With office parties sadly off the menu this year, an independent wine specialist in Manchester has launched a host of innovative ways to celebrate Christmas a little differently.
Salut – an independent wine specialist in the heart of the city centre offering the most diverse and impressive hand-picked range of wines from around the globe – has launched a Party in a Box, which allows companies the chance to enjoy wine, cheese and games, all while supporting independent business and a local charity initiative at the same time.
It means that whatever the workplace situation, colleagues can still get together to celebrate and share in excellent wine this Christmas.
After a phone consultation with the party organiser/employee, Salut will then build a bespoke box (or boxes) dependent on the requirements of the business, so for companies who want to celebrate in the office with their workplace bubble, the perfect wine experience can be delivered direct to the office door – plus optional matched cheeses from the Crafty Cheese Man too – for a hassle-free, COVID-safe Christmas office celebration that still keeps things feeling special.
Salut can even provide the glassware to avoid the dreaded ‘wine from your favourite office mug’ situation too.
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If it’s a ‘virtual’ get together however, Salut will help despatch wine to multiple destinations and then host a wine tasting via Zoom for teams to enjoy in their own homes.
Salut WinesSalut Wines
Whilst traditional office party games may be a no-go for a COVID-safe Christmas, Salut has decided to join forces with Forever Manchester – a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity right across the region – to bring some light-hearted office competition to the workplace celebrations.
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The Big Forever Manchester Quiz of the Year is an online charity quiz that can be played anywhere – hosted by well-known Manchester personalities including Julie Hesmondhalgh and Justin Moorhouse – and Salut has made a donation to Forever Manchester to license the quiz (usually £100 to play) as part of its Party in a Box to be able to include it free to the first 50 to purchase a box.
Not only that, but this is a box that donates to the charity on your behalf too.
Wine gifts for employees are also a Salut-speciality, with passionate and knowledgeable staff on hand to help businesses pick the perfect gift to suit the budget and package, and despatch for a hassle-free way to ensure teams feel valued after a tough year.
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And if a more foodie celebration is in order, Salut has also teamed up with Open Kitchen – Manchester’s leading sustainable catering company – to create fabulous food and wine-matched packages that can be delivered straight to the workplace, with Open Kitchen’s passionate chefs having created beautiful and unique menus to compliment Salut’s Christmas wine boxes.
All profits from Open Kitchen also go towards providing food and supplying meals for people in crisis across Greater Manchester too, which really makes Salut’s Party in a Box the ultimate independent and thoughtful corporate Christmas solution.
You can view potential packages and find out more information via the Salut website here.
Eats
Andy Burnham’s favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham’s favourite pub, restaurant, neighbourhood, and Sunday roast have been revealed – and the man’s got taste.
Old footage of now-PM Andy Burnham chatting to content creator Isaac Likes has been doing the rounds again, and while the interview dates back to before Andy left us and headed down to the big smoke, his Manchester recommendations still stand.
From his go-to neighbourhood and favourite pub to where he heads for a Sunday roast, and even the song he likes to play when he gets behind the decks, Burnham gave us a glimpse into his ideal Manchester day.
First up, there’s the Northern Quarter, which Burnham reckons has to be his favourite neighbourhood in the city.
He said: “Got to be the Northern Quarter. It’s the place where it’s all happening.”
When it comes to food, he singled out Firehouse, sitting on the edge of the Northern Quarter, as one of his favourite places to eat. He also gave a shoutout to its sister venue Ramona, where he’s been known to get behind the decks.
Andy said: “On the edge of the Northern Quarter, Firehouse is a place I love to go. Ramona Pizza, I’ve DJ’d there – if the mayor DJs there it’s gotta be alright.”
For a proper pint, Burnham’s choice is a little more traditional, saying his favourite pub is the ‘proper old school’ Peveril of the Peak.
The beautiful tiled pub was recently named the best in the UK, just days before its legendary landlady Nancy passed away.
When Sunday rolls around, Burnham said he has a couple of options up his sleeve. The Wharf in Castlefield gets a mention, as does Edinburgh Castle up in Ancoats.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterThe Edinburgh CastleFirehouseSome of Andy Burnham’s favourite places in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He said: “We love our gravy, we drink it by the pint in Manchester.”
Of course, no conversation with Burnham about Manchester would be complete without talking music.
Asked to name the best Manchester band of all time, he offered a few contenders – The Smiths, New Order, and, ultimately, The Stone Roses.
“The band I think are quintessentially Manchester is The Stone Roses. That was peak Manchester,” he said.
The amazing new doughnut shop that’s opened in a churchyard in Wigan
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new doughnut hatch has landed in Wigan, serving fresh bakes and speciality coffee from inside a beautiful local churchyard.
This is Holy Grounds, the latest independent spot bringing together freshly made doughnuts, excellent coffee and a spectacular setting, right beside the Wigan Parish Church.
The Lancashire-born business expanded to Wigan just three weeks ago, and it’s already proving hugely popular with the locals.
As we’re seeing all over Wigan these days, Holy Grounds have taken on a beautiful characterful space and turned it into a great new independent hangout.
The doughnut hatch is connected to the church itself, with the room believed to have once been an old school space. Today, it’s been given a very different purpose, with the smell of freshly baked doughnuts and coffee filling the building.
And you can still get a very real reminder that you’re sitting inside a church – the bells ring twice a day.
Holy Grounds was set up by Sam, who was previously a vicar, alongside his partner Hannah.
They and their team are making doughnuts fresh every day, using a 48-hour proving process, before transforming them into a monthly-rotating selection of flavours.
This month’s specials at Holy GroundsThe selection of Holy Grounds doughnuts in WiganA peach and almond doughnut, and an OGHoly Grounds stands in the churchyard of Wigan Parish ChurchFreshly-made doughnuts and coffee in Wigan
This month’s flavours include The OG, peach and almond, chocolate cornflakes, and blackberry and white chocolate.
Holy Grounds serves speciality coffee from Clifton Coffee Roasters in Bristol, making the doughnut-and-coffee combination feel less like a quick sugar hit and more like a proper little ritual.
A beautiful old building, fresh doughnuts, excellent coffee and church bells ringing overhead?
We’re not saying we’ve found heaven, but we’re definitely getting closer.
Emily Sergeant -
17th December 2020 
