A huge charity dinner has been announced this week, taking over New Century to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, with a live Q&A with Andy Burnham himself.
Guests will tuck in to food from the venue’s mix of independent traders, and enjoy live music on Wednesday 26 April.
This inaugural charity dinner, hosted by Matt White, will raise money to help tackle rough sleeping and homelessness in the region.
All proceeds from An Evening with Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity will go to supporting A Bed Every Night. The flagship scheme aims to provide a bed (and wraparound support) for anyone rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping, in Greater Manchester.
Previous events have raised more than £45,000 for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. These have included a solo charity gig from Courteeners frontman Liam Fray, and a DJ Battle between Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram – which famously featured a special appearance from Angela Rayner.
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A Bed Every Night was launched by Andy in 2018 – since then, it’s helped more than 4000 people, providing emergency accommodation for anyone rough sleeping across the city-region, regardless of status.
New Century. Credit: Henry Woide
In January 2023, there were on average 582 people in A Bed Every Night accommodation across Greater Manchester.
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Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said of the dinner event: “As patron of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, I’m looking forward to an evening of food and entertainment at New Century raising vital funds to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness in our city-region.
“We are coming out of what has been a really challenging winter. We’ve seen the numbers of people rough sleeping edge upwards, and increased pressure on all our services. But together, we can make a difference.
“Join us for another great fundraiser and let’s show the world that in Greater Manchester, we don’t walk on by.”
Tim Heatley, chair of Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity said: “Hot on the heels of the incredible gig from Liam Fray, we are excited to bring to the people of Greater Manchester another great evening of entertainment raising funds for a vital cause.
“The cost of living continues to hit people hard, and we’re seeing a widening cohort of people at risk of experiencing homelessness. It is more important than ever that we unite to prevent homelessness, and support those who might otherwise face a night on the streets. We look forward to welcoming Greater Manchester on the night!”
Jemma Scott, director of Spaces & Stories said: “As a location and event provider with a difference, Spaces & Stories is delighted that New Century will be the backdrop to this immensely important initiative to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and make a real difference for people at risk or currently experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.”
Win VIP tickets to see Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Stockholm – plus flights, accommodation, a bar tab AND an annual pass for The Mezz
Daisy Jackson
We’ve got a treat for you – a rare chance to try and get yourself tickets to see Taylor Swift live in concert, on the European leg of The Eras Tour.
The enormous tour is already the highest-grossing the world has ever seen, worth more than $1 billion.
Taylor Swift’s mammoth three-and-a-quarter hour live show has driven so much demand for tickets, ticketing platforms had to change their usual models so their websites didn’t crash.
These tickets are gold dust – but now we’ve got a couple of VIP ones up for grabs, completely free.
The Manc has teamed up with the AO Arena and its brand-new members-only restaurant and bar The Mezz for huge giveaway.
The grand prize is an all-expenses paid trip to see Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour in Stockholm.
It includes two VIP tickets to the show itself on Saturday 18 May, plus two return flights to to Stockholm from Manchester, and accommodation for two at the Quality Friends Hotel in Stockholm.
While you’re at the show at the Friends Arena, you’ll have a £250 bar tab to enjoy.
And when you return home to Manchester, your new VIP lifestyle will continue, with two annual passes to The Mezz for the rest of the year.
That gets you access to The Mezz’s incredible restaurant space – where the menu is designed by Michelin chefs Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes – and huge exclusive bar area.
And then you can enter the AO Arena itself through The Mezz’s designated doors to watch any show you fancy from the best seats in the house.
All you need to do to win is head to our Instagram page here or click on the post at the end of this article.
Tag who you’d take with you on this once-in-a-lifetime trip in the comments, then share to your story for an extra chance to win (don’t forget to tag us!).
The competition for Taylor Swift tickets ends on Monday 22 April at 23.59.
There’s a big listening party for Taylor Swift’s new album happening in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
One of the biggest, if not the biggest, popstars in the world right now will be releasing a brand-new album this Friday, and there’s a dedicated listening party happening in Manchester especially for the occasion.
In case you aren’t a Swiftie, or you just generally weren’t aware, Taylor Swift announced back in early February that she would be unleashing her eleventh studio album, titled The Tortured Poets Department, on the world on 19 April.
Just like anything the 34-year-old singer-songwriter does, the surprise announcement of the new album – which is a follow-up to her 2022 critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY award-winning album, Midnights – pretty much broke the internet when it happened, and her dedicated fans have been counting down the days ever since.
Now, after months of eagerly waiting, the big day is finally happening this Friday, and in a bid to properly mark what a massive day it will be, one popular Manchester venue has decided to host a dedicated listening party, so that Swifties can unite under one roof and celebrate the special occasion together.
Fairfield Social Club (FSC) which has recently opened its doors in the heart of Manchester city centre, is inviting fans to “gather with your closest Swifties” and head on down to its Green Quarter venue this Friday for a night that’s “dedicated to Tay Tay and her legacy”.
Not only will you get to hear The Tortured Poets Department in full from start to finish surrounded by dozens of fellow fans, but there’ll also be a bunch of other Swift-themed activities too.
There’s a big Taylor Swift new album listening party happening in Manchester this week / Credit: FSC
These include a Taylor Swift pub quiz with questions to all about her life and groundbreaking career to test your knowledge, friendship bracelet-making sessions, and just the chance to share the love and swap stories with other Swifties.
If all of that didn’t sound brilliant enough as it is, there’s also set to be a selection of themed cocktails to sip whilst you spend time ruminating on what Taylor meant in the lyrics of her songs only released a few hours prior.
Oh, and the best bit? FSC promises there “won’t be a Scooter Braun in sight” on the night.
The Tortured Poets Department Listening Party is taking over Fairfield Social Club this Friday 19 April from 7pm right through until 10pm – with tickets now on sale setting you back just £6 each, and already selling fast.
Daisy Jackson -
14th April 2023 
