A new bar has opened underneath a shopping arcade in Bolton, taking over the former home of the town’s infamous Oasis-inspired venue Definitely Maybe.
New pink and green cocktail den Upside Down has just moved into the underground unit in Mawdsley Street, which has sat empty since Bolton’s own Gallagher brothers Paul and Mark decided to up sticks and move their hit bar into a bigger home nearby.
Promising to bring the ‘boujee’ cocktail bar atmosphere of Manchester out to Bolton, co-owner Sinclair Little revealed that he has secured a late license so that Upside Down can serve drinks until 4.30am.
There will also be some live music at the venue as well as drag acts and tribute acts, but Sinclair insists he doesn’t want to compete with Definitely Maybe.
Rather, guests can expect a playlist of feel-good ‘cheesy’ hits from over the decades as well as old school R&B.
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Sinclair, who is opening the bar with his partner Rebecca Smith, told the Manchester Evening News: “We may go down the clubby route a bit later on but early doors, it will be more of a boujee cocktail bar.
“Every now and again we’ll have some live music but we don’t want to really compete with Definitely Maybe and places like that.”
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He continued: ” “We want a Manchester quality bar, where instead of people getting a taxi there, they’ll want to come here instead. If we brought you in here with a blindfold on and took it off, you wouldn’t know that you was in Bolton.”
Drinks-wise, alongside crowd pleasers like pornstar martinis and zombies Upside Down is also serving a signature cocktail named after the bar.
The Upside Down, made with raspberry vodka, blue curacao, lemon sour, bitters and pineapple juice, puts a twist on a classic French martini – a cocktail first invented in the 1980s at one of Keith McNally’s New York City bars.
Other intriguing signatures at Upside Down include the Terry’s Chocolate Orange Delight (triple sec, Baileys, creme de cacao white, and espresso), and Hubba Bubba Baby (gin, bubble gum syrup, blue curacao, cranberry juice, and lemonade).
As for that all-important Instagram photo opportunity, owners have already installed flower walls inside the pink and green-themed cocktail bar and plan to add a swing further down the line.
Open from 8pm beneath St Andrews Court shopping centre, to find out more about Upside Down head over to its Instagram page here.
Feature image – Upside Down
Eats
Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants
Daisy Jackson
Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.
In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.
The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.
Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”
The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”
After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.
The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.
He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.
Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.
“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.
“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.
“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”
Indie food and drink festival to return to popular Greater Manchester town for second year
Emily Sergeant
A food and drink festival shining a spotlight on independent businesses is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Following the success of last year’s tasty debut, Urmston’s very-own independent food and drink festival, YUM! – Your Urmston Matters, is back for its second serving later this month, and will once again be transforming the Trafford town’s M41 site on Railway Road into a buzzing hub of ‘flavour, fun, and local pride’.
Organised by Love Urmston and hosted by Urmston resident and food and drink presenter, Matty White, this community celebration will bring together top local street food vendors, artisan producers, and drink retailers, alongside live cooking demos, family activities, and loads of entertainment.
Now in its second year, YUM! continues to shine a spotlight on Urmston’s indie food scene and the passion of the people behind it, but as well as local residents, it also invites the rest of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester community to come together.
So whether you just live down the road, or you are discovering the town for the first time, everyone is welcome to pop down.
“Bringing YUM! back for a second year is incredibly exciting,” commented Fred Davids, who is the Chair of the Love Urmston committee.
“It’s a brilliant way to celebrate what makes Urmston special – its community, and fantastic food and drink scene, welcoming people from near and far to experience the town at its best.
“And as a committee, we’re proud to support our incredible local independent businesses who put their heart and soul into everything they do.”
YUM! is returning to Urmston for another delicious festival this month / Credit: Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Just some of the independent businesses you’ll find at the festival throughout the day include English Rose Bakery, Inforno Pizzeria, Dan’s Cookies, Banga Curries, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen, The Greek Village, Pomona Island Brewery, Kelder Wines, and so many more.
The festival is also proudly sponsored by Gecko Homes – a north west property developer that specialises in creating affordable and shared ownership homes across many of Manchester’s most popular suburbs.
You can read more about what Gecko Homes is doing across the region here.
Georgina Pellant -
13th March 2023 
