Manchester Rum Festival is returning to the city this summer and bringing fifteen brand new rum brands with it for their festival debut.
In what is set to be the biggest festival to date, organisers will bring together a mix of local Greater Manchester brands and those from further afield for an afternoon full of cocktails, tasting sessions and samples.
Taking place in Manchester city centre this June, local rum distilleries Tameside and Decorrum will make their festival debuts alongside Tanduay – an exciting rum brand from the Philippines.
Other new brands set to take part this year include Beach House and Arcane, both from the sunny climes of Mauritius, Ron Aguere from the Canaries, Ron Colon from El Salvador and Santiago de Cuba.
They’ll be joined by festival stalwarts Salford Rum and Diablesse, both returning for 2022 with new expressions including Salford Honey Rum and Diablesse Coconut and Hibiscus Rum.
The 2022 festival will also feature an appearance from the Spirit of Manchester distillery and its One-Eyed Rebel rum brand, crafted right here in the city centre.
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Elsewhere, city centre tiki bar The Liars Club will be on hand mixing up some signature cocktails, with street food provided by British Virgin Island pop-up Nyammin’.
In total, the festival will welcome a whopping 40 different rum brands from around the globe.
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Read more:Where to find the best Easter foodie specials in Manchester 2022
Image: Manchester Rum Festival
S[eaking on the upcoming event, Manchester Rum Festival’s founder, Dave Marsland, said: “This year’s festival is set to be more fantastic and fun than ever, with a host of new brands from far reaching corners of the earth which will be tasted alongside brands from local distilleries. It really is a one-of-a-kind event.
“This year, guests will be able to taste rums from over 40 producers overall, sample amazing cocktails by Liar’s Club, enjoy traditional music and entertainment by festival stalwart, DJ Dom and food by British Virgin Island cuisine legends Nyammin’, who will be cooking up a flavoursome storm from their pop-up stand.
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Manchester Rum Festival’s founder, Dave Marsland. / Image: Manchester Rum Festival
“The festival will feature expressions from single and multi-distillery producers to flavour-enhanced bottlings and will bring together rum producers, bartenders, enthusiasts and rum fans from all over the region and further afield. It’s set to be a real summer treat for the city and tickets are selling fast.”
Manchester Rum Festival will run from 12pm to 7pm on Saturday 18 June, 2022. Tickets for the day are for over 21’s only, priced at £25 and involves all available samples from the rum brands.
Drinks from the Liar’s Club cocktail bar and any street food are not included in the ticket price.
To find out more and book tickets, visit the Manchester Rum Festival website here.
Feature image – Manchester Rum Festival
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
14th April 2022 
