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Parklife will have its first ever alcohol-free bar this summer

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th May 2024

Parklife has announced it will have an alcohol-free bar on the festival site for the first time ever this June, welcoming Love From to the fields at Heaton Park.

The huge Manchester festival confirmed that Love From, the city’s only booze-free boozer, would be joining its list of vendors.

It’s the first time in Parklife’s 14-year history that it will have an alcohol-free bar on site, a move with festival boss Sacha Lord says is ‘exciting and important’.

Love From first opened its doors as a pop-up at Kampus in January, where it’s since been granted residency.

Founded by Karl Considine, Love From has long maintained the ‘cutting out isn’t missing out’ and has provided a space that offers all the best bits of a classic cocktail bar, minus the hangover.

Parklife will be the local bar’s biggest event to date (and they don’t come much bigger than this).

It’s hoped it can spread the importance of the Love From messaging among the young crowds who flock to the festival every year, breaking boundaries around drinking culture as it goes.

To celebrate this milestone achievement, Love From has even taken over the huge billboard at Victoria Warehouse, and will be collaborating with Parklife to give away to VIP weekend tickets through Instagram.

Founder of Parklife festival and Night Time Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord commented: “We’re really excited to be bringing Love From to Parklife festival this Summer.

“Working with local brands is always exciting, but specifically working with Love From as a result of the impact they are having in the alcohol-free space is a really important part of running an inclusive festival.”

Founder of the Love From bar, Karl Considine, said: “Personally this is a real pinch me moment for a few reasons, even though I don’t drink I love house music, and I am excited to be able to bring my business to Parklife.

“It is wild to me that Love From is only a few months old and here we are working with one of the biggest festivals not just in the UK, but in Europe.”

Karl Considine, founder of Love From, on announcing his alcohol-free bar will be at Parklife festival
Karl Considine, founder of Love From, on announcing his alcohol-free bar will be at Parklife festival

Karl Considine, founder of Love From, on announcing his alcohol-free bar will be at Parklife festival

It’s also been reported that almost half of young adults (44%) regularly drink no- or low-alcohol drinks.

Sacha continued: “From my own experience through my work for The Warehouse Project, we are seeing first hand how younger audiences want different experiences which includes more propensity to drink no and low drinks.

“Hospitality has to adapt our industry to suit current societal changes, there is a huge resurgence in the non-alcoholic market and we have watched Love From do incredibly well in this space.

“Working with Love From was no brainer for us and we hope it is the start of a long term partnership!”

Karl concluded: “The fact that a festival like Parklife recognises not just that sentiment of ‘you don’t need to drink to have fun or join in’, but also that they’ve recognised the changing behaviours in drinking culture amongst younger generations is amazing to see.”

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Featured image: Supplied

Eats

Indian street food spot serving foot-long naan wraps announces closure

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester

A lunchtime takeaway spot known for its foot-long naan wraps has announced its closure in Manchester.

Rola Wala, which only opened 18 months ago in the heart of Deansgate, said it’s ‘walking away proud’ from its venture in the city.

Rola Wala is a hugely popular lunch spot in Leeds and chose Manchester for its second location last November.

On the menu are filling rice bowls, curries and wraps, as well as build-your-own naan rolls filled with authentically spiced Indian fillings.

The brand was founded by Mark Wright (no, not that one) as a street food stall in London and quickly expanded.

But its Manchester location is soon to be no more, closing for good at the end of this year.

They wrote: “Manchester, it’s been real. We’re walking away proud — and already working on what’s next.

Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester
Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester
Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

“Something that fits who we are, and where we’re going. Thank you for the love, the queues, and the fire.

“This isn’t goodbye. It’s just the start of something new.”

They added that the Leeds Rola Wala is open and trading as normal.

They finished their statement with: “Manchester – Closing Friday 27th @11pm – See you in store for one last Rola this week xxx”

One person commented on the Rola Wala post on Instagram: “Nooooo. I only got to try recently. Devastated as it was so good.”

Another said: “Always in awe of your dignity, Mark. Wishing you the best for the next steps forward.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Highballer – Stockport’s new bar from the brains behind Cherry Jam

Danny Jones Danny Jones New Highballer bar Stockport opens

Stockport is riding a real wave of excitement right now, and aside from being dubbed ‘the new Berlin’ a couple of years back, it’s also enjoying a big bar boom right now: case and point, Highballer, which has just been opened by the blokes behind a familiar local name.

Given the experience behind this new venture, we have a feeling this one could finally stick for what has proved to be a tricky unit in the past.

Created by Neil Garner – the man behind charming indie bar champions, Cherry Jam – Highballer is another music-forward venue from a team with experience across both industries.

Looking to carry on where Amp, Dr Feelgood and even Remedy Bar left off before them, Highballer is the latest watering hole to appear inside 11 Market Place following a successful pop-up earlier this year.

No, it’s not the ‘Gary the Gorilla’, sorry – but it does give a nice little nod to Almost Famous. (Credit: Highballer)

With Amp closing at the start of the year, Garner saw the opportunity to step in turn the place into something familiar but new, promising more music, karaoke and bandaoke; a fresh new food menu, darts, pool and even the classic American lawn game, cornhole.

Having already opened earlier this month, toasting the arrival with a bonus Oasis reunion launch party on Friday, 20 June, the crowds are already starting to return. As for Garner, he brings an incredible pedigree to the new project.

A world champion flair bartender boasting 28 years in hospitality, he’s worked in over 100 countries, including time as a Las Vegas performer, not to mention holding a Guinness World Record and coming runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent as the founder-creator of entertainment act, ‘Barwizards’.

During his time down south, he also created the UK’s first adult playground called Roof East in London, which was ultimately sold a decade after winning Britain’s Best Outdoor Experience in 2024.

With his baby and the neighbouring bar Cherry Jam located literally just around the corner and down the brow, the reputation is already there, hence why it was busy from minute one.

new bar stockport market place
highballer sk
Highballer sitting pretty in the shadow of two famous Stockport landmarks. (Credit: Supplied)

Stockport town centre has plenty of new pub and bar openings, from the resurrection of the old White Lion this time last year and the recently debuted Underbank, to fellow newcomer Fitzpatrick’s (formerly Bask), so it’s nice to see yet another one added into the mix.

Before Highballer, Neil spent years behind the scenes at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, running the backstage bars in the mid-noughties for events like Reading and Leeds Festival, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and even Coachella.

In terms of food, he also spent time living in Seoul, where he developed a serious love for Korean, meaning that their collab with Manc favourites BAB was a natural fit.

On the menu you’ll find:

  • Korean Fried Chicken – crispy and packed with flavour
  • Loaded Fries – choose between pulled pork or spicy grilled chicken
  • Cauliflower Bites – crispy and full of spice
  • Gochujang Mac n’ Cheese – creamy and with a kick
  • Korean Cheese Corndogs
  • Korean Grilled Cheese
highballer stockport food menu
highballer bab korean food
BAB MCR have come to Stockport to lend their talents to Highballer. (Credit: Supplied)

With ‘power hour’ karaoke sessions, Vimto mojitos named not just after the drink but the giant gorilla bouncer sat outside (great name), not to mention a big terrace to bring those beer garden vibes, they’ve got all the ingredients for an instant hit.

Oh, did we mention there are drink deals all week long? Well, there are. Cheers to that. Speaking to The Manc, Garner kept things short and sweet as he’s confident the product will do the talking, but admitted he’s “buzzing” to be opening another venue in the borough.

Balancing live music, entertainment, and hospitality is a tall order for anyone, but with the expertise behind this place, it stands as much of a fighting chance as everyone else.

It’s been a big couple of weeks for food and drink in Stockport.

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Featured Images — Highballer (supplied)

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