Mancunian locals don’t ordinarily need much of an excuse to sit outside.
As soon as the sun pops out from behind the clouds, we obediently take a pew outside the pub and bask in the rays for as long as possible. But this weekend, you lot will be flocking to beer gardens because believe it or not, there’s a heatwave incoming.
Thousands of revellers across the city will be searching for Manchester’s suntrapsas “Ibiza-style weather” visits the region.
To make things easier for you, Arlo Wolf has launched an interactive map featuring the beer gardens in Manchester that get the most sunshine.
Located in the railway arches of Deansgate, this industrial-style bar serves over 500 different types of gins from all across the globe – boasting a south-facing beer garden that invites in the sunshine.
Dukes 92
A splendid canalside bar with a beautiful south-facing patio, Dukes has become a firm favourite with the Castlefield crowd and attracts big crowds every summer.
The Wharf
Dukes 92’s handsome neighbour The Wharf is also home to a large sun terrace that overlooks Castlefield Basin – with a huge selection of drinks and food available.
BrewDog, Peter Street
All the recent talk in Manchester has been about the upcoming BrewDog Hotel, but right now the top place to sip a pint of Punk IPA is on Peter Street – which has a small yet nicely-shaped outdoor terrace that catches plenty of rays.
Dukes 92
The Corn Exchange & Oyster Bar
From Banyan Bar & Kitchen to The Cosy Club, The Corn Exchange’s restaurants will go al fresco from next week. The south-facing square is always a guaranteed hit in the summertime. There’s also Oyster Bar nearby – which has been firm favourite with locals for decades.
Scene Indian Street Kitchen
Located in the heart of Spinningfields and overlooking the River Irwell, Scene Indian Street Kitchen is relaunching next week with its sun-drenched outdoor terrace. Great-tasting grub and mouth-watering cocktails will all be on the menu.
The Oast House
Arguably Manchester’s most popular beer garden ever due to its size and stature, The Oast House is also apparently one of the likeliest places to get some sunshine. It’s going to be busy this summer, that’s for sure…
Impossible
Impossible is home to a long, stretching outdoor terrace on the other side of Peter Street – and the venue is all set to relaunch on April 12 with a brand new menu. Bottomless brunch is also returning.
Welcome back, summer!
Manchester
Oasis setlist for final two Manchester gigs at Heaton Park
Daisy Jackson
It’s been the music event of a lifetime – and if you still have yet to see Oasis Live 25 in Manchester, you might not know the official setlist.
Liam and Noel Gallagher announced the band were getting back together last year, 16 years since their shattering split.
Their reunion shows have created more buzz in Manchester than we’ve seen in years – possibly ever – for their five hometown shows in Heaton Park.
The tour has already visited Cardiff and still has London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and cities across Europe to go, before going across the globe.
The setlist for the first five shows hasn’t changed yet, so if you’re off to Heaton Park for Oasis Live ’25 this weekend, you should have a good guess what’s coming.
There are some notable songs missing from the Oasis setlist – She’s Electric, Songbird, and Stop Crying Your Heart Out have all been chopped.
But they couldn’t please everyone and we reckon it’s a setlist for the history books.
The very best ice cream places in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
We know it’s not often sunny out in these parts to enjoy the proper summery joy of lapping up lots of ice cream, but there are still bloody wonderful places to get it here in Greater Manchester – and we know some of the best.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer it chock-full of chocolate chips and coffee, mouth-frothingly fruity sweet, you’re in your pistachio phase or cannot get past the raspberry ripple, there are plenty of places to get whatever you’re after.
Be it Manchester city centre or beyond, we do ice cream pretty darn good for a place that basically rains for two-thirds of the year.
In no particular order, by the way, because we already hate playing favourites and all those serve our infinitely sweet tooth are created equal.
The best ice cream shops and parlours in and around Manchester
1. Grandpa Greene’s – Oldham
First up, there are few other fitting enough places to start than the Diggle Lock’s legendary Grandpa Greene’s, which serves not just some of the best desserts we’ve EVER had but stunning, homemade ice-cream that we here at The Manc have even helped make in the past.
In fact, this place has been such a hit in the area that they’ve gone on to open their own bistro and, unsurprisingly, it’s proved just as impressive and popular.
2. Milk Maids – Bolton
From Oldham over to the borough of Bolton and native favourite, Milk Maids, whose award-winning dairy farming expertise has seen them garner an iconic status among locals, and it’s no wonder.
We’ve been on to this place in Over Hulton for ages, but now they’re approaching a decade of serving their oh-so-sweet scoops, we can’t pretend to take even the remotest bit of credit. Their reputation precedes them and is about as long-standing as their lines.
3. Ginger’s – Northern Quarter
Number three is a go-to ice cream place for anyone in Manchester city centre: Ginger’s over in Afflecks Palace. Well, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, to give them their full title, and we can only concur that it does provide us with immense comfort whenever we call upon it.
Made in small batches using award-winning, home-churned dairy ice cream just like Milk Maids, these guys have actually been here even longer, serving the massive multi-floored shopping complex and indie paradise since 2010. There are new flavours and specials on all the time, each as delicious as the last.
In at number four is arguably the ice cream and dessert parlour with the very best name in Manchester, and that’s Big Licks, which recently relocated from Liverpool Road over in Castlefield to Printworks.
Now positioned in a much more central location, it’s no surprise that the spot has seen an increase in queues of late. You’ll find pretty much every combo you could ask for here; they also do some pretty banging burgers if you fancy eating both tea and afters here.
As a native Stopfordian myself, my grandma only ever called dessert a ‘sweet’ or ‘pudding’, regardless of what it was, but regardless of what you call it around your way/in your family, we have a Stopfordian ice cream spot that you need to visit.
Macari’s Gelateria opened up over in Heaton Moor back in 2023, and it’s quickly grown a passionate cult following – ourselves included. From their punchy and/or fruity flavours, to the super soft texture that their perfectly flaky wafers just about hold up to, it’s pretty perfect. Remember the name.
Credit: The Manc Group
6. Lazy Sundae – Manchester Arndale
We’re past the halfway mark now, and if you’re not already feeling a bit sluggish after this sugary feast for your eyes, you almost certainly will after looking at the super indulgent Lazy Sundae, who do everything from bubble tea and creative Korean desserts, to standard ice cream cones.
But make no mistake, there’s nothing plain or basic about this place: it’s remained one of the best places for ice cream in Manchester, and while we may have said goodbye to their OG spot in NQ back in January 2025, the Arndale parlour now serves as the perfect flagship location.
Sticking with the city centre and whipping our way back to NQ (pun very much intended), we’ve got the brilliant Black Milk up next, who we confess most regularly visit for a proper good milkshake, but they do shine when it comes to pretty anything sugary, to be honest.
Ice cream-wise, you can’t go wrong with their cookies and cream sundae, and their special St. Patrick’s Guinness gelato is still one of the most unique desserts we’ve ever had. Speaking of gelato…
Heading out to Trafford now and the ever-growing foodie scene in Sale, their increasingly well-known Gelato Creamery® store has been making waves for some time now, and by waves, we mean perfectly swirled scoops of ice cream’s somewhat healthier but still just as tasty Italian cousin.
They have a more central pod at Jacuna Kitchen over in Ardwick on the outskirts of the city centre, but really do recommend visiting their shop on School Road for a lesson on what proper good gelato should taste like.
The penultimate blood sugar pincher is the famous Get Baked, who barely even turned the key to unlock the doors before they had a crowd waiting outside the shop window of their first Manchester location.
Whether you’re three for big cookies, the famous Matilda-inspired ‘Bertha’ cake’ or their free-flowing soft-serve that is easier to drink than water – we know we have a problem, we’re working on it – you won’t be disappointed by no matter how long you wait.
Credit: The Manc
10. Baby Mayhem – Ancoats
Last but certainly not least of the latest newcomers to the Manc dessert scene and while it may not be strictly just an ice cream parlour, it is one of the best places for anyone who is powerless to resist their cravings for things fresh, cold, filled, fried and covered in sugar.
Baby Mayhem is where ice cream and doughnuts collide in one superior pudding. How does a ‘donut ice cream sandwich’ sound? Incredible? We thought so. It’s popped in the old Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria site and is already following in its footsteps of filling locals’ bellies to the max.
That should just about do you for now, and if this list wasn’t sickly enough, don’t you worry…
You best believe we’ll be going around all around Greater Manchester in search of more ice cream and the best places that do it whenever the sun is out.
So, just keep your eyes peeled for when we inevitably update this one, because there’s always room for one more scoop.
The Manc -
16th July 2021 
