The Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK have been named this evening – and in a stunning turn of events, Manchester has taken the top spot.
Schofield’s Bar on Little Quay Street has stormed into first place, beating out the biggest names in the drinks industry.
Last year’s winner, Satan’s Whiskers in Bethnal Green in London, fell into second place.
And it was a fantastic result for the rest of the north too, with cocktail bars across Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield shining in the Top 50.
Also featuring in the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list in Manchester is Blinker, a Spring Gardens bar that has a dedicated martini menu, which swooped into the top 10 and placed sixth.
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Speak In Code on Jackson’s Row took 12th place (a slight drop from last year’s eighth place but still a phenomenal showing).
And Project Halcyon, the brilliant bar hidden down in the Bonded Warehouse, made it into the 21st spot in the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.
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Manchester’s shiny new LGBTQ+ cocktail bar Red Light, tucked down on pretty Little David Street at Kampus, was named One To Watch.
But back to Schofield’s Bar, officially the best cocktail bar in the entire UK.
Project Halcyon also made the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Schofield’s Bar, just named the best in the UK. Credit: The Manc GroupBlinker in Manchester made the top 10 of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list. Credit: The Manc Group
The judges said that this drinking spot, created by Bury-born brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield, is ‘impressive’ and noted that it’s the first Manchester bar to ever take the number one spot.
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They wrote: “Together, they had a vision to return home to Manchester to open their now impressive venue, which sits on the corner of the iconic Sunlight House, an art deco masterpiece by architect Joseph Sunlight.”
The Top 50 Cocktail Bars list then detailed that the menu ‘consists of classic cocktails as well as crafted in-house stylings created by the Schofield’s, along with beers, wines, Champagne and also some food’.
Many of the drinks inside are inspired by the brothers’ favourite books, and you can borrow a book off the shelf to read with your paired cocktail – like a Vesper Martini with Casino Royale, a Singapore Sling with Cocktail, and a mojito with The Old Man and the Sea.
The Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK in full
Schofield’s Bar – Manchester
Satan’s Whiskers – Bethnal Green
Passing Fancies – Digbeth, Birmingham
Couch – Stirchley, West Midlands
Hey Palu – Edinburgh, Midlothian
Blinker – Manchester
Swift Soho – London
Amaro Bar – Kensington, London
Panda and Sons – Edinburgh
Tayēr + Elementary – Shoreditch, London
Kwãnt – Mayfair, London
Speak in Code – Manchester
Three Sheets – Dalston, London
🔶🟥🔵 – Hackney, London
Murder Inc – Soho, London
Tabula Rasa – Leeds
Lab 22 – Cardiff
Filthy XIII – Bristol
Crossroads – Newington Green
The Connaught Bar – Mayfair, London
Project Halcyon – Manchester
SOMA – Soho, London
Eve Bar – Covent Garden
Side Hustle – Covent Garden
The Hideout – Bath
Little Mercies – Crouch End, London
Below Stairs – Leeds
Silverleaf – Spitalfields, London
Bar Termini – Soho, London
Seed Library – Shoreditch, London
Charlie Brown’s – Glasgow
Bramble Bar & Lounge – Edinburgh
Scarfes Bar – Holborn, London
Happiness Forgets – Hoxton, London
The Absent Ear – Glasgow
69 Colebrooke Row – Islington, London
Artesian – Fitzrovia, London
Callooh Callay – Shoreditch, London
Fox and Chance – Birmingham
The Milk Thistle – Bristol
Nauticus – Edinburgh
Public – Sheffield
The Gate – Glasgow
Nightjar – Shoreditch, London
Ojo Rojo – Bournemouth
The Wildcat – Edinburgh
Lyaness – South Bank, London
Pennyroyal – Cardiff
Bench – Sheffield
The American Bar – Auchterarder
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Burger King is giving away free burgers to new drivers today
Emily Sergeant
Burger King will be giving away burgers to drivers who have recently passed their tests for free of charge today.
In case it wasn’t on your radar, tomorrow (Thursday 24 July) is actually National Drive-Thru Day, and in a bid to properly celebrate this unofficial holiday, Burger King has decided to hand out a bunch of freebies to newbies today.
The fast food chain is asking all new drivers to “buckle up”, head on down to their nearest Burger King drive-thru, and help themselves to a free burger.
All newly-qualified drivers will be able to take their pick from either the Whopper or Chicken Royale without parting ways with a penny, and all they’ll need to do the claim their freebie is simply show off their learner’s ‘L Plates’ to the staff at their local Burger King restaurant.
/ Credit: Burger King UK (via Instagram) | Supplied
Hundreds of Burger King drive-thrus across the UK are taking part in the one-day promotion – including several across in Greater Manchester.
Although it might seem a little too good to be true, there’s a reason Burger King has chosen to dish out the freebies, and that’s because the company says it knows that one of the first activities newly-qualified drivers like do once they’ve passed their test is make a pit stop at a drive-thru with their mates to show off their new wheels and skills.
Sometimes though, navigating a drive-thru for the first time can be tricky, and this leaves new drivers feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.
Luckily with this one-day Burger King offer, new drivers’ first drive-thru trip couldn’t be any easier.
The offer is available nationwide today (Wednesday 24 July) at Burger King drive-thru lanes only, while stock lasts, and newly qualified drivers must verbally mention “BK Plates” at the drive-thru lane to unlock their free burger.