For a number of reasons, we know that Father’s Day can be a difficult time for some, especially as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to stick around and so many of us still may not be able to spend time the quality time with our loved ones that we so wish – but for those who are fortunate enough to have a father figure in their lives, this is a special day to celebrate a special person.
With just over a week to go before it’s finally here, plenty of independent businesses right across the region are pulling out all the stops, launching deals and stocking up on gifts galore ready for the big day.
Father’s Day gives us yet another chance to support local our local businesses as they continue to find their feet and navigate new ground.
If you’re looking for some gift inspiration, or a unique way to spend the day, here’s some of the best we’ve seen.
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Gifts
From hand-crafted sweet treats and a tapas tasting experience, to luxury themed hampers and so much more, there’s a lot to choose to from.
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Hip Flask
Father’s Day Craft Beer Box
£20
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The perfect gift for any Manc dad.
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Independent drinks delivery company Hip Flask is inviting you to “give the gift of beer this Father’s Day” with a curated box filled with Manchester’s finest craft beers.
Featuring tasty beers from a selection of Manchester’s best breweries, this is a gift for the Dads out there that were wetting your head whilst you were being born, with each box containing six craft beers, as well as a specially-designed card and the option to add a free personalised message at checkout.
“Leave the socks – get them something they actually want this year”.
You can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
Tillys Fudge
Father’s Day Belgian Box
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£24.50
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If there’s one thing that independent Manchester-based company Tillys Fudge knows, it’s that “dads love fudge”, so it’s put together a delicious ‘Belgian Box’ filled with a selection of fan-favourite flavours especially for Father’s Day.
Each box contains a mixture of Belgian chocolate shapes filled with, Malted Madness, vanilla, rum & raisin, mint, orange, Lotus Biscoff, and butterscotch – and you also get to select one full size bar which is stamped with a ‘Happy Father’s Day’ message, choosing from salted caramel or brandy.
There’s only a limited amount available, and you can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
DrinkWell
Father’s Day IPA Bundle
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£18.95
DrinkWell
Especially for the IPA lovers this Father’s Day, DrinkWell is offering an exclusive bundle of 10 DrinkWell Heracles IPA’s, alongside a DrinkWell bar blade, two DrinkWell Beer Glasses and a bottle cooler chucked in for free.
The brand new DrinkWell IPA has seen the brand take everything it’s learned about low carb beer over the past eight years to create its own, and with over 35% fewer calories than other IPAs, this is the first “reduced calorie and carb IPA” ever produced in the UK.
You can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
Hotel Football
Football Lover’s Hamper
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£100
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Is your old man a United fan?
Manchester’s iconic football-themed hotel has got you covered then, as you can give your dad “the ultimate football lover’s gift” of a Father’s Day hamper filled to the brim with all things Hotel Football, Cafe Football, and Class Of 92.
As well as whole host of exciting gifts and memorabilia, each hamper also comes with the extra special addition of a Stanley Chow caricature print of, and signed by, your dad’s favourite CO92 player.
You can even upgrade the hamper to include the Lunch & Tour or Tea & Tour vouchers – offering a great dining experience overlooking Old Trafford, followed by a tour of the iconic stadium and museum.
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You can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
Abeja Tapas
Abeja Board-in-a-Box
£22.50 – £38
Abeja Tapas
Abeja Tapas’ “indulgent tapas boxes” are perfect for showing your dad “how much you love him in style and making him feel really special” as they are made up of selected products from independent producers from Granada. Manchester’s smallest tapas bar has established direct relationships with many local artisans to bring only the tastiest and truly authentic produce of southern Spain.
All tapas hampers are beautifully-prepared by hand, and are wrapped up in eco-friendly or compostable packaging, and can be ordered for collection or UK-wide delivery.
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You can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
Decent Drop
Father’s Day Gift Boxes
£25 – £50
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Here’s your chance to show your appreciation through wine, cheese and more.
Whether it’s your dad, someone else’s dad, or someone you wish was your dad, independent Manchester-based company Decent Drop has got a few great options lined up to make Father’s Day extra special.
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Depending on your budget, you can chose from the Bearded Trio (£25) – with comes with x3 Trashumante wines, with handsome bearded chaps on the label – the Wine & Cheese Gift Box (£25) – which comes with one bottle of wine, 2 x 150g cheeses, and a miniature of whisky – or the Dad Box Special (£50) – which comes with x3 bottles of wine, 3 x 150g cheeses, a miniature of whisky and port and a cut glass whisky tumbler.
You can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
Nibble NQ
Father’s Day Collection
£19.50 – £50
Nibble NQ
If your dad’s got a sweet tooth, then Nibble NQ’s got you covered this Father’s Day, with everything from treat boxes filled with a wide variety of cakes, to at-home afternoon teas (with a vegan option also available), brunch hampers, brownie boxes, and so much more, all made with love and available for UK-wide delivery.
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You can place your order in time for Father’s Day here.
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Activities
If experiences and making memories are on the top of your agenda instead, we’ve picked out some of the best things to do and deals to take advantage in Manchester this Father’s Day.
Food Sorcery
Big & Little Cooks – Father’s Day
£120
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Food Sorcery
Didsbury’s very own cookery school Food Sorcery is offering the chance to work with a dedicated chef and join them for an “inspiring afternoon” of parents and children cooking together on Father’s Day.
This class is about spending time together doing an activity which requires working as a team.
With a bunch of different options on the menu – featuring everything from homemade pasa carbonara, to plaited loaves and chicken cordon bleu – you will prepare a main course, a side dish and dessert, before it’s then time to enjoy your meal together.
All ingredients, refreshments and glass of wine or beer for the adults will be included in the ticket price – and you can book onto the Father’s Day class here.
Point Blank Shooting
Father’s Day Bottomless Brunch
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£35pp
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If you’re looking for a unique way to spend Father’s Day in the city centre, then Point Blank Manchester’s ‘Bottomless Brunch’ definitely fits the bill.
In an attempt to “make Sundays as cool as Saturdays”, the shooting simulator bar’s 90-minute bottomless brunch events take place every weekend and combine pizza, prosecco, beer and shooting all rolled into one – but especially for Father’s Day, all dads will be able to get a gun upgrade free of charge.
You can find more information and book onto the Father’s Day event here.
Nelson’s Distillery
Gin & Vodka School / Talk & Taste
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£20 – £155
Nelson’s Distillery
Nelson’s Distillery at Clayton Hotel Manchester has a selection of events that are a perfect gift / experience for Father’s Day.
As part of the Gin & Vodka School experience – which runs from 1-5pm – attendees get to make one 70cl bottle of Gin/Vodka per still, taste three of Nelsons Gins with tonic each, enjoy an afternoon tea-style lunch provided by the hotel, as well as have a talk about the social history of gin.
The Talk & Taste sessions are a one-hour condensed version of this experience, which also include the chance to taste three of Nelsons Gins with tonic each.
You can book your tickets as a Father’s Day gift here.
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Rendition
Father’s Day Selected Menu
Rendition MCR
One of the city centre’s newest independent eateries, Rendition – a premium restaurant and bar aiming to revolutionise the Manchester food and drink scene – opened it’s doors earlier this month, and is offering up a selected menu of some of its classic dishes especially for Father’s Day.
Inspired by the “desire to celebrate regional ingredients”, Rendition serves locally-sourced and inspired dishes that champion British produce.
Highlights of the modern British menu include locally-sourced oysters served with shallots, vinegar, tabasco and lemon, North Yorkshire potato croquettes and tomato jam – which are both designed for the table to share – and so much more.
The Father’s Day selected menu will be served up from 12 – 4pm, and then the restaurant’s full menu will be available from 4pm – late.
Father’s Day also happens to fall on the day where the group stage of European football’s flagship tournament Euro 2020 continues, so for any dad who’s a footie fan, there couldn’t be a better way to spend a day in the city centre.
While England may not be playing on Father’s Day itself, there’ll still be screenings of Sunday’s fixtures in a number of venues, as Manchester is a city that’s obsessed with football, so understandably, there’s plenty of places going all out for it this year.
If you’re looking for recommendations for some of the best places to catch a match with your dad this Father’s Day, we’ve knuckled down and done the leg work for you.
You can find 20 of the best spots to watch Euro 2020 in Manchester city centre here.
Sunday Roast
Manchester City Centre
The Refuge
What’s a Sunday without a roast dinner?
A roast is held dear to the hearts of many Mancunians, as this quintessentially British meal marks a time to gather your nearest and dearest around the table to tuck into one of the heartiest meals you’ll probably have all week – and there’s no better time to do that than on Father’s Day.
We’re absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to independent eateries to enjoy a roast in across our region, but considering this day is all about the father figures in our life, why not let dad pick?
Are you after some roast recommendations? We’ve picked out eight of the best places in Manchester city centre to choose from here.
Featured Image – Hip Flask
Manchester
Five’s Manchester arena shows – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
English boyband Five are heading to Manchester not once but twice for two pure-pop performances and perfectly-mastered choreography.
Manchester, “get up!” Because Five are about to make you get down when they bring their epic reunion tour to the music capital of the North this November.
Scott, Ritchie, Sean, J and Abz have chosen to play out in both the mighty 21,000 capacity AO Arena AND impressive 23,5000 Co-op Live for their 90s and 00s pop party celebration.
This boyband has sold over 20 million records worldwide and swooned a fair few of our hearts over the years with hits like ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Got The Feelin”.
Five – Manchester gig guide
Now, after 25 years apart, these cheeky chaps are heading back on the road for their ‘Keep On Movin” tour, where we’re sure they’ll play all your favourite hits.
Five are coming to AO Arena on 7 November and Co-op Live on 18 November in Manchester. (Credit: Supplied)
Five UK tour dates – winter 2025
Wed 29 October – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 31 October – Brighton, UK – Brighton Centre
Sat 1 November – Bournemouth, UK – Bournemouth International Centre
Sun 2 November – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
Tue 4 November – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
The official songs might not have been announced yet, but we expect it won’t differ much from this setlist taken from their Aussie ‘Greatest Hits Tour 2024’ below:
Let’s Dance
We Will Rock You
Kick That Wall Down
Got the Feelin’
My Song
Until the Time Is Through
When the Lights Go Out
Keep On Movin’
Written in the Sun
It’s the Things You Do
Slam Dunk (Da Funk)
Reset
Human
Lay All Your Lovin’ on Me
If Ya Gettin’ Down
Everybody Get Up
Keep on Movin’ (21 Remix)
What are the stage times for Five’s Manchester arena shows?
If you’re worried that ‘When the Lights Go Out’ you won’t be getting home til the early hours of the morning, then fear no more as both AO Arena and Co-op Live have a curfew of 11pm.
Support comes in the form of chart-topping DJ, Naughty Boy, whose behind some of the biggest tracks of the 2010’s including ‘La La La’, ‘Runnin” and ‘Wonder’; you do not want to miss his set.
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 andVictoria 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.
You can see our interview with Five after their recent AO Arena residency down below.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Car and parking info
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Five are doing a clean sweep of Manchester arenas. (Credit: Audio North)
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Once again, the Beryl app is available for those looking to bike over to the venue; there are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Featured Images — Press Shots (via Supplied)/The Manc Group
Manchester
Westlife announce extra Manchester arena show for huge 25th anniversary tour
Daisy Jackson
Legendary pop group Westlife have announced the European leg of their 25th anniversary tour, which includes not just one but a trio of Manchester Arena gigs.
The beloved boyband will be hitting the road from September next year to celebrate a quarter of a century of timeless ballads and chart-topping pop songs.
Westlife, which is made up of Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily, are behind massive hits like ‘You Raise Me Up’, ‘Flying Without Wings’, ‘Swear It Again’, and ‘If I Let You Go’.
The upcoming ‘Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour’ will include shows right across the UK and Ireland, including Leeds, Sheffield and one extra show here in Manchester.
The initial news came ahead of the group performing two sold-out nights at the Royal Albert Hall, and a sell-out success in Dublin and Belfast already.
Following an overwhelming reaction and huge demand, Co-op Live have seen fit to add another Westlife show to their calendar and double up on their venue debut, with other multiple cities now looking at more shows, too.
Over the last 25 years, Westlife have become one of the most successful pop groups of all time, with three billion streams globally, 36 number one albums worldwide, and 14 UK number one singles (ranking only behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles).
In fact, Westlife still remain the UK and Ireland’s top-selling album group of the 21st century.
Westlife have also just released a new single, ‘Chariot’, written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol and Will Reynolds, as well as being co-written and produced by Steve Mac.
And in February next year (just in time for Valentine’s Day), they’ll release 25 – The Ultimate Collection, a greatest hits album of 21 fan favourites.
Credit: Supplied
Westlife said: “This year marks 25 years since we started this incredible journey together, and it still feels like only the beginning.
“The support from our fans has been unbelievable, and to celebrate with this world tour, new music, and a brand-new album feels truly special.
“We can’t wait to see you all on the road and share this next chapter together.”
Westlife will perform their first night at the Co-op Live arena on Friday, 23 October 2026, before playing a second and third night in Manchester over the weekend.
General sale tickets are already on sale HERE, with affordable VIP packages also available through Seat Unique HERE.
What do you make of the new Westlife song?
Westlife UK/IE tour dates
Thu September 10 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Fri September 11 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Sat September 12 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Tue September 15 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Wed September 16 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Fri September 18 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Sat September 19 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Sun September 20 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Tue September 22 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Wed September 23 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Thu September 24 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Fri September 25 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Sat September 26 2026 – DUBLIN, 3Arena
Tue September 29 2026 – ABERDEEN, P&J Live
Wed September 30 2026 – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro
Thu October 01 2026 – GLASGOW, OVO Hydro
Sat October 03 2026 – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, Utilita Arena
Sun October 04 2026 – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, Utilita Arena
Emily Sergeant -
11th June 2021 
