It’s that time again, the World Cup is upon us and we’re in danger of getting a bit carried away here in Manchester. Fans are daring to believe that it could actually be coming home, so best make the most of it and soak up the magic at one of these World Cup screenings. Manchester was officially crowned the best place in the UK to watch the Euros, so we imagine the World Cup will be no different.
From warehouses with immersive light shows to your classic pubs or sports bars with large screens, here are the best places to watch the World Cup 2022 in Manchester.
1. Road to Victory
Presented by AIX Live and taking place at Manchester’s Depot Mayfield, the home of The Warehouse Project and Escape To Freight Island; Road to Victory set to offer a capacity of over 6,000 guests and the largest screen in the continent. The Manchester venue promises immense production combined with the latest interactive technology to deliver an incredible multi-sensory football experience for the World Cup this winter.
As well as multiple screens including a massive 140sqm screen – larger than any cinema screen and the largest in Europe – football fans will also be wowed by a fully immersive light show which will add to the electric atmosphere for England’s biggest World Cup matches.
Road to Victory, Depot Mayfield, Fairfield Street, M1 2QF.
2. 4TheFans Fan Zone
There’ll be no better place to wait for the inevitable homecoming of the golden FIFA World Cup Trophy than Soccer 6’s World Cup 2022 indoor fanpark. This dedicated fanzone at Love Factory, hosted by 4TheFans, will provide the ultimate fan experience right here in Manchester this winter. The games will be shown on a huge anti-glare screen, accompanied by a world-class sound system, which will make you feel as if you’re right amongst the action.
A footballing legend will host each of the games at this World Cup 2022 fan park; former Manchester United star Wes Brown will host the games against Iran, and Wales, while former Man City defender Joleon Lescott will host the England vs USA game.
3. Escape to Freight Island
To celebrate the footy tournament taking place during the months of November and December, Escape to Freight Island has announced a Festival of Football.
Hosted across different areas and zones within the venue, the food market will transform the Platform inside into a big fan zone and a dedicated pub zone, which will be located in the tap room with intimate and traditional pub setting. Outside, in the covered and heated Plant Room, Festival of Football will host a family and children friendly zone. Plus, Escape to Freight Island will be offering more than live streaming, as the Festival of Football will present a series of festival-inspired happenings, including special food and drink offerings.
Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, M1 2PZ.
4. The Oast House
One of Manchester’s popular drinking spots and football-viewing venues, The Oast House is getting involved in the World Cup hype, and they’re even giving away free beers. Launching an immersive game for the World Cup taking place this November and December, the Spinningfields venue is awarding a prize for every winning player with a free pint of Madri on the house, and there’s a 50/50 chance of winning every time.
With the World Cup taking place this winter it’s going to be a cold one but you can cosy up watching the football in The Oast House’s famous Curious Teepee with roaring fires, faux fur throws and twinkling fairy lights. The venue is set to display three 85-inch screens showing the England games, with seated benches for maximum viewing potential.
The Oast House, The Avenue Courtyard, M3 3AY.
5. New Century Hall
New Century is transforming into a one-of-a-kind, indoor fanzone, providing the perfect venue for fans to watch England attempt to bring it home at the 2022 World Cup.
Hosting the live matches from their iconic hall and events space, football fans can enjoy the matches on a huge screen in spacious surroundings, all under the 60s disco ceiling with incredible surround sound for just a fiver a ticket (including a free pint!). Maybe the 1960s surroundings will bring back the spirit of 1966 and help the boys bring it home…?!
New Century, 34 Hanover St, M4 4AH.
6. Pong & Puck
Pong & Puck will be showing the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on their big screen this November and December. Watch the World Cup, and cheer on the Lions with a cocktail, a large beer tower, or both at Manchester’s retro games bar Pong & Puck, which will be showing all of the games. Settle in for an awesome atmosphere at this fun, retro and dog-friendly bar, and grab a game of beer pong or shuffleboard at half time! K
For £15 per person, you can secure your slot and enjoy a welcome pint or prosecco and sit back to experience the game on the big screen. Groups of over 12 or more can book out an area by emailing the Pong & Puck team directly.
Pong & Puck, 235 Deansgate, M3 4EN.
7. Love Factory
A match made in football heaven, Love Factory has announced its programming for Qatar World Cup 2022 with a curated and exclusive approach beyond the usual screening.
You can see the action play out on the huge indoor central screen alongside additional projectors throughout the adaptative venue hidden in plain sight on Dantzic Street – so wherever you’re sat, Love Factory promises a perfect, uninterrupted view. There will be an Official Carling Fan Zone inside the warehouse alongside dedicated singing terraces and general seating. Plus, to add to the experience you can tuck into pies from Ate Days A Week, listen to match commentary from talkSPORT and explore the classic football shirts on show.
Love Factory, 205 Dantzic St, M4 4DW.
8. BOX bar
One of Manchester’s newest, dedicated sports bars, BOX Bar is the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere during this World Cup.
Even if you’re not cheering on your team, you’re sure to enjoy their classic bar grub (crowd-pleasing with plenty of burgers and pizzas, of course), alongside cocktail steins, spacious bar area for both seating and standing, and plenty of big screens to watch the matches on.
BOX Bar, 125 Deansgate, M3 2BY.
9. Tib Street Tavern
A popular spot when the football’s on – particularly on Derby Days – the Tib Street Tavern can be found nestled down the Northern Quarter’s curious Tib Street, offering proper pub vibes with screens at every turn. The atmosphere is absolutely buzzing with football fans, with two floors for fans to spread out across and find a spot to watch the match.
Tib Street Tavern, 74 Tib St, M4 1LG.
10. Trafford Centre
Since many of us aren’t watching one of the biggest football tournaments live at the stadium this year, Manchester is becoming a hub when it comes to screening all of the World Cup 2022 matches. From November 20, the Trafford Centre will be bringing World Cup magic to its visitors, with the opportunity to watch all World Cup games on its giant 5m x 3m YouTube Shorts Big Screen, including quarter finals, semi-finals, and the final. Plus, visitors can enjoy world-class football at the leading shopping and leisure destination completely free of charge.
The Trafford Centre, M17 8AA.
11. The Director’s Box
Fans don’t have to travel far from the city centre to catch the action at the 2022 World Cup with The Director’s Box showing every game in the heart of the city, just off St Peter’s Square. On top of all the Three Lions thrills, this popular sports bar also offers up a wide range of craft beer, filling food and even a bottomless brunch option.
The Director’s Box, 37 Booth St, M2 4AA.
12. Calcio
Calling all lovers of football and video games, Calcio is the bar for you. Located in the Northern Quarter, Manchester’s first retro football and arcade bar is arriving just in time for the World Cup to kick off.
The bar has even created the perfect backdrop for those post-game FIFA interviews with a wall featuring iconic brands from the football and gaming worlds like Sega, Umbro and PlayStation. Calcio has also teamed up with What’s Your Beef Burgers who will be taking over the kitchen to serve up some banging burgers whilst you enjoy plenty of footy matches and get your game on.
Calcio, 24 Dale St, M1 1FY.
13. The Courtyard
Located right by Manchester Met University, The Courtyard has been an old haunt of students and football fans alike for many years.
With food and drink at student-friendly prices, a sprawling roofed beer garden, plus more big screens than you can count – what better place could be there in Manchester to watch the goals fly in during the World Cup? The Courtyard boasts a sheltered beer garden as well as pool tables, multiple screens and comfort food as the season changes.
The Courtyard, 2 Chester Street, M1 5SH.
14. The Blues Kitchen
Usually associated with live music for the blues, soul and funk lovers of the world, this winter, The Blues Kitchen will be extending its offering and showcasing screenings of England’s World Cup games during the competition in Qatar, at its Manchester venue. If England are successful all of their games iup to the final will be streamed from the venue.
Guests can tuck into Southern-inspired dishes such as Blues Kitchen’s famous Buffalo Chicken Wings, Szechuan Baby Back Ribs, Cheeseburger Spring Rolls, Cajun Popcorn Squid, the Bacon Double Smashburger or sharers such as the Wings & Things and Veggie Feast. In addition to the tasty bar food, The Blues Kitchen live band will also be on hand to perform on stage straight after the final whistle is blown, allowing fans to carry on the celebrations into the evening. Expect Sweet Caroline with a Blues Kitchen twist…
The Blues Kitchen, 13 Quay St, M3 3HN.
15. 7 Sins
7 Sins will be showing every England game regardless of time, and all other games in line with their opening hours on their eight screens.
With pool, arcade games, burgers, fries, wings and pizzas as well as 2-4-£10 cocktails Daily until 7pm, it’s hard not to resist grabbing a pew and sitting down to watch the World Cup at this Manchester spot. And if you’re in need of something to put a smile back on your face after a score you didn’t want, 7 Sins serves up a pizza topped with potato smileys that’s sure to cheer you up!
7 Sins, 43-45 Lever Street, M1 1FN.
16. Brickhouse Social
Manchester bar Brickhouse Social will be showing all of the World Cup fixtures across their three-floor venue. Boasting 12 screens, six of which are over 120 inches, the venue will also be dressed for the occasion in World Cup décor as well as a face painter being on-site for all England games and a DJ playing all of the World Cup classics alongside the matches.
Pizza will be served by food vendor LATE NIGHT SLICE with the menu featuring a number of flavours including the ‘Chick’ille O’Neill’, a smokey chilli chicken pizza and the ‘Lindsay Lo-ham’, topped with Parma Ham, Rocket and Balsamic. KABLE, which is located underneath Brickhouse Social will also be turned into an England fan zone as part of the World Cup celebrations.
Brickhouse Social, 11-13 New Wakefield St, M1 5NP.
17. Victoria Warehouse
Taking over Victoria Warehouse’s brand new event space, The Tobacco Stores, fans can enjoy all England games on HD screens with footie-themed street food concessions, a large bar area and music, bringing an unrivalled matchday atmosphere with hard-to-beat stadium views of Old Trafford. Not only that, anyone who attends the first match will receive a free drink on entry. The exciting new fanzone has a capacity of 1,000 and will be family-friendly with seated areas also available.
Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, M17 1AB.
18. Gorilla
The iconic archways of Gorilla have also got football fever and will be screening matches at the venue. Tickets are £5 per game and the ticket is also a free drink when you get in. If you are wanting to have a private viewing for you and your friends or a sneaky work break to come over and watch, Gorilla also has private spaces available.
Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street, M1 5WW.
19. Bierkeller
One of the Printworks’ thriving venues, the Manchester Bierkeller frequently screens live sports – with over twenty screens, three projector screens and a massive LED superscreen to accommodate footy fans. Bookings are now open for World Cup screenings, so you can snap up a table ready for the matches. Enjoy cold beers, steins and pitchers, as well as 8-pint beer towers, stein cocktails and more.
Manchester Bierkeller, The Printworks, Withy Grove, M4 2BS.
20. Boom Battle Bar
All Boom Battle Bar venues in England, including their Manchester Printworks location, will be giving away free pints an hour before kick-off for every England game in the group stages. Each venue has 66 free Heineken pints to give away and will be available on a first-come, first served basis to any customers who also have a table booking to watch the match. Fans will simply need to quote ‘It’s coming home and I want a free pint’ at the bar and show their table booking confirmation email to the bar staff to redeem.
Boom Battle Bar, Unit 2A, The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, M4 2BS.
Also published on Medium.