Where to watch the Queen’s funeral in Manchester as Cathedral, cinemas and pubs open doors

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral takes place on Monday (19 September) and the country will be coming together to pay their respects and remember her 70 years on the throne.

The day of the funeral has been declared a bank holiday and businesses have been encouraged to allow employees time off to mark the occasion if they wish to.

Although a lot of places will be shut for the day, there are options for those who would like to mark the occasion with others or at public venues.

Manchester Cathedral & Exchange Square

A requiem mass giving thanks for the life of the Queen will take place at 10.30am on Sunday 18 September, followed by a civic service of Thanksgiving at 2.30pm with the Bishop of Manchester David Walker.

On the day of the funeral on Monday, the Cathedral will show a live stream of the service on big screens.

The funeral will begin at 11am but the Cathedral will be begin streaming coverage from 8am. The Cathedral bells will ring out before and after the service.

Elsewhere, there will be big screens for the public to watch in Cathedral Gardens and Exchange Square.

Tickets are not required for these screenings and people will be able to move in and out freely from 9am.

However, access will be restricted once the sites reach capacity (around 10,000 over the three sites).

People can bring camping chairs and refreshments but no alcohol is allowed and bag searches will take place on entry. Toilets are available in the Arndale Centre plus some portable loos will be installed at Cathedral Gardens.

Coun Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This Monday will be an historic occasion as Queen Elizabeth II is honoured with a state funeral. “We recognise that many people will take comfort in gathering together to share the moment as they pay tribute to the late Queen and reflect on her long and momentous reign. We are pleased to be able to support this communal remembrance through a public screening of the event.”

Cinemas

Most cinemas are closing their doors to the public, but some Vue cinemas have decided to open exclusively to allow people to watch the funeral on the big screen.

At a scheduled five-hours long starting at 10am, it’s certain to be unlike any other cinema trip. Attendees will not be allowed to purchase snacks, but will be given a complimentary bottle of water.

Vue has one franchise in the city centre’s Printworks, one at The Lowry Salford Quays, and others in Altrincham, Bolton and Bury.

However, it seems that all screenings have sold out for the Manchester venues.

Pubs

Some pub chains have also announced that they will be opening to screen the day’s events and provide a place for people to come together.

Stonegate, which owns 70 pubs in Manchester, including The Metropolitan in Didsbury and The Beech Inn in Chorlton, have said their pubs will be open and showing the funeral.

Greene King, which owns 20 pubs in Manchester including the Matchstick Man at Salford Quays and The Trevor Arms in Chorlton, have also said that they will be open.

TV and streaming

You can always watch the event from home.

The funeral service starts at 11 am, but  BBC will be running coverage all day, starting with BBC Breakfast at 6am. It will also be available to stream on iPlayer.

ITV will also be broadcasting uninterrupted funeral coverage all day on its main channel and five digital channels, as well as online on ITV Hub. It has also confirmed that there will be no advertising shown on the day

Sky News will be covering the whole day starting at 5am.

Services lsewhere in Greater Manchester

Ahead of the Queen’s funeral, a number of civic services will be held to honour her service.

Oldham

People across Oldham are invited to a civic commemorative inter-faith church service on Sunday.

The service, to be led by the Revd Canon Jean Hurlston, is open to people of all faiths and begins at Oldham Parish Church at 6pm.

The state funeral takes place on Monday, which has been declared a bank holiday, to enable people to watch and pay their respects.

Residents will still be able to sign books of condolence that day at Oldham Civic Centre and Oldham Parish Church, where people may also lay floral tributes.

For more information on other arrangements for the weekend and Bank Holiday, visit the council’s website at https://www.oldham.gov.uk/queenelizabethii

Rochdale

A civic church service in honour of the Queen is being held on Sunday, at St Chad’s Church in Rochdale.

The Mayor, Councillor Ali Ahmed, and other local dignitaries will attend to pay their respects.

The service will begin at 6.30pm and is open to the public to attend. People should arrive no later than 6.15pm. The service will include the national minute’s silence, which is being observed at 8pm.

Residents are being asked to wear suitable clothing that reflects the mood of the occasion and the national mourning period. The dress code for the service is a dark lounge suit, dress or jacket and trousers.

Commemorative services are also being held on Sunday at the following locations:-

St Luke’s Church, Heywood, starting at 6pm.

Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Littleborough, starting at 6pm.

St Leonard’s Parish Church, Middleton, starting at 6pm.

Further details about can be found on the council website at www.rochdale.gov.uk

Salford

A commemorative church service of memorial and thanksgiving will be held at St Peter’s Parish Church, Swinton, at 7pm on Sunday.

The service will include the National Moment of Reflection which will be marked by a one-minute silence at 8pm to mourn the passing of the Queen and reflect on her life and legacy.

Led by Father Sheehy it will see invited guests and faith leaders from across the city come together to remember the late sovereign.

Members of the public are also invited to the special service at the church on Chorley Road. Parking is available outside Swinton Gateway (payable) or at Salford Civic Centre car park off Partington Lane, Swinton.

Books of condolence will be open up to the funeral. People can also lay flowers on the lawns at Swinton Civic Centre.

Stockport

A civic church service in memory of the Queen will be held at St Mary’s in the Marketplace at 6.30pm on Sunday. All are welcome to attend.

There will also be a National Moment of Reflection at 8pm. Everyone is encouraged to mark this minute however feels right to them, for example by observing a silence, applauding or singing the national anthem.

At the end of the funeral service on Monday there will be a two-minute silence at approximately 11.54am. This will be observed across the UK, and local leaders are encouraging residents to take part.

Further information about the arrangements for Bank Holiday Monday can be found on the council website here.

Tameside

People are invited to join Area Dean, Rev. Daniel Ramble who is leading an Interfaith memorial service at 6pm on Sunday. Rev. Ramble will be joined at St John the Evangelist, in Ashton,  by Tameside Civic Mayor, Coun Mike Glover and other local officials.

Residents are also encouraged to take part in a minute’s silence to mark the National Moment of Reflection to  at 8pm on Sunday. The silence can be marked privately at home, with friends and family, out on doorsteps or the street with neighbours or at community vigils.

A further two-minute National Silence will be observed following the state funeral at approximately 11.54am on Monday. Members of the public are welcome to join Tameside Civic Mayor Coun Mike Glover outside Dukinfield Town Hall for this act of remembrance.

Trafford

There will be special services in churches across Trafford on Sunday evening in honour of the Queen.

The services of commemoration will give thanks for the late monarch’s life and  dedication to her country. There will also be special prayers for the Queen and for King Charles as he begins his reign.

A special Civic Service will also be held at St Paul’s Church, Sale, at 6pm. Trafford Mayor Coun Chris Boyes will be in attendance, along with MPs, councillors, members of the Armed Services, faith leaders, community leaders and Dr Faye Bruce, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

Wigan

Civic commemoration services are taking place across the borough over the upcoming weekend and residents are encouraged to take part in the National Moment of Reflection on Sunday.

This includes a special civic commemoration service marking the death of the Queen that will take place at Wigan Parish Church at 6pm on Sunday.

Books of condolence will remain at Wigan Town Hall and Leigh Town Hall each weekday between 9am and 5pm, moving to Wigan Library and Leigh Library on Saturday between 9am and 2pm.

The National Moment of Reflection will take place at 8pm on Sunday, the night before the state funeral, and be marked by a one-minute silence. A national two-minute silence will also take place on the Monday as part of the funeral proceedings.

Residents are invited to mark the minute’s silence either privately, on their doorsteps or with family, friends, and their local community.

Wigan and Leigh town halls will continue to be lit up through the mourning period.

The Mayor of Wigan Borough, Councillor Marie Morgan, will be attending civic commemoration services in Wigan, Leigh and Manchester.