Ten amazing food and drink spots to feed your curiosity in Manchester

Raise a glass to the start of summer at The Manchester Flower Festival with Hendrick’s Gin, who are teaming out with El Gato Negro, Canto and Black Cat Club in the city centre. Offering a bespoke cocktail menu for a limited time throughout the event, it’ll be serving delicious refreshments from the Hendrick’s Gin and Fevertree bar. Make sure to book ahead. 
May 24-27

The folk at Hendrick’s Gin are good friends with the people of the Alchemist. Together they have cooked up an ethereal cocktail, guaranteed to tickle your taste buds and all encapsulated in a bespoke Alchemist vessel. Sound intriguing? Head into the Alchemist and ask for 'The Egg' – you won’t be disappointed. 
May 1

Eat, drink and catch some sun in the park over the course of this two-day foodie festival in Manchester’s majestic Heaton Park, complete with a buzzing vibe, great entertainment and endless food and drink options, whether you’re a pizza connoisseur or a sweet treat addict. You’ll surely leave brimming with new ideas for innovative recipes and unexpected cooking techniques.  
Aug 3-4

GRUB is Manchester's "biggest and friendliest street food venue", and it’s one of the north’s biggest incubators for new street food talent. This year, it’s holding its very own Taco Fest, showcasing the best of Manchester’s carne asada, chicken tinga and more. Throughout the early May Bank Holiday weekend, five of the city’s finest taco slingers will be cooking up delectable bites for everyone to enjoy. 
May 5-6

Experience the best of south Manchester’s heaving street food offering over the course of two vibey days at Wythenshawe Park and Gardens. There’ll be international street food stalls, with cuisines from British to Malaysian represented, plus drinks from up-and-coming indie brands and unique performance art. Weekend tickets start at only £9.95, so if you’re looking for your next food obsession, this is a great, affordable chance to find it. 
May 18-19

For one night only in July, Manchester’s Love Factory once again plays host to The Night Market UK. 90+ traders will converge on the central Manchester venue for an evening of browsing, music (DJs from the Eve’s Drop Collective will be soundtracking proceedings), and most importantly, the city’s best street food. Fun, shopping and deliciousness? Sounds like you might have found your ideal night out. 
Jul 7

The Liquorists run themed cruises around Manchester, leaving from Castlefield Bowl. These are generally centred on food and wine pairings (think cheese or tapas), and they’re tons of fun. On 12th July, they run their Slice of Italy Pizza and Wine cruise, which entitles holders to an afternoon drifting along, while enjoying a pizza each. La dolce vita indeed. 
Jul 12

If you fancy enjoying some great food to the tune of selections by some of the UK’s finest DJs, look no further than Spring/Summer at Freight Island. Here, both local collectives from Manchester and international heavyweights, including Todd Edwards and Optimo (Espacio), will be playing as punters dine alfresco. You just need to grab a complimentary ticket from the website – it couldn’t really be any dreamier. 
April 7-Sept 8

If you’re interested in expanding your interest in food into something a little more practical and hands-on, this three-hour-long workshop in Dunham Massey is the perfect opportunity to widen your knowledge. If you’re after something a little bit different, go along to try out the basics of foraging – including identifying ingredients and picking them safely, in a way that doesn’t harm the environment around them. 
May 24

If you like your food stalls indie and cooler than cool, you’ll probably enjoy the Northern Quarter Makers’ Market. This monthly market showcases local food producers, including bakers, artisan baristas and vegan specialists, all in Manchester's coolest inner-city district. Talk about a brilliantly curious experience. 
Second Sunday of every month

Keen to find more curious goings-on around the UK? Discover the Hendrick's Gin hub here. Or if you are in more of a stay-at-home kind of mood, discover where to buy Hendrick's Gin here.