What's On

A huge record fair is coming to Manchester city centre this bank holiday

Definitely putting our records on for this one.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 12th August 2025

There’s a record fair making its way to Manchester next weekend, and it’s taking over one of Manchester’s iconic live music venues.

Record lovers and music fanatics this one’s for you.

Whether you’re after growing your own record collection back home, or showing off your DJ skills, this event has everything you could ever ask for.

The Very Good Plus record fair is arriving in Manchester city centre, and it’s coming to none other than independent live music venue, New Century.

You’ll be able to browse through some of the best vinyl in the region and hopefully spot some releases by some of your musical icons.

There’s even family-friendly stations which give little ones and grown-ups alike the chance to try their hand at making and designing their own record sleeve, as well as getting stuck in with a screen-printing workshop.

A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group

If you cant find any LPs you’re after, you’ll definitely find a caffeinated drink or two at Sadler’s Yard and even have a go at creating your own track on the open decks.

There will be a variety of food and drink options, as well as some food for the soul too, thanks to an array of DJ sets running until the evening courtesy of Ded Luvly on a Pulp Coffee sound system.

Live music lovers can rejoice as just for this record fair event, they’ll be able to roam around this huge gig space and if you head downstairs there’ll be a DJ workshop and sound system experience taking place.

This music-oriented event is a collaboration between iconic music venue New Century, city centre neighbourhood NOMA, and DJ and music aficionado, Living Room Dance Club.

So get ready to dig through the crates, create a few demos of your own, design an album cover or two and enrich yourself in all things music because this event has it all.

The Very Good Plus record fair is coming to NOMA and New Century in Manchester on Saturday 23 August from 11am until 6pm, and it’s completely free – apart from all the money you spend on some good quality vinyl, of course.

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Featured Images – Jamakassi via Unsplash / Phillip Blocker via Unsplash

What's On

A mobile Manc cocktail bar is rolling into a thriving new Greater Manchester neighbourhood

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mobile cocktail bar coming to Middlewood Locks Salford

Greater Manchester has plenty of up-and-coming areas both here in the city centre and out in the boroughs, and one of those – Middlewood Locks over in Salford – is about to be treated to its own mobile cocktail bar.

You’ve got to love a Manc-born and bred independent business.

The canalside New Makers Yards apartments on Middlewood Locks are some of the most desirable new homes and flats you’ll find on the outskirts of the city, but with their on-site Seven Brothers pub sadly closing earlier this year, it is lacking one key thing: somewhere to drink.

However, with Cocktail Cartel MCR rolling into town for National Rum Day, residents can get a taste of, hopefully, what’s more to come.

Cocktail Cartel is a brand new, completely independent mobile bar that’s already starting to take the events industry by storm.

Serving unique and innovative creations (including plenty involving Captain Jack’s go-to tipple), they’ll be slinging cocktails to the New Makers Yards natives along the stunning and ever-thriving Middlewood Locks this month.

Created by Katie and Erik, who have been working in Manchester’s hospitality scene for nearly 20 years combined, these two have a passion for supporting fellow local indies and bringing amazing drinks to the table wherever the opportunity presents itself.

From their ‘Grown Up Coke Float’, which has all the punch of a classic Long Island Iced Tea only with a scoop of toffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles thrown in there, to a Pedro Pascal-inspired tequila numbers (yes, really), they have a lot of fun behind that bar.

Better still, most of their spirits are coming from local legends, Spirit of Manchester, and for this particular upcoming event, it wouldn’t be right to host National Rum Day in 0161’s second city without a gorgeous bit of Salford Rum.

Credit: Cocktail Cartel (via Facebook)

But it doesn’t stop at just cocktails; the Cartel will also be pouring pints from nearby Track Brewery among various other regional favourites.

Once again, they’ll be popping up at New Makers Yard on Saturday, 16 August from noon onwards, promising rum, cocktails, beer, wine, cider and softies – so let’s just hope we get plenty of sun for it.

Keep an eye on their socials for how you might be able to grab some freebies also…

If you visited the most recent edition of Middlewood Locks Fest, you know this place is buzzing when the weather hits just right and the drinks are flowing. See you there.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Cocktail Cartel MCR/Karen Wright Photography (supplied)

What's On

You can stay in an aircraft, old school bus, or even a helicopter at this glamping pod near Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Cool glamping spots near Greater Manchester

There’s a glamping retreat near Manchester offering extraordinary stays in an aircraft, helicopter, old school bus and more.

Over in Blackpool at Manor House Glamping, there is a range of static vehicles that you can have an overnight stay or two in, and according to the pictures on its website, there’s even a resident emu.

You can stay in various modes of transport, such as an aircraft, an iconic yellow school bus, a campervan or a military green truck.

Each has its own perks ranging from a hot tub, outdoor bath, fire pit, sandpit and more. Whatever type of getaway or retreat you’re looking for, you’ll find everything you need right here.

glamping blackpool
sleep in a school bus north west
Credit: Manor House Glamping

The most eye-catching of the company’s stays is certainly the aircraft, which has kept its original cockpit features, although it’s safe to say the interior has definitely had a makeover.

There’s no such thing as a bad in-flight experience with this guest house, as you can get cocktails delivered to the cockpit after taking a dip in your own personal hot tub – not too shabby, eh?

With the bright and unmissable yellow school bus, there are plenty of decorations that help continue this theme in the form of various American road signs, one of which acts as your headboard for the night.

If you’re after a more toned-down chance to unwind, you can step into a pale-white camper van with cosy cushions and a snug haystack-turned-sofa adorned with some gorgeous blankets.

Say less.

staycation in an aircraft
glamping north west
You can see the full gallery HERE.

And if you’re looking at going all out, then your Manor House Glamping accommodation of choice has to be the chopper, which was once used by the Royal Navy.

Worried this option might be a tad nippy? Fear not, because this helicopter is fully kitted out to suit your glamping needs with two fluffy-lined cushions on each seat of this vintage heli.

This glamping company has even been recommended by one of the most trusted hotel review sites around, Tripadvisor, which awarded the increasingly popular site with their coveted Travellers’ Choice Award earlier this year.

Besides a big screen and lawnchairs, you could argue there’s also some other alternative entertainment.

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Anyone who experiences cabin fever, fear not, because all the aircraft and vehicles are static and aren’t planning on making a long-haul journey anytime soon, you’ll still be able to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Manor House Glamping has a variety of vehicle-themed guest houses, both old and new, for you to stay in overnight and if you’re interested or after any further information.

You can find everything you need HERE.

If you fancy staying within the boundaries of Greater Manchester but still fancy getting the feel for a cockpit, though, there’s a very fun day out over at Barton’s City Airport.

You can now feel what it’s like to pilot a 747 at Barton Aerodrome’s incredible flight simulator
You could always consider this a test flight of sorts before potential glamping near Manchester.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – Supplied via Manor House Glamping

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