Stuck for what to do on the long Easter weekend? There’s so much going on in Manchester, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are plenty of sweet treats, spring blossoms, limited edition cocktails, and (if you have enough of those) you might even get a glimpse of the Easter bunny.
From a long weekend of decadent debauchery and eventful Easter programmes, to limited edition cocktail menus, indulgent weekend stays, Easter egg hunts, family fun and even an Easter dog’s dinner - the city has something for everyone this bank holiday. There are even chances for kids and grown ups to win a few special treats.
Here’s a handy round up of things to do in Manchester over the long Spring Bank Holiday weekend...
Five days of glorious bank holiday Easter frolicking at Albert’s Schloss
Your Bank Holiday weekend will be blessed with fine food, sweet indulgence and table-top dancing, as Manchester’s favourite cook haus and bier palace celebrates the long weekend with an exciting programme of events.
Schloss are set to kick-off the Easter Weekender on Thursday with ‘Homegrown’ featuring The Urban Jukebox and DJ sets from Helen K. An especially Good ‘Friday Frolic’ brings showtime performances as Will Mwaniki, Al Turnbull and Albert's Haus Band fronted by Will & Yemi take to the stage. Head down on Saturday and revel in the Albert's Schloss ‘Pleasure Palace’, featuring Ali Fabric Trio and Albert’s Haus Band with Tom & Lisa.
‘Sunday Service Easter style’ means a special Retrospekt Takeover on Sunday 17th April, as they kick-off things off with Manchester legend DJ Paulette, and performances from Will Jaquet, before Retrospekt take over the stage with Big Band performances from 7pm and Testify DJ sets from 8pm. Finally, on Monday it’s time for ‘Back To Mein’, with Rhodri Parry on the decks late into the evening.
Albert’s Schloss, 27 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5QR
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The beauty of Hanami at Cottonopolis
Join Cottonopolis this Easter for a weekend of beautiful blossoms and springtime splendour, as they celebrate the Japanese spring festival of Hanami with a specially curated cocktail menu inspired by the most colourful season of all. Spring cocktails from The House Of Suntory include Cherry Hanami with Toki Whisky, Sour Cherry, Cherry Bitters and Citrus.
Sit amongst the cherry blossoms around the venue and leave a message of gratitude in a Hanami envelope, which can be requested from the bar team. Cottonopolis will pick messages of gratitude each week, and gift cocktails, food, bottles of Suntory spirits and more - including the main prize of a table of 6 with a £500 food and drink tab.
Cottonopolis, Newton Street Manchester, M1 2AE
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Unique, handmade chocolate creations from Dormouse Chocolates
Fancy something sweet, that isn’t shaped like an egg this Easter? New for Easter 2022, award-winning chocolatier, Dormouse Chocolates, has created a temptingly tasty, Bunny Snacks Bar – a cinnamon spiced, dark chocolate swirled bar with carrot flavoured white chocolate and candied pumpkin seeds.
You can also pick up the chocolatier’s unique Eggs on Toast Bar, an award-winning bread and butter milk chocolate topped with a white chocolate fried ‘egg’ – a tasty take on a breakfast classic and the perfect alternative to a traditional Easter egg. Shop the selection here (although you'll have to pick it up in person to get it in time).
Dormouse Chocolates, Unit O, Deansgate Mews, Great Northern Warehouse, Manchester, M3 4EN
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A cracking Easter family day at Hard Rock Cafe
Head down to Hard Rock Cafe Manchester on April 17th where there’ll be Easter treats galore for the kids - and something to keep the grown-ups happy too.
There will be colouring stations, Easter egg treats, face painting (from 2-5pm) and an appearance from the Easter Bunny. Happy hour runs from 4pm-7pm, and there’s some dishes from the new menu to sample, including Cuban Sliders, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Famous Fajitas and Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese.
Hard Rock Café, The Printworks, Manchester, M4 2BS
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An alternative Easter at Hatch
As well as everyone’s favourite food & drink operators (including T’arrichi, Grandad’s Sausages, Fuku and Parmogeddon amongst others) there’s a whole host of the finest tunes courtesy of an array of Manchester’s best DJs. And the Miami Ice team will be showcasing their very own Egg-spresso Martini decorated with mini eggs - the perfect Easter cocktail.
The Kids Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday includes Easter eggs, sweets and chocolates hidden around Hatch and the alternative Big Kids Hunt includes drinks vouchers, bottled beers and easter eggs for visitors to find, with supplies replenished throughout the day.
Hatch, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED
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A limited-edition Easter Egg-splosion from Haute Dolci
Luxury dessert restaurant Haute Dolci in The Trafford Centre has pulled out all the stops for Easter with the ultimate chocolate masterpiece. From Wednesday 13th April you can order fresh from the oven brownies encased in an egg-shaped chocolate dome. Choose from either milk or white molten Belgium chocolate sauce, then douse your dessert to reveal what's inside.
Nizam Mohamed, founder and CEO of Haute Dolci, said: “Our creative team of chocolate experts have really egg-celled this year with this incredible dessert; Willy Wonka himself would be proud of this creation! We look forward to welcoming chocolate lovers young and old this month; the Easter Egg-splosion is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face!”
Haute Dolci The Trafford Centre, The Great Hall, M17 8AA
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Spend Easter in luxury with the family with the Easter Staycation Package priced from £200 –with two interconnecting bedrooms along with an Easter Egg for each child on arrival, a ‘Lowry Bank’ note for each child to spend in the hotel on cookies and mocktails, and all rounded off with an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday.
If it’s a fantastic Easter feast you are after, then choose between the delicious three course Sunday Lunch, with the added option of a fresh Lamb dish. Priced from £29.95 per person, make this Easter Sunday one to remember at the iconic River Restaurant. Or indulge in a perfectly prepared Afternoon Tea, featuring the likes of Lancashire bomb and caramelised onion quiche, British salt beef on a mini slider, freshly baked scones with jam and Cornish clotted cream and chocolate truffle torte, Crème Brulé tart with raspberry mousse and forest fruit Glaze.
There’s also an Easter Afternoon Tea menu for the kiddies, featuring filled sandwiches, homemade candy floss, ice cream sandwiches and warm doughnuts in cinnamon sugar (£13.75 for kids aged 12 and under.)
The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Pl, Chapel Wharf, Salford, Manchester M3 5LH
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Hot Cross Bour-bun Cocktail at Mecanica
Home of nostalgic classic cocktails as well as and curated ‘original’ cocktails, Mecanica provides memorable service from an outstanding team. Inspired by the world’s best hotel bars, settle into luxurious, jewel-toned booths this bank holiday; where velvet, brass and industrial touches combine to create an intimate atmosphere.
Mecanica have concocted a limited edition ‘Hot Cross Bour-Bun’ cocktail, especially for the Easter weekend. Featuring cinnamon butter washed Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez and orange bitters, this is a drink that’s not to be missed.
Mecanica Bar 1-3 Swan Street, Manchester M4 5JJ
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Drink, dine and stay at The Midland this Easter
Relax in The Midland Champagne Lounge over the Easter weekend surrounded by spring flowers from a seasonal floral archway. Indulge in a limited-edition cocktail, with both The Midland Bunny (vodka, kahlua, coffee/chocolate mix and gomme) and Lemoncello Spritz (lemoncello, soda and prosecco) available in addition to the usual bar menu.
Head to modern British dining room Mount Street to enjoy a delicious Easter Sunday roast lamb with all the trimmings (£17) followed by Mount Street bar’s own Easter cocktail, a White Rabbit (disaronno, limoncello, vanilla syrup and cream).
Spend the first bank holiday weekend of the year in style with an overnight stay, complete with a welcoming bottle of prosecco and chocolate surprise. Book to stay in a double room on Friday 15th April and enjoy lunch or dinner at Mount Street, a full buffet breakfast, a bottle of prosecco and chocolates in the room for £259. For stays on Saturday 16th April, the package is £310, and on Sunday 17th and Monday 18th, it’s £215.
The Midland, 16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
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Indulge in a Creme Egg-spresso Martini at Moxy
Work / Play / Stay at the Moxy this Easter weekend, as Manchester’s newest neighbourhood hotel and hangout has created the perfect Easter cocktail. The Creme Egg-Spresso Martini is a rich and decadent affair, featuring Red Leg Spiced Rum, Chocolate Liqueur, White Chocolate, Vanilla Cream and Cookie Dough.
A former hat factory in the heart of Manchester’s Spinningfields district, the Moxy is now a bustling party hotel - and the perfect place to ‘lay your hat’ (or Easter bonnet) after a night out in the city.
Moxy, 8 Atkinson Street, Manchester, M3 3HH
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Get ready for a five day pizza and performance party at Nell’s NY Pizza & Bar, Kampus
On Thursday 14th April it’s Nell’s Karaoke Party hosted by the incomparable Banksie alongside drag-superstar musician Monopoly Phonic who will be taking to the mic for a special performance of her latest single “Yassify”. Then you take to the mic for a special performance of whatever their £5 cocktails tell you is a great idea…Starts at 8pm with free shots for performers in the first hour.
On Good Friday, Lovescene lead singer P-Ro and guitarist Jack Duckham will be spinning all of their favourite tunes and talking about all things music, life and Lovescene. From 7pm until late, £5 margs & daqs all night. On Saturday DJs Rudy Mead (4pm-8pm) and Zeyla (8pm - late) take over the decks with the perfect soundtrack for slices, cocktails, and celebrating the long weekend. £5 margs & daqs all night long, too.
Easter Sunday brings £5 cocktails all day, all night. A hangover haven, end of weekend warm-up or chill down destination. Jazz, amapiano, future beats, soul, R&B and everything in-between. Jenna G kicks off with live acoustic sets from Marco Woolf, before Me Gusta DJ’s Atiké and Obeka take us through to the early evening with B2B beats and percussion. From 7pm until late there’s a special edition Piano In The City takeover - bringing their amapiano dance party vibes to Nell’s.
On Bank Holiday Monday an Art Takeover & Market, featuring Cork & Canvas will guide you step by step to produce your very own corking canvas painting. No experience is required and the drinks flow.2pm - 6pm, tickets for pop up painting available HERE.
Nell’s also have all day happy hour, plus their weekday £7.77 for any 14” pizza lunch deal is available too - no ticket or booking required.
Nell’s NY Pizza & Bar, 20 Minshull St, Kampus M1 3EF
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Peruvian roast with your pooch at Peru Perdu
Head to Peru Perdu this Friday and enjoy 2-4-1 on their delicious frozen pisco sour cocktails - available at the restaurant or at the bar. On Sunday, make your Easter one to remember and bring your dog along to Peru Perdu for a delicious dinner, as when two or more people join the restaurant for a roast, your furry friend will enjoy a mini Easter dinner too.
Crafted with a vibrant Peruvian twist, guests can choose between a Pollo la Brasa Chicken, Picanha Beef or Chimichurri Cauliflower Roast with all the trimmings.
Cocktails to try include a Lavender & Coconut Daiquiri, Kula Negroni, Flamingo of Fantasy, as well as a whole menu of Pervian wines. Finally, Monday sees Peru Perdu serving roast dinners all day - so you can fix that Easter hangover.
Peru Perdu,The Cotton Factory, 74 Princess Street Manchester, M1 6JD
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Free Easter events at Stretford Mall
Activities kick off with The Easter Bunny Trail from 9th - 20th April. To take part, pick up a form as well as Easter treats from The SQ (formerly known as Love Coffee Station) then venture around the Mall to find the Easter bunny stickers (designed by local Victoria Park school children) which have been placed on windows around the Mall. The winner will be drawn from all entries.
Special FREE Spring Workshops will be taking place from Thursday 14th and Friday 15th April from 12pm - 4pm and Saturday 16th April 10.00am-1.00pm at The SQ in the centre of the Mall. The Easter themed Craft sessions include interactive storytime sessions for children of all ages plus all the resources provided to create Easter bunnies, bunny ears, chicks, hanging planters for gardens all from recycled household items.
The Mall’s Easter Party on Monday 18th April 10am-2pm will take over the SQ area for fancy dress and stay and play. Easter themed dressing up is encouraged!
STRETFORD MALL, Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 9BD