The 14th edition of the festival is particularly special, as it is dedicated to the esteemed contemporary composer Alexey Shor in celebration of his 55th birthday. The festival will honour his life and legacy, and Shor, a maestro whose works have been performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, including the Wiener Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, and Carnegie Hall, with many internationally acclaimed artists, such as Behzod Abduraimov, Salvatore Accardo and Steven Isserli, having played his music, will also return as the event’s Composer-in-Residence.

A notable performance this year, particularly for Belgium, is its very own virtuoso’s return to the iconic festival. Denis Kozhukhin, a gifted pianist who has established himself as one of the greatest artists of this era, will perform a solo recital for InClassica’s penultimate concert. Titled ‘Denis Kozhukhin – Resplendent Recital’, the grand affair will take place on Sunday, 20th April 2025, showcasing a vibrant programme with a central theme of childhood, featuring Sergei Prokofiev’s Music for Children, Op. 65, Alexey Shor’s Piano Sonata No. 2, Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen, Op. 15 and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Children’s Album, Op. 39.

Ahead of his much-awaited return to InClassica, we spoke to Denis Kozhukhin about his expectations for his solo performance, the significance of a repertoire capturing the naïveté of youth and the impact of resident composer Alexey Shor on contemporary classical music.

Are you looking forward to participating in the InClassica International Music Festival’s 14th annual edition?

I am thrilled to be part of the InClassica Festival again. It is a major musical event that does something very important; it brings classical music to people through fantastic concerts performed by the world’s greatest musicians.

Based on your history with InClassica, what about the festival has drawn you to return to its lineup once more?

The last time I participated, I gave a concert/lecture where some audience members attended a classical music concert for the first time. Afterwards, several people expressed their enthusiasm and willingness to return to a concert hall again. I believe that if even one person feels inspired to return after such an event, it’s worth a lot and holds immense value, which just goes to show that InClassica is a true promoter of the beautiful world of music.

Since it debuted in the UAE in 2021, InClassica has played a crucial role in advancing classical music in Dubai and the wider GCC region. How important do you think this development has been for the realm of classical music?

I will always support InClassica in each and every way that I can as I firmly believe the festival and its organisers are doing something fundamental: uniting people of different cultures, religions and views through music and arts, which is especially important in today’s reality.

Dubai is the perfect host for the festival as it is a city that combines enormous respect for its historical roots with a completely futuristic perception of our civilisation. The Dubai Opera as a backdrop is also ideal as it is an important temple of culture where we have the privilege to share the beauty of music with the world. 

Your eclectic programme features a mix of works by Prokofiev, Shor, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky. What is the significance of this particular combination of composers, and how do you see the thematic connections between these pieces?

As a father, I perceive music for children or related to a child’s life differently than someone without kids. The pieces I play reflect the experiences, goals, and disappointments of a child’s day, or they were specifically composed for children to perform themselves. The eyes of a child see the world in a very pure, unpolluted way, so I think it is not a coincidence that so many great composers like Sergei Prokofiev and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky have explored this theme.

I’m particularly excited to perform Alexey Shor’s works as I’ve known him for several years and had the pleasure of performing his pieces on many occasions in the past. I really admire him and his work as he is an outstanding mathematician who is not only creative in that field but also in the world of music. If you think about it, in the past, there were great composers who had many other interests. Borodin was a chemist, Rimski-Korsakov was a marine, Charles Ives worked in the insurance world, etc. Talent finds many shapes and, in some cases, like Shor’s, simultaneously. His works appeal to musicians and the public as they are highly nostalgic and touching. I am happy and proud Pentatone will soon release his Second Piano Sonata with me at the piano. I wish him many new musical adventures and look forward to playing more of his works. 

What do you hope to convey to audiences through your performance?

Similar to my last performance at InClassica, I plan to speak about and explain the pieces I present. It changes quite a lot when the audience hears the real, authentic voice of the artist describing what he is about to perform, transforming the entire musical experience. It is essential to create connections between the performer and the audience, which is what I always try to achieve in a concert.

For more information about the 2025 InClassica International Music Festival, Composer-in-Residence Alexey Shor and Belgian pianist Denis Kozhukhin’s solo recital, visit the official website at inclassica.com.

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Led by Artistic Director David Abrahamyan and President Konstantin Ishkhanov, ICCF brings together an illustrious lineup of musicians who will mentor young talents through an extensive series of masterclasses in an immersive approach that fosters collaboration across generations. Simultaneously, attendees will also experience these maestros in live performance, with a series of chamber performances highlighting masterpieces from across classical music.  

We sat down with David Abrahamyan, the Artistic Director of ICCF, to discuss his vision of this project, and his goals and ambitions as its launch draws closer. 

• What was the inspiration behind the ICCF, and what is your vision for this event?

There were a lot of inspirations that came from many places. My experience of living in Brussels was certainly one of them, as is the genuine sense of satisfaction and joy that I get from making music of the highest level with good friends, especially when you combine that with the crucial educational factor. However, most importantly, perhaps, was my friendship with Konstantin Ishkhanov, the President of ICCF, because this was the starting point of everything. As soon as this idea came to me, he was the first person who I went to speak to, because I know that we share both a similar passion for classical music, as well as the desire to see things done with excellence and dedication. I’ve long been aware of Konstantin’s many global successes with huge projects like the InClassica International Music Festival, Middle East Classical Music Academy, Accordi Musicali festival and Academy, and so many more, so I knew he would be the right person to help turn such a dream like this into reality, and in fact it proved true!

The vision is always to maintain the highest possible level of artistic excellency in combination with the crucial aspect — certainly for me at least — of educational excellency. My initial dream was to inspire young future players, students, and institutions; to connect the great masters of our time with the stars of the future, and to do all that in wonderful and historical locations like the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. It is a wonderful honour, and to see young players get the opportunity of making music with great maestros like Claudio Bohorquez or Yossif Ivanov is always a very inspiring experience, both for us and for them, and it will definitely help to motivate them to improve and grow as musicians.

• The festival features both masterclasses and chamber concerts. How do you see the interplay between these two elements taking place?
  

Education is the key for everything in life, especially in this day and age, and an extremely important aspect of it is in performance. Ultimately, all of us musicians make the sacrifices and effort that we do in order to perform on stage, to make music and share our love for it with others like us. A chance to see wonderful professional musicians in action in live performances, and even having the opportunity to go on stage with them, as our Academy students shall have, is undoubtedly the best way to learn, grow and become inspired. 

• How does the collaboration with the QEMC contribute to this festival’s uniqueness?

Having such an incredibly wonderful institution like the QEMC, with its rich history in the music world, as a collaborator is a great honour for me, and indeed, for ICCF  itself. This is one of the examples of artistic excellency that we are seeking in our festival, and I am certain that this inimitable setting will both enrich the experience and help to inspire students and professors alike to leave a truly memorable and indelible mark in their musical journey.

• How has the experience of working alongside the organising committee been for you?

It has been truly remarkable! As I mentioned before, my friendship with Konstantin Ishkhanov was what transformed this idea into reality and made this wonderful project possible. His experience and very collaborative support of the team has made this journey into a wonderful trip with a very special destination that we deeply hope shall enrich and inspire our young musicians, as well as all the public who will be enjoying the wonderful performances that will be on offer. It is thanks to people like Konstantin Ishkhaov that such events can happen at all, and I am very grateful that there are people like him in our world of classical music!

• What do you hope the students will take away from working so closely with world-renowned musicians?

Inspiration, even more love and passion for music than I am sure they already possess, and a newfound dedication and willingness to take on the hard work necessary to grow into full musicians! These are all crucial elements which I hope they will be able to take with them, coupled with a realisation of the importance for maintaining artistic excellency in everything you do, and a resilience that will allow them to keep fighting to achieve their dreams and never give up. 

• Looking beyond the span of its duration, do you feel that this festival can have a role to play in fostering a broader appreciation of chamber music among local and international audiences?

Absolutely! This is only the first year, and it has already been a huge success. Before Konstantin and I even launched we already had countless applications for the masterclass sessions coming in through the QEMC, and the response from musicians who wished to perform and form part of this project has genuinely been truly overwhelming. This all points towards the growth of a cultural movement that we are looking to tap into and develop further in coming years. It’s still very early days of course, but among other things we are definitely hoping to be able to accommodate larger lineups, even more eclectic programmes, and a more comprehensive cultural outreach which will see the inclusion of lectures and seminars, colloquiums for students and teachers, as well as increased public involvement by incorporating elements such as public presentations of the programmes ahead of each performance, special concerts that will become social events in of themselves, and, last but not least, concerts aimed at the very young generation with the goal of igniting a newfound love for classical music within them.

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From 14 to 17 November 2019 at various locations in Brussels (ISELP, Cinematek, and Bozar) the Brussels Art Film Festivalit will take place.

The Brussels Art Film Festival (BAFF) explores the best art documentaries from Belgium and the world. For 4 days, the festival will show films and short films on artistic creation: painting, architecture, dance, performance, music and much more.

This year, 13 Belgian films enter the official competition. In addition to this competition, the BAFF offers 10 international documentaries about mythical persons or the work of artists. This edition also includes meetings, a master class and sessions or workshops for a young audience.

Find the program and more information here.

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Alex, who is owner and head chef of Rouge Tomate on Avenue Louise, will be taking part in the festival. He will join others in working away at their stoves in their pop-up kitchens to serve up their signature dishes to the public. Alex’s contemporary restaurant is undoubtedly one of the best high-end eateries in the city.

Since Californian chef Alex took over the kitchen there, Rouge Tomate has started to produce sophisticated contemporary cuisine which is constantly developing. Alex won the Benelux 2015 San Pellegrino Young Chef competition and will join other Brussels’ chefs and artisans showing off their culinary skills.

They will each be serving up a signature dish for visitors which sums up their culinary identity for the exclusive price of just 9 euros.

About 50 Bordeaux winemakers and traders will also be at the festival to showcase a wide array of wines said to embody the « simplicity, diversity, quality and accessibility » of Bordeaux wines. This the eighth eat! BRUSSELS, drink! festival is stepping up in its activities this year and is a good opportunity to discover the stars of Belgium’s gastronomy scene in the green surroundings of Brussels Park. This year, cheese and desert bars will once again add the finishing touches to the festival’s gourmet menu.

Bordeaux wine winemakers and merchants will travel to  Brussels to bring a complete range of Bordeaux wines (reds, whites, rosés and crémants), which are designed to go perfectly with the dishes prepared by the chefs. Other chefs at the festival include Cédric Callenaere, of the famous Aux Armes de Bruxelles near the Grand Place.

It prides itself on its Belgian and international crowd and a kitchen which recognises good flavours. Cédric Callenaere is credited with breathing new life into this culinary institution’s cuisine. Wine pairings, which have been put together for the event, will also be made available for the chefs’ dishes, deserts and cheese platters at the 4 day festival.

In order to enable visitors to get the most out of the festival, eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX has moved over to a cashless payment system. Visitors can get a swipe card at one of the ticket offices, top it up and use it as they see fit throughout the entire event This swipe card contains their credits and/or their wine pass. In order to pay for their food and drinks, visitors must simply use their swipe card at the cashless terminals and the credits or tastings will automatically be deducted.

The formula chosen is simple. One credit is worth 1 euro. The wine is now available by the glass. An eat! dinner pass including food & drink credits and two glasses of wine has been added to the menu. The eat! lunch pass is now also available during the weekend.

The passes are available at a reduced price until 4 September 2019 on

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The eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX festival has brought in the best chefs in the capital to cook up a storm in pop-up kitchens set up in the heart of Brussels Park. Each will prepare their signature dish for visitors. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover the stars of Belgium’s fine-dining scene in the wonderful and friendly setting of Brussels Park.

At this year’s eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX festival, visitors will be able enjoy a hands-on experience. Indeed, they will be able to discover the secrets of mixology, have the opportunity to give their opinion on prawn croquettes in a competition or even become fine-wine connoisseurs by taking part in workshops put on by the Bordeaux Wine School.

Brussels’ second prawn-croquette competition

This year, the competition to find Brussels’ best prawn croquette comes to eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX. The spotlight will be thrown on this classic staple of Belgium’s culinary heritage on Saturday 7 September from 12:00 am as part of a new addition to the festival’s rich programme.

The following establishments will be taking part: Chez Ta Mère, Les Brasseries Georges, Ma Jolie, Aux Armes de Bruxelles, Le Patio, SANZARU, Callens Café, Fernand Obb Delicatessen, Racine Carrée, Les Petits Bouchons, Cospaia, Le Rossini, Lola, Chez François and Chez Léon.

When judging them, the jury made up of food journalists will use a scoring grid in order to establish a ranking order for the dishes which they have tried. Points will be given based on a number of criteria including the crispiness, taste and the quality of the prawns.

The competition will be held in public this year on Saturday 7 September, during the eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX festival. The winner of this year’s competition will be able use the title of “Brussels’ best prawn croquette” for the entire year after the results have been announced.

Mixology

This year, Brussels Cocktail Week* will set up shop at eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX for a preview event on Sunday 8 September. From 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm, visitors will be able to dive into the exciting world of mixology for the first time thanks to workshops put on by Brussels’ premier mixologists.

As part of the programme:

•  The spotlight will be thrown on 5 iconic cocktails. A classic and reworked version of
  each cocktail will be made.
•  There will be a 15-minute cocktail master class, where the barmen will tell you about
  the classics, but will explain their twist and give you the recipe for them!
• A mini shot will be given to you to try during the workshops.
• All of these cocktails will be on sale from 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm, with a different one on
  sale every two hours.

The Mixologists:

• Boupinh Lam, representing the Mizaru Cocktail Bar
• Euthyme Matsos from Chemistry & Botanic’s
• Manuel Fernandez from Green Lab
• Cedric Buscemi from La Pharmacie Anglaise
• Christopher Ducat from The Modern Alchemist
• Pierre Millour from Chez Ta Mère
• Elodie Caron and Jeux d’Hiver
• Marc Mathieux fromThe Black Sheep
• Yen Pham EN PHAM from Yi Chan
• Andrea Petruzzi from Cipiace

The Bordeaux Wine School

The Bordeaux Wine-School Pavilion will put on unmissable events for wine and food lovers, giving you a simple overview in order to stop you confusing your Merlots with your Cabernet Sauvignons, help you match food with wine or even, quite simply, enable you to describe the flavours. These original and fun experiences on offer will take beginners, enthusiasts, amateurs and those interested on an incredible journey of discovery right into the heart of Bordeaux’s vineyards from the very centre of Brussels. Using your WINEPASS, take part in one of the workshops throughout the festival:

Bordeaux Dating – NEW!

This year, the school is really focusing on people attending the festival! Festival-goers, whether as couples, friends or even small groups, will be able to receive valuable tips from instructors from the Bordeaux Wine School, thanks to tailored mini workshops, which are a great place for discussions. Whether it’s blind-tasting, wine scents or something else, you’ll get an unmissable tailored experience! Whether as couples, friends or even small groups, festival-goers will be welcomed by instructors from the Bordeaux Wine School throughout the festival, thanks to mini workshops, which are a great place for discussions and for receiving practical advice.

Happy Birthday! – NEW

Come and celebrate 30 years of the Bordeaux Wine School with delicious desserts prepared by eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX’s pastry chefs, as well as sparkling pairings!

eat! with the eat! BRUSSELS, drink! BORDEAUX! chefs

This food workshop, which showcases the wide range of pairings between the Brussels dishes on offer from our chefs, cheesemongers, pastry chefs and Bordeaux Wines, aims to create delicious flavour combinations and to combine aromas.

Introduction to tasting

A 30-minute overview which enables you to grasp the subtleties of grape varieties and aromas, and eventually choose the right words to describe your impressions.

Wine Scents

This aromatic journey give you an introduction on an important step in tasting. Your senses will be awakened, enabling you to discover the secrets of a wine’s bouquet.

The art of blending

Blending is Bordeaux Wine’s signature. After discovering the typical characteristics of Bordeaux red and white grape varieties, everyone taking part will create their own wine!

Choco’Bordeaux x Laurent Gerbaud – NOT TO BE MISSED!

Wine and chocolate have a great deal in common and every reason to go together! The Bordeaux Wine School has invited Laurent Gerbaud, a master chocolatier from Brussels, to go with you on this delicious and now unmissable journey.

Cheese and “Cheers”!

This workshop will enable you to learn everything about possible pairings between Belgian cheeses and Bordeaux wines, and give you the chance to re-explore your palette. Say “Cheese”!

The workshops are run by Belgian instructors who have been accredited by the Bordeaux Wine School and are given in French, Dutch and/or English. A “Bordeaux Wine workshop” ticket included in the Wine Pass enables you to take part in a workshop. Buy your tickets online and book your workshop in person at the Bordeaux WineSchool Pavilion. Spaces are limited to approximately sixty people per workshop.

Passes are available at reduced prices until 4 September 2019 at the ticket shop

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On Saturday and Sunday, the third edition of BXLBeerFest craft beer festival took place at Tour & Taxis and attracted nearly 7,000 visitors. An increase from the 5,000 people who attended it in 2018.

« We are very pleased with the improvement because, in any case, attendance should not exceed 10,000 visitors, » said Vincent Callut, one of the organizers. « The return of the participating brewers is very positive. »

For this third edition, the organizers invited about sixty breweries, about half of which are located in Belgium. These are generally young breweries, whose production moves away from the beverages offered by the major brewing groups. Beer from foreign breweries, mostly from Europe and from North America, were present.

Among the audience, visitors from all over Europe, Canada, the United States and Asia could be found.

The festival closed at 8:00 pm on Sunday.

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REGGAETON PARTY

For the very first time, Enjoy and its famous Reggaeton Party will open the festival on the main stage with international Dj’s and singers such as DJ Mtg (Brasil) & Dj Khriz (UK) or Ladita. They will also ensure the continuation of the festivities with the Friday official after party at Bazaar Brussels.

RIO SENSATION

This year, the Rio Sensation’s team will be in charge of its own stage with dj’s and animations to make you dance throughout the whole festival ! The crew is also waiting for you on the mainstage on Saturday with an amazing program : the band Jack Majafe and Male Perez, the DJs Mista Key, Samo and Mara, and of course, lots of Capoeira dancers. The whole team will also ensure the next part of the night with the Saturday official after party at Dyoukes.

LUCHA LIBRE

Lucha libre, one of the must-sees on the Festival is back to blow your mind ! Semi-professional and professional wrestlers of the Brussels Young Wrestling Style and masked luchadores will enter the ring to ensure spectacular acrobatic fights and strong sensations. A real exclusivity: Fiesta Latina is the only festival to schedule live sessions and wrestling workshops in Belgium!

ANIMATIONS

To stir up a huge mix of the Belgian-Latin community, aficionados and families, the festival also offers many cultural, entertaining and sports activities for young and old. Classes of salsa, merengue, reggaeton, bachata, samba and zumba; limbo contests; a mechanical bull and traditional activities. Not to mention the Batuqueria parades and their dancers in traditional costumes who will animate the Fiesta.

On top of that, through a multitude of food trucks and typical mercadillos, the Fiesta Latina will treat your taste buds by offering you culinary specialities from all around the world.

BELGIAN EXCLUSIVITY : MORITZ

This year again, Spain will be well represented at Fiesta Latina. Indeed, the festival will exclusively introduce a beer from Barcelona: Moritz!

It is the second consecutive year for Barcelona’s trendiest beer. The public will be able to discover its hispanic character in all the bars present at the event. Spain continues the surprises : the wines Sangre de Toro and Las Mulas will offer a tasting to 6000 festival-goers.

TICKETS & INFOS :

Tickets:
Day Ticket: 8€ (presale) – 12€ (on site)
3 Days Pass: 17€ (presale) – 18€ (on site on Friday) – 15€ (on site on Saturday)

Free access for those under 12
Happy Saturday / Happy Sunday: free access Saturday and Sunday from noon till 1 pm

Horaire:
Friday 5pm-1:30am
Saturday noon-1:30am
Sunday noon-10pm

Website
Facebook Page
Facebook Event

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Every Friday, the 2^nd edition of the “Laeken Fires” by the City of Brussels will offer many activities and entertainment (food trucks, dances, workshops, demonstrations, games, initiations, etc.) from 6 pm. The evening will culminate at 11 pm with a firework display from the foot of Palace 5 of Brussels Expo. The event is completely free of charge.

Each Friday will also have a different theme:

• 26^th of July: Fantasy World
• 2^nd of August: Around the World
• 9^th of August: Greenfeeling
• 16^th of August: Watersplash
• 23^rd of August: Musicals

On this occasion, Mini-Europa will remain open for several nights until midnight (the last entrance is one hour before the closing time), with a festival of lights. This will translate into « a fascinating play of light and shadow that will highlight the details of each model, » says the park. The Atomium will also be accessible in the evening, with the last entrances at 9:30 pm, to pass the time until the fireworks display.

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Staged every two years, the 2019 edition, opened this year by Yoko Ono, is at venues and spaces all over the city and will be the last festival before the opening of the North of England’s flagship new cultural venue, The Factory (due in 2021) which will be managed and programmed by the MIF team. The biennial arts jamboree this year includes work from Yoko Ono, Idris Elba, Philip Glass and more, making it a great time to visit the city with plenty going on and all in a great atmosphere.

The festival runs until 23 July and if you miss it fear not as there’s plenty of other great things taking place in the city, including Manchester Pride on August Bank Holiday (23 – 26 August). The newly renovated Emirates Old Trafford stadium will then play host to the popular Ashes cricket series in September when the fourth test match brings England and Australia head-to-head to see who will take home the coveted urn.

2019 also marks the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre, a major event in Manchester’s history and a defining moment for Britain’s democracy. Manchester Histories, working in partnership with key cultural organisations across the region including the People’s History Museum, is illuminating this story for visitors to explore from a contemporary perspective until August.

The birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester – as is evidenced by a packed programme of events this year – is now one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the UK but one that, thankfully, also retains its own unique character. Set in a region that offers great value for money, Manchester welcomes visitors with its fine traditions of culture, music, sport and top-class events.

Recast for the 21st century as the original “modern city”, Manchester has experienced a contemporary resurgence marked culturally by the acclaimed reopening of the Whitworth art gallery and arts centre HOME; by a property and investment boom that has outstripped the rest of the country; and by major changes to its governance and infrastructure, positioning it the central focus of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ agenda. If any UK city is more than well positioned to repel any fall out from a damaging “no deal” Brexit, that city is Manchester.

While the city racks up accolades as the UK’s most competitive, economically productive, liveable and vibrant city, young people are flocking to Manchester to take advantage of its thriving economy, unrivalled student experience and smart jobs in science and the creative and digital sectors.

Even the city’s go-ahead tourism authority, Marketing Greater Manchester, admits it’s difficult to keep track of bar and restaurant openings and the plethora of new hotels (many enjoying 90 percent occupancy rates) to keep up with increased tourist numbers. By 2025 it’s estimated that tourism alone will be worth some €8bn to the local economy.

Manchester Airport is the UK’s 3rd biggest and its route network is also rapidly growing, connecting Greater Manchester with over 200 global cities, including Brussels.

But this is a city that doesn’t rest on its laurels and, looking to the near future, the RHS has unveiled plans to create a stunning new 63 hectare garden in the heart of the North West – by bringing back to life the lost historic grounds at Worsley New Hall in Salford, Manchester’s next door neighbour.The creation of RHS Garden Bridgewater, the Society’s first new garden in 17 years, will be the largest gardening project in Europe and have a phased opening from spring 2020.

The Factory, meantime, is a world-class centre for arts and culture being developed in the heart of Manchester, which will be the permanent home of the MIF and is expected to attract up to 850,000 visitors a year. This, in fact, is just one of 14 cultural investments in Greater Manchester totalling more than £200m.

An absolutely great base for any visit to the city is the Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites, the first dual-branded ‘double decker’ hotel in the north of England. This 19-storey building just off Manchester’s bustling Oxford Road boasts a 212-room Crowne Plaza and a 116-room Staybridge Suites. Opened last September, Staybridge Suites is located on the upper eight floors of the hotel and offers a warm, social and home-like environment through a mix of studio and one-bedroom suites.

Located next to Alliance Manchester Business School on the Manchester University campus, from the moment you step into their bright and contemporary lobby you feel completely at home. Try to catch a glimpse of the city’s ever-expanding skyline from one of the fully self-contained suites. This is a place where you really can unwind after exploring all the city’s many outstanding attractions which include Manchester Science and Industry Museum. Situated adjacent to the site of the world’s first passenger railway station, this comprehensive museum tells the story of the history, science and industry of Manchester which details how Manchester rose to prominence as the world’s first industrial city.

Another “must-visit” attraction, not least for Belgian soccer nuts, is the National Football Museum, which displays replicas of the Premier League and FA Cup trophies. The museum has guided tours, opens daily and, with the new footy season looming, makes for a nice pre-match appetiser for City or United fans from this side of the channel.

Just out of the city, close to United’s Old Trafford stadium, is a chance to experience something quite different again: indoor skydiving at iFLY, ideal for anyone aged 3-103 and situated in the heart of Trafford City. Here you can soar like a bird in the first 4.3m diameter iFLY wind tunnel to be built in the UK. All first-time flights have two instructors – one to help in the tunnel, the other to control the air speed. Non-participants can watch some awe inspiring flyers taking to the air right in front of you.

After all that foot-slogging – and indoor flying – in and around the city you’ll probably have worked up quite an appetite and an atmospheric spot to sate any hunger is at The Refuge by Volta, particularly great for a Sunday roast (for which it is famous and is infused with Vimto!).

A major success on the city’s food and drink scene, it’s located in an imposing former insurance building and is the brainchild of Justin Crawford and Luke Cowdrey, a couple of local entrepreneurs. The terrific menu is inspired by the two DJ’s global travels so expect to find lots of world cuisine here, from Thai to Moroccan. The idea is to sample their small plates which are similar to tapas but notably bigger and very good value for money.

The restaurant’s airy Winter Gardens is a nice spot for a pre-dinner drink and also to admire the fine décor which includes many original features from what is one of the city’s most historic buildings. Informality is the order of the day here and the service, like the food, is top notch.

Another equally fantastic place to eat is the 300-seat Tattu restaurant, situated in yet another bustling and recently newly developed part of the city centre, which offers a lovely fusion of the best of Asian food. Priding itself on its dim sum, it also recommends sharing small plates in order to get the full experience of its fab food. Recommended starters, or small plates, include seared tuna and sticky beef ribs while popular mains offerings include saffron black cod and caramel soya beef fillet.

Look out for the quite beautiful cherry blossom tree in the centre of this very decorative eatery. Opened in 2015, other branches have since been launched in Leeds and Birmingham with a fourth due in Edinburgh later this year. The business was launched by a couple of Manchester brothers who are big fans of Chinese body art. It has enjoyed marked success but beware if planning to visit on a Saturday night as it has a waiting list of up to two months!

For those travelling by car from Belgium, accessing the North West is best done via the Eurotunnel which whisks you from Calais to Folkestone in just 35 minutes. There are up to 4 shuttles per hour and direct motorway access. The shuttle celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and is reassuring passengers that “whatever form Brexit takes” it’s business as usual.

Some might also like to know of the several Belgian links (apart from Vincent Company at City!) in Manchester including the Bock Cafe, which has the largest selection of Belgian beers in the North of England, alongside foods inspired by the Benelux country.

So, if you’re looking for last-minute ideas for a great summer break (or, in fact, any other time of the year) look no further than this great Northern city which is experiencing a real renaissance, not least thanks to the fine efforts of Marketing Manchester which is putting the home of Liam Gallagher on a national and international stage as a place to visit, invest, meet and study.

Embedded on the tiled wall of the grand old Refuge Assurance Building on the bustling Oxford Road is artwork showcasing the city’s skyline and a huge message that proclaims, “the Glamour of Manchester.”

It is an utterly appropriate symbol of the “new” Manchester and Gateway to the North.

Further info via:

www.ihg.com/staybridge/hotels/gb/en/manchester/manox/hoteldetail

www.refugemcr.co.uk/

http://tattu.co.uk/

www.eurotunnel.com/uk/

www.iflyworld.co.uk/

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For its fourth edition, the Hide & Seek Festival is once again looking for the most unusual and unexpected places in the capital to organize world music concerts.

Featuring 10 different concerts over the course of the festival, Muziekpublique offers new musical experiences in places as crazy as a textile sorting factory, a former libertine club, one of the biggest STIB depots, the summit of the Arcades du Cinquantenaire, the mythical Gaulish royal circle, the circle of crossbowmen and many others… Muziekpublique, world music specialist, sets the bar high and promises as many new places and musicians of great talent as last year!

If you want to buy tickets for the Hide & Seek festival (available from July 8 onwards), please call to make sure that the office is open: 02 / 217.26.00.

Here’s a selection of events drawn from each day of the festival:

Les Taupes qui boivent du lait @ Brass in the tram – 18:30
Hide & Seek Festival 2019
Monday 19 August 2019 – 18h30 MUSEE DU TRAM – Avenue de Tervueren 367, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre

Myrddin & Imre De Cauter (Flamenco) @ Elisabeth Foundation Library
Hide & Seek Festival 2019
Tuesday 20 August 2019 – 20h00 BIBLIOTHEQUE DE LA FONDATION ELISABETH – Avenue J.J. Crocq 3, 1020 Laken

Antsa (Madagascar) @ Marconi Tram Depot (STIB/MIVB)
Hide & Seek Festival 2019
Wednesday 21 August 2019 – 20h00 MARCONI TRAM DEPOT – Chaussée de Ruisbroek 52, 1180 Forest

Rabasa (Cape Verde) @ Textile Recycling Factory Les Petits Riens
Hide & Seek Festival 2019
Thursday 22 August 2019 – 20h00 TEXTILE RECYCLING FACTORY LES PETITS RIENS – 69 Rue du Zuen, 1070 Anderlecht

Gjini Ensemble (Albania) @ CIRCLE OF CROSSBOWMEN
Hide & Seek Festival 2019
Friday 23 August 2019 – 14h00 CIRCLE OF CROSSBOWMEN – Impasse du Borgendael, 7 Place Royale, 1000 Bruxelles

Guitarpa Duo (Venezuela) @ Museum Van Buuren
Hide & Seek Festival 2019
Saturday 24 August 2019 – 11h00 VAN BUUREN MUSEUM – Avenue Léo Errera 41, 1180 Uccle

More information about the festival can be found on the festival’s website or on its Facebook page.

The post Hide & Seek Festival at a former swingers club, one of the biggest STIB depots, the summit of the Arcades du Cinquantenaire, and more appeared first on Brussels Express.