A mile-long bar crawl dedicated to margaritas is taking place in Manchester over the next week.
Tequila fans will be able to hop their way between bars that are putting on limited-edition cocktails and tequila-based specials.
There are 24 venues signed up to the week-long margarita crawl in Manchester alone, with a similar event happening across in Leeds.
Those taking part include Mexican restaurant Madre, gigantic food hall New Century, and subterranean cocktail bar The Daisy.
The Margarita Mile has been created by El Tequileño tequila and is a celebration for National Margarita Day on 22 February.
El Tequileño,which is produced in the town of Tequila in Mexico, and Maldon Salt have been working with some of the city’s best bars to create perfect margaritas.
Special cocktails will be available for one week only, between 19 and 25 February,
These include a whole flight of margs at New Century, where if you’re overwhelmed with choice you can throw a dice and let that choose your drink.
Fierce, a bar that specialises in craft beer, has come up with its own take on a Lagerita, using Mexican cerveza to create a longer, citrus drink.
Fierce bar in Manchester has done its own take on a Lagerita for the Margarita MileStray bar in Mackie Mayor has FOUR margarita specials running
There are mini events taking place across Manchester too, like The Daisy hosting Tony Salles, master distiller of El Tequileño,who will explain all about his tequila brand.
And by sharing a picture of your marg while you’re out on the Margarita Mile around Manchester, you could win a goodie bag of treats from El Tequileño and Ten Locks Drinks.
Steffin Oghene, Global Ambassador for El Tequileño, who will be accompanying Tony Salles to the UK, says: “El Tequileño encourages everyone, from cocktail fans to tequila lovers to those who want to learn more about quality craft spirits, to get out on the mile to try a Margarita.
“We are super proud to be visiting Manchester, the city that created the Margarita Mile – we know that Manchester is a hotbed for creativity, with a wealth of music, arts and culture originating there, and now El Tequileño’s Margarita Mile is part of that cultural narrative.
“We look forward to meeting all Mancunians out on the mile!”
Please drink responsibly.
The Manchester bars taking place in the Margarita Mile
Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs, Mr Thomas’s Chop House, is finally undergoing a major upgrade after admitting its building has become an ’embarrassment’.
The historic Cross Street boozer has shared a public apology for the ‘deteriorating’ state of its stunning building.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is now pleading for support from punters as it undergoes the weeks-long scheme of improvements.
Visitors will find a reduced menu while renovations are taking place.
The pub said that it’s aware that the Grade II-listed pub has been in need of improvement for a while, but explained these works have been hampered by leasing issues.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House explained that it’s been ‘existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord’.
It’s left them unable to invest into the building – until now.
The pub will be adding brand-new toilets downstairs (they said the old ones were ‘an embarrassment’), as well as improving the kitchens and adding a new beer cellar.
In their statement, Mr Thomas’s Chop House said: “First of all, we owe you, our loyal customers, an apology.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is undergoing a refurb
“Over the past few years bits of our stunning building have deteriorated. The toilets have become a bit of an embarrassment. We are sorry.
“The fact is, we (The Victorian Chop House Company) have been existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord.
“As a result of this uncertainty we haven’t been able to invest into the fabric of the building.
“But now the wait is finally over. And together with our landlords we are finally beginning a scheme of renovations which will return Tom’s to the state it should be in!”
Work began last week and is expected to last for around three weeks.
They also wrote: “Things will be slightly different but we are so excited. Please help us stay afloat while we work to restore Tom’s.”
The brilliant Persian cafe in disguise as a greasy spoon that’s just had a star turn on TV
Daisy Jackson
A family-run, often-overlooked restaurant in Chorlton had a star turn on TV last night, when The Hotel Inspector paid a visit to the Chorlton Metro Cafe.
From the outside, this place looks very much like your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon, and it sort of is, with fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches up for grabs.
But beyond that, this is the spot to come for an authentic, hearty, home-cooked Persian food.
And it’s this strange dual identity that has caught the attention of Channel 5 this year, and given the business a full episode of The Hotel Inspector.
Alex Polizzi and her crew headed to Chorlton earlier this year to assist husband and wife Majid and Zahra in a rebrand to become The Persian Stop (the sign still hasn’t changed, but bear with them here).
During the episode, The Hotel Inspector tackled everything from a menu overhaul to a spruce-up of the restaurant’s frontage, and ran a cost evaluation, hoping to help Majid and Zahra to increase custom.
A full spread of the new Persian dishesMajid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dishFantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe
And there were other familiar faces involved too – Channel 5 called on social media experts The Manc (oh wait, that’s us!) to help Majid understand the power of social media.
The couple moved to the UK from Iran more than 20 years ago, and Majid ran a successful construction business – until the financial crisis of 2008.
The pair then poured their life savings into the Metro Cafe, a greasy spoon just across the road from Chorlton tram stop.
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
They kept the full builder’s breakfasts and mugs of tea, but added a new string of Persian stews and fragrant rice dishes to the menu.
Now, with the help of The Hotel Inspector, the menu puts these ancient dishes front and centre.
Expect slices of syrupy baklava for only £2.80, and traditional stews like khoresh bademjan (slow-cooked aubergines with split peas and lamb) and khoresh fesenjan (saffron, ground walnut and pomegranate chicken).
This is a small business, run by a fantastic local couple, and one of those hidden gems that deserves to be a little less hidden.
Daisy Jackson -
17th February 2024 
