Writer, poet and comedian Kate Fox has been in residence at Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, exploring the role of women at a cotton mill both past and present. Join her in a drop-in session where poetry and textiles will be explored in a fun and informal way, with Kate weaving words into on-the-spot poetry. The cost of the workshop is included in the admission price to Quarry Bank; see website for details.
Swerve the queues at Manchester Airport, while enjoying food and drink curated by The French’s Adam Reid.
Manchester’s largest 4-star hotel brings a new standard of accommodation and hospitality to the Manchester Airport complex.
Firin serves up great quality Turkish cuisine at Manchester Airport.
Wythenshawe Forum comprises co-located services and a hub for community and business. The venue has leisure facilities as well as a performance space and complete library services.
Charming independent pizza and cocktail bar in Alderley Edge, that prides itself on only using the freshest ingredients.
High-end Chinese restaurant that combines traditional Cantonese cooking and modern ideas. Based in Alderley Edge.
This is one of our favourite cosy pubs: not far from Manchester, The Church Inn is Grade II-listed and dates back to the 18th-century.
Bhaji Pala is an all-vegan Indian small-plates restaurant at the heart of the booming South Manchester food scene.
Cheshire Art Gallery sells and displays talent from all across the UK, with pioneering and exciting works making this space a must-visit.
Simply Books is an award-winning independent bookshop based in the heart of Bramhall.
Greenhouse Books stocks a range of reading material, both brand-new and secondhand.
Throughout 2025, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is celebrating its tenth anniversary, having first opened to the public a decade ago.
from £0.00
Throughout 2025, the team at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is taking a deep dive into Ruth, one of the famous 19th-century author’s most shocking texts.
from £6.00
Lancaster Literature Festival, or Litfest to its friends, is rolling out its 46th programme, having created a variety of events for its audiences since 1978.
from £3.00
Head to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House this April for some special family craft activities and an Easter Egg Trail.
from £8.50
Launching her shiny new volume of selected poems in Liverpool, where much of it was dreamed up, Eleanor Rees will be reading live and also chatting about the production.
free entry
To celebrate this year’s Record Store Day, ten writers have teamed up with musicians for Sleeve Notes, a unique collaborative performance response creating new writing and music.
from £5.00
For this free afternoon of absurd surreal poetry, we are agog to see Vik Shirley, Stephen Emmerson and Marcus Silcock corralled by Tom Jenks.
free entry
Various independent publishing houses set out their stalls at the Northern Publishers’ Fair at Manchester Central Library.
free entry
Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.
Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.
Make the most of the springtime sun with some of the North's best bars and restaurants.
The outsiders, the oddities and the outrageous – we’re keeping it weird with a hot new batch of underground gigs about to hit Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.
From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.
It's like the Woolies pick'n'mix counter this month in live literature land – so much choice, we're not sure where to start digging in.
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.
Dragon quests, coconut pyramids and topsy-turvy Wonderland adventures... curious?
