Make the most of festival season in Manchester 

Where better to celebrate festival season than a bar owned by the frontman of Manchester’s favourite indie band? From headlining festivals with The Courteeners to reigning over one of the coolest drinking dens in the Northern Quarter, Liam Fray has had a hell of a successful year. Paying homage to a historic market down the road, The Smithfield Social offers everything from sophisticated small plates to a boozy brunch menu. For festival fans, there’s an al fresco terrace and a happy hour that runs from 4pm-7pm – perfect for a pint or two before the main event.

If you’ve missed out on a golden ticket to Worthy Farm this year, fear not – there’s a Glastonbury weekender right on your doorstep. Bringing Somerset to Red Bank on Cheetham Hill, independent food fair GRUB is hosting its very own ‘GRUBstonbury’ which will screen the big event live, supported by an impressive lineup of street food traders, craft breweries and other festival fun. Some of the best local DJs will be on entertainment duty, and there will be a special edition of Disco Bingo, the venue’s crowd-pleasing event. It’s the perfect spot to experience all the best bits of the festival – minus the mud and wellies.

Once upon a time, Jimmy’s was a Northern Quarter institution, hosting some of the best rock bands from its basement music venue. After a devastating eviction, the bar soon found a new home on the corner of Cutting Room Square in Ancoats where it remains the go-to spot for all things rock ‘n’ roll. Set over two floors with an outdoor terrace, Jimmy’s has maintained its dive bar atmosphere with its signature neon signs, black and red decor and playlists of rock and indie classics. While it may no longer be a live music venue, the new food offering more than makes up for it with a dedicated barbecue restaurant upstairs. If that wasn’t enough to get you into the festival spirit, pizza purveyors Corner Slice are currently serving up their cheesy Detroit-style slabs from the open kitchen.

As the crown jewel in Manchester’s cultural scene, HOME has everything you could possibly need to celebrate the festival season. With an independent cinema, theatre, art gallery, bar and restaurant all under one roof, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to food, drink and entertainment. This year, HOME is hosting the First Street Festival, a five-week extravaganza of free activities which includes drag shows, live music, family events, yoga and more. In partnership with four local organisations, the weekends will showcase diverse voices from across the city’s artistic community. After enjoying the outdoor entertainment, relax with a drink and soak up the sunshine from HOME’s secret roof terrace.

Taking over Manchester’s iconic Castlefield Bowl, Sounds of the City is an annual series of outdoor concerts showcasing some of the biggest names in rock and pop. Set in the amphitheatre by the canal, attendees can grab a beer, soak up the festival atmosphere and bask in an evening of unmissable entertainment. For a pre-gig meal, Liverpool Road is mere metres away where you can enjoy an authentic Neapolitan spread at Cibo. Owned by the team behind Italian juggernaut Don Giovanni, this independent eatery offers an indulgent menu of pasta, pizza and even fresh fish – perfect for carb-loading before a night of dancing.

Tucked under the Mancunian Way in the student heartland of Oxford Road, Hatch has a reputation for bringing the festival atmosphere every weekend. Home to over 30 independent traders serving everything from coffee and cocktails to good grub, the outdoor leisure space is the perfect venue to unite with friends and family before a festival. With its huge open-air courtyard and sea of colourful shipping containers, it’s a hub of both creativity and positivity, combining an innovative lineup of street food traders with live entertainment and a guaranteed party atmosphere.