CANCELLED – King Street Festival
Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
It’s hard to think of a more stylish area of Manchester than the dazzling King Street. And now one of the most anticipated events on the summer calendar, the King Street Festival, returns to celebrate the past, present and future of this iconic thoroughfare.
Taking place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, this annual festival, organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District (Manchester BID), celebrates King Street’s timeless architecture and rich history with a glorious weekend filled with alfresco dining, live music, a pop-up gin bar and cocktail trail, lawn games and family activities, historical tours, VIP shopping experiences and the return of the prestigious Manchester Flower Show.
The details of 2020’s festival are currently under wraps, but you’ll get a good picture of what’s in store by looking a last year’s offerings:
Of course, King Street is home to over 50 stores, restaurants and hotels including Boodles, DKNY, Belstaff, Jigsaw, Kiehls, Cath Kidston, Tast, Rosso, King Street Townhouse and Kuoni, who last year gave away a luxury 5* holiday to Mexico!
Food and drink lovers were able to enjoy alfresco dining at Tast and El Gato Negro, and gin tasting at Sam’s Chop House, while cocktail fans followed the ever-popular King Street Cocktail Trail, which returned with a range of summer cocktails created specially for the festival at Sam’s Chop House, Thomas’ Chop House, Tast, Miller & Carter, Kala and Mash Tun, for a mere £5 each.
2019’s festival also included a special focus on Peterloo, two hundred years on, with historic tours by Jonathan Schofield and talks, poetry and storytelling at the Manchester Histories Festival Soapbox. There was also a festival music stage with artists including Vivienne Lynsey, Yemi Bolatiwa, The Rubber Duck Orchestra, Helena Williams, Fifi La Mer and Harvey Brittain, and Dee Olares.
The Manchester Flower Show also transformed the area into a botanical paradise for the weekend, with balconies, lamp posts, bus stops, shop windows and parking bays blooming with floral installations from the region’s best floristry, produce and gardening talent, alongside a market of gardening products, outdoor accessories and flowers including stalls from Tib Street’s award-winning Flourish and indoor plant specialist Nonsense.
Other activities included free tote bag making with ethical brand Patagonia on Lower King Street, complimentary shoe shining at Loake and plenty of family-friendly activities for kids and big kids alike.
Check back here soon for the latest word on what’s on offer at 2020’s King Street Festival!
