Drinks Company Eliots have launched a new range of flavoured vodkas to the UK market. Mysthic Vodka, which is already being sold in Portugal, is being billed as a budget vodka and has six flavours in the range - blackcurrant, strawberry, wild berry, melon, chocolate and caramel.
Fans of American Indian Pale Ales will be pleased to hear that Delaware craft brewery, Fordhams have released a West Coast style brew to the UK market. Rams Head IPA contains pale, Munich and rye malts, along with Barvo, Chinook, and Motueka hops, which help to create a 7.5% ABV beer which apparently pairs well with pork belly, Indian cuisine, blue cheese and rice pudding.
Not content with having just The Alchemist, Australasia, The Oast House, The Artisan and Manchester House (not to mention the Olive and Grill On The Alley just across the road), Living Ventures have opened their latest Spinningfield's bar - the pop-up Long Bar opens on 24th May with its own designated area of the new lawns. Together with artisan cocktails, it will serve deli style food and provide entertainment from Thursday to Sunday evenings. At what point will the area be renamed 'LVfields'?
The Northern Quarter's TV21 has laid down the mother of all food challenges. On June 11th, from 7pm, they will be offering a 30cm tall burger, containing 1kg of burger patties, plus onion rings, hash browns, eggs, bacon, cheese, mustard, mayo and salad. There’s also a hearty side helping of hand-cut chips, along with Texas red chili. Successfully take on this burger all by yourself and win your money back.
Three independent Japanese breweries are set to export craft beer to the UK for the first time. The Minoh Beer Brewery, Brimmer Brewing, and Baird Brewing Comapny are able to sell beers in the UK thanks to a deal with Number One Drinks Company, the Japanese whiskey specialists who currently import Chichibu, Hanyu and Karuizawa whilst also exporting Brewdog beers to Japan.
Peter Street looks to have finally shed it's reputation as the binge drinking, party place that saw just as many blue flashing lights as it did disco lights. The likes of Epernay and Opus One Champagne bars, Manchester235 super casino, Revolucion de Cuba, All Star Bowling, Rekorderlig Summer Garden, Trof and Brewdog have long replaced Brannigans, Chicago Rock, Cheerleaders and Bar 38. This summer sees the arrival of an exclusive three storey VIP establishment, Liv Manchester, a collaboration from the The Circle Club and Ocean Treasure amongst others. The over 21’s nightspot is set to open in the old Chicago Rock unit and will include a basement nightclub, a ground floor bar and a top class Pan Asian restaurant above. It aims to be the city's most exclusive bar and club.
Living Ventures open their sixth Spinningfield's establishment, Artisan Kitchen & Bar, this June. Located above Neighbourhood and below the eagerly anticipated and Michelin Star hopeful Manchester House, it is being described as "loft studio meets concrete warehouse - stripped back and raw", decorated with sculptures and art. The spacious, informal bar will serve a collection of innovative cocktails to a soundtrack provided by DJ’s playing on in-built decks throughout the week.
Pernod Ricard are set to launch a new premium gin in the UK this June. The handcrafted Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Gin is made using an original Beefeater recipe and distilled in the original copper 'Still Number 12' used by the founder of Beefeater, James Burrough, in the 1860s. It will be initally released in Spain, before being rolled out in the UK with each bottle carrying a batch and bottle number with only a limited number released each year. They are hoping the gin will “redefine the way gin is consumed” and recommend it is drank neat.
The owners of Folk in Didsbury are looking to turn the former Blockbuster video store on Lapwing Lane into a new wine shop and bar called Wine & Wallop~ 29 May 2013
Bloom, the latest pop-up bar in Spinningfields, opens on the 30th May. Ran by Fluid Bars it will serve cocktails and summer drinks garnished with berries and herbs grown on-site ~ 28 May 2013
A planning application has been submitted for a new bar, Craft Beer, at The Lowry Outlet in Salford Quays~ 24 May 2013
Hookahs Shisha Cafe on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton is up for sale for a pound short of £150,000, with an annual rent of £26,000, and is held on a 5 year lease which expires in 2015 ~ 21 May
From 10th - 13th October, the second Indy Man Beer Con will be held at Victoria Baths celebrating independent beers and progressive brewing. Breweries featured include Marble, Thornbridge, Magic Rock, Dark Star, Redwillow, Quantum, Tap East, Roosters, Liverpool Craft, Camden Town, Beavertown, Cromarty, Tiny Rebel and Italy's Birrificio Italiano, Toccalmatto, Brewfist and Birra del Borgo ~ 20 May
Bank Holiday weekend (24th & 25th May) sees St Peters Church in Ancoats play host to the North West Wine Fest, a collective of independent wine retailers including Bakerie, Harvey Nichols, Corks Out and Hanging Ditch ~ 20 May
Kahlúa Coffee House have arranged a mini street festival to spice up the Bank Holiday Weekend on Saturday 25th May with a range of chilli-eating challenges and Mariachi bands ~ 14 May
Oxford Road Train Station coffee shop Java Bar, has applied to Manchester City Council to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on the premises ~ 8 May
