A double-decker party bus with free cocktails is coming to Manchester this weekend as popular bar chain Be At One celebrates 25 years in business.
The bar’s 90’s style double-decker bus will be visiting Spinningfields’ Hardman Square on Sunday 28 May, popping up from 1 to 6pm with plenty of free cocktails and good vibes.
Here, guests will be invited to hop on board and join in the celebrations with complimentary drinks dished out all day, plus live DJs and more live birthday entertainment.
With over 100 cocktails to choose from, Be At One boasts one of the most extensive cocktail menus in the mainstream nightlife scene.
A longstanding fixture on the high street, it is a challenge for most to walk through the city centre without encountering at least one Be At One bar.
First established in 1998, the cocktail connoisseurs have become one of the UK’s most trusted go-to venues.
Now, this May they are taking guests back to a time when it was impossible to shuffle past a bar or club without VengaBoys – We Like To Party being blasted through the walls.
Through eccentric colours, groovy prints and notes of nostalgia up and down their personalised party bus, the group’s three-day weekender will be a true celebration of what has been an incredible 25-year run of entertaining city-goers across the country.
As well as stopping off in Manchester on Saturday, the party bus will also be popping up in Birmingham’s Bullring Shopping Centre and at London Victoria Station.
Michelle Farrell, Director of Marketing of Stonegate Group commented: “Celebrating a 25th birthday is a remarkable milestone for any business, and we couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than visiting our guests right in their hometowns.
“Not only will the Be At One party bus be touring up and down the country, but all 40 of our cocktail bars will be throwing their own birthday bashes all weekend – it’s a celebration not to be missed!”
The Be At One party bus schedule will be:
May 26 – 1pm – 6pm – London Victoria Station
May 27 – 1.30pm – 6pm – Birmingham Bullring Shopping Centre
May 28 – 1pm – 6pm – Manchester Spinningfields
Featured image – Supplied
Food & Drink
Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs, Mr Thomas’s Chop House, is finally undergoing a major upgrade after admitting its building has become an ’embarrassment’.
The historic Cross Street boozer has shared a public apology for the ‘deteriorating’ state of its stunning building.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is now pleading for support from punters as it undergoes the weeks-long scheme of improvements.
Visitors will find a reduced menu while renovations are taking place.
The pub said that it’s aware that the Grade II-listed pub has been in need of improvement for a while, but explained these works have been hampered by leasing issues.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House explained that it’s been ‘existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord’.
It’s left them unable to invest into the building – until now.
The pub will be adding brand-new toilets downstairs (they said the old ones were ‘an embarrassment’), as well as improving the kitchens and adding a new beer cellar.
In their statement, Mr Thomas’s Chop House said: “First of all, we owe you, our loyal customers, an apology.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is undergoing a refurb
“Over the past few years bits of our stunning building have deteriorated. The toilets have become a bit of an embarrassment. We are sorry.
“The fact is, we (The Victorian Chop House Company) have been existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord.
“As a result of this uncertainty we haven’t been able to invest into the fabric of the building.
“But now the wait is finally over. And together with our landlords we are finally beginning a scheme of renovations which will return Tom’s to the state it should be in!”
Work began last week and is expected to last for around three weeks.
They also wrote: “Things will be slightly different but we are so excited. Please help us stay afloat while we work to restore Tom’s.”
The brilliant Persian cafe in disguise as a greasy spoon that’s just had a star turn on TV
Daisy Jackson
A family-run, often-overlooked restaurant in Chorlton had a star turn on TV last night, when The Hotel Inspector paid a visit to the Chorlton Metro Cafe.
From the outside, this place looks very much like your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon, and it sort of is, with fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches up for grabs.
But beyond that, this is the spot to come for an authentic, hearty, home-cooked Persian food.
And it’s this strange dual identity that has caught the attention of Channel 5 this year, and given the business a full episode of The Hotel Inspector.
Alex Polizzi and her crew headed to Chorlton earlier this year to assist husband and wife Majid and Zahra in a rebrand to become The Persian Stop (the sign still hasn’t changed, but bear with them here).
During the episode, The Hotel Inspector tackled everything from a menu overhaul to a spruce-up of the restaurant’s frontage, and ran a cost evaluation, hoping to help Majid and Zahra to increase custom.
A full spread of the new Persian dishesMajid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dishFantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe
And there were other familiar faces involved too – Channel 5 called on social media experts The Manc (oh wait, that’s us!) to help Majid understand the power of social media.
The couple moved to the UK from Iran more than 20 years ago, and Majid ran a successful construction business – until the financial crisis of 2008.
The pair then poured their life savings into the Metro Cafe, a greasy spoon just across the road from Chorlton tram stop.
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
They kept the full builder’s breakfasts and mugs of tea, but added a new string of Persian stews and fragrant rice dishes to the menu.
Now, with the help of The Hotel Inspector, the menu puts these ancient dishes front and centre.
Expect slices of syrupy baklava for only £2.80, and traditional stews like khoresh bademjan (slow-cooked aubergines with split peas and lamb) and khoresh fesenjan (saffron, ground walnut and pomegranate chicken).
This is a small business, run by a fantastic local couple, and one of those hidden gems that deserves to be a little less hidden.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd May 2023 
