A group of partygoers with a “genius” hack to help their friend get around the dress code at one of Manchester’s most popular bars have gone viral on social media.
In the short 14-second clip – which was posted to video-sharing platform TikTok by photographer and videographer Rachael Silvester (@rachsilvester) yesterday – one of the lads from the group appeared to have been denied entry to the city centre nightlife spot due to wearing a pair of white trainers that were not deemed suitable for the venue’s dress code.
After he was refused entry to the bar, one of the other members from the group of clever clubbers took her black socks off and helped to pull the socks over his trainers until it looked like he was wearing a completely different pair of shoes.
At the end of the video, the lad appears to have successfully got passed the bouncers and can be seen dancing the night away in his ‘new’ shoes.
The video caption read: “When the bouncers didn’t let you in because you wore white trainers.”
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Although the the name of the venue was not revealed in the video itself, many locals identified the venue as the Manchester branch of popular restaurant and bar chain Revolucion de Cuba on Peter Street, and this was later confirmed by Rachael in the comments several times.
In less than 24-hours since posting, the video has racked up over one million views and close to 300 comments on TikTok.
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A group of partygoers with a “genius” hack to help their friend get around the dress code / Credit: TikTok (Rachael Silvester – @rachsilvester)
The hack has been called “genius”, “iconic”, and the ideal example of “friendship” in the comments under the video, alongside people who couldn’t believe the hack actually worked, and others who just don’t understand why certain footwear denies entry.
One TikTok user asked: “Wth is wrong with white trainers?”, which got over 60 replies from other people also not seeing the issue.
Other people were quick to point out however that the hack is not necessarily new, with one person commenting: “Did this roughly about 20 years ago, so glad to see it still works.”, and another added: “I remember my husband doing this in the 90s and 00s.”
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“Oldest trick in the book,” another commented.
Another handful of comments also likened the situation to a scene from an episode of iconic 00s sitcom The Inbetweeners, where Simon is refused entry to a nightclub because of his trainers and ends up swapping them with a homeless person so he could get in.
“Should have found a homeless person to swap with,” one personal comically commented.
The venue was identified as the Manchester branch of popular restaurant and bar chain Revolucion de Cuba / Credit: Revolucion de Cuba Manchester
After it was confirmed that the venue in question was Revolucion de Cuba, lots of other people commented that they have too been in the exact same situation before, and one person even said: “Revs de Cuba has to be the only place in Manchester that still has this Stone Age policy.”
Regarding dress code in the venue, a statement on Revolucion de Cuba’s website reads: “A good night out is about feeling great and looking glamorous, so get your glad rags on. It’s a smart affair, so we’d just ask you to avoid casual garments such as sportswear, vests and fancy dress. We also want to see some fancy footwork from you, so leave behind the trainers, pumps and branded footwear and bring along your dancing shoes.
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“Joking aside – we operate a strict door policy and thus reserve the right to refuse entry if we feel you do not meet the dress code.”
So, you can’t say they weren’t warned.
Featured Image – TikTok (Rachael Silvester – @rachsilvester)
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Two brothers from Oldham are beating out the likes of Taylor Swift in the iTunes charts
Danny Jones
A pair of brothers from Oldham who simply go by Two Connors are now holding on to the top spot in one of the biggest iTunes charts, and they’re beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Bad Bunny and many more.
Stuff your global music stars, we’ll back a duo from Greater Manchester all day long.
Danny and Callum Connor, a couple of blokes from Oldham in their mid-30s, are currently number one in the iTunes singles charts with their latest song, ‘Familiar Faces’, but this isn’t the first time they’ve gone big with a release online.
Carving out their own little corner not only in the old Lancashire borough but a small pocket in the UK’s wider grime, drill, rap and hip-hop scene, they’ve only gotten bigger over the last 18 months or so.
After releasing their first two tracks back in 2024, Callum and Danny have been on a very gradual rise, but they quickly gained a cult local following in and around Oldham.
Writing about life and around the area, with high personal and anecdotal lyrics that feel like niche references and in-jokes specifically for‘Roughyed’ residents – it’s not just music by them but FOR them.
In addition to recording their own unique cover of ‘Bad Habits’ by Ed Sheeran, they also went fairly viral for releasing a music video featuring crowds of local children.
Putting their own chant-based chorus slant on ‘Hi Ho, Hi Ho, “It’s off to Work We Go”‘, written by Mitch Miller and The Sandpipers (yes, as in the main theme from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), it was a fairly radio-friendly tune that was easy for kids and more to sing along with.
With various other natives getting involved in the music video, joining them on the town centre streets and lip-syncing the lyrics, it was circulated online all over Britain and beyond.
You can watch it in full down below.
Fast forward to February 2026, and not only have they grown their following across the region, but even further afield now, as it turns out; currently sitting ahead of ‘Opalite’ from worldwide smash-hit album, The Life of a Showgirl, who needs big label backing, eh?
Bringing smiles to even more Greater Mancs by quite literally shining the spotlight on ‘Familiar Faces’ and punters from nearby pubs such as The Up Stepps Inn and former nightclub Sruples, it is a real tribute to their homeland.
Only time will tell how long they’ll cling to that iTunes top spot, but with nearly 73,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and counting, they might be one of the biggest music names to come out of OL in some time.
In other big news over in Oldham, on the sporting side of things, RLFC are staring down yet more uncertainty, with local hero Bill Quinn also wrapping up his time at the club.
Featured Image — GRM Daily (screenshot via YouTube)
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Wigan favourites Stanleys release first single ahead of debut album next year
Danny Jones
Fast-rising Wigan band Stanleys have dropped the lead single from their debut album, which is finally on its way and will be coming sometime next year.
Entitled ‘Pass The Time’, the Stanleys’ latest outing arrived on Friday, 20 February, and while there’s still no specific release date for the first-ever full-length LP, we do know it’s coming at some point in 2027.
To simply label it as more catchy indie would be a disservice to the craft and graft these lads have put in: this is definitely a step forward and in a slightly different direction, with an even more guitar-driven feel and an extra bit of gruff about it compared to previous Stanleys material.
Our only minor complaint is that we wish it lasted a little longer – we want MORE.
An energetic two-and-a-half-minute track that we can already see becoming a fan favourite, it’s one we’re looking forward to hearing in the flesh.
We’ve caught the Stanleys boys live a few times now, both here in Manchester city centre and at their sold-out show in Wigan as part of The Monaco relaunch, as well as at the likes of Kendal Calling festival in recent years.
Safe to say, they never disappoint, and neither do their growing crowd of die-hards.
With lyrics touching on not just the passing of time but also that sense of youthful ambition and how it fluctuates with age, it feels like one of those defiant indie rallying cries we grew up listening to in our own adolescence, and it definitely has plenty of energy to it.
Both The Manc and our wider Audio North team had the pleasure of chatting with them back in November 2024, and you can tell they have big plans to take on not just the local music scene but the UK and beyond.
The release of ‘Pass The Time’ comes almost a year on from their last song, ‘Out the Door’: a similarly fast-run song, albeit with a different vibe.
Positioned as part of Wigan’s next generation of new bands and artists, Stanleys are clearly looking to keep developing as musicians, and if tunes like these are anything to go by, then we can’t wait for their first full record.
They’re also going to be playing a night here in Manchester city centre and beloved grassroots venue, Night and Day, this April; you can grab tickets HERE.
So get adding it to your Spotify playlists, watching the music video, and maybe we’ll see you at the gig.
Emily Sergeant -
7th December 2021 
