A bar in the centre of Manchester is giving away free pies and pints this Friday to celebrate the start of the Easter long weekend.
Turning Good Friday into ‘Good Pie-Day’, accessible archway theatre bar 53Two has teamed up with award-winning Bolton pie makers H.M. Pasties and Manchester-made Brightside beer to kick start the Bank Holiday in style.
From 5.30pm this Friday, the team will be giving away free food and drink to the first 50 people through 53Two’s doors.
The bar at 53Two under the arches. / Image: Brightside Beer
There’ll be something for everybody, with vegan-friendly bottles and cans provided by Manchester brewery Brightside and a choice of different pie fillings courtesy of H.M Pasties – who ust won the overall vegan category for their chickpea curry pasty at the British Pie Awards last month.
If you’ve not yet made it down to this quirky little indie theatre bar with its baby grand piano, upcycled furniture and cosy book-lined nooks, well, we think a free pie and pint offers the perfect excuse.
A relative newcomer to Manchester’s bar scene, arts charity 53Two opened its doors under the city’s railway arches last summer and has made waves in improving Manchester‘s reputation for accessibility by training all of its staff in basic sign language skills.
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Image: 53Two
The team here can take orders and explain the menu to hearing-impaired guests, whilst tactile card reader pads have been installed for partially sighted customers, and all of the bar tables are designed at a level that allows wheelchairs to fit underneath comfortably
There’s also a lowered bar space and till for wheelchair access, making the new bar and arts hub one of the most accessible venue in Manchester by a mile.
And as well as operating as a theatre bar, 53Two also runs an ‘artists members club’ – meaning that, after 11pm, those working in the cultural sector are able to enter via a secret ‘members entrance’ for a late night post-work drink.
It also hosts a range of events in its second archway and, as a charity, supports diversity and gender equality in the arts, so know that when you spend your money here it’s going to a good place.
To find out more about 53Two and its various comedy, theatre and music nights, live podcasts and quizzes, visit its website here.
Feature image – 53Two
News
Manchester reveals FREE programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to mark International Women’s Day this weekend with a packed programme of free events.
In case you didn’t know, this Sunday (8 March) is International Women’s Day, with cities worldwide will be marking the important day in a series of different ways – and Manchester is no different.
Just as it chose to last year, the city has once again decided not to host its popular and once-annual ‘Walk For Women’ event, that used to see hundreds parade through the city centre in the name of equality, and instead organise a programme of events that both honour the importance of the event globally and this year’s theme.
Each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, whilst also marking a call-to-action for accelerating gender equality.
Join us on Saturday 7 March at Central Library to celebrate International Women’s Day. 💜
Expect storytelling, performances, creative workshops, women’s history exhibitions, a keynote speech and more.
This year in Manchester, Manchester City Council is encouraging everyone to join for a community celebration co‑designed by local women, offering a space to appreciate women’s contributions, meet new people committed to lifting each other up, learn something new, get creative, and ultimately, find inspiration for the future.
Some of the events organised throughout the day – which will all take place at Manchester Central Library the day before IWD 2026 on Saturday 7 March – include a storytelling activity for women to share their personal stories, a special spoken word piece performed by a member of the IWD Co-design group, choirs and poetry performances, and even fireside ‘chats’ among other things.
There’ll also be a range of different events designed especially for mums and children, like the ‘Mums Matter’ wellbeing workshops, offering time to focus on your emotional wellbeing and mental health, and children’s drop-in sessions.
Manchester Central Library is hosting a wide range of IWD 2026 events this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group
You can also expect a selection of stalls by commissioned services and partner organisations promoting different services, and a period product donation point to tackle period poverty across Greater Manchester.
Everybody is invited to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester, not just women, and even children are able to attend some of the events too, as people of all ages are welcome.
Manchester’s International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations are taking place throughout the day on Saturday 7 March, and you can find out more and book here.
Featured Image – Marko Milivojevic (via Pixnio)
News
Three men jailed after armed robbery in Trafford left teenage boy with ‘serious injuries’
Emily Sergeant
Three men have been jailed after an armed robbery and stabbing left in Trafford left a teenage boy with ‘serious injuries’.
The incident in question occurred shortly after 3am on Sunday 27 November 2022, when a 15-year-old boy – the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons – was at a cash machine on Upper Chorlton Road, in Trafford, and he noticed a black BMW drive past him, before making a U-turn and pulling up on the other side of the road.
As the boy set off on his scooter, the vehicle sped past him and cut him off.
Before he knew it, three men jumped out of the car and then proceeded to rob him at knifepoint – during which the boy was stabbed twice, and £120 was taken from him, before the offenders made off.
The 15-year-old was rushed to hospital, where he was required to undergo emergency surgery before being stabilised.
Police described the incident as an ‘unprovoked attack on a young boy’.
Following a thorough Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigation, led by DC Marie-Louise Knight of Trafford CID, the offenders were identified as Callum Henson and Harry Jackson, both from Manchester, and Bailey Mann from Northampton.
Henson was sentenced to five years and six months for robbery and Section 20 assault, and Jackson was sentenced to four years and 10 months for Section 18 assault, while Mann was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institute for robbery, due to being under 18 years of age.
Speaking following the sentencing of the three men, DC Knight said: “I am grateful that [Henson, Jackson, and Mann] have now faced justice for their actions, not only for ourselves from an investigation side, but also for the victim and his family who were left shaken following this incident.
“These sentencings show that we will not tolerate this type of violent crime.
Georgina Pellant -
13th April 2022 
