff happening in town this year.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Bosh Bingo Events)/The Manc Group
Gigs & Nightlife
You can line dance to Lily Allen’s West End Girl in full right here in Manchester
Thomas Melia
After a fun way to kickstart the New Year? Some people might suggest hobbies like ‘Tennis’, but how about a line dancing class playing Lily Allen’s new album in its entirety – we know which we’d rather do.
Grab your nearest ‘Nonmonogamummy’ or take ‘Madeline’, if you know one, because there’s a line dance class where you get to line dance to Lily Allen’s West End Girl in full right here in Manchester.
Hosted by Red Rodeo Club, a queer line dancing group based in Manchester, who have hosted monthly artist-inspired events city wide including Chappell Roan, Beyoncé, Charli XCX and more.
This troupe even managed to line dance all the way to one of Manchester’s most reputable LGBTQIA+ nights of the year, performing on the Archive stage at Homobloc just last month.
Now, Red Rodeo is returning with another special night that is sure to interest all the West Endand North West girls across Manchester, as it prepares a Lily Allen line dance spectacular later this month.
If you’re ‘Ruminating’ about attending this event, there’s absolutely no pressure or dance experience needed as the group prides itself on providing ‘classic boot-scootin tutorials with a party vibe’.
You’ll definitely be in good company regardless of your dance partners, as hosting the event is Violet Blonde, known for their extraordinary outfits and love of Country icon Dolly Parton.
We’re already onto a winner…
Your dance instructor for the night is the remarkable Shanika Sunrise, a rapper and producer, who boasts a seriously impressive roster of acts they’ve opened for, including Chappell Roan, Cupcakke and Moonchild Sanelly.
Opportunities like this aren’t always feasible for everyone, which is something this line dance group is aware of as they’re offering a ‘Red Rodeo Club Low Income Ticket’, suited for students, unwaged and disabled attendees.
Red Rodeo Club is bringing the ‘Lily Allen edition’ line dance class to Fairfield Social Club in Manchester on Thursday, 29 January 2026, from 7-10:30pm.
If you’re interested in grapevine stepping or electric shuffling your way to the Lily Allen West End Girl line dance event in Manchester, you can find tickets HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
14th June 2021 
