A number of arrests have been made following reports of a fight in Piccadilly Gardens one night earlier this week.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that officers from the City Centre policing team responded to reports of a fight in Piccadilly Gardens at around 9:54pm on Tuesday (19 May 2026), and when they arrived at the scene, they discovered multiple people with stab wounds.
A man in his 20s was found at the scene by police with stab wounds and was taken to hospital for treatment.
A second man, in his 50s, was located nearby with a stab wound to his arm and was also taken to hospital, and a third man, also in his 20s, later attended Manchester Royal Infirmary with a stab wound to his back.
All three men have been arrested on suspicion of affray, GMP stated.
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Officers do not believe there to be a wider threat to the public at this time, however the public is being told there will be an ‘increased police presence’ in the area as a precaution.
As enquiries continue at pace, detectives from the City of Manchester CID team are now appealing for information and witnesses.
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“The use of knives or violence in our communities is completely unacceptable,” commented Detective Superintendent Ian McNabb, of GMP’s City of Manchester Central District. “Incidents like this are incredibly serious and can have devastating consequences.
“Our officers are working tirelessly in the city centre and across Greater Manchester to tackle this kind of offending and keep people safe.
“We will be relentless in our efforts to remove knives from our streets and to bring those who carry or use them to justice to prevent incidents like this happening.”
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Can you help? Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, or via LiveChat online, quoting log 3667 of 19/05/2026.
Featured Image – GMP
City Centre
A dedicated anime, movie and gaming concert with a live orchestra is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Calling all self-proclaimed otakus, cinephiles and gamers: a huge concert experience will see dozens of musicians bring classic anime, film and gaming soundtracks and scores to life later this year, right here in Manchester.
The city is no stranger to events celebrating these beloved kinds of media, but you’ll struggle to find another bringing all of them together in one place.
Brought to us Mancs by KIN Music Entertainment, a locally founded arts, events and music label, this celebration of all things pop culture – and specifically, the music tied to it.
Entitled ‘The Kin & Fushigi Anime, Film & Videogame Orchestra’, this passionate collective serves as not only a platform for rising artists but also to hear some iconic sonic moments like never before.
KIN have created a large-scale live concert experience which will bring together a 25-piece pop orchestra made up of emerging professional performers and conservatoire graduates.
Aside from the impressive total of people behind this production to begin with, they also form an immersive hybrid orchestral and live band capable of bringing.
Speaking on the upcoming date, KIN Entertainment said in a statement: “We wanted to create the kind of live experience that many anime and videogame fans in Manchester have been waiting for — something cinematic, emotional and community-driven that brings these sound worlds to life with the energy of both an orchestra and a live band.”
Kin was founded by bassist, composer and ensemble performer Alejandro Urbina Diaz, who first brought his talents and wider interests over from Mexico to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) here in the city centre at the age of 23.
Citing Manchester’s multiculturalism and cosmopolitan cultural fabric as a big part of his inspiration, he and his team have ended up carving out this niche for themselves, and now they’ll be playing this beloved music to Mancs at none other than the O2 Ritz.
Credit: KIN Music Entertainment (supplied via Academy Music Group Digital)
With new arrangements inspired by anime, cinematic and videogame culture, not to mention orchestral and even rock crossover twists – including both vocalist and rhythm sections, by the way – it’s set to be a highly unique experience that most will have never come across before.
This event itself is suitable for audiences aged 14+, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s taking place at the Ritz on Sunday, 26 July.
We’re not going to spoil any more details about the show for you, so which particular pieces of pop culture they reference will just have to be a surprise…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AMG Digital)
City Centre
The best Mexican restaurants in and around Manchester
Danny Jones
Whenever we have a bit of decent weather here in Greater Manchester, we always imagine what it must be like for those abroad, just sitting and eating their national dishes al fresco without a care in the world; think, say, Mexican food – a.k.a. one of THE best kinds of cuisine on the planet.
Yes, pound for pound, it’s probably one of our go-tos.
Somewhat inspired by one of The Hoot team recently visiting the country, and partly because we personally can’t get enough of it, we thought we’d give you another one of our famous foodie round-ups.
We’re not sure where exactly it lands in our top five favourites, but what we can do is tell you some of the best Mexican food in central Manchester and a little further afield. ‘¡Venga!’
Top 10 Mexican restaurants in Greater Manchester
1. Madre – Kampus
Up first, where else to start than with the marvellous Madre over Kampus. This Modern Mexican restaurant isn’t just one of the best within its genre, but is arguably up there with the best Latin food in all of Manchester.
Whether you want to stick to menu staples like those crispy pork belly bites and chicken wings, are happy sticking with their tacos, wings and margaritas at sister bar Salon Madre, or perhaps fancy trying their Hispanic Sunday roasts and even a deep-fried pig head, you won’t find a bad mouthful.
Since opening early in the summer of 2025, El Piloto over at Society food and beer hangout has gradually carved a credible little culinary corner for itself, standing out as one of the best vendors of the bunch – and there’s plenty of great competition within that 8,000-square-foot independent trader hall.
Best known for their tacos, but also specialising in other authentic, more roadside-friendly favourites like charred corn ribs, our personal favourites are those chipotle hash browns, not to mention some great quesadillas, we’re big fans of this place.
3. Don Tacos – Piccaddilly, Rusholme and Bolton
Sticking with tacos, they may do plenty of street food, but Don Tacos is still one of the best-known Mexican restaurants in all of Greater Manchester, now boasting a pair of central sites, plus one over in Bolton, not to mention a couple of others across the country now.
Whether you’re after brilliant birra, quesadillas that are just the right amount of greasy (yes, there is an ideal level), Korean twists on tacos, or just some really good barbacoa, you can’t go wrong here. They’ve also featured on our very own Takeaway Champions series, and we can confirm it travels well.
Credit: The Manc Group
4. Birria Brothers – Northern Quarter
Speaking of birria, we can’t go an inch further without singing the praises of NQ legends, Birra Bros, who are posted up in one half of Koffee Pot over on Oldham Street and serve as the perfect transition from breakfast and dinner into tea.
Getting a bit posher now, you won’t find many places as pretty and transportive as Ocasa: the contemporary restaurant and bar bringing “Mexico City soul with Manchester heart”; their words, not ours, but having now tried this place a few times, we’re certainly feeling the love.
Aside from the stunning space itself, this noon-until-midnight venue – 1am on Fridays and Saturdays – specialises in elevated Mexican dishes such as guajillo beef shortrib, some of the best nachos you’ll ever eat, and traditional tortas (think very good sandwiches). It’s also great when the sun goes down here…
Whilst we’re on venues that thrive just as much when it comes to their nightlife as their main menu, there’s much more than just food and drink on offer at Maracas: arguably one of the liveliest spots in all of Salford. There’s also much more than just Mexican classics to enjoy
Located underneath the recognisable Chapel Street arches just on the edge of the city and just over the road from The Lowry Hotel, this is another day-into-night venue that you visit not just for hearty Latin American eats, but for drinks, dancing, and pure vibes. They even do guided language exchanges.
7. Pico’s Tacos – Mackie Mayor, Altrincham and mobile
From a cult favourite cantina among various Latino cultures here in central Manchester, to one of the best indie vendors and food hatches in the city centre, and its equally popular Trafford partner over at Alty Market: the one and only Pico’s Tacos.
Much more than just what the name would suggest, not only do they create some great and unique takes on taco flavours, but they’ll also do one of THE best margaritas in town – they’re super zingy and go great with the spicy rim – not to mention you can now get burritos from their van currently on Oxford Rd.
Since we’re heading further afield, let’s wing our way over to Stockport and one of the very few Mexican restaurants you’ll find in the town centre, sitting pretty on the edge of the marketplace and historic Old Town district; this particular writer actually used to work there when it was the old Blackshaw’s cafe…
While they’ve still kept the original building name, pride of place above the entrance, the food now being served here is way different compared to a few years ago – now they have a great selection of tequila, nail tacos, have a lovely charred and breadcrumbed hispi cabbage, and even do all-day brunch.
Sticking in the SK direction, we’re heading to the Heatons for our second-to-last stop on this Mexican restaurant tour of Manchester, where 113 MCR is not only plating up a reminder to Stopfordians that they ARE, in fact, part of Greater Manchester rather than Cheshire these days, but some great food, too.
Sharing a name with the previous entry, this place is technically three in one: two kitchens, all under one roof – La Capilla and Roost – with 113 bar serving as the third, and they offer everything from cheesy birria tacos to frozen margs, signature cocktails, boozy shakes, and DJs until late over the weekends.
Last but not least, we wanted to show our love to a locally-run restaurant over in Fallowfield that is simply called The Mexican. Sat along Wilmslow Road as you venture into ‘student central’, just before you get the iconic 256 bar, this family-friendly spot has plenty of charm and very solid scran.
We don’t know how much of it is down to the affordable and filling food, the colourful decor inside, or them sticking their adorable son Hugo on socials to guilt trip you into coming a support a Manc businesses, but it all works on us. Even if you only fancy ordering one of their burritos for delivery, do it.
Now, before we wrap this thing up, we couldn’t call it a day without shouting out the likes of the more grab-and-go type venues like Listo, Pancho’s and Casa Mexica, just to name a handful.
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Then you’ve got the likes of other beloved street food vendors like El Jefe Birria, Fuego 1987, and you know what? Beloved British chain Barburrito started right here in Manchester, and we’re damn proud of it, too – it still SLAPS no matter how big they get.
We’re even enjoying Cane and Grain’s current Latin menu over on Thomas Street, and we sincerely hope it sticks around for a long time.
Emily Sergeant -
21st May 2026 
