Mary Ellen McTague’s The Creameries has teamed up with Platt Fields Market Garden to host an autumnal food and wine fair down on their allotment in south Manchester.
Bringing together some of Manchester’s best-loved restaurants, as well as local wine importers, brewers and growers for one day only, the fair will celebrate locally-grown, seasonal produce at its finest – with plenty of time to cook, eat, drink and chat throughout the day.
With food being cooked from The Creameries, Isca Wines, Erst and Things Palace, there’ll be plenty of delicious hot and cool dishes to sample.
As for drinks, local importers Under The Bonnet Wines will be in attendance with a selection of wines from small growers in Europe, Chile and the UK.
The Market Garden has become a bit of a hub for foodies, and the Autumn Fair is definitely one for your list – bringing down some esteemed Manchester restauranteurs / Image: Platt Fields Market Gardens
Further drinks on the day will come from Indigo Wines, The Creameries team and Where The Light Gets In, with the latter sending down general manager James Galton to whip up some top tier cocktails for those in attendance.
ADVERTISEMENT
And on top of all that, there’ll also be a host of DIY workshops and tastings taking place throughout the day plus DJ sets from top vinyl-selector Living Room Dance Club and underground Manchester crew That Amazing Thing.
For those that don’t know, Platt FIeld Market Garden is a community market garden housed in an old, disused bowling green. The space has been given new life by growers, transformed into a community garden with fresh produce now on sale every Saturday morning.
ADVERTISEMENT
Local importers Under The Bonnet Wines will be in attendance with a selection of wines from small growers in Europe, Chile and the UK / Image: Under The Bonnet Wines
Created by Manchester Urban Diggers, who work to address food poverty in the city, it’s both practical and pleasurable – offering a calm space to escape the madness of city life and reconnect with nature, as well as being somewhere where you can physically put crops in the ground.
The garden has also become really popular with local foodies, who tend to queue up not just for the boxes of fresh vegetables but also for the chance to get other locallcy-made bits, including occasional preserves from Isca wines and hot sauces from Lorcan Kan’s Things Palace.
Tickets for the autumnal fair are on sale now, priced at £40 a head for the full day or £25 for a half. These include either ten or five pounds worth of tokens to exchange for food, drink and workshops at the fair – so you’re covered for the whole day pretty much.
Additional tokens will also be available to purchase on site should you wish to top up.
The fair will help raise funds for MUD and Eat Well MCR, both of whom work to eradicate food poverty in Manchester. There is a £5 discount for anyone who’s unwaged which can be applied using the code UNWAGED at the check out.
Taking place from 11 am – 7 pm on Monday, 4 October 2021, there will be some rain cover on the green (the main area) and in the Froghouse where the workshops will be running. This is still Manchester after all.
Be part of the biggest Great Manchester Run ever
Danny Jones
Runners and regular Mancs alike, start lacing up your trainers and sorting safety pins early, because the Great Manchester Run is back for 2026, and you can be part of it.
With sign-ups flying and bibs selling out fast, we really recommend getting a move on and booking your place now to make sure you’re part of what is, without fail, not just one of the most exciting dates on the local sporting calendar, but always a great day for the city in general.
Returning for its 23rd edition and fourth year being backed by principal sponsors, AJ Bell, we can assure it’ll be as well-attended as ever.
In fact, judging by the numbers already and the increasing crowds of spectators every year, this is looking on course to be the biggest Great Manchester Run to date.
The only question is, are you going to help make it the BEST yet by joining the thousands of others already finding the perfect spot to hang their shiny new medal?
Half-marathon, 10k, junior and mini races
As ever, the Great MCR Run isn’t just limited to one event: there are multiple distances, routes and age groups that can race the route in and around the city centre.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day
So, whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day, there really is fun for all ages.
In all seriousness, even watching the massive metropolitan event stood next to the roads with homemade signs promises plenty of atmosphere, but with fancy dress galore, various different activations in the middle of the city, there’s not a chance you’ll get bored.
Even in the years we’ve missed out on running it ourselves (it sold well in advance last year, for instance), the pure buzz we got from joining countless other Mancs cheering from the pavement is enough to keep us coming back time and time again.
All that being said, if you’re looking to sort the perfect Christmas present for a runner, or simply need more reason to give yourself the kick up the backside you’ve been waiting for and just put your name down, this is it.
Besides the full annual marathon in April, running events simply don’t get bigger in this region than this one, so don’t miss out.
Sign up for the 2026 Great Manchester Run right HERE.
Featured Images — Great Run Company/AJ Bell (supplied)
What's On
New Year’s Eve fireworks and special Albert Square party confirmed for Manchester city centre
Danny Jones
Manchester City Council have confirmed that a special firework and lights display will be held right in the centre of town this New Year’s Eve.
Better still, the festivities will be continuing over on Albert Square, as the recently restored ancestral home of the Manchester Christmas Markets will be hosting a celebration of its own.
Yes, for the first time ever, we’re being given the choice of two different NYE events at two of the most stunning central points in the city – the other being the Central Library.
Hosted by former presenter at The Manc, Joe McGrath, as well as DJ Jimmy the Gent, there’ll be tunes and plenty of family-friendly fun from St Peter’s Square right up until the big countdown, when the stunning light display will go off and ring in the New Year.
Credit: Manchester City Council (supplied)
The all-ages, alcohol-free event kicks off at 10pm with entry into the square through security-controlled entry points around the square and bag searches in operation.
Of course, hot drinks and food will be available as the MCR Christmas Markets proper wrap up for 2025, and the fireworks and light displays themselves will be launching right off the top of the library roof.
It’s going to be fantastic.
As for over on the other side of the Town Hall, the Markets will still be in full swing, with bratwurst, beers and cheer aplenty, and so will the truly massive Ferris Wheel – the biggest mobile wheel in the country, in case you hadn’t heard.
That’s right: in case you hadn’t put two and together quite yet, if you’re lucky enough and you don’t mind heights, you might just get to watch the NYE 2025 fireworks going off all over Greater Manchester from the top of the wheel. How magical would that be?
Honestly, it’s been so great seeing Albert Square looking back to its stunning and buzzing best.
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas and New Year spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said of the plans: “We all know how much Mancunians of all ages love to get together and party, which is why we’re thrilled this year to give them not one but two celebrations to take their pick of this New Year’s Eve.
“Whether you’re a Ferris Wheel fanatic with a head for heights, or a music-loving feet-on-the-ground firework fan, it promises to be a brilliant night out. So get yourselves ready to have some fun and dance the night away – wrap up warm, grab your family and your friends and come down and join us!”
Promising to work closely with local councillors and therefore businesses and residents in turn, they’re promising to keep any inconveniences and nuisances to a minimum; they want everyone to be able to enjoy the night as much as possible.
You can find out more information, including timings, accessibility, road closures and parking suspensions in the full Council statement right HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd September 2021 
