The 2023 Rugby World Cup finally kicked off over the weekend and we’re once again delivering a public service by telling you where to watch it right here in Manchester.
England started the group stages off in style by beating Argentina 27-10 and two out of the three other home nations all won their first fixtures — Scotland couldn’t muster a strong enough showing against South Africa — in what turned out to be a thrilling opening round.
Although it’s always frustrating to see some of the international games taking place during work hours (we know you’ll be sneakily watching them anyway, don’t worry, we won’t tell), the tournament is running right up until 28 October, with plenty matches in the evening and on the weekends.
With that in mind, you should have plenty of opportunity to watch this year’s Rugby World Cup and here are some of the best places to do it.
10 best places to watch the Rugby World Cup in Manchester
In no particular order, here are just a handful of the places showing the 2023 Rugby World Cup in and around Manchester.
1. Brickhouse Social – Oxford Road Corridor
We’ve picked 10 places where to watch this year’s Rugby World Cup. In at number one… (Credit: Brickhouse Social via Instagram)
First off, we’re starting with what is fast becoming one of our favourite places to watch live sport in Manchester city centre: Brickhouse Social over on New Wakefield Street. That specially designed sound system certainly adds to the atmosphere on a matchday.
Showing every single game across their three-floor venue, we’re talking uninterrupted coverage across seven mega screens alongside music, loads of free pool, as well as tonnes of late-night pizza slices and drinks. Sold. You can get booked in HERE.
2. Escape to Freight Island – Mayfield
Credit: Escape to Freight Island
Next up is Escape to Freight Island, who are showing all the games scheduled on Fridays and Sundays on the huge HD screen in the sports bar section of the massive warehouse space. Tables are available to book right HERE.
With the mezzanine now kitted out with over 200 retro arcade games, pool tables and access to all 15 food vendors within this massive trading hall — we’re talking Burgerism, Lazy Tony’s, Voodoo Rays, Oh My Cheesecake and more — you won’t need to go anywhere else once you’ve settled in here.
Third on our list is an old faithful that simply can’t be ignored when it comes to the ‘where to watch’ guides, and it’s The Director’s Box just off St Peter’s Square in the middle of the city centre, who will be showing as many as Rugby World Cup games as they can this year.
With an ever-solid food menu, plenty of beer and other booze to get stuck into, not to mention a pool table and screens all offer the gaff, you can never go wrong with this place. They’ve even got bottomless brunch on the go throughout the competition. Book online or over the phone on 0161 870 6283.
Probably one of the most underrated places to watch sport in Manchester, Pie and Ale always achieves the perfect blend of a sound but not too rowdy atmosphere, good service, plenty of booze and some of the best selections of homemade pies in the area.
They show everything from the footy, cricket and F1 to, yep, the rugby in here and, well, who doesn’t love a proper pie on matchday? You can call up to reserve your table on 0161 236 8334 or try your luck with a walk-in — it never gets crazy busy with fans in here (that’s why we love it), so you should be fine.
You know the drill with this place; Bierkeller and the attached Shooters Sports Bar inside the Printworks will always be a solid option when it comes to finding somewhere to watch the game and it’s no different for this particular tournament.
Big steins of beer, giant pretzels, live music and Bavarian oompah bands in Bierkeller; pool tables, arcade machines and massive tellies in Shooters. You can’t go wrong. Get you and your party booked in now to make sure you secure the best seats.
We might as well wander round the corner to another Printworks institution and chuck Walkabout on here while we’re at it — we’ve watched many a match in here, be it football, cricket, rugby or otherwise, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Always a good place for a boogie afterwards too.
The perfect place to go if you’re an Aussie or any international fan, for that matter, this place is all about celebrating the world of sport. Walk-ins are welcome, booking is nice and easy and you can even score yourself a free pint by simply signing up for the newsletter.
7. BOX – Deansgate
BOX on Deansgate is probably the biggest and busiest sports bar in Manchester at the moment and with TVs on virtually every wall — including a giant NBA-style jumbotron screen — massive pitchers of beer and porn star martinis, shuffleboard and seriously top scran, it’s no wonder.
You’ll be able to watch every try from this Manc weekend hotspot situated across the road from Spinningfields and just down from Lincoln Square. With live music and even more room upstairs, you should be able to squeeze in even when it gets busy. We’d still recommend booking though.
Like many other locations we’ve mentioned already, no list of Manchester sports bars is complete without the ever-reliable Brotherhood of Pastimes and Pursuits. Beer, darts, pool, table tennis, big screens and big portions. Say no more.
Better still, with it being such a popular post-work spot already, we imagine this place will see plenty of faces piling in during the mid-day matches and bringing plenty of atmosphere both upstairs and down. Reserve your table now for England’s next game against Japan on Sunday.
The penultimate stop on our list of the best places showing the world’s biggest and most exciting rugby union competition is another NQ classic and a favourite of sports fans in Manchester, the one and only Tib St Tavern — i.e. one of the best and most beloved sports bars going.
Always packed to the rafters, we don’t need to wax lyrical about how good this place is; you’ll be able to tell that for yourselves when you’re trying to book and realise every Tom, Dick and Harry is trying to get in here as well. Book as early as you can on 0161 834 1600. You won’t be disappointed.
10. The Wishing Well – Didsbury
The last place on our list of places where to watch the rugby in Manchester (Credit: The Wishing Well via Instagram)
And, finally, we’re heading out of the city centre to one of Didsbury‘s newest and already popular additions, The Wishing Well. Popping up in the old Botanist site you might remember from ‘Dids Dozen‘ routes gone by, this modern country-style pub has lots of big TV screens to make sure locals don’t miss a second of the action.
Serving a freshly prepared menu alongside a fully stocked bar including a selection of cocktails, wine and plenty of beers, of course, this is the place to take a break from the bustle of town whilst enjoying the Rugby World Cup in the heart of the Didsbury Village. Sorted.
So, if you were still trying to figure out where to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Manchester, that should do you for now.
You can see the full list of fixtures and kick-off times HERE and it goes without saying there are plenty more great places to catch the games all around Greater Manchester.
The summer might seem like it’s nearly over but, thankfully, sport has other ideas.
Featured Image — Walkabout/England Rugby/Escape to Freight Island (via Instagram)
Sport
Gallagher brothers pay touching tribute to Diogo Jota on first night of Oasis reunion tour
Danny Jones
It’s official, Oasis are actually back, and during the first date on their reunion tour in Cardiff, the Gallagher brothers paid a touching tribute to Liverpool FC player Diogo Jota.
News of Jota’s passing broke on Thursday morning, after it was confirmed that the Liverpool forward was involved in a car crash along with his brother, Andre Felipe Silva.
Using the iconic track ‘Live Forever’ as the perfect opportunity to pay their respects, the screen behind them flashed up with his shirt.
Here’s the moment it happened:
At Oasis' first concert for 16 years, Live Forever is dedicated to Diogo Jota ❤️pic.twitter.com/tZriAhqVpm
A lovely touch from the Burnage boys and die-hard Blues, not to mention done rather cleverly given the song choice.
Taken from their legendary debut album, Definitely Maybe, the 1994 track is regularly voted ‘the best British song of all time’ – and moments like these only reaffirm why it connects with people so strongly.
What’s even more moving is the slight swell of noise you hear from the crowd; even on a night where quite literally all eyes were on them and the inaugural night of the ‘Live ’25’ tour, they made sure to shed some light on the bigger picture.
You could even see some fans in the crowd holding up Portugal flags in honour of the late LFC star.
Manchester City themselves – who boast a number of Portuguese players like Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Matheus Nune – were among countless clubs who shared their condolences with Liverpool in the aftermath of the 28-year-old’s tragic death.
Scouse support band Cast also dedicated one of their songs to Jota earlier in the evening.
Cast frontman John Power just dedicated Walkaway to Diogo Jota. Power: “This is Walkaway. This one’s for Diogo Jota. Take it easy brother.” #Oasis25#DiogoJotapic.twitter.com/BEGuLaOTaR
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) July 4, 2025
Put simply, Friday, 4 July 2025, at the Principality Stadium was always going to be one that went down as one of the biggest concerts in decades, but this small gesture from a pair of footy fans no doubt made it even more special for any supporters who happened to be in the crowd.
And, indeed, the thousands watching at home, as even before the tidal wave clips began to appear online, there were multiple livestreams of the show on YouTube and various other platforms.
While most of these were ultimately taken down (not before we saw that legend balancing a pint of blue WKD on his head), there was no chance of keeping this one in the building.
We saw the setlist, we heard the noise; we saw them holding hands, and we even saw them hugging as they walked off. On a night were they chose to spotlight family in more ways than one, Oasis and those who are sadly no longer around to see them ‘Live Forever’ in the memory of millions.
Family-friendly places watch the 2025 Women’s Euros in Manchester
Danny Jones
It’s not just festival season we’re right in the midst of enjoying; a fantastic summer of sport is well underway, and with the 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros having now kicked off, we thought we’d round up some of the best places to watch the games in central Manchester.
With the Lionesses still reigning European champions following that unbelievable final against Germany back in 2022, we can’t wait to see if they can retain England’s first major trophy since 1966.
One of our favourite parts about the Women’s Euros is that it tends to attract a much more family-friendly crowd, meaning that wherever you choose to watch it here in the city centre, out into Greater Manchester or anywhere else for that matter, it’s a safe, wholesome and wonderful atmosphere.
So, without further delay, here are 10 of the best places to watch our girls bring football back home once again – because you’re damn right we’re winning it.
10 of the best places to watch the Women’s Euros in Manchester
1. Tony Wilson Place – First Street
First up, rather fittingly, we’re returning to one of our go-to spots pretty much every summer: the big temporary lawn laid out over on the square at Tony Wilson Place. A sun-trap with deck chairs and plenty of places for food and drink around you – what more could you ask for?
The ever-thriving First Street complex has been paving the way for free social listening/watch parties here in Manchester, especially when it comes to utilising public open-air spaces, and it’s sure to be backed once again for this year’s Women’s Euros too. Trendsetters, they are. It’s also the biggest screen.
Heading out of the city centre for a spell – though only a tram ride away – the waterside viewing zone at the similarly titled ‘Screen on the Docks’ over at Media City is back for summer 2025 with a wide range of live sport, including the F1, Wimbledon, cricket and, of course, this year’s Women’s Euros.
Situated on the steps right next to the old harbour area, turned home of Greater Manchester mainstay, Box on the Docks, there are all kinds of entertainment to catch for free. Make sure you check their socials for the regular schedule this summer, even after the tournament is over.
Next up is another regular favourite for any big sporting competition: the ever-busy, family-friendly and massive screens at Freight Island. Not only is it right next to Piccadilly station for those who are travelling into Manchester city centre, but you have all the food and drink vendors you’ll ever need.
With an entire room dedicated to watching live sports all year-round, not to mention quieter, family-friendly spaces like the ‘Plant Room’, outdoor spaces and so on, the Depot’s neighbour is always set up perfectly for big competitions like this, and you can bank on the big room being filled with England fans.
Heading over towards Castlefield direction and the emerging area known as New Jackson, next on the list of family-friendly places to watch the Women’s Euros in Manchester is Deansgate Square, where property developers Renaker have set up a special dedicated section for a jam-packed summer of sport.
Simply called ‘Screen on the Square’, the viewing zone not only sits in the shade of the city’s now skyline-defining towers but also catches plenty of rays throughout certain periods of the day. This space will also be doubling up as a free outdoor cinema throughout the season.
Heading across to the other side of Castlefield and over to the back of St John’s, Aviva Studios – a.k.a. the home of Factory International – are also showing the women’s football this tournament season as part of their current Football City, Art United. exhibition, which began on Thursday, 4 July.
Tickets are available for just a tenner, and children 16 or under go completely free. As well as getting to view the incredible installation as part of this year’s Manchester International Festival (MIF), there are also areas dedicated to watching the 2025 Women’s Euros. Sorted.
Perhaps one of our favourite options this summer is The Cartlon Club’s collaboration with Baller FC, who host accessible, inclusive football watch parties all over the country, but have a particular strong following here in Manchester and down in London.
In this case, FC doesn’t just mean for football club: it stands for ‘Friends Collective’, as the idea is that everyone is welcome, serving as a reminder that the beautiful game is also the people’s sport and no one should feel excluded. You can grab tickets for the games HERE.
With two floors to choose from, kid-friendly games like pool and shuffleboard to be enjoyed, as well as plenty of pub classic food to keep everyone’s bellies full for 90 minutes, it’s pretty much one of the perfect spots to watch all the action.
Moving over to the other side of town towards Victoria now, the National Football Museum is one of the best family-friendly and, most notably, completely FREE places to watch some of the best female players in the world shine on the European stage.
While the local institution and home of Manc footy culture will be open as normal throughout the day as normal, since many of the games are being broadcast during the evenings here in the UK, 2025 Women’s Euros matches will be screened after hours at no extra charge. Find out more down below.
The penultimate stop on our list of the best places to watch Euro 2025 might surprise some of you, but North Bat over on Circle Square – formerly known as North Taproom (just off Oxford Road Corridor) – has quietly become a great place for watching live sport with a more chilled atmosphere.
It might night have the box on all the time, but when they do for big occasions like this, we do sometimes whisper it is an alternative suggestion among friends to avoid the rowdier pub scenes. Maybe give it a try this month and decide for yourselves – and grab some street food from Koto while you’re at it.
And finally, this may be one of the least-known options in the city centre, but the free screenings inside the Hyatt Regency Manchester are also some of the best family-friendly places to watch football, making them a perfect out-of-the-way spot to enjoy the Women’s Euros too.
Danny Jones -
13th September 2023 
