Springtime is finally upon us, and you know what that means? It’s finally time to ditch the thermals and get back out into the world. Need some inspo to kickstart the month? Here’s our guide to the very best things to do in Manchester this March.
1. Check out some rare trainers at Crepe City
Crepe City is back this month with more rare and unique sneakers for fans to get their hands on. Over 150 traders will be in attendance, alongside Manchester-based DJs who’ll be bringing the good vibes, competitions, panel discussions, live performances, street food and even a bar. The event will take place at Bowler’s Exhibition Centre on March 19 and is set to be a shoe-lover’s paradise.
2. Support female-owned businesses in Manchester at GRUB for International Women’s Day
Lass Fest is returning to GRUB from March 8-12 with a full week of events to celebrate International Women’s Day. The festival will celebrate amazing women in Manchester and beyond, with an overarching theme of supporting and promoting feminist founders and female-owned businesses. Guests can expect food, drinks, music, art, shopping, comedy, spoken word, film and more. As well as the amazing line-up of Lass Fest events, punters will be able to grab grub from local female-owned street food businesses including Bee Kind Bakery, Desert Island Dumplings, Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen, Nina’s Taco Truck, Seitan’s Kebab and Tiny Beast Bakes.
3. See legendary singer Jocelyn Brown dazzle and delight at this Manchester 360 disco night
Disco doesn’t get much better than this: iconic R&B singer and Somebody Else’s Guy hitmaker Jocelyn Brown will be blessing the eardrums of anyone who attends the glittering Manchester 360° event on March 31. Unfolding in Manchester Cathedral, the combination of infectiously fun disco music and striking centuries-old architecture will make for a night to remember. The music won’t be the only thing filling the hallowed halls, as you can expect a mesmerising projection mapping and a killer light show to illuminate the frescoed ceilings, medieval furnishings and gilded detailing of the cathedral.
4. Try a chippy tea burrito or taco at this Mexican restaurant
Merging Mexico with Manchester, El Capo in the Northern Quarter has really cornered the market, offering a chippy tea Burrito, the ‘Chippy Tea-juana’, and a chippy tea taco, ‘It’s Chippy’. It’s all to celebrate National Chip Week (I know right!). Available now, both include “fish, chips, mushy peas, all the trimmings combined to make something so outrageously tasty” and a dipping gravy for the ultimate bite to eat.
5. Wind down at a Candlelight Coldplay concert
Need to wind down after a long week? Take in the sounds of Coldplay classics at this candlelight concert, taking place at the iconic Manchester Cathedral which will be bathed in stunning candlelight. A talented pianist and violinist will team up for the occasion, performing the tracks as you’ve never heard before.
6. Visit Manchester’s newly reopened sky park Castlefield Viaduct
Castlefield Viaduct has now reopened to the public, featuring some new additions to Manchester’s sky park such as new partner gardens by Hulme Community Garden Centre and Sow the City. The elevated park was closed between December and February to allow time for the team of National Trust gardeners, volunteers, and community partners to prune, plant and create new areas on the giant 330-metre steel viaduct.
7. Indulge in British brasserie classics at the Stock Exchange Hotel’s new restaurant
The highly-anticipated restaurant at the Stock Exchange Hotel is expected to open this March as Stock Market Grill, under the helm of the trio behind Manchester venues Schofield’s Bar, Atomeca and Sterling. Set in the Edwardian baroque splendour of this listed building, once the city’s financial hub, the Stock Market Grill will be at the heart of the hotel, which is co-owned by Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and hotelier Winston Zahra. With head chef Joshua Reed-Cooper in charge, Stock Market Grill will offer an all-day menu filled with elevated ‘British Brasserie’ classics using the highest-quality local ingredients.
8. Discover all of the cheesiest spots in Manchester on this tasty tour
Sure, there are plenty of walking tours that you could go on that would take you around all of the historic parts of the city; showing you all the best tourist spots, most haunted spots or prime street art spots. But there’s only one way to truly get to know Manchester: by touring all of the cheesiest spots, of course. On this tempting trip around town you’ll not only get to fill your stomach with dairy delights, but there’ll be a cheese whizz quiz and an unmissable insight into the cheese-making process.
9. Celebrate Britney at this epic bottomless brunch
This year, it’s all about Britney. Celebrate the beloved mega-star at this epic bottomless brunch, where one of the UK’s best Britney impersonators will be taking to the stage to perform some of Britney’s biggest and best hits. Guests can enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless drinks – including fizz and mimosas – with four whole hours of dancing and entertainment in store.
10. Take a trip to The Lowry to see a new Peaky Blinders theatre production
A new theatre show by Rambert Dance Company, known as Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, is coming to The Lowry in Salford after the production made its debut at Birmingham Hippodrome last year. Making a stop in Salford between March 14 and 18 as part of its UK tour in 2023, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight. The dance theatre show sees exhilarating and athletic dance from the full dance company combined with an electrifying and eclectic soundtrack.
11. Enjoy a game of bingo like never before at Buff Bingo
The beloved Buff Bingo event is returning for March, with local queens Anna Phylactic and HRH Lill hosting. Guests will be able to enjoy a fun game of bingo alongside 1.5 hours of bottomless booze, as well as tuck into a tasty pizza dish of your choice. The event will serve up four whole hours of entertainment, with games, dancing and even the Boy Toy butlers on hand to get the party started.
12.Watch features starring Nicolas Cage and Timothy Spall at Manchester Film Festival
Manchester Film Festival (MANIFF) is back this March and will be even bigger with the line-up including huge actors such as Nicolas Cage, Timothy Spall, Gemma Arterton and Juliet Rylance. Taking place at the ODEON in the Great Northern Warehouse between March 10 and 19, this year’s festival will showcase over 140 short films including 32 world premieres. Attendees can expect six feature film world premieres and 17 feature film UK premieres alongside screenings, Q&As and more. Local talent will also be on show with three sessions of North West Shorts, which is the most ever screened at the festival.
13. Polish off your dance moves at the Queen B Bottomless Brunch
Beyonce fans, it’s time to get into formation. Returning to On Bar this month, Cara Melle will be taking to the stage to perform some of Beyonce’s biggest hits, with a collective of London and Manchester’s best drag artists to assist in bringing the party vibes. Expect plenty of pizza, free-flowing drinks and four whole hours of drag fun.
14. Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at The Brunch Club with live music and pints of Guinness
Prepare yourself for a journey through the sea of green as The Brunch Club brings the ultimate St Patrick’s Day party to Manchester. Immerse yourself in the theme, dance to live music from the hottest DJs and grab a Guinness or two. After all, it would be rude not to. Gather your friends and join the party for an unforgettable celebration at the Manchester venue on March 18.
15. Check out butlers in the buff at the Boy Toy Bottomless Brunch
The Boy Toy butlers are back for an epic show featuring butlers in the buff, male dancers, performers and, of course, bottomless booze. Drag queen Honey The Foxx will be hosting, and there’ll be some delicious brunch dishes to enjoy before taking part in tons of games and plenty of dancing.
16. See an amazing performance from Will Young in ‘Song From Far Away’ at HOME
Will Young stars in the revival of this one-man show, following Willem’s return home after being estranged from his family. The play Song From Far Away by Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens and Mark Eitzel will have an emotional landing in Manchester in particular, as Simon says “Manchester is a city that we have loved for decades for different reasons and from different places. We can’t wait to see our Song from Far Away in this city of music.”
17. Don an orange jumpsuit at the cool Alcotraz prison bar
Whether you’ve got mates visiting Manchester or you simply fancy a chance, Alcotraz is the perfect, boozy experience for those seeking something a little more unique. Don the orange jumpsuit and check in to Cell Block Three-Four, where you’ll get the chance to enjoy contraband cocktails in your own private cell.
18.Tuck into an array of plant-based food at Manchester Vegan Festival
After a surge of people getting involved in Veganuary it seems the plant-based hype isn’t about to stop any time soon. Back by popular demand, Manchester Vegan Festival will be coming to Bowlers Exhibition Centre this month, showcasing a number of meat and dairy-free vendors serving mouthwatering food.
19. Head to Stretford to see the town’s latest people powered polaroid project
Stretford Town Centre and Bruntwood have launched a people-powered, immersive exhibition that documents a year in the life of Stretford. Made up entirely of Polaroids taken by the people of Stretford over the course of a year-long “photo-relay”, the exhibition is a love letter to the town from the people that live there and is curated by well known artist Simon Buckley of Not Quite Light. Each collection of photographs will be shown alongside a soundscape of voices from participants mixed with a specially created soundtrack of Stretford. From family tea and community parades to signage, landmarks, beloved pets and long-lost graves, the resulting collection is a rich social and artistic record of life in the town.
20. Celebrate International Women’s Day high above Manchester at 20 Stories
Wednesday 8th March will see us celebrate all the wonderful things women have done, by marking International Women’s Day. Manchester landmark rooftop bar and restaurant 20 Stories is inviting guests to join them for their annual International Women’s Day business breakfast and Q&A, which will be celebrating the fantastic and influential women of Manchester.
Also published on Medium.