Manchester neighbourhoods have been welcoming some the city’s most-popular hospitality names for a series of entertainment events over the last couple of weeks.
In a bid to properly celebrate the launch of its ‘Remarkable Neighbourhood’ summer incentive, Kentucky handmade bourbon brand Maker’s Mark decided to rally together some of Manchester’s best-loved bars and restaurants to head across the city and serve up their take on the brand’s signature bourbon-based cocktail.
The series of Remarkable Neighbourhood events have been taking place all throughout August, and are founded on Maker’s principle to “make it remarkable”.
Not only that, but residents in sought-after city areas like the Northern Quarter, Ancoats, and Deansgate have also being getting stuck into themed cocktail masterclasses, live music nights, quizes, Kentucky food pairing events, and bar takeovers too.
But are you unsure what events are worth hitting up? And which are the best places to head on down to for a cocktail before August is out?
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Here’s The Manc’s picks for the best of the best.
Cocktails
Especially for the Remarkable Neighbourhood cocktail trail, there’s a whole host of heavy-hitting names from the city’s hospitality scene serving up their own twist on the Gold Rush Cocktail – which, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is cocktail is made up of a base of Maker’s Mark very-own bourbon, citrus, and a honey syrup.
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We’ve picked five of the top cocktails you need to try this month.
Vietnamese Gold Rush – NAM
The Marksmen – The Whiskey Jar
The Golden Sour – Jimmy’s
Honey Markhatten – Elnecot
Gold Rush – Escape To Freight Island
You can find out the rest of the Manchester bars doing their own twist on the Gold Rush Cocktail this month here.
Events
While there has already been a wide range of Maker’s Mark-themed ‘Remarkable Neighbourhood’ events happening throughout the month – with tastings, cocktail masterclasses, live shows, and more all been entertaining city dwellers in recent weeks – there’s still time to get in on the action and catch the last few events before August is over.
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Here’s our top three picks of the events still on the exciting lineup.
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Maker’s Monday
Arcane
Monday 22 August
Maker’s Mark / Credit: Supplied
One of Manchester city centre’s most bold and eclectic cocktail bars, Arcane – which is just off the beaten track and tucked away in the basement of a Grade II-listed Victorian building on South King Street – is a champion of Maker’s Mark all year round, with the tipple often making its way into several of its classic and signature cocktails, but this month, the bar is hosting a special Maker’s Monday event dedicated to the beloved bourbon.
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This could also be your chance to try out Arcane’s twist on the Gold Rush Cocktail before the Remarkable Neighbourhood series draws to a close.
Find out more information about Maker’s Monday at Arcanehere.
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Maker’s Mark Tasting & Wax Dipping
The Edinburgh Castle Ancoats
Tuesday 23 August
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The Edinburgh Castle / Credit: Supplied
The Edinburgh Castle pub – which has stood in the heart of Ancoats since 1811 – is one of the area’s most popular hangouts, and is also much-loved for its extensive drinks and cocktail menu, with Maker’s Mark being a proud part of that.
That’s why the pub is hosting its own Maker’s Mark tasting and wax dipping event this month.
Don’t forget to try out The Edinburgh Castle’s take on the Gold Rush Cocktail for Remarkable Neighbourhood series too.
Maker’s Mark x Escape To Freight Island Bank Holiday Warm-Up
Escape To Freight Island
Thursday 25 August
Escape To Freight Island / Credit: Supplied
Escape To Freight Island at Depot Mayfield has been going all-out for the Remarkable Neighbourhood events series throughout the month, with Maker’s Mark taking over the tropical urban space, the Plant Room, every Thursday with a special cocktail menu and food partnership with outdoor BBQ partner -Mayfield County Smokehouse.
But there’s still one more event to go, and it’s set to properly round out the Remarkable Neighbourhood incentive in style with a huge party holiday party to kick-start the August bank holiday weekend.
Find out more about Maker’s Mark x Escape To Freight Island Bank Holiday Warm-Uphere.
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Featured Image – Supplied
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New details released ahead of world-premiere exhibition taking visitors on ‘epic space adventure’
Emily Sergeant
Some exciting new details of a major exhibition taking visitors on an ‘epic space adventure’ in Manchester next month have been revealed.
Making its world premiere, Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will invite visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System when it launches at the Science and Industry Museum in a few weeks time.
Announced in November last year fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition will encourage visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition will propel families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Left teetering on the edge of our Solar System, explorers will then find themselves staring into the dark depths of space, on the lookout for any extra-terrestrial life that could be staring back.
Whether its sniffing astronauts’ smelly socks, dancing on an alien disco planet, feeling the tremors from a mysterious moonquake, or launching a space rocket, organisers say this new adventure will engage all the senses in a truly immersive experience.
This is the first time Horrible Science has been brought to life as a major exhibition.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos opens in a few weeks time / Credit: Drew Forsyth (Science Museum Group)
Visitors will get to see familiar characters from the BBC series – like Dr Big Brain, in particular – on their mission to find out more about our fascinating Solar System through interactive experiments, playful challenges, and sensory exploration.
Newly announced are the names of some of the different exciting areas of the exhibition, like ‘Awesome Astronauts’, where life aboard the International Space Station is revealed, and ‘Mysterious Moon’ where visitors explore the only place beyond Earth ever visited by humans.
There’s also ‘Sizzling Sun’, ‘Weird Worlds’, and sensory spaces like the ‘Cosy Crater’ and ‘Dreadful Deep Space’ to make the most of.
The exhibition is being developed by the Science and Industry Museum in collaboration with producers of the Horrible Science TV show, BBC Children’s and Education, and Lion Television, together with Scholastic, who are publishers of the much-loved Horrible Science book series by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles.
‘Unmissable’ objects from the Science Museum Group’s world-class space collection will also be on show when the exhibition premieres.
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos will open at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 13 February 2026 for an 11-month run before heading down to London, and tickets are now on sale priced at £10 – with family discounts available, and under-threes going free.
Featured Image – Drew Forsyth (Science Museum Group)
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Printworks set to host a FREE music festival headlined by local music veterans
Danny Jones
You heard us right, Printworks is expanding its wide-ranging calendar of entertainment and leisure in 2026 with its very own completely free music festival here in Manchester.
Better still, it’s set to be headlined by some cult favourites.
The one-off event will debut next month to celebrate the arrival of the 2026 BRIT Awards, with the annual ceremony and accompanying seven days of intimate live shows coming to the city of Manchester for the very first time.
Set to take place from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening, 27-28 February (4-10pm and 2-10, respectively), the open access weekender has been dubbed ‘Live and Loud’.
Judging by the lineup of artists announced for Printworks’ debut music festival, we have every faith it will live up to the name.
As well as Manchester DJ Matt Hydes kicking things off, followed by the likes of R’n’B soul artist, KingFast, resident Reform Radio MC Urbi will also be joining the lineup, as well as regional dance veteran, Gareth James, and an intimate set by Sabira Jade.
That’s just a small handful of those who signed up to play the inaugural Live & Loud 2025.
As for your headliners, we’re buzzing to confirm that local house legends K-Klass are topping the bill; they may be from Chester, but they’ve been based here for ages and are practically part of the cultural fabric at this point.
You can see the full Live and Loud lineup and Printworks artist spotlight down below:
Friday, 27 Feb, 2026
Tristan Walsh
2Vibe
Urbi
KingFast
Honey Bee Jazz Band
Matt Hydes
Sat, 28
K-Klass
Matt Walsh & Jay Murt
Sabira Jade
Gareth James
Kick Back Sundays
Jorge Martin
Guy Connor
Emma Ellis
Printworks general manager, Dan Davis, said in an official statement: “Manchester is renowned for its musical heritage, and we are excited to bring music to life here at Printworks.
“Live & Loud will place Manchester artists front and centre, with an eclectic line-up that is diverse in genre, background and generation – reflecting our commitment to championing a wide range of local and upcoming artistic talent for a must-attend weekend of live music.”
In case you missed it, this brand-new event also comes amid a raft of small-capacity fundraising shows across the country.
Colette Burroughs-Rose, Director at Genre Music, added: “Live & Loud is Manchester in full voice – familiar faces and new names coming together under one roof across two standout days.
“This is Genre Music’s home city, and we’re proud to be partnering with Printworks on a music programme that welcomes everyone: family-friendly by day, great for evenings with friends.
“Alongside curating a truly eclectic mix of the city’s incredible DJs and live acts, we’re also capturing the artists’ stories on film to help amplify their voices and creativity beyond the stage.”
With the BRIT Awards being hosted at the Co-op Live arena not just this Feb but until 2027 as well, here’s hoping this is just the inaugural ‘L&L Fest and we at least get a sophomore edition next year.
There’s plenty of other music festivals happening in Greater Manchester throughout the year, especially this summer.
Sounds From The Other City has released its 2026 lineup, and there's set to be more than 100 exciting acts playing on 17 stages across #Salford. 🎶🎸