Stretford town centre light switch on | Saturday 15th November
Get ready, Stretford! This year, we're making history with our very first town centre Christmas Light Switch-On event!
Stretford town centre’s pop-up listening bar Rainy Heart is set to return for a brand new spring season, following the concept's highly successful launch back in January.
The hifi bar is set to open over three weekends throughout April and May, including 18th - 21st April, 2nd - 6th May and 9th - 12th May with a number of events scattered across every weekend.
The first event of the season is a collaboration with Ancoats wine bar and bottle shop, Flawd on Sunday 21st April. Rainy Heart x Flawd will be a day of music from Flawd and Rainy Heart DJs, as well as non-alcoholic beverages curated and served up by Flawd’s sommelier, Meg Saoirse.
Rainy Heart’s new ‘listening time’ concept will also launch for the first time on Sunday 21st April, from 3-5PM. Also taking place on 5th May and 12th May, the events will provide guests with an exclusive opportunity to prioritise the enjoyment and appreciation of high-quality sound. Distractions, such as loud conversations, will be kept to a minimum, allowing full focus to remain solely on the music. The result will be a fully immersive audio experience in an intimate setting with like-minded individuals.
This part of the evening is ticketed and available to purchase via Eventbrite. Tickets cost £5 and include a non-alcoholic drink.
Founded by DJ and NTS Radio host Ruf Dug and pop-up bar specialist Dan Hope, Rainy Heart is an alcohol-free space that aims to create a one-of-a-kind experience for Manchester-based electronic music lovers. All DJ lineups at Rainy Heart are kept under wraps until the day of the event and are never announced. The only way of finding out who’s playing at Rainy Heart before is by showing up or via Rainy Heart’s Instagram page afterwards. DJs of note who have already played at Rainy Heart include Mr Scruff, Bradley Zero, and Rhythm Section.
Flawd has become a popular haunt for city centre dwellers since opening in 2021. Their menu consists of a number of small-scale, European natural wines, a number of UK breweries, and a seasonal menu of small plates.
Rainy Heart is located in the centre of Stretford in Unit 120 on Chester Road, nestled amongst the likes of award winning French bistro, Stretford Canteen and independent bars Longford Tap, HEAD, and Souljuice.
Get ready, Stretford! This year, we're making history with our very first town centre Christmas Light Switch-On event!
Head to the Stretford town centre this half term for a spooktacular scavenger hunt! Seek out the hidden letters around the centre, unscramble the puzzle, and you could WIN a £50 Home Bargains bundle!
Oktoberfest is landing in Stretford town centre from Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th October 2025. Dust off your Lederhosen and get ready for the ultimate weekend of Bavarian celebrations, as Stretford’s new Sir Tony Lloyd public square becomes Oktoberfest - featuring an array of delicious beer, street food, drinks and performances from a Bavarian Oompah Band.