Obsidian has gone through a rebrand and refurb, re-opening on 1st October as 24 Bar and Grill, so named after its 24 Princess Street address. Aiming to be a friendly neighbourhood bar and grill, the main changes are to the restaurant, which now focuses on affordable steaks and seafood. The bar still offers cocktails mixed by the award-winning team together with a range of new craft beers and ciders. The refurb sees a return to the original open doorway ~ 30 Sep
Polish premium vodka Belvedere is to launch a special edition red bottle and donate half of the profits to global charity (RED) to help fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (RED) partners with the world's most iconic brands, who contribute 50% of their profits to the Global Fund. (BELVEDERE) RED is quadruple distilled, completely additive-free and diluted with water from their own artesian well. It represents the pinnacle of the Polish vodka-making tradition and is said to be the world's first super premium vodka. R&B star Usher will feature in the advertising campaign for the bottle. ~ 26 Sep
New York style Northern Quarter favourite, Simple celebrated its tenth birthday on the 25th September by closing Tib Street to traffic with a Grease-inspired American street fun fair. Watch the video (right) to see the regulars enjoying the 1950s theme with their polka-dots, combed back quiffs and fairground rides, carnival stalls, DJs, cheerleaders, pink ladies, tin-can alley, cotton candy, popcorn, lindyhopping, and a BBQ with enough food to have fed 100 American football teams. ~ 25 Sep
Following the announcement that Legal & General have bought the Manchester Malmaison, its next door neighbour, The Mint Hotel, has been sold to American private equity firm Blackstone, the company which also owns the Hilton group. It's not yet known if there are plans to rebrand the hotel nor its excellent Piccadilly Lounge cocktail bar. The eight hotel group, formerly known as City Inn, was only rebranded Mint a few months ago. ~ 18 Sep
The iconic Playboy bunnies will once again make an appearance in Manchester for the first time since the original Manchester Playboy Club closed in 1982. The famous bunnies will run the blackjack and roulette tables, as well as serve drinks at Manchester235 for one night only on 1st October. Feminist groups have expressed their dismay amid talks of a permanent move back to the city being a possibility. 5th Sep 2011
Cigarette vending machines will be banned from public areas in bars and pubs when the the law changes on 1st October. The ban was originally passed by the previous Labour goverment with the new Health Bill in October 2009 but comes in to effect at the end of this month. Whilst it will be illegal to sell cigarettes in any public area, they can still be sold over the bar. 4th Sep 2011
Dutch distillery Toorank BV is set to launch its famous Sloane's Premium Distilled 'London style' Dry Gin in the UK. The 40% ABV proof spirit has won numerous global awards with each of the nine botanicals used to make it individually distilled and blended together one at a time to create a unique layered flavour. They use only fresh whole botanicals instead of dried peels to ensure the juniper, orange and citrus flavours are captured. It is named in honour of Sir Hans Sloane, the Royal Physician & Botanist who introduced juniper, orange and lemon peel to the UK. 4th Sep 2011
Terrace Sports Bar in Piccadilly Station has closed to make way for a new Carluccio's restaurant. ~ 26th Sep
Brewdog, Scotland's largest independent brewery, is in advanced stages of a deal to open a bar near Piccadilly Gardens, on 16 Newton Street in the Northern Quarter, for a Spring 2012 opening. ~ 21st Sep
Trof have finally won their long battle to open a 1500 capacity late night live music venue in the basement of Quay House on Quay Street. Their bold claims to attract the likes of the MTV Europe Video Awards and NME Awards away from London, as well as hold exhibitions and roller-skating derbies obviously worked with the council's planning committee. Achievable vote winning promises? We wait to see ~ 18th Sep
Popular gay bar AXM have opened a 'Downtown' Manchester branch, just a short skip away from its Bloom Street club in the venue vacated by The Overdraught, above 5th Avenue on Princess Street. ~ 14th Sep
Stonegate Pubs have closed their Edwards bar at Piccadilly on 4th Sep to make way for a £350,000 transformation to a new-style Missoula, which will utilise the previously unused upstairs bar and roof terrace. Opening on 15th Sep, it's the second Missoula in town, with the other on Deansgate Locks. ~ 9th Sep
Work has started on the new £6m Grosvenor G Casino in the former Buckingham Bingo hall at Parrs Wood, Didsbury. It's set to open early 2012. ~ 9th Sep
The owners of The Black Dog Ballroom are to open The Liars Club on 30th September, a new vintage LA Tiki Dive Bar on the site of their previous venture, Purple Pussycat on Back Bridge Street. ~ 4th Sep
The Salutation, hidden behind the universities in Hulme and one of only two in Manchester still with original 1840s decor, has been bought by Manchester Metropolitan University and will be ran by Trof. ~ 4th Sep
The Black Lion on Chapel Street in Salford, just a short walk from Deansgate and the MEN Arena, is set to reopen as a community driven diverse cinema, theatre and arts venue later in September. ~ 1st Sep
Disclaimer: All information correct 14/01/2011. ManchesterBars.com can not be held responsible for any differences experienced at the premises listed. All images and information ? 2002-11 Pride Of Manchester
