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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
Manchester Christmas Markets slammed with negative reviews after doing exactly what people asked for
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Christmas Markets have been torn to shreds by several users on Tripadvisor this year.
Complaining about the huge festive event has become as traditional as the event itself for Mancs – too crowded, too expensive, too disruptive, etc etc.
Previous complaints have usually centred around the choice of traders working out of the market stalls, with people objecting to the repetitive pattern of bratwurst, mulled wine, ornament.
Many have also had a moan that too many traders travel over from Europe, and say that the markets take too much footfall away from the year-round local businesses positioned nearby.
So in recent years, the markets have started to go through a bit of a transformation.
The main one would be relocating down to Piccadilly Gardens, where a huge wooden festive village has been built, this year with live music stage, apres-ski-style bar, and a festive tipi.
Piccadilly Gardens Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
This is also home to a huge proportion of the food traders.
There’s even a secret bar here, hidden from view by a Narnia-like wardrobe entrance.
And as time goes on, more and more of the food traders are local to Manchester (this year including Parmogeddon, Oi Dumplings, Triple B and Yum Yum.
The Manchester Christmas Markets have listened to feedback and gone a bit more local overall, so you’d expect everyone would be pleased – but of course they’re not.
One scathing and lengthy review on Tripadvisor said: “Went on a day trip by coach to the Christmas Market, having been four years ago and LOVED it…sorry, but the difference between that experience and this year’s is like night and day.
“First of all, whose daft idea was it to have the market scattered across nine different locations? People who aren’t familiar with Manchester won’t know where all these locations are!
“The first part of the market I came across was a collection of food stalls, the bulk of them not displaying prices – is that legal? – and the entire set-up looked like a building site. No festive atmosphere at all, and sadly this continued the further I walked.
“Gone was the wonderful variety of Christmas ornaments and gifts, replaced by food and drink stalls and, strangely, a stall selling wooden garden furniture. There is nothing remotely Christmassy about an overpriced Kingdom of Sweets stall, and when I came across a second one several minutes later I gave up and killed time in a Wetherspoons until my coach left to take everyone home.
Credit: Manchester Christmas Markets ( via Twitter )
“I wasn’t the only person let down by the experience, either; when an elderly lady boarded the coach on its way home, she was heard to mutter, “Well, I’d have been ready to go home three hours ago.” I’m writing this trip off as a learning experience – and what I learned is that I won’t be going to this market again next year.”
A parent who visited said: “Where to start. This was my families first and last visit to Manchester, The Christmas Market felt very poorly planned with stalls not in one area. People kept knocking into my children manners seem to be missing in Manchester as a whole.”
Someone else wrote in a one-star review: “Ridiculous prices, paid £6 for a hot dog for my son & was then charges £1 extra for tomato sauce, sorry but that is taking the mick.. usual stores have gone and replaced with food, drink or overpriced large goods. The Christmas feeling just wasn’t there this year :(.”
Another person said: “I visited the Christmas Market at the weekend with a friend and it felt more like a food festival than a Market. No price lists displayed. Utter waste of time. Cheaper to go the ones abroad.”
One reviewer said: “Nothing at all Christmassy, pre-covid they was lovely stalls seeming Christmas ornaments ets, now it’s all good and drink mostly £15 for 2 mugs of hot chocolate, cocktails £9 for a snowball just pure greed, very disappointed, definitely won’t be back this year or in near future.”
Someone else wrote: “All about overpriced food and repetitive stalls. Nothing European about it and not what it once was. £10 for a sausage save your money and try a market in actual Europe.”
Featured image: The Manc Group
What's On
Peter Kay Live at Manchester AO Arena – times, tour dates, tickets and more
Daisy Jackson
Peter Kay will finally make his long-awaited return to the stage this week with a massive UK tour.
The beloved Bolton comedian is set to play a whopping 42 dates here in Manchester, as well as a monthly residency down in London at the O2.
His AO Arena dates begin on Friday 2 December and will run all the way through to 2025 (yes, really).
If you’re lucky enough to have bagged a ticket, here’s what you need to know.
What are stage times for Peter Kay at AO Arena?
Peter Kay. Credit: BBC
As usual with the AO Arena, doors will open a bit before the show begins, and fans are advised to allow plenty of time to get through security and to find their seats.
The doors to the venue will open around 6.30pm.
Peter Kay’s actual show will start at 8pm prompt.
What dates will Peter Kay play at the AO Arena?
A lot of dates. Many many dates. Dates as far as the eye can see. Here they are:
2-3 December 2022
22-23 September 2023
19-20 October 2023
5-6 November 2023
1 December 2023
26-27 January 2024
9-10 February 2024
8-9 March 2024
5-6 April 2024
17-18 May 2024
14-15 June 2024
26-27 July 2024
23-24 August 2024
20-21 September 2024
18-19 October 2024
1-2 November 2024
29-30 November 2024
20-21 December 2024
10-11 January 2025
8 February 2025
5 April 2025
17 May 2025
21 June 2025
25 July 2025
Can I still get tickets and how much are they?
Peter Kay Car Share. Credit: BBC
Ooooh you might struggle if you want to go any time soon.
The demand for Peter Kay’s return was so high that several ticketing platforms crashed and he added tonnes of new dates to try and cater to all his fans.
There are still tickets available for later shows all the way in 2025 if you’re happy to wait that long.
Your best bet for an earlier date is to keep an eye on official resale sites, and be careful that you’re getting a genuine deal.
The Manc -
23rd September 2020 
