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Roxy Ball Room releases new rock-inspired cocktail menu with £3.50 shots

Paying homage to some of the genre’s greats, must-tries include a bright purple drink honouring rock god Jimi Hendrix.

The Manc The Manc - 21st November 2022

Roxy Ball Room, the adults-only entertainment venue with games like ping pong, bowling, shuffleboard and ‘crazy pool’ all under one roof, has released a new music-themed cocktail menu.

Taking inspiration from classic hits such as Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’, Jimmi Hendrix’s ‘Purple Haze’, and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ ‘Californication’, the new rock-inspired cocktail menu pays homage to some of the genre’s greats.

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From Tequila Little Time, a mixture of Olmeca Tequila Blanco, grapefruit liqueur, lime, rose and tonic that references The Beautiful South’s lilting country ballad, to Road To Ruin, a twist on a Gin Rickey cocktail that nods to The Foo Fighters’ mid-noughties hit, the new menu celebrates some of the biggest songs from decades past.

Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group

Further tongue-in-cheek cocktail names include Living on a Pear (a fruity mixture of Absolut vanilla vodka, raspberry and pear liqueur, plus lemon, pineapple and raspberry juice), and an appropriately bright-purple concoction called Purple Haze, combining violet sugar, lavender, lemon, lychee and Absolut Citron vodka.

Elsewhere, drinkers will find a host of fun sweetie-style shots all priced at £3.50 each or £6 for two.

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Read more: This Manchester bar is selling PINTS of Bloody Mary and a slice for six quid

Here, you can expect to find flavours like Apple Pie, Toffee & Cream, Coffee and Chilli, as well as the likes of Pear Drops and Lemon Drops, and a Pingstar Shooter that combines passionfruit liqueur and vanilla vodka in one fell swoop.

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There’s also a collection of classic cocktails, including popular orders like the Pina Colada, Dark and Stormy, Cosmopolitan, Espresso Martini, Long Island Iced Tea and everyone’s favourite, the Daiquiri.

Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group

As for those who are watching what they drink, the bar has also released a selection of ‘no and low’ cocktails that are either alcohol-free or very low ABV – meaning that those who are off the sauce can still enjoy a virgin version of its house favourites like the Pina Colada, Amaretto Sour and Elderflower G&T.

Last but not least, there’s also a selection of thirst-quenching spritzes to get stuck into whilst you work up a sweat playing ping pong or another of the venue’s classic ball games.

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Read more: MASSIVE crowds seen blocking tram tracks outside Manchester Arndale last night with reports of fireworks being thrown

With two sites in Manchester, one on Deansgate and another inside the Arndale Shopping Centre, it’s the perfect place to let loose with friends after a busy week.

To find out more and book, visit the Roxy Ball Room website here.

Feature image – Roxy Ball Room

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You can fly straight to paradise with direct flights from Manchester to Barbados

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson You can fly direct from Manchester to Barbados with Aer Lingus. Credit: Unsplash, Tom Jur

Good news sun-seekers – Aer Lingus has relaunched its direct flights between Manchester and Barbados, so you could be swapping out commute for hammock in a heartbeat. 

Aer Lingus will be jetting off straight to the tropical paradise of Barbados from Manchester between 1 November and 31 May, with three direct flights a week.

That’s along with all their routes to bucket list destinations like New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, and LA.

And the best bit is that you could take your Caribbean trip of a lifetime from just £389 return until 31 May 2025 (T&Cs apply). 

These super-affordable direct flights head straight to Bridgetown, the colourful capital of Barbados. 

From there, you have the trip of a lifetime at your fingertips – whether you want to feast on Bajan cuisine, explore the colonial towns, or just relax on white-sand, world-class beaches. 

You can explore sugarcane fields and visit wonders like Harrison’s Cave, where electric tram tours whisk passengers through an amazing natural cave with waterfalls, deep emerald pools, and thousands of stalactites and stalagmites.

There’s a 1000-year-old Baobab tree you can see, green monkeys to spot at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, and culinary tours of the island you can take.

You can fly direct from Manchester to Barbados with Aer Lingus. Credit: Unsplash, Tom Jur
You can fly direct from Manchester to Barbados with Aer Lingus. Credit: Unsplash, Tom Jur
You can fly direct from Manchester to Barbados with Aer Lingus. Credit: Unsplash, Tom Jur

Some of the best bits of Barbados lie just off its coast, and there are loads of boat trips you can book, where you can snorkel in the island’s beautiful waters. 

And the best time to head out to Barbados is when the weather is coldest back home – the island country is beautifully balmy and dry during the UK’s autumn, winter and spring. 

Whatever your perfect winter escape looks like, Aer Lingus can get you there – plus, with the friendliest cabin crew in the skies, there’s more than one reason to book your trip with the airline. 

Aer Lingus flights guarantee properly comfortable seats, in-flight entertainment, and meals on board, so your flight will quite literally fly by (but you might not want it to end). 

Or to start your bucket list trip off in the best way possible, there are business class flights to Barbados, with fully lie-flat seats, delicious seasonal meals, free WiFi, and so much more.

You can book your flight from Manchester to Barbados with Aer Lingus HERE. 

Read more: The beautifully restored VW camper van you can rent from Oldham

Featured image: Unsplash, Tom Jur

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Everything you need to know about Manchester Art Fair 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Art Fair is returning to our city centre once again next month, and there’s so much to look forward to.

Founded back in 2008, and going on to become one of the largest and most significant art fairs in the UK, Manchester Art Fair has cemented itself among the most celebrated cultural events in Greater Manchester‘s annual social calendar.

It’s known and loved for bringing together a wide range of artists, galleries and artist studios along with a full programme of talks and art classes.  

This year’s fair will feature more new names than ever before – with over a third of all exhibitors making their inaugural appearance.

Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester Art Fair 2024.

When and where is this year’s event?

Manchester Art Fair 2024 is taking over Manchester Central in the heart of the city centre. 

Set to transform the large venue into a vibrant gallery space, the highly-anticipated event will first open on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November.

Manchester Art Fair is making a grand return to the city centre next month / Credit: Supplied

How many exhibitors will there be? And who are some of the big names set to appear?

Designed for the collector, the curator, and those who are just simply curious about art, Manchester Art Fair will be bringing together more than 500 individual artists and there’ll be 170 stalls to explore.

Lots of returning galleries and artists will be there too, and the majority of them will be displaying new works to the public.

Francis Iles Gallery and Linton 59 Gallery are among the newbies making their first appearance at the event in November, each showcasing works by an eclectic mix of UK and international artists, while Benjamin Thomas Taylor and Bob & Eve,  are just a couple of the stand-out names on the long list of individual artists who’ll be exhibiting.

There’s also an extended programme of high-profile talks and workshops to get involved with too, all included in the ticket price.

New this year are book signings with authors including Gemma Rolls Bentley championing queer art, Andy Spinoza with Manchester Unspun, DJ Dave Haslam and his book on Picasso’s nightlife and Mark Demsteader with his first book entitled Moorlands.

More than 170 exhibitors will gather together under one roof / Credit: Supplied

How can you buy art?

Manchester Art Fair is for everyone – whether you’re a seasoned collector in the market for the next big thing, or it’s your first time at an art fair and you’re just looking for the right piece to fill that empty space on your wall.

Buying art at the fair is simple.

Firstly, you’ll want to do a bit of research ahead of the event into the exhibitors and make a shortlist of stands you want to visit. Then once you’re there, it’s wise to go around the stands you’re interested in and speak to the exhibitors and artists to find out about the stories behind the works on offer to help you make your decision.

As tickets provide you access to the fair on both the Saturday and Sunday, you can come and go as you please and pop back in later to see if the same piece catches your eye a second time round.

Once you’ve made the decision to buy from the artist or gallerist, you can then get your piece wrapped free of charge to take home safely, and remember to submit your proof of purchase to get free entry to 2025’s edition of the fair.

Buying art at the fair is simple, and it’s for everyone / Credit: Supplied

What are the organisers saying?

Manchester Art Fair’s Director, Sophie Helm, said the anticipation for this year’s event is ‘building to unprecedented levels’.

“When we launched Manchester Art Fair 16 years ago, we never imagined that Manchester would take the event into their hearts as much as they have,” she said.

“It’s such fun to pull together all the art talks, workshops, demos and live events we have going on over the weekend and a real privilege to be able to see art lovers meeting artists and galleries in person and bringing home original art works with stories and meaning to hang at home.”

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Advanced tickets are now on sale / Credit: Supplied

How much are tickets? Where can I buy them? And what do they include?

Advance tickets for Saturday and Sunday, from 10am-6pm, are available for £12 before 14 November and £15 after that date, both plus a booking fee.

Under 16s do not need tickets to the event.

Manchester Art Fair 2024 will take over Manchester Central on Friday 15 November from 5pm until Sunday 17 November, and you can get yourself tickets online here.

Read more:

Featured Image – Supplied

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