What's On

You can learn all about Manchester’s LGBTQ+ history on a new walking tour around the city

It's been launched ahead of this year's iconic Manchester Pride Festival celebrations.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th August 2023

A brand-new LGBTQ+ history trail across Manchester city centre has just launched ahead of next week’s Pride celebrations.

From Victorian drag balls and Canal Street, to the Campaign for Homosexual Equality and the city’s
famous Pride Festival and parade, it’s always been queer up north, as they say – and Manchester has been at the heart of LGBTQ+ culture for countless centuries now.

For many, the annual Manchester Pride Festival is a time to celebrate and party in the present, but for others, it’s also a reminder of the past and a time to recognise those who led the way for the LGBTQ+ community today and the continued fight for equality.

This is why Manchester BID has launched a new LGBTQ+ history trail.

The trail has been launched to celebrate the Manchester Pride Festival this August bank holiday weekend, and spread the message that “everyone is welcome” in our city.

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You can learn all about Manchester’s LGBTQ+ history on a new walking tour around the city / Credit: Supplied

Spanning all four corners of the city, the new walking trail and guided tour is hosted by local playwright and guide, Chris Hoyle, alongside some special guests, and offers the chance to explore Manchester’s rich LGBTQ+ history like never before.

With all the proceeds from ticket sales going directly to support the work by the Manchester Pride Charity, organisers say the trail is all about exploring LGBTQ+ stories, while celebrating and reflecting on the city’s “activism, resilience, and progress” over the years.

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The Gay Village, the Beacon of Hope, the Alan Turning Memorial, and The Hacienda are just a few of the locations featuring as part of the new two-hour walking tour.

The trail has been launched to celebrate this year’s Manchester Pride Festival / Credit: Supplied

As well as being open as a self-guided tour, there’s also a few guided tours happening next week on Tuesday 22 August (6pm), Wednesday 23 August (6pm), and Thursday 24 August (1pm & 6pm) – with guest appearances from Drag Race UK star Cheddar Gorgeous, activist Paul Fairweather, Hollyoaks actor Annie Wallace, Trans Creative’s Kate O’Donnell, and drag queen Anna Phylactic.

Tickets to the Manchester LGBTQ+ Walking Trail will set you back £10 each, with all proceeds going to the Manchester Pride Charity, and you can grab yours here.

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Alternatively, you can find an online version of the trail here.

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

One of Manchester’s newest arts venues to host brand-new comedy festival this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A brand-new comedy festival is set to take over one of the city centre’s newest arts venues this summer.

That’s right… some of the UK’s best comedy names are coming to Manchester.

That’s because renowned production company, A Lovely Time, has put together an absolutely jam-packed lineup of television names, internet sensations, and hotly-tipped newcomers, for a weekend full of comedy shows in the heart of the city centre at the exciting new arts venue Fairfield Social Club – which is tucked away down at the Green Quarter.

The exciting new festival, which is called A Lovely Weekend, will kick off on Friday 7 June with a gala show hosted by the company’s very-own Amy Gledhill, who comedy fans may recognise from appearances on BBC‘s Would I Lie To You, and more.

Then, across the rest of the three-day long weekend lineup, you can expect to catch comedy sets and work-in-progress performances from the likes of Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Phil Ellis (Icklewick FM on BBC Radio 4), and Olga Koch (Live at The Apollo on BBC One), Paddy Young, who recently won the BBC New Comedy Award, Chris Cantrill (Avoidance on BBC One), and Blackpool’s-finest Tom Lawrinson.

Internet sensations such as Stevie Martin and Abi Clarke are also on the lineup, as well as hotly-tipped Edinburgh debutante, Hannah Platt, and Geordie sketch supergroup, Metroland.

You can even catch something a little bit different from Poppy Hillstead too, who’s set to transfer her popular podcast to the stage.

One of Manchester’s newest arts venues is set to host a brand-new comedy festival this summer / Credit: @see_hef (via A Lovely Time on Instagram)

Split across two venues over three days, A Lovely Weekend is all looking set to be the largest undertaking from comedy production super-duo, A Lovely Time, which was created by promoter John Stansfield and comedian Chris Cantrill, and, as mentioned, it will take over the newly-opened Fairfield Social Club – a venue which has already hosted brilliant shows from the likes of Josie Long, Three Bean Salad, Ashley Gavin, and Nick Helm since opening back in March.

“We’re so excited to be bringing A Lovely Weekend to Manchester,” commented founder, John Stansfield.

“The city is long overdue a proper comedy festival, and across the three days at Fairfield Social Club, we’ve programmed some of our absolute favourites to ensure a lovely time for all.”

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Tickets to A Lovely Weekend have just gone on sale yesterday (Wednesday 1 November), and are already selling fast – with both day and full weekend passes available from £20, and individual show tickets up for grabs from £6 each too.

Find out more and get your tickets here.

Featured Image – @see_hef (via A Lovely Time on Instagram)

What's On

Electrik Bar in Chorlton is giving away 100 FREE frankfurters to celebrate their latest kitchen collab

Danny Jones Danny Jones Electrik Bar in Chorlton giving away 100 free frankfurters hot dogs

We all love a freebie, so we thought we’d spread the good word of the scran lords by letting you know that Electrik over in Chorlton is giving away 100 free frankfurters to celebrate their newest menu takeover.

The popular neighbourhood bar and kitchen on Wilbraham Road in the South Manchester suburb has had a couple of different foodie collaborations over the past couple of years, with local residents Paramogeddon and Four Side Vegan Pizza being the most recent, but now they’re doing hot dogs.

Welcoming their latest vendors Tisch Und Teller, Electrik will be giving away a total of 100 free frankfurters to the first century of people there this evening.

Guess we’re taking a trip to Chorlton for tea.

Bringing a taste of Berlin, Bavaria, Frankfurt and more (with a Manc twist, of course) to the popular pub for the Thursday launch party, all you need to do is order a drink upon arrival to get your hands on a free frankfurter sandwiched between a lovely fluffy roll.

Who doesn’t love a hot dog? Especially when they’re giving them away.

As for Tisch Und Teller (TuT), they’ve been serving up German-inspired favourites from the likes of The Shakespeare in Manchester city centre and Nip and Tipple in Whalley Range since September last year, including some very impressive brunches and Sunday roasts.

But the brand just keeps gaining more traction and now they’re setting up shop in Electrik, we’re sure the word will continue to spread – and fast.

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Better still, as advertised on the promo poster, not only will TuT now be serving up their delicious food from Electrik every Thursday-Sunday for the foreseeable but the launch party will also live music by local legend and DJing veteran, Abigail Ward of Ghost Assembly.

Free food, pints and top tunes – what more could you ask for on a random weeknight?

The offer will be available from 6pm tonight and, once again, you have to be among the first 100 people to buy a pint to be eligible for a free frankfurter.

Race you there.

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Featured Images — Electrik/Tisch Und Teller

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