Rob Martin

We've rounded up some of the best things to do in Manchester this weekend, so there's no excuse to let your downtime go to waste. Whether theatre is your bag, you're mad for music or you'd rather stroll around an art exhibition, you'll find it all in our list, plus much, much more.If you're looking for things to do in Manchester beyond this weekend, take a look at The Best Things To Do In Manchester.  

Manchester is known as one of the proudest LGBTQ+ cities in the world – and for good reason. Canal Street and the gay village have always been more than a collection of bars, clubs and businesses. Together, they’re a movement, and a community of people not ‘accepted’ or ‘tolerated’ but embraced. This year Manchester Pride is placing an even greater emphasis on community, fundraising and political advocacy than ever. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 celebrations, including the full line-up and how to get tickets. When is Manchester Pride 2022? Manchester Pride will be taking place between Friday August 26 to Monday August 29. Punters can expect the traditional city-centre parade, the Village Party, the Pride festival, a Human Rights Forum, and a candlelit vigil to close the weekend. When is the Manchester Pride parade? The parade will take place on Saturday August 27 from 12pm. This year’s theme is ‘March for Peace’. It starts at Deansgate, heads through Oxford Street and Princess Street and ends at Mayfield Depot. Which roads will be closed? Several roads will be closed throughout the weekend from Friday August 27 at 6am until 7am on Tuesday August 31. Abingdon Street, from Major Street to Canal Street Major Street, from Abingdon Street to Sackville Street Hart Street – the Princess Street cul-de-sac Bloom Street, from Princess Street to Minshull Street Richmond Street, from Princess Street to Minshull Street Canal Street, from Princess Street to Minshull St

Breakfast and brunch culture has gone through quite a change in recent years. With more and more of us working from cafés and coffee shops, baristas have had to up their game to accommodate both workers on the move and those who just want to sit back and enjoy a relaxed breakfast or brunch.And that’s great news for those of us seeking high-quality food to start the day. As our pick of the best breakfast and brunch spots in Manchester shows, this city has plenty to offer, from top-of-their-class restaurants to wholesome cheap eats, with a fantastic range of fry-ups, porridges and pastries so that you can start your day right. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Manchester

Manchester's hotels are as varied as the people who stay in them. The hotel scene in Manchester continues to grow in stature, with many ranking among some of the best in the country. Ambitious, new, modern designs and the city’s wealth of impressive ex-industrial buildings mean you can expect a heady mix of classy lodgings, from cosy boutique offerings with atmospheric cocktail bars to twenty-first-century stunners containing the city’s best restaurants. Whether you want to take in the views of the city from the dizzying heights of the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, revel in the Victorian splendour of the Midland, or embrace the beautiful game at Hotel Football, you’ll find somewhere special to stay with our selection of the best hotels in Manchester.  

Despite Manchester’s growing reputation as one of the UK’s best cities for fine dining – and its first Michelin star at Mana – sometimes you just want to stuff your face without blowing a load of money on it. Well, Manchester’s got you covered either way, with as many cheap and cheerful places to eat as there are super-stylish restaurants. From breakfast to brunch, right through to late-night restaurants and the finest curry houses in the land, our pick of the best cheap eats in Manchester will certainly sort you out, and leave you with enough change to leave a more than generous tip. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Manchester

The Lake District, England’s largest national park, is really rather beautiful. Vast rolling hills, enormous lakes and small villages offer visitors a quintessentially English experience which, when combined with the area’s rich literary heritage and amazing variety of things to do, make it quite possibly the perfect tourist spot. Whether it’s hiking, boating, climbing or riding a bike, the Lake District is ideal, but it also offers a great selection of brilliant places to eat and drink, museums, theatres and historic buildings, and if you’re looking for a comfortable place to rest your head, take a look at our list of local hotels and good-value inns. Here are the absolute best things to do in the Lake District right now. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best national parks in the UK

Who doesn’t like tiny sandwiches and small cakes piled onto tiered plates of an afternoon?Although it could be seen as a little twee, afternoon tea is also a lovely way to make yourself feel a bit special, celebrate something or just indulge yourself in some fancy finger food and a glass of fizz or a pot of tea.Liverpool has no shortage of such places. From lavish hotel restaurants to stylish tea houses to vegan-friendly cafés to (inevitably) Beatles-themed blowouts, these venues are practically guaranteed to send you into a spin. Here are the best afternoon teas in Liverpool right now. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Liverpool

So much of Liverpool’s culture is informed by its maritime heritage, and that international influence infuses the city’s dining too. You’ll find cuisine from across the world taking in Europe, Asia, America and beyond. There’s great quality throughout Liverpool’s food scene to suit every budget too, from high-end restaurants offering Mersey views and fancy hotel meals to street food and afternoon teas. So once you’ve explored some of the best things to do in the city and you’re in need of sustenance, here’s our ultimate guide to the best restaurants in Liverpool right now.

There's a lot more to this city than the two things we're most famous for - music and football. Our amazing restaurants go from strength to srength, as does our incredible cultural scene. From highbrow galleries to marvellous museums, beautiful libraries to retail meccas, there’s a ton of brilliant things to do here. A buzzing nightlife keeps things going after dark from the Gay Village to the Northern Quarter and, of late, we're seeing a shift towards greener spaces of calming relaxation too. Read on to discover more bucket-list attractions in Manchester you totally shouldn’t miss. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Manchester

A few miles outside Manchester City Centre, Prestwich, the unassuming town you pass through on the way to Bury, is fast becoming one of the most desirable places to be in Manchester. In fact, in April 2022 ‘The Sunday Times’ voted it the best place to live in all of Greater Manchester. So what's all the fuss about?As well as great schools, still just-affordable house prices and access to other parts of the area via excellent transport routes, there are plans for a £100 million redevelopment of the suburb's Longfield Centre, promising new accommodation, new businesses, shops and places to eat and drink. Work is due to start on that in 2023.Meanwhile, Prestwich is already rivalling areas like Chorlton and Didsbury as a town with some of the best places to eat and drink in the region.So here are some great reasons to cross the Manchester North-South divide and head to Prestwich. Fabulous food and drink Photograph: Small plates at OSMAA wander through Prestwich village reveals some incredibly tempting reasons to step inside for a bite to eat or a tipple. Pizza lovers, and surely that's everyone, shouldn't miss the delights of Cuckoo where, whether you choose to sit inside and cosy or out, you'll be treated to some of the tastiest pies in the area. It's handy that they're all the same price to - £9.50 at the time of writing - making them great value too. Excellent brunches and a cocktail list of treasures make Cuckoo unmissable. Less obvious a venue to enjoy a perfect pizza is Lu

Liverpool is famous for so many things, some of which you’ll know about (ever heard of a band called The Beatles?) and others you may not. Of course, there are the city’s two magnificent cathedrals, the historically significant Albert Dock and even the city’s own Tate art gallery. But did you know that few cities rival Liverpool for its number of listed buildings? It’s that rich architectural heritage that makes this place such a beautiful one.  Add to this the fact that Liverpool has the second-highest number of museums and galleries in the country, beaten only by London, and you can easily see why this is truly a world-class city. Throw in amazing theatres, fantastic nightlife, stunning restaurants, and remembering that you’re just a Mersey Ferry ride away from The Wirral, including Port Sunlight’s Lady Lever Art Gallery, the only real question about a visit to this city is how long you can stay for. Here are the best things to do in Liverpool right now.

Manchester's Warehouse Project has revealed the full 2022 season with four months of unmissable music, kicking off on Saturday September 10 with an epic one-day festival, Repercussion.The Autumn/Winter season's new shows include Gou Talk, Solid Grooves, Worried About Henry and the Haçienda’s 40th Anniversary.Peggy Gou, one of the most in-demand artists on the scene, will be at Depot Mayfield on Friday October 21 for her only show in England after the summer, bringing her Gou Talk event series to Manchester for the very first time with Laurent Garnier, Robert Hood, TSHA, Saoirse, Anz and more. Following the success of their previous Manchester parties, one of the UK’s finest House & Techno labels, Solid Grooves, will welcome Michael Bibi on Friday October 28 for what will be his only UK date in the North this year. The label showcase will also be joined by musical legends including Sven Väth, Skream, Hot Since 82 with more artists to be confirmed. On Saturday October 29, a Halloween special will bring some familiar faces and sought-after names including BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac, Patrick Topping and Special Request. The following Friday on November 4, a Worried About Henry showcase is taking over the full expanse of Depot Mayfield with an array of world-class artists from the DnB scene for what will be the final drum n bass show of WHP22. Another huge line-up will feature the likes of Sub Focus, Shy FX, Netsky, Inja and more. The Haçienda returns, celebrating forty years of

If you want to go to the sort of place that'll make family and friends visiting you let out an audible ‘wow’ then here's the place. This bar and restaurant may belong to the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel it sits within but has fast become a destination all its own. One step inside and itís easy to see why. Taking its name from the building's original owners, The Refuge Assurance Company, Manchester DJ duo Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford, aka Unabomber, have brought an inspired menu from their travels around the world into this collection of spectacularly beautiful settings.There's a large, luxurious bar area, a cosy den, the stunning glass atrium of the Winter Garden and the restaurant proper. All well and good but if the food doesn't illicit a second ‘wow’ then what's the point? Fortunately, it delivers a chorus of them from small plates designed for sharing as well as roasts on Sundays, vegan included. The cleverness of the menu is in the combination of flavours, which bring new delights to the palette without ever feeling forced or simply on trend. They change regularly but if you like the sound of smoked feta with beetroot, tamarind-glazed chicken wings or spiced lamb flatbread with pomegranate and mint, then you're not going to be disappointed. With a fine selection of wines and cocktails, plus staff who are so nice youíll want to follow them on Instagram, The Refuge is a food lover's sanctuary.

A stunning indoor and outdoor food, drink and pleasure playground carved out of an old freight depot, Escape to Freight Island is just as much fun as its name suggests.Island? Well, yes, it really does feel like you've escaped to some exotic place where you can explore, get lost, eat well, enjoy a cocktail and see some lively entertainment. And it's open 7 days a week, too.And with 9 different places to eat, including the vegan Plant Grill, Voodoo Ray's Pizza and Vietnamese Mi and Pho, plus almost as many different bars, you're spoilt for choice as far as the food and drink go. As for entertainment, there are daily DJ sets, live music, a kids social, cabaret and much more.It's part of the ever-expanding world of Depot Mayfield, adding a much-needed injection of fun and frivolity to the area.

The Quays is the area where Salford and Trafford meet, a beautiful waterside development grown from the once derelict landscape of what used to be a thriving dockland.It started with The Lowry. This stunner of a building houses three theatre spaces, galleries showing the work of LS Lowry and contemporary artists plus a restaurant, shop and bars. This amazing venue was soon followed by Imperial War Museum North, the Lowry Outlet Mall, and MediaCityUK is to be found there too, amongst many other attractions, hotels and places to eat and drink.Over the years since The Lowry opened in 2000 it has become a model of how to make regeneration work.

Kate Wilson and Jim Morgan (previously of Honest Crust) know a thing or two about pizza.They've been involved in pop-ups and events previously but now they've set up their own permanent site in an area of the city known at one time as Little Italy, Ancoats. And it's about time.Their pizzas, made with traditional ingrediants and methods, at last provides a culinary reason to visit the area where decent restaurants and places to eat aren't easy to come by.And to drink, with a good wine selection and a decent pick of craft beers. What's more, you can get a 14'' pizza for a fiver... See you there.

If you were putting together a dream pub in your booze-fuelled mind you’d be hard pushed to come up with a more perfect construction than the Marble Arch. Enjoy beautiful tiled walls and floors dating back to the heyday of pub architecture whilst you explore one of the city’s leading selections of ales, lagers and liquors, and food that goes far beyond regular pub grub. A brewery in the back provides the majority of the pumps on the bar, as well as some of the finer ale establishments in the city. Seating arrangements suit any number in your gang, there's a fine jukebox from which to choose your soundtrack, and the beer garden catches a good deal of the sun when it decides to show up. The floor even slopes a little to help you along to the toilets when nature calls. For the uninitiated it’s a glorious reveal when stepping through the tiny door on Rochdale Road, far enough away from the Northern Quarter to weed out the poseurs, Marble Arch is the epitomy of proper pub. Highly rated by critics and customers alike the mosaic floor and grand design of the building is offset by the to-the-point menu and Marble Brewery’s pump clips that state simply what they are and the ABV. Those from out of town might go straight for a pint of Manchester, but those with more of a sense of adventure may go for a half of Ginger Ale or the award-laden Lagonda IPA. The food is also a point of pride, and for a pub with such a small kitchen it has a lot of big ideas, much like the brewery itself. The

Back in 2013 this was awarded 'Best Independent Retailer' at the Manchester Tourism Awards and, boasting over 30 artists, designers and craft makers under one roof, Manchester Craft & Design Centre is still leading the way for the indies. MCDC lies in the heart of the Northern Quarter, offering an impressive array of quality goods that you won't find on the high street – handmade, bespoke and personal. Jewellery, bags, ceramics and furniture make it the go-to place for gifts with that individual quality, and it's nice to be able to buy something you really love from the actual person who made it. Prices obviously vary but items are often nowhere near as expensive as you might think. Its very own Oak Street Café offers a menu with good stews, salads and cakes, as well as a decent coffee. The building dates back to 1873 when it was a fish market, a beautiful piece of design itself, making it ideal for purpose to this day.

Dishoom offers a taste of the old Irani cafés of Bombay, with a stylised decor to match. The London-based group already has a strong following up north; the launch saw people queuing down the street, and when we visited the crowds still hadn't thinned. Behind the modest frontage it's a multi-sensory hit: thick incense smoke wafts through corridors, ’60s Indian psych tracks drift over the speakers. The huge 150-seater dining room takes over the Grade II-listed Manchester Hall – a former freemasons' lodge – turning it into a dimly-lit treasure chest of marble, leather and dark wood panelling. The one thing that outshines the decor is the food. And what food. Pau bhaji – a popular Indian street food – is comfort food at its best: a gently spiced mix of mashed tomato, beans, potato and veg which was scooped up greedily with hot home-made rolls fried in butter.What's more the company is active in charitable work too, so you can dine knowing that some of your money is going towards causes we should all be behind. Manchester was bound to love this place – spicy, hearty and no-nonsense are some of our favourite things, and Dishoom nails all three.

When you can't get a table somewhere that you've never heard of because the people who've managed to get in keep going back again and again, it's time to up your eating out game.This is what happened when Bundobust arrived in Manchester and it hasn't let up.No wonder. This is the best Indian street food in the city and the menu, combined with some very drinkable craft ales, makes for a very popular whilst having to be in-the-know kind of feel.The menu is entirely vegetarian or vegan and the combo platters are tremendous.

Manchester’s food lovers can relax now that the city can boast of a Michelin star. Even so, many were surprised that it wasn't The French that brought that accolade home.Now in the safe hands of local lad Adam Reid, who won the BBC’s prestigious ‘Great British Menu’ competition with his signature dish, Golden Empire, The French is a must for anyone happy to splash the cash on quality in a luxurious setting.Somewhat incongruously, The French is about seasonal variations on British food, with menus offering you 4, 6 or 9 courses.  The restaurant oozes a sense of destination made more so in light of the massive refurbishment of The Midland itself. A huge, multi-globed chandelier makes every meal bling, as does the price tag. Yet perfectly pitched portion sizes and an expert wine list with choices for both new world and classic palates means you won’t regret going for broke.

Despite its emphasis on the cheap and the cheerful, Sinclair’s is housed in a beautiful Tudor building right in the centre of town, and is home to the biggest beer garden in the city. As soon as the sun appears, that beer garden is rammed due in no small measure to beer that's  almost half the price of that you might find just a few streets away in the Northern Quarter. It’s a Sam Smith’s pub, so while there are no branded drinks behind the bar, their own line of ales, stouts and lagers are all very reasonably priced. Not bad for a pub that's been going since 1720, and we don't mean nearly half past five. It's awash with history having survived World War II and the IRA bombing of 1996 which destroyed many modern buildings surrounding it. It was later moved, brick by brick, 300 metres away to allow for the regeneration of Manchester city centre. The bar itself is somewhat cramped, with several nooks and crannies within which to shelter making it a cosy option on a cold night. As well as cheap drinks, Sinclair’s does some great pub grub. Oysters feature in the glorious carpetbagger steak, and the angels and devils on horseback. The kitchen is undoubtedly under-used, but then there’s nothing Manchester loves quite like a cheap beer in the sun.

Established by some of the team behind the Real Junk Food Project, which uses food that would go to waste, this is the latest project from Manchester super chef Mary- Ellen McTague and baker Sophie Yeoman. The ethical sourcing of the mainly local produce at The Creameries is central to its ethos, with the key elements of bread, cheese, wine and beer serving as the starting point to an exquisite treat for the palette. Throughout the week it's a bakery during the day, selling delicious breads, cakes, breakfasts and lunches. Then it becomes a night-time eatery where intimate dining in a in a relaxed setting – it's not a big space – encourages the sort of evening where you want to sit around with your friends and enjoy something special. And special it is. Without a hint of snobbery, the team really know their stuff and are happy to share that knowledge with you. They can talk you through the chalked-up menu, and can wax on about cheeses and wines until the farmers come home. Their love of the produce is tangible without being overbearing and when the food does arrive, such pride is more than justified. Itís a small menu but so much attention has gone into every item, with flavours like anchovy mayonnaise, roast celeriac focaccia, homemade pickle and chutneys accompanying a range of pies, seafood dishes, soups, meats and cheeses.

Chill Factore is pretty cool. From the motorway, as you see it to the side of the overly decorated cake that is the Trafford Centre, it looks like a giant truck about to offload an enormous mound of something, its tilted angle threatening to induce vertigo just by looking at it.  Inside, ski and snowboard lessons for all ages and abilities are on offer, as are various other snow activities. Adults and children can enjoy the Snow Park which includes the Luge Slip ‘N’ Slide, Downhill Donuts and Sledge ‘O’ Mania and under 4’s can try the Mini Moose’s Arctic Adventure playground. There's also a climbing wall is you need time out of the snow.What's more unexpected then is the wealth of bars, cafes and restaurants and some of the UK’s leading outdoor clothing shops offering big brand names, all along the Alpine Street.

Most of us know what it’s like to be in the doghouse after one too many on a night out. But there’s no shame to be had in going properly large at this new hotel in Manchester. The DogHouse – yep, that’s its actual name – is the latest opening from independent beer makers BrewDog and it’s got all the trappings of a Very Fun Time. Founded in 2007, BrewDog has gone from small local brewery to global brand, and they’ve now started opening craft beer-themed hotels in cities from Edinburgh to Columbus, Ohio. But the new one in Manchester could be their most impressive yet.Best of all, for some reason, the shower in every room comes complete with a craft beer fridge, should you find yourself thirsty as you spruce up. Guests can dine on the rooftop bar, where there’s a taco hut and ten beer taps, or order hot dogs 24 hours a day. On the hotel’s exterior, meanwhile, a living wall of 26,000 plants supports BrewDog’s efforts to become the world’s ‘most sustainable drinks brand’. And if you’re worried those fine craft ales might get you a new beer belly? Worry not, as complimentary gym passes and free bike hire come included in the price. Tempted? Find out more about the hotel here. More cool places to stay: This Italian monastery has been transformed into a super-stylish spa hotel A 1960s UFO house just landed in a country park in the UK Stay in this gorgeous tiny house on a French volcano field for just €1

Tony Wilson, king of the Manc music scene, famously said of his city: ‘This is Manchester – we do things differently here.’ Listen to any of the music his record label, Factory, put out in the later decades of the twentieth century, and you’d struggle to disagree. But while we all got a little bit obsessed with ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ in the first year of uni – and all know the basic outline of the Joy Division story – the evolution of Factory Records itself is told less often. That’s where a new exhibition at Manchester’s excellent Museum of Science and Industry comes in. ‘Use Hearing Protection: The Early Years of Factory Records’ aims to document the imprint’s lesser-known early period from 1978 to 1982 – through artefacts, photographs and interactive exhibits. The Factory team catalogued everything they did, in whatever form, sequentially – which is why the Hacienda club was FAC 51. This exhibition displays rarely seen items one to 50, including early designs by the legendary Peter Saville, along with assorted Joy Division, New Order and Durutti Column paraphernalia. Bring along your own Bluetooth headphones, and you’ll be able to listen iconic tracks from across the label’s back catalogue. And there’ll also be an on-site recreation of The Factory club night at the Russell Club. Sounds like the ideal way to let loose after a year of lockdowns.  ‘Use Hearing Protection: The Early Years of Factory Records’ at the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester. Saturday June 1

Finally, hotels across the UK have flung open their doors to visitors again. And Manchester – home many of the country’s ritziest places to stay – is no exception. Now, in an effort to boost tourism over the coming months, the city has launched a campaign to pump life back into its neglected hotels by offering free nights to visitors.  The ‘Have a Night on Us’ scheme will grant visitors a free third night when they book a two-night stay at 12 of the city’s top hotels. At the more luxurious end, for example, you could try out Kimpton Clocktower and the Lowry Hotel, or if you’d prefer to go cheap, the likes of Holiday Inn and Roomzzz are also getting involved. Because let’s be honest: there’s plenty else to spend your money on in Manchester this summer. Manchester International Festival makes a splashy return in July, and then you’ve also got Sounds of the City, the brand-new RHS Garden Bridgewater, Manchester Jazz Festival, Pride, and the well-received ‘Grayson’s Art Club’ exhibition at Manchester Gallery as well. Several other hotels are planning to join the campaign, and with Manchester’s restaurants, bars and attractions all now gearing up for return to something like normality this summer, there’s no better to time discover this properly marvellous city. Now you’ll have an extra day to take it all in, too. Sound good? You can find out more about the ‘Have a Night on Us’ scheme here. And if you need any more inspiration, here’s our guide to the 20 best hotels in Manchester,

As fantastic as the Manchester Christmas Markets are, it can be a bit tricky to know what to try food and drink wise when they are rammed with shoppers.So the good people at stagandhenmanchester.co.uk have created an infographic which takes you through the available mulled wines, confectionary, meats, European foods and more with photographs and taste descriptions - very handy for any food fanatic or visitors to the city.    See what else you can at Christmas in Manchester with Time Out.    

Hulme’s rich heritage will be in the spotlight with a major film documentary, touring photography exhibition and commemorative poem, as part of a partnership project between placemaking organisation One Manchester and community media company REELmcr. One Manchester has been awarded grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund to work with Hulme residents in a unique project documenting Hulme life throughout the area’s various transformations from slums to the Crescents and beyond. The Hulme `Sweet’ Hulme film documentary will be made with the community and residents of Hulme, past or present, particularly families who moved into the original Hulme houses in the 1970s and 1980s, are being urged to get involved to tell their stories and share old photos of one of Manchester’s most vibrant and socially important areas. The project will provide opportunities to go on heritage visits and walks, train to be part of the documentary film crew, or take part in photography and poetry workshops. Filmmaker Paul Sapin, who has won a string of international awards for his TV work capturing social issues everywhere from Mexico to South Africa, will join the award-winning REELmcr to lead the documentary production. Poetry workshops will be led by popular Manchester wordsmith Tony Walsh, aka Longfella. The launch of Hulme `Sweet’ Hulme will take place at Z-arts on Friday 18 December from 6pm-8pm with speakers and archive footage. Everyone is welcome to attend to learn more about the project and

From the team who brought us 'Polari Mission Live!', artist Jez Dolan with writer Chris Hoyle present a new theatre piece as part of Queer Contact in 2016, loaded with sequins, feathers, lipstick and lights. 'Life’s a Drag' is part of a year-long project exploring the history of Drag in Manchester through performance, exhibition, oral history and getting your drag on, going right back to the infamous Hulme Drag Ball of 1880, right through to the current redefining of drag with the likes of Cha Cha Boudoir.  Drag Ball Hulme circa 1880, taken from the Illustrated Police News, courtesy of Manchester Libraries Information and Archives   But in the run up to the performance, there's an oral history training day for anyone wanting to get involved. Volunteers are needed to collect oral histories which will form part of the project and will involve interviewing drag performers, audiences and fans. Thee interviews will be held permanently at Archives + in Manchester where they will be available for historians.If you're interested in taking part, the training session will last for a day, is free and includes lunch.Find out more on the Life's a Drag website.Life's a Drag oral histories training day, MMU New Business School, Saturday January 9, 9.30amLife's a Drag performance, Contact, Thursday 4 - Saturday 6 FebruarySee 25 photos from Dragchester.

Yao Ming Chien is profoundly deaf and uses British Sign Language (BSL) as his first language. He was born and brought up in Taiwan but left as a young adult as there was little support for deaf people. He first moved to America and then to the UK looking for the support that he needs. Ming is now settled in Manchester. Like many deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people, Ming has found it difficult to find employment, despite having attended many courses and having a range of skills.And one of those skills is tapestry.Working in a small room from his home in Swinton, Ming creates the most extraordinary, intricate, detailed tapestries, some of which take weeks or even months to embroider.     Ming recently attended workshops run by the Manchester based company Result CIC. The aim of the project was to maximise the potential for members of Manchester Deaf Centre’s job club to give them the skills to be successful in looking for work by increasing their self-confidence. During the sessions, Ming identified his love of embroidery and astonished the group by showing some of his creations off.Now he's ready to share his work and his skills.     He's looking to exhibit his amazing artwork and also to share his skills by teaching his techniques to others, or to accept commissions.So, if you've a venue which could show Ming's work, or you are an organisation interested in creating a class where Ming could teach, or if you'd like to commission a tapestry, get in touch by contacting h

A new film has been produced in Manchester which aims to highlight the experience of deaf people in 21st century Britain.'Out of it?' has taken interviews with six deaf people, all carried out at Manchester Deaf Centre, to reveal some shocking stories, ranging from a man who slept though a hotel fire because the staff forgot that they had a deaf couple staying with them, to a woman in labour who was denied an interpreter due to costs as her birth started to become dangerously complicated. She didn't know what was happening.The film's creator, Jane Cordell, became deaf following an illness and is now one of the UK's most influential disabled people, according to the Power 100 list. She says of the film,'We take basic rights in the UK for granted: our safety, health and being able to work and learn. But how would you feel if you faced barriers to these rights? Deaf people often do, but their experience is rarely known. We made this film to present examples of this experience to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It is important to build on this work.'You can follow 'Out of it?' on Facebook.MORE FROM THE BLOG

Manchester City fans are getting ready to pull on their blue Santa suits in aid of charity, for the sixth year running! City in the Community, which aims to help empower lives through football, is encouraging supporters to head to the Etihad campus for its annual Santa Stroll event. The sky blue 5km course kicks-off at 11:30am on Sunday 6 December from City Square. Activity will start from 9:30am, including the Barclays Activity Area with Rodeo Reindeer and Santa’s Grotto, Live music and warm food, as well as Christmas competitions and special guests. All applicants will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win Manchester City hospitality tickets at an upcoming fixture this season. Mike Green, Head of City in the Community, said: 'Santa Stroll is a firm favourite with everyone involved and we are looking forward to welcoming supporters back to the Etihad for the sixth time! City in the Community works to enhance the lives of thousands of people across Greater Manchester and the money raised from Santa Stroll will help to continue this great work. Our course is fully accessible for push chairs, wheelchairs and sleighs, so we are calling on all City fans to get involved to help make a difference in their local area!”'The entry price for Santa Stroll is £25 for a family (two adults and two children), £10 for adults and £5 for children. Admission includes your own sky blue Santa suit, a race number and all young people will be rewarded with a goodie-bag upon crossing the

An award-winning Manchester based company has partnered with George House Trust to offer a new service to HIV positive gay and bisexual men.Result CIC, winners of a major prize at the National Diversity Awards in September this year, are offering life coaching free of charge as part of a scheme called 'Being+'. Unlike counselling or guidance, the purpose of coaching is to get people to arrive at their own decisions, with the coach supporting the development of plans to make the person being coached better able to cope with their future. It can happen face to face, via Skype or on the phone and those taking part will benefit from six to twelve sessions on a one to one basis. And there's no cost.Result CIC will be be focussing on HIV+ men who need support to change their career, get back in to work, become more assertive or who need to set themselves some life goals. One of their directors, Andy Hilton, is also the chair of the National Long Term Survivors Group supporting people who have lived with HIV or AIDS for five years or more.As a community interest company (hence the CIC), Result CIC have worked with a wide range of people and groups including recent immigrants, disabled people, young people facing challenges in their lives and anyone who they describe as 'marginalised' and this collaboration furthers their commitment to 'creating opportunities for people to grow.' One of their directors is Jane Cordell, named as one of the Power 100 most influential disabled people in

The Magic Numbers, who play Gorilla next week, are celebrating ten years since their debut, Mercury Prize nominated album came out. Inadavcne of their gig, and hot on the heels of supporting McAlmont and Butler at The Ritz last month, we asked the band members Romeo, Michele, Angela and Sean to tell us what they like to do when they're in Manchester, and here's their top five.1. Moose This is a tradition in the Numbers camp, it's the perfect hangover cure, we always make sure the van picks us up after breakfast. 2. Fab Café Our friends at FAB look after us really well there, (many an aftershow party), making sure we're well hydrated whilst dancing the night away to Fleetwood Mac. 3. Alchemist This is a recent find for us. Spent most of our day off on our latest tour with McAlmont & Butler here having what felt like all the cocktails on the menu. Mmmmmm.... Whiskey Old Fashions. 4. Beatin Rhythm record shopBought many a soul 45 from this killer vinyl record shop. Always try to visit here before soundcheck 5. Albert HallWe played here with the Super Furry Animals recently and it has now become our favourite venue, stunning view from the stage and beautiful atmosphere. Can't wait to do our own show here when we're back with a new record.Magic Numbers play Gorilla on Wednesday December 9 Tickets are still available.See more gigs coming up in Manchester from Time Out.

Tickets for Adele at Manchester Arena go on sale on Friday 4 December at 9am.The record breaking artist, who has hit the jackpot again with her new album '25', which sold millions of copies upon its release this week, is set to sell out on a tour which takes in Manchester, Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, Birmingham and London.Her single 'Hello' is the only one to sell over a million digital copies in its first week.Tickets range from £35 to £95.Adele performs at Manchester Arena on the 7 and 8 March 2016.See more music and nightlife in Manchester from Time Out.