A brand new festival dedicated to celebrating the very best in craft beer is coming to Manchester this summer – with the entire event soundtracked by a star-studded lineup of musicians.
Sour beers, IPAs, and low ABVs will all be on the menu for the occasion – with Mayfield Depot playing host to huge array of breweries including locals (like Manchester Union, Marble, Pomona Island, Track Brewing Co, and Bundobust Brew Pub) and big international names (including Norway’s Lervig, Denmark’s Mikkeller and Netherlands’ Fontaal and Kees).
The festival will also feature a special New York showcase – including Grimm, Barrier, KCBC and Equilibrium breweries. Brew York, Brixton, Northern Monk, Gipsy Hill, Signature, Full Circle, North, Salt, Stone & Wood, The Kernel, Verdant and Vocation have also signed up.
Catering is set to be provided by “some of Manchester’s top foodies”, with the lineup revealed closer to the date.
Craig Charles, Daddy G (Massive Attack) and Django Django will all be spinning tracks throughout.
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Co-founder of We are Beer, Greg Wells said: “We’re ecstatic that we can go ahead with the launch of Manchester Craft Beer Festival this year, we’ve wanted to do something epic in the city for ages – it’s got such great breweries and a creative culture and buzz that is second to none.
“Our festival showcases the best of beer from the UK and around the world and is a complete learning and exploration experience, a chance to drink your favourite beers as well as try something completely new.
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“But it’s also an amazing night out – the whole experience is elevated by having some sensational DJs spinning the decks and delicious food to eat so there’s definitely something for everyone.”
Manchester Craft Beer Festival will run from Friday 23 – Saturday 24 July.
Each ticket is priced at £49.50 and gives buyers entry to a five-hour session on the Friday or Saturday – covering the cost of all your beers, a special festival glass, and access to the festival’s pop-up kitchens.
You may have heard of the funny Star Wars stripper show or even seen clips of it online, but rumour has it that nothing can quite prepare you for the cheekiness of seeing this romp in the flesh.
In case you’ve been completely immersed in the dark side until now, here’s what you can expect:
Now well over a decade into its success and more than 200 Las Vegas shows, ‘The Empire Strips Back’ made its long-awaited transatlantic debut earlier this year.
Getting away at London’s Riverside Studios from May and enjoying a run until this past August, the comedy-driven twist on the classic Star Wars stories and beloved sci-fi characters was an instant hit with us Brits.
It started in Australia way back in 2011 and has gone not only to tour across Europe, but land a coveted residency at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Nevada.
Fast, funny, feisty and by all accounts, fantastic.
Now set to seek out new padawans and storm-strippers all over the cosmos, and by that we mean the UK, ‘The Empire Strips Back: Burlesque Parody’ is coming to Manchester.
Set to land at Depot Mayfield in the New Year – next spring, specifically, we cannot wait to see how this goes down with Northern crowds.
The Manc leg is scheduled to kick off on 6 March and last until 8 May, 2026, with various dates and times of day available.
It’s also worth noting that this two-hour show, including intermission, is a strictly 18+ only event; if you’re interested, you can find out more info and grab your tickets right HERE.
Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent
Emily Sergeant
The biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent is making a much-anticipated return next summer.
Taking place every two years and now in its fourth iteration, Manchester Open exhibition sees the HOME Gallery walls filled with hundreds of artworks selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
The exhibition is open to all and welcomes entries from people of any level of experience, including established professionals, students, graduates, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs, and even first-time artists.
Artists are invited to submit work into eight different categories, with the aim of creating an exhibition ‘rich in variety’ for visitors to explore.
Manchester Open exhibition is set to return in 2026 / Credit: Jason Lock Photography
This means you’ll get to explore works of ceramics, digital/moving images, drawings, prints, paintings, photography, sculptures/installations, and textiles.
Several awards will also be up for grabs throughout the exhibition – which is set to run from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September 2026 – including a prestigious new award in honour of philanthropist and business leader, Kate Voke.
Three artists will also be awarded with artist development packages, managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery.
“Following our 10 year anniversary in 2025, we are looking forward to 2026 and welcoming applications to HOME’s biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s artistic talent,” explained Karen O’Neill, who is the CEO of HOME.
“With a record number of applications to the last Manchester Open, we’re hoping for even more in 2026 and to demonstrate how the city continues to grow as a place where artists and creativity can thrive.”
Manchester Open exhibition is taking place in 2026 from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September, and the application and submission process is now live – with all submissions being reviewed by the selection panel who make the final selection of work to be included in the exhibition.
Artists will only be able to submit one artwork, and the selection panel members will be announced in spring 2026.
Featured Image – Jason Lock Photography (Supplied)
The Manc -
16th March 2021 
