Project Halcyon Distillery might just be one of Manchester city centre’s best-kept secrets but with multiple coveted awards inside just six months of opening and a growing customer base, the word is starting to spread.
Better still, with exciting new innovations created alongside established and reputable names like Buffalo Trace, there’s all the more reason to come and try this hidden gem. We did exactly that and had such a great time we didn’t want to leave.
Teaming up with the popular bourbon brand who have collected quite a raft of awards themselves down the years for a brand new collaboration, Project Halcyon has just launched their brilliant old fashioned drinks trolley, making fresh glasses of the iconic cocktail with carefully selected blends by the expert staff and Buffalo Trace themselves.
The experience that launched this month will see the drinks trolley that many would associate with the like of gin and martinis reimagined for the classic whiskey-based cocktail staple to give that added personal touch that makes this speakeasy-style bar such a unique place to drink.
Boasting Best Newcomer on the UK’s list of Top 50 Bars, the Rising Star award for bartender Reah Owen — the youngest person to ever be nominated at the Manchester Bar Awards (it wasn’t hard to see why after being served by her) — as well as being voted best new bar back in March, it’s no wonder this lot are attracting big names.
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Having just recently launched their second menu, ‘A Time & A Place’, which aims to capture moments in history by emulating flavours, traditions and aesthetics from the past in drink form, Project Halycon are striving for theatre, nostalgia, care and a special connection every time you sit down at their bar.
That’s where the drinks trolley comes in.
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The newly rolled-out old fashioned trolley sees customers given a bespoke version of the drink carefully crafted to suit your tastes and made right in front of you. Using a collection of eight premium whiskeys, as well as six different house-made syrups and bitters, you can customise your cocktail down to the T.
The drinks themselves also include a special type of ice created by local company Ice Cubed Manchester, designed to deliver the perfect old fashioned. They really have thought of everything, down to the most minute detail.
You even have the option to have your drink smoked right at your table, allowing the Halcyon staff to show off the pageantry and finesse that has seen them earn such great reviews. Built by world-famous designers, Soak London, this one of the most spectacular ways you’ll ever be served a drink.
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Having seen the process first-hand, we can sincerely vouch for that — even the smoking contraption designed to look like the Buffalo Trace water tower had us staring on like excited little schoolkids.
This is truly an experience that is totally unique to Manchester, with nowhere else having ever made cocktails tableside in this way. Moreover, now being one of the only bars in Britain that stocks the full range of Buffalo Trace’s premium whiskeys intimate experience to its guests.
They even got one of the few rare bottles of the legendary Pappy van Winkle expressions, a whiskey so highly sought after it was the catalyst for ‘Pappygate‘, the now infamous heist that saw $25000 of the liquor go missing and even sparked a Netflix documentary.
Every inch of this place has something to marvel at and now with the Buffalo Trace old fashioned trolley experience on offer too, we’re going to be coming here more often than we already were — and we won’t be the ones.
When it comes to Project Halycon Distillery, there really is always more than meets the eye:
MediaCity’s massive Vue cinema has had a comfort upgrade with new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats
Emily Sergeant
Manchester cinephiles are now able to enjoy the latest movie releases in ultimate comfort.
That’s because, over at the popular MediaCity Vue cinema complex, 75 brand-new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats have been installed across seven screens, offering film fans what is, quite literally, the chance to sit in the best seats in the house.
Each seat provides the very-best view of the big screen and comes with a host of premium features.
Some of these exciting premium features include extra-wide armrests and a personal table for snacks and drinks, your very-own beverage cooler, which is ideal for films with a particularly long run-time, and even a back and legs that recline independently, so you can find the most relaxing viewing position possible.
Vue currently has 93 state-of-the-art cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland, totalling more than 850 screens – and the Quayside cinema is the latest to benefit from upgraded seating.
Ultra Lux seats have arrived at Vue Quayside Manchester / Credit: Vue Gallery / Supplied
This means that anyone heading to the cinema to see some of the latest and upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash, Marty Supreme, The Housemaid, Fackham Hall, Wicked: For Good, and so many more, can experience comfort like never before.
“We have invested in bringing Vue’s best seating option to our venue and are excited for our customers to enhance their experience on their next visit,” commented Darren Tinsley, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Quayside.
“It is truly the best way to immerse yourself in a film and to have the most comfortable experience.”
Tickets for Vue Manchester Quayside start from £6.49, with upgrades to Ultra Lux from £3 on selected tickets.
January is a month where the temperatures are colder, the days darker, and the social batteries a little lower, so it couldn’t be a better time to lose yourself in the power of cinema – and treat yourself to an Ultra Lux experience.
You can book tickets to upcoming films online by visiting myvue.com.
Featured Image – Supplied
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A massive home and furniture store just outside of Manchester is holding its biggest ever winter sale
Danny Jones
You heard: a huge home, furniture and accessories store just outside Greater Manchester is holding its biggest ever winter sale, making the festive period and the New Year the perfect time to pop in.
Rather annoyed we got mum those nice cushions for Christmas before we saw this, now, but ah well – there’s always her birthday…
Anyone who’s been to Macclesfield or on a train heading in or out of the North West will have most likely been past this place on the train, but the multi-storey emporium that is Arighi Bianchi really is a must-visit for anyone looking to upgrade their interior on a budget.
The Macclesfield home furnishings store has something for everyone, from high-end luxuries to decorative accessories, with pretty much every price range taken into account – which is why landing some seasonal discounts is such a big win for the region.
A fairly iconic sight as you pass through the Cheshire town, Macclesfield‘s Arighi Bianchi was founded way back in 1854 by two Italian immigrants – both called Antonio – whose surnames give the long-standing retail destination its title.
Well over 170 years later, and it’s more popular than ever, so the bonus of them bringing never-before-seen in-store deductions and special seasonal promotions across all departments is an even bigger win.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to shop online or visit in-store (though we would highly recommend the latter), you can get up to 30% off items in what is their biggest event of 2025.
As well as discounts on everything from sofas, sideboards and dining tables to floors, mattresses and much more, they’re doing cut-price offers on top designer brands from around Europe, including Cattelan Italia, Calligaris, Ercol, Hypnos, Tempur, Vispring and Stressless, just to name a few.
Subject to the usual terms and conditions, customers can even get early flexible finance deals (24 months 0% APR*) on their purchases; after all, they know as well as we do how tight money can be around this time of year.
Better still, their early bird offers, which are on top of the standard winter sale, will see even more cost cuttings on the likes of the Britannia Sofa, Freja Dining Bundle, the Heritage Bed Collection and other premium accessories from 27 December until 18 January.
For instance, if you spend £1,200 in-store, you will receive an extra £50 voucher for the CASA Accessories Lounge; or, beyond that, spend £2.5k and earn yourself a £100 voucher.
So, if you’re looking to get a fresh living room suite for 2026, make the most of 10% off wallpaper and fabrics or 20% off mirrors, or even get four new dining chairs for the price of three, there’s a cheeky deal to suit just about everyone.
You can see the full extent of what’s on offer during the Arighi Bianchi winter sale right HERE, or go and peruse the four floors for yourself in the flesh on the famous Silk Road.
Happy holiday season shopping, folks – maybe bump into you around Caffè AB.
Danny Jones -
19th June 2023 
