VK, the popular British brand of alcopops, has given the UK the task of coming up with their newest flavour and we think it’s safe to say you lot fit into one of two camps: absolute tastemakers or total tastebud villains.
Perhaps one of the nation’s most iconic beverages, alcoholic or otherwise — one which immediately drums up those memories of house parties and those first nights out — we’ve got a lot of love for VK and we can’t think of a single flavour we don’t like, to be honest.
That being said, as part of the latest phase in their ‘We Are Flavour’ campaign, the OG alcopop dynasty is looking to spice up their selection and decided that asking us Brits to come up with the best, most unique and frankly questionable combinations possible was the best idea. Hmm…
Unsurprisingly, there were a lot of weird entries (a lot). Here are just a few of them.
Ok, whoever simply said anchovies, you should be declared an enemy of the state. (Credit: VK)
From steak bakes and sausage rolls to pineapple pizza and just garlic, the nation has declared a list of both delicious and some downright delusional flavours they would like to see immortalised in a bottle of VK, with a whopping 4,637 flavours submitted by more than 5,000 fans.
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However, it was all ridiculous; there were plenty of fittingly throwback flavour suggestions too, including candy floss, bubblegum and the good old Cherry Bakewell. You can sign us up for all of these, please.
While all of these would undoubtedly make for a tasty something to sip on this summer, they didn’t quite make the top four. The people have spoken and the final four battling it out to win are as follows:
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Apple and Blackcurrant – it’s giving legend, classic, ‘can’t believe we didn’t think of it’.
Pineapple and Coconut – it’s giving extraverted, summer holiday, pina colada etc.
Peach and Lychee – it’s giving bougie, pink, living your best life and ‘I’ve done a bit of travelling’.
Lemon and Lime – it’s giving zesty, tried and tested, lust for life, authentically yourself.
To be honest, we’d be buzzing with absolutely any of these as the winner of the newest VK flavour competition but whoever emerges victorious is entirely up to you.
These would all slot in very well with the already nostalgic lineup.
Daniella Mulvey, Senior Brand Manager at VK, said: “The response to the voting has been brilliant, with some fantastic flavour suggestions – and other, more questionable ones that aren’t suitable for print! It’s definitely brought some laughs to the VK offices.
“We can’t wait to see which flavour our fans select as the new addition to the VK Flavour Vault. For your chance to decide which drink you have in your hand while dancing at the club or when catching up with your mates at the pub, make sure to get your vote in!”
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Fans can vote for their fave flave right up until Friday, 15 March and the winner will join the likes of OG Blue, Orange and Passionfruit, as well as Tropical Fruits on shelves in the VK lineup.
To make things even more exciting, one lucky entrant will be selected to win a weekend city break for them and three mates along with tickets to the exclusive flavour reveal party. As if you needed any more reason to take part.
Pick your winner HERE. Terms and conditions apply — see more info on the VK website.
Manchester’s new aesthetics clinic with a budget-friendly tiered pricing model
The Manc
There’s a new medically–led aesthetics clinic in the heart of Manchester, which offers a tiered pricing model that will get you the right treatment at a price that suits your budget.
The Academy Clinic has opened up on Quay Street, specialising in natural, balanced results with a massive range of injectable and cosmetic dermatology treatments
The clinic was founded by Dr Tristan Mehta, Dr Emily Mehta, and Dr Marcus Mehta, who want to raise the standards of injectable and cosmetic dermatology treatments across the UK.
It’s part of Harley Academy, the UK’s leading provider of postgraduate training in aesthetic medicine.
And that’s what sets it apart from a lot of other clinics in the UK, and makes it a stand-out in an industry that is largely unregulated – at The Academy Clinic you won’t ever be treated by non-medics or anyone without formal medical training.
It means that you are always in the hands of a registered medical professional – whether it be practitioner or trainee, and doctor, nurse, dentist or clinical pharmacist – who would be able to manage complications, so you can feel confident you’re in the best hands.
The Academy Clinic in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
And the tiered treatment model really does suit every patient’s budget and preferences – you can take a more affordable treatment option, where qualified medical professionals are learning and being upskilled with expert supervision during your treatment; or you can opt for a fully private experience with a senior practitioner and no training elements involved.
There’s a wide range of treatments available, including popular injectable skin treatments such as Profhilo® and Profhilo Structura®, polynucleotides, dermal fillers, microneedling, HydraFacial and more, all designed to deliver natural-looking, confidence-boosting results.
Beyond patient care, The Academy Clinic’s clinical team also trains and mentors medical professionals through its GMC-registered aesthetics training academy, Harley Academy.
Dr Tristan Mehta, Founder & CEO of The Academy Clinic and Harley Academy, said: “Our mission has always been to raise standards in aesthetics. By combining education with patient care, we can ensure treatments are delivered safely, ethically, and with natural results.
Treatments include HydraFacials
“Bringing The Academy Clinic to Manchester means more people can access medically-led aesthetics with confidence.”
The Academy Clinic is now open at St John’s Court on Quay Street in Manchester, having acquired SkinViva last October.
To keep up to date with the latest news and promotions, you can follow The Academy Clinic on Instagram @theacademyclinic. For bookings or enquiries, call 0161 865 1141, visit theacademyclinic.co.uk or email [email protected].
Exclusive offer for The Manc readers: Use code MANC25 at the time of booking or when in clinic for 25% off any treatments excluding wrinkle reduction treatments.
Wigan favourites Stanleys release first single ahead of debut album next year
Danny Jones
Fast-rising Wigan band Stanleys have dropped the lead single from their debut album, which is finally on its way and will be coming sometime next year.
Entitled ‘Pass The Time’, the Stanleys’ latest outing arrived on Friday, 20 February, and while there’s still no specific release date for the first-ever full-length LP, we do know it’s coming at some point in 2027.
To simply label it as more catchy indie would be a disservice to the craft and graft these lads have put in: this is definitely a step forward and in a slightly different direction, with an even more guitar-driven feel and an extra bit of gruff about it compared to previous Stanleys material.
Our only minor complaint is that we wish it lasted a little longer – we want MORE.
An energetic two-and-a-half-minute track that we can already see becoming a fan favourite, it’s one we’re looking forward to hearing in the flesh.
We’ve caught the Stanleys boys live a few times now, both here in Manchester city centre and at their sold-out show in Wigan as part of The Monaco relaunch, as well as at the likes of Kendal Calling festival in recent years.
Safe to say, they never disappoint, and neither do their growing crowd of die-hards.
With lyrics touching on not just the passing of time but also that sense of youthful ambition and how it fluctuates with age, it feels like one of those defiant indie rallying cries we grew up listening to in our own adolescence, and it definitely has plenty of energy to it.
Both The Manc and our wider Audio North team had the pleasure of chatting with them back in November 2024, and you can tell they have big plans to take on not just the local music scene but the UK and beyond.
The release of ‘Pass The Time’ comes almost a year on from their last song, ‘Out the Door’: a similarly fast-run song, albeit with a different vibe.
Positioned as part of Wigan’s next generation of new bands and artists, Stanleys are clearly looking to keep developing as musicians, and if tunes like these are anything to go by, then we can’t wait for their first full record.
They’re also going to be playing a night here in Manchester city centre and beloved grassroots venue, Night and Day, this April; you can grab tickets HERE.
So get adding it to your Spotify playlists, watching the music video, and maybe we’ll see you at the gig.
Danny Jones -
5th March 2024 
