Food & Drink

Seven Brothers have brought back a beloved British fizzy drink, only now it’s boozy

They're filling a fizzy-pop-shaped whole in our hearts, one can at a time.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 19th June 2025

Local brewmasters Seven Brothers have brought back one of the UK’s most beloved former fizzy drinks and reimagined it as their latest beer.

The Salford-based brewery, who now boast multiple locations across the North, is no stranger to perfecting creative craft beers, but the latest addition to the 7 Bros lineup is sure to be as firm a favourite as the original soft drink.

If it wasn’t already blatantly obvious, we’ll give you a hint: this tropical twist on pale ale contains hints of pineapple and grapefruit – and it looks an awful lot like an old can of Lilt…

Yes, bringing back the British corner shop staple as an alcoholic version, no less, let us introduce you to Seven Brothers’ new ‘Lilty’ flavour.

What’s better than an ice-cold Lilt on a hot day, we hear you ask? A boozy one, that’s what.

In case you had been wondering why you hadn’t seen the familiarly colourful can on shelves recently, that’s because you haven’t.

Lilt was officially discontinued after 50 years back in February 2023, having been available since 1975 in the likes of the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar, and the Seychelles. Well, sort of.

Still part of Coca-Cola, who also own the likes of Fanta, Powerade, Minute Maid, Schweppes and many more, Lilt has since been rebranded as ‘Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit’.

However, it doesn’t have quite the same bright white, green and yellow scheme, and maybe it is just the packaging, but it does feel like it hasn’t quite tasted the same since.

Fortunately, we now have an alternative that not only captures all of those Caribbean and citrusy notes but that packs plenty of punch at 6% per tin.

The original
The upgrade
Lilt didn’t walk so ‘Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit’ could run; it was so ‘Lilty’ could get you well on your way to tipsy. (Credit: Press shots)

Now available in 440ml cans, this is actually the latest iteration of the first attempt at the drink launched back in July 2024, only now they’ve fine-tuned the recipe, and we can’t wait to drink by the gallon-full, or at least by the pint.

The description reads as follows: “This lilty little pale ale is a tongue-tingling throwback to fruity pop days gone by. Packed with pineapple and grapefruit flavours for a proper tropical punch.

“Immerse yourself in a wave of vibrant, tropical flavours with a generous double-hit of Amarillo and Mosaic hops taking centre stage. Juicy, fruity, fresh and fun with no bitter goodbyes, it’s basically sunshine in a tin.” It also happens to be vegan, which is a nice little bonus, isn’t it?

Seven Brothers’ brand new flavour is being rolled out as we speak, and we suspect it won’t be long before you see plenty of people asking for a ‘totally tropical taste’ at the taproom, their Ancoats Beerhouse or over in Media City (rest in peace, the Middlewood Locks site).

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Seven Brothers (supplied)

Food & Drink

Beloved bowling bar to close after 12 years ahead of major transformation

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes. Credit: The-Vain - Carl Sukonik - @thevainphotos

Dog Bowl, a bowling bar that’s been part of Manchester’s bar scene for 12 years, will be closing for good next month ahead of a major rebrand.

The beloved bowling alley will be shutting down on 16 August to make way for Wynwood Lanes, a new downtown Miami-themed venue.

It’s promising ‘pool-side party vibes’ inspired by Miami’s vibrant Wynwood district, famed for its bold geometric murals, neon lit streets and 24/7 energy – but bowling lanes will remain as part of the venue.

The bar will offer five upgraded bowling lanes, east coast playlists, celebratory smoke machines and upgraded lighting effects that bring every strike to life.

That’s alongside new pool tables, basketball hoops and a coconut shy.

Taking over the kitchens at the Whitworth Street venue will be Kong’s NQ, who’ll be serving up fresh Cuban sandwiches, meat-filled arepas and fried chicken tacos.

Wynwood Lanes will also feature a bottomless brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday from 30 August, with Miami brunch plates and bottomless drinks for 90 minutes and bowling packages available too.

The drinks menu will star cocktails inspired by Miami – think frozen margs, fruity daiquiris, and coladas.

By day, you can expect poolside cocktails, low-fi tunes, and a laid-back atmosphere – with children welcome until 7pm, Sunday to Wednesday.

But then by night, Wynwood Lanes will be all about drinks offers, late night snacks and a late night playlist.

Dog Bowl has been part of Manchester’s nightlife scene since 2013, and was acquired by gaming bar NQ64 in 2018.

Now it’s ready for its next era as Wynwood Lanes.

Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes. Credit: The-Vain - Carl Sukonik - @thevainphotos
Credit: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos
Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes. Credit: The-Vain - Carl Sukonik - @thevainphotos
Credit: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos
Dog Bowl is closing in Manchester to become Wynward Lanes

Matt Robson, Co-founder of Wynwood Lanes, said: “We went and sat in Dog Bowl recently and just realised we weren’t proud of it anymore – (especially the name, we no longer want to compete with pet shops on Google).

“Wynwood Lanes will bring something new to Whitworth Street and we’re buzzing to crack on with it!

“We have a hit list of passions from a trip to Wynwood in Miami and built a space that brings together the things we love – drinking rum and tequila, smashing avo on toast with Cuban coffee for brunch, tacos and fried chicken at night, playing and watching basketball, sharking people at pool and partying late into the night…”

Bowling prices will start at £9 with food and drink add-ons while you bowl available.

Wynwood Lanes will open at 4pm on Friday 22 August.

Read more

Featured image: The-Vain – Carl Sukonik – @thevainphotos

Food & Drink

The old fire station in Salford that’s now home to a bakery, brewery and bar

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The 'Salford Bagel' with smoked salmon

A former fire station in Salford has been turned into a bustling base for some of the North West’s finest baking and brewing talents.

The Old Fire Station, right beside the University of Salford, is now operating as a bakery, brewery, bar, cafe and restaurant.

That means pastries, bread, pizzas and even beers are made within a few feet of where you’ll be eating and drinking them.

The space is beautiful, still boasting those gigantic red fire station doors and the traditional ceramic tiles that would have been here when the space was still home to fire engines instead of bread mixers.

Around half of the pastries coming out of the bakery, headed up by Erick Molero Delgado (his CV includes top bakeries across the USA and Europe), are completely vegan – not that you can tell from looking at their glossy, laminated layers and extravagant fillings.

We’re talking perfectly cubed laminated brioche with sweet maple flavours, mini pizzettes with olives and tomatoes dotted inside a pastry wall, and striped pain suisse stuffed with nuts and chocolate.

Then there are the not-very-vegan-at-all pastries, like a spandaeur, which is like a croissant and pastel de nata hybrid, and thick slices of Basque cheesecake.

There are new signature ‘Salford bagels’ too developed by assistant head baker Scott Shannon, which are a fusion of North American, German and Jewish styles, fermented for up to 48 hours with a crisp outer shell and a chewy centre.

A spandaeur pastry and a pain suisse
A spandaeur pastry and a pain suisse
Heirloom tomato bruschetta on sourdough
Heirloom tomato bruschetta on sourdough
The bakery line-up
The bakery line-up
The 'Salford Bagel' with smoked salmon
The ‘Salford Bagel’ with smoked salmon

We had ours stuffed with smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers and raved about it all the way home.

Erick says: “Our new menu is a true labour of love by the whole team – from early ideas and experiments right through to the final bake.

“If someone has an idea, we run with it. That creative freedom is priceless. It keeps the work exciting, and it means our customers have the opportunity to get something fresh every time they visit.”

As for the beers, they’re all made on site too – on the opposite side of The Old Fire Station is Lark Hill Brewery, headed up by Jack Dixon, who’s able to experiment and explore new flavours in this top-spec microbrewery.

Jack Dixon in the Lark Hill Brewery
Jack Dixon in the Lark Hill Brewery
Laminated brioche
Laminated brioche
The Old Fire Station bakers at work
The Old Fire Station bakers at work

There are experimental beers, sometimes made in collaboration with researchers at the University, as well as true-to-style classics like a New England Pale Ale and the Lark Helles, a fresh take on a classic German lager.

Jack said: “Having the autonomy to design and brew what I want, without limits, is rare and exciting,.

“It means every beer we pour here has a story and a personality. We’re proud to bring something new to Salford’s craft scene.”

This summer, they’re launching New York-style pizzas, made on slow-fermented, hand-stretched pizza dough.

And very little goes to waste here – the trimmed-off croissant pastry is now being turned into their own croissant loaf, which they’re whipping into French toast for the brunch menu.

Everything at The Old Fire Station is crafted with talent and love, and you can really taste it.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Food & Drink

Lord Mayor helps reopen community kitchen in Blackley

Boroughs

Lord Mayor of Manchester opens crucial new community kitchen in Blackley

Rose wine

Art & Culture

Manchester’s wine festival dedicated to all things rosé is back by popular demand this summer

Nell's is set to open in MediaCity in Salford

Eats

Manchester favourite Nell’s to open new site for New York-style pizza, karaoke and shuffleboard

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches