Whether you find a stirring photographic exhibition or a glitter-coated bottomless disco brunch to be the most fitting way of honouring the Queen’s seven decades of service, there is something for everybody across Manchester’s comprehensive Jubilee calendar.
Here are ten royal celebrations not to miss:
Named after Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Manchester’s favourite beer-hall-cum-nightclub is throwing five solid days of predictably hedonistic parties and performances in Elizabeth’s honour. Alongside flamboyant tributes to queens throughout history and a highly modified Sunday Service with the Feel Good Choir, guests can revel in the sort of monarchic mayhem you’d expect from evening events called ‘A ROYAL BABY GRAND SLAM’ and ‘PLEASURE PALACE’.
The Japanese-inspired Northern Quarter restaurant is celebrating the Jubilee with special offers on their high-end food and drink, boozy brunches, a tumbling scroll of a DJ roster and immersive performances across the long weekend.
Taking place over four days, Manchester’s renowned flower festival returns with ten staggering botanical displays across the entire city centre, each uniquely inspired by the Queen’s seven decades of service, the Crown Jewels, her love and horses and more. Beyond the displays – collectively known as the Jubilee Trail – visitors can expect other beautiful installations in some unexpected places, while Exchange Square will become the Manchester Flower Show’s official hub, featuring live music, pop-up food and drink and even a ‘cocktail trail’.
Residents and visitors to the new Salford neighbourhood descend on Lockgate Square for an old-fashioned British street party. Face painting, live music, games, picnic tables and even a dog show feature across three hours in Salford’s biggest bunting-studded carnival.
Under the guise of celebrating one queen, La Discotheque are staging an afternoon of baroque debauchery with their own queens at centre stage. Over two 90-minute sessions of unlimited cocktails and beer, the performers will deliver live cabaret lip-sync covers of iconic disco goddesses, from Diana Ross to Chaka Khan and more.
Hosted by the legendary Miss Ginger Hunter, Deansgate’s new gaming lounge is transformed into a musical bingo hall promising ‘big hair and even bigger prizes’. For just a tenner a ticket with a welcome cocktail on arrival, guests can also indulge in Prosecco Pong, competitive crown-making and a royal quiz, all while testing their pop expertise from the 80s to today.
Kicking off their sprawling Jubilee schedule, Ducie Street Warehouse are opening the show with a night of disco, house, soul and afrobeats courtesy of Manchester’s Reform Radio DJs. Boasting a stellar line-up of local selectors and spinners, the refined-yet-relaxed bar and restaurant promises an array of beats ‘that would even get the royals toe-tapping.’
A street party celebration ‘with a difference’, more of the city’s best DJs turn The Refuge’s al fresco roof terrace into a scene more redolent of urban carnivals on the other side of the world, with frenetic reggae and prowling basslines full of ironic nods to the royal family. Meanwhile, the in-house chefs switch out cucumber sandwiches and cream-drenched strawberries for pork tacos, kimchi sausage rolls and several choices of gin cocktail.
Perfect for history enthusiasts of all ages, the IWM is offering a stunning and unprecedented glimpse into its photography archives with an exhibition exploring the role of the Royal Family in times of conflict, and how the Queen’s public wartime duties have shaped her 70-year reign. The relationship between crown and conflict will be laid bare for the first time through incredible images and human stories.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Sat 28 May 2022
Down at the Kampus neighbourhood, Nell’s Pizza will be stretching their festivities over five days.
Wednesday sees Manc-based DJ collective Me Gusta spinning tunes to live percussion, while Thursday brings Calling All Queens; a drag, karaoke, bingo and quiz extravaganza. The stellar soundtracks continue into Friday, when Meme Gold kicks off Happy Hour from 4pm-8pm, followed by a live set from Superlative and Karis Jade, then Princess Anna spinning from 8.30pm ’till late.
Fat Camp takes to the decks on Saturday, before Fat Britney and DJ Klitbait deliver high camp, high diva and high disco. Finally, on Sunday, the Pop Art Party is on hand for a Queen-themed art lesson, with the welcome addition of 50% off food and drinks.