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.
Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
Danny Jones -
5th March 2024 
