It’s finally here. The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Now, I’m sure that you’re not actually that bothered about the jubilee itself, more about the fact that we have two days off work.
So it’s a three day weekend, and once that’s done then seemingly everyone in the entirety of the UK is having some form of party, whether it’s out on the street with a load of bunting or in a pub or club with British themed food and drinks.
It’s almost overwhelming just the sheer amount of things going on this week, but we’ve managed to break it all up for you into smaller, manageable lists and chunks. Have a good ‘un and give a cheer to Lizzie from us too…
Events
Clearly, the biggest event on the calendar this week is, as mentioned, the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. She’s notched up 70 long years on the throne, and there are street parties and mucky piss ups planned across the width and breadth of Blighty.
Manchester is no different of course, and so we went about creating a round-up of the very best happenings in the city over the extended Bank Holiday weekend.
30 Things to do in Manchester this Queen’s Jubilee Bank Holiday
Also coming to the city this week is the annual Manchester Flower Show, which will be taking over a long list of establishments, as well as the streets of the city itself.
Flower displays, garden blooms, eye-catching shrubbery – it’ll all be here from the 2nd – 5th June, with 10 professionally designed displays also dotted around the city.
For details on everything going on, refer to this handy guide to this year’s show:
COMING SOON: The Manchester Flower Show is taking over the city again this June
Music & Clubs
Down in Hulme this Bank Holiday weekend you’ll find plenty of live music, markets and more – all courtesy of NIAMOS and spread over the area’s most loved spaces. There’ll be live music throughout the day on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th, plus a massive ‘Rent Party’ featuring Dub Smugglers.
Wednesday 1st June and the swagger-meister himself, Liam Gallagher will be heading to the city to sing loudly with his hands behind his back. He’s actually performing at the Etihad Stadium this time, home to his beloved Man City – so this thing should be massive.
There are still tickets left for the gig, and there’s also a bunch of pre- and after-parties across the city, including big ones at The Liquor Store and The Pen & Pencil in the Northern Quarter.
Irlam Live is a festival taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend and I must say, they’ve managed to get a very impressive line-up for it. Taking over Prince’s Park, the festival begins on Thursday and Friday with a host of tribute acts (Bowie, Abba, Queen, Noasis, Amy Winehouse), and then on Saturday features the real deal.
There’s N-Trance, Bananarama, Boyzlife, The Feeling, Marti Pellow and the return of Brutus Gold’s Love Train. Not bad for Irlam.
Finally, BBC music legend Trevor Nelson will be heading to the equally legendary Band on the Wall on Friday 3rd June, his first appearance here in more than 5 years. He’ll be bringing plenty of classic 80s, 90s and 00s soul, Hip-Hop, Soul, RNB and loads more.
Trevor Nelson at Band on the Wall
Art & Culture
From Monday 30th May, The Play That Goes Wrong will be on at the Opera House – an award-winning international smash hit 1920s murder mystery that has been smashing it on the West End for the last eight years.
Featuring the original cast from the West End and Broadway, The Play That Goes Wrong will be on until Saturday 4th June.
The Play That Goes Wrong Tickets
Another big celebration will be taking place on First Street, as HOME host a weekend of live music, family events, drag performances, yoga, DJs and more – all FREE and open to the public. Kicking off from Thursday 2nd June, they’ll then follow up with more events every weekend throughout June and July.
For more information on what to expect – head here:
HOME announce FREE First Street Festival this Summer
Dig our your rollers and grab a box of powdered egg because this weekend it’s going to be the 1940s down on the East Lancashire Railway. Yep, up and down the 12 mile line, every station will feature all kinds of 1940s themed activities and entertainment, including tank displays, battle re-enactments, live music and dance classes.
Food & Drink
If the monstrous Marks & Spencer’s Jubilee Ham & Egg Sandwich isn’t enough for you, then fear not – there are plenty of foodie things happening this week.
Over at GRUB on Red Bank, they’re hosting a ‘Cider Fete‘ on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd June – but I doubt you’ll see 2L bottles of Frosty Jacks here – it’s going to be the posh stuff. Craft ciders.
Hosted by Hogan’s Cider, the event will feature a curated line-up of some of the UK’s very best cider and perry producers, alongside GRUB’s patented Street Food offering including Goodtimes Tacos, Oi Dumplings and Bon Streetfood.
Also getting rather boozy will be Harvey Nichols, who are teaming up with Manchester Gin to launch a pop-up bar in-store, complete with a curated menu of cocktails made using Manchester Gin’s unique distillations. It’ll be in store all throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, from Thursday 2nd until Sunday 5th June.
If you’re a fan of brunch, booze and disco, then you’re in luck this week as La Discotheque host a massive Bottomless Brunch at the Albert Hall. There’ll be free-flowing Prosecco, a summer picnic and live cabaret throughout the two sessions on Friday 3rd.
Finally, today is actually the Day of the Canary Islands – a time when the people of the Canaries celebrate their history with food, drink and music. As a result, city centre Spanish restaurant La Bandera have launched a brand-new 8-Course Tasting Menu featuring a host of dishes from the islands.
You can read all about each of the courses below, as well as book yourself in to try it. But also know this – everyone who dines at the restaurant and orders the Taster Menu will be entered into a raffle to WIN a gastronomic trip for 2 to Tenerife!
