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.
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.
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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Yard & Coop – The Manchester institution taking the Christmas Markets by storm… again
Harry Quick
Firm favourite Manchester restaurant Yard and Coop is back on the Manchester Christmas Markets this year, giving us our annual fix of fried festive favourites – and they’re clucking lovely.
Their restaurant – a staple favourite in the Northern Quarter – is also whipping up some incredible festive specials.
Yard & Coop Christmas Markets
Yard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc GroupYard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
The much-loved Northern Quarter establishment, famed for its buttermilk fried chicken, has pitched up once again on St Ann’s Square.
They’ve whipped up a menu of their classic chicken dishes, each with a festive twist, and you don’t have to look far to see someone walking around with a cone full of the fried stuff.
This chicken institute has made some of the best salt and pepper-loaded fries around. The sticky sweet soy sauce coats the fries along with a heavy dusting of the salt and pepper blend and crispy deep-fried seaweed. Obviously, they are loaded with pieces of buttermilk chicken breast, but that goes without saying.
Yard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the ‘Dirty Santa’ tray was certainly that. Fried chicken and fries covered in lashings rich chicken gravy, hot cranberry sauce and a sprinkle of parsnip crisps for a texture sensation. Even after eight billion mince pies I reckon Father Christmas would have room for these.
A returning favourite has rightfully made its way back onto the menu too. Chicken and fries piled high inside a waffle cone drizzled with BBQ and ranch sauce. It’s a bit of a messy one but that’s the whole point – you eat the cone at the end, so you clean up your own mess!
Yard & Coop festive restaurant specials
All systems are still a-go back in their Northern Quarter base in time for Christmas. Everything is better inside a Yorkshire pudding, right? Well, this festive craze has been beautifully adapted to incorporate Yard and Coop’s signature buttermilk chicken.
It’s Christmas dinner with all the trimmings wrapped in a soft Yorkshire burrito. Oh, and there’s a massive pot of chicken gravy to dip if you weren’t hungry enough reading this.
If you want to go the whole nine yards, the ‘Winner Winner Christmas Dinner’ is back and better than ever. Fully loaded with fried chicken breast, crispy fried potatoes, cheesy mash topped with homemade stuffing balls, creamed sprouts, cranberry hot sauce and buttered kale.
Sprouts are famously a bit hit and miss, aren’t they? Well, not these. Even the most devout brussels sprout hater would be converted by Yard and Coop’s homemade sprout bhajis. This little taste of India accompanies the real showstopper of the selection.
Yard and Coop’s ‘Boxing Day Burger’ transports you to that post-Christmas takeaway slapped between a seeded brioche bun. The signature fried chicken is smothered in their Ruby Murray sauce and stacked alongside cucumber raita salad, a couple of mini poppadoms and those delightful bhajis. Good luck getting it all in one bite, it’s a biggun.
You can find Yard and Coop on Edge Street and at St Ann’s Square at the Manchester Christmas Markets until 21 December.
The charming Manchester Italian restaurant ready to serve a Christmas Day feast
Harry Quick
Italiana Fifty-Five is opening its doors on Christmas Day, helping you indulge in three courses of great food and festive spirit – the Italian way.
Formerly known as the foodie favourite Cibo, diners can step into little Italy rejuvenated with a modern touch.
Its two locations across the city centre, found on Liverpool Road and Great Northern, as well as its restaurant in Didsbury, serve up a tantalising selection of hearty dishes in a sleek and trendy setting.
As well as offering an authentic Italian Christmas Day feast, Italiana 55 will be open a Christmas Party Menu in the lead-up to the big day for all your earlier celebrations.
To begin your Christmas Day feast choose between Zuppa Di Barbavietole E Carote (roasted parsnips and carrot soup); Burrata E Fig (burrata with fresh figs, parma ham and honey); Melanzane Parmigiana (an oven-baked dish made from aubergine, scamorza, tomato, basil and parmesan cheese); Carpaccio Di Manzo (fillet of beef thinly sliced with rocket, parmesan and a homemade dressing); and Arancini V (Sicilian rice balls stuffed with mozzarella and butternut squash).
Antipasti platter at Italiana 55. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Italiana 55 in Manchester, which is open on Christmas Day. Credit: The Manc GroupSteak and risotto feature on Italiana 55’s Christmas menu
Italiana 55’s festive dining experience combines a British-Italian fusion with their selection of traditional mains using locally sourced ingredients with a Sicilian touch.
For your main, you can tuck in to a Tacchino Arrosto – British turkey with potatoes, carrots, sage stuffed sausage served with gravy and cranberry sauce).
Or for a more Italian twist on your celebrations, you can go for Risotto Con Butternut (roasted butternut squash risotto with thyme and parmesan shavings); Capesante Gratinate (seared king scallops topped with grated Parmigiano and a tomato sauce finished under the grill); Filleto Al Ferri (200g 28-day aged Aberdeen Angus fillet served with fries and garlic butter sauce); Ravioli Di Spinaci (egg ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach in a butter and sage sauce); and Rollata Di Pollo (chicken fillet filled with spinach mascarpone and goat cheese in a cream and mushroom sauce).
Rollata Di Pollo on Manchester restaurant Italiana 55’s Christmas menuTiramisu at Italiana 55. Credit: The Manc Group
There is always room for dessert at Christmas, and nobody does it like the Italians.
Nothing screams tradition like a Tiramisu (classic homemade savoiardi biscuits soaked in coffee liqueur and layered with a mascarpone mousse); Vanilla Cheesecake (homemade with fresh vanilla pods, topped with a berry compote); Sticky Toffee Pudding (sponge mixed with dates and raisins, topped with sugar-coated walnuts and drizzled with warm toffee sauce); Gelato (homemade gelato serving vanilla, chocolate strawberry and pistachio); or Profiteroles (buns of choux pastry filled with chantilly cream and topped with a rich chocolate sauce).
If you’ve got a sweet tooth they’ve covered all bases.
You can get all this at Italiana 55 on Christmas Day for £65 per person (adult) and children eat for £30.
So if you’re looking to book a restaurant for Christmas day in Manchester, find out more about Italiana 55 and book here.
The Manc -
21st November 2022 
