Manchester club night Swing Ting is ending after 13 years
Swing Ting has been an integral part of the fabric of Manchester’s underground music scene for over a decade. Now it's coming to an end, but there's time for one more dance
After thirteen years of throwing dances in the city, Manchester party, label, and club night Swing Ting is preparing to hold its last.
Known for playing a huge mix of genres from afro bashment and UK funky, to old school garage, soca, bassline, funk, and soul – the iconic Swing Ting parties will officially come to an end in December, with the date of the final dance set for Saturday, December 18.
First founded in 2008 by Ruben Platt and Balraj Samrai, like many a good Manchester club night Swing Ting began life as a radio show and series of student house parties before becoming a ‘proper’ club night.
Moving through many different incarnations over the years, after outgrowing student housing the dances graduated to a tiny place on Oxford Road called Scubar (now a church), before moving to a night at The Attic, then a karaoke bar called Charlie’s, before finally settling down in the Soup Kitchen basement – hosting regular monthly nights from 2011-2019.
Swing Ting at its Soup Kitchen basement home, where it played near-monthly club nights for almost a decade / Image: Swing Ting Swing Ting founders outside ScuBar, where it all began / Image: Louis Reynolds / Swing Ting
Its founders also launched a record label in 2014, building up an international profile with a slew of global releases and shows that saw them gain recognition from Resident Advisor and be awarded FACT Magazine’s label of the year gong in 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
But now, it’s been confirmed the party, club night, and label id ending for good in 2022 – with the team breaking the news on social media on Thursday.
The post said: “Saturday 18th December 2021 at SOUP will be the last Swing Ting party. Following this event, Swing Ting productions, promotions and label releases will come to a close in 2022.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s been an amazing 13 years and we never knew how much we’d be able to achieve! We feel now is the right time to bid farewell. Massive thank you to everyone who’s supported us in any way whatsoever.”
Samrai, Jon K and Chunky at Swing Ting’s home Charlie’s in 2011 / Image: Swing TingFounders Balraj and Samrai outside Charlie’s, Swing Ting’s home from 2010 to 2011 / Image: Louis Reynolds
Loyal fans of the label, club night, and collective were quick to share their sadness as the news, with many pouring into the comments.
Fellow Manchester musician Jenna G said: “Amazing stretch, huge respect to ya’ll can’t wait to see what comes next for everyone.”
ADVERTISEMENT
BPM founder Tunde Adekoya also commented, saying: “One of the Manchester goat’s… will forever live in our hearts and minds ♾. Looking forward to all your futures.”
The flyer for the last Swing Ting dance, which takes place in December 2021 / Image: Swing Ting
Over the past thirteen years, Swing Ting became an integral part of Manchester’s underground music scene – with its founders passionately channeling soundsystem navigation, throwing some mega parties, and producing some anthemic tracks under the Swing Ting moniker.
Launched at a time when the clubbing scene in the city looked very different from how it does today, Swing brought together huge swathes of the city’s underground scene – championing a huge mix of genres and encouraging the careers of up and coming local artists.
Saturday, 18 December will see the collective throw its last party in the Soup Kitchen basement before they bring their musical partnership to a close in 2022.
An entirely resident-led affair, doors will open at 9.30pm and close at 4am. Tickets will be £5 on the door or £3 for members.
Feature image – Swing Ting
Manchester
‘Big John’ is bringing his ‘BOSH’ bingo to Manchester
Danny Jones
Attention, all you ‘Big John’ lovers, the man himself is coming to Manchester this year for his very own ‘BOSH Bingo’ show.
Excessively large takeaway order not included*
That’s right, ‘Big John’ Fisher has gone from being a viral sensation famous for eating shedloads of Chinese and saying that one catchphrase to hosting his very own live bingo tour.
Even by his standards, his announcement video was an eye-catching one, to say the least – and we expect the event itself to be equally hilarious.
— big john the boshfather (@Johnfis08605918) January 7, 2026
For anyone somehow unfamiliar with ‘The Boshfather’, there isn’t a single sentence that isn’t completely accurate, and that doesn’t sum up pretty much everything you need to know about the man, the myth, the legend.
Besides his son, Johnny Fisher Jr., being an aspiring boxer and fellow influencer on the side, as well as having appeared on Newsnight to talk about the UK’s multiculturalism being what makes this ‘Great Britain’ (legend), his legacy will very much be written online and on the back of a take-out menu.
Or will it?…
Riding the back of his growing popularity and being quite literally the physical representation of a British bulldog, he’s now preparing to do live shows all over the country.
Set up at the start of the New Year, the 51-year-old will be heading to Manchester city centre and more throughout 2026 for his debut BOSH Bingo tour.
Visiting 12 locations in total, he is promising “rave intervals, on stage competitions, ‘bosh’ prizes and, of course, a sprinkle of chicken balls for good measure.”
Put simply, not only the chaos of everyone’s favourite Bongo’s, “This is not your average bingo night, it’s BOSH BINGO!”
Sounds ridiculous… We’re SO there.
Coming to The Grosvenor on Oxford Road on 21 February, before heading to the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield, just to name a few, you can grab your tickets right HERE.
Let’s just say there’s some very silly but nevertheless fun and fantastic stuff happening in town this year.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (via Bosh Bingo Events)/The Manc Group
Manchester
Three children sustain ‘serious injuries’ after falling from top deck window of school bus
Emily Sergeant
Three children have sustained ‘potentially serious injuries’ after falling out of a window on the top deck of a double-decker school bus in Greater Manchester.
The shocking incident happened shortly before 4pm yesterday afternoon (7 January 2026) on Bolton Road, in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area, and according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the children sustained ‘potentially serious injuries’ in the process, although they are not thought to be life-threatening.
An investigation into the incident is currently in the early stages, but GMP Inspector Simon Barrie said in a statement that it appeared to be an ‘unfortunate accident’.
“This is a serious incident that will cause disruption,” Inspector Barrie said. “Our priority is to make sure the children get the treatment they need in hospital. Thankfully we don’t believe their injuries are life-threatening.
“This does appear to be an unfortunate accident at this time, but we will be making enquiries as to the circumstances and liaising with partners.”
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) also confirmed that said it is ‘working closely’ with the bus operator in supporting police with their enquiries into the incident.”: “Our thoughts are with those injured and we want to wish them a speedy recovery.
“Emergency services remain at the scene, and we are working closely with the bus operator in supporting police with their enquiries into the incident.”
It’s believed, according to Councillor Danny Fletcher, of the Ashton-on-Makerfield South ward – who posted to Facebook after speaking to police – that the young people fell from a top floor-side window of a school bus and were subsequently taken to Manchester Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Georgina Pellant -
19th November 2021 
