Greene King pubs have announced that they will be giving away free beer to select individuals with the right surname this World Cupand we’re now cursing our parents.
The British pub retailer and brewer has launched the campaign to mark England and Wales’ participation in Qatar 2022. So what’s the deal?
It’s simple: for anyone fortunate enough to share their surname with one of the 50 players in the two British squads, you can cop yourself a free pint for a Greene King pub in your area.
You love to see it.
Credit: England (via Twitter)Credit: Cymru (via Twitter)
It really is as simple as if you’re one of the lucky sods to have been born with the right last name, you can claim a free drink during any England or Wales game.
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The only small catch is that you have to prove your name with a photo ID. Easy peasy.
In case you need a reminder, here are the 50 last names that can earn you some free beers:
This comes just a few days after the chain’s recently restored The Deansgate venue announced they were giving away free England shirts for the Three Lions.
Better still, this isn’t even the only promotion the line of pubs has run this World Cup. Earlier this year, Greene King announced a partnership with 1966 legend Geoff Hurst, who is helping provide free meals to pensioners this winter. Wonderful stuff.
ln a cost of living crisis, it’s great to see businesses like this doing their bit to help a few extra punters out while they’re trying to watch this year’s rather unorthodox tournament at the pub like any other. And hey, at least we can actually drink them here.
You might have missed out on the opportunity with the first game but don’t you worry, the Three Lions are going all the way, so you’ve got plenty of time for free pints.
Featured Image — Greene King/England (via Twitter)
Food & Drink
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 11 – 17 December 2023
Danny Jones
Ay’up, you lovely lot — it’s another week with plenty to do here in Greater Manchester and another step closer to the big day and that post-roast and mince pie-induced napjust because you can.
We have no shame in admitting we’re starting to feel very festive now and while the weather might be a bit cold and miserable of late, it’s not like we aren’t used to it around here and so long as you’re wrapped up, there’s nothing to stop you heading out and enjoying yourself.
To be honest, there aren’t many things that get us in the Christmas spirit quite like seeing Manchester buzzing with people clad in big fluffy jumpers and bobble hats, bags of shopping, giant hotdogs and a cup of mulled wine in hand.
You’ll be glad to know that Manchester’s iconic markets are still around for plenty of time and while, yes, they might be a bit busy and pricey at times, it’s only once a year and we never feel guilty about treating ourselves to proper Bavarian beer served in a big frosty stein.
We don’t need to talk you through this one: you know them and (most of) you love them and The Manc office will certainly be soaking up as much of the international culture as we can before they disappear again for 12 months. But what else is on in Greater Manchester this week?
Skate Manchester
Cathedral Gardens
Monday, 11 – Sunday, 31 December
In that same breath, another Manc staple during the holidays is the ice rink and, thankfully, Skate Manchester is sticking around right up until 2 January, so you’ve got plenty of time to moonlight as the new Torvill/Dean even if you don’t make it there this week.
Located over in Cathedral Gardens, this little corner of the city centre has plenty to keep you busy while you wait for your booking and afterwards too, from a sizeable chunk of this year’s Christmas Market stalls, the National Football Museum and the Corn Exchange just next door. See you on the ice.
Manchester’s newest and arguably prettiest park just got even more eye-catching thanks to the truly spectacular Twilight Trail over in Mayfield. Having now tried it for ourselves and still admiring it from afar on the train into town, it’s well worth a visit this winter and only a tenner for adults.
Located just around the corner from Depot Mayfield with food and drink traders spilling over from the adjacent Freight Island, it’s one of the best festive light trails you’ll find anywhere in the region this year — and believe us, there’s plenty to choose from.
Christmas at Heaton Park
Heaton Park
Monday, 11– Sunday, 31 December
Another such one of those light trails is just half an hour away from the city centre, so if you looking for some more Yuletide attractions beyond the bustle of central Manchester, this year’s Christmas offerings at Heaton Park are the perfect option.
With top-of-the-range visuals from the same people behind Christmas at Kew and equally impressive levels of audio production from the Raymond Gubbay division of Sony Music, this is one that will leave you looking like a wide-eye kid whether you are one or not.
As part of the wider Winter Fest events over in MediaCity, the first half of this week is also your last chance to grab a few bargains and hopefully a real diamond in the rough and do your bit for charitable organisations around Greater Manchester in the process.
The Charity Super.Mkt pop-up is the first of its kind in the UK and has now set up shop in Central Bay over at Quayside. Featuring multiple different non-profits and packed with plenty of pre-loved gems, this is the perfect place to grab a steal whilst also embracing the festive period as a time of giving.
One of the best-loved cult favourite music events on the planet is coming to Manchester, so it only makes sense that it’s taking place at one of the best of the hottest venues in the world, let alone the UK — and these lot should know, they’ve played plenty of them, with residencies in Ibiza and more.
Electronic gig promoters and festival organisers, elrow, are returning to The Warehouse Project on Saturday, 16 December and bringing their XXL experience to raving masses. This time delivering their aptly named Delusionville theme, it’s going to be one of the biggest nights of the WHP 2023 calendar.
Remember this one? The last chapter of One Eight Six’s rollercoaster story might have had a sad ending around this time in 2021 but from the ashes of that fire emerges a new bar reborn and more sleek and stylish than ever.
Having returned to the Deansgate strip and Manc nightlife scene over the weekend, it’s the second phoenix we’ve seen come to life in the North West this winter and we had the honour of being among the first to catch a glimpse of its new. It didn’t disappoint.
It wouldn’t be a weekend without the Makers Markets popping up somewhere in the area and fortunately, you’ve got the choice of not one, not two but three different collections of stalls in Chorlton, Sale and West Didsbury.
With Chorlton’s pop-ups arriving on Saturday and the other two the following day, if you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the chaos and fanfare of the main Christmas markets, you’ll still be able to get lots of festive goodies on a smaller scale here, as well as enjoy the usual artisanal charm and sense of community. Here’s what Prestwich looked like this past weekend:
Now, THIS is the kind of stuff we want to be doing at this time of year: getting a head start on our festive binge of Disney films through the medium of ice skating and at one of the best venues to see any kind of live performance.
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Celebrating ‘100 Years of Wonder’, the legendary Disney on Ice production is enjoying a run of shows at the AO Arena and not only will you get to see all the princesses and classics like Toy Story and Aladdin but the Manchester crowd will also get to see the world of Encanto brought to life for the very first time. A truly unforgettable way to spend a winter’s eve.
Secure your spot to watch the spectacular show HERE.
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back and they’re bringing alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions and a steady flow of drinks, of course — and this year, there’s not one but two locations in Manchester city centre.
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While Bar Hütte at Great Northern is heading back to Deansgate, with 15 cosy private ‘hüttes’ neatly positioned under a heated stretch tent and twinkling lights, Bar Hütte at Kampus also has a nice new outdoor terrace comprising of eight snug, wooden karaoke booths nestled beneath the trees and an ‘Aprés Ski Bungalow’ serving as an indoor alpine bar. Find out more and grab tickets here.
What better way to round off a week than by listening to one of Manchester’s most beloved music sons? Liam Fray’s one-off special show is an early Christmas present if we’ve ever heard of one and while we’re not going to kid you about there being any tickets left for this thing, you could still stand a chance of grabbing one on a resale maybe — who knows?
The Courteeners frontman is playing the one and only Albert Hall in what will be a slightly more intimate performance for the local lad who’s used to filling out stadiums and headlining festivals. We swear we can hear him practising a rendition of ‘Fairytale of New York’ as we speak and we’re welling up already.
A whole host of classic Christmas films are hitting the big screen at the little picture house tucked away inside King Street Townhouse this month. The more we learn about this classy little hotel and spa the more we fall in love with it.
With a marathon of three films set to be screened on each day of the event, the Christmas screening schedule has all the hits: Love Actually, Home Alone and the ever-enjoyable Elf, which is somehow celebrating its 20th anniversary this year if you can believe that.
Other festive favourites on the lineup every weekend leading right up until the big day include It’s a Wonderful Life, The Holiday, The Muppet Christmas Carol, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Bad Santa and more. You can book your perfectly cosy cinema seat HERE.
This is, of course, just a taste of the things to do in and around Greater Manchester this week but, lucky for you, you can always keep up to date with the rest of what’s on right here on The Manc.
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll be sure to keep an eye out on our socials too so you don’t miss any of the best bits over the next seven days and beyond.
Inside One Eight Six as Manchester cocktail bar finally reopens two years after devastating New Year’s Eve fire
Daisy Jackson
One Eight Six, the Manchester cocktail bar that was destroyed in a blaze on New Year’s Eve, is finally ready to reopen.
The stunning subterranean bar and live music venue has been closed since the very early hours of 2022, when a fire broke out shortly after the midnight countdown.
Terrifying CCTV footage at the time showed balloons across the ceiling catching fire and around 170 people fleeing the blaze.
It’s since been confirmed that the cause of the fire was real pine Christmas trees that were fastened to the ceiling, set alight by celebratory sparklers inside the bar.
Ever since that fateful night, One Eight Six has been quiet – until now.
The popular Deansgate bar is finally ready to quite literally rise from the ashes, having undergone an extensive refurbishment.
Its interior was completely destroyed in the New Year’s Eve fire, but has been reborn better than ever before.
Customers will again enter the bar through a barbershop at street level, with in incredible twisting neon light feature hanging from the ceiling.
The stage is set for more late-night live music at One Eight Six in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupCustomers enter One Eight six through a barbershop on Deansgate. Credit: The Manc GroupOne Eight Six’s original interior was destroyed in the New Year’s Eve fire. Credit: The Manc Group
Then after heading down the stairs you’ll find yourself in an art deco speakeasy, with the stage set for live music until the early hours.
Huge curved velvet booths in shades of pink and red will provide guests with a luxurious night out setting.
One Eight Six has installed opulent black marble floors and glowing light arches too – not to mention a giant ‘One Eight Six’ sign in mirrors.
Walls and pillars have been covered in even more mirrors to reflect the huge mirror ball and stage lights.
Founder Dean Mac said: “After nearly two years, we are finally allowed to be back on our feet giving the people of Manchester what they have been waiting so patiently for.
“Thank you again for sticking with us and supporting our journey this far. This new chapter of ONE EIGHT SIX will be better than ever. Same vibe. Same location. Just a whole lot sexier…”
It’s all looking pretty luxurious – just like before.
One Eight Six will officially open its doors this weekend on Deansgate, with bookings live here.
Danny Jones -
23rd November 2022 
