Six of the best things to do this Bank Holiday weekend
| 24th May 2023
VIVA loves a Bank Holiday and who doesn’t? So, if you’re looking for inspo on how to make the most of your extra day here’s our round up of the best things to do in Manchester and beyond over the long weekend.
There’s everything from 70% off Questa Kids to DJ Fat Tony spinning some yarns and tunes and a host of blooming lovely free things courtesy of Manchester Flower Festival.
Enjoy!
DJ Fat Tony faces the music
Join one of fashion’s favourite DJs, Fat Tony and his co-author Michael Hennegan in conversation, as they celebrate the paperback release of’ I Don’t Take Requests’, a harrowing, honest and funny memoir of a life of extremes.
A leading LGBTQ activist, DJ Fat Tony will share an intimate portrayal of his life from addiction, recovery, and starting again. From his childhood spent on a London estate, to hanging out with Leigh Bowery and Andy Warhol, to becoming a DJ to the stars (including Prince and Madonna), attendees can hear it all.
It’s on Friday (May 26) at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square which is hosting the book signing. Tickets cost £10 and include a copy of I Don’t Take Requests, a Q&A panel discussion, as well as a live DJ set. For further information and tickets click here.
Blooming lovely!
The Manchester Flower Festival takes place over this May Bank Holiday weekend (Friday 26th – Monday 29th).
It’s a free festival, organised annually by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, and promises to be a fabulous floral spectacle, featuring a ‘Manchester in Flowers’ trail plus lots of al fresco dining, live music and family entertainment.
Now in its fifth year, the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors, bringing fun, floral frivolity, and lots of Instagrammable moments to the city centre. For full listings information, please visit here
A taste of Oz in Ramsbottom
Enjoy a taste of the Antipodes with an Australian Evening at Colleen’s on Friday 26th May.
And the Ramsbottom restaurant has also launched a new three-course menu for £18, available during weeknights from 5-6.30pm.
Owned by husband-and-wife team Thomas and Ellen Morgan and named after Thomas’ late Grandma, Colleen’s serves up a seasonally changing food and drinks menu, with a focus on quality ingredients and casual dining.
The contemporary British menu celebrates local produce, with meat from Penny’s in Accrington, fish from Bury Market and bread from Zafroz, a micro-bakery in Burnley.
The three-course menu will be available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for the next six weeks and will change on a weekly basis.
The Australian Evening Menu starts at 5pm and is £70 per person, including the drinks listed on the menu.
To find out more, follow Colleen’s on @colleensramsbottom.
Last chance to buy Spring packages at The Midland Hotel
This May and June, visitors to The Midland Hotel, can make the most of The Midland Spring Package, which offers two nights bed & breakfast in a double room with dinner for two at Mount Street, as well as Prosecco and treats in the room.
Manchester’s most iconic hotel, The Midland Hotel has 312 sumptuous bedrooms and a number of award-winning food and drink spaces, including Mount Street Dining Room & Bar, Adam Reid at The French, The Champagne Lounge and The Tea Room. The hotel is also home to Rena Spa, complete with a heated swimming pool, sleep chambers and steam rooms, offering guests the chance to refresh, relax and vitalise during their stay.
The Midland Spring Package is available throughout May and June, at the best available rate when booking and must be booked in May. Visit The Midland Hotel Manchester for further details.
70% off Questa Kids
Questa Kids is running a flash sale just in time for half term. There’s 70% off the educational game aimed at seven to 12 year olds from Friday, May 26th to midnight Sunday May 28th. To find out more visit www.questakids.com.
Float away your troubles
Launched just in time for the long weekend, holiday and leisure park, Tattenhall Marina, has extended its offerings to provide a boat hire service.
If you are looking for a day out with a difference, taking one of Tattenhall’s day boats out for a cruise along the Shropshire Union is the perfect way to enjoy quality time and create memories with family and friends, experiencing the joys of cruising one of England’s finest waterways.
The three boats are custom built for day cruising and are available to book throughout spring and summer. Each boat features a large open air seating area where you can relax and take in the stunning canalside scenery, while a comfy inside seating with large windows and a table, toilet, sink and, gas hob for making a brew, offer shelter and comfort should the weather take a turn. The boats have a maximum capacity of eight people and are pet friendly, so why not share the experience with your four-legged friend?
To get you in the mood, read our VIVA review of our lovely stay at the marina earlier this year.