Roxy Ball Room, the adults-only entertainment venue with games like ping pong, bowling, shuffleboard and ‘crazy pool’ all under one roof, has released a new music-themed cocktail menu.
Taking inspiration from classic hits such as Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, Jimmi Hendrix’s ‘Purple Haze’, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ ‘Californication’, the new rock-inspired cocktail menu pays homage to some of the genre’s greats.
From Tequila Little Time, a mixture of Olmeca Tequila Blanco, grapefruit liqueur, lime, rose and tonic that references The Beautiful South’s lilting country ballad, to Road To Ruin, a twist on a Gin Rickey cocktail that nods to The Foo Fighters’ mid-noughties hit, the new menu celebrates some of the biggest songs from decades past.
Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group
Further tongue-in-cheek cocktail names include Living on a Pear (a fruity mixture of Absolut vanilla vodka, raspberry and pear liqueur, plus lemon, pineapple and raspberry juice), and an appropriately bright-purple concoction called Purple Haze, combining violet sugar, lavender, lemon, lychee and Absolut Citron vodka.
Elsewhere, drinkers will find a host of fun sweetie-style shots all priced at £3.50 each or £6 for two.
Here, you can expect to find flavours like Apple Pie, Toffee & Cream, Coffee and Chilli, as well as the likes of Pear Drops and Lemon Drops, and a Pingstar Shooter that combines passionfruit liqueur and vanilla vodka in one fell swoop.
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There’s also a collection of classic cocktails, including popular orders like the Pina Colada, Dark and Stormy, Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini, Long Island Iced Tea and everyone’s favourite, the Daiquiri.
Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group
As for those who are watching what they drink, the bar has also released a selection of ‘no and low’ cocktails that are either alcohol-free or very low ABV – meaning that those who are off the sauce can still enjoy a virgin version of its house favourites like the Pina Colada, Amaretto Sour and Elderflower G&T.
Last but not least, there’s also a selection of thirst-quenching spritzes to get stuck into whilst you work up a sweat playing ping pong or another of the venue’s classic ball games.
With two sites in Manchester, one on Deansgate and another inside the Arndale Shopping Centre, it’s the perfect place to let loose with friends after a busy week.
To find out more and book, visit the Roxy Ball Room website here.
Feature image – Roxy Ball Room
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Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
The Manc -
21st November 2022 
