The finale of The Traitors is hitting our TV screens this Friday, and there’s a venue in Manchester hosting a screening party especially for it.
Yes, you heard that right.
Fancy grabbing a glass of fizzy rosé and sitting down to watch what’s already being considered an early shout for the cultural event of the year on a big screen with dozens of others who are just as invested in the show as you are? Well, now you can.
There’s absolutely no denying that the second series of the hit BBC reality competition show has truly captured the attentions of the nation, and while it’s not that the first season didn’t do the same, the second – which started airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 3 January – let’s be honest, has taken things to a whole new level.
You can watch the finale of The Traitors on a big screen in Manchester this Friday / Credit: BBC
Viewers have been tuning in in their millions to the three episodes each week since, and have been taking to social media to share their thoughts and weigh in on every little twist and turn.
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And if you’re keen to watch it live on a big screen surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd of fans, then you’ll probably want to head on down to GRUB just outside the city centre this Friday, as you’ll get that the chance to do just that.
To properly celebrate the big TV event in all its glory, the popular Manchester street food market and social hub is hosting its very-own ‘The Traitors Finale Screening Party’.
With GRUB’s doors opening from 7pm this Friday 26 February, you’ll first be able to sit down and catch up on the previous two nail-biting episodes that will’ve already aired by then this week (Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 January), before settling in to watch the finale live from 9pm, and then debriefing it all with your mates during the last episode of The Traitors: Uncloaked afterwards.
You’ll get to watch all the drama unfold live, and finally see whether the Traitors or the Faithfuls will take home the prize pot.
And, if all of that wasn’t brilliant enough as it is, there’ll be FREE drinks on offer for anyone who comes dressed in a cloak, or with a solid Claudia Winkleman-esque fringe.
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Fancy dress is optional, obviously… but who can say no to a free drink?
GRUB is hosting its very-own ‘The Traitors Finale Screening Party’ / Credit: GRUB
Tickets to ‘The Traitors Finale Screening Party’ at GRUB are on sale now, and will set you back £6 per person.
The includes entry to the screenings of the final three episodes followed by the last episode of The Traitors: Uncloaked, as well as a welcome glass of fizzy rosé to mourn the death of summer-loving fun hun, Ar Lady Diane (but don’t worry, it won’t be served to you in a poisoned chalice).
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Manchester’s biggest comedy festival returns this week and you can STILL get tickets
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s most popular comedy festival is back this week, and there’s still time to get tickets if you’re up for a laugh.
That’s right – Laughterama is back in Manchester from today (2 September), and will once again be taking over the iconic Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre for five days of fun.
Thousands of comedy lovers attend Laughterama each year to enjoy countless sell-out stand-up sets, and this year will be no different, as festivalgoers are in for an ‘explosive series of shows‘ from some of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Jack Dee, Nick Mohammed, Sara Pascoe, Fern Brady, and Chris McCausland are just some of the famous names on this year’s jam-packed lineup.
They’ll be joined by other big names like Michelle De Swarte, Stewart Lee, Nina Conti, Ivo Graham, Ellis James, and Harriett Kemsley when they all take to the Castlefield Bowl stage over the five-day festival from Wednesday 2 – Sunday 6 September.
Some of the other names you can expect are BAFTA nominee Rose Matafeo, stand-up marvel Sarah Keyworth, Plebs and Friday Night Dinner star Tom Rosenthal, and podcast hero John Robbins.
It wouldn’t be Laughterama without some newcomers and breakthrough stars, of course, and on the lineup this year are viral sensation Vittorio Angelone, fast-rising talents Kiran Saggu and Jen Nolan, and BBC New Comedy Award finalist Evaldas Karosas.
Laughterama returns to Manchester later this week, and you still / Credit: Matt Eachus | Supplied
And aside from the comedy, as always, you can expect the very-best eats from Manchester’s street food scene will also be on site to tuck into, as well as an exciting selection of bars serving signature beers, cocktails, and more.
Laughterama 2026 is landing at Castlefield Bowl this week from Wednesday 2 – Sunday 6 September, with tickets now on sale at £29 per person.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd January 2024 
