Dianne Bourne

The Made in Manchester Festival will take place at Waterside Farm in Stockport on August 29 and 30, 2026, under the new ownership of street-food trader Eddie Osman. The family-friendly event will feature live tribute acts, DJ Judge Jules, funfair rides, inflatables, cartoon characters, a dog show, local talent performances, an animal zoo and food and drink. Children under 12 will enter free with an adult. The festival will support the Ricky Hatton Foundation and offer free on-site parking alongside a low-cost shuttle bus. Adult general admission starts at £25 on Sunday and £35 on Saturday, with VIP and weekend tickets also available.

Rainbow Trust marked 40 years of supporting families of children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses with a family fun day at Bradshaw Hall Primary School in Cheadle Hulme. The charity’s Greater Manchester team has operated for 22 years, providing family support workers, practical help and emotional assistance without central government funding. Fundraiser Dr Michael Josephson MBE, whose Manchester charity ball has raised £500,000 for Rainbow Trust, attended the event alongside supported families, including Evie’s family. The celebration offered children and relatives respite and time together during the school holidays while highlighting the charity’s reliance on donations.

Tickets have gone on sale for the Oasis documentary Don't Look Back in Anger, with the first Manchester screenings scheduled at Vue Printworks from 8am on September 9. The film will premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, receive a London premiere on September 7, and screen at IMAX and other UK cinemas from September 9, including Cineworld Bolton. It features backstage, rehearsal and concert footage from the Oasis Live 25 tour, along with Liam and Noel Gallagher's first joint interview in more than 20 years. The film was created by Steven Knight, directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, and will later stream on Disney+. The report also cites sources claiming that Oasis may plan a 12-night Manchester Etihad Stadium residency and a return to Knebworth in 2027, though those concerts have not been officially announced.

The Trafford Centre’s 2026 summer fair charges £2.50 for advance entry, including access to its beach and splash pool, while rides require tokens costing £1 each. Dianne Bourne visited with two children during a heatwave and spent £78.75 on entry, ride bundles, extra tokens and ice cream—£6 less than the family’s previous visit. She found the splash pool and several rides particularly enjoyable, but criticized the crowded opening slot, the costly Hook-a-duck and penalty shootout, and the lack of toilets and changing facilities within the fairground. The fair runs daily until August 31, with advance booking recommended to avoid higher gate prices and queues.

Heysham Village on the Lancashire coast is presented as a quieter alternative to nearby resorts such as Blackpool, Morecambe and Lytham. The village offers a rocky beach with tidal pools, coastal paths, play areas, cafés and community gardens, alongside historic attractions including Grade I-listed St Peter's Church, its Viking Hogback Stone, Heysham Head, St Patrick's Chapel and ancient rock-cut graves. Visitors can also buy meat and potato pies from Radford's Pie Company, run by the family featured in 22 Kids and Counting, and enjoy views from the Mad Hatter's Cafe. The feature includes practical information on driving, parking, accommodation and access to nearby Morecambe.

Dianne Bourne recommends four Manchester venues for afternoon tea, matching different preferences for glamour, tradition, value and fine dining. Cloud 23 is highlighted for its panoramic city views and landmark-themed Sky High Afternoon Tea; Richmond Tea Rooms for its Alice in Wonderland setting and affordable options; The Midland for its long-established traditional service; and Tender at Stock Exchange for Michelin-starred chef Niall Keating’s gourmet menu and generous portions. Prices generally begin at £35, with children’s, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available at some venues.

Manichester, a sold-out tribute to Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield held at Manchester’s Diecast venue on 30 May 2026, raised money for his twin sons and attracted thousands of fans. Mani’s family thanked the performers, organisers and attendees, while Madchester.com and sponsor GioGoi said demand had been overwhelming. Organisers confirmed that the event will return in 2027 and is intended to become a regular celebration of Mani’s music and cultural legacy.

Former Manchester radio presenter Steve Penk is returning to the spotlight through Steve Penk’s Animal Radio FM, a digital-first ITV Studios comedy series that uses AI-generated animal characters to recreate his famous prank calls. Penk recalls how the calls began on Piccadilly Key 103 in 1992 after he responded humorously to newspaper job advertisements, eventually becoming a major local and national radio phenomenon. The new series draws on three decades of material from his Manchester and national broadcasting career, including his well-known call to Tony Blair, and is available on YouTube and TikTok. Penk defends the use of AI, arguing that it suits the project and does not replace performers because the original audio already exists. He continues presenting on Manchester’s Happy Radio and has no plans to retire.

Rochdale Town Hall Square will host two major music events on August 7 and 8, 2026. OMD will headline the Friday show, joined by Peter Hook & The Light, A Certain Ratio and DJ Clint Boon, while the Saturday Rochdale Feel Good Festival will feature Gabrielle, Ash, Starsailor and emerging local acts. The events highlight Rochdale's historic role in British music, including the recording of OMD's debut single “Electricity” at Cargo Studios. Detailed set times are provided, though they may change, and late tickets are available through Rochdale Council's events website and Quay Tickets.

Shrimp Shack has opened its first restaurant outside London at Manchester’s Printworks, replacing the former Frankie and Benny’s site. The 140-seat venue serves customizable seafood platters, seafood boil bags, lobster dishes, surf-and-turf meals, burgers, drinks and a £10 lunch menu. Prices range from £32.95 for an individual boil to £198.95 for a four-person Big Boss Boil. Co-founder Rish Gola said the brand aims to offer accessible, premium seafood dining, while Printworks general manager Dan Davis welcomed the opening. Shrimp Shack is also considering future sites in Leeds, Liverpool and Luton.

A Manchester Evening News family review visits Alton Towers’ Minecraft Meet the Mobs event with children aged six and nearly 11. The event features character meet-and-greets, a trail to find and stamp six baby Mobs, themed installations, merchandise and food stalls, all included with park admission through August 28, 2026. The younger child loved the trail and characters, while the older child was less enthusiastic. The reviewer praised the event’s organization, accessibility for children who do not play Minecraft, and its ability to add activities between rides, while noting that visitors should expect considerable walking and that the final in-game reward is unavailable to those without the game.

The Space Invader pub in Goostrey, Cheshire, has unveiled a large mural of Jodrell Bank’s Lovell Telescope after renaming itself in honor of the observatory and Sir Bernard Lovell. The mural comes as UK Research and Innovation plans to withdraw £2.8 million in annual funding from 2028, which the University of Manchester says could end the telescope’s active scientific use and eliminate 28 jobs. The observatory’s education and engagement center is not affected, while the pub and local community are supporting a campaign to preserve the telescope’s scientific work and may organize a fundraising Spacefest festival.

Gordon Ramsay at The Mere has opened inside the newly refurbished Fairmont Cheshire near Knutsford, marking Ramsay’s first restaurant in Cheshire and his third in the wider North West. The fine-dining venue offers lake views, indoor and dog-friendly terrace seating, a cocktail bar, breakfast and dinner, and a Sunday lunch service due to launch. Menu highlights include Beef Wellington at £60 per person, charcoal-grilled meats, classic desserts and a dedicated children’s menu. The restaurant is one of several new dining spaces at the £90 million-refurbished resort.

Manchester Day 2026 brought thousands of people into Manchester city centre for a colourful parade featuring 600 performers from 25 community groups, giant bees, puppets, dancers, musicians and endangered-animal costumes. The event had a Catalan and book-themed focus, with artists and giant figures from Barcelona participating through a cultural partnership between the two cities. Performances, storytelling and family activities took place across the city, culminating in a joint Manchester-Barcelona finale on Albert Square with music, confetti and fireworks.

Manchester Day 2026 will take place on Sunday, July 26, featuring a major parade of more than 500 performers and a full programme of music, dance, circus acts and family activities across central Manchester. This year introduces a Catalan theme with visiting performers from Barcelona and marks the return of Albert Square as a key venue following restoration work. Events run from midday to 5pm with activities across Albert Square, St Peter’s Square, Central Library, Exchange Square, St Ann’s Square, Brazennose Street and Lincoln Square. A new parade route begins and ends at St Peter’s Square. Road closures, parking suspensions and tram service changes will be in effect throughout the day.