Summer is well and truly here, and Manchester is a city that knows how to make the most of it before 2021 is over.
With the government having confirmed that the country’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ will in fact be happening on 19 July – with rules on the wearing of face masks, social distancing, mass gatherings, and more all set to ease – it’s understandable that many of us have now decided to properly start making our summer plans.
And a bottomless brunch is sure to be on the hit list for plenty of people.
What’s better than a bottomless brunch though? A themed bottomless brunch of course – and luckily, there’s a whole host of them happening in Manchester city centre over the next couple of months.
Each of the immersive brunch events are being hosted by The Brunch Club, who has been working closely with Revolution Parsonage Gardens in Manchester to make each them happen, and those who book will be kept continuously updated with any changes.
There will be an inclusive menu of grilled brunches, avocado toast and pancakes – with options available for vegetarians, vegans and those following a gluten-free diet – all on offer, and of course with these being bottomless brunches, you can also sip on a tipple or two, with everything from Aperol Spritz and Prosecco, to Bloody Marys, a range of beers and so much more to choose from.
Alternatively, you can skip the booze and just stick to the brunch by itself if you’d prefer.
From events inspired by singing superstars, to cult-classic films and musicals, we’ve rounded up five of the best themed bottomless brunches taking place in Manchester this summer.
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1. Beyonce Karaoke Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 26 September
Calling all the single ladies, girls who run the world, or anyone who’s crazy in love – this one’s for you.
An immersive Beyonce-themed karaoke bottomless brunch experience is arriving at Revolution Parsonage Gardens this September, and it’s perfect for a proud member of the ‘BeyHive’, or anyone who fancies belting out Queen B’s greatest hits, all while sipping on a cocktail.
Each 90-minute event is set to be full of “fun and madness”.
While the “singing sessions” are sure to be the main event, you’re also encouraged to come dressed for the part to be in with a chance of bagging some exciting prizes in the costume competition.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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2. Pirates of the Caribbean Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 22 August
Credit: Disney Pictures
A 90-minute bottomless brunch event based on the iconic 00s film franchise Pirates of the Caribbean is sailing into Revolution Parsonage Gardens this August.
A description for the highly-anticipated event from The Brunch Club website reads: “Calling all pirates, wenches, mermaids and scallywags, if you’ve been waiting for the opportune moment, then this is it.
“Will you be made to walk the plank? Will you be cut in two during our live pirate sword fight? Will you be enchanted away by one of our mermaids? Will you find the hidden treasure?”
The brunch may be the main event, but there’ll also be “a quiz to test your pirate knowledge”, plenty of games, competitions and special prizes up for grabs to keep you on your toes, and while fancy dress is not compulsory, there will also be prizes for the best dressed attendees.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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3. Spice Girls Karaoke Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 26 September
Credit: Spiceworld: The Movie
Ready to spice up your life?
A Spice Girls-themed karaoke bottomless brunch is arriving at Revolution Parsonage Gardens this September, and it’s perfect for any 90s pop fan who fancies singing along to the iconic girl band’s greatest hits while sipping on a cocktail.
Each 90-minute event is set to be full of “fun and madness”.
Once again, while the “singing sessions” are sure to be the main event, you’re also encouraged to come dressed for the part to be in with a chance of bagging some exciting prizes in the costume competition.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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4. Dancing Queen! Brunch
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 22 August
Credit: Universal Pictures
The laid-back Greek island lifestyle and Mediterranean sunshine is coming right here to Manchester city centre this August.
This Mamma Mia-themed immersive brunch experience will have you singing, dancing and testing your movie trivia knowledge with a bunch of themed quizzes in the aim of trying to win some of the exciting prizes up for grabs.
There’ll also be a costume competition, all of the greatest Mamma Mia tunes blasting out, and a few sing-alongs accompanied by “a great band” thrown in there too for good measure.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
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5. Musicals Bingo Manchester! Grease
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Sunday 8 August
Credit: Paramount Pictures
Grease is always near the top of the list when reeling off the most beloved musicals.
First released as a musical 1971 before going on to become a critical and commercial success in the form of a smash-hit film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in 1978, Grease depicts the lives of greaser Danny Zuko and Australian transfer student Sandy Olsson who develop an attraction for each other.
It developed a cult following of fans in the process – but how well do you reckon you know the story and the songs?
Now’s your chance to put your knowledge to the test at this ‘musicals bingo’ bottomless brunch.
Tickets are available from £35 per head – and you can grab yours here.
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 30 June – 6 July 2025
Emily Sergeant
July? July, really genuinely? Flipping heck, this past month’s gone by quickly.
That’s right, June has passed us by, and July has arrived in all its glory, so there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester this month, as you’d expect – we’re talking festivals, themed events, new foodie openings, and loads more on the horizon in the coming weeks.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries.
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 too.
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MCR Live ’25
Manchester City Centre
Monday 30 June – onwards
MCR Live ’25 / Credit: MCC
A massive music-filled takeover of Manchester arrives this weekend ahead of 1.3 million music tourists descending on the city centre this summer.
MCR Live ’25 will celebrate what promises to be a sensational summer of sound.
There’ll be everything from a pop-up bar in Piccadilly Gardens with surprise live acts doing sets, and markets in St Peter’s Square selling vinyl and vintage goods, to block parties in the Northern Quarter, and the already-announced Music for the Senses art trail dotted around all the well-known city centre sights.
The Science and Industry Museum has got a spectacular summer holiday programme packed with all sorts of things to be getting up to.
At the heart of it all, you can explore the world of senses inspired by the museum’s latest exhibition, Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You.
With events running up until 31 August, whether it’s disco dancing around a giant brain, unveiling the science behind optical illusions, or journeying through a giant ear canal, there’s something for everyone during the museum’s ‘sense-sational’ summer.
A free open-air cinema has arrived Manchester city centre for the summer.
With a backdrop of the modern Manchester skyline, Screen on The Square the go-to hangout for Mancs this summer, as audiences can recline in deck chairs surrounded by one of the city’s best views, and watch everything from classic and family films, to music, sporting events, and so much more.
It’s launched down at New Jackson – Renaker’s world-class skyscraper district and thriving new neighbourhood that’s taken shape at the southern side of Manchester city centre.
Clocking Manchester: 130 Years in the City’s Evolving Skyline
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Monday 30 June – onwards
Clocking Manchester: 130 Years in the City’s Evolving Skyline / Credit: Supplied
A new free exhibition is now open allowing visitors to open the door into the rich history of one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, the Refuge Assurance Building, which is now the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.
Clocking Manchester: 130 Years in the City’s Evolving Skyline has transformed the walls of the hotel’s Refuge bar and dining space to chart the building’s remarkable journey, from its beginnings in 1895 to its current life as one of the city’s most loved luxury hotels.
Alongside the story of the building itself, the exhibition also highlights the people who have shaped the building over the decades.
National Trust – Sky Gardening Challenge / Credit: The Manc Group
It’s time to get your green thumbs out, as the National Trust has challenged city dwellers to ‘green’ their balconies this summer.
We know the city is a little lacking in greenspace, so why not bring the greenspace to you? If you need some tips and tricks on how to get a little greener, and what plants would work best in your mini oasis, then you can grab yourself booklets, seeds.
Plus, they’re also running free workshops across Greater Manchester.
Oh and hey, if you think you’ve got a bloomin’ lovely balcony, then you can now enter the National Trust’s Sky Gardening Challenge and be in with the chance of winning some exciting prizes.
From the streets of Bangkok to the streets of Manchester – Zaap Thai has arrived.
Imagine the delicious street food of a Bangkok street market, but without the rampant humidity and scorpions on sticks, and you’ve got an idea of Manchester’s newest opening down on the popular Lincoln Square.
This vibrant spot is filled top-to-bottom with neon signs, graffiti, tuk-tuk seating booths… and even a Moo Deng mural.
The expansive menu features 80 dishes from across Thailand, with some of the highlights including chicken satay, crispy pork belly, stir-fries like Pad Ga Prao, and sweet dishes such as mango sticky rice and pandan custard pancakes.
NEW OPENING – Oasis Live ’25 Fan Store / Credit: The Manc Group
The UK’s first official Oasis merch store has now opened in Manchester.
Officially throwing its doors open in Spinningfields, the Oasis Live ’25 Fan Store is stocked full to the brim of all the official merch for the hotly-anticipated reunion tour this summer, and it’s also launching online as well as in store.
As well as the official tour merchandise, the store sells exclusive brand collaborations, limited-edition products, and items not available to buy anywhere else.
Stories – Brought To Life / Credit: The Manc Group
A major new National Portrait Gallery exhibition has arrived in Salford.
The ground-breaking new experience by FRAMELESS Creative has opened at MediaCity, bringing some of the world’s most famous portraits to life like never before.
Stories – Brought to Life will explore the fascinating lives of these figures, who have shaped the UK’s history and culture all the way since the Tudor period, and will combine the highest quality digital projection, Hollywood-style visual effects, and the latest audio technology, along with specially created musical scores and creative narratives to shine a new light on each individual.
Visitors will be able to step inside iconic portraits including Grayson Perry, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst, Queen Elizabeth I, and William Shakespeare.
Kargo on the Docks / Credit: Supplied | Mark Waugh
Kargo on the Docks is back for the summer.
MediaCity’s al fresco dining pop-up has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester’s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 / Credit: Jon Shard (via Kimpton Clocktower Hotel & British Culture Archive)
A new free photography exhibition showing never-before-seen pictures of Oasis fans from the 90s is opening in Manchester this week.
As Manchester gears up to welcome Oasis back home once again, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s new free exhibition is set to take music fans a trip down memory lane.
Oasis Fans – 1994-1997 will showcase a series of exclusive photographs by renowned photographer, Jon Shard, to the public for the first time ever, opening the door to a world before online sales, dynamic ticket pricing, and frantically refreshing a website to get the hottest ticket in town.
MIF is back for 2025 this week, and all the fun’s heading out to the boroughs too this year.
Manchester International Festival (MIF) is all about showcasing Manchester as a global hub of creative innovation, this year’s lineup presents some of the most exciting creative minds of our generation.
MIF25 is set to be a celebration of homegrown artists returning to the region, with many of the names on the lineup originally coming from, or having important ties to, Greater Manchester and the North West.
Eric Cantona, Juan Mata, The Royal Ballet, Blackhaine, Shilpa Gupta, Richard Russell, Edgar Davids, and Ella Toone are just a handful of the well-known names contributing to this extraordinary bi-annual celebration of creativity this summer.
The SmileyWorld® Art Trail / Credit: Scott Kershaw Photography
Stockport will transform into a playful outdoor gallery this summer as a colourful new art trail takes over the town.
Visitors are being told to get ready to explore a full spectrum of emotions this summer, as the SmileyWorld® Art Trail is making its North West debut and taking over the town centre with a colourful collection of quirky, fun, and exciting sculptures, each reimagined by a different artist to reflect the full range of human emotions including joy, pride, surprise, anxiety, and lots more.
The trail is created by trailblazing global arts producer, Wild in Art, in partnership with Totally Stockport BID and SmileyWorld.
Did you see that Manchester Museum has been named European Museum of the Year for 2025?
Talk about a prestigious title.
Yes that’s right, congratulations are in order, because Manchester Museum – which is part of The University of Manchester (UoM) – has received one of the most prestigious museum awards in the world, the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).
Not only that, but it’s made history in doing so too, as it’s the first university museum to ever receive the annual prize.
Manchester Museum has been named the European Museum of the Year for 2025 / Credit: Manchester Museum
It beat out 41 other cultural hubs across the continent to claim the coveted prize.
Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises new or redeveloped museums that showcase the best in excellence and innovation in their field.
UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 / Credit: Molly Darlington / The FA (via England on Facebook) | Wikimedia Commons
England’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 matches are to be shown on big screens for free in Manchester this summer.
As England women’s national football team look to retain their title and continue to build on their ever-growing success as one of the best national football teams in the world, Manchester’s National Football Museum is set to host a series of family-friendly watch parties after hours for the UEFA Women’s Euros this summer.
Not only will the matches be shown in all their glory for free on a big screen, but you can also expect an on-site bar, and even the option to pre-order pizza ahead of time to feast on while you’re watching the action.
This is Street Life – a brand new one-day community festival taking over Ashton-under-Lyne town this weekend.
From giant Star Wars machines to a full-scale wrestling ring, life-sized dinosaurs roaming around, and everything in between, this bold new community celebration hits Market Avenue in the Tameside town this Saturday… and as you can tell, there’ll be something for visitors of all ages to get involved with on the day.
Free to attend and open to all ages, event organisers are promising that it’ll be an ‘explosion’ of creativity, culture, and big day-out energy, all to celebrate the very best of what Ashton has to offer.
Featured Image – Science Museum Group | The Manc Group | Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
What's On
You can sleep in a luxury train carriage at an old railway station in Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s an Airbnb listing in Delph where you can stay in a classic converted train carriage, and it’s even situated in an old train station, so someone buy my ticket ASAP.
Get ready to have the best train experience of your life, as the only cancellation you have to worry about is booking the day off work.
The Carriage at The Old Station is a two-person character property in Delph, Saddleworth that offers you the chance to live out your vintage fantasy by stepping back in time on a luxury static train coach.
It may be situated at an old station, but the interior is refreshing and light with mint blue beams, fuchsia cushions and a royal red carpet and curtains.
As well as a majestic interior, this carriage has an equally impressive amount of amenities, including a Bluetooth sound system, board games and its own indoor fireplace.
This Airbnb is fairly new too, with only 44 reviews to its name – the first only dating back to September of last year; don’t say we don’t find you some absolute gems.
Inside the Airbnb that’s an old converted train carriage.The interior of this Airbnb listing is bold and impressive.
One user even stated, “We regularly stay in five-star locations and this surpassed five-star easily! We highly recommend a stay here.”
While another opened her review with three simple adjectives that we also feel perfectly sum up this train carriage property perfectly: “Opulent, indulgent, extravagant”.
It should come as no surprise that this place is beautiful inside and out, as in the description, host of the property Nigel states he’s a retired designer.
The train carriage stay is also close to a proper country pub, The Old Bell Inn, as well as the Diggle canal walk if you fancy a stroll and a pint before tucking into bed in your old train carriage for the night.
Even the bathroom has pops of colour throughout.You could stay in this train carriage at an old train station.
If you’re after boarding The Carriage at The Old Station and having a fabulous overnight stay or mini holiday of your own, you can find the Airbnb listing and everything you need to know HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
9th July 2021 
