City Centre

Hacienda Classical announce massive Manchester gig for legendary club’s 40th anniversary

Forty years after the infamous nightclub first opened its doors, Hacienda Classical will take over Castlefield Bowl for a huge anniversary show

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 18th November 2021

Next year will mark four decades since the opening of Manchester’s infamous Hacienda nightclub: the birthplace of modern clubbing and arguably, for many, the spiritual home of acid house music.

In classic Hacienda spirit, such an occasion can’t be allowed to pass without a big old Mancunian party.

The team has been hard at work putting together a huge show to mark the 40th anniversary of the FAC51 nightclub.

The Hacienda Classical gig at Castlefield Bowl will see all hits from the ‘Madchester’ era, plus other iconic tunes from the Hacienda’s heyday, performed by a live orchestra.

But that’s not all. The 70-piece Manchester Camerata orchestra will be joined by original Hacienda residents Dj Paulette, Graeme Park, Tom Wainwright, and New Order member Peter Hook on the decks, as part of a huge line-up that will also feature 80s chart-toppers Soul II Soul.

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Expect to hear everything from Inner City’s Good Life to Snap!’s Rhythm Is A Dancer, as the Hacienda Classical crew takes well-known favourites and new versions of club classics and mixes them into a non-stop live set.

Considered the UK’s cathedral of house music and the epicentre of the ‘Madchester’ scene, The Hacienda first flung open its doors back in 1982, transforming the run-down Central Manchester yacht showroom into what has become one of the most iconic and influential nightclubs in history.

The now-infamous venue chronicled the emergence of indie to the mid-’80s, then redefined club culture, as the scene adapted to the emerging dance music sounds coming out of the US and the UK.

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Image: Anthony Mooney.com / FACE 51 The Hacienda Facebook

Today, it continues to inspire generations new and old, producing world-class events that pull in partygoers of all ages and still remain true to the ethos that guided the original club in its heydey.

Hacienda Classical is now entering its seventh year and has performed to audiences nearing 750,000, with more reportedly tuning into recent successful streams.  

As well as the Manchester show at Castlefield Bowl, which will take place on Friday, July 8 2022, there will also be an anniversary show in London next at the Royal Albert Hall on the following Friday, July 13.

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Speaking on the upcoming 40th-anniversary show, Graeme Park said: “It’s amazing for myself and Hacienda Classical to be back at Castlefield Bowl for our sixth show and also our fifth appearance at Royal Albert Hall.

Image: D Sargant / FAC 51 The Hacienda Facebook

“It’s astonishing what we’ve all achieved since 2016 and I’m really proud of everyone who’s taken part. To see it going from strength to strength makes all us very proud.” 

The collaboration between The Hacienda, Manchester Camerata, DJ Graeme Park and musical director, Tim Crooks has proved remarkably enduring, especially with the revisions and renewals made year on year to the set.

The Hacienda Classical shows are always massively popular and sell out every year. Tickets for both dates will go on sale on Friday, 19 November 2021 at 9.30 am here.

Feature image – AnthonyMooney.com /. FAC 51 The Hacienda Facebook

City Centre

This Manchester bar is serving up £2.50 drinks every Friday

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A bar in Manchester has made the move to introduce a ridiculously cheap drinks deal, pricing a number of its most popular bevs at just £2.50 each.

Yes, that’s right. Every Friday night for the foreseeable future, Alvarium in the Northern Quarter will be serving up bottles of beer, alongside spirits and glasses of red, white and rose wine at a super low rate.

Perfect for helping those struggling with the high cost of, well, everything right now, this is a way to get the Christmas presents sorted and still go out celebrating the festive season with your mates. Happy days.

Image: Alvarium
Image: Alvarium

The Northern Quarter bar, which stays open until 1am on Fridays, launched a new extended happy hour earlier this summer that saw it offer two bottles of San Miguel for £5, two cocktails for £10 and bottles of house wine at £12.50 each.

Now, however, Alvarium’s owners have taken things a step further – taking the pricing structure back to the nineties with a range of £2.50 drinks available every Friday.

As well as wine and beer, you’ll find tasty spritzes sitting alongside other festive-themed cocktails like ‘Santa’s Little Helper’ (a mix of brandy, bourbon, lemon, cranberry and orange) and ‘Winter Berries’ (vodka, apple, passionfruit, grenadine and lemonade).

Sharing the news online over the weekend, the dog-friendly cocktail bar and kitchen wrote: “INTRODUCING THE FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL.

Read more: 14 arrests made after animal rights protesters target £195-a-head Michelin-star restaurant Mana

“Due to the success of last week’s party […] to promote our happy hour running all night long, we’ve decided why not take it one step further… and continue our £2.50 (YES, £2.50) Friday Night drinks.

“All Friday, every Friday we’ll be serving selected drinks for £2.50. No need to book, just head down, booze up.”

Image: Alvarium
Image: Alvarium

On the £2.50 drinks menu, you’ll find bottles of Mahou Spanish beer, small glasses of temperanillo, temp rose and viura, plus a cinnamon and orange spritz with lemon and fizz.

Elsewhere, choose from ‘Orange and Berries’, made with Jameson orange, lemon, cranberry and more orange, and the self-explanatory ‘Tequila and Lemon’.

Read more: This Chorlton bar will serve a Sunday roast for you AND your dogs

The bar has previously hosted kitchen pop-ups from the likes of vegan kitchen Black Leaf, Manchester slab shack Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria, and Abeja Tapas Bar.

Now it has taken its food offering back in-house, serving up a selection of locally-sourced meat and cheese boards loaded with an array of pickles, chutneys, crackers, giant slices of sourdough and more – perfect for soaking up all that cheap, cheap booze.

Read more: Manchester United opening up ‘warm spaces’ in Red Cafe to the community this winter

To find out more, head down this Friday to check it out for yourself. Lord knows we could all do with a cheeky discount this month.

Feature image – Alvarium

City Centre

A traditional cafe serving retro favouties has opened on the third floor of Affleck’s

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A brand-new cafe has opened on the third floor of the iconic Afflecks building, offering an all-day menu of British classics, from breakfast through to closing time.

Serving cafe classics, Third Floor Rising will dish up quality breakfasts with specialities including meat, vegetarian and vegan fry-ups and breakfast rolls, BLT, teas, coffees – basically everything required to kick start the day.

There’s also a solid list of homemade favourites – such as Tommy’s homemade pies, paninis, toasties and filled rolls, alongside Sarah’s tray bakes and cakes.

Image: Third Floor Rising
Image: Third Floor Rising

Third Floor Rising has been brought to Afflecks by husband and wife team Tommy Heaton and Sarah Abell – long-time Afflecks fans who felt that it was the perfect space for their new venture. 

With a wealth of experience in hospitality spanning over 20 years, the pair decided now was the time to open their first space and atop one of the city’s most iconic buildings was too good an opportunity to miss. 

As one of Manchester’s most famous café spots rises again, the inspiration for the name comes from the book of the same title written by author Hilary Mantel when she worked at Affleck and Brown. 

The cafe will be serving breakfast from 10.30am when Afflecks opens, as well as lunch and drinks all day long, designed to refuel hungry shoppers, visitors and traders alike.

The drinks menu includes coffees, smoothies, milkshakes and coolers. All of this will be brought to customers in a relaxed, homespun atmosphere with carefully considered vintage inspired interiors.

Image: Supplied
Image: Third Floor Rising

From handwritten, daily-changing menus, to original 70s printed wallpaper, owners Tommy and Sarah wanted to emulate their own home and love of all things retro in the surroundings for the city’s new community cafe.

The welcoming space also reflects the amazing light and history within the building with its panoramic windows looking out onto the Northern Quarter. Plants and artwork from fellow Afflecks traders City and Bloom and Egoiste Gallery adorn the space.

Read more: Manchester has a stunning new rooftop restaurant as Climat opens its doors

Commenting on the launch, Tommy said: “Since we’ve joined we have loved getting to know everyone, from the cleaners to the management to the stall holders and the techs! 

“It feels like a family – a family we are proud to be part of. We are excited about the next few years as we plan to serve up hearty, homemade food in one of our favourite places in the world and we hope other people will love it too.” 

Read more: This Chorlton bar will serve a Sunday roast for you AND your dogs

AJ Martyn, General Manager at Afflecks, added: “We are thrilled to welcome another amazing independent business to the Afflecks community.

“Third Floor Rising is the perfect fit for the cafe space and we think the classic menu will really appeal to our customers. Tommy and Sarah have poured so much into the concept and we’re excited to be supporting them on their journey.”

Feature image – Supplied

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