A Manchester cocktail bar has been named the best in the UK for two years running.
City centre cocktail bar Schofield’s, run by two brothers from Rossendale with a wealth of global experience in the hospitality industry, was awarded the gong last night at the prestigious Class Bar Mag awards.
Last year, Schofield’s won both Bar of the Year and New Bar of the Year too. Now, it’s followed up on that success by taking home the coveted Bar of the Year award once again.
It’s a huge coup for the northern cocktail scene, with the prestigious bar awards normally being dominated by London establishments.
Hamish Smith, editor of Class and co-host of the Class Bar Awards, said: “The 78 finalists this year were the strongest and most geographically diverse since we relaunched the Awards in 2017.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
“London remains strong but the Bar of the Year is in Manchester again, the New Bar of the Year is in Birmingham, the Bar Innovator of the Year is in Edinburgh and the bar leading sustainable practices is in Cornwall – there are countless other bars up and down the UK propelling the industry forward.
“Not in recent memory has the UK bar scene felt as rich in talent, or as evenly spread. London doesn’t lead the global bar industry anymore, the UK does.”
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The award-winning cocktail bar also scooped up a gong at this year’s World 100 Best Cocktail Bar awards, stunning industry folk as it became the first Manchester bar to ever be listed in the prestigious list.
First opened in the summer of 2021 as pandemic restrictions on northern hospitality began to ease, Schofield’s has won a string of awards and is widely recognised amongst punters and industry alike as one of the city’s best boozers.
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Brothers Daniel and Joe have since gone on to open more bars in the city: taking on Atomeca at Deansgate Square, followed by Sterling underneath the Stock Exchange hotel.
More recently, the brothers made their first venture into the world of restaurants, taking over the former Bull and Bear space to open new venture The Stock Market Grill.
Speaking to The Manc on the award win, Daniel Schofield said: “For two years in a row, we have won the best bar in the UK at the prestigious Class awards.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition but we are even prouder of the teams at SCHOFIELD’S BAR, STERLING, ATOMECA and the STOCK MARKET GRILL.
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“We are very grateful for being finalists for Best New Bar and Best Bar Food for STERLING, Industry Innovators for Joe and myself, as well as seeing Rachel Orange be nominated for the Best Bartender in the UK.”
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Manchester
Wolf Alice announce massive Manchester gig as part of new European tour
Danny Jones
Get ready to lose your marbles, Manchester, because Wolf Alice aren’t just back with more music and a brand new but they’re playing a massive show right here in the city centre.
The beloved British alt and indie rock outfit is one of the most talented groups of musicians to come out of the country in some time, earning countless nods for their debut LP and winning the Mercury Prize award for their sophomore outing back in 2018.
Now eyeing up album number four and having dropped a smash-hit first single, which has already been met with even more acclaim (why break the habit of a lifetime?), they’ve got us even more excited with the announcement of a huge headline date here at the AO Arena.
The Clearing for the amount of limbs in that standing section couldn’t be big enough.
Set to return to Yorkshire later this year as part of the touring cycle for their long-awaited studio comeback, The Clearing, the Wolf Alice Manchester gig is one of a select few UK arena dates confirmed, such as an equivalent over at Leeds’ first direct arena.
The four-piece, fronted by Ellie Roswell, will also be playing a handful of intimate domestic shows.
Due for release on August 29, 2025, we already know the next project is going to be another brilliant entry by the multi-BRIT and NME Award winners.
Written in their native district of Seven Sisters in North London and recorded in LA with Grammy-winning producer Greg Kurstin, the album is being branded a “bold, emotionally rich evolution of their sound.”
“It’s a record that radiates ambition, confidence, and an unfiltered sense of self—arguably their most cohesive and timeless work to date.”
Better still, to help support the grassroots venues that helped them while coming up, £1 of every ticket from this show and other domestic arena shows on the soon-to-be fully confirmed European tour will be donated to fundraising efforts.
What do you make of their new direction?
General admission tickets for Wolf Alice at AO Arena are available on Friday, 23 May from 10am.
It goes without saying that the demand for these things will be massive, so we’d get in that online queue as quickly as possible. The support act(s) haven’t even been revealed yet either.
You can also sort yourself out with exclusive early access by signing up for the AO pre-sale window on Wednesday, 21 May at 5pm; Three Mobile members will have an earlier opportunity also from 10am earlier the same day.
Get ready to grab your tickets for Friday, 28 November HERE.
The Liquor Store is putting together the perfect package for Oasis fans heading to Heaton Park
Danny Jones
Manchester bar The Liquor Store is putting together the ultimate pre and post-gig package ahead of the Live ’25 Oasis reunion shows, perfect for anyone heading to Heaton Park for the momentous series of shows.
The brilliant Manc boozer, which borders Blackfriars Street and the edge of Deansgate, has been a popular spot both before and after nearby concerts for years, so it’s no surprise that they’re getting involved with the shows of the century.
With Oasis set to play a whopping five nights at Heaton Park this summer, people are already trying to figure out their plans for the big day(s), with fans flocking from all over the country to see them wherever they could manage to get tickets, especially at this massive outdoor show.
Good job the Liquor lads and ladies have you sorted.
Set to run ‘The Masterplan’ service (very good) for each of Oasis‘ huge hometown shows throughout July, The Liquor Store are making sure gig-goers get to the venue without any trouble and get plenty of time to get in the mood beforehand.
As well as a good old party afterwards, of course.
Offering a comprehensive concert package, complete with coach travel to Heaton Park, not to mention bottomless beer and pizza from 2-3pm when you’re in the bar itself, this music-obsessed bar is set to be the perfect place to fuel and carry on the Britpop party afterwards.
Littered with music memorabilia and images of local bands like the Burnage boys themselves, plus an absolutely unreal playlist of Oasis classics all day and all night, it’s the ideal setting to get you in the mood for the day.
There’ll also be a DJ set from much-loved local Jon Lowe from midday onwards. Oh yeah, and complimentary bucket hats and tambourines for wristband holders should help the good vibes along too.
Better still, even for those not buying ‘The Masterplan’ ticket – which includes the bus to the location and as much suds and scran as you can muster – entry to the venue for the before and after-parties is completely free. After all, it’s still a popular city centre watering hole whether Oasis are in town or not.
As for the coach, the service will depart at 4:30pm and is set to leave Heaton Park around 11:15pm, heading straight back to The Liquor Store, of course.
Ticket holders will be issued with a wristband that will allow them entry onto the coach and access to the bottomless scran and bevs. If you’re not on that bus 10 minutes before they set off, you will be left behind, unfortunately.
With that in mind, tickets are very limited, with less than 50 spots to secure, so if you want to be a part of the ultimate pre-drinks and post-gig party, you’d better act fast.
You can grab yours and find out the full terms and conditions HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
24th May 2023 
