What's On
Rum festival bringing tiki vibes and calypso beats to Manchester next month
Taste different rums from around the world for World Rum Day
Rum lovers get set to descend on Manchester as an annual rum festival will bring Tiki vibes and Calypso beats to the city this summer – and you can win FREE tickets to it and a year’s supply of rum.
Manchester Rum Festival is on its way to the Mercure Hotel on July 8th — World Rum Day — where visitors can sip on some of the finest rums from around the world as well as bop to funky beats from Calypso inspired DJ sets while they munch on tasty Caribbean foods.
For a very special treat, visitors will be able to purchase a one-off, limited-edition bottle of the official festival rum, named ‘Punk Croc’ which is a collaboration with the Outlier Distilling Company.
This 41% abv limited edition blend is a Manx rum with a cask-aged bite. Perfect for Mojitos and Daiquiris with attitude, the bottling will only be available at the festival, so rum lovers can take home a very special souvenir this year and recreate the cocktail magic at home.
The event will see a variety of distillers including Distillers Direct — bringing a very special limited edition single cask of Chairman’s Reserve Rum, which has been produced in partnership with The Drinks Trust.
The UK’s largest rum distillery, DropWorks will be making their very first rum festival appearance after launching at the latter end of May.
Also debuting at the festival are Rhum JM, an historic rum from Martinique in the Caribbean with a super sustainable background focusing on biodiversity and the preservation of nature, as well as Takamaka, the first ever rum from the idyllic Seychelles in the Indian Ocean.
Visitors will be able to sample all of the brands, purchase their favourites and have a great time entertained by fantastic music, eating delicious food.
For the very first time, MONIN will be at the festival with the official cocktail bar if you fancy a Pina Colada, Mojito or Daiquiri, and the event will be sponsored by Stratford Sodas who will be providing the perfect mixers for your favourite rum delights.
Two rums from Madeira – 970 and Tristão Vaz Teixeira – will become the first brands ever to exhibit at the festival from the Portuguese Island. And, a rum from Outlier Distillery on the Isle of Man that has recently been featured on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch will be available to taste.
Last but not least, Ron Piet from Panama, Tilambic from Mauritius, Eminente from Cuba, Paranubes from the mountainous Oaxaca region in Mexico, and Bone Idyll — a rum distillery based in Kingston upon Thames — will also be making their Manchester debuts.
Manchester Rum Festival founder, Dave Marsland, said: “The 2023 festival is set to be the biggest and best yet with rum brands from all over the planet descending on Manchester for what has become a must-have diary date for rum lovers.
“Visitors can expect a smorgasbord of samples, uplifting DJ sets and Caribbean Street Food from Nyammin’, which always gets the taste buds tingling.
“It really is a fantastic day out and has cemented itself as a brilliant annual event for rum fans across the UK and beyond. For added fun this year, visitors can snap some pics in a special photo booth and take group selfies with a special frame, so you can share the memories with friends.”
To win a year’s supply of rum and two tickets to the legendary Manchester Rum Festival this July, simply head HERE.
General tickets are priced at £25 each. For more information and to book a ticket click HERE.
Manchester’s first and only dedicated and official rum festival takes place on Saturday July 8th, 12-7pm, at the Mercure, Manchester in Piccadilly Gardens.
What's On
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Get in the festive spirit!
Get in the festive spirit with a brand new FREE Christmas makers night market, with over 40 traders and small businesses from across the region.
Brought to you by Renaker, the Manchester Made Christmas night market is coming to New Jackson, Deansgate Square from Friday December 6th to Sunday December 8th.
Following on from a successful summer market in May, the Manchester Made Market is returning bigger and better than before but with a Christmassy twist.
Manchester Made Market
Expect a ‘cosy and magical’ Christmas night market experience, with food, drink, live music and even a grotto for visits to Father Christmas.
There’ll be Christmas trees galore, glittering with lighting, with one huge show-stopping tree taking centre stage.
Bringing together over 40 artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region, the three-day event will showcase a plethora of food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.
Manchester Made Market
Visitors will be sure to find unique Christmas gifts that support local businesses, including from The Cole Men and their award winning sauces, Moon & Sixpence’s handmade jewellery, and fine art photography by Craig Barker.
There’ll be live music from a 20-piece choir, playing Christmas classics, cocktails from Manchester Gin and Gooey’s sweet treats.
The experts from Millington Hall Farm in Altrincham will be bringing a taste of their Wild Grill experience, including live sausage making demonstrations and an array of German sausages served from a festive BBQ trailer.
Manchester Made Market
Families with children can visit the Christmas grotto, where Father Christmas himself will be waiting in a cosy tipi – kids will get a gift from Santa, and bookings can be made online for £8.50 per child.
Manchester Made Market will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday December 6th, and 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th – pre-register for a free guest list ticket and 50% off a hot chocolate HERE, or book the Christmas grotto HERE.
What's On
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Get in the festive spirit in Stockport!
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement.
Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.”
Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year next month, bringing with it a vibrant gallery space showcasing thousands of works from over 500 artists.
One of the biggest and most significant events in the UK art world calendar, it’ll take over Manchester Central for three days, from Friday November 15th to 17th.
The city will be flooded with art from all corners of the world, championing everything from local heroes to new emerging talent, as well as international artists with worldwide acclaim.
Manchester Art Fair
A wide range of artistic disciplines will be represented at the event, from painters, illustrators, and sculptors to graffiti artists and everything in between.
Expect exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions, demos, book signings and parties happening across the event.
Tickets include free access to art workshops and talks from leading artists and cultural experts, and are on sale now.
You can grab them HERE.
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The VR gaming experience at airport where you can escape reality
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Simmons Bar opens first Northern site in Manchester with free drinks at launch party
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year
