At last, freedom awaits. After 485 days, club nights are back, and come July 19 we’ll be able to party like it’s 2019 again with no masks, no social distancing and no more “rule of six.”
Bring on ordering drinks at the bar, bring on dancing in a crowd and bring on the loud music.
Maybe you can tell, but we’re quite excited about the return of clubbing. It seems like quite a few spots in Manchester are, too, as there’s a load of places throwing open their doors at 00:01 to celebrate the return of nightlife.
We’ve made a little list here that we’ll keep updating as new parties are announced. Roll on freedom.
Clubbers inside Manchester nightclub Hidden which will throw open its doors at 00:01am on 19 July / Image: Hidden
Hidden: the reopening
Hidden opens at midnight on Sunday 18 July for a two-room club show, kicking off seven days’ worth of day&night parties that will take place every day throughout the club’s re-opening week.
ADVERTISEMENT
Head down for a mix of disco, electro house, house and techno.
Kicking off at 9pm and finishing at 3am, once the clock strikes midnight you’ll be out your seat and onto the bouncy dancefloor to vibe with the rest of the club.
Head down for a mix of grime, hip-hop, R&B and rap – and don’t forget to check out the Tetris wall whilst you’re there.
Playground Nightclub is another Manchester venue that is getting in early on the “Freedom Day” celebrations / Image: helenstavrou_
A Big Bash at Cirque
Glitzy nightclub Cirque will be throwing open its doors at midnight for a no holds barred party.
Bookings are being taken via DM through their Facebook page.
Quids in at Fac251
As the name suggests, it’s £1 entry and £1 drinks all night for Quids in at Factory 251.
The club will be opening its doors at 00:01am in line with government guidance – playing hip hop and R&B in the main room and a mix of indie, chart music and rap on the second floor.
ADVERTISEMENT
Upstairs, meanwhile, it’s all about the house and tech with some special guest DJs booked for the night.
Cruz 101 is throwing a huge reopening party at 00:01 on 19 July / Image: Cruz 101
The opening party at Cruz 101
Think Manchester’s best LGBT djs, full decor, theme performances and costumes and you’ve got a little sense of what’s coming from Cruz 101’s week-long opening party.
Things kick off on Sunday night with a mega reopening to set the tone for the week. Tickets are £10 and include queue jump.
Deansgate nightclub China White is throwing a big freedom bash at one minute past midnight, giving you the perfect excuse to let your hair down after sixteen months of doing absolutely nothing on the party front.
Bookings are being taken via DM through their Instagram.
What's On
A FREE shopping event dedicated to saving students money is returning to Manchester Arndale
Thomas Melia
One of the city centre’s most popular shopping events helping students save money is returning to Manchester Arndale and the city centre.
MCR Student Socialis heading back to the city with its big discounts, freebies, giveaways and plenty of entertainment to keep you busy while you browse.
This interactive shopping event encourages new and current students to wander roundManchester Arndaleand the surrounding streets while snapping up some seriously good deals.
Expect discounts of up to 50% off at 120 stores including big high street retailers like Champion, Søstrene Grene, Selfridges, Sephora, and Berghaus.
This incredible 50% off deal continues into some of Manchester Arndale’s big-name food vendors like Wingstop, Archie’s, Barburrito, Sides, HOP Vietnamese and more.
If you’re after carrying thatZara Larssonenergy into your next academic year, the Arndale’s Rhinestone Rodeo celebration includes a Charm Bar in Exchange Court, where you can turn photos into personalised charms.
No shopping trip is complete without a matcha in-hand and you can bag yourself a free hot or iced drink in Exchange Court at the Cult Beauty Matcha Station.
Look out for our Audio North truck on Market StreetThe Manchester Arndale MCR Student Social is back
There’s even the Arndale’s Party Tuk Tuk which will be roaming around the city-centre shopping complex blasting out hip-hop tunes and some of your song requests.
Just outside Manchester Arndale on Market Street, there’s plenty of activities split across three dedicated zones, like Food & Drink by familiar foodie faces like Franco Manca and Great British Doner.
The Party Zone will be buzzing as Footasylum, Museum of Illusions and Urban Playground all unite, while there’s plenty of giveaways over at the Info Zone with brands like Science + Industry Museum and RSPB.
And, our very ownAudio North x The Manc DJ Truck is soundtracking Market Street with student DJs playing out everything from dance and funk to classic party anthems.
MCR Student Social is taking place on Thursday 24 September at Manchester Arndale from 12pm to 7pm and you can find more information via its official websiteHERE.
A Medieval Faire with birds of prey and live demonstrations is coming to Manchester’s oldest building
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is going back to the Middle Ages this month as the city’s Medieval Faire returns to Chetham’s Library for a day of history, live entertainment, and family fun.
The free event is taking place on Saturday 26 September, with the grounds of the historic building transformed into a medieval celebration from 11am to 4pm.
And with Chetham’s medieval buildings dating all the way back to 1421, there probably aren’t many more fitting places in Manchester to spend the day pretending you’ve stepped back several centuries.
Visitors can expect plenty going on throughout the day, including walking tours of Manchester’s Medieval Quarter, birds of prey, specialist stalls, and live demonstrations showing what life was like during the medieval era.
There’ll also be historical re-enactors from Historia Normannis, bringing the sights, sounds and characters of the Middle Ages to life.
The event is being staged in partnership with the University of Manchester and Manchester Cathedral, with organisers hoping to get people of all ages interested in the city’s often-overlooked medieval history.
Julianne Simpson, Librarian at Chetham’s Library, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Medieval Faire back to Chetham’s.
The Manchester Medieval Faire returns this month
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to discover Manchester’s medieval heritage through hands-on experiences, live performances, and historical demonstrations.
“Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for a fun family day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
Best of all, entry is completely free and you don’t need to book.
If you fancy going a bit deeper into Manchester’s history while you’re there, guided tours of Chetham’s Library will also be available to book on the day for £8.50 per person.
The tours offer visitors the chance to explore one of the UK’s most significant historic libraries and discover more about its collections, characters and stories.
So, if your weekend plans involve less brunch and more medieval re-enactments, birds of prey and wandering around one of Manchester’s oldest buildings, this one’s worth putting in the diary.
Georgina Pellant -
15th July 2021 
