Manchester will bloom into one of the most picturesque places in the country this week, as the annual Manchester Flower Show returns for 2022.
This year, the huge event – which is brought to the city by Manchester BID – coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and her 70 years on the throne, and so, in a bid to appropriately celebrate, you can expect to see fabulous Royal-inspired floral trails, gardens, and green installations take over the city centre for the extended bank holiday weekend.
Floral installations named The Crown Jewels, Queen Bee, and The Ju-bee-lee Garden are just some of the Royal-themed installations festival-goers can expect to see as they make their way around the city centre.
Taking place from Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 June, The Manchester Flower Show will also see shop windows, squares, and statues will be given botanical makeovers beyond the official trail, and there’s even an array of alfresco drink and dining options taking place throughout the event too.
The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail is one of the highlight events in the festival’s calendar this year / Credit: The Manc Group
14 of Manchester’s popular bars, restaurants, and hotels are taking part in the trail by serving up floral-themed cocktails especially for the occasion, and it means drinks lovers can make their way around all four corners of the city centre, sipping cocktails in the sunshine along the way.
Here’s a round-up of all the cocktails on offer as part of 2022’s edition of The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail.
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All Bar One
Tarqueenie – £10.25
This cocktail mixes Tarquin’s Raspberry & Rhubarb gin, Martini Bianco, Fever-Tree Raspberry & Orange Blossom Soda, and is garnished with lemon and raspberries.
Freixenet x Chambord Berry Spritz – £10.50
Also at All Bar One, this cocktail collaboration mixes Chambord, Freixenet Prosecco and Soda, and is garnished with raspberry and mint.
El Gato Negro
Violet Flower
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This delicate cocktail mixes gin and violette liqueur, and is flavoured with lemon and cranberry.
Franco Manca
Aperol Spritz – £6.75
King Street restaurant Franco Manca has gone with the Italian classic of Aperol Spritz – which mixes Aperol and Prosecco, and is garnished with an orange slice
Grand Pacific Manchester
Royal Bloom – £9
Described as a “bouquet of flavours”, this cocktail pairs violet and orange liquors, with a hint of fresh lemon.
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14 of Manchester’s popular bars, restaurants, and hotels are taking part in the trail / Credit: The Manc Group
Habas
Raspberry & Rose Spritz
This cocktail combines Belsazar rose, elderflower liqueur, pomegranate and rose syrup, and lemon juice, and is topped with Fever Tee raspberry and rose soda.
Harvey Nichols x Manchester Gin Bar
The Summer Garden Spritz – £8
This is a floral and bright take on an Aperol Spritz, featuring Manchester Gin Raspberry Infused Gin and Forty-Five Vermouth Radiant Rose.
Harvey Nichols Second Floor Deli Bar
The Lilibet – £14
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This cocktail mixes Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, Belsazar Rosé Vermouth, Boudier Créme de Fraises, and Harvey Nichols Brut Champagne.
KALA Bistro
Blooming Beautiful
This floral cocktail mixes Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka, St Germain Elderflower, and Jasmine Tea, and is garnished with lemon and basil.
All participating venues are serving up floral-themed cocktails especially for the occasion / Credit: The Manc Group
Miller & Carter
Miller & Carter French Martini – £8.25
This cocktail is made from Ciroc Pinapple vodka, Chambord Black Raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice that is shaken and served straight up.
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Pot Kettle Black
Grapefruit Gin Spritz
Barton Arcade favourite PKB’s is serving up a sparkling cocktail with gin, Campari, and grapefruit juice that is topped with soda.
Rosso
Malaka’s Mirakle
This cocktail mixes Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky, Italicus Rosolio Bergamot Liqueur, Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, and Cedar Mist
Rosso says it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, achievement, excellence, exploration, and boundary breaking, with over 21 unique flavours combined and finished with floral fruits in modernised Old Fashioned delicacy.
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Starbucks
Strawberry Acai Refresher
For those looking to ditch the alcohol, the St Ann’s Square branch of Starbucks is serving up a hydrating drink of sweet strawberry flavours that is accented by acai notes, and is shaken with real strawberries.
Drinks lovers can make their way around all four corners of the city centre to sip cocktails in the sunshine / Credit: The Manc Group
Tast Catala
Primavera
King Street restaurant Tast Catala says its fruity and refreshing cocktail tastes “just like Spring”, and it’s a mix of green apple, Midori, lemon juice, and soda.
UrbanPlayground
Royal Garden – £9
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Even one of Manchester Arndale’s newest residents, Urban Playground, is getting in on the cocktail trail action this year, with a cocktail that mixes Hendricks, Apple & Cinnamon Shrub, and elderflower and cucumber tonic.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Be part of the biggest Great Manchester Run ever
Danny Jones
Runners and regular Mancs alike, start lacing up your trainers and sorting safety pins early, because the Great Manchester Run is back for 2026, and you can be part of it.
With sign-ups flying and bibs selling out fast, we really recommend getting a move on and booking your place now to make sure you’re part of what is, without fail, not just one of the most exciting dates on the local sporting calendar, but always a great day for the city in general.
Returning for its 23rd edition and fourth year being backed by principal sponsors, AJ Bell, we can assure it’ll be as well-attended as ever.
In fact, judging by the numbers already and the increasing crowds of spectators every year, this is looking on course to be the biggest Great Manchester Run to date.
The only question is, are you going to help make it the BEST yet by joining the thousands of others already finding the perfect spot to hang their shiny new medal?
Half-marathon, 10k, junior and mini races
As ever, the Great MCR Run isn’t just limited to one event: there are multiple distances, routes and age groups that can race the route in and around the city centre.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day
So, whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day, there really is fun for all ages.
In all seriousness, even watching the massive metropolitan event stood next to the roads with homemade signs promises plenty of atmosphere, but with fancy dress galore, various different activations in the middle of the city, there’s not a chance you’ll get bored.
Even in the years we’ve missed out on running it ourselves (it sold well in advance last year, for instance), the pure buzz we got from joining countless other Mancs cheering from the pavement is enough to keep us coming back time and time again.
All that being said, if you’re looking to sort the perfect Christmas present for a runner, or simply need more reason to give yourself the kick up the backside you’ve been waiting for and just put your name down, this is it.
Besides the full annual marathon in April, running events simply don’t get bigger in this region than this one, so don’t miss out.
Sign up for the 2026 Great Manchester Run right HERE.
Featured Images — Great Run Company/AJ Bell (supplied)
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A candlelit Queen tribute concert is returning to Manchester
Danny Jones
Yes, you read that right: a candlelit concert dedicated to the one and only Queen, with a spectacular West End Cast and a talented live rock band, is coming to Manchester city centre in January.
In fact, it’s coming home, as this wonderful event started right here in 0161 back in 2021.
Concerts by Candlelight themselves host concerts up and down the country at various points throughout the year, but their much-loved ‘Queen by Candlelight‘ special knows all about lighting up Manc venues.
Having since gone on to become an internationally acclaimed live concert experience, we’re glad we still get to see the ‘Princes of the Universe’ on our doorstep.
Credit: Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
With the likes of Bridgewater Hall and the magical Manchester Monastery all having played host to the promotion on many ocassions, this time Queen by Candlelight is coming to the legendary Manchester Opera House in the new year.
One of our most historic and legendary theatres, it’s only fitting, really, that they be chosen to welcome a night of equally iconic tunes.
But it’s worth reminding more casual fans that these aren’t just British rock and pop anthems; Queen‘s discography is one that still has global recognition to this day.
That’s why this specific show has been taken to virtually every corner of the world, with the incredibly talented cast of singers and musicians delighting audiences in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and New York, to domestic crowds here in town and down in London’s West End.
‘Queenies’ or ‘Darlings’, as Freddie Mercury used to call them, can expect all the big hits, from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’, to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and plenty more from the back catalogue.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this coming January:
With tickets already flying out fast, we really would recommend securing your seats early before they inevitably sell out.
To quote the promoters themselves, “this spectacular celebration of Queen’s biggest hits is guaranteed to rock you.”
Coming to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 6 January, you can book your tickets for Queen by Candlelight right HERE.
And if you’ve never been to one of their candlelit events before, you only need to see how much of a ball we had at their country event earlier this year to find out how much fun they are…
Emily Sergeant -
31st May 2022 
