From parties to comedy and free firework fun, we’ve got everyone covered
Not decided how to welcome in 2020? We’ve got 20 ways to do just that...
Get the party started
Pure Garage at Albert Hall (from £28.30) to Love 90s R&B at Manchester Academy (£16.50)...there’s a party for every genre this New Years’ Eve. Me Gusta at Night & Day (from £5) will be serving up a cocktail of afrobeat, Latin, disco, funk and electronica from across the globe while Salt Sweat Sugar at Retro Bar (from £7) will be playing chart-toppers from hip-hop to pop (completely with sugary sustenance to keep that adrenaline pumping til’ countdown and beyond.)
Over at O2 Ritz, it’s all big hair and big tunes as Ultimate Power (£16.50) blasts out the ballads, while Refuge invites you to Come As You Are (from £15) for a night of funk, drag and fabulous vibes. Homoelectric at YES (£21.70) promises to be the North’s leading LGBT party and, for something a little different, Vanitas’ Masquerade Party (from £22.25) will see fire dancers and sax - swap your ticket for a mask on entry.
Like your parties with added philanthropy? Mr Scruff’s Keep it Unreal and So Flute Party at Band on the Wall (£22.50) will be giving 50% of proceeds to local charity Reach Out to the Community. Or want a shindig that saves you money? The Pen & Pencil’s knees-up with DJ Sam Flanagan is completely free of charge.
Raves to rave about
Fir those who like their countdowns full throttle, Gorilla’s Lost in Wonderland (from £16.50) will see over 700 people descend ‘down the rabbit hole’ for a seven-hour Alice in Wonderland-inspired extravaganza - and there’s more fantastical frolics over at Bowlers with ‘the most colourful rave in Europe,’ (from £23.28) complete with magical lanterns and mesmerising visuals.
There’s house and techno til 4am at Hidden’s annual NYE special (from £8.50) while The Hacienda NYE at Viadux (from £22.25) will feature a myriad of DJs who helped shape the legendary club over 15 years. Finally, the Warehouse Project’s NYE finale (from £38.50) promises a lineup of household names including Annie Mac, Groove Armada and Rudimental.
Something different
Not a party animal? Want to celebrate with the family? There are still plenty of ways to welcome in 2020, not least Manchester’s free annual firework spectacular – this year taking place outside Manchester Cathedral. There’ll also be fireworks at Bridgewater Hall’s NYE gala (from £35), along with a rousing concert of uplifting classics from the Manchester Concert Orchestra.
Alternatively, round off 2019 with a good guffaw. Both Frog & Bucket (from £39) and The Comedy Store (from £25, £35 inc after-show party) will be hosting NYE specials, with the Frog even putting on a ‘fake New Year’s Eve’ (30th December, from £20) for those who can’t make the real one.
Finally, if it’s New Year’ dining you’re after, keep an eye out for our special food and drink roundup coming soon…
