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
A mobile Manc cocktail bar is rolling into a thriving new Greater Mancheser neighbourhood
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has plenty of up-and-coming areas both here in the city centre and out in the boroughs, and one of those – Middlewood Locks over in Salford – is about to be treated to its own mobile cocktail bar.
You’ve got to love a Manc-born and bred independent business.
The canalside New Makers Yards apartments on Middlewood Locks are some of the most desirable new homes and flats you’ll find on the outskirts of the city, but with their on-site Seven Brothers pub sadly closing earlier this year, it is lacking one key thing: somewhere to drink.
However, with Cocktail Cartel MCR rolling into town for National Rum Day, residents can get a taste of, hopefully, what’s more to come.
Cocktail Cartel is a brand new, completely independent mobile bar that’s already starting to take the events industry by storm.
Serving unique and innovative creations (including plenty involving Captain Jack’s go-to tipple), they’ll be slinging cocktails to the New Makers Yards natives along the stunning and ever-thriving Middlewood Locks this month.
Created by Katie and Erik, who have been working in Manchester’s hospitality scene for nearly 20 years combined, these two have a passion for supporting fellow local indies and bringing amazing drinks to the table wherever the opportunity presents itself.
From their ‘Grown Up Coke Float’, which has all the punch of a classic Long Island Iced Tea only with a scoop of toffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles thrown in there, to a Pedro Pascal-inspired tequila numbers (yes, really), they have a lot of fun behind that bar.
Better still, most of their spirits are coming from local legends, Spirit of Manchester, and for this particular upcoming event, it wouldn’t be right to host National Rum Day in 0161’s second city without a gorgeous bit of Salford Rum.
But it doesn’t stop at just cocktails; the Cartel will also be pouring pints from nearby Track Brewery among various other regional favourites.
Once again, they’ll be popping up at New Makers Yard on Saturday, 16 August from noon onwards, promising rum, cocktails, beer, wine, cider and softies – so let’s just hope we get plenty of sun for it.
Keep an eye on their socials for how you might be able to grab some freebies also…
If you visited the most recent edition of Middlewood Locks Fest, you know this place is buzzing when the weather hits just right and the drinks are flowing. See you there.
Featured Images — Cocktail Cartel MCR/Karen Wright Photography (supplied)
Eats
Manchester Arndale is slashing prices on food and drink across the shopping centre
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest is back – and that means there are some absolute bargains to be had on food and drink right across the shopping centre.
Throughout the month of August, restaurants, cafes and kiosks within Manchester Arndale will be offering some serious offers and deals.
This ranges from 25% off to buy-one-get-one-free deals, plus free meals for kids and plenty more.
Venues taking part in the Summer Scran Fest include Archie’s, Subway, Barburrito, Pizza Hut, HOP Vietnamese, Michaels Coffee House and plenty more.
And the leisure destinations within Manchester Arndale are getting stuck in too – think free drinks, combos and more at venues including King Pins and Urban Playground.
There are plenty of Manchester-born businesses getting involved and offering bargains to us all, like Archie’s giving out free soft serve when you spend £10, Barburrito offering a £10 meal deal (burrito, tortilla chips and a soft drink), and Lazy Sundae giving a free scoop of ice cream with any large drink purchase.
Big brand deals include a £5 meal deal at McDonald’s (4 Chicken McNuggets, Cheese burger or Mayo chicken; fries; and medium cold drink), and 25% off at Pizza Hut.
There’s 20% off at Sides in the Manchester Arndale Summer Scran FestLazy Sundae will do a free ice cream with a large drink purchase
Then there are newcomers to Manchester Arndale taking part in the Summer Scran Fest.
HOP, a new Vietnamese street food venue on Market Street, is doing 25% off, while Michaels Coffee House will knock 15% off their seasonal favourites like an Iced Maple Oat Matcha or an Iced Rose Coconut Matcha.
There’s also a 20% discount at Sides, the chicken shop backed by YouTube sensations Sidemen.
And as for leisure destinations – Urban Playground is doing 18 Holes of putters tech-infused mini golf, plus any three small plates from The Butcher menu for £28.20.
Kind Pins has 20% off food and drink, and Immersive Gamebox will do 20% off plus a free drink when you book a 60 or 30 minute gaming session.
Pick up a voucher booklet in the centre or download your offers from the Manchester Arndale website from 1 August.
Daisy Jackson -
17th February 2024 
