Manchester will bloom into one of the most picturesque places in the country this week, as the annual Manchester Flower Show returns for 2022.
This year, the huge event – which is brought to the city by Manchester BID – coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and her 70 years on the throne, and so, in a bid to appropriately celebrate, you can expect to see fabulous Royal-inspired floral trails, gardens, and green installations take over the city centre for the extended bank holiday weekend.
Floral installations named The Crown Jewels, Queen Bee, and The Ju-bee-lee Garden are just some of the Royal-themed installations festival-goers can expect to see as they make their way around the city centre.
Taking place from Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 June, The Manchester Flower Show will also see shop windows, squares, and statues will be given botanical makeovers beyond the official trail, and there’s even an array of alfresco drink and dining options taking place throughout the event too.
The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail is one of the highlight events in the festival’s calendar this year / Credit: The Manc Group
14 of Manchester’s popular bars, restaurants, and hotels are taking part in the trail by serving up floral-themed cocktails especially for the occasion, and it means drinks lovers can make their way around all four corners of the city centre, sipping cocktails in the sunshine along the way.
Here’s a round-up of all the cocktails on offer as part of 2022’s edition of The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail.
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All Bar One
Tarqueenie – £10.25
This cocktail mixes Tarquin’s Raspberry & Rhubarb gin, Martini Bianco, Fever-Tree Raspberry & Orange Blossom Soda, and is garnished with lemon and raspberries.
Freixenet x Chambord Berry Spritz – £10.50
Also at All Bar One, this cocktail collaboration mixes Chambord, Freixenet Prosecco and Soda, and is garnished with raspberry and mint.
El Gato Negro
Violet Flower
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This delicate cocktail mixes gin and violette liqueur, and is flavoured with lemon and cranberry.
Franco Manca
Aperol Spritz – £6.75
King Street restaurant Franco Manca has gone with the Italian classic of Aperol Spritz – which mixes Aperol and Prosecco, and is garnished with an orange slice
Grand Pacific Manchester
Royal Bloom – £9
Described as a “bouquet of flavours”, this cocktail pairs violet and orange liquors, with a hint of fresh lemon.
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14 of Manchester’s popular bars, restaurants, and hotels are taking part in the trail / Credit: The Manc Group
Habas
Raspberry & Rose Spritz
This cocktail combines Belsazar rose, elderflower liqueur, pomegranate and rose syrup, and lemon juice, and is topped with Fever Tee raspberry and rose soda.
Harvey Nichols x Manchester Gin Bar
The Summer Garden Spritz – £8
This is a floral and bright take on an Aperol Spritz, featuring Manchester Gin Raspberry Infused Gin and Forty-Five Vermouth Radiant Rose.
Harvey Nichols Second Floor Deli Bar
The Lilibet – £14
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This cocktail mixes Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, Belsazar Rosé Vermouth, Boudier Créme de Fraises, and Harvey Nichols Brut Champagne.
KALA Bistro
Blooming Beautiful
This floral cocktail mixes Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka, St Germain Elderflower, and Jasmine Tea, and is garnished with lemon and basil.
All participating venues are serving up floral-themed cocktails especially for the occasion / Credit: The Manc Group
Miller & Carter
Miller & Carter French Martini – £8.25
This cocktail is made from Ciroc Pinapple vodka, Chambord Black Raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice that is shaken and served straight up.
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Pot Kettle Black
Grapefruit Gin Spritz
Barton Arcade favourite PKB’s is serving up a sparkling cocktail with gin, Campari, and grapefruit juice that is topped with soda.
Rosso
Malaka’s Mirakle
This cocktail mixes Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky, Italicus Rosolio Bergamot Liqueur, Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, and Cedar Mist
Rosso says it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, achievement, excellence, exploration, and boundary breaking, with over 21 unique flavours combined and finished with floral fruits in modernised Old Fashioned delicacy.
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Starbucks
Strawberry Acai Refresher
For those looking to ditch the alcohol, the St Ann’s Square branch of Starbucks is serving up a hydrating drink of sweet strawberry flavours that is accented by acai notes, and is shaken with real strawberries.
Drinks lovers can make their way around all four corners of the city centre to sip cocktails in the sunshine / Credit: The Manc Group
Tast Catala
Primavera
King Street restaurant Tast Catala says its fruity and refreshing cocktail tastes “just like Spring”, and it’s a mix of green apple, Midori, lemon juice, and soda.
UrbanPlayground
Royal Garden – £9
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Even one of Manchester Arndale’s newest residents, Urban Playground, is getting in on the cocktail trail action this year, with a cocktail that mixes Hendricks, Apple & Cinnamon Shrub, and elderflower and cucumber tonic.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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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.
Adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month
Emily Sergeant
A popular adults-only ‘after hours’ event is returning to Manchester next month.
Fancy releasing your inner child? If you need an excuse to leave the little Mancs at home, then one of Manchester’s most visited museums might have just what you’re looking for, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced that its popular After Hours event especially for adults is returning for one night only next month.
You’ll get to celebrate the energy that ‘sparked a revolution’ with an evening of interactive games, live music, and unique experiences as you explore the Museum once it’s closed for the day.
It’s your chance to be among the first to explore the newly re-opened Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery after dark, and experience the sights, smells, and sounds of engine-driven ideas that started in Manchester and went on to change the world.
An adults-only ‘after hours’ event is coming to Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum next month / Credit: Science Museum Group
The Museum’s permanent galleries and displays will also be open after hours, so you can get hands-on with science in Experiment, meet mighty machines in the Textiles Gallery, and discover Manchester‘s rich legacy of industrial innovations, creativity, and world-changing ideas in Revolution Manchester.
You’ll also be embrace your inner child with free access to the brand-new world premiere exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos, which just opened last week in time for half term, and of course, indulge your playful side in Power Up – with more than 150 consoles to choose from in the ultimate gaming exhibition.
Especially for this particular evening, you can look forward to some very special one-off events, as well as the chance to take part in a whole host of high-energy interactive games.
There’ll be an ‘unforgettable’ performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Viola, celebrating all things power with a spectacular combination of violin and vocals, as well as a set from musician Mike Cunningham who’ll light up the evening with bold and colourful LED drumming inspired by the sounds of Manchester’s industry and creative spirit.
And of course, as this is an adults-only event, the museum’s events bar will be popping up on the night, and will be serving up a wide range of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks to wet your whistle while you’re looking around, with some delicious food to accompany too.
Emily Sergeant -
31st May 2022 
