Top Rated Concerts and Shows in Bridgewater Canal

"Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 7DH - Visit now. This former trading hall underwent a £32m redevelopment after being severely damaged by the 1996 IRA bomb in Manchester’s city centre – and has been delivering stellar productions from its unusual seven-sided glass and steel theatre-in-the-round (the biggest in the UK), and smaller (but still excellent) studio, ever since. Productions here are renowned – both Vanessa Redgrave and Helen Mirren have graced the Royal Exchange’s stage."

"Frank Matcham, the UK’s foremost theatre architect at the turn of the 20th century, designed Buxton’s 902-seat Opera House, which opened at Pavilion Gardens in 1903. After 25 years hosting touring opera and theatre companies, the Opera House functioned as a cinema before being restored and reopened as a live performance venue in the 1970s. It’s a marvellous building, both inside and out , with a pair of Neo-Baroque domes on the facade, and cherubim, gold leaf, exuberant plasterwork and frescoes adorning the auditorium."

"Opening times: The main box office is open 10:00 – 18:00 from Monday to Saturday (20:00 if there is a performance) and 16:00 – 20:00 on Sundays when there is a performance. Designed by the talented Frank Matcham, Buxton Opera House first opened its doors in 1903 and has been delighting theatre-goers ever since. One of the UK’s leading provincial theatres, the programme here is jam-packed with 450 performances a year."

"Manchester Opera House is the Palace Theatre’s little sister. It’s located on Quay Street, near Spinningfields. It is smaller than the Palace theatre however, there are still some amazing productions to see here."

"Contact Theatre will be heading out across Manchester this summer for a series of outdoor performances. Contact is an Oxford Road theatre and performing arts venue creating and producing its own shows, as well as hosting tours from the world’s best theatre companies. Contact will be heading out across the city this summer, delivering a series of outdoor performances before its building reopens to the public in September 2021."

"Since opening their doors in November 2015, Hope Mill Theatre has become one of the most successful independent venues in England. Located in Ancoats, they produce full scale musicals from their Grade II listed former mill. The theatre will be reopening this summer, as well as hosting Hope Fest, an outdoor arts and culture festival."

"This wonderful independent venue, located out in New Islington, was one of the few theatres that managed to reopen last year after lockdown. It'll be back again with a reduced capacity and socially distanced seating for a Meet Me At Dawn, from HER Productions. You can get tickets at hopemilltheatre.co.uk."

"The building of the Dancehouse Theatre has had a fascinating history full of transformation, morphing from meeting halls to a multi-screen cinema complex. In the 1990s it was restored to its former Art Deco splendour and was reopened as The Dancehouse Theatre, home to the Northern Ballet School. While the venue presents a broad range of performances including comedy, music and drama, dance lies at the heart of this North West icon."

"63 Degrees is a small, family run restaurant, bringing a little taste of Paris to the Northern Quarter. This is proper, grown-up dining - with tablecloths (remember them?) - but without the stuffiness of a restaurant that takes itself too seriously. Perched in one of the trendiest districts of Manchester, the food staunchly opposes the hipster fad-fest that surrounds it."

"Located in the Northern Quarter, French restaurant 63 Degrees offers diners a taste of Paris with its name inspired by the cooking technique. With food cooked long and low at 63 degrees, it promises poultry like you’ve never tasted it before. Want to put that theory to the test?"

"23/05/2021: A very warm welcome at La Boheme at lunchtime today. The staff were very warm and courteous and the food divine as always. I can not speak highly enough of this lovely French restaurant."

"Family run independent French restaurant & bar | Coffee and cake served all day | Free Wi-Fi | Children welcome"

"While idling in the Pavilion Gardens you could call in at this gallery in the main building next to the tourist information desk. The Gallery in the Gardens is a platform for painting and arts and crafts by more than 40 local artists and craftspeople. Their works are for sale and include textiles, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, embroidery, glass, linocuts, etchings, woodcarvings and prints."

"Since you’ll find yourself within The Pavilion Gardens, you might want to pay The Gallery in the Gardens a visit. It’s an art gallery featuring paintings, ceramics, and other crafts by local artists. Support the local artists’ high-quality masterpieces by making a purchase or two if you can."

"Travel back in time to the industrial revolution at the Quarry Bank Mill. Oozing with heritage, you can experience the ‘sounds and smells’ of steam and water-powered engines, explore the cotton mill to learn about spinning, weaving, the production of material, and the history of the textile industry, tour the Apprentice House for a glimpse into the lives of pauper children, stroll the beautiful gardens, or walk the Styal Estate, filled with woodlands and streams. Interactive, engaging, and educational, the museum exhibits and friendly and knowledgeable staff make Quarry Bank Mill a great day out for all ages."

"Another hit when we were able to do restaurant reviews, Ruyi has everything you’d expect from a Chinese restaurant but reincarnated in vegetarian or vegan form. Yes, that includes ribs, wings, prawn crackers, crispy beef, and crispy duck. The menu is overwhelmingly vast with a dim sum selection that could be taken as a challenge."