Manchester is a much-loved UK city for many reasons. From its quirky Northern Quarter to its amazing shopping opportunities, it’s a popular tourist destination as well as a hot spot for students.
But it’s also known for being a place where great music is born and performed! With plenty of music venues, from intimate stages to arena settings, many of us travel to Manchester to see our favourite artists. But what can you do to make sure you have the best time possible?
Organise drinks beforehand
With all the excitement and anticipation, you might want to start the fun early! Consider booking a table for drinks or seeking out a quirky bar near the venue to have a pint or some fancy cocktails. This will set a great atmosphere and get you pumped for your gig!
If you’re pressed for time, search for bars that are just a walk away from your venue. Or, if you want to sample the best of what Manchester’s bar scene has to offer, be sure to check out all the hot spots around the city, especially in the Northern Quarter.
Book a hotel
If you happen to live outside of Manchester, you could make a little city break out of your gig! Concerts and gigs can go on late into the night and can be quite draining, so you won’t want to be travelling there and back in the same day.
If you don’t have any friends who live in the city, you could always book a hotel in advance so that you have a nice warm bed to fall into once you’ve finished dancing the night away. Be sure to look at hotels near your venue or the train station so that travelling doesn’t put a damper on your trip.
To make your trip that bit more special, you could always go on the hunt for one of Manchester’s many fun and unique hotels or an Airbnb in the city centre so that you can enjoy a good night’s sleep and feel refreshed in the morning.
Travel with friends
Let the fun start right from the get-go by travelling with friends! If there is available parking space at the venue or your hotel, you and your friends could hit the road in the car (listening to whomever you’re on your way to see, of course). But if there’s a large group of you, you could always grab some train tickets and make your way to Manchester Piccadilly to reach the centre of the city and explore before your gig.
Book some breakfast
After the gig, when you’re left with your ripped ticket as a souvenir, some band merch and a scratchy throat from singing so loud, you might want to relax a little bit! If you’re staying in Manchester overnight or you only live a stone’s throw away from the venue, you can use the next morning to take to the streets to hunt down a well-deserved breakfast. Whether you get a full English at The Koffee Pot or grab a bottomless brunch from The Pen and Pencil, you can round off your trip in the best way possible – with amazing food.
By planning in advance and adding some extra activities to when visiting Manchester for your gig, you’ll enjoy a fully rounded experience and return with some great memories!
Stewart Thurlow
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