After what some may have considered a quieter start to the year, March has really been packed with lots of activity throughout Greater Manchester so far.
And this week, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
As always, some of the events we’re going to mention are completely free, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Here’s our top picks.
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Turn It Up: The power of music
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 13 March – onwards
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Turn It Up: The power of music / Credit: Science Museum Group
Mancs can “unravel the secrets of sound” through experiments, play, and performance at the Science and Industry Museum’s new world-first exhibition.
Fancy getting to march to the beat of your own drum? Turn It Up: The power of music gives visitors the chance to make some noise and get creative with hands-on activities – including the chance to build your own music-makers, create your very-own tunes, and explore the secrets of sound in a new science show led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers.
There’ll be a whole host of interactive activities, special shows, and unique performances all themed around the science of sound to get stuck into.
The Flying Scotsman x ELR / Credit: East Lancashire Railway
The Flying Scotsman is celebrating 100 years since her first service, and the iconic locomotive will be passing through Greater Manchester as part of the celebrations this week.
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As part of the centenary celebrations, she’s heading to the Irwell Valley on the East Lancashire Railway line up until Sunday 19 March, across five daily journeys, and tickets for journeys are now on sale – with the price including a round-trip between Bury and Rawtenstall and back to Bury.
Fans will also be able to visit the magnificent LNER Class A3 60103 when the locomotive is static, if you want to see this legendary beast up close.
Coronation Street: The Tour / Credit: Coronation Street
Coronation Street: The Tour gives you the chance to see the hidden world of the nation’s most-famous cobbles that lies behind the camera at the external sets at MediaCityUK in Salford.
Following in the footsteps of all your favourite characters, during each 90-minute tour, fans of the show will get to walk around all the famous sets of the Rovers Return, Roys Rolls, Underworld, and The Kabin, and so much more, and tour guides will share all the secrets of the show while they take you around locations of iconic moments from the soap.
There’ll also be plenty of chances to get that all-important Corrie selfie too.
Manchester Film Festival is back, and has taken over the Odeon cinema inside Great Northern for a jam-packed lineup until Sunday 19 March.
With six feature film world premieres, and 17 feature film UK premieres, as well as over 140 short films – including 32 world premieres – all the films screening at this year’s festival are being shown in Manchester for the first time.
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Local talent will also be on show with three sessions of ‘North West Shorts’ – which is the most ever screened at the festival.
Find out more about what’s on at Manchester Film Festival 2023 here.
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Manchester Irish Festival 2023
Manchester City Centre
Monday 13 – Sunday 19 March
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Manchester Irish Festival 2023 / Credit: Manchester Irish Festival | YouTube
It’s St Patrick’s Day this Friday 17 March, and with Manchester known for being home to a thriving Irish community, the city is not just going all out for the big day itself, but will also be hosting a 10-day festival running right up until this Sunday.
The highlight of Manchester Irish Festival is always the Parade, which has been organised and held by the Irish World Heritage Centre since 1990 and is renowned for being one of the UK’s most prominent celebrations of Celtic culture, and attended by tens of thousands of spectators annually.
Aside from the Parade though, you can also expect this week to be packed with a whole host of varied and exciting activities.
Find out more about Manchester Irish Festival here.
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Rock of Ages
Opera House Manchester
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 March
Rock of Ages / Credit: ATG Tickets
Rock of Ages is coming to Manchester as part of its 2023 farewell tour this week.
After many long months rocking out across the UK, it’s finally time for the guitars, the wigs, the bourbon, the eyeliner, and the Fogmaster 5000 to get packed away and sent back to the 80s – but you can still join the star-studded cast of the West End and Broadway smash-hit musical Rock Of Ages for one last time at Opera House Manchester this week.
Reviews have called it a “sexy smasher that will have you laughing and rocking in equal measure”, and tickets are still on sale.
Didsbury’s very-own cookery school is giving you the chance to make your own Yang Sing dim sum during this three-hour dedicated cookery class.
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Serving exquisite dim sum and Cantonese cuisine since 1977, the Yang Sing has earned a reputation as one of the city’s favourite food institutions, and has grown to become synonymous with Manchester’s vibrant food and drink scene.
Chef Ting Yeung – a third generation of the family behind Yang Sing, who grew up in the restaurant, and lives, breathes and indeed eats all things dim sum – will be sharing with you some dim sum perennials, as well as some that you may not had tried before.
Peaky Blinders – The Redemption of Thomas Shelby / Credit: The Lowry
Following its London premier and sell-out performances in Birmingham, Rambert Dance Company is finally bringing “the most immersive and intoxicating way to experience Steven Knight’s now timeless story” to The Lowry this week.
Written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight, with choreography and direction from Rambert’s Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer, this captivating show matches dazzling athletic dance and stunning dramatisation from the full Rambert company with a live band and specially-commissioned music.
Fancy catching all the March deals, discounts, and offers in Manchester’s cafes, bars, and restaurants?
Quite a few of the city’s best-loved independents have decided to extend their food deals from January into March, and we’re absolutely chuffed to see it – so while there’s still some great offers to make the most of, we’re going to keep promoting them.
Fortunately for us, there are some awesome set menus, lunch deals, and general discounts going around this month.
March dining deals 2023 / Credit: Firehouse & Chakalaka
If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite this week, we’ve rounded up some of the best Manchester March restaurant deals to take advantage of in 2023.
It’s the final of the Six Nations this Saturday, so why not spend it it one of the biggest Guinness Fan Zones in the UK here in Manchester city centre? And the best part of all is, it’s absolutely free.
Guinness brought the popular fan zone – which is the biggest one outside of London – to Escape to Freight Island just round the corner from Piccadilly Station at the start of the beloved rugby tournament earlier this year, and this is your last chance to check it out.
The space has been transformed into a dedicated area for rugby lovers to watch the match, enjoy a fresh pint of ice-cold Guinness, and get involved with a whole host of other festivities.
You can also read our round-up of all the best places to watch the Six Nations in Manchester here.
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Bottomless Mamma Mia
GRUB
Sunday 19 March
Bottomless Mamma Mia / Credit: GRUB | Pixabay
Looking for a unique way to spend Mother’s Day this year? How about heading on down to GRUB for a themed Sunday singalong with drinks, street food, and a feel-good film, as the events hub will be screening Mamma Mia in its cosy Basement Bar, so you can sit back and relax while the team comes round and keeps your glass topped up.
Fizz, mimosas, house wine and beers, and a selection of non-alcoholic alternatives will be available to sip on for the entire movie, as well as a brilliant selection of street food from GRUB’s resident traders that week.
Tickets’ll set you back £25, and you can grab yours here.
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Clothes Cycle
Victoria Baths
Sunday 19 March
A huge pop-up fashion fair full of vintage, pre-loved, and small business clothing is coming to Manchester this weekend.
Clothes Cycle is the UK’s biggest curated second-hand clothing market.
With a focus on championing sustainable clothing and helping fashion fans find a gem they’ll treasure forever, each pop-up market organised by the student-led initiative sees dozens of carefully-curated sellers offering a wide range of styles and items – including plus-sized, gender-neutral, male and female – come together all under one roof.
Clothes Cycle will be taking over the historic Victoria Baths, with over 70 sellers offering something for everyone on all budgets.
A massive festival full of some of the rarest trainers in Europe is once again coming back to Manchester this weekend.
If you’d consider yourself to be a ‘sneakerhead’, or just a big fan of everything street wear, then you’ll probably be buzzing to hear that Europe’s leading sneaker event is on its way back to Greater Manchester this Sunday, and will once again be taking over the Bowler’s Exhibition Centre in Stretford for a day of rare shoes, DJs, and street food.
Crepe City Sneaker Festival will see more than 150 of the UK’s top sneaker vendors showcase some of the rarest and most-desirable pairs of trainers.
Featured Image – Supplied | Crepe City | Science Museum Group
What's On
Icelandic airline offering incredible Northern Lights holiday experience including hotel, breakfast and tours
Danny Jones
Icelandair, the nation’s principal airline and proud flag carrier is offering an incredible package to holiday-goers this winter by giving them a chance to book their flights, hotel, breakfast, multiple unique tours and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights all in one affordable deal.
With the Northern Lights being one of the most magical tourist attractions in the world, its popularity only increases by the year and, as a result, so does the cost of going to see it.
That’s where Icelandair come in: the flight operator is offering Brits an amazing new package centred around the legendary natural light display at a discount. Trust us, you seriously want to consider snapping up this one whilst you can.
From this week, Icelandair is offering UK travellers a special package deal which includes a three-night holiday with return flights, a hotel room with breakfast and three unique and unforgettable Icelandic tours for just £459 per person.
(Credit: Icelandair)
This deal will see holidaymakers board an Icelandair economy flight from either London, Glasgow or Manchester Airport to the nation’s beautiful capital of Reykjavik, with a complimentary 23kg checked bag allowance, plus a 10kg in hand luggage allowance, your choice when it comes to where you want to seat, seat, on-board refreshments and a personal in-flight entertainment system.
For your accommodation, you’ll be staying at the four-star Hotel Island Spa and Wellness Resort, located right near the centre of Reykjavik and treated to breakfast every morning for two adults sharing a room. And then you get to make the most of what the country’s incredible landscape.
Onto the main event of your holiday: Icelandair’s Northern Lights experience is a breathtaking three-to-four-hour tour that allows you to see the glory of the incredible natural phenomenon with your own eyes.
As for the FlyOver Iceland tour, this unique experience is the ultimate flying ride which utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you the exhilarating feeling of flight. During this virtual journey, you’ll experience the more remote but no less spectacular areas of Iceland through motion, wind, sound and even scents.
People wait their entire lives to experience the Northern Lights. What’s stopping you?
Last but not certainly least, you have the lava show, which is one of the top-rated attractions anywhere in Scandinavia, receiving numerous awards for innovation and educational value. You literally get to watch as they recreate a volcanic eruption and allow you to safely experience hot lava in close proximity.
Once again, all this is yours to enjoy from just £459 per person. We believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘value for money’.
Available right now until 4 October 2023, you can book to travel to see Iceland and the Northern Lights from November 2023 right up until March 2024.
You book your flights HERE and find out more information about this incredible package via the Icelandair website.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 25 September – 1 October
Emily Sergeant
Autumn is here now that it’s time to wave goodbye to September and welcome October with open arms this week.
While summer may have passed us by in the blink of an eye, nothing can dampen the region’s spirit now that autumn’s here, and a new season doesn’t mean the fun’s stopped either, as there’s still loads of events happening in Greater Manchester to make the most of.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s our top picks.
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Oktoberfest 2023
Albert’s Schloss
Monday 25 September – Tuesday 3 October
Oktoberfest 2023 / Credit: Albert’s Schloss
It’s that time of year again… Oktoberfest is back in Manchester for 2023.
This celebration of German heritage translates across the globe, and Albert’s Schloss in the heart of the city centre is at the helm in Manchester for the seventh year running, with the fun having well and truly kicked off in style with the tapping of the first keg, and the festival now well underway.
Expert biers, bratwurts, the sound of Albert’s Oompah band, and plenty of the usual Albert’s Schloss debauchery.
A brand-new exhibition is currently having its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, and it’s giving families the chance to “dive headfirst into the digestive system” and “travel like a poo”.
The new blockbuster exhibition, Operation Ouch!, is based on and will see the award-winning CBBC children’s TV series brought to life.
Visitors can expect interactive experiences, amazing objects from the Science Museum Group’s collection, and appearances from world-renowned doctors who will be on hand to guide audiences through this “lively, interactive, and playful adventure to better understand our brilliant bodies”.
Did you know you can get a pass to visit loads of National Trust sites across the UK for FREE this autumn?
Autumn in Greater Manchester is a wonderful thing, and and our region is filled with places to appreciate the beauty of this much-loved season – but if you were looking for a reason to travel a little further afield to experience everything nature has to offer and see the leaves change colour, then it doesn’t get much better than this.
This is why the National Trust wants to give people the chance to “experience the awe of the season” at no extra cost.
Autumn at the National Trust / Credit: National Trust
The pass allows free entry for two adults and up to three children, one adult and up to four children, or just two adults on their own.
Find out more about how to claim the limited-time offer here.
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Richard Kelly: A Time and Place
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Monday 25 September – late October
Richard Kelly: A Time and Place / Credit: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Some rarely-seen photos of Amy Winehouse have just gone on display in Manchester to mark the late singer’s 40th birthday this month.
The exclusive images of the legendary vocalist are forming part of an exhibition showcasing work by critically-acclaimed music photographer Richard Kelly that’s currently happening down at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the city centre.
Following its unprecedented popularity, the exhibition‘s stay in our city has been extended, and will now be running until the end of October.
If you’ve somehow not had the chance to watch Barbie yet, then how does seeing the movie of the summer in IMAX sound?
Manchester’s largest city centre cinema inside Printworks is screening Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece in limited-edition IMAX for just one week only.
That’s not all either, as on top of enjoying Barbie in all its ultra-high-definition glory, and seeing Margot Robbie steal the show as she stars in the titular role, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken, and a massive ensemble cast of some of Hollywood’s biggest names, fans will also be treated to some bonus post-credit footage during their screening too.
Glitzy Japanese and Brazilian fusion restaurant Sakku Samba in Spinningfields is hosting a dining experience with a difference this weekend.
Back by popular demand, the ‘dine in the dark’ experience sees guests blindfolded for the duration of their meal, and gives them the chance to suspend one of their senses for an evening as they tuck into a wide range of delicacies from a three-course secret menu.
With offerings available for meat eaters, pescetarians, and vegans, there’s something for everyone.
MCR Student Social / Credit: Jason Lock (via Manchester Arndale)
MCR Student Social is back once again this week with unmissable offers to celebrate.
Taking place on Thursday 28 September, there’ll be discounts of up to 30% off in more than 120 stores for students within the Manchester Arndale, including Levi’s, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Monki, JD, Mango, Superdry, Kick Game, Jack & Jones, Office and Schuh.
On top of that, hospitality venues including Urban Playground (where you can have a go at ITV’s hit show The Cube), Immersive Gamebox, Archie’s, Krispy Kreme and Barburrito will have up to 50% off.
Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that have opened in Greater Manchester this month?
Now autumn is technically here, we’re ready for lots of cheese, red wine, gravy, roasts and all the good things that come out of the kitchen once the weather gets a little bit cooler.
September has also brought a host of new bar and restaurant openings.
Some of the year’s most hotly-anticipated new venues are throwing open their doors this month – with MediaCity’s giant new food hall Kargo MKT, Manchester’s only 2D Japanese cartoon cafe, Waku Waku, and new station-side craft beer bar Victoria Taps being just a few of the highlights.
As we do every month, we’ve rounded up the best new bars and restaurants opening in Greater Manchester this month, and there’s some really good ones to look forward to.
Trafford Centre is turning 25 years old this month.
The UK’s third-largest shopping centre has been a one-stop-shop for Greater Manchester residents, and people visiting the region alike for well over two decades now, so what better way to mark this major milestone birthday than with a proper fashion and musical celebration?
How does an hour-long gig full of feel-good throwback tunes sound? Even better if we said it’ll headlined by iconic 90s pop girlband B*Witched?
What about if we said it’s completely FREE too? Well now it’s unmissable, if you ask us.
The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back in Manchester this weekend.
After what can only be described as a smash-hit success when it first visited our city back in 2018, the dachshund pop up cafe – or we should say ‘pup up cafe’ – is returning this Saturday, and is set to fill popular venue Lola Lo with hundreds of sausage dogs.
The whole venue has been secured so the dogs are able to roam free and enjoy some wholesome fun in a safe space.
Emily Sergeant -
10th March 2023 
