All Mancs know that Canal Street offers one of the best nights out in the city, and one particular bar has stood the test of time for almost three decades.
Via, right in the midst of the city’s LGBTQ+ heartland, has been part of Manchester’s epic nightlife scene ever since it opened in 1995.
It’s an institution of the Gay Village and is still serving up massive nights out when other bars in the area have shut their doors for good.
The secret to its success boils down to a perfect formula of live entertainment, food, outside space and fabulous interiors, all immortalised through groundbreaking TV shows like Queer as Folk and Cucumber.
Via was once a former carpet warehouse, but all those years ago was transformed into a gay bar, then known as Via Fossa.
ADVERTISEMENT
Its decor was inspired by Irish pubs, hence all the ornate, church-like wood and chandeliers, and although Stonegate have made a few changes since they took over in 2016 (a new bar here, a new seating area there), the bones and the soul of the venue haven’t changed a jot.
Here, it’s all about the live experience, especially the drag cabaret Via is famed for.
ADVERTISEMENT
Via has been part of Manchester’s epic nightlife scene ever since it opened in 1995 / Credit: The Manc Group
Sometimes that takes the shape of a tribute act – you’ll find the likes of ‘Madonna’ and ‘Cher’ parading around this legendary venue.
Other times it’s actual famous faces, which have included in recent times, or will include in the coming months, drag legend and star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Danny Beard, Claire Richards from pop group Steps, Mutya Buena from Sugababes, Christina Bianco, Black Peppa, and X Factor’s Sam Bailey.
And it attracts its fair share of famous punters too – Fred Again, one of the hottest names in music right now who will headline Parklife in the summer, was partying in here with Romy from The XX not too long ago, documenting it all on his Instagram page.
ADVERTISEMENT
The inclusive and safe hotspot has been part of Canal Street’s vibrant nightlife scene for longer than almost any other bar. The only places that have been here longer are the New Union, REM Bar, and Cruz 101.
The secret to its success boils down to a perfect formula of live entertainment, food, outside space and fabulous interiors / Credit: The Manc Group
Mike Mitchell, general manager of Via, has ploughed masses of time and energy into the bar’s live entertainment, and has done since the minute Covid restrictions eased in 2021.
He wanted performers to be able to get straight back on to the stage after so many months without live work, and supercharged Via’s programme with cabaret shows all throughout the week.
Arguably its best night of the week is Sundays, when it’s a full cabaret show with around six acts in one night.
House acts Ky Kelly, Miss Penny, and Shania Pain are joined by other musical performances, with free entry and live entertainment for hours and hours.
During the daytimes, it’s a more relaxed pub-like atmosphere, with a menu that includes stone-baked pizzas, burgers, winges and loaded fries.
Describing the bar, Mike went for one word – ‘epic’, and who could possibly argue with that?
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Sponsored
Rochdale’s incredible fire festival will bring blazing sculptures and fiery displays to town this month
Daisy Jackson
Rochdale will be filled with dazzling pyrotechnic displays later this month when the Ignite Fire Festival returns to town.
The spectacular free event will see the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town Hall – which reopened to the public earlier this year – transformed with fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations.
The smash hit event debuted last year, attracting more than 10,500 people, and this year’s will be even bigger with three nights of magical family entertainment.
And the festival will culminate on the Sunday with the Rochdale Christmas lights switch-on.
Ignite Fire Festival comes from Walk the Plank, the outdoor arts specialists behind some of the UK’s biggest and best outdoor arts events, who have called upon artists and pyro technicians to create the many installations on show.
Between 5pm and 8pm each night, visitors will be able to walk past fire-based sculptures like goblets of fire, a daisy chain of flaming flowers, a fire bird with blazing eyes, and smaller birds circling a flaming nest – to name just a few.
There’ll also be sculptures that twist, flap and erupt with balls of fire, and ‘In The Balance’ will be a festival highlight, where rotating globes of flame seemingly defy the laws of physics.
Ignite Fire Festival is back in Rochdale this month. Credit: Supplied
Each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the UK’s top talent including Flame Oz – a thrilling fire dancing and juggling show.
There’ll also be performances from Liverpool’s Bring the Fire Project, local favourites Skylight Circus Arts, and street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus.
Visitors should look out for Drum Machine, a 20-strong drumming collective, The Fire Man Dave performing a live fire show with fire eating and juggling, and Astro Aliens, a trio of cosmic beings that will entertain all ages.
The incredible event, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, is set to take place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 November.
Ignite Fire Festival takes place in the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town HallThere’ll be performers as well as pyrotechnic sculptures. Credit; SuppliedIgnite Fire Festival is back for a second year. Credit: Supplied
After exploring the gardens, you’ll be able to pick up hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks served each night.
On Sunday, Father Christmas will be in town to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm in front of the town hall.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Last year’s Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On was a fantastic event and an instant hit with audiences from across Greater Manchester.
“It’s an exciting and unique event and the perfect addition to our big switch-on, providing family entertainment across the weekend.”
Mark Bailey, founder and owner of sponsor Trade Centre UK added: “Our partnership with Ignite Fire Festival and the Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On is a fantastic opportunity to give back to a community that has welcomed us so warmly.
“At Trade Centre UK, we believe in more than just selling cars; we believe in being part of the fabric of the local area. Supporting events like this, which bring people together to celebrate in the heart of Rochdale, aligns perfectly with our core values of community and connection.”
The event is free, and no tickets are required. Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.
Find out more and plan your visit to Ignite Fire Festival HERE.
Science and Industry Museum to transform into immersive ‘Light Lab’ as part of 2024 festive events programme
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most popular museums will be transformed into an immersive ‘Light Lab’ for the festive season.
As the temperatures begin to drop and Christmas creeps closer, this is your chance to escape the cold and brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour, as the Science and Industry Museum has now unveiled its upcoming festive events programme.
You can also explore a gaming extravaganza, and be engrossed by festive-themed science shows at the city centre-based museum this December.
Back by popular demand, after enchanting visitors of all ages in previous years, the museum’s free Light Lab will be making a return for 2024 – with everyone invited to discover the secrets of light through illuminating activities, special shows, and immersive experiences.
The Science and Industry Museum will transform into immersive ‘Light Lab’ this winter / Credit: Jason Lock (via Science Museum Group)
As Greater Manchester is known for its grey winter days, a series of illuminating experiments will bring colour to your lives in the interactive Light Lab, where you can explore a hall of mirrors, discover how to bend light, and even take a dance break in the rave room, before taking a journey from the Sun back to the Earth during special science shows led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers.
You’ll be able to discover how light travels through our atmosphere, explore the science of solar flares, and even marvel at a mesmerising display of the Northern Lights – with real NASA footage of the Aurora Borealis.
If all that exploring has got you tired out, then you can slow things down in the Recharge Retreat and get comfortable with a picture book, or explore the relationship between colour and mood and why nature is so important to our health.
You can escape from the cold, and learn a thing or two while you’re at it / Credit: Science Museum Group
But if you’re looking for a change of pace, you can also enjoy the museum‘s ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, to immerse yourself in a whole host of different digital worlds by working your way through five decades of video games, or learn about how what we eat can have a huge effect on our brains and bodies at the Operation Ouch! exhibition.
Then, for something a little different all together this festive season, you can grab a ticket for the first of the 2024 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures being screened live at the museum on Tuesday 10 December, ahead of the broadcast on the BBC.
The Winter Holiday Programme at the Science and Industry Museum runs from 14 December 2024 through to 5 January 2025.
Daisy Jackson -
10th March 2023 
