Eats

A prison-themed bar is coming to Manchester and ‘inmates’ can sip on cocktails in a cell

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 22nd June 2021

A new prison-themed immersive bar is opening doors in Manchester city centre next month, and it features a replica cell block and prison canteen.

Alcotraz: Cell Block Three-Four – which is already up and running in London and Brighton, having first opened in the capital back in 2017 – will be taking over the former Epernay bar on Watson Street in the heart of the city centre, and will see Mancunians donning orange jumpsuits and smuggling alcohol past wardens and into the hands of existing ‘inmates’, who’ll create bespoke cocktails with their chosen spirit.

The ‘unique theatrical experience’ features a cast of talented actors – including ‘bootlegger’ bartenders – and will have space for 50 inmates across 10 cells.

There’ll also be 100 cells ranging in size suitable for various private hire events.

The unique theatrical experience of Alcotraz features a cast of talented actors / Credit: Alcotraz

When ‘inmates’ arrive on the night, they’ll be given their own inmate number and orange jumpsuit, before being shown to a cell – where smuggled liquor will appear from hidden corners like the inside of cooking appliances.

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Speaking ahead of Alcotraz’s Manchester launch, Sam Shearman – creator of Alcotraz and founder of Inventive Productions – said: “The experience has been so popular within London that within a very short period of time we were able to grow the Alcotraz brand to have multiple sites, including one in Brighton.

“We are now absolutely thrilled to bring this unique concept to Manchester and launch our biggest and most ambitious Alcotraz to date.”

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Mancunians will get to don an orange jumpsuit and smuggle alcohol past the warden / Credit: Alcotraz

Bookings are now live ahead of the opening of Alcotraz: Cell Block Three-Four on 16th July.

Lower-priced ticketed seats will be available in a prison commissary area, and those who wish to continue their sentence after the main experience can book a seat in the canteen for extra cocktails and prison rations.

Tickets are priced £29.99 in the prison commissary area, or £35.99 within the cells – and you can grab yours here.

Featured Image – Alcotraz

Eats

A tiny new train station pub is set to open at Manchester Oxford Road

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The team behind Piccadilly Tap and Victoria Tap have applied to open a new pub at Manchester Oxford Road

A tiny craft beer pub is set to open at Manchester Oxford Road, making all those inevitable train cancellations a little sweeter.

The new boozer will come from the same team behind some of the UK’s best train station pubs, who already have bars at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria.

A licensing application has now been submitted by Bloomsbury Leisure Holdings Limited to take over the former cycle hub at Manchester Oxford Road.

The small building is directly opposite the entrance to the busy train station on the southern side of the city centre.

If approved, it will be the third site for the pub group in Manchester.

They already operate the Piccadilly Tap, that two-storey beer bar on Piccadilly Approach with a heated rooftop space and outdoor patio.

The team are also responsible for the more recently-opened Victoria Tap, which took over the former bin store at Manchester Victoria.

That particular pub has a heated beer garden constructed just inches away from where the trams tootle past and has a departures board where time is measured by pints (got 10 mins til your train leaves? That’s one pint, sir!)

As for the Oxford Road Tap, a new account on X appeared a few weeks ago that appears to confirm the imminent arrival of a new pub.

The Oxford Road Tap have applied to have opening hours through to half-past-midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

They teased a mocked-up photo of posters outside the station with the new pub logo, plus a slogan of ‘Great beer is just a few steps away…’

They later shared ‘Triple threat incoming’ with all three pub brands lined up as a deck of cards.

Very exciting times ahead.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pie and Ale Manchester closed down

Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.

Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.

Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.

Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.

Credit: The Manc Eats

While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.

Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.

Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.

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While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.

A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.

We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.

RIP to an NQ icon.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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