Have you managed to get all of your Christmas shopping done yet?
While there will be some people who can proudly answer yes to that question, plenty of others aren’t so lucky.
Thankfully, for those who find themselves on the last minutes as always, one Greater Manchester craft beer and spirit store has got you covered this year – with delivery slots available in time for the big day, and even some great deals to make the most of too.
In case you missed it, online drinks delivery service Beerhunter – which is based in Bury, and is made up of a team of experts who pride themselves on bringing customers a wide range of beers to enjoy from the comfort of their own home – launched a new Christmas range of beer and spirit gifts last month.
The range features everything from beer advent calendars, to personalised spirit gifts by local and international favourites, and so much more.
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“At Beerhunter, we make it our mission to stock the best beers and spirits from the UK and around the world creating bespoke gifts for those who enjoy a tipple of two at Christmas,” said Kieron Ainsworth – local Mancunian, and Beerhunter employee.
“As our motto goes, we want the UK to… Up Their Beer Game.”
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And now, with Christmas being just over a week away, there’s only a few days left to grab some of those festive boozy gifts for the beer lovers in your life.
Beerhunter has delivery slots available in time for the big day, and even some great deals to make the most of too / Credit: Instagram (@beerhunter_uk)
As well as the company’s new limited-edition ‘Boozy’ advent calendar – which is made up of a variety of gins, beers, cocktails, and other delights – Beerhunter also has a huge selection of unique and bespoke beer-filled gift sets to take your pick from.
But for local beer lovers though, one of the standout gift boxes has to be Manchester Breweries Craft Beer Mixed Case – which is filled with the top eight craft beers of Manchester, as well as a branded Beerhunter glass, so you can enjoy the unique taste that some of the finest local breweries have to offer.
There’s also the chance to add a festive touch to some of Beerhunter’s other popular products that aren’t part of the Christmas Gift range too, as all mixed cases and x12-packs come in one of the brilliant ‘Hoppy Christmas’ gift boxes for no extra cost.
This gift box is usually £2.95, but it’s currently free as part of Beerhunter’s last-minute offer.
Beerhunter has a huge selection of unique and bespoke beer-filled gift sets to take your pick from / Credit: Beerhunter
With a fully-tracked delivery process from start to finish, not only is Beerhunter experts in beer gifting, but the company also offers a premium range of spirit gifts too, using a selection of popular local spirits combined with different drinking kit essentials to make the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who loves a tipple.
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To make each gift that extra little bit more special, there’s also the option to make the sets personalised with your choice of name or message.
Need to grab some gifts then?
The final date for orders for guaranteed Christmas Delivery is Monday 20 December, but if you’re on the very last minutes and you’re able to get down to the Beerhunter warehouse, collection is available until Wednesday 22 December.
You can get your hands on Beerhunter’s Christmas gifts and more online here.
Featured Image – Beerhunter
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A huge free careers festival geared towards young creatives is coming to Manchester this week
Daisy Jackson
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International are hosting a careers festival in Manchester this week, designed to empower young creatives.
The huge free event on Thursday 3 April will take over Aviva Studios, offering everything from speed mentoring to CV clinics to expert talks.
Attendees will be able to have a free headshot taken, meet employers and like-minded creatives, and generally get a feel for how to build a career in the creative industry.
The Career Festival will boost Manchester’s creative future by supporting the next generation of creators, investing in their skills and confidence.
It’s all geared towards young people aged between 16 and 24 who face challenges in finding sustainable careers within the creative industries.
On the day, attendees will be able to receive one-on-one career advice from top industry professionals in speed mentoring sessions, learning from experts in marketing, media, production and more.
They’ll also be able to network with organisations, training providers and employers including Crew gal, Walk the Plank, and Gate Films.
Expert talks will give advice on how to break into the industry, while a CV clinic will help to hone CVs into a stand-out that’ll get a foot straight in the door, along with free headshot portraits.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Mark Crayden Photography
And the whole time attendees will be surrounded by other creatives, building a network that could launch them towards their next big opportunity.
The TikTok Creative Academy, delivered by Catch22 and funded by TikTok, is a free employment program designed to provide vital support to young people aged 16-24 seeking to enter the creative industries.
It’s been specifically targeted towards young people who experience barriers to employment, whether that’s because of challenges like mental health and limited educational attainment, or involvement with the criminal justice system.
The programme itself has a free employment course, offers targeted supports, and opens the door to the industry, fostering networking and career development.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Supplied
It also offers practical skills development and emphasises creative abilities to help young people thrive.
Quote from TikTok Creative Academy Senior Service Manager, Hilda Dotsey: “At Catch22, we are acutely aware of the challenges that young creatives face when it comes to finding sustainable employment in the creative industries and we are about to mark the 1000th person supported into work, training or further education through TikTok Creative Academy.
“With lack of industry insight and experience cited as one of the key barriers to quality creative careers, it is fantastic to be partnering with Factory International once more.
“This event, which celebrates our third year of delivering the programme, will open up pathways for Manchester youth, linking up the next generation of creative talent with industry experts and Manchester’s top creative voices.”
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International: Career Festival will take place at Aviva Studios from 1pm to 4pm on Thursday 3 April.
You can find out more about Catch22 and the services available HERE.
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.
Emily Sergeant -
15th December 2021 
