Skinny Lager is celebrating the big comeback of hospitality by gifting one lucky bar a whopping £2,000 Skinny Draught Bar Kit and 100 pints to give away.
This 89 calorie lager brand – which has enjoyed huge publicity in recent months – is aiming to do its bit for hospitality businesses; with many venues set to reopen after being closed for almost 200 days.
Skinny Lager has captured the imagination in recent months; having tapped into a newfound preference for lower calorie beers.
72% of 18-35 year olds are more calorie conscious when drinking according to Mintel research – and bottles of Skinny Lager’s 4% ABV beer with just 0.9% carbs have rocketed in sales by 220% in the past year!
Skinny Brands is hosting a massive competition this month / Image: Skinny Brands
The beer is also the “Most Reviewed Lower Calorie Lager Brand” on Amazon UK, clocking up a 4.6-star rating with over 1,700 reviews; topping the Best-Seller Category whilst flying off shelves in nationwide shops like Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Ocado.
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Distribution agreements have been signed with major wholesalers to launch the brand in to venues across the country – including Primo Drinks, Molson Coors, Heineken, Robinsons, Matthew Clark, Brakes, Thomas Ridley, JJ Food Service – and the brand has already agreed a launch for distribution across the Atlantic starting in the USA ready for summer 2021.
The UK has really gulped down Skinny Lager by the bucketload – and now the brand want to show Greater Manchester bars what all the fuss is about.
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The winning venue will receive a Skinny Draught Bar and Brand Kit worth £2,000 / Image: Skinny Brands
In celebration of the reopening of pubs, Skinny Lager is offering one lucky venue in Greater Manchester the chance to get ‘Skinny On The Taps’ with their brand new Skinny Draught Mobile Bar.
The winning venue will receive a Skinny Draught Bar and Brand Kit worth £2,000. There will also be 100 free pints to giveaway from June 21st – a century’s worth of crisp, refreshingly malty beer with 35% fewer calories than other premium lagers.
Not only that, but Skinny Lager will give the venue a lifetime discount code on kegs to keep the Skinny Draught Bar running all year long!
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Every delicious pint is also Gluten-Free and Vegan Certified – making it a great all-rounder for the summer reopening.
Fancy getting involved?
Nominate your favourite Greater Manchester venue here to WIN the Skinny Draught Bar! If you are The Manc’s chosen winner you will win yourself and your friends a bar tab worth £250 for the winning venue too!
Chorlton widower flooded with kindness after sending a letter to neighbours
Daisy Jackson
A pensioner in Chorlton has been flooded with kind messages after sending a heartwarmingly honest letter to his neighbours.
David Whitehead, 75, posted a letter to other homes on his street asking if they ‘might allow’ him to meet their dogs, writing that he ‘very much misses canine contact’.
David shared in his letter that he and his late wife had rescue dogs when they lived in Northern Ireland.
But since moving to Chorlton and into rented accommodation, he’s no longer allowed to have pets.
Since the widower’s touching appeal was shared in a local Facebook community group, he’s been flooded with kind offers of companionship – both human and four-legged.
One person shared that he has already ‘met five dogs in four days’, along with a photo of David holding two small dogs in a coffee shop.
David’s letter reads: “Do excuse this unsolicited letter from a well-meaning neighbour.
“Last month I came to live at Acres Rd. Because my house is rented I am prohibited from keeping a dog (or indeed any kind of pet). Which saddens me. In an earlier life – in County Down, Northern Ireland – my late wife and I homed a sequence of rescue-dogs, and I very much miss canine contact.
“I am writing to ask, therefore, whether you have a dog or dogs yourself and, if you do, whether you might allow me to meet him/her/them.
“Beyond that, occasionally joining you on a walk (not-too-strenuous: I am 75!) would mean a lot to me.
Chorlton widower flooded with kindness after sending a letter to neighbours. Credit: Facebook, Rory Michael
“Again: my apologies if you find this approach intrusive; it is certainly not meant to be. If you don’t, please consider texting me so that we can discuss how to proceed.
“Thank you and best wishes, (Prof) David Whitehead.”
One neighbour then shared the following update: “Hello everyone! David wanted to thank everyone for their kind comments and messages, he’s now met 5 dogs in 4 days including my own dogs.
“David was the loveliest coffee shop companion and if anyone with a dog wants to reach out to him I can vouch for him not being an internet weirdo.”
The best afternoon teas in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Afternoon tea has been a British staple since 1840, luckily for us, Manchester has a great selection of places serving this midday tradition.
If there’s one thing Manchester does best after music, sport, style and, you know, everything else it’s definitely food and drink, especially British classics.
There’s nothing better than a good sandwich followed by a sumptuously sweet scone, and a dazzling selection of cakes.
However, if you put all of those things together and bring it out on a meticulously-organised, multi-tiered serving platter, you’ve got the key to the nation’s heart.
When it comes down to afternoon tea we certainly don’t mess around and that’s why here at The Mancwe’ve put together a list of all the best dining experiences that are worth every single penny.
The top 10 afternoon teas in Manchester
1. Kimpton Clocktower, The Refuge
Credit: Supplied
This historic building is serving up elevated classics that you would expect on your typical afternoon tea platter including sandwiches with fillings like truffled egg mayonnaise as well as smoked salmon and pickled cucumber.
Pair these nibbles with all your go-to cuppa choices such as an earl grey and peppermint black, or sample ‘The Refuge blend’ – a fruity and herbal infusion with rosehip, hibiscus, peppermint, blackcurrant, and strawberry leaves.
Once your sweet tooth kicks in, there’s a variety of sweet delicacies with their glazed lemon meringue pie and obvious breadwinner, the treasured scones.
Nothing says grandeur like dining in The Midland and their afternoon tea options are certainly not subtle in any way, shape or form either.
Sandwich fillings are not limited, there’s avocado and chive, chicken, tomato and basil, with many vegan alternatives like the coronation tofu and watercress.
All their scones are served plain however they do offer you Devon cream and a helping of Mrs Darlington’s jam, yum.
Where to find: 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Price: £45 – £55 per person
3. Grandpa Greene’s, Diggle
Credit: The Manc Group
Ever fancied eating an afternoon tea in an igloo without the below-minus temperature? Well after this you definitely will.
Known and loved for their unreal ice creams, Grandpa Greene‘s are also all-around food caterers and their Afternoon Tea isn’t one you should be missing out on.
Enjoy treats, canapés, and of course, milkshakes made with that ridiculously moreish GG’s ice cream.
Where to find: Ward Ln, Diggle, Oldham OL3 5JT
Price: £24.95 – £29.95 per person
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4. King Street Townhouse
Credit: The Manc Group
Quoted on their website as a ‘memorable Manchester experience’, there are two afternoon tea options to choose from.
Indulge in all the sweet treats you can possibly imagine with the ‘Traditional’ serving or if you’re someone who prefers savoury, delight in the ‘High Afternoon Tea’.
The first brings generously sized portions centred around the flavours of the season but always features a scone or two, while the latter sees orzo fritters and cheddar croquettes with cheese and chutney replacing the beloved scone.
This is another city centre hotel that’s putting on a dazzling display of tiered food and definitely not skimping on jam and cream with two pots placed perfectly next to those delicious scones.
There are finger-shaped sandwiches as well as a handful of mini cakes, and the multi-tiered platter exudes the Gotham style with its rose gold-tinged plates and matching teapot.
So why not take your pick at some bite-sized delights while perched high among the Manchester city centre skyline?
Where to find:100 King St, Manchester M2 4WU
Price: From £35 per person
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6. The Martlet
Where better to enjoy an afternoon tea than in a historic Greater Manchester building that radiates notoriety and doubles as Rochdale’s newest fine-dining location?
The Martlet is preserving this British cuisine while bringing a modern touch with sandwich fillings like vegetable samosa and raspberry macarons to follow.
Of course, scones paired with the usual egg and cress sandwiches will still be present, but it’s always lovely to see some innovation where possible.
We’re pretty stunned by the whole thing, to be honest.
Where to find: Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
Price: £21 per person
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7. 20 Stories
Credit: Supplied
This Afternoon Tea reaches new heights, literally. 19 floors above the city centre is 20 Stories, which are branding itself as ‘The highest Afternoon Tea in Manchester’
20 Stories also has an exclusive mini cocktail pairing option where the drinks are hand-selected to go with your Afternoon Tea, because what fun day ever started with water?
Now all that’s left to do is choose between the Traditional, Piper-Heidsieck or Miniature cocktail Afternoon Tea, we’re really spoilt for choice!
Where to find:No. 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman St, Manchester M3 3EB
Price: £37.50 – £62.50 per person
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8. The Lowry Hotel, The River Restaurant
Credit: Supplied
Enjoy an Afternoon Tea before heading off to your next theatre show – how could your day get any better?
Sample a turkey and lettuce wrap, smoked salmon, crème cheese and white balsamic ‘on a slider’ and a cheese and ham tart.
Vegans are well catered for too with hummus, red roasted pepper and rocket wrap with vegan cream and jam for the scones!
Price: £30 – £40 per person
9. The East Lancashire Railway
Finger sandwiches, homemade scones and patisserie all onboard a vintage steam train, yes please!
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And to top things off, you’ll have a personal waiter on hand for your whole journey ready to attend to however much unlimited tea and coffee you can manage in 90 minutes.
This experience will be nothing but exceptional and all catering is to very high standards, so sit back, relax and watch the views of Manchester go by.
Their afternoon tea is just one of many luxury packages you can enjoy – here’s another one:
Where to find: Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
Price: £55 per person
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10. Malmaison Manchester, Deansgate
This hotel really takes the concept of afternoon tea and combines it with a polar opposite: street food.
B&G slider, beef brisket bite, tuna taco and buttermilk fried chicken all for savouries with an unreal lineup of sweet tarts.
‘Fab Lollies’, carrot opera cake, choc chip cookie dough sundae, vanilla crème brûlée and to dust it off, a sticky toffee scone.