Football is back and after a huge weekend of Premier League openers last Manchester’s pubs are back to business as usual (kind of).
Being able to flick the big screen on for punters looking to cheer their local clubs is a staple in Manchester and there are some classic establishments dotted about that are famous for their football hospitality.
A handful of these pubs will also be handing out a free pint for you and your pals this weekend.
With over 500 pubs and bars across the UK, the We Love Sport app is offering a complimentary drink to users who download the app (or already have it), which can be redeemed at venues during sporting occasions, between Tuesday 10th August and Friday 10th September.
Basically, if you’re a little skint, you can start your day off free of charge this weekend by grabbing your first drink for free.
ADVERTISEMENT
The free drink offer will also be available for Manchester United fans on Sunday as they play Southampton.
Participating venues in Manchester include:
Beech Inn Chorlton-Hardy
Blind Pig Eccles
Crafty Pig Manchester
Directors Box Manchester
Earl Of Derby Bury
English Lounge Manchester
Flour And Flagon Manchester
Footage Manchester
Navigation Hotel Altrincham
Oxnoble Manchester
The Lost Dene Manchester
Turing Tap Manchester
Waldorf Manchester
Walkabout Manchester Printworks
Yates Manchester
Yates Manchester Printworks
This offer will be available for any We Love Sport registered user and is limited to one drink per customer.
ADVERTISEMENT
There is a selection of 32 drinks available which can be easily redeemed at the bar or through the ordering app. All customers need to do is order a participating drink then enter the code or show it to the server to be put through the ordering app or at the bar.
Stephen Cooper, sport marketing manager at Stonegate and We Love Sport said: “Last season saw empty stadiums and pubs across the country on match day and so the return of the Premier League is a huge moment for football fans across the nation.
“That’s why we want to truly celebrate, by offering pub-goers a free drink in one of our 527 pubs when sport is showing on the TV.”
To claim your free drink, just download the We Love Sport app and order a drink in your local participating venue.
Manchester
The world’s first standalone women’s football retail store has opened in Manchester
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Foudys, the world’s first ever store dedicated exclusively to women’s football, has opened in Manchester.
Back in 2020, Helen Hardy began Foudys, with the goal (pardon the pun) of addressing a fundamental gap in the market, regarding the lack of access to official women’s football merchandise.
She began the brand by supplying shirts with women’s players names on the back, something that shockingly has not been widely available until now. The business has since rapidly grown into a highly respected name, working with global brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma.
As Hardy rightly said: “Women and girls are underserved by traditional sport retailers. Currently we see store environments created through the male lens, an overwhelming focus on male products and aesthetics that are geared toward football-mad boys.
“The staff are used to selling to men and boys who often grow up with an innate knowledge of football products. Through our online store we can see what our customers want and need is different.
“They like a mix of performance and lifestyle products, more specialist advice and a non-intimidating environment where they feel comfortable to ask any product questions. This is what our Foudys store will deliver.”
A giant football scarf instead of a ribbon cutting at FoudysFoudys celebrates the women’s football game
After developing a loyal community of players and fans across the globe, Foudys has finally branched out into a new in-person two-storey retail store here at Manchester’s Great Northern Warehouse, on Deansgate – and where better to have it than a city so synonymous with football?
The store is set to stock official merchandise, exclusive handpicked collaborations, limited-edition ranges, performance products tailored specifically for female athletes, plus some must-have fashion collections inspired by women’s sport.
There’ll be a whole section of performance wear like sports bras, football boots and more, plus football shirts you can have customised with printing in-store.
This isn’t just a shop – it doubles up as a cultural hub for the women’s game, with events in the store including watch parties, panini sticker swaps, player panel discussions and sewing workshops to fix damaged football kits.
A glimpse inside Foudys in ManchesterYou can pick up performance wear as well as merch and fashion pieces
The new Foudys opening represents a wider significant step forward for women’s sport, as the demand for women’s football continues to soar with record-breaking attendances, increased media rights deals and rising brand investment.
This is reflected by Deloitte’s* findings showing that in 2026, global revenue in women’s elite sports is predicted to exceed US$3 billion for the first time, marking a 25 per cent increase over 2025 and 340 per cent growth since 2022. However, retail is currently not sufficiently reflecting this shift, which is something Foudys aspires to change.
“There’s been huge progress on the pitch and in media coverage, but the commercial ecosystem hasn’t fully caught up,” Hardy added.
“Retail is a critical part of that. This store is about creating a space where fans and players feel seen, represented and catered for, something that hasn’t existed before at this scale.
“Foudys has always led from the front, being the first to put female players’ names on the back of shirts and providing exclusive access to products from the US NWSL League and the TOGETHXR range. This is the next step in that journey. We want to break barriers and show what women and girls need from a sports store.”
Foudys is named after USA Legend Julie FoudyPieces in store celebrate the Lionesses’ big wins
Foudys hopes to become the global home of women’s football retail and culture, with their in-person store being a crucial step in bridging the gap between performance and lifestyle.
In 2024, the Sports Innovation Lab* found a significant disparity in sport retail, highlighting that for every nine pieces of men’s sport merchandise available, there is only one piece for women’s sport. While in the same study, it was revealed that women’s sport fans spend more on merchandise and make more purchases per year than men’s sport fans.
Foudys prides itself on its inclusive community feel, with staff trained to help explain their products in a way that is accessible, whether you’re a complete newbie or consider yourself a pro.
Their expert team is on hand to help players consider a wide variety of boot options, as well as providing a safe space for sports bra advice, fittings and help on the best period underwear for performance. What more could you ask for?
The Foudys store is now open (from 25 June 2026) at 293 Deansgate, Manchester.
Spend summer in space as 30ft rocket ship arrives at Science and Industry Museum next month
Emily Sergeant
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme.
And it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with.
As the temperatures rise, schools across Greater Manchester get ready to break up for summer, and parents and carers gear up to entertain the little ones, the Science and Industry Museum has just announced its summer events programme – with some new space-themed activities on the lineup for the first time.
It’s time to embark on an unforgettable adventure through the Solar System, as families can blast off on a journey packed with hands-on experiences and cosmic fun.
Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme / Credit: Science Museum Group
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser – giving visitors the chance to revel at the real-life space craft and meet the team behind the rocket.
Designed to reach speeds of up to 3200mph, Skybolt 2 first flew in September 2017 and still displays some visible marks from its landing.
There’ll also be a new twist on the classic seaside puppet show, as artist Solar Sister brings space stories to life during interactive walkabout performances alongside an astronaut puppet companion.
Little Mancs can even get involved with draw-a-long workshops, take on space-inspired LEGO challenges, and even turn everyday items into instruments by joining a junk percussion jam inspired by space waste.
Then, on Wednesday 12 August, rocket activities will be swapped for a special event to mark the upcoming solar eclipse.
Expect live interactive shows, demonstrations, spectacular images of the Sun disappearing on giant screens, as well opportunities to discover more about this rare celestial event.
Science and Industry Museum’s Director, Sally MacDonald, said free and affordable experiences are ‘more essential than ever’ during the summer holidays.
“Our summer programme will offer families memorable days out to enjoy together, giving them the opportunity to explore the universe without even leaving Manchester,” she added.
The summer events programme will be running at the Science and Industry Museum from Saturday 18 July through to Tuesday 1 September, and you can find out more here.
The Manc -
17th August 2021 
