The Ultimate Guide to Attending Events at Co-op Live

To make your life easier, we have pulled together the ultimate guide of ‘everything you need to know’ when attending events at Co-op Live. From getting to and from the venue, to where to stay and eat nearby, to what other things you can get stuck into across the city.

Co-op Live: Setting a New Standard for the City’s Entertainment 

Manchester’s newest music venue and the UK’s biggest indoor arena (23.5k Capacity), Co-op Live has finally opened its doors. Going forward it will be one of Manchester’s main music venues, with the likes of Charli XCX playing this Autumn and Billie Eilish playing in 2025!

The Top Afternoon Teas in Greater Manchester

Who can resist a sweet treat? Afternoon tea is a British staple whether you’re celebrating something or simply fancy a bit of indulgence. Whether you’re a jam first or cream first sort of person, there is nothing better than handmade scones, sandwiches, cakes and of course, a good old-fashioned pot of tea. 

There are so many great places to enjoy afternoon tea in Greater Manchester from quirky tea rooms to decadent hotels, that it makes choosing between them incredibly difficult. And so, to help, we’ve rounded up our definitive list of the top afternoon teas in Greater Manchester.

The Best Midweek Deals to Take Advantage of in Manchester

Do you prefer going out midweek? Hate the weekend crowds? Well, look no further because we’ve got you covered. Below we recommend some great midweek spots to try, and they even include discounts.  

1. L Ü C K Y (50% OFF MON-WED 5PM ONWARDS WALK INS ONLY)

Kicking it off is Lucky Ramen and Sushi based over in Ancoats. They have extended their January deal of 50% off ramen and sushi to every week. The offer applies Mon-Wed, with 50% off ramen bowls Mon/Tues and 50% off sushi Weds. Open from 5pm, but note it fills up quickly (as it is only a small venue) so make sure you get down early to avoid disappointment! 

Vintage Shops in Manchester City Centre

If there is one thing us Mancunian’s are mad on – it’s the way we style our selves. Just like the impact of our music, our fashion has also created waves in the fashion world and reflections of the Manchester style influence can be seen nationwide and WORLDwide. Manchester is renowned for it’s vintage clothing style which is funny because we have lots of vintage and retro clothes shops. However, to answer ‘”What came first? The chicken or the egg?,’ I am not sure whether it was the shops that came first or the style – lets just call it a mix of the two.

Anyway, I’ll leave that thought with you as well as this list of all the vintage and retro shops located in Manchester City Centre.

Country walks plus top pubs in Greater Manchester

Manchester’s connectedness to the wider countryside is one of the city’s best assets. Numerous walks with stunning views are reachable by a direct train ride from the city centre; better still, these routes are easily paired with some of the region’s best pubs. Picture this: a morning walking through woodland and perfumed heather before arriving, properly hungry, at a traditional boozer. Open fires in the winter, beer gardens in summer, and an impressive menu year-round – it’s the ideal formula for a restorative weekend, which is why we’ve put together this guide to country walks plus some of Greater Manchester’s top pubs.

Manchester named as one of the best places to visit in 2024 by The New York Times

The US publication’s annual list of where to travel features Manchester as a ‘music-mad city’, selecting it at number 12 in the global destinations it recommends visiting in the year ahead. 

Major musical milestones for the city are cited, including the opening of Co-Op Live, which will be the UK’s biggest music venue when it opens in April with a 23,500-capacity venue, and the Worldwide Music Expo (WOMEX), which will bring over 2,600 music professionals to the city in October. 

The article also mentions the reopening of Band on the Wall, Manchester’s oldest music venue, and New Century, one of the latest new venues to open, as reasons for the city’s inclusion in the prestigious list. 

Best food halls and street food spots in Greater Manchester

Whether you’re searching for new flavours, are an indecisive eater or simply need a place with options to suit everyone’s tastebuds, Manchester’s Street food offering could be the answer. With a mix of cuisines and flavours all under one roof, what could be better? In the last few years, street food halls have become a firm favourite with Manchester’s residents and visitors alike, and it’s a good job we have plenty to choose from. 

With street food vendors ranging from the authentic to the quirky, street food halls offer a place for some of the most exciting up-and-coming chefs to make the food they love at a reasonable price, and we can all benefit. Some of Manchester’s previous street food offerings have now become some of our best-loved restaurants, with food halls giving talented chef’s a much-needed platform to show what they can do. 

The story behind the Manchester bee – and why it’s used everywhere in the city

The bee is the symbol of Manchester and this city of industry is rightly proud of its link with the hard-working insect. In 1842, the early city fathers had to decide on a coat of arms that would tell the world who we were. It was a Victorian branding exercise. They included a globe with seven bees to show how we worked and traded across the seven seas. The Manchester bee was born of industry.

Manchester’s bee is a worker bee, reflecting a city made by the workers; made by the people, not a city that has grown from royal patronage or easy natural resources. Mancunians have worked hard to make this place thrive.

The standard bee on our street furniture has been around since the 1970s but most of our bees are 19^th century creations. Bee-spotting is a good way to spend time in the city. When you’re strolling the streets, look up, look around and you’ll see them everywhere.