At last, freedom awaits. After 485 days, club nights are back, and come July 19 we’ll be able to party like it’s 2019 again with no masks, no social distancing and no more “rule of six.”
Bring on ordering drinks at the bar, bring on dancing in a crowd and bring on the loud music.
Maybe you can tell, but we’re quite excited about the return of clubbing. It seems like quite a few spots in Manchester are, too, as there’s a load of places throwing open their doors at 00:01 to celebrate the return of nightlife.
We’ve made a little list here that we’ll keep updating as new parties are announced. Roll on freedom.
Clubbers inside Manchester nightclub Hidden which will throw open its doors at 00:01am on 19 July / Image: Hidden
Hidden: the reopening
Hidden opens at midnight on Sunday 18 July for a two-room club show, kicking off seven days’ worth of day&night parties that will take place every day throughout the club’s re-opening week.
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Head down for a mix of disco, electro house, house and techno.
Kicking off at 9pm and finishing at 3am, once the clock strikes midnight you’ll be out your seat and onto the bouncy dancefloor to vibe with the rest of the club.
Head down for a mix of grime, hip-hop, R&B and rap – and don’t forget to check out the Tetris wall whilst you’re there.
Playground Nightclub is another Manchester venue that is getting in early on the “Freedom Day” celebrations / Image: helenstavrou_
A Big Bash at Cirque
Glitzy nightclub Cirque will be throwing open its doors at midnight for a no holds barred party.
Bookings are being taken via DM through their Facebook page.
Quids in at Fac251
As the name suggests, it’s £1 entry and £1 drinks all night for Quids in at Factory 251.
The club will be opening its doors at 00:01am in line with government guidance – playing hip hop and R&B in the main room and a mix of indie, chart music and rap on the second floor.
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Upstairs, meanwhile, it’s all about the house and tech with some special guest DJs booked for the night.
Cruz 101 is throwing a huge reopening party at 00:01 on 19 July / Image: Cruz 101
The opening party at Cruz 101
Think Manchester’s best LGBT djs, full decor, theme performances and costumes and you’ve got a little sense of what’s coming from Cruz 101’s week-long opening party.
Things kick off on Sunday night with a mega reopening to set the tone for the week. Tickets are £10 and include queue jump.
Deansgate nightclub China White is throwing a big freedom bash at one minute past midnight, giving you the perfect excuse to let your hair down after sixteen months of doing absolutely nothing on the party front.
Bookings are being taken via DM through their Instagram.
What's On
Loads of legendary retro steam trains will be travelling through Greater Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
History will be rolling through Greater Manchester next month as loads of legendary steam trains will be showcased.
East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) Legends of Steam event is back again for the second year after proving so popular last spring, and this time around, there’ll be loads of iconic locomotives with ties to both film and royalty on display.
Returning from Friday 14 – Sunday 16 March, as part of the heritage railway’s ongoing 200th anniversary celebrations, well-known historic steam trains such the LNER A1 Peppercorn Class 60163 ‘Tornado ’ and the LMS Black 5 45407 ‘The Lancashire Fusilier’ will be on display, alongside a pair of ‘Bulleid’ light pacifics too.
‘Tornado’, which is the fastest steam engine to run since the 1960s, is also set to hit the tracks in a couple of weeks too.
This particular train has famously transported royals, and has appeared on TV shows and films, such as Top Gear and Paddington 2.
Fans of the ‘Jacobite’ steam train, which was made famous by its appearances over the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the much-loved Harry Potter film series, also have the chance to ride behind one of the regular locomotives from the Ian Riley fleet, 45407.
Rounding out the packed lineup is the instantly-recognisable pair of Southern Region Light Pacifics, 34092 ‘City of Wells’ and the recently-arrived Battle of Britain Class, 34081 ’92 Squadron’.
There’s also a number of dining experiences to make the most of too.
Rail enthusiasts can either enjoy an authentic ‘Golden Arrow’ menu on Friday 14 March aboard a traditional Pullman-styled carriage hauled by one of the Southern locomotives, or even take the unique opportunity to ride the iconic ‘Tornado on Saturday 15 March and indulge in fine dining options while travelling through the picturesque Irwell Valley.
East Lancashire Railway’s Legends of Steam festival will be back next month / Credit: ELR
“We are very proud to continue welcoming a great number of iconic locomotives to the ELR,” explained Mike Kelly, who is the Chairman of the East Lancashire Railway.
“It is such a privilege to provide access to these express steam engines to the thousands of rail enthusiasts and families across the country, and also a great opportunity to introduce these legendary locomotives to first-timers wishing to experience the magic of rail travel.”
East Lancashire Railway’s Legends of Steam returns on Friday 14 – Sunday 16 March 2025.
Both day ticket and dining options available, and you can find out more information and grab your tickets on the ELR website here.
Featured Image – ELR
What's On
Iconic stage musical Mamma Mia! is coming back to Manchester next year
Emily Sergeant
Here we go again… one of the most iconic stage musicals of all time is coming back to Manchester next year.
There’s absolutely no denying that Mamma Mia! has millions of fans right across the globe, after all, when you take all of ABBA’s greatest hits and put them into one all-singing all-dancing show, it’s no wonder it’s so popular.
Going from the West End to becoming a global phenomenon, this irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world for more than two decades.
Now in its 26th year, Mamma Mia! has been watched on stage by over 11 million people in more than 10,000 performances just in London’s West End alone, as well as its UK and international tours having visited 42 countries in the past 20 years, performing more than 3,750 shows, and being seen by over 7.3 million people.
Join us at MAMMA MIA! and enjoy the ultimate feel-good factor at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical in Manchester for three weeks only!
Oh, and who could forget, it’s also been turned into two record-breaking movie adaptations with all-star casts – the first in 2008, and the sequel in 2018.
The sensational feel-good musical is returning to the stage where it belongs next spring though, as it embarks on an all-new UK tour – including stopping off to visit the Manchester‘s legendary Palace Theatre from 3-26 March 2026.
Casting for the UK tour is set to be announced in due course.
Iconic stage musical Mamma Mia! is coming back to Manchester next year / Credit: Brinkhoff Mogenburg
While we wait to see who the stars will be, what we do know is that the music and lyrics for the show are provided by none of than ABBA’s very-own by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, while it’ll be directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast.
Tickets for the highly-anticipated show are expected to be snapped up super fast when they go on sale in a couple of days time on Wednesday (26 February) at 10am.
Georgina Pellant -
15th July 2021 
