One of Manchester‘s newest retro games bars has teamed up with Hooch throw a 90s-themed weekend this summer.
There’ll be tournaments, competitions, and some cracking prizes up for grabs.
Pong & Puck – which opened doors inside the Great Northern Warehouse back in March, and has already become one of the go-to places to play shuffleboard, table tennis, and more in the city – has decided to take the classic drinking game of beer pong and give it a Hooch spin to celebrate the summer.
The retro venue is inviting people to “drink, play and party” at its Hooch Takeover Weekend next Friday 12 – Sunday 14 August.
Kicking the weekend off with a Hooch Pong tournament from 5-9pm, players can pair up to try and win one of three “zingy” prizes.
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Pong & Puck has taken the classic game beer pong and given it a Hooch twist / Credit: Pong & Puck (via It’s Me Louis Photography)
The first place prize will be the two winners’ combined height in Hooch cans, as well as a free booking of Hooch pong for a later date, while those who finish in second place will get the team’s tallest player’s height in Hooch cans and a free booking of Hooch pong.
Three cans of Hooch and a free booking of Hooch pong will be up for grabs for those in third place.
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If fruity tipples are your thing, but you don’t fancy unleashing your competitive side, then luckily, you can also get cans of Hooch for just £8 all weekend at Pong & Puck, and there’ll even be a £100 bar tab up for grabs too.
And if all of that wasn’t enough as it is, you can expect there to be a throwback soundtrack of guilty pleasure tunes all weekend.
The retro games bar opened its doors inside the Great Northern Warehouse in March / Credit: Pong & Puck (via It’s Me Louis Photography)
The Hooch Weekend Takeover is taking place from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 August 2022.
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Pong & Punk also runs bottomless brunches on both Saturdays and Sundays from 12-2pm, and even on Wednesdays too from 5-7:30pm – with group games, pizza, unlimited drinks, and prosecco pong.
Featured Image – Pong & Puck (via It’s Me Louis Photography)
Eats
The Salmon of Knowledge pub is opening a second site in Didsbury
Danny Jones
A recent addition to the Manchester hospitality scene is building on its early success and opening up another Irish bar over in Didsbury.
Northern Quarter’s Salmon of Knowledge, which launched back in September 2024, is one of countless Irish pubs across Greater Manchester but only a handful in the vibrant district.
Having taken over the much-loved old PLY site – which sadly closed its doors last summer – they had a job on their hands to reach the same heights as the legendary late-night pizza and shuffleboard joint, but these first few months have clearly gone well enough to expand.
The increasingly popular watering hole which is one of the few places around here where you can get Murphy’s (at least in the city centre) is much more than just an Irish-themed venue: it delivers regular live music, sports on the box and great food from local brand, The Last Stop – and Didsbury is up next.
Irish favourite The Salmon of Knowledge’s sister bar comes to Didsbury later this year. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
The caption goes on to read: “Big news, Didsbury. You called and we answered. The Salmon of Knowledge is swimming upstream to bring our second site to YOU very soon!
“By popular demand, we are expanding to the suburbs, so get ready for live music, great food, live sports, and gallons of Guinness. You heard it here first… stay tuned!”
As well as a wide variety of beverages beyond the obviously stunning stouts, fans will be glad to hear the Salmon will be bringing The Last Stop’s talents with them.
From the aesthetic, prices and drinks selection to the reliable New York influences on the Heaton Chapel-based vendor’s menu, we’ve been pretty big fans of this place since minute one.
Manchester, pay attention: The Salmon of Knowledge has some wisdom to bestow upon you — mainly how to pour a proper Guinness and have a grand auld time. 🇮🇪☘️
Although they are yet to give any more information as to when we can expect The Salmon of Knowledge Didsbury to open at present, we do have an indication of where it will be popping up.
It has now been confirmed that they will be taking over the former Dockyard pub (which still has locations in Salford Quays and Spinningfields), meaning that it will sit in the heart of the busy Didsbury Village strip, which should prove great for footfall.
Just like the Stevenson Square spot, live music and sports will accompany Didsbury’s new Irish bar as well and if the phrase ‘gallons of Guinness’ doesn’t get you excited, we don’t know what will.
New pasta kitchen Soots Pasta opens at Altrincham Market
Daisy Jackson
A little piece of pasta paradise has landed at Altrincham Market and it’s got a secret you won’t believe.
Soots Pasta has taken on a spot in the covered market, where owners and co-founders Ellie Proudfoot and Ruth Duarte are hand-making fresh pasta dishes.
They’ve named this fantastic little kitchen after their cocker spaniel, Soots.
Signature dishes here include a satisfying swirl of thick ravioli, stuffed with ricotta and served on a bed of pumpkin puree and sage butter.
There’s also a vibrant green pesto tagliatelle, laced with basil, lemon and pistachio.
As for small plates, there’s freshly-made focaccia with three different butters, plus crunchy tomato arancini.
Soots Pasta is the first solo venture for Ellie, who used to work as a private chef as well as at restaurants around the region.
Soots Pasta in Altrincham Market. Credit: The Manc GroupSoots Pasta in Altrincham Market. Credit: The Manc Group
She’s taken her background – which includes culinary school in France – to create this modern European menu that takes inspiration from Italy.
What’s not immediately obvious, on reading the menu or eating it, is that everything on the Soots Pasta menu is entirely vegan – and they have gluten-free pasta available on request.
The pair hope that Altrincham Market will be a launchpad to them eventually opening their first restaurant, as it’s done for so many businesses that came before it.
Soots Pasta is on Pott Street in the covered market, and is open Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 14 January.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd August 2022 
