Apr
15
10:00 AM10:00
Bookbinding: A handy pocket notebook
We will make a small hardback notebook, suitable for the pocket or handbag.
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Apr
16
5:00 PM17:00
Mysterious Book of The Week - Free drop in
Join us in a relaxed session to explore a selection of mysterious books of the week at the Portico Library. Selected by the library team and volunteers. In the session you will have a chance to explore, hold and experience historic books up close with our team.
Apr
23
6:00 PM18:00
Shakespeare's Twilight: Yoga Flow
Try an experimental yoga flow class that combines readings from Shakespeare with movement to welcome twilight.
Apr
29
6:30 PM18:30
Life Drawing with HappeningInMCR
For our first immersive life modelling session of 2026, HappeningInMCR are pleased to be working with life model Squid.
Apr
30
6:30 PM18:30
The Portico Kitchen Supper Club
Join the Portico Kitchen team for a series of unique dining experiences in one of the city’s most extraordinary settings.
May
9
3:00 PM15:00
Curator's Tour: Everything and Nothing
An exclusive, small group tour of Everything and Nothing exhibition, exploring the story of The Portico Library through objects and stories.
May
9
3:00 PM15:00
Literary Afternoon Tea: A Clockwork Orange
Join the Portico Kitchen team for a unique afternoon tea experience inspired by great works of literature from Manchester & the wider world.
May
14
6:30 PM18:30
Haunted Book Club Live: The Old Nurse's Tale
A Book Club you don’t have to do the reading for. We’ll read it to you… Explore an eerie tale by Manchester's own Elizabeth Gaskell.
May
20
4:00 PM16:00
Slow Reading: Charles Dickens' Pictures from Italy
A bookclub with a difference - a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment, then look at related books in the collection.
May
21
6:00 PM18:00
Behind the Scenes & Highlights of the Collection Tour.
Sneak behind the scenes of the Regency Portico Library and discover some of evocative spaces and things. Dive into a 19thC book or two too.
May
23
3:00 PM15:00
Dining with Jane Austen: Tastes of the Regency
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of her birth, join the Portico Kitchen for an afternoon of thoughtful conversation and delectable bites centred on the work of Jane Austen.
May
27
3:30 PM15:30
Love in May: Yoga Flow
Try an experimental yoga flow class that combines readings from Elizabeth Barrett Browning around love and Spring.
May
27
6:30 PM18:30
Life Drawing with HappeningInMCR
For our second life modelling session of 2026, we are pleased to be working with life model, visual artist and musician, Jasmin Issaka.
May
28
6:00 PM18:00
The Material City: A Collection in Progress
What makes up the city, why do we have it, and how did it get here? These are three questions The Material City Project likes to ask on a daily basis. In Manchester we walk past concrete, tarmac, all types of stone, and so many other materials all the time, but we don’t think about them. This talk is an introduction to the Material City project and will tell you why we should think about these materials and how putting them in jars might help with that.
Jun
3
4:00 PM16:00
Slow Reading: Robert Browning in Italy
A bookclub with a difference - a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment, then look at related books in the collection.
Jun
4
6:00 PM18:00
Another Stranger: Cressida’s Tale
In a world where the lives of strangers and survivors are weighed and traded for political gain, this Cressida is determined to define her own value. With Stephe Harrop.
Jun
8
3:00 PM15:00
Curator's Tour: Everything and Nothing
An exclusive, small group tour of Everything and Nothing exhibition, exploring the story of The Portico Library through objects and stories.
Jun
13
2:30 PM14:30
The Minds Eye in Reading: A World Without Mental Pictures
What is it like when you don't see images in your head when you read, or can't see memories as pictures? Perhaps you already can't?
Jun
17
10:00 AM10:00
Bookbinding: Creating a portfolio for loose A4 sheets
Artists have long used portfolios to hold, protect and transport their work, however they are also useful for everyday filing, safely holding loose sheets in one place. They can be custom-made to any size - ours will be for holding A4 sheets.
Jun
25
6:00 PM18:00
Zuihitsu of Sound - A New Way to Listen
From the silent, snow-clad forests of Finland to the beating heart of Manchester comes the intimate and curious Zuihitsu of Sound - A New Way to Listen. Free your mind as you explore and wonder at the ways fragments of sound and silence can play off one another under the warm acoustics of the Portico Library’s beautiful dome.
Jul
6
3:00 PM15:00
Curator's Tour: Everything and Nothing
An exclusive, small group tour of Everything and Nothing exhibition, exploring the story of The Portico Library through objects and stories.
Jul
8
4:00 PM16:00
Slow Reading: de Stael's Corinne or Italy
A bookclub but with a difference - a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment. Join our love affair with Italy this summer!
Sep
16
10:00 AM10:00
Bookbinding: A multi-section journal / notebook
This attractive A6 notebook/journal features an Italian patterned paper front cover (with a colour co-ordinated book cloth on the rear cover).
Nov
11
10:00 AM10:00
Bookbinding: Paper Magic!
An opportunity to get creative making a variety of ingenious, fun and useful items. A treat for yourself and an opportunity to make some unique Christmas gifts.
Apr
11
3:00 PM15:00
Curator's Tour: Everything and Nothing
An exclusive, small group tour of Everything and Nothing exhibition, exploring the story of The Portico Library through objects and stories.
Apr
2
6:30 PM18:30
Chamber Music at the Portico: The Talland Quartet
Join the Talland Quartet for one of Beethoven's most revered quartets, which inspired T S Eliot to write The Four Quartets, under our dome.
Apr
1
4:00 PM16:00
Slow Reading: Elif Shafak's There are Rivers in the Sky
A bookclub with a difference - a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment, then look at related books in the collection.
Mar
26
6:00 PM18:00
Elizabeth and Ruth: Livi Michael on her new book
Haunting, timely & bold, this new novel on Elizabeth Gaskell explores the limits of compassion & the cost of telling the truth — then & now.
Mar
21
6:00 PM18:00
Cole Stacey at the Portico
Bringing together his years of experience on stage, Cole Stacey’s deeply personal shows are rooted in storytelling - perfect for a library.
Mar
19
6:00 PM18:00
Public Opening - Everything and Nothing Exhibition
‘What makes the Portico Library?
Is it the books? Is it the history? Is it the building?
Is it the people who walked through the doors? the readers? the members? the staff?
Or is it the feeling that you have when you enter the room?
Mar
12
6:00 PM18:00
Behind the Scenes & Women Hidden in Print Tour
Sneak behind the scenes of the Portico Library and discover some of women - well known and not - in print in the collection.
Mar
7
5:00 PM17:00
Charles Dickens and his Manchester Connections
Did you know that Charles Dickens was a regular visitor to Manchester? Or that he visited the Portico in 1844? Join Dickens' expert Lucinda Hawksley to find out more.
Mar
4
4:00 PM16:00
Slow Reading: Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth
A bookclub but with a difference - just a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment over a cuppa.
Feb
26
6:00 PM18:00
Brian Groom on These Isles: The Fascinating Story of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
These Isles: The Fascinating Story of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Bestselling author Brian Groom will discuss the entwined histories of Britain and Ireland’s nations – and the people who have called them home.
Feb
21
4:30 PM16:30
Words Left Behind
Join us on Mother Tongue Day as we reflect on the words that defy translation.
Feb
21
1:00 PM13:00
Food for Thought Conversation Club: 'How Should We Eat?'
Join a group of interested individuals to discuss the world around us over a fresh lunch prepared by the Portico Kitchen.
Feb
19
6:30 PM18:30
Bog Standard: An ancient bog man’s story
Ancient bog man’s story unearths magic, murder and mystery in Wilmslow - find out more in this performance with Rachel Pugh and Lucy Nolan.
Feb
19
2:30 PM14:30
Chinese Lantern Making: Lunar New Year Workshop
Join us for a lantern making workshop with an artist from the Manchester Chinese Centre. Celebrate the Year of the Horse by making your own lantern to take home.
Feb
14
12:30 PM12:30
BSL Tour of How to Read a Book exhibition
A BSL tour of exhibition How to Read a Book led by deaf guide, Jennifer Little.
Feb
11
4:30 PM16:30
Slow Reading: Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things
A bookclub but with a difference - just a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment over a cuppa.
Feb
11
10:00 AM10:00
An Introduction to Bookbinding
For total beginners, and others not too confident.
In this one-day workshop we will create three finished books: all using the simple but versatile pamphlet stitch.
Feb
5
7:00 PM19:00
The Prose of Mycock: Portico Fundraiser - FULLY BOOKED
This new show dives into the recurrence and remarkable flexibility of “the cock” across English literature - from medieval metaphor to modern innuendo.
Jan
29
6:00 PM18:00
Arts & Crafts Cloth Book Covers - BSL Signed
Explore book covers and the arts and crafts movement with bookbinder and arts & craft expert Barry Clark.
Jan
28
3:00 PM15:00
Winter Warming Flows: Poetry & Yoga FULLY BOOKED
Try an experimental yoga flow class that combines poetry with movement to bring light to the dark days.
Jan
22
6:00 PM18:00
Behind the Scenes & Highlights of the Collection Tour. FULLY BOOKED. Wait list available to join.
Sneak behind the scenes of the Regency Portico Library and discover some of evocative spaces and things. Dive into a 19thC book or two too.
Jan
21
2:30 PM14:30
Witching Words Storytelling Workshop - FULLY BOOKED. Wait list available to join.
Join contemporary storyteller Stephe Harrop for a creative writing workshop inspired by traditional tales of witchcraft and enchantment from northern lands.
Jan
16
4:00 PM16:00
Slow Reading: Christina Rossetti's Winter poems FULLY BOOKED
A bookclub but with a difference - just a few passages to read & discuss in a relaxed environment. Perfect for a Friday afternoon. . .
Dec
18
6:00 PM18:00
Mike Harding: Tales from the North
Join us for a special evening with poet Mike Harding as he shares some stories from his latest books - including Specky Four Eyes.
Dec
17
3:00 PM15:00
Winter Warming Flows: Poetry & Yoga
Try an experimental yoga flow class that combines poetry with movement to bring light to the dark days.
Dec
12
6:30 PM18:30
A Gothic Murder Mystery at the Portico Library
The Creative Society Manchester and The Portico Library invite you to step into a world of intrigue, suspense, and mystery. Don't miss this unforgettable Murder Mystery Evening, where you'll have the chance to unravel a centuries-old Victorian enigma.
Dec
11
6:00 PM18:00
Fast History and Open Mic Night
Listen to a series of quickfire talks with specially invited guests from across the history and heritage sector, then take to the stage yourself to share your own historical passions!
Dec
4
6:30 PM18:30
The Portico Christmas Feast
The Portico Christmas Feast returns!
Join us for our ever-popular yearly shindig of fine food, entertainment, and fundraising for the Portico.
Nov
27
6:00 PM18:00
How to read a book - Poetry
Join artist and writer Stephen Emmerson for an evening of curated poetry relating to his exhibition How to read a book.
Nov
25
6:30 PM18:30
Heard Live: Owning It
Step into an unforgettable evening of powerful true storytelling on the theme “Owning It”, where our storytellers take us from the quiet beginnings of self-discovery to celebrating their stories and sharing them on stage.