Yas Queen! Things to eat, drink and do on Jubilee weekend 2022

Liz has been on the throne for 70 years this year, and how else would Manchester celebrate if not with a Bongo’s bingo special, a drag queen pageant and a chicken-themed afternoon tea? We’re sure you’ve all ordered a shed load of bunting and suddenly become best mates with your neighbours to plan the street party of the century, but if you’d rather someone else sort out the organised fun, there's loads going on in the city centre and beyond. 

Nothing says “get day drunk” like a 4 weekend, and there's art exhibitions, menu specials and parades to fill up the time in between all the lavender-infused cocktails and shots of tequila. Just as Queenie intended. 

It’s also worth noting that Mancunian drag artist Cheddar Gorgeous will be leading a procession on horseback at the official coronation pageant in London on Sunday 5, Stockport-based dancers Louise Hand and Lisa Vigour will be dancing in the parade, and a brass band from the Wardle Academy in Rochdale are involved too. Keep an eye for them if you’re brave enough to travel to the capital for the coronation - you go, queens. 

Read on for a round-up of all the events, activities and foodie offerings for the Jubilee bank holiday 2022

Manchester City Council Jubilee Exhibition| Central Library | Sunday 5 May - Thursday 30 June

A collab from Manchester City Council, Archives+ and Manchester Metropolitan Uni, this exhibition at Central Library commemorates Queenie’s 70 years as monarch with special footage and unseen pics. Starting from her birth in 1926, the exhibition follows her reign and key moments in her life from birth to the present day. A special section is also devoted to HRH’s previous visits to Manchester and videos from Man Met’s North West Film Archive show just how much life and Manchester have changed since Liz became top dog. The show is currently open and runs until the end of June in the Archives+ space on the ground floor of the library. 

Jubilee Feasting Menu | Shoryu Ramen | Monday 16 May - Sunday 5 June

The Queen loves ramen, right? Either way, Japanese spot Shoryu Ramen has announced a full Jubilee feasting menu that includes ramen, a side, a dessert and a cocktail for £27. Starters include a BBQ pork bun and a pumpkin croquette bun, mains of course consist of Shoryu's iconic bowls of steaming 12-hour pork broth, and themed cocktail offerings include a lavender gin and tonic or an alcohol-free Seedlip and tonic. A range of different ice creams are available for dessert and the menu runs up until the Sunday of the Jubilee weekend. You can book your royal ramen dinner online now.

The Scandalous Affair| Ducie Street Warehouse | Wednesday 1 June - Sunday 5 June

Making sure you truly make the most of a 4-day bank hol, Ducie Street Warehouse is hosting a free day and night party with disco brunch, live cabaret, drag queens, DJs and a BBQ. On Wednesday there are sets from Reform Radio full of disco, house, soul and afrobeat and Thursday has an all-female lineup with some Queens of the North. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are filled with more DJs, Moët & Chandon, and the usual Sunday roast offerings. A festival-inspired weekend that’s set to take place both indoors and on the warehouse’s south-facing terrace, the tickets are free and the fizz is flowing - let's hope the British bank holiday weather surprises us. 

Jubilee Drag Queen Bingo | Pong & Puck | Thursday 2 June

Sorry Queen, but Miss Ginger Hunter is coming for your crown, in 8-inch heels. Coming to Pong & Puck in Great Northern Warehouse, Drag Queen Bingo is £10 per person and the event includes rounds of musical bingo, crown making competitions, Prosecco pong and a royal quiz. Time to get revising. A welcome cocktail is included on arrival as part of your ticket and Miss Ginger Hunter will make sure all the other queens are coronated with a soundtrack that includes Beyonce, Madonna and Mariah Carey. Drag Queen Bingo runs from 7pm til 10 on Thursday 2 and Pong & Puck cocktails include specials like "Holy Puck" and "WHAM! WHAM!". Thank god for the Friday off.

The Queen's Jubilocks | Deansgate Locks | Thursday 2 June - Sunday 5 June

If the Queen were throwing a party herself, we're hedging our bets that it'd be a four-day bender on Deansgate Locks from 12pm til 4am every day. The five different venues on the Locks are set to open up together for one big party with 7 different DJ's, 6,000 capacity and outdoor seating for 500 party goers. Entry is free every day before 10pm, so down your tea and scones and prep yourself for a royal hangover on Monday morning. 

The Manchester Flower Show| Manchester City Centre | Thursday 2 June - Sunday 5 June

Bringing blooms back to the city centre, The Manchester Flower Show is celebrating Queenie with shop windows, squares, streets and statues filled with red, white and blue arrangements. There are loads of alfresco food and drink options as part of the show and the whole thing is free. There will also be a Queen’s Jubilee Trail that allows you to wind around the city streets to spot displays like the Queen Bee and the Queen of Pop archway display. 

The Queens’ Commonwealth Selection Menu | Hyatt Manchester | Thursday 2 June - Thursday 30 June 

It’d be rude to have a coronation without a cocktail or two, and Hyatt has got a whole commonwealth-themed menu running throughout June. With a number of different dishes from around the world including a classic Canadian poutine and a traditional Australian meat pie, the accompanying drinks travel through the ages and start at £10 per person. Starting in the 1950s with a Margarita, heading into the 1960s with an Old Fashioned, the 70s with a Pina Colada, 80s with an espresso martini and a classic Carrie Bradshaw cosmo for the 90s, it’s a reign that the Queen should be pretty chuffed with. Booking isn’t necessary but you can reserve a full banquet by emailing MANRM-Events@hyatt.com 

God Save the Queens Afternoon Tea| Yard & Coop | Friday 3 June

Three layers of dirty fried chicken, a cocktail, and a special Royal Variety performance, all in Liz’s honour. From 12pm ’til 2pm on Friday 3 June, Yard & Coop are hosting an afternoon tea with some added chicken grease and, you guessed it, a line-up of local drag queens. Tickets are £25 each for the 2-hour event and reservations can be made online. There’s only one sitting too so save your spot fast.

A Royal Jubilee Celebration | Circle Square, Oxford Road | Friday 3 June

Running all day from 11am - 6pm, Circle Square is celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with a free party in Symphony Park. As part of the Manchester Flower Show, The Blossoming Big Red Bus will be parked up at the site and a whole host of pop-up food and drink vendors will get your energy up for lawn games and social media competitions. Food offerings include Tahi's freshly baked goods and Hello Oriental's "queen" bear ice cream cones. 

Jubilee Street Party | The Refuge Terrace | Friday 3 June

Sure a local street party with your friends and fam is fun, but one on the terrace of The Refuge is pretty special too. Showcasing a range of up-and-coming talent from in and around Manchester, the party runs from 2pm - 10pm and there’s not a fold-up camping chair in sight. Partygoers can enjoy a special Crown Jewel cocktail on arrival made with earl grey tea, lavender and gin. Party nibbles include coronation chicken tacos, pork and kimchi sausage rolls and The Refuge’s take on classic British cakes. Fingers crossed for a Victoria sponge. 

The entertainment for the evening includes vocalist Yemi Bolatiwa & The Soul Carousel, DJ collective Lovescene and 2 Left Feet and hip hop pioneer Mikey D.O.N. From 1pm - 5pm the event is reserved for ticket holders only and tickets are £25 each. If you just feel like popping in for a dance and a vol-au-vent though, walk-ins are welcome free of charge from 5pm onwards.

Stockport’s Secret Street Party| Stockport Underbanks | Saturday 4 June

The Underbanks is hardly a secret anymore, it’s all going on down there. Showcasing what Stockport’s got to offer and then some, this “secret” party features live music from The Tall Faces Band, Clint Boon and SK1 Records, jewellery making workshops to celebrate the history of Winters Jewellers, and an opportunity to paint your own family portrait. Guests can buy takeaway food and drink from their favourite local biz (we recommend some of these) and there will be more family-friendly entertainment in Stockport Market. As Head of Culture and Leisure at Stockport Council said: “We are excited to celebrate our history and future with a party in the centre of our fantastic town.” There’s loads of free parking around the area too if you live just outside of Stocky-P.

Bongo’s Bingo | The Albert Hall | Sunday 5 June

You all know the drill with Bongo’s Bingo by now, it’s all booze, prizes and attempting to play bingo with a pint full of Rice Krispies. If you fancy cramming an evening at The Albert Hall into your Jubilee weekend alongside some ramen specials and Queen-themed neon signs, there’s an event on the Sunday with all the usual shenanigans and perhaps a special guest visit from Her Royal Highness. Bongo’s Bingo has released all the dates for the summer calendar now too, and tickets are available online for future dates too. 

70 The Exhibition | ABC Buildings in Enterprise City | Friday 17 June - Thursday 28 July

Curated by Monica Colussi, 70 The Exhibition is set to launch alongside a weekend of activities and events all in the name of Her Majesty. The exhibition itself features a range of photography, embroidery, neon art, sculpture etc, and doubling up as a launch party for the ABC buildings themselves, the opening weekend has live music, food trucks on the roof deck and a Northern Soul takeover in Side Street Studio. Works in the collection come courtesy of artists like Alison Jackson, Greg Brennan and Lauren Baker, and the whole thing aims to “offer an intimate portrayal of 70 years of history. Positioning the Queen as both subject and spectator”. 

Header image: 70 Years The Exhibition, ABC Building

Read next: Top things to do in and around Manchester: May 2022

Read again: A modest show - food and art festival comes to Manchester

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