An affordable package holiday company has launched new flights from Manchester to one of Europe’s so-called ‘hidden gems’.
If you fancy taking a trip to tiny country tucked away in the middle of two major continents, then Holiday Best, one of the UK’s newest holiday package operators – which also happens to boast the lowest deposit on the market at just £25 per person, too – has recently launched new package holidays to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi.
Running in partnership with Turkish Airlines, the flights have now launched from a handful of major UK airports – including Manchester Airport.
And the best bit? There’s even trips available to book in time for the Easter holidays.
A package holiday company has launched new flights from Manchester to European ‘hidden gem’ / Credit: Unsplash
If you don’t know too much about Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi was often once thought of as one of eastern Europe and the Asian continent’s “hidden gems” – but now, the picturesque place has become a truly modern and diverse city, with a hybrid of influences.
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The old town of the capital is full of historic architecture, with a wide range of restaurants designed to make you fall in love with Georgian cuisine, while the outskirts are surrounded by the remote mountains of Svaneti – which some even say rival the Swiss and French Alps, not only in their beauty, but also in their hiking opportunities.
So it’s not hard to see why the city has cemented itself as a popular city break and holiday destination for many tourists, right?
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Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is described as being a truly modern and diverse city / Credit: Nina Matcharashvili (via Unsplash)
If it sounds like a country up your street, and you’re keen to book yourself a well-deserved break away, then Holiday Best is currently running a deals for seven-night bed and breakfast stays flying from Manchester Airport, with 20kg baggage allowance and private transfers included – with prices ranging around the £925 mark per person.
A stunning range of four and five-star hotels in Tbilisi are included as part of this new Georgian package holiday offering, so there’s bound to be something in everyone’s budget.
These include the four-star Tbilisi Times Boutique Hotel, with its unique and memorable decor starting at £465pp, and the five-star Grand Tbilisi Metekhi Palace that has a rooftop restaurant and bar, as well as being known for its world-class service.
The best afternoon teas in Manchester
Thomas Melia
Afternoon tea has been a British staple since 1840, luckily for us, Manchester has a great selection of places serving this midday tradition.
If there’s one thing Manchester does best after music, sport, style and, you know, everything else it’s definitely food and drink, especially British classics.
There’s nothing better than a good sandwich followed by a sumptuously sweet scone, and a dazzling selection of cakes.
However, if you put all of those things together and bring it out on a meticulously-organised, multi-tiered serving platter, you’ve got the key to the nation’s heart.
When it comes down to afternoon tea we certainly don’t mess around and that’s why here at The Mancwe’ve put together a list of all the best dining experiences that are worth every single penny.
The top 10 afternoon teas in Manchester
1. Kimpton Clocktower, The Refuge
Credit: Supplied
This historic building is serving up elevated classics that you would expect on your typical afternoon tea platter including sandwiches with fillings like truffled egg mayonnaise as well as smoked salmon and pickled cucumber.
Pair these nibbles with all your go-to cuppa choices such as an earl grey and peppermint black, or sample ‘The Refuge blend’ – a fruity and herbal infusion with rosehip, hibiscus, peppermint, blackcurrant, and strawberry leaves.
Once your sweet tooth kicks in, there’s a variety of sweet delicacies with their glazed lemon meringue pie and obvious breadwinner, the treasured scones.
Nothing says grandeur like dining in The Midland and their afternoon tea options are certainly not subtle in any way, shape or form either.
Sandwich fillings are not limited, there’s avocado and chive, chicken, tomato and basil, with many vegan alternatives like the coronation tofu and watercress.
All their scones are served plain however they do offer you Devon cream and a helping of Mrs Darlington’s jam, yum.
Where to find: 16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Price: £45 – £55 per person
3. Grandpa Greene’s, Diggle
Credit: The Manc Group
Ever fancied eating an afternoon tea in an igloo without the below-minus temperature? Well after this you definitely will.
Known and loved for their unreal ice creams, Grandpa Greene‘s are also all-around food caterers and their Afternoon Tea isn’t one you should be missing out on.
Enjoy treats, canapés, and of course, milkshakes made with that ridiculously moreish GG’s ice cream.
Where to find: Ward Ln, Diggle, Oldham OL3 5JT
Price: £24.95 – £29.95 per person
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4. King Street Townhouse
Credit: The Manc Group
Quoted on their website as a ‘memorable Manchester experience’, there are two afternoon tea options to choose from.
Indulge in all the sweet treats you can possibly imagine with the ‘Traditional’ serving or if you’re someone who prefers savoury, delight in the ‘High Afternoon Tea’.
The first brings generously sized portions centred around the flavours of the season but always features a scone or two, while the latter sees orzo fritters and cheddar croquettes with cheese and chutney replacing the beloved scone.
This is another city centre hotel that’s putting on a dazzling display of tiered food and definitely not skimping on jam and cream with two pots placed perfectly next to those delicious scones.
There are finger-shaped sandwiches as well as a handful of mini cakes, and the multi-tiered platter exudes the Gotham style with its rose gold-tinged plates and matching teapot.
So why not take your pick at some bite-sized delights while perched high among the Manchester city centre skyline?
Where to find:100 King St, Manchester M2 4WU
Price: From £35 per person
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6. The Martlet
Where better to enjoy an afternoon tea than in a historic Greater Manchester building that radiates notoriety and doubles as Rochdale’s newest fine-dining location?
The Martlet is preserving this British cuisine while bringing a modern touch with sandwich fillings like vegetable samosa and raspberry macarons to follow.
Of course, scones paired with the usual egg and cress sandwiches will still be present, but it’s always lovely to see some innovation where possible.
We’re pretty stunned by the whole thing, to be honest.
Where to find: Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
Price: £21 per person
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7. 20 Stories
Credit: Supplied
This Afternoon Tea reaches new heights, literally. 19 floors above the city centre is 20 Stories, which are branding itself as ‘The highest Afternoon Tea in Manchester’
20 Stories also has an exclusive mini cocktail pairing option where the drinks are hand-selected to go with your Afternoon Tea, because what fun day ever started with water?
Now all that’s left to do is choose between the Traditional, Piper-Heidsieck or Miniature cocktail Afternoon Tea, we’re really spoilt for choice!
Where to find:No. 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman St, Manchester M3 3EB
Price: £37.50 – £62.50 per person
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8. The Lowry Hotel, The River Restaurant
Credit: Supplied
Enjoy an Afternoon Tea before heading off to your next theatre show – how could your day get any better?
Sample a turkey and lettuce wrap, smoked salmon, crème cheese and white balsamic ‘on a slider’ and a cheese and ham tart.
Vegans are well catered for too with hummus, red roasted pepper and rocket wrap with vegan cream and jam for the scones!
Price: £30 – £40 per person
9. The East Lancashire Railway
Finger sandwiches, homemade scones and patisserie all onboard a vintage steam train, yes please!
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And to top things off, you’ll have a personal waiter on hand for your whole journey ready to attend to however much unlimited tea and coffee you can manage in 90 minutes.
This experience will be nothing but exceptional and all catering is to very high standards, so sit back, relax and watch the views of Manchester go by.
Their afternoon tea is just one of many luxury packages you can enjoy – here’s another one:
Where to find: Bolton Street Station, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
Price: £55 per person
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10. Malmaison Manchester, Deansgate
This hotel really takes the concept of afternoon tea and combines it with a polar opposite: street food.
B&G slider, beef brisket bite, tuna taco and buttermilk fried chicken all for savouries with an unreal lineup of sweet tarts.
‘Fab Lollies’, carrot opera cake, choc chip cookie dough sundae, vanilla crème brûlée and to dust it off, a sticky toffee scone.
Trains halted after car crashes onto Manchester to Liverpool line in Salford
Danny Jones
There is set to be some significant travel chaos for the remainder of the day after a car crashed onto a section of the train tracks in Salford, resulting in major rail delays.
At present, all trains running along the line between Manchester city centre and Liverpool have been cancelled while the vehicle is removed from the tracks.
The incident is said to have occurred in the early hours of Friday morning (7 February) and while the exact details surrounding the crash are still scarce, the car landed on its roof and the driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
These were the scenes late last night/this morning:
#ARREST | We responded to a collision on Regents Road in #Salford this morning at around 2am, following reports of a road traffic collision involving one car on the railway line near Regents Road roundabout.
According to reports, the 30-year-old is said to have been rushed to the hospital for further assessment, though their injuries are not thought to be serious.
Fortunately, there were no other drivers involved in the accident which took place at around 2am on the roundabout at Regent Road in Salford.
Nevertheless, the Greater Manchester rail network and beyond will still be impacted well after the car has been removed from the tracks.
Transpennine Express has stated that travellers can expect disruption until around 1pm at the earliest but with the knock-on effect cancellation and delays will have on local lines, not to mention the congestion that will follow on further North West lines and other public transport, the situation is less than ideal.
You can see more footage from the scene this morning down below:
‼️There’s major disruption to the trains between Manchester and Liverpool this morning – after a car smashed into train tracks in #Salford.
Providing the latest updates to passengers online, Northern Assist has stated that those “Liverpool Lime Street who require Manchester Victoria/Piccadilly/Oxford Rd can travel via Warrington Bank Quay. Passengers at Manchester stations who require Lime Street can travel via Warrington Bank Quay.
“Passengers at Chester who require Manchester Victoria can travel via Stockport or alternatively travel on Transport for Wales services between Chester and Newton Le Willows where a bus service will operate towards Manchester Victoria…
“Passengers at Manchester Piccadilly who require Chester can travel via Stockport or alternatively, travel to Manchester Victoria, where a replacement bus service is operating to Newton le Willows and travel on the next available Transport for Wales service to Chester. Ticket acceptance is in place with Transport For Wales, via any reasonable route.”
Fingers crossed that the car is removed from the track promptly, the debris is cleared up as quickly as possible and the situation in Salford is resolved soon – keep your eyes peeled on social media for information on services.
⚠️If you are travelling between #liverpool and #Manchester today please be aware of disruption due to a police incident