Tabletop fans, get ready for the biggest board game bonanza and gaming festival of the year as it returns to Manchester this month.
Yes, Manchester Board Game Festival (MBGF) is back for 2025, and we know you hear this a lot, but it really is bigger and better than ever – just wait until you find out where it’s being held this year…
Hosted by beloved local organisation Dungeons and Flagons, who are responsible for regular D&D and tabletop nights all over Greater Manchester every week, you can expect an expertly organised day of gaming, trading, talks and tonnes more.
Spanning a full weekend starting from Friday, 25 April and lasting until Sunday, the real challenge is seeing how many games you can squeeze in.
What to expect from Manchester Board Game Festival 2025
So, what exactly is on the table – pun very much intended – for MBGF 2025? Well, all of this, for starters:
500+ games in the Dungeons and Flagons (D&F) games library with friendly hosts to help you find the perfect pick.
RPG sessions, seminars and bookable games like Blood on the Clocktower across the weekend.
A bustling ‘bring and buy’ sale and the popular PTW (play-to-win) shelf.
Speed gaming and party game zones for easy drop-in play.
The return of the infamous Board Game Pub Quiz & Bingo, raising money for charity
Local board game fans may have come across their D&F’s Tabletop Weekender back in February 2024, or maybe seen one of their events at a random Manc pub even in the past week, but this is their most ambitious date of the year.
Better still, there’s a whole separate event within the festival taking place across the Saturday and Sunday, specifically, which should draw big crowds in its own right.
The MCR Geek Fayre
As unapologetically nerdy as it sounds, ‘The MCR Geek Fayre’ promises a vibrant marketplace of 37 indie traders from around the area and beyond.
Credit: Hannah Reeves (supplied)
Showcasing everything from art, board games, TTRPGs (tabletop roleplaying), accessories and lots more, the fair will run from the 26-27 and, just like the festival itself, its merely the first one the year – you can expect plenty more fun through the remainder of 2025.
With all that festivity, it only seems fitting that this year’s activities take place in a venue steeped in its own rich lore, as MBGF ’25 is set to be held in the legendary Sachas Hotel.
Speaking ahead of this year’s Manchester Board Game Festival, founder James Oxley said: “We’re so excited to be back with an even bigger event. MBGF is all about creating a space where people can connect, play, and discover new games and friends.”
With the first two days running all the way until midnight and still from 10am-8pm on Sunday, it’s a full-on, all-action weekend purpose-built for anyone who considers themselves an avid tabletop fan.
You can find out more information and grab your tickets from just £12.50 HERE. Happy gaming!
Trafford Centre’s ‘unmissable’ summer fair is returning with a beach, fairground rides, and more
Emily Sergeant
A beach, splash park, fairground rides, and loads more family fun is returning to the Trafford Centre this summer.
After proving to be massively-popular over the past couple of years, with thousands of families travelling from across Greater Manchester and beyond to bask in the sunshine and make the most of all the fun and games, the Trafford Centre is getting ready to welcome back ‘the much-anticipated event of the summer’ in a couple of weeks time.
And this year, the beloved family event has got itself a new family activity zone, and it sounds set to be bigger and better than ever.
The best bit? Tickets will only set you back just £3 each.
A huge fairground, splash park, and beach are returning to Trafford Centre for the summer / Credit: Trafford Centre
Set to open from Saturday 19 July, and run right the way through until the end of August, the family-friendly event will see a massive beach ready for sunbathing and sandcastles pop up outside the shopping centre, alongside a splash park with lots of water jets perfect for cooling you off.
From building sandcastles at the giant beach, to cooling off at the children’s splash park, there’s something for everyone.
Adrenaline junkies both young and old will also get to enjoy retro fairground rides, including ‘Star Flyer’, ‘Sea Storm’, while the event’s in town, as well a giant inflatable area, and loads more.
New for 2025 is the Summer Activity Zone – an undercover tent area complete with free, hands-on crafting activities designed especially for kids.
Each week brings a new theme packed with imagination, colour, and fun, no matter whether it’s rain or shine, so if your little Mancs love painting, baking, building, or experimenting, then you’ll want to take them here to inspire their young minds.
There’s also a wide range of tasty treats available too, including burgers and hotdogs, and for those with a sweet tooth, Cheshire ice cream, Belgian waffles, chocolate covered fruit and marshmallows, and churros.
Trafford Centre’s Summer Fair is popping up outside The Orient, opposite The Great Hall entrance, from Saturday 19 July right through until 31 August, and will be open every day from 12-8pm.
Tickets are now on sale – with pre-booking ‘recommended to avoid disappointment’ – and will set you back just £3 per person if booked in advance (includes booking fee) and £3.50 on the gate, while ride tokens must be purchased separately for £1.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
Stage times confirmed for Oasis Live ’25 at Heaton Park in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Oasis will finally return to Manchester for five massive hometown gigs this week – and stage times for their Heaton Park show have been confirmed.
The Gallagher brothers have already reunited for two gigs in Cardiff ahead of their Manchester shows.
Oasis will be performing in Heaton Park on 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 of July, with support from long-time friends Richard Ashcroft and Cast.
With about 80,000 people expected to flock to the fields for the Oasis Live ’25 shows, there’s a lot of planning going on behind the scenes.
And the stage times for the Oasis Manchester gigs have just been confirmed by the band.
Oasis will be taking to the stage at 8.15pm, and with a 10.30pm curfew, that’s around two hours of glorious Gallagher hits.
Gates to Heaton Park open at 3pm and organisers are expecting large crowds – they’re encouraging fans to allow plenty of time for travel and arrive early.
As a reminder, there are shuttle buses running directly from Lever Street to Heaton Park from 1.30pm, but these are almost sold out.
You can also get tickets for Big Green Coach here, or use trams from Victoria Station up to the venue.
Confirmed stage times for Oasis at Heaton Park, Manchester
Danny Jones -
23rd April 2025 
