Yes, New Year’s Eve 2025 is nearly upon us, and it still surprises us how many people haven’t sorted proper NYE plans right up until the last second, so we thought we’d round up some of the biggest parties happening in Manchester city centre on 31 December.
From simple pubs and bars pouring away, to those offering live music, entertainment and other packages, there’s something to suit everyone.
That’s it – we don’t need a big, long intro to explain what’s going on here; just dive in, see what might suit you, and party like it’s your last night on Earth.
The biggest and best NYE parties happening in Manchester | 2025
1. Mulligans – Deansgate
Where else to start than with the biggest, booziest Irish bar in town? Yes, just like any old night out, Mulligans of Manchester is going big and won’t be going home until well into the early hours, as their New Year’s Eve party is set to be one of the best in town.
There’s no booking ahead, it’s just a case of paying £20 on the door for admission, which also comes with a drink token that you can exchange at the bar. Simple as – slàinte!
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Credit: The Manc Group
2. Albert’s Schloss – Peter Street
Where do you go before and/or after Mully’s? Plenty of people will say Albert’s Schloss no matter what the occasion or even night of the week, and they’re going full Y2K-themed this time around.
Ringing in the New Year just like the world did back in 1999, expect 90s fashion, tunes, free-flowing food and drink throughout the day, as well as an unforgettable evening of live entertainment. Click HERE to grab the last few tickets.
One of Greater Manchester’s recent openings, Tangerine is located right under the Salford Central and just across from Spinningfields, and it also happens to be one of the coolest new canteens, martini and music hall.
Dubbing their very first NYE in the city, ‘The New Year’s Experiment’, the stylish orange-hued arthouse has live bands booked, as well as DJs and dancers until late. If you haven’t tried it out yet, now’s the perfect time to give it a go, so grab tickets while they last.
Now, for those of you wanting an equally classy affair with the promise of even more top-quality food, steak and seafood restaurant Cut and Craft in the city centre is bringing a party atmosphere along with stunning dishes in a stunning room, champagne and more.
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With a performance by the legendary house vocalist, Julie McKnight of Diamond Life, plus support from Glitterbox DJ, Raven Mandella, not to mention showgirls, welcome glasses, bar tabs, and the option of a three-course menu to choose from, there are various tiers to enjoy. Book now whilst you still can.
Heading over Ancoats way to Detroit-style pizza, tater tots and spicy margarita specialists, Ramona and their late-night counterparts of Firehouse are hosting what they’re calling ‘The Velvet Hour’.
Expect the usual chaos, featuring drinks table options with welcome drinks and the Firehouse NYE feast, as well as regular standing admission if you just want to be in the room for the countdown and beyond. Grab your tickets HERE.
Another very welcome newcomer to the city is the stunning Italian paradise that is Circolo Popolare inside Gary Neville’s new St Michael’s tower on Jackson’s Row. To celebrate their first New Year here, Chef Alfredo is creating a towering GOLDEN version of their famous lemon meringue pie.
Available alongside a three-course ‘Italo’ feast filled with next-level DJs, live music, and plenty of shots throughout the night, you can find where to book as well as the full festive menu online, and get ready to be blown away. For starters, just look at the normal room alone…
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Circolo Popolare HAS to be one of the most beautiful restaurants this city has ever seen. 😍🍋
Big Mama Group’s Manchester debut is an absolute stunner. 🤌
Diecast is delivering ‘NYE BANG’ to the Manc masses across all three big rooms, but there’s so much more on offer. We’re talking aerialists, circus stunts, vertical staging, lasers and light shows and even a 10-piece live band.
The debut of The Old Foundry dancefloor is the centre piece of the whole thing, though, and will serve as the perfect place to step into 2026. You can see all ticket options HERE.
Yet another recent addition to the city, House of Social food hall is going for a house party feel, complete with beer pong, pool, red plastic party cups and nothing but good vibes all around.
Best of all, this one is completely FREE entry, you just need to reserve your ticket online, and enjoy great food and drink from their five independent kitchens between 7pm and 1am on 1 January, 2026.
BAR MAYA is also delivering the house party festivities, including plenty of drinks, feel-good tunes and a buzzing crowd. Meanwhile, down in the dining room, their new supper club are serving four sensational courses alongside 90 minutes of limitless beer and bubbles for £100 per person.
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Besides DJs and a big dancefloor, ‘The Pump Room’ will serve as the late-night club space with a few more surprises in store, too. Enquire about bookings HERE.
Credit: The Manc
10. Electric Shuffle – Deansgate
Fancy something with a little more activity and some friendly competition to see you through the night? Well, there are plenty of places that do shuffleboard, but few quite as high-tech and well-rounded for a part as Electric Shuffle.
It’s a pretty boilerplate affair – not that we’re complaining: prosecco in hand, a few games and bar snacks to tide you over and, obviously, some DJs. You can put your name down for a table HERE.
Bar Lina – the low-lit, sister bar to Lina Stores – is hosting their own NYE takeover in collaboration with Manchester’s longest-running club night. They’ll be supplying the funk, disco, soul, R’n’B, hip-hop and everything in between from 9pm until 2am.
Tickets are £25 per person and include a glass of Prosecco on arrival, a Bar Lina signature cocktail, as well as another glass of fizz at midnight. We’ll cheers to that!
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Credit: The Manc
12. Nell’s – Media City
Now, if you fancy chasing your NYE cocktails with some big ol’ slice of New York-style pizza, then Nell’s new site over in Salford Quays is the place to be. The drink in question will be plenty of margs, naturally.
We’ve been to plenty of seasonal parties at their Kampus venue before, so we can vouch for their hosting skills, and you can secure entry to this one for just a fiver, or get 90 minutes of non-stop 22″ pizzas plus a welcome drink and some midnight fizz for only £40. Find all the timings and tickets HERE.
13. Thomas St NYE Takeover (4 venues) – Northern Quarter
This one is another we can personally vouch for after having done it one year, when other plans fell through, before making it a tradition for a few NYEs in a row. Taking place across four fantastic NQ favourites, you buy a wristband and get one drink in each of the venues.
Admittedly, a different lineup this time around – Bay Horse Tavern, Cane & Grain, The Social NQ and Crazy Pedro’s – you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Maybe see you there…
14. Bongo’s Bingo – Albert Hall
Now, THIS one is going to be carnage – but the good kind, of course. We don’t need to talk you through the Bongo’s Bingo format; it’s a British nightlife institution at this point, and if you’ve never given it a go before, their ‘Big Fat Bingo of the Year’ edition will be unforgettable.
Heading over to the ever-growing St John’s district next, The Trading Route on Good Yard’s Street are also getting involved with the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Being hosted by promoters Love Dose, they’ve confirmed former Hacienda DJ, Tom Wainwright, as the resident for the night. Running from 9pm until 2am, you can grab your tickets HERE.
16. Founder’s Hall – Albert Square
Last but not least, if you just fancy more classic pub vibes, J.W.Lees’ new central hub, Founder’s Hall, is also throwing a big New Year’s Eve bash which kicks off from 7pm.
Bookings are live now, and there’ll be DJs all night long and plenty of local ale, including ‘The Cream of Manchester’, Boddington. Say no more – see you there.
Oh, and if none of these tickle your fancy and/or you don’t want to spend too much money, you could always pop just outside or round the other side of Town Hall…
Trafford Centre announces HUGE summer festival with K-pop, West End, and country music stars
Emily Sergeant
Performances from K-pop, West End, and country music stars are on the lineup at the Trafford Centre this summer.
With the days getting lighter and the temperatures warming up, Trafford Centre has now announced that a whole new festival and events lineup is coming this summer, as Live@TC is set to transform the shopping centre’s outside space with a series of high-energy live shows and family-friendly entertainment.
Taking place in a supersized big top on the overflow car park (opposite John Lewis), Live@TC is aiming to offer ‘a fresh twist’ on traditional festival lineups – with acts including K-pop Superstars, performers from the West End, and country music stars.
The festival event – taking place across to weekends in June – promises a packed programme of amazing acts, fairground rides, face painting, a silent disco, character appearances, and so much more.
Let’s break down this lineup a little bit then – first up, K‑pop Superstars will bring the infectious energy of Korea’s biggest pop icons, paying tribute to global K‑pop heavyweights such as K‑pop Demon Hunters, BTS, and BLACKPINK.
Then, prepare to be dazzled by some of the biggest West End stars for a show‑stopping celebration of musical theatre, featuring unforgettable songs from Wicked, SIX, The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and many more iconic productions.
Finally, it’s time to dust off your boots and shine up those belt buckles, as the one-day country extravaganza promises unforgettable live music from the hottest acts – including Nathan Carter, Kezia Gill, Twinnie, Janet Devlin, Harleymoon Kemp, and more.
Away from musical performances, you can also expect star-studded lineup of children’s TV stars, like Bluey, Bingo, and more, to make appearances, and Jurassic Earth – the UK’s original and best live dinosaur show – will also be stopping by, so you can meet a spectacular cast of jaw-droppingly-realistic dinosaurs and learn a thing or two while you’re at it.
The Trafford Centre has announced a HUGE summer festival with K-pop, West End, and country music stars performing / Credit: Supplied | Gary Lake
And as always, there’ll also be plenty of delicious food and drink options to choose from across the two weekends too.
Live@TC will take place from 13-14 and 20-21 June, with two live shows on 13, 14, and 20 June, and one mega show on 21 June.
Tickets are free for under twos, and £40 (+ booking fee) per person for general entry.
This includes live performances, fairground rides, face painting, character appearances, and much more to be announced. VIP tickets are also available for £80 (+ booking fee) per person and will include fast-track entry, private seating, waited service, and a private bar.
Find out more and get tickets here.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 2 – 8 March 2026
Emily Sergeant
A new month is here, and we’re starting to see the first signs of spring popping up.
March is here, and as the days get lighter and the temperatures a little warmer, we’re really not short of exciting events and activities to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester this week – with everything from world-class theatre shows, family science festivals, and so much more happening this week.
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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Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 2 March – onwards
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: Science Museum Group | BBC
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos has made its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum, and is inviting visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System.
Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition encouraging visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition propels families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
Looking to escape the elements and have your mind boggled this spring? Sounds like a trip to Museum of Illusions is on the cards then.
It’s time to let your competitive side out – get ready to experience the city’s most unique attraction like never before. Race through the vortex, create the best mirror image, and complete the brain gym the fastest to win the dazzling trophy at the end.
Whether you’re team building with your work lot, or taking your mates for a bit of healthy competition, it’s a great one to have a go at.
Mean Girls The Musical has arrived in Manchester, kicking off its UK tour in our city and landing on the legendary Manchester Opera House stage last week.
Just like the film, the musical follows Regina, Gretchen, and Karen, otherwise known as ‘The Plastics’ of North Shore High, as they meet homeschooled new girl, Cady Heron, as finds out that high school is a whole new level of savage.
When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.
Expect iconic characters, razor-sharp wit, and killer songs.
L.S. Lowry’s iconic masterpiece ‘Going to the Match’ is being brought to life right before your eyes in this brand-new exhibition now open at The Lowry.
LOWRY 360 is an immersive experience forming part of the legendary The Lowry theatre’s 25th anniversary programme, and it means that, for the first time ever, you can see one of Manchester’s most famous paintings by, arguably, the city’s most famous artist come to life through sight and sound.
Better yet, after you’ve immersed yourself in this incredible experience, then you can then see the actual painting in the full gallery – Modern Life: The LS Lowry Exhibition.
Ski season is officially here, the Winter Olympics have well and truly entertained us, and people are jetting off to the slopes left, right, and centre. But if you’ve never been skiing before, and you’re heading on your first ski holiday, luckily you can learn the ropes here at Manchester’s very-own Snow Centre first.
Over a two-hour beginner lesson here, you can learn everything from how to get your skis on, to snow ploughing… and even getting back up again after falling over.
Our Amy’s currently on her first-ever ski holiday this week, so we took her for her initial lesson👇
NEW OPENING – Le Coq Boutique / Credit: The Manc Group
Le Coq Boutique has just landed in the Northern Quarter, and it’s doing one thing and one thing properly.
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And that ‘thing’ is 24-hour brined, butter-basted roast chicken, cooked to perfection and finished with your choice of sauce.
Our personal favourite was the Buffalo, but there’s everything from chicken jus, to herby butter, and so much more to pick from. And then for sides, think crispy, fluffy hash browns topped with pecorino foam, labneh carrots. Divine.
And yes… you can wash it all down with chicken wine, because they’ve got bottles of the stuff. If you’re bored of basic roasts and dry chicken, then this is your upgrade.
A huge jacuzzi pool, sauna, steam room, cold plunge, and lounge pods – and all a five-minute walk from Manchester Victoria? Jayde Spa has just opened to the public for the first time, so you can quite literally float away from your daily grind.
There aren’t a whole lot of spa spaces in Manchester city centre, but this one is a real escape from the madness of town.
If you’re ready to relax, get yourself booked in here.
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Bubble Planet Experience
Depot Mayfield
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Monday 2 March – onwards
Manchester has welcomed a ‘dreamlike world’ filled with giant colourful bubbles, as Bubble Planet Experience is now open.
Bubble Planet Experience has already been visited by more than four million people in cities across the globe, but now it’s time for its first trip to Manchester, where it has now popped up inside Depot Mayfield, so visitors can explore 10 themed rooms, each one offering a different surreal landscape that will ‘blur the boundaries between dream and reality’.
Here we go again… one of the most iconic stage musicals of all time, Mamma Mia!, is coming back to Manchester this week, and it’s taking to the Manchester Palace Theatre stage for an extended stay throughout the month.
There’s absolutely no denying that Mamma Mia! has millions of fans right across the globe, after all, when you take all of ABBA’s greatest hits and put them into one all-singing all-dancing show, it’s no wonder it’s so popular.
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Going from the West End to becoming a global phenomenon, this irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world for more than two decades.
Find out more and get your last-minute tickets here.
Families are invited to enjoy a free fun-filled weekend full of different interactive and hands-on science activities, as FunLab takes over the Trafford Centre this weekend to mark the launch of British Science Week.
The weekend-long celebration is hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester.
You can expect robots, dinosaurs, experiments, and interactive activities to be brought to life for visitors of all ages, and for completely free of charge.
Danny Jones -
29th December 2025 
