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.
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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.
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“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.”
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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
Inside Mollie’s Motel and Diner in Manchester as beautiful new hotel opens with rooms from just £109
Daisy Jackson
Mollie’s Motel & Diner has arrived in Manchester, with beautiful hotel rooms from just £109 plus a retro diner serving American classics.
The space has taken over five floors of the iconic Old Granada Studios down at St John’s, with interior design that celebrates the building’s history.
Mid-century modern details like dark woods, textured upholstery, and retro lamps abound in this stylish new opening for Manchester.
Soho House Design has worked on the build of Mollie’s Motel to preserve the modernist facade of Old Granada Studios and make playful nods to the building’s vibrant history.
This is particularly obvious downstairs in Studio IV, a cocktail bar with a live music stage, where vintage TVs have been inserted over the bar and guests sink into plush couches for pre-dinner drinks.
You can already check out Mollie’s Diner, which is open now (with a decent discount for its launch – more on that below), with the Mollie’s Motel bedrooms set to launch early 2026.
The hotel rooms at Mollie’s Motel Manchester
A bunk room at Mollie’s Motel ManchesterA Mollie’s Motel suiteAnd a tub with a viewThe bedrooms are all beautifully designed
Hotel rooms at Mollie’s Manchester start from an incredibly reasonable £109, with different size and spec bedrooms and suites for guests.
There are cosy bunk rooms where up to four guests can tuck into their own bunk pods, suites that have their own Peleton room, and cosy double bedrooms with gorgeous views of the southern side of the city.
Regardless of the level (or price) of your chosen room, you’ll have the same design detailing (dark wood panelling, terrazzo and aged brass finishes), plus rainshowers, a super king bed, Dyson hairdryers, GHD straighteners and Cowshed toiletries.
Mollie’s Diner in Manchester
Mollie’s Diner is open nowBreakfast dishes at Mollie’s DinerBurgers and fried chicken at Mollie’s DinerClassic thick milkshakes
The diner space itself looks like it’s been lifted straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with deep burgundy leather banquettes, counter seating, and globe pendant lights.
It’s all been inspired by the interior of a vintage Cadillac, and has space to 110 diners plus private dining for 30.
As for food and drink, you can expect everything from waffles and French toast to huge burgers and steaks, with thick milkshakes to wash it down.
You can get 50% off food if you book Mollie’s Diner HERE.
The rest of the spaces in Mollie’s Motel & Diner, Manchester
Studio IV cocktail barStudio IV cocktail barThe library snug
As you enter this reimagined building, you’re plunged straight into its design-led vision, with couches and cosy corners everywhere.
The communal reception space has a library snug, coffee counter, and beautiful bar, but you head downstairs you’ll find the real treat – Studio IV.
This beautiful bar is built around a magnificent central bar, with retro TV screens above it and scalloped leather bar stools surrounding it.
There’s a mid-century-era stage, too, which will host live entertainment to a crowd gathered on couches before it.
You can get 25% off signature cocktails in Studio IV if you pre-book HERE.
Erling Haaland dresses up as Santa and hands out Christmas presents in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Manchester City star Erling Haaland has doubled as Father Christmas in his latest YouTube stunt, dressing up as Santa and handing out presents to local kids in the new episode.
We’re starting to think he might be one of the most likeable footballers on the planet right now.
The Norwegian footballer recently surpassed Alan Shearer’s ‘fastest to 100 goals record’ in the Premier League and has been well and truly back to his best as Man City continue to rediscover their form, but the big blonde number nine has been delighting both on and off the pitch of late.
For starters, even before any of the season’s givings began, we got the giggle just from our first glimpse of the thumbnail.
Yes, Haaland definitely has a habit of leaning into the humorous side of his celebrity status, having already dressed up as the Joker for Halloween in one of the first episodes published on his still relatively new YouTube channel.
However, the 25-year-old got up to some more heartwarming activities this time around, swapping the face paint, green wig and stripey suit for a red coat, hat, some little glasses and a big white beard.
With the video itself showing him getting into character and loading his car with a sack full of presents, he then goes on to visit multiple houses to dish out the surprise gifts.
While the title and description state that he drove around the streets of 0161, it’s hard to tell where exactly he went, but we’d guess it was more around Alderley Edge and/or the Cheshire side of the Greater Manchester borders.
One particular interaction between the disguised Blue and a young Red certainly produced a harmless little bit of comedy…
Either way, on the whole, this particular instalment was more wholesome than it was funny, and it’s always nice to see sports personalities and famous people spreading kindness.
Obviously, not everyone can afford to be as generous as a Premier League and world-famous international athlete, but it’s nevertheless a nice touch.
Georgina Pellant -
19th November 2021 
