We all got pretty good at quizzes over lockdown, when seeing friends and family over Zoom for a trivia session was pretty much all we were allowed to do.
But now we can take on the mighty pub quiz in an actual pub again – hoorah!
There are loads of pubs and bars across Manchester who will let you flex your brains while nursing a pint.
Here are some of our favourites.
GRUB
Green Quarter
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Credit: Facebook (GRUB)
GRUB host a monthly ‘FIZZY QUIZZY’ night across its indoor and outdoor spaces.
You can wrap up warm and get competitive under the stars or pull up a bench inside their Green Quarter event space.
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The fizzy quiz promises plenty of rounds to test all that useless trivia living rent free in your brain.
Prizes include a gallon of lager – good luck lugging that home.
Quizzes are the fourth Wednesday of every month and start at 7:30pm sharp.
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The Pen and Pencil
Northern Quarter
Credit: Facebook (The Pen and Pencil)
Every Tuesday night from 7:30pm put the pints down and pick the pens up.
It’s £1 entry and inside you can get some proper fancy cocktails one being a winter spice julep – we don’t even know what that is but it sounds good.
Hosted by John Stansfield (Quizimodo) this quiz is a headscratcher but definitely worth it because its winner takes all.
Plus, they’ve thrown in a prize for the best team name – we suggest John Trivialta and your mate’s team Otrivia Newton John.
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Abel Heywood
Northern Quarter
Credit: Facebook (Abel Heywood
Introducing the Quizzly Bears, a quiz night with all the best topics in one.
We’re talking Harry Potter, Friends, Game of Thrones and Disney.
Avengers assemble – get the best of the best and book your tickets now. It’s one ticket per team with teams of up to 6 people.
Quizzes are every other week offering up loads of prizes along with free popcorn and a themed cocktail menu.
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A full house is guaranteed at Abel Heywood’s partly because it is the most popular pub quiz in Manchester, but they also have a strict cancellation policy – be warned.
Join Alan and Josh every third Wednesday of the month for a quiz show-themed quiz.
Expect lots of laughs in this cosy venue, great place for a fun and easy evening with your mates.
Runs 7pm until late and no need to book a table – just walk in, it’s that easy.
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Free and entry and no team limit – the quiz world is your oyster here and prizes are ripe for the picking.
It’s crazy, it’s quirky and it’s quizzy so book your tickets now!
Mary and Archie
West Didsbury
The finest pub quiz in all of West Didsbury starts at 8pm every week.
Great vibes, cool venue and a very competitive crowd what more could you want on a work night?
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Now’s your chance to win some serious cash in hand – let no one stand in your way.
Mary and Archie also serve up some proper tasty burgers including a home-baked falafel burger.
It’s a top evening out.
Parrs Wood Hotel
Didsbury
Credit: Facebook (The Parrs Wood)
‘A 7 round professional quiz’ but don’t worry it’s hosted in a friendly style – so put those claws away.
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Fun evening out but try get a group of your smartest friends because this quiz can be tough.
The quiz starts at 9pm every Monday and you can have 10 people on a team.
A Play Your Cards Right jackpot accumulator game is also hosted.
Things To Do
Shayne Ward relaunches music career with Manchester gig and box set album
Daisy Jackson
Shayne Ward is heading back out on the live music scene in support of his box set album ‘Anthology’, with a Manchester gig in the works for this year.
The former X-Factor star, originally from Tameside, had stepped back from music to join the cast of Coronation Street in the role of Aidan Connor.
His character was killed off in 2018, in a highly-praised storyline that was written with the help of CALM and the Samaritans.
His acting career has also seen him performing on the West End in Rock Of Ages as Stacee Jaxx in London’s West End as well as the touring productions of The War of the Worlds and Band of Gold.
Shayne Ward first shot to fame as the winner of the second series of X Factor, and released three albums – a self-titled debut in 2006, Breathless in 2007, and Obsession in 2010.
Shayne Ward is heading back out on tour. Credit: Publicity picture
His debut single That’s My Goal was the Christmas number one in 2005 and sat at the top of the charts for four weeks.
Those first three albums have been released in their entirety as a new box set, Anthology, along with bonus tracks, remixes and unreleased recordings.
To support Anthology, he’ll be heading out on a mini-tour, with two UK headline shows in 2023.
He’ll perform at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on 9 April, and at the O2 Academy Islington in London on 15 April.
Tickets go on general sale Friday 3 February at 9am and will be available from See Tickets.
Featured image: ITV
Things To Do
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 30 January – 5 February 2023
Emily Sergeant
It’s time to wave goodbye to January, and welcome in another new month as February arrives in Greater Manchester this week.
With a new month comes an events calendar filled with all sorts of different activities to be getting up to this week, so once again, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
As always, some of the events we’re going to mention are completely free, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Here’s our top picks.
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Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors
IWM North
Monday 30 January – onwards
Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors / Credit: IWM North
Never-before-seen portraits of local Holocaust survivors are to go on display at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) North in Manchester this week.
The new photography exhibition has opened to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2023.
Following its successful inaugural run at IWM London back in 2021, the exhibition – which is titled Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors – features 60 contemporary portraits of Holocaust survivors and their families, alongside four new photographs taken by The Royal Photographic Society (RPS) President and Chair of Trustees, Simon Hill.
PUSH Festival has returned for HOME MCR’s annual celebration of North West creative talent.
HOME’s stages, screens, and spaces are being dedicated to showcasing fantastic works from around the region, as well as offering opportunities for creatives to meet industry professionals, share ideas and inspiration, and develop their skills.
This year’s festival is showcasing newly-commissioned works across a range of art forms, including theatre, digital work, visual arts, and cinema.
The festival also includes a series of workshops and other artist development opportunities.
Fancy catching the last of all the January deals, discounts, and offers in Manchester’s cafes, bars, and restaurants?
January is typically a time when many vow to change their eating habits, but even the most committed dieter should be tempted by these Manchester restaurant deals, discounts and offers.
Whether you are starting a new diet, ditching alcohol, or trying out Veganuary, that’s no reason to stay at home.
Not when you’ve got January dining (and drinking) offers floating around like this.
January Dining Deals / Credit: The Manc Group | Evelyn’s | Ramona & The Firehouse
From half-price burgers to burritos, small plates, Sunday roasts, and more, we’ve rounded up some of the best Manchester January restaurant deals to take advantage of in 2023.
From Moss Side to Marseille: The Art of Michael Browne and Eric Cantona
National Football Museum
Monday 30 January – onwards
From Moss Side to Marseille: The Art of Michael Browne and Eric Cantona / Credit: National Football Museum
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has set up a special sport-based art exhibition in the National Football Museum.
Spotlighting work by fine artist Michael Browne, who created a series of pieces exploring the relationship between sport, art and modern society, the new exhibition titled ‘From Moss Side to Marseille’ covers everything from “human rights, equality, injustice, the impact of power and elevations to a godlike status.”
The exhibition was commissioned by the Frenchman with the aim of celebrating influenced sporting heroes who used their positions to advocate for social change, even in the face of great personal cost.
Winter at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Science Museum Group
Exhibitions that explore the power of music, and give you the chance to try out an interactive “hands on” gaming experience are just some of the activities on offer at the Science and Industry Museum this winter.
The award-winning museum is invites people to discover 250 years of innovations and ideas that started life in Manchester and went on to change the world. Standout exhibition, Turn It Up: The power of music, is a world-first event giving those curious the chance to explore the science of music’s mysterious hold over us through a series of “immersive musical experiences and interactive activities” at a specially-commissioned ‘musical playground’.
There’s also still time to head on down and check out the stand-out interactive gaming experience, Power UP, and so much more.
Find out more about what’s on at the Science and Industry Museum here.
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Mamma Mia!
Opera House Manchester
Tuesday 31 January – Saturday 11 February
Mamma Mia! / Credit: Opera House Manchester
Mamma Mia! will be taking over the Opera House Manchester from Tuesday 31 January – Saturday 11 February.
Fancy grabbing tickets to see the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical? Making a much-anticipated return to our city, fans of the popular films will know Mamma Mia! is set on a Greek island paradise, and cleverly tells a story of love, friendship, and identity through the timeless songs of Swedish pop group ABBA.
Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget.
Greater Manchester has firmly earned itself a spot as a place for world-renowned touring theatre productions to make a stop off at.
While the past couple of years amid and post-pandemic may have hit the theatre pretty hard, it’s a beloved industry that has now well and truly bounced-back – with the region’s three main theatres, Palace Theatre Manchester, Opera House Manchester, and The Lowry, all having welcomed some absolute show-stopping productions last year.
Theatre Shows 2023 / Credit: ATG Tickets
And 2023 is set to be absolutely no different – with award-winning musicals, family-friendly plays, inventive dance productions, and more on the agenda.
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You can read our round-up of the best productions in 2023 here.
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Open Mic Night at Lions Den
Great Northern Warehouse
Wednesday 1 February
Open Mic Night at Lions Den / Credit: Lions Den & Unsplash
One of Manchester’s best live music bars has relaunched its open mic night and is calling out for new talent.
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Nestled on Manchester’s hidden street, Deansgate Mews, independent bar and performance space Lions Den hosts an open mic night every Wednesday, which supports grass-roots music and provides upcoming musicians with an ‘unopposed’ opportunity to hit the stage.
Popular amongst students and up-and-coming musicians, the open mic night offers those who want to try their hand at performing the chance to build confidence and meet like-minded people who share a passion for live music.
The Hip Hop Orchestra Brunch / Credit: The Blues Kitchen
The Hip Hop Orchestra will serve up a mouth-watering combination of hip hop nostalgia, chart-topping R&B goodness, badass BBQ, and luscious liquor at the ultimate bottomless brunch party.
Kicking off this weekend, and running every Saturday at The Blues Kitchen in Manchester, you can expect live versions of your favourite tracks.
A range of tasty dishes will be served up, including burgers, fried chicken, and a handful of veggie and vegan options, and then for those really looking to get the party started, there’s an option to add bottomless booze to your ticket – with rum and prosecco for 90-minutes.
Dolly Busby -
26th November 2021 
