Father’s Day is approaching fast, and if you’re anything like us you’ve left sorting something out to the absolute last minute.
Don’t panic, though. It’s all going to be ok. We’ve got you covered.
If you’ve got a dad who already has everything he wants and is, frankly, impossible to buy for, the best thing you can do this Sunday is head out for a bit of quality one on one time.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of places around town offering little gifts and freebies – so all you need to do is book the table, and the staff will take care of the rest.
Keep reading to discover where to take your dad in Manchester this Father’s Day.
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Yard and Coop – Free beer
Image: Yard and Coop
Image: Yard and Coop
This Northern Quarter fried chicken institution is famous for its gigantic buttermilk chicken burgers, fiery wings and chips, and this Father’s Day you can get all three with its Big Daddy Combo.
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The perfect gift for the man who is impossible to buy for, you can get a burger, fries, wings, plus a free pint of Yard’s house pilsner for just £20.
Note that the offer excludes the Massive C*ck burger.
The Real Greek – Free baklava
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Image: The Real Greek
Image: The Real Greek
Head down to The Real Greek inside Manchester’s sun trap Corn Exchange this weekend to soak up some rays on Exchange Square with your old man.
With the warm weather set to continue all weekend, pull up a pew, enjoy an al fresco lunch and let dad enjoy a free baklava on the house.
The Lowry Hotel – Free beer
Image: The Lowry Hotel
Image: The Lowry Hotel
This Father’s Day, The Lowry Hotel is giving away a free Hofmeister beer to every dad.
The 5 star hotel will host a celebratory Gentleman’s Tea with pork pies and scones topped with bacon jam and chive sour cream, from midday to 4pm.
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Those heading down can enjoy a complimentary beer alongside the new Afternoon Tea.
20 Stories – Free gift from Grey Goose
Image: 20 Stories
Image: 20 Stories
For dads who like the good things in life, head up to rooftop bar 20 Stories this Sunday for a special rooftop dining experience in partnership with Grey Goose.
The restaurant is serving a special Father’s Day menu for one day only, and those who get down early will also receive a free gift from Grey Goose.
Honest Burger – £10 off your order
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Great for burger lovers and sun seekers alike, this Bridge Street burger bar is famed for its top-quality beef and salted rosemary hand cut fries.
This Father’s Day, spend over £40 and get another £10 off your bill by using the code FATHERSDAY10.
Suki Suki – Free beer
Image: Suki Suki
Image: Suki Suki
If your dad considers himself a bit of a jokester, then this offer should be well up his street.
Great Northern Warehouse newbie Suki Suki is giving away free pints of Japanese lager Asahi in exchange for its customers’ best dad jakes all day long.
Albert’s Schloss will be handing out free beers to dads from 12pm this Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day.
With belting roast dinners served all day until 9pm as part of the venue’s wunderbar Sunday Service, choose from Lancashire beef, Schwienshaxe, Cheshire chicken or a brand new vegan roast with mushroom celeriac, sun-dried tomato stuffed confit onion, vegan cheese and vegetable gravy.
Featured image – Yard and Coop
Manchester
Review | Leon Thomas at Manchester Academy – ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’ but this gig healed me
Thomas Melia
American singer-songwriter Leon Thomas visited Manchester Academy last night, performing hits from his deluxe album to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,600.
One year after an exclusive London MUTT Live date, Mr Thomas returns to the UK with the ‘MUTTS DON’T HEEL’ Tour, venturing to five cities, including the music capital of the North: Manchester.
The night started off just how it should’ve done with ‘HEEL’, as the audience were welcomed by the drum-loop and a chill atmosphere from the start.
Now, it wouldn’t be a Leon Thomas gig without at least one Ty Dolla $ign collaboration making the setlist, and there’s plenty to choose from with a new one dropping just over a month ago, ‘miss u 2’.
Leon Thomas performing hits at Manchester Academy (Credit: Audio North)
The funk-influenced musician opted for ‘FAR FETCHED’, and the audience was in the palm of his hand. No matter which of the four link-ups he chose, it was always going to go down well – Manchester never disappoints.
Leon didn’t even have to ask the crowd to bring more energy; they already matched him. When he sings, “For someone who don’t ask for favours, I’ve done way too many favours”, on ‘PARTY FAVORS’, he really meant it.
Last year, Leon Thomas dropped PHOLKS, a project which saw him exploring old-school funk and soul sounds even further and ‘Just How You Are’ had even the shyest dancer pulling out a little two step.
This isn’t the only hit that sent the crowd into a frenzy; ‘Baccarat’ and its impressive psychedelic guitar solo had jaws literally falling to the floor at Manchester Academy.
His songs might not be dramatic or extravagant, but they don’t need to be. Leon’s artistry prevails when he’s softly singing, and you’re still able to detect each instrument.
Leon Thomas brought the MUTTS DON’T HEEL Tour to Manchester Academy (Credit: The Manc)
‘Breaking Point’ is an easy-listening soul track that had all 2,600 Leon Thomas fans in our feelings as we realised we were coming to the end of a phenomenal concert.
And of course, ‘Mutt’ – his biggest single to date: a bouncy and swag-filled number that sticks in your head for weeks on end – sounded even better when backed by a live band as I discovered last night.
There was some insane musicality, distinct bangers and impeccable live arrangements that elevated the original studio recordings. Maybe ‘Mutts Don’t Heel’, but Leon Thomas definitely healed me.
He wasn’t the only cool cat playing last night either:
Scouting For Girls announce two massive anniversary shows, including one in Manchester
Danny Jones
Long-standing indie-pop act Scouting For Girls have just announced two new very special and very big 20th birthday shows, including a stop right here in Manchester.
In fact, their Manc show will be their biggest headline show to date – and by that we mean in the group’s entire history.
Known for the chart-topping ‘Heartbeat’, ‘She’s So Lovely’, ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and many more, the trio are once again heading up North to roll back the years.
This announcement follows the previous batch of anniversary shows for 15 years since their second album in 2025 and ’26, only this time they’ll be toasting two whole decades of being a band.
Credit: Press shots/Near Wild Heaven Records (supplied)
Heading to Wembley’s OVO Arena and our very own AO Arena, this marks a huge career landmark for the beloved noughties band, who have also just released their latest record.
Dropping their seventh studio LP, These Are The Good Days, on Friday, 27 March, they’re still as busy as ever, both in the studio and when it comes to performing live.
In recent times, they’ve once again become a bit of a festival favourite, as multiple generations know every word to those famous choruses.
And now, 20 years on from signing their first record deal, the lads will be playing those same hits and plenty more for what is set to be one big Scouting for Girls celebration.
They’re even bringing along a fellow throwback outfit with them, in the form of The Hoosiers. Can’t lie, we still listen to ‘Goodbye Mr A’ and the rest of the FIFA 08 soundtrack pretty often.
Writing on social media, the band said: “This is going to be a proper 20th birthday party — ALL of album one, all the favourites, huge sing-alongs, massive nostalgia, and the biggest nights we’ve ever done.
🎸 @Scouting4Girls celebrate their 20th anniversary with a huge Manchester show!
Manchester marks Scouting For Girls’ only confirmed show outside of London in 2027 so far, although we imagine there’ll be plenty of appeal for more dates in no time.
Visiting the city six times since 2020 alone, they clearly still enjoy playing up here, and judging by the reaction from the Audio North team, the love for them hasn’t gone anywhere either.
Scouting For Girls arrive in Manchester on 12 February next year, with the mailing presale window (via their website) going live at 10am on Tuesday, 31 March.
As for general admission tickets, they’ll be available from the same time the following Tuesday, 2 April; you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
They’re not the only nostalgic name visiting Greater Manchester for a milestone show either – and you don’t have to wait until next year to see these lads up close and personal:
Georgina Pellant -
12th June 2023 
