Some of Manchester city centre’s best-loved pubs have been out of action for most of 2021 thanks to the ongoing restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
They aren’t the only ones who’ve been out of action though.
Singletons who were previously used to playing the dating game and “shooting their shots” in person have had to embrace a year of video dates, cold winter walks and rain-soaked evenings, but next week, as ‘Step Three’ in the government’s roadmap to lifting lockdown commences – which crucially allows hospitality to reopen for indoor service – the chance to meet their match in real life will return ready for the summer.
Looking for the best places in Manchester to hit up? Global dating app, happn, has picked out the top 10 Manchester boozers for daters to pack-out from 17th May.
happn – a location-based social search mobile app – uses geolocation technology to give users the chance to find the people they’ve crossed paths with, like or dislike those people, and then subsequently chat if both parties like each other.
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The list is made up of Manchester’s hottest spots for “singles to meet singles”.
Top 10 Manchester Pubs to Meet Singles
The Briton’s Protection, Great Bridgewater Street
The Old Nag’s Head, Jackson’s Row
Grey Horse Inn, Portland Street
The Knott, Deansgate
Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, Cathedral Gates
Mother’s Mac, Back Piccadilly
The Molly House, Richmond Street
The Castle Hotel, Oldham Street
The Wharf, Slate Wharf
The Angel, Angel Street
Do you agree with this list? Had better luck elsewhere over the years?
Now that we’ve got the list of the city’s best matchmaking boozers out the way, happn has also revealed some top tips for singles who are to brush up on their flirting techniques, which you can have a read of here.
Speaking ahead of the reopening of indoor hospitality on 17th May, Marine Ravinet – Head of Trends at happn – said: “Singles may be feeling all kinds of emotions in the lead up to more freedom, and not all of these will be positive ones.
“What’s to be understood is that you’re not alone in this.
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“Nervousness is to be expected [and] what we do know is that time waits for no one so enjoy the moment and live in it – If not now, when?”
Featured Image – Freepik
Manchester
James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Emily Sergeant -
14th May 2021 
