The city‘s leading higher education institution, and currently the third-largest university by student number in the UK, was founded at its original Oxford Road campus base all the way back in 1824, which means that 2024 marks 200 years since it officially opened its doors to the public – and what a 200 years it’s been, too.
So, in a bid to properly celebrate 200 years of educating some of the country’s brightest young talents, UoM has just announced that it will be hosting a brand-new festival this summer, called Universally Manchester.
Gear up for four days of celebration as we host the Universally Manchester festival on 6-9 June.
The four-day event will be filled with all sorts of activities, and it’s set to welcome up to 60,000 people to campus in early June.
Taking place from Thursday 6 – Sunday 9 June 2024, festivalgoers will be able to curate their very-own varied programme of activities, with everything from behind-the-scenes tours, and salon discussions, to music, medicine, theatre, comedy, art, poetry, creative writing, wellbeing, computing, and so much featuring on the jam-packed lineup.
University of Manchester to host FREE festival to celebrate its 200th year this summer / Credit: Supplied
With more than 150 “imaginative and immersive” events set to take place in what are being described as “unexpected” places across campus, it really does sound like there’ll be something on offer for all ages and interests to get stuck into.
The festival will have a different focus each day, and events will be popping up everywhere.
Labs, concert theatres, outdoor spaces, and the University’s award-winning culture hotspots like the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Museum, are set to be some of the hives of activity.
UoM first opened its doors all the way back in 1824 / Credit: Supplied
And the best bit? It’s absolutely FREE to everyone to head on down to.
If all of that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, a handful of famous figures from the University’s past, present, and future will be attending the festival.
World-renowned physicist, award-winning podcaster, and (most importantly) proud Mancunian, Professor Brian Cox, is one of the first well-known names to be announced as attending, and he’ll be appearing alongside BAFTA-winning broadcaster, writer, and historian Professor David Olusoga.
🎉 We're planning an exciting programme of events to run throughout our bicentenary year. Here’s a taste of what’s to come. #UoM200pic.twitter.com/8EbBzMnmEO
Some of the events planned over the four-day event include the return of the popular ‘Community Festival’ with “insightful” live performances and lots of engagingfamily-friendly fun on the Saturday, and then both ‘The Carinval’ and the ‘Manchester Histories Festival’ on the Sunday.
‘The Carnival’ will be happening down at Whitworth Art Gallery, and will be feature a programme of live art performances, free activities, music, and street food vendors, while festival partners, Manchester Histories Festival, will be hosting a range of exciting events that’ll give people the chance to explore the “richness and diversity” of Manchester‘s heritage.
Full festival listings are set to be announced in due course.
Universally Manchester is to take over UoM’s Oxford Road campus in the heart of the city centre from Thursday 6 – Sunday 9 June 2024, and you can find out more here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
A mobile Manc cocktail bar is rolling into a thriving new Greater Mancheser neighbourhood
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has plenty of up-and-coming areas both here in the city centre and out in the boroughs, and one of those – Middlewood Locks over in Salford – is about to be treated to its own mobile cocktail bar.
You’ve got to love a Manc-born and bred independent business.
The canalside New Makers Yards apartments on Middlewood Locks are some of the most desirable new homes and flats you’ll find on the outskirts of the city, but with their on-site Seven Brothers pub sadly closing earlier this year, it is lacking one key thing: somewhere to drink.
However, with Cocktail Cartel MCR rolling into town for National Rum Day, residents can get a taste of, hopefully, what’s more to come.
Cocktail Cartel is a brand new, completely independent mobile bar that’s already starting to take the events industry by storm.
Serving unique and innovative creations (including plenty involving Captain Jack’s go-to tipple), they’ll be slinging cocktails to the New Makers Yards natives along the stunning and ever-thriving Middlewood Locks this month.
Created by Katie and Erik, who have been working in Manchester’s hospitality scene for nearly 20 years combined, these two have a passion for supporting fellow local indies and bringing amazing drinks to the table wherever the opportunity presents itself.
From their ‘Grown Up Coke Float’, which has all the punch of a classic Long Island Iced Tea only with a scoop of toffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles thrown in there, to a Pedro Pascal-inspired tequila numbers (yes, really), they have a lot of fun behind that bar.
Better still, most of their spirits are coming from local legends, Spirit of Manchester, and for this particular upcoming event, it wouldn’t be right to host National Rum Day in 0161’s second city without a gorgeous bit of Salford Rum.
But it doesn’t stop at just cocktails; the Cartel will also be pouring pints from nearby Track Brewery among various other regional favourites.
Once again, they’ll be popping up at New Makers Yard on Saturday, 16 August from noon onwards, promising rum, cocktails, beer, wine, cider and softies – so let’s just hope we get plenty of sun for it.
Keep an eye on their socials for how you might be able to grab some freebies also…
If you visited the most recent edition of Middlewood Locks Fest, you know this place is buzzing when the weather hits just right and the drinks are flowing. See you there.
Featured Images — Cocktail Cartel MCR/Karen Wright Photography (supplied)
What's On
You can stay in an aircraft, old school bus, or even a helicopter at this glamping pod near Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a glamping retreat near Manchester offering extraordinary stays in an aircraft, helicopter, old school bus and more.
Over in Blackpool at Manor House Glamping, there is a range of static vehicles that you can have an overnight stay or two in, and according to the pictures on its website, there’s even a resident emu.
You can stay in various modes of transport, such as an aircraft, an iconic yellow school bus, a campervan or a military green truck.
Each has its own perks ranging from a hot tub, outdoor bath, fire pit, sandpit and more. Whatever type of getaway or retreat you’re looking for, you’ll find everything you need right here.
The most eye-catching of the company’s stays is certainly the aircraft, which has kept its original cockpit features, although it’s safe to say the interior has definitely had a makeover.
There’s no such thing as a bad in-flight experience with this guest house, as you can get cocktails delivered to the cockpit after taking a dip in your own personal hot tub – not too shabby, eh?
With the bright and unmissable yellow school bus, there are plenty of decorations that help continue this theme in the form of various American road signs, one of which acts as your headboard for the night.
If you’re after a more toned-down chance to unwind, you can step into a pale-white camper van with cosy cushions and a snug haystack-turned-sofa adorned with some gorgeous blankets.
And if you’re looking at going all out, then your Manor House Glamping accommodation of choice has to be the chopper, which was once used by the Royal Navy.
Worried this option might be a tad nippy? Fear not, because this helicopter is fully kitted out to suit your glamping needs with two fluffy-lined cushions on each seat of this vintage heli.
Anyone who experiences cabin fever, fear not, because all the aircraft and vehicles are static and aren’t planning on making a long-haul journey anytime soon, you’ll still be able to keep your feet firmly on the ground.
Manor House Glamping has a variety of vehicle-themed guest houses, both old and new, for you to stay in overnight and if you’re interested or after any further information.
If you fancy staying within the boundaries of Greater Manchester but still fancy getting the feel for a cockpit, though, there’s a very fun day out over at Barton’s City Airport.
Emily Sergeant -
30th January 2024 
