QR codes for Manchester businesses and events

Manchester's rhythm and why the link must change

Manchester's calendar has a few strong beats: home games at Old Trafford and the Etihad, the start of the university year each September, and gig nights across the city center. A business that serves those crowds changes offers, hours and menus often, so a code that can be repointed is worth more than one that can't.

Each linqr code carries a short link (onsonara.com/q/…). Where it goes is set in My codes and can be changed any number of times, on Free as well as Pro. linqr is a web tool with no Manchester office, and plans are billed in US dollars; the ideas below are what makes this page local.

Football matchdays

On a matchday, the best use of a QR code is to answer the questions fans ask before kick-off: are you open, is there food, can I book a table to watch the away game? Pubs, cafés and takeaways on the routes to the grounds can set the answer the night before.

• Matchday menu. A code on the window opens a short menu for the pre-match rush. Switch it back to the regular menu on Monday. The menu QR code guide has layout and size tips.
• Screening schedule. Link to the fixtures you're showing and whether you take bookings.
• Opening hours. Kick-off times move with TV schedules. Keep one page with this weekend's hours and point the code at it.
• Supporters' clubs and fan groups. A code on a banner or flyer can open the travel sign-up for the next away trip, then the one after that.

Clubs and stadium operators have strict rules about branding, signage and anything near their grounds. Use your own premises, avoid club crests you don't have rights to, and check with the venue or council before placing anything on public land.

Universities and student life

With the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and other institutions close together, the student year is a big part of local trade. Codes work well here because students scan by habit and the offers change every term.

• Freshers' fair stalls. Clubs and societies can print one banner and point the code to the sign-up form, then to the first social, then to the term's calendar.
• Student discounts. A café near Oxford Road can put a code on the counter that opens the current deal. Change it when the promotion ends.
• Letting agents and student housing. Point codes on window cards to next year's rooms. The same card works again the following spring.
• Open days and lectures. Staff can link a slide or poster to the reading list or a feedback form.

Campus notice boards and halls have their own posting rules, so ask the university or building manager before putting anything up.

Gigs, venues and the Northern Quarter

Manchester's music history is part of its identity, and small venues, record shops and bars still keep the scene busy. For a venue or promoter, a code on a poster should open the ticket page first and a setlist or recording once the show is over.

• Gig posters. Print a run of posters with one code, point it to tickets, and redirect to the next gig when this one sells out.
• Record shops. A code by the new releases rack can open a playlist of what's in stock this week.
• Independent shops and bars in the Northern Quarter. Link to your events page, your shop, or a map of your second site.
• Reviews. A card by the till can open your Google review form: here's how to set up a QR code for Google reviews.

Build your Manchester QR code

1. Write down what fans, students or gig-goers need

   One question, one page. A matchday menu, a society sign-up form or a ticket link. Copy that page's address.

2. Paste it at the top of this page

   The field The link to turn into a QR code accepts the address. The midnight preset and a “MATCHDAY MENU” frame load by default; change colors and the frame label to fit your brand.

3. Check the live scan result

   The creator reads the code with a real decoder while you edit. Download only once you see Scans correctly.

4. Save to a free account and print

   Click Download QR code, sign in with Google or email, and use the SVG for posters and window stickers.

5. Plan the next switch

   Put a reminder in your calendar for Monday after the match, or the end of freshers' week, to change the link in My codes.

Before a large print run, read the guide to printing QR codes for sizes, quiet zones and file formats.

Printing for Manchester weather and crowds

Outdoor prints in Manchester need to handle frequent rain, so use laminated card, vinyl or a window placement behind glass. Posters on a crowded street also need a larger code than you'd think, because people scan from a step back.

Dark themes look good on gig posters, but keep strong contrast between the modules and the background. If you remove the logo, set Error correction to Q or H on the More tab so worn posters still scan.

Free or Pro in Manchester

Free is enough for most single shops and societies: 3 active dynamic codes with no expiry date, unlimited scans and link changes, full design, and PNG, JPG, WEBP or SVG up to 2048 px. Pro, at $7.99 a month or $63.99 a year, adds unlimited codes, PDF and EPS for print, and a year of stats including the hours and days people scan, handy for comparing matchdays with ordinary weekends. For other cities see QR codes by city, or open the free dynamic QR code generator.