A new independent wine bar has opened in Spinningfields selling Manchester-made charcuterie and cheese boards, alongside a selection of carefully-chosen wines.
Called Provence, it has just opened in the business district next to the David Wyman florist – offering commuters, bar hoppers and shoppers alike somewhere new to post up for a wine (or a coffee).
With a menu of nibbles like olive tapenade, bread and oil, olives, hummus and a handful of veggie small plates, at first glance its wine list is short and no-nonsense – a succinct selection of twelve different choices, broken down into red, white, rose, orange and sparkling.
Image: The Manc Eats
The wine glass in the bottom right hand corner is actually a hidden QR code. / Image: The Manc Eats
There’s also a handful of beers from Northern Monk Brewing Co. and a short cocktail list, plus craft sodas and kombucha for those off the sauce.
But the thing that really caught our eye is the hidden QR code shaped like a bottle of wine at the bottom of the menu, that, when you scan it, pulls up a ‘by the bottle’ list – revealing a mouthwatering selection of natural wines, handpicked by in-house expert James, formerly of Kerb in Ancoats.
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Think a funky, tangy orange wine from Austria, orangey, citrusy blended roses, an Oregon-made Reisling and a gorgeous sparkling red Pet Nat.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
The majority of the natural wines are available as bottle-nly, however, there is also one on the by the glass list – a tropical ‘fruit bomb’ orange wine from Italy, the Fratelli Felix, which we sample alongside a citrusy Pinot Grigio.
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Sitting at the other end of the scale, the Pinot is refreshing, with notes of jasmine and white flowers – simply perfect for those after something a little more classic.
As for the food offering, Provence offers a selection of charcuterie made right here in Manchester by Northern Cure.
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We opt for this alongside the cheese board, digging into a mixture of lomo (cured pork tenderloin), pork and beef heart salami, and a classic salami, all thinly sliced, the lomo itself almost melting in the mouth
This brand new addition also features a downstairs wine-e-oke and tasting room, which we’re sure will see a lot of action come Christmas time as parties start to pile in.
Manchester has a new real-life Pac-Man Live experience
Danny Jones
Manchester already boasts a whole host of interactive games bars and activity destinations to boast, but we feel pretty confident in saying that there are very few places on the planet where you can find a place to play a real-life version of Pac-Man.
First announced back in October and now open in St John’s, the Pac-Man Live Experience is the newest addition to Manchester’s growing entertainment scene and it’s promising to be a popular one too.
This brand-new life-sized immersive experience plunges players into the nostalgic world of the iconic video game we all know and love, only instead of using joysticks on an old-school arcade machine, they’ll physically sprint, dodge, and chomp their way through a maze.
As you race your mates to grab special items and to eat ghosts, you’ll rack up the points to be declared champ.
Credit: Concept Image (supplied)
So how does it work?
Good question: participants can gear up in a PAC vest and step into the role of the instantly recognisable yellow chomper, collecting power pellets, dodging the classic ghost characters – BLINKY, PINKY, INKY, and CLYDE – and racking up points on their way to victory.
Guided through an epic 12-level adventure, players will be led by the ‘PAC-MASTER’: a lively gameshow host who serves as commentator and referee; players will also be accompanied by immersive in-game effects like sound bites, lighting, and haptic (vibration) feedback to elevate the experience. Cool, right?
The striking Arcade Arena will feature two massive PAC-MAN courts projected onto the floor, while dynamic visuals transform the walls, fully immersing participants in the retro arcade universe. There’s no need for headsets either, so players can embark on a multi-sensory adventure, seamlessly blending the real world with augmented reality.
It’s created by Tom Lionetti-Maguire, the CEO and Founder of Little Lion Entertainment – the same team behind The Crystal Maze Live Experience, Tomb Raider, and Chaos Karts (which has now closed in Manchester).
The whole thing has been brought to life in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment, lending the proper licensing to make the experience feel both fun and authentic. It’s the real deal.
Credit: Supplied
Tickets for Pac-Man Live Manchester
Standard tickets – from £26
VIP ticket – from £33.50
Private maze (for up to eight) – £26
Family ticket – £23.50
VIP Family ticket – £30.90
Group ticket (for nine or more) – £23.40
If you’re not sold on playing a human-sized, real-life game of Pac-Man in a huge augmented-reality arena right here in Manchester then we don’t know what to tell you, to be honest – all we know is that we’ll be first in line when it arrives.
The Pac-Man Live Experience comes to the Arcade Arena in line with the game’s 40th anniversary, and they’re inviting players of all ages and providing engaging gameplay for younger participants while delivering a nostalgic throwback that parents and grandparents will cherish.
The global super glam party legends have announced a fully-flamboyant, flamingo-esque festival of disco starring a truly show-stopping lineup.
Famed for throwing immersive disco and house parties, and normally a resident over at the equally iconic – but much smaller and more intimate – Albert Hall, you can expect La Discothèque to be just as heavy on the confetti, feathers, and sequins as it usually is when it takes over Manchester‘s massive AO Arena in June.
If the hugely-popular club night wasn’t already known for its unrivalled production as it is, The Disco Arena will be even bigger and better than ever before.
The legendary La Discothèque 22-piece orchestra will perform at the AO Arena live for the first time, featuring Barbara Tucker and Anita Ward, alongside other major acts such as the former ladies of The Supremes and Norman Jay’s Good Times Band.
Manchester’s epic club night La Discothèque is taking over AO Arena this summer / Credit: Laura Christou
You can also expect to catch the House Gospel Choir, and Disco Voix featuring Jenna G, as well as a tribute to legend Donna Summer by The Feel Good Choir.
A very special guest is also soon to be announced, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
La Discothèque is taking to the AO Arena stage on Friday 6 June 2025, and tickets are ready to go on sale from this week.
The mega lineup includes some huge names / Credit: Supplied
There’ll first be two separate pre-sales, a Three pre-sale on Thursday 20 March from 10am, followed by the AO Arena’s own venue pre-sale this Friday (21 March) also from 10am, before general sale tickets go live next Monday 24 March, again from 10am.
Georgina Pellant -
27th October 2022 
