One man has gone viral on social media and has transported us all back to being a teenager in the process by giving what he calls “the old Squashie vodka” trick a try.
We’ve all been there before.
Making vodka infused sweets, or vise versa, sweets flavoured vodka is almost a right of passage as a teenager or student. Once you’ve heard about it being ‘a thing’, the curiosity just gets the better of you and you have to give it a go for yourself.
It turns out that this curiosity isn’t just exclusive to teens though, as one man has taken to social media to share his results from making ‘Squashie vodka’ and it’s got a lot of people talking. Why though? Well, probably because he made it in his dishwasher.
Now, who knew that was possible?
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Damion Stiles shared the details of the trick on Facebook, accompanied by step-by-step pictures and a caption that read: “So… I thought I’d try the old vodka squashie trick. So glad I did.”
“It’s makes lush strong shots on their own, or have with tonic/ lemonade and it tastes equally as lush. (This was not a child’s homework exercise).”
If you’re a bit confused as to how this even works, then that’s understandable, but don’t worry, he’s broken it down even further and explained it in a little more depth.
Speaking to Tyla about the method in the madness, Damion said: “Get your bottle of vodka and begin by tipping [some out] into a separate container. Then, pour in a bag of the sweets and top it back up with the remaining vodka if there’s room.”
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“Put it in the dishwasher for a normal cycle [and] when you remove it, you’ll find the heat from the wash has magically dissolved the sweets, creating a bubblegum pink vodka drink.”
“Chill it in the fridge, then drink it”.
It’s as simple as that.
The best bit about this trick is that it doesn’t just have to be with Squashies either, you could use whichever sweets you’re most keen on and people in the comments of his post have suggested using Haribo, Skittles (of course), gummy bears and even Werther’s Original.
If you are thinking of giving this a crack though, Damion does warn that it’s best served fresh because “if you try storing it a few days, it’s starts to jellify”.
Well, we’re definitely trying this out for our next lockdown night in.
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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK – this is why
Emily Sergeant
A list of the top 10 most affordable cities in the UK has been revealed, and Manchester has made the cut for one very specific reason.
On a bit of a budget? Aren’t we all.
The cost of living crisis has been raging on for quite a few years now, and unfortunately, despite how much we all wish for it to, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down – with prices for everyday items, especially typical fridge and cupboard stables, shooting up by the day, even though supermarkets are showing efforts to prevent it.
And it’s the noticeable price increases in groceries that led delivery insurance provider, Street Cover, to uncover which UK cities don’t strain your food shopping budgets too much just yet.
As it was found that food and non-alcoholic drinks inflation reached 1.3% this past summer, a new study has revealed that Sheffield is officially the most affordable city in the UK, with several other northern locations on the list.
Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK / Credit: MCC | Aldi
The study compared the 2026 Grocery Index for the largest UK cities with the UK average, as well as available 2025 Grocery Indices, to track the changes in food affordability.
The cities are ranked by the index difference from the national average – which is 67.3 – but the report also uses direct monetary values for a grocery basket to provide some additional context too.
Manchester took sixth place on the list, with an average grocery basket price of £23.08, while some of the other northern cities in the top 10, besides Sheffield at number one, include Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle.
Top 10 Most Affordable UK Cities For Groceries
Sheffield
Milton Keynes
Liverpool
Reading
Newcastle
Manchester
Leeds
Bristol
Cardiff
Southampton
As the only other North West city in the top 10, Liverpool may have come in third place overall, but the study found that the grocery bill here is the smallest in terms of actual monetary numbers – with it setting shoppers back £22.08 for a regular supermarket basket, which is a whole £1 cheaper than in Manchester.
“Data shows households in the North East of England have the lowest average food spend in the country, around 11% below the UK average, while Yorkshire sits 6.6% below,” Al Taylor, who is the Head of Street Cover, commented on the study’s findings.
“Sheffield’s position at the top reflects lower property costs for retailers, less competition from premium chains, and a supermarket landscape dominated by value-led options.
“The practical implication for household budgets is significant – the difference between budget and premium shopping can easily be £1,000 or more per year for a family, which can be spent on other things or saved for future plans.”
Featured Image – Aldi
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Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
Emily Sergeant
Call yourself a clever clogs? The BBC is currently looking for contestants to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That’s right – Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show – which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is – knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed ‘vitally important’.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Greater Manchester encouraged to apply.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’ / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: “The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
“Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
“This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It’s all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all.”
Reckon you’ve got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Emily Sergeant -
18th June 2020 
