With the cost of living only ever seeming to rise, it’s becoming increasingly hard to enjoy dining out as much as we might like. Unfortunately, energy bills (and the rest) are having to come first.
However, what many don’t know is that a number of Manchester’s top restaurants offer fixed-price menus at certain times – meaning that you can dine for a fraction of the usual price, just by booking in at a certain time.
Although these menus have been designed for a pre-theatre crowd, there’s no stipulation that you need to have a ticket to get the deal. As long as you dine within the allotted period, you can get the saving regardless of whether you’re going to see a show or not.
Of course, we don’t want to put you off going out out. There are some great theatre shows coming to Manchester this season, with The Palace welcoming the likes of Dreamgirls and The Lion King coming to town this autumn.
On the other side of town, meanwhile, The Opera House will host performances of Jersey Boys and Mrs Doubtfire as part of its winter, and in between, there will be innumerable small shows popping up at the likes of 53Two, Hope Mill and The Edge.
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So whether you’re looking to grab a bite before a show, or simply enjoy your favourites restaurants for a fraction of the price, these are the set menus you want to be checking out. Thank us later.
Don Giovanni
Image: Don Giovanni
Image: Don Giovanni
Offer: 2 courses £22.99, 3 courses £27.95
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When: 4-6pm every day
An Oxford Road staple, Italian restaurant Don Giovanni has been happily feeding theatre-goers since it opened its doors here in the eighties.
Ideally located between HOME, the Bridgewater Hall, The Palace Theatre and Opera House, tuck into house favourites like pizza, lasagne, gorgonzola gnocchi and tiramisu for a fraction of the usual price.
When: Available for reservations made Monday-Saturday until 6.30pm and all day Sunday.
Whilst a meal at steakhouse Hawksmoor can often set you back well over £100, the restaurant’s quick pre-theatre or late post-theatre menu offers theatre goers an express alternative for under £30. A no-brainer, in our book.
With main choices like 35-day aged rump or fillet tail (+5.50), seam bream and charcoal-roasted cauliflower, plus pudding favourites like strawberry cheesecake, sticky toffee sundae and peanut butter shortbread, we’re not sure how you could resist.
Pistachio crusted hake fillet, Panzanella salad, chili and red pepper relish. / Image: Kala
Bone marrow, shallot, garlic, parsley, sourdough toast. / Image: Kala
Offer: 2 courses £22, 3 courses £25
When: Dinner (before 7pm)
At Gary Usher’s King Street Bistro Kala you’re guaranteed to find a selection of well-presented, elegantly styled dishes that celebrate seasonal produce throughout the year.
Every dish on Kala’s set menu comes with a recommended pairing, be that fino sherry with your boquerones or a light and fruity glass of Beaujolais with your roasted betroot salad.
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Think sticky belly of bacon with sour cream, dill and pickled green beans to start, followed by pan-roasted pork ribeye with caper butter, wild mushroom ketchup, chicory, with a stack of truffle and parmesan chips on the side and a sticky toffee sundae to finish. (Pesce and vegetarian options are available too).
Whilst the views from this sky-high Spinningfields restaurant are an undeniable draw, the food is equally deserving of praise. With ex-Mana chef Daniel Scott now at the helm, diners can expect to find a range of refined dishes influenced by his experience and travels.
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Pre-theatre menu choices include roasted chicken supreme with truffled potato purée, chicken and thyme sauce, ras el hanout cauliflower steak with romseco, and pan-fried salad, with sides spanning four different potato styles, salads and buttered veg.
Offer: Three tapas and a glass of wine or beer for £15
When: Sunday to Friday, 12-6pm (excluding bank holidays)
Savvy theatre-goers can dig into tapas favourites like pinxtos, Spanish tortilla and goats cheese-stuffed piquillo peppers at La Bandera for just £15 as part of the long-standing restaurant’s express deal.
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With a glass of wine or beer included in the price, if you want to go all out you can also opt for a dessert for just £4 extra. Terms and conditions apply.
One for the steak lovers. Yes, we know we’ve already put Hawksmoor on this list but Gaucho offers something a little bit different with exclusively wet aged steaks from the Las Pampas region of Argentina.
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The restaurant also has its own winery, with a selection of beautiful bottles on offer designed to complement your chargrilled cut of choice.
Think watermelon panzanella, sea bream ceviche or beef carpaccio to start, followed by a spiral cut rump steak, sirloin or burger, with a citrus brulee to finish. Veggies and vegans are provided for too.
A place to go if you want to be seen (and spot a few celebs), The Ivy in Spinningfields is split into several parts including its ground-floor Brasserie. Here, diners can enjoy a set menu throughout the week with two courses starting at £27.95.
Think mains like steak, egg and chips, baked salmon fillet and chargrilled halloumi, with sides starting from an additional £3.95. As for pudding, choices include camembert with rye crackers, chocolate brownie and a tropical sorbet with lime, coconut and white chocolate sauce.
If you’re looking for a bang-up curry to go with your night out at the theatre, look no further than Zouk. This popular family-run eatery is a long-standing fixture in the city and for good reason.
From classic curries like jalfrezi, butter chicken and lamb laziz, to a Rajasthan-inspired fiery ‘railway’ dish, schwarma and Zouk burger, there’s something to please everyone no matter their spice comfort level.
When: Matinee and evening shows, menu only available when there is a show on at The Lowry.
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With mains like chalk stream trout with lentils and pancetta, summer vegetable risotto, roast chicken and celeriac steak, Pier Eight at The Lowry is well worth a visit if you’re catching a show in this part of town.
Elsewhere, its refined summer set menu features the likes of lemon cake with tahini custard and dark chocolate tarte, alongside Belgian waffles topped with locally-made Grandpa Greene’s Ice cream.
When: Monday to Thursday 12pm-close, Friday 12-7pm
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Dining from Cote Brasserie’s Prix Fixe menu you can enjoy three courses for under £20 ahead of your show, provided it doesn’t fall on a Bank Holiday.
To start, opt for mushrooms on toast or cripy whitebait before digginig into haddock or steak frites, aubergine and red pepper cassoulet or lamb Parmentier, then finish off with a burnt orange tart, chocolate mousse of plum clafoutis.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 20 – 26 July 2026
Emily Sergeant
School’s out, summer’s here, and there’s SO much happening.
That’s right, the school summer holidays have arrived, and that means there are, of course, loads of things happening across Greater Manchester to be getting up to these next six weeks. If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do, no worries, as we’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Summer in Space
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 20 July – onwards
Summer in Space / Credit: Science Museum Group
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme and it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with these next six weeks.
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser.
Find out more and book tickets for your visit here.
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National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails
North West
Monday 20 July – onwards
National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails / Credit: James Dobson | Annapurna Mellor
National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up for an exclusive trading card game and immersive trail.
The partnership is set to bring together the places the National Trust cares for and Pokémon’s spirit of play and discovery.
Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are going to be running throughout summer at 14 National Trust places nationwide, combining ‘imaginative play’ with ‘gentle physical activity’ inspired by Mega Evolution Pokémon.
Find out where to get involved and book tickets here.
Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.
Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme has now launched – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.
Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.
Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.
Thrill seekers, this one’s for you – as Zip World Manchester has launched its new Forest Tubing experience, and it’s bringing the UK’s longest outdoor tubing slide is coming to Heaton Park.
The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure gives visitors the chance to soar along two slides, winding through woodland at one of the largest parks in the North West.
Suitable for children aged four and above, visitors can book an hour-long session – with unlimited rides during that time slot – and either ride solo, or share the experience with fellow adventurers.
NEW OPENING – SpudBros Express / Credit: The Manc Group
Viral internet sensation SpudBros have popped up at the Trafford Centre for a special limited-time appearance.
The UK’s most-followed jacket potato creators, SpudBros – also known as Jacob and Harley Nelson – have officially launched their hotly anticipated summer pop-up at the iconic retail destination this week as part of Trafford Centre’s annual summer fair.
Shoppers can get ready for freshly prepared, fully loaded jacket potatoes served up in minutes, all without compromising on quality, flavour, or portion size.
You can pick from fan favourites like the Tram Classic, which is loaded with garlic butter, the signature three-cheese mix, beans, crispy onions, and world-famous ‘tram’ sauce, to the Spudfather topped with chilli con carne, tuna, and coleslaw.
Manchester’s biggest exhibition of local artists is back again for the summer.
Taking place every two years, Manchester Open is a celebration of local talent, showcasing the work of 420 artists inside the gallery space over at HOME. The exhibition includes work from artists in all media formats who have been selected from each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, ranging in age from four to 80 years old.
Oh, and the whole thing is completely free to visit. Find out more about the return of this incredible exhibition here.
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Fancy a wholesome summer activity?
It’s strawberry season, and Kenyon Hall Farm has officially opened up its strawberry fields (plus plenty of other pick-your-own produce) for the season for you to frolic amongst, with loads of summer treats in its cafe and award-winning farm shop too.
Strawberries have been growing at Kenyon Hall Farm for nearly 50 years now, and it’s proven as popular ever since.
Did you know you can visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer?
For the past three years running now, Chester Zoo has officially been named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews, and now this summer, you’ll get to see exactly what makes it such a special place worth visiting for a cut price, as £10 tickets are now available to book for a limited time only.
With the offer only applicable to afternoons this summer, Afternoon Tickets allow entry to Chester Zoo from 2pm onwards – with the last entry being one-hour before it closes.
You can visit Chester Zoo for just £10 this summer / Credit: Chester Zoo
Without this offer, standard admission tickets to Chester Zoo usually cost up to £38 for adults, £37 for students, and £28 for children, all including a 10% donation to the zoo’s conservation efforts, so it really is worth making the most of these limited-time £10 tickets while you can.
Find out more and book your tickets in advance here.
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Or did you know that seven Manchester green spaces have been named some of the best in the UK?
Once again, seven of our city’s green spaces – including parks and cemeteries – have been named some of the best the UK has to offer. That’s because leading environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, has handed out its coveted Green Flag Awards, which recognise accessible green spaces that set ‘an international benchmark for management’.
The awards shed light on the groups, volunteers, and staff who devote themselves year-round to the maintenance and upkeep of these areas.
Read more about this incredible honour and find out which green spaces have been chosen here.
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GRUB On The Docks
MediaCity
Tuesday 21 July – onwards
GRUB On The Docks / Credit: Supplied
GRUB On The Docks has returned for the summer.
MediaCity’s waterfront site has been transformed into a vibrant open-air destination built for warm weather and big moments across the season, as GRUB On The Docks returns later this week.
Running across the summer months, you can expect some of Greater Manchester’s best street food traders to be serving up global flavours and summer-ready drinks, alongside live music, DJs, and just an all round laid-back atmosphere turning daytime hangouts into evening sessions.
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is currently hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.
Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the year, East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Red Rose Diners’ are described as being ‘the ultimate first class foodie experience’, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
Manchester Day 2026 / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Day is making a grand return for 2026 this weekend., and you can expect a day filled with loads of Catalan-themed fun.
Oh, and it’s free fun at that… doesn’t get much better.
Switching for the first time to a Sunday this year instead of its usual Saturday, Manchester City Council is promising a ‘distinctly Catalan flavour’ to this year’s Manchester Day, as performers from Barcelona head to Manchester to join in the festivities in what is a first for the event.
This year’s Catalan theme has been chosen following Manchester’s guest city role during Barcelona’s iconic La Mercè festival in September last year, where our local artists were invited to take part.
A horror film festival screening sun-soaked slashers is coming to Manchester this weekend.
Popular Manchester indie cinema Cultplex is turning up the temperature with Summerween: Hot Summer Frights this summer.
Taking place this weekend, while horror films may make you think of the colder months at first, the festival will be swapping frosty scares for sun-soaked slashers – with movies guaranteed to make audiences sweat.
Find out what’s on the lineup and get last-minute tickets here.
Red Arch will officially celebrate its opening year in the city this weekend with an all-day party filled with community-led music, fashion collaborations, and BBQ food.
Set inside the iconic hole-in-the-wall on Manchester’s Red Bank, Red Arch has been transformed into a welcoming social bar and events space with both indoor and outdoor areas, centred around good music, thoughtfully curated events and the local community.
Running from 3pm until late, the summer party welcomes Manchester to celebrate the new space – which owners Amira and Pete have been gradually introducing since January 2026.
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Stuck for somewhere to have a bite to eat?
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in June, so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new in July, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too.
On a budget and need somewhere to take the kids to eat for £1 or even FREE over the summer holidays?
In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing and so are the school summer holidays.
If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.
Featured Image – Supplied | The Manc Group | Manchester City Council
The Guides
The best England fan zones, screenings and places showing the World Cup in Manchester
Danny Jones
The 2026 World Cup is undoubtedly the biggest sporting event happening this year, and for those looking for the best fan zones, supporter parks, and exclusive screenings, we’ve got all the best places to watch it here in Manchester.
We’re not going to get carried away and declare this as ‘England’s year’, but let’s just say we’ve got a very good squad and a head coach who has won some of the biggest footballing trophies on the planet. Now into another semi-final, we’re starting to really believe.
That being said, we have every reason to feel positive, especially with so many great Manc pubs, bars and more showing the World Cup games.
So, let’s not drag this out like a long VAR check: here are some of the best places showing the 2026 World Cup in Manchester city centre and beyond.
Fan zones, screenings and top places showing the 2026 World Cup in and around Manchester
1. The Grosvenor – Oxford Road Corridor
Up first on our list is the old Footage pub, which these days has been updated to The Grosvenor. They’re teaming up with Fireball for a big fan zone, including everything from free shots of that famous cinnamon whisky and other giveaways to quizzes, games and more.
One of Manchester’s biggest and best new food halls and bars, House of Social, is also hosting its first-ever big tournament viewing party, with five big screens being installed. Standard entry is free, while seated (£15) comes with a free drink included and a comfortable view of the action, and VIP (£30) tickets come with £15 to spend on food, too.
In addition to pre- and post-match parties with live music and even a margarita truck out in the garden section, not to mention the terrace benches with heated canopies, this one is a great package all-around. Tickets are right HERE.
In at number three, we’ve got The Faraday over in the Northern Quarter (formerly Seven Sins, for anyone unaware), which has all the games you could need – and we don’t just mean the ones up on the telly. They’ve got pool, shuffleboard, darts, and more, not to mention live music throughout the week.
They may have a different name on the door these days, but it’s still as enjoyable as ever.
Rounding off our top four (the Champions League spots, if you will) is the very impressive space set up by Boundary over at The Union on Manchester Metropolitan University’s campus.
Not just for students, this is much more than one for the uni kids: besides the pub itself, they’ve turned the gig and club room into a huge fan zone, with live DJ sets, super cheap drinks, 100 FREE cans of Jubel to give away for those earliest to the first game, and even 10p off Carling every time England score.
Say no more; book your spot for the Three Lions games HERE.
Next up, we have Manchester’s dedicated Oasis pub, Definitely Maybe, also over in NQ. You may associate this place more with Britpop and/or pre- and post-gig vibes, but the brilliant Afflecks music bar also has three large screens in the main room, not to mention tables and regular standing tickets available.
Food and drinks packages will also be available, and there’s even a Green Room that can host private screenings of up to 60 guests. With live music in steady supply from Friday to Sunday, this might be ideal for those weekend games;reserve your spot now.
Number six is, of course, the now-famous Road to Victory, which returns for every big international competition. Having been at multiple places before landing at the AO Arena most recently, they’re now putting on something even bigger for the semis and hopefully the final.
Making the most of the sunny weather shining down on Greater Manchester at the minute, they’re following up Castlefield Bowl’s 2026 edition of Sounds of the City with a brand-new outdoor fan zone. More than 70% of tickets have already been sold – grab yours down below while you still can.
From Road to Victory (RtV) to ‘Victory at the Baths’, over Chorlton way, is also holding a big fan zone for the latest international tournament.
We don’t need to tell you how stunning a space this will be to watch ‘the beautiful game’, but it will also have some of the best acoustics in the business when those goals go in, the limbs go up, and the pints are sent flying. Find out more and grab your tickets while you can.
Similarly, their old neighbours at Depot Mayfield are bringing back their own building-wide watchalong party, ‘We Are Football Festival’. Operating in partnership with 4TheFans, the fan park specialists return for World Cup 2026, with several big rooms to be made the most of.
One entry on the list that may surprise you is Zouk Tea Bar and Grill over at The Quadrangle, just off Oxford Rd, but it’s a decent option for anyone who wants a more laid-back setting that comes with scran and a guaranteed seat.
Now, it goes without saying that there’ll be some unreal Indian and Pakistani scran being served up here over the summer, as there is every single day, but they’re also putting up big screens for select games over the next month or so. Book your table with food starting from £29 per person HERE.
Now, we thought we’d lump a few of these into one, because St John’s – just off Deansgate and behind Spinningfields – is gradually becoming one of the fastest-growing districts in central Manchester city centre, not least of all thanks to the brilliant food and drink scene over in this small slice of the city.
With Trading Route, Courts Club, Stables Tavern and now ‘The Green’ all helping create a great atmosphere ahead of this year’s sporting summer, food, drink, and pure vibes will be in full flow.
Find out what they’ve got on right through until August.
12. O’Malleys – Central
Heading over to O’Malleys on Portland Street, right in the heart of the city centre, we may be bursting with some great Irish bars and pubs in Manchester at the moment, but O’Malleys MCR undoubtedly has some of the cheapest pints and value for money across the board.
They’re doing free entry throughout, and they’re showing every single game, so you don’t just have to be backing England.
Heading toward the outskirts for a spell, Hotel Football, which sits in the shadow of Old Trafford, is obviously a footy-obsessed venue from start to finish, but this isn’t just limited to Man United affairs.
This World Cup, they’re showing every England game and even offering special stay-overs, with dinner, as well as bed and breakfast included. Find all the options HERE.
This package comes with a stadium view and tour of Man United’s Carrington complex (Credit: Supplied)
14. GRUB On The Docks – Salford Quays
As we cross the halfway point, and since we’ve strayed just beyond the city centre, we thought we’d shout out the fantastic festival feel being set up for GRUB On The Docks over at MediaCityUK.
Formerly known as BOX on the Docks, this new-look outdoor leisure and live entertainment hub will hopefully serve as the perfect suntrap, not to mention there’ll be plenty of boxes showing the football itself.
Any place offering free fan zones gets a big thumbs up from us, and fortunately, we already know plenty of people heading back to Nell’s for World Cup watchalongs.
Nell’s Pizza and frozen cocktails speak for themselves, but in case you weren’t aware, they have a big projector up at their Kampus location, as well as screens at their other sites, such as Common, The Beagle, and over in Salford Quays, too
The Manchester Blues Kitchen site just off Deansgate is another one that we can vouch for when it comes not only to watching the biggest sporting fixtures, having watched the Super Bowl there every year for the past half a decade, but also the footy – in fact, we watched the last Euros final in there and while the result was gutting, the night overall was excellent.
It’s first-come, first-served, and their latest Southern-inspired food menu feels like the perfect fit for the North American tournament.
Another food and beer hall, Society, is another ideal spot to watch the World Cup in Manchester this summer. In fact, we’ve enjoyed it more than once already this tournament.
Not only do you have rows and rows of tables and benches to seat fans, multiple kitchens to choose from, and a great selection of locally-brewed bevs, but you’ve also got the outside area to hopefully soak up sun, suds, and energy from the crowd during the breaks.
Beloved Manchester bar and nightclub ‘JBs’ is bringing their dedicated England fan zone back for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and if you spent any time during the last edition, you’ll know the atmosphere in here is great.
Complete with shiny new booths, multiple screens, a DJ booth and more, the ‘Clubhouse’ upstairs is well worth a go for a game or two. Find ticket prices and all their other events listed HERE.
Credit: The Manc
19. The Lawn Club – Spinningfields
Heading back over towards Spinningfields direction, Lawn Club on Hardman Square is another great alternative for World Cup screenings, especially as you’ve got the indoor hut, complete with cocktail deals, AND the roomy beer garden outside.
For those who haven’t stumbled across it before, here’s a better idea of how it’s going to look based on previous years:
Holding viewing parties for the 2026 World Cup at their two flagship homes – the taproom and their first-ever beerhouse, Seven Brothers are also offering bookings, from just you and your partner, to big private hire for groups of mates and work colleagues.
Spaces for England’s first game against Croatia on Wednesday, 17 June, are already filling up, so email either venue to reserve your spot ASAP.
Credit: Supplied/The Manc
21. 11 Central – Salford Quays
Speaking of the Seven Bros Brewing Co., another one of their brands over at Quayside in MediaCity is another place that will be showing all England games, at the very least, throughout the 2026 World Cup.
This still relatively new Salford Quays spot may go overlooked in foodie terms at times because of Central Bay next door, but one thing they do better than their neighbours is live sport on the box.
No. 22 is the brilliant Black Cat Club, brought to you by the same team behind the Michelin-recommended El Gato Negro and Canto tapas restaurants on King Street and Cutting Room Square, respectively.
To toast this year’s tournament and the last time England won the World Cup, they’re serving up a ‘Geoff Hirst’ deal, where you can grab three small plates for £19.66, or four-pint pitchers of Black Cat Lager, Red Stripe or Moretti for the same price. Here are all of their packages.
Credit: Press shot (supplied via Black Cat Club)
23. Dirty O’Sullivans – Albert Square
From Mediterranean influences to more Gaelic goodness, another recently opened Manc Irish bar is also offering great deals for this year’s World Cup, including giving away 1,000 FREE pints to those who pre-book their table at this increasingly popular pub just off the corner of Albert Square.
As we approach the final minutes of this round-up, if you will, we thought we’d throw in another favourite gaming and activity bar of ours in the form of Electric Shuffle.
You can pay either £25 or £50 as a deposit, redeemable off your bill at the end when putting your name down, and you don’t have to book a shuffleboard table to be in the room – though why wouldn’t you? Bookings are live now.
25. Diecast – Piccadilly East
Our penultimate pick of the bunch, we couldn’t complete this squad selection without giving a nod to Diecast over towards Back Piccadilly and the edge of Ancoats.
A previous RtV host, this massive Manchester drinking hall, beer garden, gig and club venue is still well-equipped to hold a big World Cup watch party all of its own. General admission is still on sale for just a tenner, so don’t wait around.
Getting in on the fan park phenomenon, the Co-op Live arena has also turned its bar area into a massive public viewing area, with unobscured views on the big screen.
Tickets for the semis may have already sold out, but if you’re a fellow believer and are confident we’re making it into the final, you can secure your spot down below.
A World Cup Quarter Finals to remember 🔥
General sale tickets for World Cup Semi-Final screening of England vs Argentina are SOLD OUT! FINAL tickets available to Co-op members via @coopuk app.
If we’re in extra time, we can’t think of many better places to spend that stressful eleventh hour than Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall; in fact, we have done almost exactly that for the 2022 World Cup and the Euros, and we promise, we made some unforgettable memories in here no matter how it all ended.
They’re keeping things simple here: £5 entry, and get this – the first 100 get a free pint; tickets can be found right HERE.
From one Manc institution to another, many people still don’t know that Manchester Academy One are also showing England‘s 2026 World Cup games, and offer as affordable a package as you would expect given their obvious student-led demographic.
That being said, like at MMU, you don’t have to be at uni to make the most of this offer, which includes some of the cheapest pints you’ll find in the entire city centre, pitchers from £8 and a room that can fit the best part of 2.6k. If it sounds like a bit of you, look no further:
⚽️Join us for ENGLAND Vs ARGENTINA on the big screen in Manchester Academy 2 on Wednesday 15th July! Its coming home!
Our penultimate pick is arguably one of the best value for money spots on this list, and that’s The White Lion, which sits just on the corner of Liverpool Road and Castlefield’s historic Roman fort, ‘Mamucium’.
Since a refurb a couple of years back, the Craft Union pub may feel fairly familiar, but this little gem boasts plenty of big ticks in the plus column, from a decent-sized terrace with canopies, multiple screens inside, pints of Boddingtons from just £3.35 – yes, really – and now even a little outdoor food hut.
The only tiny gripe is that there’s only one outdoor screen and it doesn’t have any sound, but cheap pints, a great atmosphere and a no-nonsense boozer vibe are filling the whole left by the dint taken to the likes of the Sir Ralph Abercromby.
Credit: The Manc
30. Concept Haus – Salford
Last but not least, we’re throwing a somewhat left-field suggestion from a relatively new venue whose resident Disco Puss event has made the ‘ballsy’ decision to swap dancing for football chants.
The 6,000 square foot warehouse and cove studio on Cobden Street near Pendleton may not be everyone’s radar, but with such a big space, cheap tickets with a welcome drink included, free games to fill the minutes during half-time, and plenty more, they’ve quietly put together a brilliant little package.
It may be a little bit out of the way if you live in Manchester city centre, but it’s only a short distance via public transport, and if you’re a resident Salfordian, you simply have to give it a try.
Georgina Pellant -
12th September 2022 
