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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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Deliveroo is knocking 25% off takeaways for parts of Greater Manchester this month
Daisy Jackson
Deliveroo is going to be slashing takeaway bills by 25% for people in parts of Greater Manchester.
The delivery giant is offering up the discount from today all the way through to the new year.
It means that locals in the city centre, as well as Chorlton, Didsbury and Rusholme, will be able to save 25% on their Deliveroo order.
The deal follows Deliveroo’s Black Friday discount which was offered up to customers last week.
There are loads of local restaurants and cafes taking part, including the ever-popular burger and shake joint Archie’s and long-standing favourite Tampopo.
Archie’s. Credit: The Manc GroupYum Cha. Credit: The Manc Group
Yum Cha, which opened at Kampus this summer after 11 hugely successful years in Liverpool, is also taking part, with its incredible roast meats cooked for 24 hours in a custom-made roasting oven, plus Chinese small plates and dim sum.
Manc favourite Rudy’s, home of arguably the country’s best pizza, are included in Deliveroo’s 25% discount, alongside chicken legends Yard & Coop.
Then there’s Zumuku Sushi, Bondi Bowls and Zaxx Fried Chicken, to name a few.
The 25% discount applies to residents in Manchester city centre, Didsbury, Chorlton and Rusholme, and applies to order of £20 or over.
The deal is available between 5 December and 2 January.
Featured image: The Manc Group
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Watch live: Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, Steve Rotheram and more take part in DJ battle
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham is set to take to the DJ decks again, facing off against Angela Rayner, Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram, and Manc legends including Clint Boon and Rowetta.
The huge event has been created with the support of Warehouse Project to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity for A Bed Every Night.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has now been added to the bill and will be getting behind the decks at the charity event, alongside Manc music legends.
The event will see Burnham battling against Steve Rotheram in a musical head-to-head between Manchester and Liverpool.
It’s taking place at Depot Mayfield, the home of Warehouse Project, on Friday 2 December – and we’ve got an exclusive discount for £1 tickets for The Manc readers.
All proceeds from bar sales on the night will go to support those who are experiencing or at risk of rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.
The line-up will be headlined by Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram (who first battled behind the DJ decks in lockdown), with guest appearances from Angela Rayner, Nihal Arthanayake, Stanley Chow, Clint Boon and Rowetta, plus guest DJs from the Warehouse Project.
Andy Burnham doing a live-streamed DJ set during lockdown. Credit: GMCA
Angela said: “I can’t wait to get on the decks and show everyone why Manchester is clearly the best city when it comes to music. I’ve got a lot of love for Scousers, but Team Liverpool will be second best on Saturday night.
“I’m delighted to be taking part in this event and helping to raise money for such a fantastic cause. I hope you like the songs I’ve picked. It was hard to narrow it down to three because there are so many Manchester music legends!”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “We all know Manchester has the greatest musical heritage and I’ll be giving it my all in the set to prove that point once and for all. There’s serious pride at stake here.
We're raising money for the brilliant @GMMayorsCharity initiative A Bed Every Night & powered by @WHP_Mcr
“But competition aside, our passion for music unites our two city regions. What better way to put on an amazing celebration of our region’s culture and raise money for important causes, to support those who need it most at what is a really difficult time.”
Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram said: “There can be no debate: the Liverpool City Region is the undisputed home of British music. We’ve given the world some of the greatest artists, albums and songs of all time – no area has had more number one hits than us.
“The fact we beat off competition from cities across the UK to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine speaks to our world-leading reputation as the UK’s premier music scene – and it’s a legacy we’re continuing today.”
The battle is supported by The Warehouse Project, Elevate and Badger & Combes.
Launched in 2018 by Andy Burnham and supported by the Charity, A Bed Every Night provides emergency accommodation for anyone rough sleeping across the city-region, regardless of status, as well as vital personal support.
Since its launch, A Bed Every Night has helped over 4,000 people and been instrumental in reducing rough sleeping in the region since its peak in 2017. But due to the current cost of living and energy crisis, there is an increased need to offer support this winter.
Currently, there are 619 people in A Bed Every Night accommodation across Greater Manchester who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping, with 21 organisations across the region providing accommodation.
To get your ticket for £1 (plus fees), use the code: TheManc – get yours here.
Emily Sergeant -
31st May 2022 
