MediaCityUK’s popular outdoor dining concept Box on the Docks (BOTD) is preparing to welcome back customers to its waterside ‘pods’ on May 17, owners have confirmed.
BOTD’s collection of 30 sheds and greenhouses have undergone renovation from local artists ahead of the grand reopening – with an exciting range of residents moving into the neighbourhood in time for summer.
A new Box on the Docks Bar and Grill will also open – offering tri-weekly residencies to some of Manchester and Salford’s most popular eateries.
Award-winning banger hut Grandad’s Sausages will grab the first slot, followed by the wood-fired takeaway I Knead Pizza.
Open daily, The Box on the Docks’ Bar and Grill will have coffee and pastries up for grabs courtesy of Batard Bakehouse – along with supersized NY-style hoagies from Bada Bing Sandwich Deli.
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Local craft breweries will also be on hand to serve fresh beers, with regular DJ sets and live music taking place later in the day.
Plant-based eatery Vertigo and The Botanist have also committed to BOTD for the summer season, with Vertigo offering Brunch and Supper menus from their boxes.
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The Salford Foodbank’s Gift Box will be on site accepting food donations – which will be distributed to local families in need.
Local brewery Seven Bro7hers has just announced the opening of their highly-anticipated pop-up bar & kitchen just in time for BOTD’s relaunch – giving customers the chance to enjoy a pint and one of their signature burgers, flatbreads or wedges in the beer house or private pod.
Keith McAvoy, Seven Bro7hers CEO said: “We are so pleased to finally be launching our MediaCityUK space after months of waiting for covid restrictions to ease. MediaCityUK is such a vibrant and exciting location, so we can’t wait to kick off by being part of the Box on the Docks buzz.
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“It is fantastic after months of closures and restrictions to be back doing what we love – welcoming people into our family for a pint. We look forward to seeing our customers in our new beer house and making the most of our Box on the Docks spaces this summer.”
Josie Cahill MediaCityUK Place Director added: “It’s been a long winter and as restrictions gradually lift it’s great to see MediaCityUK coming back to life.
“There’s a real buzz of excitement among our amazing cohort of artists and independent foodies and operators who have really pulled together to create a special experience for our visitors this summer.”
BOTD was originally launched in summer 2020 to support the hospitality and arts industry following the impact of the pandemic and has proven a huge success – bringing ‘thousands’ of visitors into MediaCityUK.
Stretford’s free neighourhood festival returns this weekend
Danny Jones
Stretford’s still fledgling and completely free all-day festival is BACK for 2026 and is happening this coming weekend.
So, if you didn’t have plans this Saturday, you do now.
Simply named The StretFest, this is the third edition of the now annual celebration in one of Manchester’s fastest growing neighbourhoods – and an increasingly up-and-coming one at that.
Kicking off in the morning and running right into the wee small hours thanks to a healthy dose of varied daytime activities, evening events and de facto afterparties, there’s plenty on the cards.
🎉 It's the big one on Saturday! Stretfest is back & we're thrilled to have a fab selection of LIVE Music on from 3pm – 8pm for it!
We can't wait to greet loads of faces, old and new. #Stretford will be buzzing with activity so come on down & make a day of it ! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/16Rnn5w1qj
StretFest only started back in July 2024, but it has quickly grown into a cult favourite not only among locals living in and around the Trafford town, but also among plenty of people from all over Greater Manchester, with last year seeing more visitors than ever.
Based not just over at Stretford Mall but the surrounding parks, Public Hall, across the bridge and an area they dub ‘The Beach’, there are several distinct but equally vibrant hubs, all offering something different.
For instance, venues like Longford Tap, Head Bar and Stretford Canteen are all involved, as are the likes of the Library and Martin Luther Church, but also recently opened cafes like Swig and Cuppello’s, as well as many, many more.
To be honest, we’ll probably be popping over for all the food and drink alone.
And, of course, there’s going to be plenty of live music, DJ sets, other bits of entertainment, and all-around fun to be enjoyed; there’s even going to be everything from arts, crafts and workshops, to pirates and boat rides.
Getting underway from as early 9am – thanks to the likes of the regular Stretford parkrun crew teaming up with the festival, and Mr & Mrs hosting a coffee morning for their first birthday – there really is going to be something for everyone from start to finish.
You can see the full StretFest schedule or build your own personal day-into-night programme HERE.
As for what else is on the cards for the final few days of March (give or take a couple), you can find out what else is on in and around the ten boroughs down below.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Adrian Michael (supplied)/The Manc Group
What's On
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
The Manc -
7th May 2021 
