Wing Fest, aka the biggest chicken wing festival in the UK, is returning to Manchester this August from its new home at the Love Factory.
Championing street food traders and restauranteurs from across the UK, over the course of the weekend there’ll be more than 100,000 drums and flats churned out from kitchens as they compete for the titles of Best Buffalo Wing, Best Wild Wing, and the Best BBQ Wing, a brand-new category for 2023.
Taking place this year on 12 and 13 August, this year will see the introduction of a new format inspired by the classic beer festival.
Organisers have taken on feedback from previous years about queue waits, and for 2023 Manchester Wing Fest will be divided into sessions with reduced capacity – starting with a Saturday afternoon, followed by an evening session, then finishing with a bang on Sunday afternoon.
This means less time waiting, more wings, and a more seamless festival experience. Expect profound poultry eating, music thumping, axe throwing, beer and bourbon drinking of epic proportion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Guests can expect a seriously saucy line-up for 2023, with wings from returning champs Eat The Bird, and local favourites Yard & Coop.
Wings at this year’s London event. / Image: Wing Fest
Image: Wing Fest
For those wanting wings from further afield, Poor Boys will be showcasing flavours from the big smoke, alongside Birmingham wing slingers, Filthy Wings.
ADVERTISEMENT
All traders will be competing to win your vote and guarantee their spot in the Hall of Flame, chicken wing fans will have the opportunity to cast their votes across each of the two categories.
Wing Fest’s legendary competitions will be held on both days, and it’s set to get seriously heated with the deadly Lava Wing Challenge.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hosted by Clifton Chilli Club, it’s the UK’s hottest wing challenge, renowned for the carnage it causes and strictly for the brave. If you’re a true wing aficionado, then it’s time for the Sweet Baby Ray’s Wing Eating competition hosted by Food Review Club.
Competitors who are hungry enough compete against each other to see who can eat the most chicken wings in the fastest time – easily the messiest spectacle across the two days.
Not just a festival for Wing aficionados, expect plenty of beer from Tiny Rebel, some of the best bourbon around from Horse With No Name, and whiskey from Jameson Black Barrel.
Entertainment includes axe throwing, beer puppeteers, chicken pinatas, and donut eating challenges, alongside live music – best enjoyed with a wing or two in hand.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tickets are on sale now from £21 (entry is free for under 12s) and can be purchased via the Wing Fest website here.
Featured image – Wing Fest
News
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie issues statement after Co-op Live cancels gig at the last minute
Daisy Jackson
Hip hop star A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has issued a statement after his Co-op Live gig was cancelled with just minutes to go.
The rapper was meant to be opening the huge venue tonight after several delays, which have included Peter Kay and The Black Keys postponing.
It looked like the doors would actually open today, but Co-op Live announced the show’s cancellation just minutes before fans were meant to head inside.
The 23,500-capacity venue blamed ‘a venue-related technical issue’.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie himself has now released a statement about the last-minute cancellation of his gig.
He wrote: “Something happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck today that caused cancellation of the show.
“We are working on rescheduling in the next few days.
“I’m heated about the situation too but safety first Manchester I got you, just stay tuned for further info.”
Co-op Live was meant to open with Peter Kay on 23 April, after a test event with Rick Astley the previous weekend.
But due to technical issues Peter Kay was rescheduled, and then postponed again, with The Black Keys also rescheduled.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has released a statement after his Co-op Live gig was cancelled. Credit: The Manc Group
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was supposed to be the first official act to play at the massive new Manchester arena.
But fans were turned away from Co-op Live at the eleventh hour today.
The venue said in a statement: “Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead.
“We kindly ask fans to leave the area.
“Ticket holders will receive further information in due course.
“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
Further information for fans affected by the cancellation will follow soon.
Featured image: Publicity picture
News
Co-op Live cancels opening night gig – after fans have already arrived at the arena
Daisy Jackson
Co-op Live has suddenly cancelled its opening night gig, asking all fans to leave the area.
The huge Manchester venue was finally ready to open the doors for the first official gig – A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – tonight.
But mere minutes before the action was due to begin, the venue has announced it’s no longer going ahead.
The Co-op Live had already been hit with several high-profile delays, including postponing Peter Kay’s opening gigs (twice) and pushing back The Black Keys.
In a statement issued this evening, they’ve now confirmed that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has also been cancelled.
The news came after the venue was meant to have opened its doors.
Co-op Live wrote: “Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight’s A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead.
“We kindly ask fans to leave the area.
“Ticket holders will receive further information in due course.
“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
Fans have understandably left gutted by the last-minute cancellation, and worried for their tickets for Olivia Rodrigo later this week.
One person wrote: “I’m getting whiplash, are you safe to open or not?? I have Olivia Rodrigo this weekend and I did not fight the Ticketmaster war for this.”
Another said: “My kids were going… cancelled it 10 mins after the doors were due to open.”
Someone else wrote: “My son’s two mates just got told as they arrived! How can they let it get so late in the day before cancelling? Crazy?”
One person commented on The Manc’s Instagram post: “At this point they need to shut the venue until its finished and then reopen it when it’s done. I was there for a residence opening before Peter kay and wires everywhere and loos that isn’t flush. They need probably atleast another month of work.
“Also we are missing 32 restaurants and bars that are not even close to being started on yet.whole reason they’re opening is because of contract stipulations and people need invoicing and the company running this does not want to loose more money. Bare in mind this has nearly cost 400 million so far and overdue on the build schdual anyway….”
One follower said: “Literally stood in the queue for 30 mins while they was letting people in and then decided to cancel it ! If there was a chance of it being cancelled why do it after the doors had opened.”
Georgina Pellant -
4th August 2023 
