A new monthly travelling food festival is set to launch in Wythenshawe later this month, bringing some of Greater Manchester’s best street food traders to the south Manchester neighbourhood.
Featuring local traders, pop-up brewery bars, take-home produce stalls and a stacked stage of entertainment, the new monthly event will come from original Manchester street food festival favourites Grub.
Teaming up with Manchester City Council, the new Grub Carnival will bring top local food traders to every corner of the region – popping up at a new location in Greater Manchester every month.
The first event will take place outside the former Wythenshawe indoor market on Saturday, 23 July, with street food stalls from non-traditional dumpling purveyors Desert Island Dumplings, burger purveryors Rad Burger and Italian foodies Il Forno.
Go Thief have been confirmed as one of the first festival’s traders. / Image: Supplied
Desert Island Dumplings will also be in attendance. / Image: Supplied
Further traders confirmed for the first festival include The Neighbourhood Coop, Thief Street Grill & Waffle, The Chaat Walas, tiramisu heroes Paradiso Authentic Italian and Marzipan Mcr.
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That’s not all, either. There’ll be a mini-produce market full of goodies from local independent food and drink producers, too, and a fully-stocked beer bar showing off the best summer pours from Manchester’s breweries.
The Grub Carnival bar will be stacked with craft beer from the likes of North West brewers like Vocation Brewery, Squawk Brew Co. Rivington Brew Co and many more, plus the Runaway Brewery team will be there in person pouring and talking about their beers.
Grub’s home at Red Bank in the Green Quarter. / Image: Grub
Elsewhere, there’ll be a range of cocktails, mocktails, wines and soft drinks to enjoy, a Grub Carnival tent hosting a stage full of live entertainment and DJs, and lawn games keep the kids (and adults) amused.
Grub is also reaching out to the Wythenshawe community to collaborate and offer support through their ‘School Of Grub’ scheme, a free-to-attend workshop presented by successful street food traders giving real life advice on how to get started in the business.
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The best prospects from those workshops will then get free mentoring from Grub and a leg up to get to their first street food gig.
Grub also wants to hear from local businesses, residents, artists, musicians and community groups who might want to support or get involved in the event. If that sounds like you then please drop them an email using the address [email protected].
Jason Bailey, Director of Grub, said: ” We’re really excited about taking what we do back to what it is all about and thats markets that benefit the community
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“It’s amazing to have the opportunity to bring this smashing new market to Wythenshawe and we can’t wait to bring folk together to have a great time.
“We’ve got big hopes that this event is just the start of great things happening in Wythenshawe”.
GRUB Carnival kicks off Saturday 23 July at 12 noon and runs until 8pm. The event is free entry, no tickets are needed and all comers including families and dogs are welcome.
Full details of the event can be found on the event page here. The event can be found at Wythenshawe Civic Centre, Rowlandsway, Wythenshawe M22 5RG.
Feature image – Supplied
News
Charli XCX announces massive Manchester arena gig as part of long-awaited UK and European tour
Emily Sergeant
Charli XCX has finally given UK fans the news they’ve been waiting for.
After the genre-bending popstar announced back in June a series of US gigs this autumn to support and celebrate the release of her eighth studio albumMusic, Fashion, Film – which was met with critical acclaim following its release in late July – fans in her home country were wondering when she would announce UK dates to accompany these.
The 34-year-old been had hinting at a UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour on social media over the past couple of months, but nothing was set in stone as of yet.
Then last night, Charli took to Twitter to announce that she ‘finally’ had some information coming today (11 September), and then followed it up with a teaser video – sending fans into a frenzy.
And now, it has been announced this morning that Charli XCX will be taking to the Co-op Live stage early next year.
Support on the UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour will come from US popstar Audrey Hobert.
Hobert has been having somewhat of a star-making year herself in 2026 following the release of her own critically acclaimed debut album, Who’s The Clown?, last year – with her streams racking up daily and drawing in massive crowds on the festival circuit this summer.
Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film Tour UK & EU Dates 2027
13 February – 3Arena, Dublin
15 February – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
17 February – Co-op Live, Manchester
19 February – The O2, London
22 February – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
24 February – Accor Arena, Paris
Upon release back in July, Music, Fashion, Film the album received acclaim from music critics, who praised its lyrical honesty and experimental production, as Charli took a sonic journey away from the undeniable mega hit that was her 2024 album BRAT, and into ‘Rock Music’ territory.
Music, Fashion, Film topped the charts in the UK and Australia, as well as in Belgium, Hungary, and New Zealand, while reaching the top 10 in countless other countries – including the US.
Charli XCX will be bringing the Music, Fashion, Film Tour to Manchester‘s Co-op Live on Wednesday 17 February 2027, and tickets will go on sale next week.
Featured Image – Henry Redcliffe (Publicity Picture)
News
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 opening date announced – including new spots
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Christmas Markets are merely months away, and the opening date and important details for 2026’s return have been announced.
It’s official… holidays are coming, and the countdown is on.
Just as we do every year, the Greater Manchester public has been eagerly awaiting news of when the city’s iconic Christmas Markets would be making a comeback for the 2026 festive season. And now, Manchester City Council has announced – initially via the MEN – that the famous wooden huts will be lining the city’s streets once again from the first week in November.
Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bring thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and to soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.
This year will see a bigger return of Albert Square, after the headline-grabbing partial return at last year’s event, with the big wheel also set to make a comeback.
The Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 return date has officially been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr
And there’s also set to be some new locations too for 2026, with Lincoln Square joining in on the action this year.
There will also be big changes to St Ann’s Square this year, according to the Council, with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’ bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.
There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre.
There’s officially eight weeks to go until the iconic wooden huts line the streets / Credit: Manchester City Council
Promising to be plenty on offer for seasonal shoppers of all ages, it has been confirmed that 2026 will see the iconic wooden ski chalet market stalls take over Albert Square, Lincoln Square, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, and Market Street.
Of course, everyone’s favourite big red legend, Zippy Santa, will also be back this year, although his location has not been set in stone just yet, so stay tuned.
“There’s nowhere that does Christmas quite like Manchester,” commented Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council.
“The return of Christmas festivities last year to Albert Square was a triumph and we’re looking to build on this success with a fantastic festive offer there again this year that is sure to be a hit with everyone who visits.
“Our legendary Christmas markets draw thousands upon thousands of visitors every year from right around the world and this year’s markets look set to be the very best yet, with a brand-new location in Lincoln Square just around the corner from Albert Square, and a brand-new look and even more stalls in St Ann’s Square.”
He concluded: “Christmas in Manchester will be absolutely magical this year and we can’t wait to welcome everyone and celebrate the festive season with them.”
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 will officially open across the city on Friday 6 November and close on Tuesday 22 December – with the exception of Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, which will remain open right through until Sunday 3 January.
Georgina Pellant -
1st July 2022 
