House Music in Manchester Friday Night

Superb return of Comic Con Manchester on Saturday. Blog post coming. 

Commonwealth Games are in full swing. We get to see parts on Channel 5, and a little more on BBC Alba. England are in 2nd place on the medals table behind Australia. I’m working through this Commonwealth Games Fit project I set for myself. 

Manchester Day Parade took place yesterday, a celebration of the city by a consortium of different local social groups. More on each of these soon. 

Greater Manchester elects a new mayor on Thursday. Looks like I’ll be going for Greens, with Geraldine Goggins on the ballot. I’m disgusted in Labour’s Zionism, their refusal to accept the ICC’s ruling that Israel is conducting a genocide in Gaza, and their apparent lack of understanding of their own rules on Personal Independence Payment. It’s not an out-of-work benefit. Labour seem unaware of this. Greens, on the other hand, want to properly tax the billionaires, fund the NHS and social care system, build more affordable homes, fund proper mental health support, increase the minimum wage, stop the gig economy and stop corporations from dumping literal shit in our rivers, to name a few reforms. So they’ve got my vote. 

Friday night: Manchester club Joshua Brooks welcomes house music producer Miguel Campbell for Full Circle, a night of deep house. His 2011 hit Something Special is still a banger. 

 

 

Manchester Nightlife are headed there. 3 of us have signed up so far. Be 4th! New Batman spinoff Clayface has finally released their trailer. 

 

 

Clayface was partly filmed in Castlefield Manchester, and also Stockport Centre. Look carefully and you’ll notice Stockport Plaza. Back in September last year, the production of the movie used Castlefield Manchester as a filming location. I took a look. 

Sunday night: The Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony takes place, around 6pm (the exact details aren’t readily available). I’m working through this absurd Commonwealth Games Fit project, with an unrealistic goal of losing nearly 13 kilos. I wouldn’t count on it happening at present. 

That’s this week. Quiet week next week.

Commonwealth Games starts Weds

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This touchtyping project comes to a close on Wednesday. Made some progress. 

The 2026 Commonwealth Games starts Wednesday 23rd. I’ve got a fitness project that I’m going to do in conjunction with that. More to come. 

Saturday: Comic Con Manchester returns to Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester for 2 days of stalls, movie stars, photo ops, Q+A panels and cosplay. I’m looking forward to meeting Carrie Henn – Newt off Aliens – and Bill Duke – Mac off Predator and Cook off Commando. This will be my third attempt to meet him – looks like he’s actually turning up this time. It’s gonna be great. There’s a meetup with Manc Mates with a couple of people signed up. Saturday has sold out, though, so they’ve either bought their tickets or they haven’t. 

No plans for the evening.

Workout in the Park?

 

A little different this week – summer weather means it’s worth doing daytime activities rather than 2am bar crawls. I figured, why not something more healthy and outdoor? 

We’ve got a new park in Manchester. We could utilise Mayfield Park for an outdoor workout session, get some vit D and serotonin in while we have the chance, then get soft drinks and a bit of food to replenish. I’ve set up a meetup on Manc Mates, a group I took over a while ago, which I use for non-nightlife related events. It’s quite different to what I’d normally do, so feels like a bit of a risk. Also I’m not a PT. I’m just a guy who works out. Just wondered if people wanted to do that with me. 12pm on Sunday. 

In other news, looks like this 4-month bot surge on the Blogger platform is over. At one point I got nearly 28k views in a single day. More recently I got 700. Still. I hit 2.8 million overall hits recently.

Finders Keepers - Summer Drinks This Saturday

Put your arms all around it

Take it now that you've found it

It don't need to be no deeper

It's finders keepers

-Mabel 

Sister’s wedding this weekend just gone. A magical time in the woodlands of Swillington Leeds. Great fun. I prefer to leave my family out of this blog as much as is possible, but I have mentioned it was going to happen: this Wedding Fit project is done. More on Saturday. 

Passed 2.8 million hits on the blog. Thanks, readers and bots! 

Also on Saturday: an early doors meetup with Manchester Nightlife. Come join me and (at present) 3 others in sunny Ancoats Marina for a few afternoon drinks, starting in the new Finders Keepers bar. I’ve not been yet but Ancoats seems to be the new up and coming area. Let’s find out at 4pm.

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Summer Solstice Morning Rave this Sunday

2 weeks away from my sister’s wedding and the weight is just not coming off, no matter how much bland soup I make and begrudgingly eat. So I’m hammering through this remaining veg, and then fasting. The suit fits me as it is, so that’s a start. If I succeed, it’ll be a bit big. Hugely failing this Wedding Fit challenge. 

Fittingly, the next meetup is in a venue with no alcohol and healthy vegan food. Hinterland bar hosts the Summer Solstice Rave, featuring ‘matcha, coffee and vibes.’ Come join Manchester Nightlife for some daytime partying. The only downside: it starts at 9am on a Sunday. So no Saturday night out. 

 

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Come to the new Katie O'Brien's Saturday

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I booked today off to write up a Comic Con that I actually ended up not going to. The guests were interesting but not really my thing this time. 

But this has meant I can get on with other things. Including this one, I have 3 blog posts to write. Also, expect a recipe review on the blog this Saturday. 

But what’s happening in the city? Saturday night: new bar Katie O’Brien’s has opened and is already hugely popular. Manchester Nightlife are headed there Saturday night, first starting on the corner of Peter St in Dirty Martini. 

New Meetup group Manchester Whisky Tasting Events opens with a tasting event on the 13th. I’m dieting for an upcoming wedding, but I’ll be all over some whisky tasting after that, depending on their events. I’m a big single malt fan. I went to a couple of tastings in Oldham about 15 years ago, then again in ‘12 and ‘23 in Scotland. 

My friend Fay has set up Manchester Woman and Guys Having Fun meetup group (sic). It’s got a bit of everything: coffee meets, fitness, food, drink, movies. Keep an eye on it. 

A heads-up for anyone visiting rooftop bar 20 Stories this summer: there’s a £10 door charge which ‘will apply from Saturday 23rd May until Monday 31st August (Bank Holiday) from 5pm onwards.’ I guess if you were the manager and it’s busy season, you may as well make the money.

Sora Sky Bar Saturday

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More and more sky bars are opening in Manchester, offering cocktails and views of the city. You know me. I love a good cityscape. Come take a look at one of the latest views at Sora Sky Bar, inside the Malmaison, opposite Piccadilly Station. Manchester Nightlife are headed there Saturday. 

A month to my sister’s wedding. Steadily getting fitter.

Discover Hidden Bar Kodo on Saturday

Well. That IDRA meetup didn’t take off, for whatever reason. Too niche, perhaps. Anyway, I ended up staying in last night. Hence, I accidentally woke up at 5am, when I’d like to have been coming home. 

Also, actor William Forsythe liked my Insta comment about another actor Mike Starr.

I’m off work until Friday. I have a ton to do. Saturday night: Join Manchester Nightlife Meetup as we head to hidden bar Kodo Their location requires a bit of legwork to find, but I’ve figured it out. There’s a door. There’s a code to get in. (I’ve found all of this for you.) Think moody red lights, Japanese décor… and that’s all that’s available online. All you have to do is meet me and the group in Roxy Ballroom, Withy Grove, first. 9pm, Saturday. 

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Bank Holiday Incoming

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Stay tuned for a psychology book review on the blog. 

Saturday Afternoon: join Manchester Nightlife in Castlefield for some hopefully outdoor drinks in the sun. Dukes 92 from 3pm. The sun should just about be coming out, as are 6 people at the time of writing. It’s the perfect time of year for that area. 

Sunday Afternoon: Manchester Nightlife are out again, this time to new club venue IDRA on store St. Veteran house music DJ John Digweed, from the Kiss 102 days if you’re in your 40s and 50s, shares the set with headliner Sasha. Second release tickets are £37. They will increase! I haven’t bought yet. At the time of writing I’m still waiting for attendees. 

There isn’t a great deal else happening on Meetup this weekend, particularly not on the bank holiday Sunday. I’ve noticed this a lot on Meetup, that when it comes to those Mondays off, nobody seems to want to do anything on the Sunday night. Either I put something up (I ran a Northern Quarter bar crawl on a bank holiday Sunday a few months ago) or nobody does.

Come get food in Diecast

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It’s bank holiday Monday. I was in bed by 10 last night. What the hell, man. I forgot we all had an extended weekend and hence didn’t put up a meetup. Neither did any organiser of any other group, that I can see. So I stayed in with a plan to read a book, but then fell asleep anyway. 

So much restaurant food this upcoming week. My poor wallet (and waistline). I’m out with work tomorrow. Wednesday night: Journal Club returns to Hinterland for writing exercises, prose, poetry and introspection. Also great vegan food. There’s a Meetup with Manc Mates. 7pm. I have a pharma experiment review to go up Saturday. Weekends after bank holidays tend to be quiet, but… that means shorter queues and waiting times for food, yes?! I was talking to a few Manchester Nightlife group members recently and we’re set on Diecast for next weekend for food, drinks and music. 7pm. Good range of different food, great cocktails, with a live band in one room and a house music DJ in the other. Great stuff in the home of a disused metal factory. 

I’m likely to start a new fitness project soon to counter the endless alcohol from the last month. 

40% off pizza this Wednesday in Diecast / Mousse T DJ Set

What a week in store. Brace yourself.

Wednesdays: food hall Diecast, out near Piccadilly train station, offers a 40% discount on their delectable range of pizzas. I’ve had at least one a few months ago. The Diecast meetup I ran last summer with Manchester Nightlife was probably the most attended meetup I’ve ever organised. I’ve been meaning to run it again. But their midweek deal looks so good that I’m first going to gather a group for food this Wednesday night, if poss. Here’s the meetup for that. 

This ridiculous Excess Month project comes to a close the next day as we tick over into May. Last push now. 

Saturday: I’m going to give someone else’s meetup a shot. Making Friends in Manchester is hosting Drinks and Pizza in Yes bar near Circle Square. I’ve had their pizza. It’s good. 3 of us at the time of writing. 

It’s a Bank Holiday, so the Sunday is open too: Joshua Brooks’ Daytime Disco returns, this time with another headlining DJ. Remember the Horny song from 1999? Of course you do. Producer Mousse T takes over the decks for an afternoon of disco house. Manchester Nightlife will be there. Get involved! Tickets are £14 now but will go up.

Join me to celebrate 2 Million Page Views

Upcoming blog posts: 3 Laws of Power posts, a recipe review, a book review and a pharma experiment writeup. Blog posts on For the Love of Horror. There’ll be a few. Also a piece on a Daytime Disco event. Booked today off just to hammer through it all. 

Still locked out of primary Facebook. Driving me up the wall. 

Recently I passed the 2 million hit mark on this blog, after running it for nearly 18 years. Took me 14 years to get the first million, and a further 4 to get the second. Must be doing something right. Anyway, I figured I’d celebrate. I’ve put up a meetup with Manchester Nightlife to do a few Northern Quarter bars, starting in Pen and Pencil. Come and join me!

It’s For the Love of Horror Week

Manchester’s bi-annual horror convention For the Love of Horror takes over Bowlers Exhibition Centre this weekend for 2 days of horror movie stars, panels, photo ops, stalls and sets. I’ve got a ticket to meet T-Bird himself, The Crow’s David Patrick Kelly. FIRE IT UP! FIRE IT UP! Tickets for each day are still available. I’m there Saturday. There’s a meetup with Manc Mates if you fancy joining us and chatting movies. Look at this for a panel lineup! 

 

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Later that afternoon there’s the Daytime Disco event featuring Michael Gray, of 2004 hit The Weekend. Joshua Brooks always puts on good house music events with some impressive DJs from yesteryear. I’ve just got my ticket. 3 of us so far.

Come to the new Voyeur bar Friday

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Watched the commentary track on the Trainspotting Blu-Ray. Interesting chat from director, producer, screenwriter and cast. Every time I’ve watched this film I’ve picked up on some new detail. Also watched Apocaypse Now Redux, featuring 'Nam, marijuana, acid and a dwindling numer of still-living cast members. 

Made the most of Bank Holiday Sunday last night on a Northern Quarter bar crawl with Manchester Nightlife group (polishing off a sample bottle of Glenfiddich 12-year-old on the way). 15 people were on the list; most of them showed up. Good group of friendly people from all over the world. Everyone gelled. Started in Flok, found Wilson’s Social on the corner of Stevenson’s Square and Oldham St, took them to porn-boudoir funk club Behind Closed Doors – a real eye-opener for most – and ended in Zaytoni takeaway. 

Thursday night: GetSocial Meetup group hold a games night in Point Blank, Deansgate's virtual shooting range. I've been meaning to try it out for years. Tickets are selling fast. 6pm start!

That side of Manchester tends to attract a solid number of attendees on Meetup… So I’m going to Northern Quarter again on Friday. 

New bar Voyeur opened a few months ago, offering what it describes as ‘post-punk provisions.’ Your guess is as good as mine on that, but Manchester Nightlife be in nearby Rewind from 9pm before we try out the new place. 

Saturday night: Tyson Fury fights Arslanbek Makhmudov live on Netflix. I’m staying in. Main fight ring walk is estimated to be 11pm.

Get involved this Easter Weekend - Manchester

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Here it comes. Easter weekend bank holiday. Lots of plans on the horizon. No need to stay in! 

Wednesday night: Journaling club returns to Hinterland for their monthly writing night. 7pm. Free tickets. Free writing, poetry, prompts, a chance to express yourself and a great vegan alcohol-free menu. There’s a meetup with Manc Mates, which I’m hoping will open out Hinterland’s events to a new audience. 

Last week I got food in refurbished Victorian hall Mackie Mayor, now a hipster food court with independent businesses. I’ve ran meetups there before that went down well, so figured it’d be great to bring this back. Manchester Nightlife will be there from 7pm Saturday, meeting in the Stray bar on the corner. Come join! 

Sunday night: last minute decision here, but how about a Stevenson Square bar crawl? Some great quirky bars, all close together, and is a night that has been popular before. Maybe wear a raincoat. Flok from 8. 

Expect a new monthly project soon involving alcohol, meetups, books, blogging and I guess some expenditure.