Pitching up at the popular warehouse venue next to Manchester Piccadilly station from Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May, the Mancunia Motorcycle Festival is an all-new show that will combine the best of new and custom motorcycles, test rides, BBQ, craft beer, and entertainment – and bring it right to the heart of our city.
A blend of factory and custom motorcycles will be on show across the extended weekend, and dozens of independent custom builders will be on hand to showcase what they’re made of, as well as a full line-up of global brands such as BMW Motorrad and Royal Enfield.
Not only will Royal Enfield be leading, headlining, and sponsoring the event, but it’ll also be showcasing its global custom bike display and providing the thrills with Europe’s leading professional freestyle stunt rider, Lee Bowers, with his displays happening across each session of the festival.
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UK hand-built specialist motorcycles, such as Langen, will also be on show.
Festival-goers will even get the chance to try out the new world of electric bikes, from brands like New Gen and Maeving, in the show’s Electric Avenue zone.
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This isn’t just an event for motorcycle fans though, as there’s plenty to get stuck into on the lifestyle side, with one of the UK’s most exciting breweries Manchester Union whosting a mini craft beer festival featuring Cloudwater Brew Co, Pomona Island Beer, Wild Beer Co and Rivington, and also including a guest ‘low & no’ alcohol bar for those travelling by bike to the festival.
Suntory will also be showcasing the best of American and Japanese Whiskey.
Manchester legends Bunny Jackson’s will be throwing open the doors to its brand-new Wing Wagon, where you can grab a cocktail or get yourself a box of their famous Chicken Wings, and Red’s True BBQ will also be on the grill, alongside local heroes the Butchers Quarter, Manchester’s own ‘Meat + Three’ experts, Kongs.
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Bringing the best of new and custom motorcycles, test rides, BBQ, craft beer, and entertainment / Credit: Mancunia Motorcycle Festival
There’ll even be cooking demos throughout the festival from Master Built and Kamado Joe, who will be serving up bites with some impressive guest chefs.
Away from food, the ‘blades’ aspect of the festival will be looked after by Uppercut Barbers, along with Manchester-based Jersey Street and the Chop Shop, and then there’ll also be a whole host of motorcycle apparel brands too, such as Hedon Helmets, Stylmartin, Boyd’s of Bedford, and Saint.
Mancunia Motorcycle Festival will take over Depot Mayfield from Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May 2022 / Credit: Depot Mayfield
Speaking ahead of the Mancunia Motorcycle Festival’s arrival in May, the show’s co-promotor Will Evans said: “This is an event I’ve wanted to create for some years now.
“Until now, the North of England hasn’t been well served with bike shows and certainly hasn’t seen anything like this before [so] we really want to bring something fresh and new to Manchester [and] we want to bring together not just lovers of bikes but music, fashion and food.
“We can’t wait to share this amazing mix of Brews, Blades and BBQ with Manchester.”
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Tickets for the Mancunia Motorcycle Festival will be available to grab from Friday 4 March 2022, and you can sign-up to be notified when they go on sale by email here.
Featured Image – Mancunia Motorcycle Festival
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Rochdale set to be illuminated by fiery sculptures for this year’s Ignite Fire Festival
Lydia Mastrolonardo
The run up to Christmas is officially here – deck the halls, dig out your gloves, and get yourself across to Rochdale for a free, festive, family-friendly evening.
Ignite Fire Festival, sponsored by The Trade Centre UK, is set to once again light the way towards Christmas, together with the festive lights switch-on, this November.
Organisers Rochdale Development Agency are promising the best year yet with a spectacular trail of fire, lights and sound, along with some thrilling new attractions including blazing fire sculptures, and illuminated installations.
The gardens and square surrounding the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall, as well as the parkland and walkways on Broadfield slopes, are all preparing to be transformed into a vision of festive light and colour.
However, this year’s festival will all centre around the mesmerising night time-trail, ‘BODY.’ This multi-sensory and immersive trail will transport visitors on an educational but exciting journey, through the six zones of the human body.
Visitors can expect a dramatic experience from start to finish, executed through cutting-edge technology as part of Ignite’s most ambitious light display yet, led by the award-winning, worldwide outdoor art sensation – Walk the Plank.
The Fire Garden is also a must-visit during the festival, illuminating the slopes and gardens behind Rochdale Town Hall with intricate, hand-crafted fire sculptures and pyrotechnics.
‘BODY’ is a new installation at Ignite Fire Festival in RochdaleIgnite Fire Festival returns this winter
Thousands of people are expected to attend again, for an evening that includes fire shows and flaming hot circus performances from some of the north’s top talent, alongside ‘Drum Machine’ – the 20 strong drumming collective will be bringing their techno infused beats.
Then there is the ultimate Christmas activation – Santa’s coming to town.
On Sunday 22 November, Father Christmas and his helpers, including the Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Faisal Rana, are paying us a visit to officially switch on the festive lights in front of the town hall at 5.30pm.
Not forgetting the fabulous, flame-cooked, hot food available each night of the festival, accompanied by warming mulled wine and other seasonal beverages, facilitating the full seasonal experience.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “Ignite Fire Festival has become a real success story for the borough, drawing audiences from across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“This 2026 line-up will build on that success with new attractions, creative performances and family-friendly experiences. It will be a fantastic celebration for residents and visitors alike, setting the stage perfectly for our Christmas lights switch-on.”
Bev Ayre, senior producer at Walk the Plank, said they are delighted to be returning to Rochdale, stating: “The Body is unlike anything we’ve brought to Ignite before. An immersive fire and light experience that combines art, science and creativity to help people discover the incredible human body in a fun and engaging way.
“Set against the stunning backdrop of Rochdale Town Hall Square and gardens, it promises to be one of our most exciting attractions yet. Even if you’ve visited Ignite before, this year’s festival will feel completely new.”
This festival is made possible by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op.
Ignite is a free festival that will be running across three magical evenings, between Friday 20 – Sunday 22 November, 5pm-8pm.
Click HERE for more information about the Ignite Fire Festival, in Rochdale.
Free pints and live craft experiences coming to a Manchester pub for one night only
Daisy Jackson
A pop-up pub takeover is opening its doors in Manchester, where you can get your hands on a free pint as well as some amazing craft experiences.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti, who want to help us Brits break out of our daily routines.
Matt & Phreds on Tib Street will welcome The Uncommon Inn on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm to 8pm, giving visitors the chance to discover unusual creative skills and watch artisans at work, with a free pint in hand.
It comes after research commissioned by Poretti found that 61% of UK adults feel they are living on autopilot, while a quarter have not tried a new creative pursuit in five years or more.
Free pints and live craft experiences are coming to a Manchester pub for one night only / Credit: Supplied
The study also found that adults have an average of just 90 minutes of genuine personal time each day, with 58% spending that time watching television and 35% scrolling through social media.
Exhaustion and financial constraints came out as the main barriers preventing people from trying new things.
The Uncommon Inn has been designed to offer an alternative, bringing together a collective of specialist makers to showcase their skills in a familiar pub setting.
Visitors to the Manchester event can watch Giulio Miglietta embroidering personalised beer mats, using a vintage Singer sewing machine dating back to the early 1900s, alongside live hand-engraving and bespoke jewellery-style crafting using recycled silver.
The Uncommon Inn is being operated by premium Italian lager brand Poretti / Credit: Supplied
Other demonstrations include 3D body-casting by sculptor Ami of Angelcasts and personalised, hand-engraved glassware from Leigh Calligraphy. Sabira of Sken Studios will also demonstrate how recycled silver can be turned into bespoke bottle openers.
Guests will be able to enjoy complimentary pints of Poretti while watching the makers at work.
Caitlin Maley, Senior Brand Manager at Poretti, said: “Modern life moves at an overwhelming pace, and it’s all too easy to fall into autopilot mode where routine replaces curiosity.
“We believe in celebrating intentional craft, rare skills, and authentic human connection – values that are at the core of our brewing heritage.
“We created The Uncommon Inn to turn an ordinary pub visit into an inspiring journey. By bringing together our Masters of Crafts, from chainstitch embroiderers to live engravers and musicians, we’re inviting pubgoers to slow down, pick up a new skill, and enjoy a pint crafted with genuine passion.”
The Uncommon Inn is at Matt & Phreds in Manchester on Thursday 22 October, from 4pm until 8pm.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd March 2022 
