Manchester will bloom into one of the most picturesque places in the country this week, as the annual Manchester Flower Show returns for 2022.
This year, the huge event – which is brought to the city by Manchester BID – coincides with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and her 70 years on the throne, and so, in a bid to appropriately celebrate, you can expect to see fabulous Royal-inspired floral trails, gardens, and green installations take over the city centre for the extended bank holiday weekend.
Floral installations named The Crown Jewels, Queen Bee, and The Ju-bee-lee Garden are just some of the Royal-themed installations festival-goers can expect to see as they make their way around the city centre.
Taking place from Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 June, The Manchester Flower Show will also see shop windows, squares, and statues will be given botanical makeovers beyond the official trail, and there’s even an array of alfresco drink and dining options taking place throughout the event too.
The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail is one of the highlight events in the festival’s calendar this year / Credit: The Manc Group
14 of Manchester’s popular bars, restaurants, and hotels are taking part in the trail by serving up floral-themed cocktails especially for the occasion, and it means drinks lovers can make their way around all four corners of the city centre, sipping cocktails in the sunshine along the way.
Here’s a round-up of all the cocktails on offer as part of 2022’s edition of The Manchester Flower Show Cocktail Trail.
ADVERTISEMENT
All Bar One
Tarqueenie – £10.25
This cocktail mixes Tarquin’s Raspberry & Rhubarb gin, Martini Bianco, Fever-Tree Raspberry & Orange Blossom Soda, and is garnished with lemon and raspberries.
Freixenet x Chambord Berry Spritz – £10.50
Also at All Bar One, this cocktail collaboration mixes Chambord, Freixenet Prosecco and Soda, and is garnished with raspberry and mint.
El Gato Negro
Violet Flower
ADVERTISEMENT
This delicate cocktail mixes gin and violette liqueur, and is flavoured with lemon and cranberry.
Franco Manca
Aperol Spritz – £6.75
King Street restaurant Franco Manca has gone with the Italian classic of Aperol Spritz – which mixes Aperol and Prosecco, and is garnished with an orange slice
Grand Pacific Manchester
Royal Bloom – £9
Described as a “bouquet of flavours”, this cocktail pairs violet and orange liquors, with a hint of fresh lemon.
ADVERTISEMENT
14 of Manchester’s popular bars, restaurants, and hotels are taking part in the trail / Credit: The Manc Group
Habas
Raspberry & Rose Spritz
This cocktail combines Belsazar rose, elderflower liqueur, pomegranate and rose syrup, and lemon juice, and is topped with Fever Tee raspberry and rose soda.
Harvey Nichols x Manchester Gin Bar
The Summer Garden Spritz – £8
This is a floral and bright take on an Aperol Spritz, featuring Manchester Gin Raspberry Infused Gin and Forty-Five Vermouth Radiant Rose.
Harvey Nichols Second Floor Deli Bar
The Lilibet – £14
ADVERTISEMENT
This cocktail mixes Ramsbury Single Estate Gin, Belsazar Rosé Vermouth, Boudier Créme de Fraises, and Harvey Nichols Brut Champagne.
KALA Bistro
Blooming Beautiful
This floral cocktail mixes Żubrówka Bison Grass Vodka, St Germain Elderflower, and Jasmine Tea, and is garnished with lemon and basil.
All participating venues are serving up floral-themed cocktails especially for the occasion / Credit: The Manc Group
Miller & Carter
Miller & Carter French Martini – £8.25
This cocktail is made from Ciroc Pinapple vodka, Chambord Black Raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice that is shaken and served straight up.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pot Kettle Black
Grapefruit Gin Spritz
Barton Arcade favourite PKB’s is serving up a sparkling cocktail with gin, Campari, and grapefruit juice that is topped with soda.
Rosso
Malaka’s Mirakle
This cocktail mixes Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky, Italicus Rosolio Bergamot Liqueur, Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, and Cedar Mist
Rosso says it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, achievement, excellence, exploration, and boundary breaking, with over 21 unique flavours combined and finished with floral fruits in modernised Old Fashioned delicacy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Starbucks
Strawberry Acai Refresher
For those looking to ditch the alcohol, the St Ann’s Square branch of Starbucks is serving up a hydrating drink of sweet strawberry flavours that is accented by acai notes, and is shaken with real strawberries.
Drinks lovers can make their way around all four corners of the city centre to sip cocktails in the sunshine / Credit: The Manc Group
Tast Catala
Primavera
King Street restaurant Tast Catala says its fruity and refreshing cocktail tastes “just like Spring”, and it’s a mix of green apple, Midori, lemon juice, and soda.
UrbanPlayground
Royal Garden – £9
ADVERTISEMENT
Even one of Manchester Arndale’s newest residents, Urban Playground, is getting in on the cocktail trail action this year, with a cocktail that mixes Hendricks, Apple & Cinnamon Shrub, and elderflower and cucumber tonic.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Sponsored
Manchester City are hosting special Christmas-themed tours of the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City FC’s critically acclaimed stadium tour is about to get super festive, as the Etihad Stadium are now hosting special Christmas-themed walks around the ground.
You’ve watched the tales of the ‘Centurions’, ‘Treble winners, the ‘Fourmidables’, and plenty of other ‘Cityzen’ stories play out in front of you, but have you visited the hallowed halls while their decked doughs of holly for yourself?
Well, now’s your chance.
Hosting a series of exclusive festive tours around the Etihad this month, Man City fans, club-obsessed kids, and football fanatic tourists in general can take a walk around the impressive sporting arena for the perfect early Christmas present.
In addition to being able to walk around the famous home of the Blues, sit in the home team dressing room and see the trophy cabinet, fans of all ages can now field questions with virtual Pep and Haaland in their very own press conference, before walking down the tunnel, into the dugout and sitting pitchside.
Once you’ve finished warming up the gaffer’s very own seat (they’re actually already heated), supporters can look forward to a brand-new dancing light display, plus more heartwarming entertainment in the form of Christmas carol audio recorded by Manchester’s very own Hallé Youth Choir.
As if that wasn’t enough, ‘Beyond the Blue Moon’ VR experiences and special ‘Etihad After Dark’ tours will be available, too, giving people from all over and of all ages an extra opportunity to turn up and make the most of this truly global club.
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto during the evening slots to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Rumour has it Santa may have left a gift lying around each day, too. Safe to say that puts our Advent calendar this year to shame…
Credit: Man City (supplied)
Here’s hoping he doesn’t get a telling off for wearing red…
Evening tours at the Eithad will be held from 5:30 and 6pm on 7, 12, 14, 18, 22 and December, and the main slot will be running all the way up until Christmas Eve (24 Dec).
You can even grab a warming mulled wine or hot Vimto to keep your hands nice and toasty as you go around – be rude not to.
Tickets start from only £26 per person and family passes are priced at just £60.
Better still, you can even spring for the VIP package if you fancy: a two-hour experience that is one of the most interactive and immersive you’ll find anywhere.
The Etihad Stadium is currently in the middle of a huge redevelopment, both in terms of size and things to do around the wider Campus, with the expanded North Stand not only seeing matchday fan capacity increased to over 60k, but a new club shop, sky bar, hotel, and a rooftop walk being added.
With that in mind, it’s no wonder that the already award-winning City stadium tours are simultaneously seeing an upgrade over the holiday period.
Being given the Tripadvisor seal of approval once again last year, as the club were once again recognised in the Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ – putting them not just in the top three stadium tours in the UK but in the top 1% of the most highly rated in the world – things are only getting bigger.
You can find out full availability, timings and where to get tickets right HERE.
Manchester’s iconic Rylands building is being reborn – and the developers want to hear from you
Daisy Jackson
Manchester’s iconic Rylands building, formerly home to the Debenhams department store, is being reborn.
And now the developers working on its new chapter want Mancunians to weigh in on which businesses we want to see in the landmark building.
The transformation of Rylands Manchester will honour the heritage character of the building, which dates back to 1932, but will introduce contemporary design and a list of residents that’s bang up to date for our modern city centre.
The plans include building a four-storey extension with panoramic city views and a bright, central atrium. When it completes, this Grade II-listed art deco building will bring together workspace, retail, and leisure, right at the beating heart of town between the Northern Quarter, Piccadilly, Manchester Arndale, and the central business district.
Standing proudly at the top of Market Street, this next era for Rylands will establish it as an exciting new destination in the heart of town when its phased completion begins from late 2026.
Already confirmed to be moving in is Market Place Food Hall with its first northern location, which has signed on for a 15 year lease to occupy the ground floor of Rylands.
Market Place Food Hall is already confirmed to be moving into RylandsRylands is entering a new era
But now Rylands are putting it back to locals to ask what shops, restaurants, or cafes we’d love to see moving in.
It could be a high street hero you’ve loved for years, an independent business you’ve fallen for, or a foodie spot you return to time and time again.
Your ideas could help to shape the future of this landmark building and make it a destination us Mancs can be proud of.
And if you submit your suggestions in the comments of THIS Instagram post, you could be in with a chance of winning a £100 Love2Shop voucher (make sure you’re following @Rylands_manchester for a chance to win).
Emily Sergeant -
31st May 2022 
