Struggling to plan a fun-filled weekend in Manchester? Come rain or shine (in this city’s case mainly rain), we’ve got you covered when it comes to what’s on this weekend in Manchester. From brunches to gigs, there’s something for everyone, including some activities for the kids, on our list of things to do in Manchester this weekend.
1. Visit the UK’s biggest Joe & The Juice as the brand returns to the city
Popular juice and coffee bar Joe & The Juice has returned to the centre of Manchester, opening in the Manchester Arndale. Joe & The Juice will occupy the 2,700 sq ft former EE unit on Cross Street after signing a 10 year lease – making it one of the largest locations worldwide. The new letting at Manchester Arndale will see Joe & The Juice return to the city centre after its previous location in Debenhams closed following the collapse of the retailer – bringing Mancs their viral Tunacado sandwiches and delectable coffee and juice.
2. Enjoy huge pizza pies, margs and music at Ramona’s Motorcity Sundays event
3. Take a spring wander around RHS Garden Bridgewater
Opening just a few years ago in Worsley, the RHS Garden Bridgewater gates lead to a beautiful, nature wonderland – and it’s the perfect place to catch a literal breath of fresh air. Featuring multiple areas throughout to explore, including the ‘crown jewel’ of the site – the 11-acre Weston Walled Garden – visitors won’t be at a loss for beautiful sights, with tons of greenery, blooms, a peaceful lake and a number of lovely little ponds to potter around, as well as seasonal flowers and plants that transform throughout the year. Escape the city and witness nature doing its thing at this scenic garden.
4. Get your hands on a pair of adidas and Drama Call trainers inspired by the original Manchester Metrolink network
adidas Originals has teamed up with Manchester’s cult streetwear brand, Drama Call, to debut their take on the iconic Superstar II. Drawing inspiration from the original Manchester Metrolink network, the Superstar II “Drama” features teal accents that pay homage to the city’s classic tram design, blending Drama Call’s heritage with adidas Originals iconic footwear silhouette. The Manchester Metrolink-inspired Superstar II “Drama” will be available exclusively on Saturday 22nd March from adidas Originals and Drama Call’s Head North pop-up in Manchester found a short walk from Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, priced at £110.00 a pair.
5. Embark on a guided wine tour around the city
Manchester Wine Tours offer visitors a guided tour around the city centre, where they’ll visit some of the best places to drink and buy wine in Manchester along the way. You will be guided in small groups on a leisurely three-hour jaunt where they’ll be able to sample a few glasses en route, as well top notch nibbles. This is a great opportunity to try something new, learn the characteristics of different varieties and even discover a new favourite.
6. Indulge in Greek and Mediterranean food at Kallos pop-up
Prior to its official opening, Kallos Café & Wine Bar has opened a pop-up at Cortland at Colliers Yard, located between Trinity Way and Deansgate and next to Abito, to introduce both its brunch and evening menu. Specialising in high-quality Greek and Mediterranean food, the pop-up opens from Thursday to Sunday. The menu includes in-house made pita bread, feta in filo with honey and sesame, flatbreads as well as a range of other traditional dishes. The café and wine bar is on a journey to capture the essence of authentic Greek life featuring wines from the sun-
kissed vineyards of Greece and the Mediterranean.
7. Head to Manchester Museum to witness Olympias repairing musical instruments
Seven violin makers will spend this weekend (March 22 and 23) at Manchester Museum repairing violas and cellos for the new Olympias Recycled Orchestra programme. This new initiative from Manchester music charity Olympias provides up to 100 free instruments to young people experiencing low income on the Olympias ‘Learn to Play’ programme, raising awareness of new ways to recycle musical instruments as opposed to sending them to landfill. Visitors can see the workshop where Olympias will repair its existing stock of violins, violas and cellos, re-hair bows and convert some of the small violins to violas.
8. Grab a slice of huge chocolate Bertha cake from Get Baked
Bringing their infamous and absolutely huge Bertha chocolate cakes with them, Northern bakery Get Bakedhas opened in Manchester, meaning Mancs can get a taste of the mountainous cake. The Bertha cake has become a hit nationwide due to its monstrous size and delicious chocolatey decadence. It consists of 24 layers of dark chocolate sponge and dark chocolate ganache and even one slice of the whopping cake is not for the faint-hearted let alone the whole entire cake.
9. Visit a range of North West heritage sites for free
Hundreds of National Lottery-funded venues are opening their doors for free, or handing out discounts and special offers – all for the price of a lottery ticket or scratchcard – as National Lottery Open Week returns (until Sunday 23rd March). Over 500 venues across the UK took part, and nearly as many again expected this year, including North West heritage sites Little Moreton Hall, Quarry Bank, Dunham Massey, Lyme and RHS Bridgewater.
10. Enjoy a pint of Guinness at The Freemount’s new location just down the road
The Freemount announced it will be closing its doors but all is not lost as it is set to reopen in a new Northern Quarter location…just over the road. Opening in 2017, the pub on Oldham Street is unable to renew the lease at the original site, so the team are reopening at the legendary old Dry Bar unit, which has sat empty since the bar closed almost 10 years ago. The Freemount will reopen at its new home on Friday 14th March at 5pm.
11. Watch the UK premieres and feature films at Manchester Film Festival
It’s that time again – the Manchester Film Festival has announced the programme for the 2025 edition, taking place from 14 – 23 March at venues across the city centre. For the first time ever, the film festival will host screenings at HOME in addition to the Odeon Great Northern. The festival presents a vibrant and exciting programme – showcasing 37 feature films, including 15 UK premieres and four world premieres. This includes the Manchester premiere of the UK’s Oscar selection Santosh (dir Sandhya Suri), Sundance and Cannes hit Good One (dir India Donaldson) and South by Southwest Audience Award-Winner My Dead Friend Zoe (dir Kyle Hausmann-Stokes).
12. Take a bite of this edible, sculptural installation at The Whitworth
A less conventional exhibition that’s currently gracing our wonderful city is Bobby Baker‘s radical sculptural installation ‘An Edible Family in a Mobile Home’ at The Whitworth – in which family members are made from cake… Originally created in her prefabricated East London house in 1976, the remake of this installation accompanies ‘Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990’, opening simultaneously. This major artwork contains five life-size sculptures of family members made from cake, biscuits and meringues, which will be steadily eaten by the public.
13. Visit the town of Ramsbottom for their first-ever bar and restaurant festival
From March 17 to 23, Ramsbottom will be hosting its first-ever bar and restaurant festival. There are discounts to be had across Ramsbottom’s hospitality venues including The Old Bank, Room 54, Tre Ciccio, The Eagle and Child, Holcombe Tap, Owens Restaurant & Bar, XLII Cafe Wine Bar, Vino & Vibes and Wunderbar. You can also expect a foraged-themed menu from popular Italian restaurant, Tre Ciccio. It’s a great opportunity to not only discover this Greater Manchester town but also all of its local food and drink establishments for less.
14. Feast on tacos and burgers at New Century’s new trader, Wilson’s
New Century has welcomed a new independent street food trader, Wilson’s, to its kitchens, offering specialty sandwiches, juicy burgers, fierce and fiery tacos and inventive small plates. The menu features classic beef burgers, double smashed patty on brioche, Philly cheesesteak and salt beef sandwich with burrata and gremolata. The birria tacos are a must have with beef shin, melted cheese, onions, coriander, house made pico de gallo and consommé. There’s also homemade butters and sauces for smothering on seasoned skin on fries with options like cowboy butter, confit garlic and sage and chimichurri.