Food & Drink

A double-decker party bus with free cocktails is coming to Manchester this weekend

It will be pulling up in Spinningfields this Saturday.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 23rd May 2023

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

First established in 1998, the cocktail connoisseurs have become one of the UK’s most trusted go-to venues.

Read more: Erling Haaland spotted cooking his own dinner in flashy Manchester restaurant Mnky Hse

ADVERTISEMENT

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. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: Food to overtake energy bills in driving up UK cost of living crisis

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

ADVERTISEMENT

May 27 – 1.30pm – 6pm – Birmingham Bullring Shopping Centre 

May 28 – 1pm – 6pm –  Manchester Spinningfields 

Featured image – Supplied

Food & Drink

The Pack Horse – the Michelin-recommended Peak District pub serving the best pre-hike breakfast in the North

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The full breakfast at The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group

There’s a pub in the Peak District that’s comfortably established itself as one of the very best in the UK, and this banging local isn’t just about pints and Sunday roasts.

The Pack Horse in the village of Hayfield is also a purveyor of an excellent breakfast, perfect to fuel you up before a big hike in the surrounding hills.

Want a little taste of this pub’s accolades? In the space of just one week, The Pack Horse placed in the Top 50 Gastropubs and then got added to the Michelin Guide – a stunning double header.

The restaurant in Hayfield was praised by Michelin inspectors for being ‘a true village local’.

Just this week, it was also added to the Good Food Guide’s list of the best Sunday roasts in the UK.

Headed up by chef and co-owner Luke Payne, The Pack Horse in the village of Hayfield is an outstanding establishment.

Here is a pub where you can have a world-class meal that shows off the best of British produce, while sipping an ale, with muddy boots on your feet.

Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield

It doesn’t really matter who you ask, The Pack Horse is readily and consistently named one of the best pubs in the entire UK and anyone stepping through its door would struggle to argue with that. 

Because although the price point sits a little higher than your average boozer, it still has all the trappings of a proper country pub. 

Yes, there are crisps behind the bar. Yes, there’s a pub quiz. Yes, there’s a resident pub dog (Lola the Labrador will sit and stare you out if there is anything edible in your immediate vicinity). 

But what we haven’t seen anywhere near enough people harp on about is the breakfast at The Pack Horse.

The ingredients on their breakfast menu are all sourced so locally you could probably hike to any of them with a bit of grit and determination.

From Port of Lancaster smoked kippers to bacon cut thick and laced with maple, everything is of the highest quality.

You can’t go wrong with The Pack Horse signature breakfast, which has eggs, bacon, Manchester sausage, crispy hash browns, Doreen’s black pudding, wild mushrooms, confit tomato, trotter beans, AND sourdough.

A bacon and egg muffin at The Pack Horse Hayfield
A bacon and egg muffin at The Pack Horse Hayfield
Coffee, juice and a breakfast menu at The Pack Horse. Credit: The Manc Group
Coffee, juice and a breakfast menu at The Pack Horse. Credit: The Manc Group

You can have the full portion for £20 or just take one of each item for £10 and then immediately regret not having more.

The bulk of the menu beyond that centres around the pub’s homemade English muffins, toasted and buttered and filled with whatever breakfast item takes your fancy (scrambled egg and bacon for me, always).

It’s a breakfast worthy of the fanciest hotels and most popular of brunch spots. 

Once you’re suitably fuelled and ready for a walk there are two hikes nearby that aren’t too strenuous and crucially don’t take too long (those daylight savings hours really mess with a big hike, eh). 

The Sett Valley Trail starts just across the road and is a consistent and mostly flat out-and-back.

Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group

You can follow it all the way to the Torrs Millennium Walkway in New Mills if you fancy, or just turn back when you’ve had enough.

ADVERTISEMENT

Or you can head the other way through Hayfield out towards Kinder Reservoir – the loop will take you over streams and stepping stones and little wooden bridges, past the huge body of water, through woodland and fields, and place you within sight of Kinder Downfall waterfall. 

This is the poster child of the Peak District and one of the National Park’s best, most comprehensive walks. 

You’ll also be close to Kinder Scout, but this is a more challenging hike and at this time of year we’d really recommend setting off nice and early to get maximum daylight hours.

And that would mean no time for a Pack Horse breakfast, which just won’t do. 

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Peek inside the space-themed festive tipi bar that’s appeared in Manchester city centre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Nova Star, a new festive teepee pop-up bar in Manchester

A gigantic new festive tipi has appeared in Manchester city centre, and this one’s out of this world.

Nova Star is an intergalactic, space-age tipi, filled with twinkling stars and shimmering galaxies.

The space-themed pop-up bar has appeared in Sadler’s Yard, right outside New Century.

Inside, you’ll be able to get your mitts on festive food specials from beloved Christmas Markets favourites Parmogeddon.

Their menu includes raclette-covered roast potatoes, with additional toppings like hot honey, brie, stuffing crumbs and gravy.

There’ll also be pigs in blanket hot dogs topped with cranberry and chilli ketchup and stuffing crumb, with an indulgent pot of gravy for dunking, plus profitteroles with a homemade brandy cream filling.

Nova Star’s bar will have a menu of shimmering cocktails and ice-cold beers too, with a full menu of Cosmos, including a Nebula Cosmo (which tastes a lot like a pina colada but is blue), a Cosmic Amore (close to a classic Cosmopolitan), and the Milkyway (a sweet and creamy concoction with hazelnut and vanilla).

Nova Star, a new festive teepee pop-up bar in Manchester
Loaded raclette roasties at Nova Star, Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Nova Star, a new festive teepee pop-up bar in Manchester
A pigs in blanket hot dog. Credit: The Manc Group
Nova Star, a new festive teepee pop-up bar in Manchester
Profiteroles from Parmogeddon. Credit: The Manc Group

Nova Star will be serving up their very own signature ‘Nova Staro’ pints, created in collaboration with Czech Pilsner specialists Staropramen in their first ever rebrand.

It’s a far cry from your typical Bavarian Christmas experience, swapping out holly and ivy for stars and shimmers.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy a line-up of festive entertainment.

Abby Moore, managing director at New Century, said: “Nova Star is all about celebrating Christmas at its most magical – and for us that means with all the dazzle of the space age.

“It’s a chance to escape the traditional and enjoy a spectacular atmosphere, stellar cocktails and incredible food.

“We can’t wait to welcome the people of Manchester to our space-age Christmas destination.” 

Nova Star opens at Sadler’s Yard on Friday 22 November.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Food & Drink

Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five unveils big refurb

Eats

Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant unveils big refurb

Gail's will hand out free tea in Prestwich to apologise for spelling the village's name wrong

Bury

Bakery chain Gail’s is attempting to win over Prestwich after spelling mishap

Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester

Eats

Salon Madre – A new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Manchester

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches