If there’s one person who deserves a treat, it’s Dad. If a family day out is on the cards, you’ll be pleased to hear that – as always – we’ve done the leg work for you and rounded up some of the best things to do this Father’s Day in Manchester – from boozy lunches to fun activities that the whole family can get stuck into. Without further ado…
1. Tuck into a roast at these Manchester restaurants
Stock Exchange Hotel
If you’re dad is a footy fan and a foodie then he may just like the idea of dining at the hotel restaurant owned by former football players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs (although we can’t guarantee that they’ll be there). Stock Exchange Hotel has launched a special package to celebrate the father figures in our lives where you can treat them to a stunning Sunday Roast and complimentary cocktail with live music from Danny Maddocks.
Stock Exchange Hotel’s stunning private dining room, The Bank can also be reserved for 12 people with a dedicated banqueting chef serving a Family Sharing Roast. Two-courses will be priced at £30 per person and three courses priced at £35 per person.
Zouk
Bring your dad to Zouk in his craziest dad shirt for a chance to win a £100 gift card for wanderlustdrinkscompany.com and a £50 gift card for Zouk. All you need to do to enter this exciting competition is bring your dad to Zouk for a delicious meal in his craziest shirt, snap a picture in our restaurant and post that onto either Instagram or Facebook, tag and use hashtag #zoukteabar.
Choose from roast topside of beef, whole poussin, mini lamb roast or vegetable tikka, all served with with seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire Puddings, a choice of gravy and golden roasted potatoes. You can also enjoy Zouk’s infamous Sunday roast platters, available for two, four or six people, that has all three delicious meats and all the trimmings for just £25 per person.
2. Let off some steam at Whistle Punks
Dad need to blow off some steam? We’ve got just the thing: Whistlepunks axe throwing. One of the city’s most unique activities, guests get to enjoy 70 minutes of axe-throwing, with targets to aim for, tournaments to take part in and, of course, experts on hand to help you master your craft. Get tickets here.
3. Bag your dad some free pints at these Manchester drinking spots
MOTLEY
From June 16 to June 18, all dads can ditch their unwanted socks and score a complimentary pint while indulging in MOTLEY’s mouthwatering menu. The socks will then be gifted to acclaimed local homeless charity, Coffee4Craig. Recognising that fathers often receive socks as gifts, the Sock Swap initiative aims to provide a fun and light-hearted opportunity for dads to get rid of those unwanted socks in exchange for a well-deserved complimentary pint. Dads will also be given a voucher to receive 15% food and drink on their next visit to MOTLEY Manchester.
Suki Suki
Dad jokes at the ready? Suki Suki Street Food & Bar will be giving away a free Asahi Superdry beer for every customer who tells their best dad joke in venue! And that’s not all… limited-edition Asahi t-shirts are up for grabs for anyone who manages to make the team laugh! It’s one free beer per joke and stock is limited on t-shirts, so head down to Great Northern Warehouse in Manchester this Father’s Day armed with funny one-liners and quips – the cringier, the better!
Albert’s Schloss
Make your Father’s Day celebrations extra special this year, as Albert’s Schloss Manchester hands out a free bier upon arrival to every dad who visits the venue; valid on Father’s Day only, from 12pm. Plus, you can tuck into a wunderbar Sunday Service roast menu, available as a two or three course offering starting at £23. For your main course, choose from Lancashire beef, Schwienshaxe, Cheshire chicken or brand new vegan roast, ‘Schloss no-nut roast’, with mushroom celeriac, sun dried tomato stuffed confit onion plus vegan cheese + vegetable gravy.
All main courses are served with family sharing style accompaniment of roast potatoes, root vegetable mash, seasonal greens + lashings of proper gravy. Plus, get into the post-gravy groove as Albert’s Schloss as The Piano Man takes to the stage at 1.30pm, followed by The Feel Good Choir with sets from 5pm, seeing the evening out with DJ royalty; DJ Paulette into the early hours.
4. Enjoy live music at Freight Island’s free festival
Manchester’s cultural hub of food, drink and entertainment, Freight Island, is delighted to present a special Father’s Day programming with the return of its action-packed Better Days series on June 18. The city’s free to attend festival-inspired series continue to welcome world-class DJs. This Father’s Day, Better Days hosts Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) for a DJ set alongside Fat Tony, Raw Silk, Scarlett O’Malley, and Freight Island’s residents.
Celebrate Father’s Day at Freight Island with a stellar line-up of DJs, delicious food from the North West’s most celebrated independent traders, and a wide selection of craft beers from Manchester and beyond at The Tap Room. Plus, alfresco BBQ, festival vibes and family entertainment all day long.
5. Taste some of the city’s best cheese on this delicious tour
If Dad’s a big cheese fan, the Manchester Cheese Crawl is the perfect experience to try out together for Father’s Day. Taking guests around the city for two hours of cheese, guests will get to experience some of the city’s finest cheeses, washed down with delicious wines and, of course, more cheese. Get tickets here.
6. Connect with your dad at this Mandem Meetup event
Mandem Meetup, which hosts meetup sessions every other Tuesday at The Village Hall at Great Northern Warehouse in Manchester, is helping to combat loneliness, with a special Father’s Day meet-up. On June 17, Mandem Meetup is inviting dads and their kids to meet at Longford Park in Stretford, simply to connect and enjoy each other’s company. The event will start at 11:00 lasting a couple of hours.
7. Chill out by watching a film at the cinema
Doing Father’s Day on a budget? Vue and ODEON Cinemas have teamed up with Fever for a cheap-as-chips offer: starting from just £3.99 per ticket, any time for any film. There are tons of huge blockbusters showing at the moment, just maybe let your dad pick the film this time. Get tickets here.
8. Go on a summer walk
Manchester’s canal network is probably one of the most underrated parts of the city. In the summer months, the winding canals provide the perfect easy walk to do, with twinkling water, scenery varying from the old architecture to the new, and plenty of geese to dodge – which is all part of the fun if you ask us.
9. Hear iconic tunes from The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones at this candlelight concert
Calling all fantasy film and TV buffs, this is the candlelight concert for you. From The Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones soundtracks, you can hear them both surrounded by glimmering candelight within Manchester Cathedral. Nothing says magical quite like the ethereal notes of The Passing of the Elves or the trumpets and cymbals of The Cavern of Isengard sound across the sanctuary – you can’t help but get the chills as you’re reminded of Saruman’s rise to power. Plus, you’ll hear renditions of popular soundtracks from the Game of Thrones franchise, including Winter Is Coming and Fire and Blood (House Targaryen theme), as well as highly recognized scores from Rings of Power.
10. Indulge in a delicious feast at these tasty Manchester spots
Evuna
Treat dad to a Spanish Father’s Day Feast at Manchester Deansgate’s Evuna, with authentic tasty tapas, perfect for sharing with the whole family. On the classic feasting menu, enjoy the likes of paprika chicken, Spanish omelette, calamari, patatas bravas, and a selection of fresh bread with chorizo, and Manchego Cheese plus a mixed paella to share for £27.50 per person.
Or upgrade to the premium banquet for £34.95 per person and enjoy all the tapas from the classic offering, with the addition of a seafood paella and Evuna’s famed sharing mixed grill of chicken skewers, lamb chops and chorizo served with patatas. Available for groups of six or more, pre-booking required.
The Alan
Available between June 17 and 19 between 12pm-9pm, you can treat the father figure in your life to a dining experience at The Alan. Enjoy 50-day aged picanha 500g, served with beef fat potatoes, greens, and a bone marrow gravy. The limited-edition dish serves two and is priced at £60 (£30 per person).
The Ivy Spinningfields
Show your appreciation whilst treating your dad to a dining experience at The Ivy Spinningfields with as specially curated set menu featuring The Ivy shepherd’s pie and Mediterranean sea bream fillet. Indulge in a two-course meal for £25.50 or three-courses for £29.50 and make this Father’s Day truly special.
In addition, the Manchester restaurant will be serving some Father’s Day specials like an 8oz dry-aged sirloin steak with green beans and a flambéed brandy and truffle sauce. Complementing this feast, treat yourself to a Double Jus Old Fashioned cocktail, crafted with Maker’s Mark bourbon, 30 & 40 Double Jus, syrup, and a touch of bitters, offering the perfect balance of sweet, rich, and bold.
11. Take your dad into a whole new reality at DNA VR
Providing a unique entertainment experience, DNA VR allows visitors to dive into unimaginable virtual worlds spanning horror, fantasy and music. For gamers and adventurers alike, DNA VR offers an immersive experience and true escapism from the outside world with solo and group virtual reality modes on 70 games providing hours of gameplay. From surviving a zombie apocalypse, to traveling to the pyramids in Egypt or fighting off dragons, DNA VR has a game for everyone. Whether you’re craving horror or wanting to test survival skills against zombies, DNA VR is a great spot for a day out with your dad.
12. Treat your dad to a relaxing spa experience at King Street Townhouse
The ‘Just for Him’ spa package at King Street Townhouse offers a 60-minute deep tissue massage or hot stone full body massage for £150 per person. Plus, they can enjoy two hours of access to the spa’s thermal facilities including the only Himalayan salt cave outside of London, and afternoon tea in the tea lounge.
King Street Townhouse is offering an exclusive High Tea, with savoury favourites such as pork, truffle and black pepper sausage roll, crispy chicken Caesar burger and sweetcorn fritter with paprika mayonnaise. The High Tea also includes a pot of tea for £30 per person, or can be upgraded to include a glass of champagne or cocktail for £42.50 per person.