Since BOX opened on Deansgate last year, it’s become one of the most popular places in town, both for watching the sport and for dancing the night away.
With a proper festive season ahead (not a lockdown in sight, we hope) and a World Cup happening at the same time, it’s set to be a sillier season than ever.
BOX has got both parts covered, with a Christmas line-up of food and drink as well as offering you the chance to cheer on the England squad in Qatar.
Combining the footy with the festivities is clearly a strength of BOX, and the St. Nick’s Kicks is just one example of the imaginative cocktails on offer this year. Served in boot-shaped glasses, choose from a striking red drink that resembles either the England squad or Father Christmas’ boots, and there’s even a dedicated Golden Boot cocktail for those strictly celebrating the football.
The Brewdog kegs are another crowd pleaser that’ll have the whole team at the table this winter. Served in huge five litre kegs, you’ll get almost nine whole pints out of these whilst you while away the freezing nights without having to leave the table.
ADVERTISEMENT
Whilst there used to be no place like the beer garden for a football match, the wintry season has got us thinking less about huddling up outside and more about warming foods served whilst we watch the game- and BOX has got all the half time snacks sorted.
Festive food offerings at BOX Deansgate. Credit: BOX
There’s a festive special pizza option with all the tasty trimmings you’d expect this time of year with pigs in blankets, pulled turkey and, of course, sage and onion stuffing. Prefer your trimmings wrapped between two delicious burger buns? There’s an option for that too. The Christmas Burger is all about encapsulating that taste of a sit-down dinner from December 25th- and there’s even a vegan version with Beyond plant-based alternatives too.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Ho Ho Hotdog is also destined to be a favourite throughout the festive lead-up. Imagine a giant pig in a blanket: nine inches of hot dog goodness wrapped in pancetta with sage and onion stuffing inside one giant fluffy bun.
If you’re looking for something that brings the best of post-match treats and the World Cup together without stuffing yourself with turkey, the Santa Sub and Christmas kebab are ideal options if you want an easy-to-grab food option whilst watching a match.
Click here to book your next visit to BOX Deansgate.
ADVERTISEMENT
And the options aren’t just for watching the footy either, BOX is also offering a festive feast fit for any footballer this season.
Festive Feast. / Image: BOX
There’s a Christmas buffet option for sharing that offers the best of the festive menu on one giant tray. Think burgers with mountains of fries and the added option of bottomless drinks to make this a night of food and flavour to remember- the unmatched atmosphere that the football brings is just a bonus.
All this talk of Christmas is bound to have you singing along to Jingle Bells in no time, but for those wanting to step it up a notch, grab the mic at Bandeoke every Thursday night and sing the night away with the best Christmas hits. This is where karaoke meets a live band and offers you the unique chance to get up on stage and give the crowd your best Wham!, or Mariah impression.
There will also be plenty of live music every Friday and Saturday night for those that prefer to be singing and dancing in the crowds, and we really can’t think of a better place to get in the Christmas spirit.
ADVERTISEMENT
Whilst booking ahead of any football games or peak party hours is highly recommended, BOX knows that sometimes there’s nothing better than spontaneous plans, and has room for walk-ins every day of the week.
For more information on any of the BOX Christmas menus, or to get yourself a table booked, visit the BOX website.
Feature Image- BOX
AD
Sponsored
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
You can get a mobile massage treatment in your office – just like us
Thomas Melia
We’d like to introduce you to the pioneering personalised service offering massage treatments on the move at practically any location including direct from your office– including to those of us here in Manchester.
In a world where you can get practically anything delivered straight to your door, it wasn’t going to be long until some genius invented a way to get a massage from the comfort of your own office.
Named ‘London’s first digital beauty concierge’, Ruuby have been pampering the nation’s capital for almost a decade before branching out to further locations.
The gorgeous set up provided by RuubyLook at that lovely branding on the towels.They did wonders with our otherwise plain downstairs office space. (Credit: The Manc Group)
In October 2024, the company expanded beyond its domestic reach in the likes of the capital, the Cotswolds and Surrey into Europe, making its first mark Switzerland: the perfect country for both luxury and essential beauty treatments with a tailored experience.
The month following saw the group moving up North and all the way to Manchester, where people can now book professional treatments best suited to them, right on their doorstep.
If you’re feeling scepticalstill, you can take it from us here at The Manc; we couldn’t tell you how relaxing and comforting these massages are.
There are a range of treatments available and we opted for two bespoke massages, a sports massage and a deep tissue massage.
Each experience is suited to your personal needs meaning each massage therapist will be able to fine-tune their relaxation abilities to what benefits you best.
After choosing the bespoke massage that I felt would work best for me, I went into this with no prior massage experience and I came out feeling taller, broader and more refreshed. Highly recommend.
Mid-day office massage? Yes, please.How relaxing. What a shame you have to go back to work after!Credit: The Manc Group
My masseuse guided me throughout the whole process and we soon discovered that I was able to tolerate much harder pressure than I thought which helped release tension I didn’t even know I had!
The same applies to how firm you’d like your session to be, as the masseuse can help with a brief overview of your time together, but the amount of pressure you like is down to personal preference.
It’s not just massages either: there’s everything from waxing, nails and hair to physio and IV drips; how about getting Marbella ready in less than an hour with a spray tan service set up wherever you are?
As Ruuby is a mobile and remote work environment, there are a number of at any time up and down the country, meaning your next beauty slot could be as little as an hour away, find out more HERE.
Sophie Smith -
25th November 2022 
