Manchester bar Schofield’s has put the city on the map in a whole new way after making it into the extremely prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars list.
It is the first time a cocktail bar from Manchester has been featured in the annual list since it began.
The World’s 50 best represents the ultimate international guide to the world’s top bars and drinking destinations, providing an annual ranking of bars as voted for by 650 drinks experts from across the globe.
The list is revealed annually at The World’s 50 Best Bars awards, which will take place this year in Barcelona on 4 October 2022.
Image: Schofield’s
Image: Schofield’s
However, every year alongside the 50 Best the organisation also publishes an extended 51-100 list featuring some of the world’s best drinking destinations – including Manchester favourite Schofield’s.
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The eponymous bar from Bury-born brothers Dan and Joe Schofield ranks highly at number 59, sitting above London bars Three Sheets (#72), Side Hustle (#75) and Donovan Bar (#89) in what is a real coup for Manchester’s cocktail bartending scene.
Speaking on the award win, the brothers told The Manc: “We are honoured to have been placed as the 59th best bar in the world!
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“Especially when the organisation informed us we are the only bar in the country to have placed in the list outside of London since 2008 when the list officially started.
“It’s great to be part of this wonderful bar and restaurant scene in Manchester.”
Despite having only been open a year and a half, the bar has amassed an armory of accolades. Earlier this year it was named UK Bar of the Year and New Bar of the Year at the Class Bar Mag awards, making history in the process as the first venue to ever win both.
Opened inside the Art Deco Sunlight House, previously home to historic Manchester boozer the Old Grapes, on the menu you’ll find a list of carefully-curated cocktails, beers, wine, champagne and small plates.
Image: Schofield’s
Image: Schofield’s
Offering a mix of refined classics like sazeracs, martinis, negronis and manhattans, alongside house signatures like the ‘Lone Tree’, ‘Tattle Tale’ and ‘Guinness Punch’, the brothers draw on their combined 30 years of experience to create something truly special.
They have also launched two more bars in the city since opening Schofield’s: Atomeca on Deansgate Square and, just last week, the new drinking den Sterling, which is found in an old bank vault underneath Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel.
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Open from 12pm – 1.30am Wednesday to Sunday, walk-ins are welcome but you can reserve a table if you wish. To see the full menu at Schofield’s click here.
Feature image – Schofield’s
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Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
News
Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Georgina Pellant -
27th September 2022 
