You can get mulled wine Christmas cocktail trees at this Manchester winter village
Whilst we're no stranger to a cocktail tree, these ones at Mala's winter village are extra special - served with real, living firs for that extra festive touch
There’s a winter village in Manchester selling mulled wine Christmas cocktail trees and we are just a little bit obsessed.
Hidden away off the beaten track in the Northern Quarter, if you look for a big green door you should stumble across Mala’s magical alpine village.
The secret garden on Lever Street has been transformed into a winter wonderland for the festive season, complete with ski cabins, heated Alpine chalets and a giant barn – plus not one but two charming outdoor garden spaces.
Image: The Manc Group
Now, as we roll into December, the team has upped its bar offering – which already includes steins, hot chocolates and a range of cocktails including margaritas – to offer these amazing mulled wine Christmas cocktail trees throughout the season.
Priced at £6.50 per glass or £24 for a tree of four, they come out on real evergreen firs jazzed up with baubles and pine cones. It doesn’t really get more Christmassy than that.
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And that’s not all. As well as the brilliant mulled wine Christmas cocktail trees, Mala is also serving up a Berry 75 cocktail tree – priced at £29, or £8 for a single glass.
The Berry 75 cocktail tree at Mala – priced at £29, or £8 for a single glass / Image: Mala / Memphis Medium
The Berry 75 is a twist on the classic French 75 cocktail, a combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar and fizz – but this one has added raspberry to give it that red, Christmassy hue.
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Food-wise, there are plans to offer a cheese fondue at some point next month, but right now you can still get your hands on some top-notch local scran as Mala has partnered with a host of local eateries.
By scanning a QR code on your table (or in your heated chalet), you’ll be able to access the menus of surrounding eateries like Ply, Chakalaka, House of Habesha, Salt and Pepper and more – with each venue bringing its food in for you directly.
On-site, you’ll also find Crumbled – serving up pots of indulgent crumbles from their hatch next to the bar. With toppings like biscoff, chocolate sauce, rose custard and more, it’s a proper indulgent sweet treat.
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There’s no need to book either, rather you can simply walk in – and the mulled wine Christmas cocktail trees will be served throughout December.
Mala’s opening hours are from 12.30 to 9 pm every day.
Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down
Daisy Jackson
Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.
The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.
A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.
Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.
Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.
Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).
It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.
The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.
Banyan in Spinningfields has shut downThe note in the window of Banyan
But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.
The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.
“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.
“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”
Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win
Daisy Jackson
Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.
The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.
It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.
But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.
In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.
Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.
Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc GroupThe food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.
The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.
“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.
“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”
Georgina Pellant -
25th November 2021 
