It may be starting to feel a lot more like autumn and the temperatures are dropping by the day, but there’s still plenty happening in our region, so we’ve put together a fresh edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond this week, and we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits you could be getting up to.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Plenty are still taking COVID-safety measures to give you peace of mind though.
Here are our top picks.
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Beat the Frog
Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Monday 27 September
Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Beat the Frog is the legendary amateur comedy night that takes place every Monday at Manchester’s iconic Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, and has helped to launch the careers of some of comedy’s biggest names – including Peter Kay, John Bishop, Johnny Vegas, Smug Roberts, and more.
At the start of the competition, three cards are handed out to lucky members of the audience, and up to 10 acts will then take to the stage and each try to do five minutes of material. If within those five minutes all three cards go up, then the act has lost and must leave the stage – but if the three cards stay down, that act has successfully ‘Beat The Frog’.
They are then invited back to the stage for a clap off at the end of the night – which will determine the overall winner.
It’s been named the “most unpredictable comedy night in the north”.
You can find more information and grab your tickets via the Frog and Bucket website here.
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Oktoberfest at Albert Schloss
Peter Street
Monday 27 September – Monday 4 October
Albert’s Schloss
It’s the most popular time of year in Baveria, and Oktoberfest is back with flowing beer in Manchester this year.
Over the past few years, Albert’s Schloss has reigned as Manchester’s bier palace by providing an unrivalled selection of Bavarian biers to the people of the city, and now, to coincide with the original festivities in south east Germany, from 20 September – 4 October, Albert’s Schloss will be hosting Oktoberfest, with five speciality biers on tap – a rare find outside of the festival’s origin.
As well as a unique selection of beers, there’s also keg tapping, bier tasting, festival games, wiener eating competitions, and more to be getting up to.
You can find out more here.
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Sixes
Corn Exchange
Monday 27 September – onwards
Sixes Manchester
The “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” has now arrived at the Corn Exchange with the opening of Sixes Manchester.
A social cricket sports bar kitted out with three state-of-the-art cricket nets available to hire for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, as well as a champagne bar, a 70-seater dining space and an open kitchen, Sixes offers the chance to swing for the boundaries whilst enjoying a wide selection of high-quality food and drink.
The opening of this new Manchester venue coincides with an exclusive game at Sixes called ‘The Hundred’ – which is named after the 100-ball cricket tournament taking place for the first time this summer.
You can find more information about Sixes Manchester here.
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The Alice – An Immersive Cocktail Experience
Manchester City Centre
Monday 27 September – 22 October
Hidden Events
Did you know that Manchester is currently hosting a series of Alice in Wonderland-themed immersive cocktail experiences?
Taking place right until the end of October, each 90-minute “tea party to end all tea parties” – hosted by the interactive team behind the already-successful and popular events, The Wizard’s Den, Beyond Cinema and The Art of Murder – invites you on an “adventure” to a secret location in the city centre.
Tea partygoers are taken on a “topsy-turvy journey” into the magical realm of Wonderland.
You can find more information, and grab tickets here.
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Candyland
Manchester
Wednesday 29 September – 7 November
Candyland
Ready to make all your childhood dreams come true?
For all of those with a sweet tooth looking for their next sugar fix, it’s time to take a trip to Candyland – a unique and independent pop up experience in the heart of Manchester that combines riddles, candy and cocktails.
Not only will the Candyland bar be stocked with the most delicious candy-themed cocktails – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, which are included in the ticket price – guests will also get to indulge in 90 minutes of immersive candy-themed fun, and there’s a whole host of games, puzzles and prizes to be won along the way too.
A special exhibition documenting the formation and early years of the iconic Factory Records has officially opened at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.
The exhibition also examines the period 1978 to 1982, revealing how the label grew and thrived to give the city an authentic voice and distinctive identity, and visitors will be guided through the pre-Haçienda years to uncover the history of the label and how it earned its status as a catalyst for innovation through rarely or never-before-seen objects.
The first 50 artefacts from the official Factory Records catalogue are on display, including creations from Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, and so much more.
A four-day celebration of some of the finest beers and breweries in Manchester is happening at The Crown & Kettle this week.
The ever-popular pub, known as the ‘pride of Ancoats’ after its 2020 restoration saw it become a much-loved community hub once again, is gearing up to host The Big Pour MCR from Thursday 30 September – Sunday 3 October, which will shine a light on some of the finest craft beer and ale produced in the city.
Beer lovers can expect a specially-selected range of over 42 different beers from 14 of Manchester’s best independent breweries.
You can find more information, and grab tickets here.
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The Warehouse Project 2021
Depot Mayfield
Friday 1 October 2021 – 1 January 2022
WHP21
The Warehouse Project 2021 season has officially begun at Depot Mayfield.
After the party kicked off with mega stars Megan Thee Stallion, and Nile Rodgers & Chic last week, a star-studded selection of shows that run right up until New Year’s Day are all set to rock the city – with electronic pioneers Four Tet, DJ EZ, and Jamie XX due to make appearances.
Mayfield Depot will also welcome back favourites such as Jon Hopkins, Disclosure, Rudimental, Adam Beyer, Chase & Status and Bicep during the autumn.
Other acts include Hacienda, Classical, FISHER, Gorgon City, Basement Jaxx, Marco Carola, Loco Dice, Eats Everything, and Annie Mac.
It was the sell-out success of 2020 – and now the immersive drive-in cinema experience ScareCity has returned to Manchester for the month.
With the spooky season just around the corner and Halloween only a matter of weeks away, the much-loved drive-in cinema phenomenon that took 2020 by storm in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns is back in Greater Manchester, and tickets are now on sale.
ScareCity 2.0 will take over a brand-new location at the Soccer Dome in Stretford from 1 – 31 October to bring entertainment safely to guests in their own cars from the biggest screen in the UK, and it’s set to be packed with surprises and delights as visitors are guided through the haunting drive-in tunnel before parking up to watch a film.
Live actors lurking in the shadows and unexpected surprises throughout will make for a truly hair-raising experience.
You can find more information, and book tickets here.
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A Night On The Cobbles
MediaCityUK
Saturday 2 October
Airbnb
Coronation Street is offering fans a rare chance to stay for the night on its historic cobbles.
For one night only, Corrie will become a home away from home for two fans of the show, allowing you to become a part of the street and adopt the Rovers Return as your next-door neighbour for the evening. During the stay, guests will be taken on a private tour of the set followed by a hotpot dinner from the annexe whilst watching classic Corrie episodes, and if they’re lucky, a pint in the Rovers and breakfast from Roy’s Rolls may be on offer.
‘The Rovers’ Annexe’ sleeps a maximum of two guests and is available to book for 2 October 2021 for one night only for just £60 – with the fee donated to charity.
There’s a unique Halloween-themed lego event coming to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester this month.
Now that October is here, and the spooky spectacular that is Halloween just a couple of weeks away, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester is getting into the spirit by giving lego lovers and “little monsters” the chance to get involved with a whole host of themed activities throughout the month.
Brick or Treat has everything to “get you into the Halloween spirit”.
Some of the activities on offer include pumpkin building for the LEGO pumpkin patch, ‘scarevenger’ hunts, the chance to meet and greet character mascots scarecrow and Lord Vampyre and join them for a Halloween dance party, and more.
You can find more information here, and grab tickets here.
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Sunday Service
PKB Angel Gardens
Sunday 3 October
Pot Kettle Black
Pot Kettle Black is launching a bottomless ‘Sunday Service’ this weekend at its newest city centre location in Angel Gardens.
The popular cafe and eatery – which is known for its Antipodean coffee culture served with a northern accent – first opened doors in Manchester city centre back in 2014 from its Barton Arcade home, but has recently opened up in a new location at one of the city’s most exciting and sought-after communities this past July.
And it’s at PKB’s new Angel Gardens branch that it’ll be bringing the first instalment of its bottomless ‘Sunday Service’ on Sunday 3 October at 11:30am.
It’ll be hosted by Lady Bushra, along with some special guests.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 8 – 14 September 2025
Emily Sergeant
We’re into our second week of September now, and the weather is really starting to hint to us that autumn’s on it’s way.
The sun isn’t showing itself as much, the rain is pouring, and the temperatures are dropping – but even though summer may be coming to an end, there’s still plenty of exciting activities to be getting up to in Greater Manchester in the coming weeks.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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The Common Walls International Mural Festival
Rochdale
Monday 8 – Sunday 14 September
The Common Walls International Mural Festival / Credit: Supplied
The Common Walls International Mural Festival will give Rochdale locals and visitors a chance to see artworks being created up close by the world-renowned artists who’ll be in the Greater Manchester town bringing their masterpieces to life.
Set to run until 14 September, a collection of artists are descending onto the streets of Rochdale to give walls around the town centre a lick of paint that will not only brighten up the space, but also leave a lasting legacy.
10 of Rochdale’s notable town centre buildings will undergo a drastic change as part of this art-focused event, and each art piece will pay homage to moments in Rochdale’s captivating history.
A free open-air cinema has arrived Manchester city centre for the summer.
With a backdrop of the modern Manchester skyline, Screen on The Square the go-to hangout for Mancs this summer, as audiences can recline in deck chairs surrounded by one of the city’s best views, and watch everything from classic and family films, to music, sporting events, and so much more.
It’s launched down at New Jackson – Renaker’s world-class skyscraper district and thriving new neighbourhood that’s taken shape at the southern side of Manchester city centre.
Multi-sensory experience SUPERMASSIVE has made its way over to Depot Mayfield for a maze of interactive activities this summer.
Suitable for all ages – especially kids and families – and open for the next three weeks, there’s so much to get stuck into. Think puzzles where you connect various wires, a large sandpit with projections overhead, and even a retro arcade machine where you can practice creating your own DJ set.
There’s even timeslots dedicated to adults available from 7pm too, so you can bring your mates, have a pint or two, and wander around this huge indoor attraction.
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The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years
Manchester Museum
Monday 8 – Sunday 14 September
The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years / Credit: Supplied
You can step into the fantastical imaginary world of The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years this summer.
This world-premiere exhibition, created in collaboration with robotics studio Air Giants, invites you to experience a playful blend of education, theatre, and dreamscape – and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen at Manchester Museum before.
Once you’ve met the 10-meter long sleepy cat, you’ll then find a series of fun, free, cat-inspired activities at the Museum throughout the summer, including an augmented reality trail.
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You / Credit: Science Museum Group
You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition that’s now arrived at the Science and Industry Museum.
Back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! is giving you the chance to journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Tickets to Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are now on sale, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
Here & Now – The Steps Musical / Credit: ATG Tickets
Here & Now, a musical inspired by the music and story of beloved British pop group Steps, has arrived in Manchester.
Happiness is only a heartbeat away, as this hilarious and heart-warming new musical based on the songs Steps takes to the stage at Manchester’s legendary Opera House, so don’t miss this sparkling celebration of love and friendship as it embarks on a UK & Ireland tour after its record-breaking world premiere.
An event dedicated to all things Japan has made its way to Manchester.
Simply titled ‘Japan Week’, this cultural ceremony aims to package up all the things this East Asian country has to offer, such as music and theatre, compiling them into a fantastic five-day showcase with loads of free activities.
From interactive performances to hands-on experiences, there is loads to do for all ages across the city centre during the festival.
The SmileyWorld® Art Trail / Credit: Scott Kershaw Photography
Stockport has transformed into a playful outdoor gallery this summer as a colourful new art trail has taken over the town.
Visitors should get ready to explore a full spectrum of emotions this summer, as the SmileyWorld® Art Trail is making its North West debut and taking over the town centre with a colourful collection of quirky, fun, and exciting sculptures, each reimagined by a different artist to reflect the full range of human emotions including joy, pride, surprise, anxiety, and lots more.
The trail is created by trailblazing global arts producer, Wild in Art, in partnership with Totally Stockport BID and SmileyWorld.
Kargo on the Docks / Credit: Supplied | Mark Waugh
Summer is nearly over, but Kargo on the Docks is clinging on.
MediaCity’s al fresco dining pop-up has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester’s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
A pioneering production company is bringing immersive theatre inside shipping containers to Greater Manchester this week.
DARKFIELD has announced their first shows in Greater Manchester for seven years, and will present their three most critically-acclaimed experiences at iconic venues across the region as part of an ‘exciting’ collaboration.
Keen audiences will be able to head to The Lowry, Aviva Studios, and HOME this month to see theatre like they’ve never seen it before.
This is a stop-you-in-your-tracks addition to the city.
Mappin & Webb has opened the doors to its exclusive new store right in the heart of Manchester, and it’s two floors of jewellery paradise
The company has meticulously-restored this landmark pink building on St Ann’s Square and filled it with all things heritage and sparkly, with a luxury bar and lounge downstairs.
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NEW OPENING – Primark Home
Trafford Palazzo
NEW OPENING – Primark Home / Credit: The Manc Group
Home sweet (Primark) home.
New openings don’t get much bigger than this, both metaphorically and literally, as Great Britain’s first-ever dedicated Primark Home store has now opened its doors over at Trafford Palazzo, and it’s an absolute interior-lover’s paradise in there.
The huge new store is packed full of homewares and lifestyle items at Primark’s typical affordable price point so expect bathroom bits, kitchenware, soft furnishings, bedroom decor, and right now, LOADS of pumpkins.
Looking for a bite to eat in Manchester this month? We’ve got a few suggestions to share…
Ooh have we been eating good in August.
Even with the last of the warmer weather throughout August, that doesn’t mean we haven’t been having some right feasts – with plenty of cheese pulls, saucy drizzles, and for some reason, ANOTHER Labubu-themed dessert.
With the festive season soon approaching, we’re expecting the next month to get extra cosy and indulgent.
If you need some inspiration for where to eat in our region this month, we rounded up some of our best suggestions for you to pick from:
Everyone knows that brunch is better when the booze is bottomless, and there’s bangers blasting in the background, so if you’re on the hunt for a bottomless brunch that will truly get your night out started, Manchester’s The Blues Kitchen is the place to head to.
Endless mimosas, rum punch, and prosecco, banging brunch dishes like their legendary Buffalo wings and popcorn shrimp, and DJs spinning 90s and noughties tunes throughout.
The vibes of a Slow Jams Bottomless Brunch are truly unmatched.
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Nature Fest 2025
Chester Zoo
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 September
Nature Fest 2025 / Credit: Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has announced that its Nature Fest is back by popular demand this weekend – with the two-day event boasting a jam-packed lineup of interactive events for all ages.
Taking place across the zoo’s six-hectare nature reserve, conservationists hope the weekend-long event will connect festivalgoers with nature, all while raising awareness of precious UK wildlife.
Open to everyone for free of charge, Nature Fest will have hands-on activities, workshops, talks, and performances – including the interactive Hedgehog Hideaway adventure, which teaches participants how to make their gardens more hedgehog friendly.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo | The Manc Group | Mihaela Bodlovic
What's On
A sneak peek at the first pour: Greater Manchester celebrates the return of Boddingtons
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has every reason to drink and jubilate this Friday and toast the perfect excuse for an early dart as the first fresh pours in a new chapter for Boddingtons beer have been sunk.
And by’eck if ain’t still bloody gorgeous.
That’s right, in case you didn’t hear the latest news about ‘Cream of Manchester’, we can now officially and ever-so gladly confirm that Boddingtons Bitter is properly back on draught in the region.
With the iconic cask ale making a glorious return decades on from its glory days in the 1990s, the new and improved Boddies beer is flowing from the taps – just in time for the weekend, no less.
Yes, with local brewery and pub chain J.W. Lees taking over the manufacturing and distribution, leaving the Budweiser Group to take over the licensing, the updated recipe Boddingtons – which clocks in at a 4.0% ABV – is about to be rolled out across the 10 boroughs.
Better yet, with five native pubs having already reinstalled honey yellow and black pumps, and with Lees looking to deliver it to the ale-loving masses across the North West, this could be the biggest Manc comeback since, well, those two lads from Burnage…
Speaking of: we were invited along to Founder’s Hall on Albert Square (formerly Duttons and now home to every one of the brand’s beers, not to mention serving as a tribute to John Lees himself), for a special ceremony to celebrate the inaugural public pints of Boddies being poured.
Let’s just say we were honoured to be part of the grand resurrection.
Obviously, there have been some holdouts hanging onto the classic Mancunian brew, and we certainly had fun trying to track them down over the past couple of years, but we’re just glad we don’t have to do as much work to find one now.
Managing Director of JW Lees, William Lees-Jones, said on the relaunch: “When I joined JW Lees in 1994, Boddingtons was ‘The Cream of Manchester’ and we were in awe of their position in leading the cask beer revolution.
“We’re proud to bring it back home, starting with Founder’s Hall, and we’re planning to restore Boddington’s as one of the UK’s leading premium cask beers, particularly here in the North West.” Well said, sir.
Available from Founder’s Hall, The Black Friar in Salford, Stables Tavern; Sams Chop House, The Circus Tavern, Oxford Road Tap, Piccadilly Tap and Victoria Tap from today, as well as Corbières and Stockport pubs like The Crown and The White Lion, we can’t wait to see Boddingtons take over the nation.
In the meantime, why not look back at the storied history behind one of our finest exports?
Emily Sergeant -
23rd September 2021 
