Pong & Puck has quickly become one of our favourites ever since it popped up in Deansgate and now the Great Northern spot is seriously upping its special events game.
Nearly a year on from their opening back in March, Pong & Puck is hosting its first-ever bingo night but it’s not like any other: this one is a bottomless drag bingo party. Yes, you heard us right.
We know there’s a lot to unpack in that sentence and we’re sure you have plenty of questions but, lucky for you, that’s what we’re here for.
First things first, it’s still the same game of bingo with prizes to play for and the rest of it, only this one comes with the added bonus of bottomless drinks, pizza, a comedy show; sing-offs, catwalks and more — all of which will be hosted by legendary Manchester drag queen and comedian, Miss Ginger Hunter.
The Canal Street queen is a cult favourite not only in Manchester but the UK drag scene, in general, and is set to sashay her way to Great Northern Warehouse on Friday, 31 March.
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As well as plenty of sass and style, you can expect big hair and even bigger prizes, not to mention stand-up and songs from Ginger herself and the ultimate queens of pop.
The prizes will range from bar tabs, free food and lots more that we obviously can’t spoil for you — all you need to know is that it’s going to be a bloody good laugh.
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Starting from 7pm, you’ll get a welcome drink on arrival, slices from a pizza of your choice and bottomless drinks including selected cocktails like the ‘Holy Puck’, ‘WHAM! WHAM!’ and the ‘Simmer Down and Pucker Up’ sharer.
Then, from 7:30 onwards, prepare for non-stop party vibes and action under Pong & Puck‘s lovely neon lights, all from just £40 per person.
They’re also one of several wonderful places showing the Six Nations in the city centre this month, with just two weeks of fixtures left to play in this year’s tournament.
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With casual sporting staples like table tennis, beer pong, shuffleboard and more all part of what makes this Pong & Puck so fun, not to mention the bottomless bingo party itself, there’s a lot of fun to be had there this month.
You can book your tickets for the 31 March HERE and be sure to catch the rugby there if you get the chance.
Featured Image — The Manc Group/Ginger Hunter (via Instagram)
What's On
Horror film festival Grimmfest announces fear-filled return to Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
Spooky season is just around the corner, and now a popular horror film has announced its return to Manchester next month.
Grimmfest, also known as Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, has confirmed its 2026 return dates, and has also announced its the full lineup – with four fear-filled days planned, showcasing the best in brand-new horror genre cinema.
You can expect some ferocious feature films, a savage selection of shorts, hair-raising horror classics back on the big screen, and more premieres than ever before.
Returning to Odeon Great Northern early next month, Grimmfest audiences will have an exclusive opportunity to see many of the films on the lineup long before their formal release – with both world, UK, and international premieres on the cards.
Some of the programme’s highlights this year include the UK premiere of Zachary Wigon’s darkly comedic period piece, Victorian Pyscho, shot in Ireland and starring big-name stars Maika Monroe, Jason Isaacs, Thomasin McKenzie, and Ruth Wilson.
Ángel Gómez Hernández’s Crawlers will also make its UK debut at the festival, and horror fans are also said to be eagerly awaiting Jason Lei Howden’s Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon – which is the highly anticipated follow-up to the beloved cult metal comedy-horror, Deathgasm.
There will also be an array of incredible short films screened throughout the festival, all in a huge range of styles, themes, and twisted sensibilities, proving that when it comes to Grimmfest, good things often come in small packages.
Grimmfest has announced its fear-filled return to Manchester next month / Credit: Grimmfest | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
It’s not just new releases you can expect either, as some absolute horror classics are also set to return to the big screen for their anniversaries.
Respected guests from all around the world are set to descend on Manchester for the festival, and that include the film makers and actors from many of the selected films.
And of course there will be plenty of film introductions, Q&As, and signings for fans.
Grimmfest 2026 returns to Oden Great Northern from from 8 – 11 October, and you can see the full lineup and get tickets here.
Featured Image – Grimmfest (Supplied)
What's On
Jersey Boys at Palace Theatre, Manchester – Oh, what a night
Amy Williams
20 years, 65 major awards (including Tonys, a Grammy, and an Olivier), and seen by over 27 million people worldwide – it could only be Jersey Boys, and now it’s back at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
This is one of those shows where you realise just how many songs you know and love by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, but may not know the story behind the band themselves. How they started, how big they became, how they fell apart, and how they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It follows the four boys from Jersey (who each narrate their parts of the story), how it started as just Tommy and Nick and a range of different guys along the way, until they found the one who has a voice like an angel, Frankie Valli, and this started to change the direction of their success.
But they were missing a key part, a good song writer – enter Bob Gaudio, and the creation of The Four Lovers, who then became The Four Seasons.
Mixed with issues of debt, loan sharks, prison time and more, it wasn’t the smoothest of sailing for them, and as they said themselves, they didn’t create a movement like the Beatles. But The Four Seasons were for the factory workers, the dads, the working class people who could relate to them.
One thing we need to talk about, is just how INCREDIBLE the vocal performances are in this tour of Jersey Boys, staring Luke Baker as Frankie Valli, Carlo Boumouglbay as Tommy Devito, Lewis Kennedy as Nick Massi, and Toby Miles as Bob Gaudio.
Jersey Boys is back in Manchester, for a run at the Palace Theatre
A special mention for Luke Baker, because as iconic as Frankie Valli’s voice is, he very perfectly matched it.
The musical features some of their biggest hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Beggin’, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Walk Like A Man, and of course, December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) which had everyone up on their feet dancing at the end.
This show is incredible from beginning to end, and would recommend everyone go to see this.
Jersey Boys is running at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 19 September, and you can grab your tickets HERE.
Danny Jones -
1st March 2023 
