In recent years, dry January could be a bit of a slog, with the only alternatives for delicious cocktails and tasty pints drinks like cups of tea and fizzy drinks.
Similarly, those who choose not to drink alcohol year-round were left with a substandard (and often overly sugary) offering in pubs and bars.
But one local brand is changing all that, and doing it from an actual brewery.
Hip Pop brews and cans its range of delicious kombucha drinks – which are wildly popular in the US but only just hitting their stride here in the UK – from a site on a farm in Cheshire, manned by professional brewers.
Inside Hip Pop’s brewery in Cheshire. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Hip Pop’s brewery in Cheshire. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Hip Pop’s brewery in Cheshire. Credit: The Manc Group
The drinks are made with 100% natural ingredients – they’re vegan, gluten free, dairy free, lower in sugar, and naturally full of antioxidants, enzymes and acids.
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Hip Pop also makes living sodas, made with apple cider vinegar, which are only 30 calories a can and come in three flavours (tropical peach, pink grapefruit and ginger turmeric).
The whole family-run operation, overseen by the Hip Pop dog Bo, is run by a small team who can create honest drinks with nutritious ingredients.
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Hip Pop’s resident dog Bo. Credit: The Manc GroupHip Pop’s range of kombucha Credit: The Manc Group
There’s no pressure to add cost-saving artificial and processed ingredients like sweeteners or preservatives.
Since launching in 2019 (back then known as Booch and Brew) you might have noticed their colourful cans infiltrating shelves across the country. As they should.
The four flavours of Hip Pop’s kombucha are all genuinely delicious as well as good for your gut – in fact, their very slogan is ‘tastes good and does good’.
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They even have the seal of approval from the BBC’s Kate Goodman, who founded Reserve Wines back in 2003.
The local business sells taster packs if you want to try all the flavours at once, with flavour blends of strawberry and pineapple; blueberry and ginger; ginger and yuzu; and apple and elderflower.
Those kombucha six-pack taster packs, a great introductory offer to the Hip Pop brand, are currently discounted too. You can take 20% off here (the discount will automatically apply at the checkout).
You can also take 15% off your first order using the code TRYHIPPOP15.
View the whole Hip Pop range and place your order at drinkhippop.com.
Featured image: The Manc Group
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Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
“We endeavour to ensure that all visitors feel comfortable and welcome when spending time at Printworks.”
Find out more about Neurodiversity Celebration Week on Printworks’ website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Lovely last-minute Mother’s Day ideas from Selfridges in Manchester
The Manc
Mother’s Day is this Sunday – and if those words have just sent you into a blind panic, just take a breath and head straight across to Selfridges.
The huge department store has come up with all sorts of things that make for perfect last-minute gifts and experiences.
That includes a carefully curated selection of gifts available in-store, plus a very special Morning With Mum beauty workshop so you can spend some quality time together on Mother’s Day.
Selfridges can be your one-stop shop for the big day.
In both Exchange Square and Trafford Centre stores, you can pick up lovely gifts like feast-filled hampers, fabulous accessories, luxury chocolates, candles, and even cards.
As always, there are gifts you can have personalised in-store for a sentimental present for the mother figure in your life.
If you’re really stuck, you can pop along to the Beauty Concierge and book her an experience.
And over in Selfridges Exchange Square, you can pick up a beautiful fresh bouquet from The Royal Exchange Florists.
Selfridges has loads of last-minute Mother’s Day ideas
There’s rarely a gift more precious than quality time together, which is why Selfridges will be hosting a special Mother’s Day floor-wide beauty event on Saturday 14 March.
Ticket-holders will receive expert beauty advice from your favourite brands, while enjoying complimentary drinks and sweet treats.
There’ll also be plus exclusive gifts with purchase available, and giveaways on the day, and you can redeem the £20 ticket price against products purchased on the day.
You can even grab an artist print for mum at the vending machine.
Tickets for the Morning With Mum beauty workshop are on sale HERE.
You could also share a moment over a glass of champagne at San Carlo in both locations, or grab a sweet treat from the bakery in the Trafford Centre store.
Daisy Jackson -
17th January 2023 
