Last weekend saw one of Manchester’s most beautiful celebrations return to the city centre, as the Manchester Flower Show took place.
The huge event fills the city’s streets with flowers and plants every summer, with local businesses taking part in events and installations.
The event, which is brought to the city by Manchester BID, coincided with the Jubilee weekend this year, meaning there were four whole days for Mancs to explore the festival.
The Manchester Flower Show attracted around 70,000 extra visitors to the city centre, including a 50% increase in footfall on King Street according to figures released by Manchester BID and CityCo.
The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
As this year’s event coincided with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, there were plenty of royal-themed installations for visitors to see.
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A huge crown filled with blooms took centre stage in the Arndale as part of a special Jubilee Trail.
Also appearing in the shopping centre was a giant bee made from flowers, complete with a crown to mark the Queen’s landmark occasion.
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The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
Artist Sarah Hayes (or Twigtwisters) crafted a leaping horse out of twisted willow on King Street, as a nod to Her Majesty’s passion for equestrian sports.
The 10-part Jubilee Trail also featured a classic red phonebox with flowers bursting out of its door, a London-inspired Changing of the Guard display (complete with mini Trafalgar Square lions), and a colourful floral TukTuk to symbolise the Commonwealth.
At St Ann’s Square, installations included a bicycle with flowers tumbling from its basket.
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The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
The Manchester Flower Show. Credit: The Manc Group
Local florists also rocked up with their own stalls, including Plant Shop, Freddie’s Flowers, and Flourish.
Over on New Cathedral Street, Harvey Nichols and Manchester Gin teamed up to create a summer cocktail menu.
Their pop-up garden space included a horse box bar, lawns, and deck chairs, as well as masses of potted plants.
Credit: The Manc Group
Credit: The Manc Group
Selfridges also got in on the action with their Flower Show Square, complete with live music and local food traders, donating to Eat Well MCR in the process.
Then, of course, there was the cocktail trail, leading visitors around some of Manchester’s best bars to sip on specially-created drinks.
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Bars and restaurants that took part included El Gato Negro, Kala, Rosso, and Tast.
Jane Sharrocks, Manchester Business Improvement District Chair and General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square said: “This year’s Manchester Flower Show was our most popular to date, bringing in tens of thousands of additional visitors to the city on a truly historic weekend.
“It’s a great example of our retail and hospitality sectors coming together to help build back the city post-pandemic and it’s wonderful to see footfall now exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
“This event has given city centre businesses a real boost and is indicative of what we hope will be a prosperous summer for our city centre.”
Featured image: The Manc Group
What's On
Legendary funk and soul act Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester
In case you hadn’t heard already, iconic funk, soul, and R’n’B artist Kool and the Gang are finally coming back to Manchester after far too long away from our musical city for a massive arena gig later this year.
Coming back to 0161 ‘For One Night Only’, the award-winning US supergroup and industry giants are set to make their first appearance here in over 15 years.
With a rich back catalogue and a career spanning six decades, not to mention multiple genres including funk, soul, disco, jazz (how they first began as an ensemble) and more, it’s only fitting they be given the top billing at the one and only AO Arena.
After Manc fans have had to wait for long, this is sure to be a night of ‘Summertime Madness’.
Though they need no real introduction if you know your music history, specifically African-American and Black music culture, Kool and the Gang are arguably one of the most influential acts to ever make it.
Having performed together longer than other R’n’B outfit on the planet, stood as one of the most sampled artists of all time and released a staggering 34 studio albums to date, they’re nothing short of foundational.
While, sadly, there is only founding member Robert ‘Kool’ Bell left from the original lineup formed back in 1964, the various iterations of the surviving live band have captured that same effortless cool, charisma, and effortless control of a crowd on the road that made the OG Gang such a toue de force.
As well as touring with everyone from Elton John and the Dave Matthews Band to The Roots and even a 50-city tour alongside equally legendary rock group, Van Halen, they have no shortage of accolades to their name.
How does two Grammys, seven American Music Awards (AMAs), a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine top ten hits in the pop charts, as well as 31 gold and platinum albums, strike you?
— Melodies & Masterpieces (@SVG__Collection) May 27, 2025
Best known for beloved tracks like ‘Celebration’, ‘Get Down On It’, ‘Cherish’ and ‘Jungle Boogie’, just to name a very small few (again, their discography is huge), you’ve most likely heard their songs or at least one of their serially sampled beats more times than its possible to count.
Yep, if there’s anyone that deserves the ‘icon’ moniker, it’s these lot.
Kool and the Gang come to the AO Arena in Manchester next month on Friday, 11 July and will have fellow British soul counterparts, The Real Thing, who looked to mirror their success throughout the ’70s, along for the ride.
General admission tickets are already on sale as we speak – you can grab yours HERE.
Huge cosmetics and beauty brand P.Louise has announced an exclusive pop-up set to take place in Trafford Centre this Christmas.
Greater Manchester makeup artist turned business woman, Paige Louise, gained lots of traction online for her baby pink-packaged makeup products, branded after her nickname, P.Louise, and now the company has announced its bringing an exclusive pop-up to Manchester’s Trafford Centre just in time for Christmas.
After such a success last year, the pop-up event, aptly-titled ‘Pinkmas’, will be returning to Manchester, and its bringing P.Louise’s much-loved makeup brand to life through an interactive display at the Trafford Centre.
Visitors can expect to explore the magical world of ‘Pinkmas’ through three different immersive winter zones.
P.Louise Pinkmas is coming to the Trafford Centre this festive season / Credit: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
Much like her P.Louise Empire site over in Stockport, Pinkmas elevates this experience by sprinkling a little bit of Christmas magic over the baby pink brand and its festive-themed makeup products.
Each of the interactive zones will serve their own purpose, encouraging you to get stuck in with a variety of activities all relating to the festive season.
You can enjoy decorating your own gingerbread treats in Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, personalising and making a keepsake of best-selling product ‘Bad B*tch’, all before writing a letter to Santa at the ‘Post Me Pretty Room’.
Each person who attends can expect to spend up to three hours travelling through each pretty pink zone, guided by the P.Louise elves on a story-led tour.
After all that wonderland wonderfulness, there’s only one thing missing from this festive extravaganza, and what screams Christmas more than a pantomime? A P.Louise Pantomime though, of course, with a guest appearance from Santa himself.
As you venture through the Pinkmas pop-up, there’ll be moments for you to get your hands on some P.Louise goodies and gift sets, as well as sampling the tasty treats from the food and drink stalls.
Get ready to deck the halls with blush, gloss and glamour this festive season, as P.Louise Pinkmas is residing in Trafford Centre for the entire Christmas period.
Visitors can expect to step into a world of glitz and glam when P.Louise Pinkmas visits Trafford Centre / Credit: Publicity Picture (via Supplied)
“I wanted to create the memories I never had, and above all else, give others the chance to make those magical moments,” commented Paige Williams, who is the dynamic founder and CEO of P.Louise.
Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Paige Williams, a brilliant local success story, and her hugely popular brand for a festive experience that’s full of sparkle and surprises.”
Daisy Jackson -
8th June 2022 
