Just like every year, Manchester is getting ready to welcome around 80,000 new and returning students to our city over these next few weeks.
Although, the student experience is set to be a very different one amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
With nightclubs still closed and strict social distancing measures in place in bars – as well as the new rule of six and a 10pm curfew announced by the government – this means that usual bar crawls and club nights are out of the question.
Luckily, there’s still plenty of offers, deals and COVID-safe / virtual events either already happening, or set to take place in and around the city centre which are all intent on helping the iconic student adventure thrive despite the circumstances.
From discounted drinks deals, to virtual bingo events, student shopping weeks and even money-off gym memberships, there’s a lot going on in the rainy city that you won’t want to miss.
If you’re going to be a student anywhere in 2020, you’ve made a good choice in picking Manchester.
This is your ultimate student guide to the city.
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Student Shopping Week
Trafford Centre
Trafford Centre
intu Trafford Centre’s annual Student Shopping Week is back.
More than 50 stores, restaurants and leisure venues are getting involved and students will be able to take advantage of some amazing deals and exclusive offers, with up to 50% off some brands.
The popular shopping mall has hosted a huge student night for the past eight years, but in 2020, this will be extended to a full week and it means that students can choose a time to visit that is convenient to them, which will in turn help to manage the number of visitors in the centre and maintain social distancing.
Student Shopping Week is taking place from 28th September – 4th October and you can find out more of what’s on offer here.
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‘Fresh Deals for Freshers’
Printworks
Printworks
The Printworks is ready to welcome students to the city in the safest way possible.
As Manchester’s number one entertainment complex in the heart of the city centre, the Printworks has a whole host of deals and discounts to suit the needs of every student and help you kick-start freshers in style.
There’s over nineteen venues to splash your student loan on, including food, drink and leisure.
Together with Southern Comfort, Schuh and Unihomes, Bongo’s Bingo is bringing the party from the comfort of your halls or student house this year with Freshers Goes Virtual.
Students will be able to tune in to the crazy three-hour live stream on an unprecedented scale.
Now, Joel Corry joins Clean Bandit – both UK chart No.1 artists debuting brand new mixes for the stream – at what is set to be a wild evening of mayhem and magic, with stream host Jonny Bongo keeping it very much unreal and where fabulous prizes can be won.
Bongo’s Bingo Freshers Goes Virtual is taking place on 1st October 2020 at 8pm.
Ever-popular Wakefield Street hangout Brickhouse Social has already got plenty going on this month.
Students arriving in the city can make the most of free games of pool, 25% off food seven days a week – and 50% off food on Mondays only – £2.50 pints and vodka mixers, £2 shots, £1 coffee, four for £10 jagerbombs and 2-4-1 pizza.
What more could you want? All you need to do is show your Student ID to be eligible.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken experts Yard & Coop are offering something a little different for students in Manchester this year.
The Mates Rates card is arriving in the rainy city, meaning those dining in the Manchester restaurant can now get 20% off the entire bill on Sunday-Thursday. Not only that, but they’re also giving away a free pint of Yard Pilsner when you sign up for Mates Rates with no strings attached.
All you have to do fill in the form on the Yard & Coop website and then you’ll receive an email with a voucher.
Weird & Wonderful is bringing its student-focused bottomless brunch to Revolution Deansgate Locks.
With a signature soundtrack of Disco / Party / Hip Hop tunes, an endless selection of drinks – from Aperol Spritz, Pornstar Martinis and Prosecco, to Amstel and Heineken – and a wide array of mouth-watering food options, this is bound to be 90 minutes of bottomless fun.
There’s multiple events going on from 4th October right through to 6th December and you can grab your tickets starting at £25 per person now.
We’re going to make sure we keep updating this list with any more unmissable offers that we see as the weeks go on, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Don’t forget to check back for all the latest.
What's On
Olivia Dean has announced a special intimate show in Manchester
Danny Jones
Soulful singing sensation Olivia Dean has set the UK music scene alight by announcing a number of intimate shows up and down the nation, including one right here in Manchester.
The fast-rising solo artist, who blends everything from pop and jazz to neo-soul as well as R’n’B, is one of the best and up-and-coming artists in Britain right now, with her highly anticipated sophomore album, The Art of Loving, set to release at the start of autumn.
As well as releasing her smash hit new single ‘Nice To Each Other’, the 26-year-old recently delighted even more music fans by joining Sam Fender on stage in London for a live twist on his track ‘Rein Me In’, which was instantly adored by millions and has now been shared as an official studio version.
Safe to say she’s flying high right now, and the second LP isn’t even out yet, which makes this small handful of gigs even more special and tickets super sought-after.
Revealing just seven pared-back shows across the country, Olivia said on her socials: “The art of loving in person! We’re doing some intimate shows, playing some songs acoustically and talking about making the album”, which is due to release on Friday, 26 September.
Partnering up with music shop chain and independent artist champions Rough Trade for the event, she’s set to play the just over 500-capacity gem that is Manchester’s Gorilla.
Other gigs up north include Liverpool at The Jacaranda and over at The Wardrobe in Leeds, where beloved local legends Crash Records will be helping host the show.
With the debut single already out, along with an already viral music video and accompanying dance alongside it, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding this project.
We’d pay virtually anything to see Olivia Dean and a group of backing singers do this at an intimate gig in Manchester.
We think we speak for pretty much everyone when we say that not only are we excited to hear The Art of Loving once it’s out, but hearing it live and in this special acoustic format is sure to go down as one of those ‘I was there moments.’
Playing smaller acoustic album launch shows is nothing new, but they are sometimes the only chance fans will get to hear their favourite musicians play their songs in such a way, so Olivia Dean die-hards are understandably going to be scrambling for these tickets.
Once again, her second album is available to pre-order now, and tickets for her show on Friday, 19 September, will go live tomorrow (Wednesday, 5 June) at 10am.
You can get ready to grab yours HERE, and for now, why not read our review of the last time she came to Manchester for what was a truly magical headline slot?
Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a series of huge concerts this year
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is famed for its music venues, from the tiny (The Peer Hat) to the massive (The Co-op Live) – and now our beautiful cathedral is getting in on the concert action too.
Manchester Cathedral will be the host of a captivating concert series this year as the Echoes live music series comes to town.
The packed programme of concerts ranges from pop music to soul and reggae, all set against the backdrop of the Grade I-listed landmark.
Running from September all the way into November, Echoes will bring together live entertainment with timeless architecture in the city’s most majestic setting.
The line-up includes nostalgic pop royalty like Peter Andre, B*Witched, and Vengaboys, who’ll be bringing pure party energy to the Manchester Cathedral.
Some of the world’s most soulful voices will also be filling the grand building, with performances from Tunde of Lighthouse Family, Heather Small of M People, and Sister Sledge.
There’ll be more 90s energy with Noughties Baby, as JLS’s Marvin Humes brings Dappy as a special guest.
Completing the line-up this autumn are indie rockers The Feeling and a night of reggae with Maxi Priest and David Rodigan.
Expect nostalgia, energy and soul beneath the historic vaulted ceilings and sandstone arches of the Manchester Cathedral.
Whether you’re reliving the soundtrack of your youth, soaking in some proper anthems, or just basking in the acoustics of the magnificent cathedral, Echoes will have something for you.
The concert series is brought to you by JBM Music with tickets on sale on Friday 27 June from 9am HERE.
You can see the full line-up with dates below.
Echoes at Manchester Cathedral concert line-up in full
Thursday 25 September – Sister Sledge
Friday 26 September – Tunde Of Lighthouse Family
Saturday 27 September – B*Witched
Thursday 2 October – Peter Andre
Saturday 4 October – Marvin Humes Presents Noughties Baby with special guest Dappy
Friday 31 October – The Feeling
Saturday 1 November – Boney M
Thursday 27 November – Maxi Priest & David Rodigan
Friday 28 November – Vengaboys
Saturday 29 November – Heather Small – The Voice Of M People