ONE of our favourite street parties, the King Street Festival. is back this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3) with a host of opportunities to graze and sip while taking in a programme of multifarious activities.
The historic thoroughfare, which is home to over 50 stores, restaurants and hotels including Boodles, DKNY, Belstaff, Virgin Money Lounge, Jigsaw, Kiehls, Cath Kidston, El Gato Negro, Rosso and (stretching it a bit into Booth Street) the King Street Townhouse, will be filled with live music, alfresco dining and pop-up bars.
New events for 2018 are The Conversation Stage featuring Dave Haslam on his days DJing at the Hacienda, alongside history talks and food and drink tastings, and the Manchester Flower Show, a popular and prestigious annual event dating back to the 1950s, which returns following a 15 year hiatus.
The revived floral extravaganza will be given an urban twist to complement its new city centre location. Visitors can expect pocket gardens, green installations and hanging baskets alongside a showcase of cut-flowers and plants.
Inspired by the Manchester Flower Show's ‘Vintage Manchester’ theme, the Festival Bandstand and Bar will be based on a 1950s street party on a Mancunian village green of yesteryear, complete with bunting, grass, park benches, a postbox, Victorian street lights and a bus stop with a real 1950s coach parked up serving as the festival's main bar.
And ahead of the Bee in the City public art trail, which opens in Manchester on July 23, visitors can get up close and personal with one of the huge, bee-shaped sculptures at the Bee in the City Bee Preview on Lower King Street from 10am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The festival’s popular King Street Cocktail Trail is back with a range of summer cocktails created especially for the festival by King Street’s best bars and restaurants and priced at £5 each. Try El Gato Negro’s King Street Cooler, Rosso’s Nectar of Manchester, Grill on the Alley’s June Bug, Grand Pacific’s The Winston Churchill, Albert Square Chophouse’s King Street Courtside, Brown’s Heathcote Mojito or a Vimto Garden from Grafene, where Sipsmith’s Black Cab will also be parking up serving its boutique gins.
Visit the Coach Bar on the King Street Green – the official Festival Bar and a real 1950s coach – which will be serving up beer, wine, prosecco, spirits and snacks on Lower King Street from 11am-8pm daily.
The Temperance Bar by The Temperance Spirit Company on Upper King Street is the Manchester Flower Show bar and ideal for those seeking a non-alcoholic tipple and perfect for designated drivers.
The Rapha Club House (off St Ann's Passage) is a mecca for cycling fans and coffee and cake lovers, will be heading out onto King Street, with food and drink served from its vintage Citroen camionette van.
Alternatively seek out Ice Cream Creations, which will be serving up bespoke ice-cream flavours and designs from the cutest of ice-cream vans.
There’s lot of foodie interest at The Conversation Stage on Lower King Street. On Saturday June 2, 1pm-2pm, there’s an Introduction to English Sparkling Wine withSam’s Chophouse and 4pm-5pmGrafene’s Cocktail Masterclass.
On Sunday, June 3, 12pm-1pm The Whisky Shop are holding a tasting session; 1pm-2pm
there’s a Cocktail Masterclass with Brown's Manchester; 3pm-4pm chef Mary Ellen McTague talks about her career from Heston Blumenthal to her newer projects including The Great British Menu, special MIF dining events, The Real Junk Food Project, Manchester Art Gallery Café and her latest restaurant venture, The Creameries, in Chorlton.
The festival is organised by Manchester Business Improvement District (Manchester BID). Full details of a packed programme that includes ticketed events and shopping offers are here. https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/king-street-festival
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