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Free Manchester home-buying event returns after attracting more than 750 aspiring buyers last year

Onto the property ladder you go

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th September 2026

The Manchester Home Show will return this year, offering free advice and support for people looking to buy their first home. 

The event brings together everything from housing providers to mortgage experts, and last year attracted more than 750 aspiring buyers. 

You’ll be able to chat to experts, receive free financial and legal advice, and learn all about schemes like Shared Ownership, helping you to take that step closer to the property ladder in the North West. 

There will also be the chance to learn more about some of the region’s most exciting new affordable homes developments, including L&Q at Victoria Riverside near the city centre.

This year, the Manchester Home Show will take place at Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, between 10.30am and 4pm on Saturday 19 September. 

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It will bring together advice, affordable homeownership guidance, and access to housing providers under one roof, and builds on the success of the long-running London Home Show (which has welcomed more than 87,000 prospective buyers since 2013). 

This year’s industry sponsors are housing associations L&Q and Plumlife Homes, alongside 18 other expert exhibitors including Gecko Homes, Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, Snugg Homes, Your Housing Group, Together Homes and Onward Living. 

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Attendees will also benefit from access to legal and financial advice with the opportunity to meet mortgage brokers from Metro Finance, Smiths Financial, Just Mortgages and TMP The Mortgage People, along with solicitors from Shared Direction Conveyancing, Owen Paulo Legal Ltd, Alexander JLO Solicitors, and Talbots Law.

The Manchester Home Show is back
The Manchester Home Show is back
The Manchester Home Show is back. Credit: Supplied

Guests can sign up for jargon-free talks throughout the day, covering everything from top tips for first time buyers to the legal steps involved with buying a Shared Ownership property. 

Nick Lieb, Chief Operations Officer at Share to Buy, comments: “We’re thrilled to bring the Manchester Home Show back to the North West and continue supporting aspiring homeowners on their journey. 

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“With many buyers unsure about where to start or what options are available, our aim is to make the home-buying process more accessible by bringing trusted experts, leading housing providers, and practical advice together in one place.

The Manchester Home Show is back

“Whether visitors are first time buyers, renters looking to save, or simply just exploring their options, the Manchester Home Show will provide the guidance they need to move forward with confidence.”

Attendees of the Manchester Home Show can even register their interest in some major affordable property schemes, from the Shared Ownership apartments near Manchester Victoria from L&Q Victoria Riverside, to apartments and townhouses in Salford from Plumlife Homes, and apartments in a restored pub (The Stamford Arms) in Little Bollington from Gecko Homes. 

Tickets for the Manchester Home Show are free, but visitors must register in advance to attend, which you can do HERE. 

You can also follow @sharetobuy_live on Instagram for further updates, top tips, videos and more.

Read more: ‘Own a landmark, create a legacy’ – Historic chimney goes on sale for £300k in Bolton

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Three major events announced for finale of Salford’s 100th birthday celebrations

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The giant Salford 100 birthday cake is back. Credit: Darren Robinson

Salford’s 100th birthday celebrations are heading towards a spectacular finale, with three major events set to bring the city’s communities, creativity and history into the spotlight this autumn.

Following a packed programme of celebrations, performances and art commissions since the city’s official birthday in April, Salford City Council has revealed what’s still to come – including a huge outdoor projection featuring more than 1,500 local people, the biggest-ever Wagon Train finale, and a special live performance celebrating the sounds of Salford.

The free events have been co-produced by Salford creative organisations Walk the Plank and From The Other, with public funding from The National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The Salford 100 autumn events follow a year of activity designed to explore Salford’s past, celebrate its present and imagine its future.

The celebrations officially began on 21 April, Salford’s centenary birthday, with Birthday City — a day of surprises for residents who shared their birthday with the city.

Seven Salfordians were selected for special birthday treats, including a teaching assistant who had worked at the same school for more than 20 years, a nine-year-old boy, and the founder of local suicide prevention charity Jak’s World.

Performances from Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, Manchester Dhol Players and the BBC Philharmonic, alongside dancers and a giant birthday cake, appeared in unexpected locations around the city – including on a commuter train, at workplaces, a school and even a supermarket.

With the final major events now approaching, Salford’s centenary celebrations are set to end the year on a high.

And best of all, all three autumn events are free to attend.

For more information about Salford’s centenary programme Salford 100, and individual commissions, head HERE.

Salford Everywhere: A City Gathering

Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October, from 6pm – Peel Park

Previews of Salford Everywhere
Salford 100

Salford is set to become the canvas for a spectacular celebration of its people when Salford Everywhere premieres this October.

Created by award-winning visual artist and filmmaker Matthew Rosier, the monumental artwork features more than 1,500 Salfordians, from NHS workers and builders to schoolchildren, supermarket teams, athletes, Royal Mail staff, dementia support groups and food bank volunteers.

On 9 and 10 October, video artworks featuring the local contributors will be projected onto buildings across the city.

The main free gathering will take place at Peel Park from 6pm to 10pm, where a 45-minute film will be projected at huge scale onto the University of Salford’s Maxwell Building, with two screenings each evening.

The film will be accompanied by a live musical score celebrating Salford’s rich musical heritage, featuring local choirs and brass bands. The score has been arranged by Michael Betteridge, with music direction from Salford-based composer and DJ AFRODEUTSCHE.

Meanwhile, Salford Shopping Centre in Pendleton will be illuminated from 7pm to 10pm, with the 1,553 local participants projected at monumental scale.

Rosier said the project captures the ‘humour, togetherness and toughness’ of Salford, after spending a month editing footage of the people who took part.

It promises to be a powerful celebration of the people who make Salford what it is today.

The Wagon Train Centenary Finale

Sunday 25 October, 6pm – Seedley Park, part of Buile Hill Park

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After travelling around Salford throughout the summer, the Wagon Train is heading to Seedley Park for its biggest celebration yet.

Created by outdoor arts curators Walk the Plank, the spectacular family event will welcome an audience of around 3,000 people, bringing together performance, music, fire and plenty of Salford spirit.

Expect aerial performances, a glittering glowing Time Capsule and the Wagon Train of Inventions, celebrating Salford innovations from electricity to space exploration.

And yes – the giant birthday cake is making a return.

The event will also celebrate Salford’s entertainment heritage, with dancers taking audiences on a journey through the city’s nightlife, from ballroom to northern soul. Drummers and DJs will provide the soundtrack.

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There will be plenty for younger visitors too. Children will work with artists to create Fuel of the Future — willow and tissue-paper lanterns that they can carry as part of the performance.

The evening will culminate with Pride of Salford torch bearers igniting a huge fire drawing designed by young people, followed by a short fireworks finale.

More than 350 Salfordians are expected to take part in the show.

Walk the Plank co-founder Liz Pugh said the finale will bring families and communities together ‘with a bang’, while celebrating homegrown talent and looking towards Salford’s future.

Songs of Salford: Live Preview

Saturday 14 November, 7.30pm – Swinton Grand Palais. Free tickets, limited spaces, details to be released soon

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Artists involved in Songs of Salford. Credit: Daniel Johnson

Salford’s centenary celebrations will also get a musical send-off with the first live performance of Songs of Salford.

From The Other and award-winning producer Charlie Deakin-Davies have brought together five Salford artists to create a new record reflecting the city, its people and its communities.

The project features classically trained vocalist and pianist Salo, spoken-word artist The Thirsty Poet (Matt Concannon), battle rapper and youth worker Che3kz, Zimbabwean-born songwriter and poet Meduulla, and singer-songwriter Sam Seth.

The record also brings together communities from Age Friendly Salford, Salford Youth Zone, Monton Community Choir and music engineering students from the University of Salford.

On 14 November, audiences will get the first chance to hear the complete record performed live at the iconic Swinton Grand Palais.

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The performance will feature all five artists alongside a 10-piece ensemble from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Songs of Salford record itself will be released in 2027.

Read more: A day of vintage cars and retro entertainment will take over a Greater Manchester town this month

Featured image: Darren Robinson

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The family-run gem doing tapas, craft beer, cocktails and live music just outside Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Katie Jackson outside Gin & Brews

A good neighbourhood restaurant should be somewhere you can pop in to at any time of day, for just about any occasion. 

Whether it’s coffee and a bake after the school run, a tapas night with your mates, a cosy cocktail with your partner, or even somewhere to end the night listening to live music, Gin & Brews is one such neighbourhood gem.

This brilliant family-run venue opened in an old bank in Garstang in 2023 and quickly spilled over into the unit next door, expanding its offering as it went. 

It’s gone from a cosy bottle shop and microbar to a true neighbourhood haunt, with fantastic deals (like two pizzas and a bottle of wine for £25 on Thursdays) and cocktails made with their own distilled spirits. 

The food is a big part of the appeal, particularly the tapas.

There’s bread and oils, chorizo and prawns, goat’s cheese and loaded potatoes, with plenty designed for sharing – you might want to order more than you think you need, but at £12 for three dishes, that’s no hardship.

You can get three tapas dishes for £12
You can get three tapas dishes for £12
Lemon curd French toast
Lemon curd French toast

Then there’s the homemade honey and sea salt butter. It’s the sort of butter you try once and immediately want to tell everyone about. 

For daytime visits, the brunch menu brings out perfectly poppable eggs and seriously good French toast, with the lemon curd a particular must-try.

And if you have dietary requirements, Gin & Brews is unusually well set up for gluten-free diners, with almost everything on the menu gluten free – even the beer – plus a generous selection of gluten-free bakes.

The drinks offering is where things get particularly interesting.

The team make their own spirits under the Garstang Gin name, with the distillery growing from just three spirits to an impressive 46.

It’s a natural progression for the owner, who previously worked in the drinks industry before leaving to set up her own gin distillery.

They distill their own Garstang Gin spirits for cocktails
They distill their own Garstang Gin spirits for cocktails
Inside Gin & Brews
Inside Gin & Brews

Those spirits now make their way into the cocktails at Gin & Brews, giving the bar plenty of its own character and making it a particularly good shout if cocktails are your thing.

There’s also a constantly changing selection of craft beer, with the range switching up regularly, alongside the bottle shop, so there’s always something new to discover.

For somewhere that has grown so quickly, Gin & Brews still feels firmly rooted in its community.

Much of what goes onto your plate is sourced from businesses on the high street, including local butchers and egg suppliers. Even some of the cakes and cookies are made by one of the members of staff.

It feels fitting for a venue in Garstang, which is recognised as the world’s first Fair Trade Town.

Bakes at Gin & Brews are made by a member of staff
Bakes at Gin & Brews are made by a member of staff
Bakes at Gin & Brews are made by a member of staff

And while Wednesday and Thursday evenings are already busy, the team are keen to bring more people through the doors during the day. They certainly have the offering for it.

There are coffee-and-cake afternoons, brunch dates, tapas lunches, craft beer, cocktails and plenty of gluten-free treats to take away.

Then, when the sun goes down, the music comes on, with live performances at weekends and regular events bringing the place to life.

If you’re looking for a reason to venture out of Manchester for something a little different, this might just be it.

Gin & Brews has only been around for a few years, but it already feels like one of those places that has been part of the local scene forever.

And if the homemade butter doesn’t convince you, the cocktails probably will.

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Featured: The Manc Group

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