What's On

There’s an ‘immersive’ Alice in Wonderland-themed cocktail experience coming to Manchester

This "alternate reality" will take you down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 11th May 2021

Manchester is gearing up to become host to a series of Alice in Wonderland-themed immersive cocktail experiences this summer.

Returning for 2021, each 90-minute “tea party to end all tea parties” – hosted by the interactive team behind the already-successful and popular events, The Wizard’s Den, Beyond Cinema and The Art of Murder – invites you on an “adventure”.

Tea partygoers are taken on a “topsy-turvy journey” into the magical realm of Wonderland.

The description for the event series – which is set to take place in a soon-to-be-announced location in Manchester city centre – reads: “Join us for a theatrical, alternate reality experience that will take you down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass.

“Create two bespoke Wonderland cocktails, solve riddles and challenges just like Alice, devour “Eat Me” cake, paint the roses red, and much more”.

ADVERTISEMENT

Previous tea partygoers have got plenty of positive things to say about the event too, with one admitting: “We came for the Alice in Wonderland experience and we were entranced by the effort and detail in the show and the games. The interactive show with the hosts was wonderful, they were funny and high energy [and] it was a great laugh and a fabulous way to spend an afternoon”.

She was also sure to complement the “great cocktails”, and said she would “definitely recommend for a fun day out”.

ADVERTISEMENT

Another satisfied customer said “the cocktails were delicious and the games were great”, and also said they would “100% recommend”.

A third commented on the “themed experience and delivery”, and said it was “a blast”.

Wonderland Bar The Alice – An Immersive Cocktail Experience is arriving in Manchester from 1st July – 22nd October 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

Limited tickets will be available, and you can now register your interest here.

Featured Image – An Immersive Cocktail Experience

What's On

You can now have a private tour of Manchester Christmas Markets

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Every year, Manchester Christmas Markets hosts its almost two-month long residency on the frosty streets of our lively city, but now you can enjoy the cute huts with an unbeatable luxury experience.

Travel agency, Viator, who are directly connected to TripAdvisor, have launched a one on one guided tour of Manchester and its stunning Manchester Christmas Markets in all their glory.

This private tour of the festivities occurring in the city will last two hours and for the whole duration of your time, a city host will be on hand to offer undivided attention, catering to your every need.

A makeshift itinerary is already awaiting guests and can be tailored according to the individual taking the tour, everything is catered to your preferences.

Anyone who books onto the tour also receives a complimentary hot chocolate and that’s sweetened the deal for me, I’m sold.

Best sandwich at Manchester Christmas Markets.
How can you go wrong with these incredible options at Manchester Christmas Markets?
The best cheesy things at Manchester Christmas Markets.
You can recreate your very own gigantic cheese pull and your local host can snap a piccie.
Waffle Kart at Manchester Christmas Markets
Scrumptious selection of food available as you venture through Manchester Christmas Markets in style.

There’s also the chance to keep your hands toasty with a free cup of mulled wine or a soft-drink for those who aren’t interested in the warm alcoholic beverage.

Manchester Christmas Markets are a phenomenal day or night-out regardless so this latest personalised opportunity will take your festive fantasies to a whole new level.

This private tour provides a one-of-a-kind exclusive treatment making your stroll down Manchester Cathedral, Exchange Square and Manchester Town Hall that little bit more special.

These tours are a great chance to immerse yourself in one of Manchester’s many selling points as you can choose to focus your time around art and culture, fashion, architecture or our personal favourite – food.

Although the tour doesn’t include the cost for the amount of gifts and presents you’re about to buy while walking round the event, it’s definitely an innovative way to explore everything Manchester has to offer at Christmastime.

This exclusive tour package which highlights the best of Manchester Christmas Markets is definitely a present in itself with tickets costing a hefty sum of £100.

If you want to visit Manchester Christmas Markets while also living the high life with a private tour, ‘Christmas In Manchester: Private Experience With A City Host’ is running all the way until the huts shut shop on 22 December and tickets can be found here.

Read more:

Featured Image: The Manc Group

What's On

Manchester’s new real-life Pac-Man experience is coming soon and you can grab early bird tickets

Danny Jones Danny Jones Real-life Pac-Man experience Manchester

Manchester already boasts a whole host of interactive games bars and activity destinations to boast, but we feel pretty confident in saying that there are very places on the planet where you can find a place to play a real-life version of Pac-Man.

First announced back in October and now scheduled to debut in March 2025, the Pac-Man Live Experience is the newest addition to Manchester’s growing entertainment scene and it’s promising to be a popular one too.

This brand-new life-sized immersive experience plunges players into the nostalgic world of the iconic video game we all know and love, only instead of using joysticks on an old-school arcade machine, they’ll physically sprint, dodge, and chomp their way through a maze.

Although the launch itself is still a few months away, the team behind this ingenious idea are getting ready for the frenzy and putting early bird tickets on sale ahead of opening day.

Credit: Concept Image (supplied)

So how does it work?

Good question: participants can gear up in a PAC vest and step into the role of the instantly recognisable yellow chomper, collecting power pellets, dodging the classic ghost characters – BLINKY, PINKY, INKY, and CLYDE – and racking up points on their way to victory.

Guided through an epic 12-level adventure, players will be led by the ‘PAC-MASTER’: a lively gameshow host who serves as commentator and referee; players will also be accompanied by immersive in-game effects like sound bites, lighting, and haptic (vibration) feedback to elevate the experience. Cool, right?

The striking Arcade Arena will feature two massive PAC-MAN courts projected onto the floor, while dynamic visuals transform the walls, fully immersing participants in the retro arcade universe. There’s no need for headsets either, so players can embark on a multi-sensory adventure, seamlessly blending the real world with augmented reality.

Created by Tom Lionetti-Maguire, the CEO and Founder of Little Lion Entertainment – the same team behind The Crystal Maze Live Experience, Tomb Raider, and Chaos Karts to the likes of London and more recently Manchester –

The whole thing has been brought to life in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment, lending the proper licensing to make the experience feel both fun and authentic. It’s the real deal.

Credit: Supplied

Early bird tickets for Pac-Man Live Manchester

If you’re not sold on playing a human-sized, real-life game of Pac-Man in a huge augmented-reality arena right here in Manchester then we don’t know what to tell you, to be honest – all we know is that we’ll be first in line when it arrives.

The Pac-Man Live Experience comes to the Arcade Arena on 22 March next year in line with the game’s 40th anniversary, and they’re inviting players of all ages and providing engaging gameplay for younger participants while delivering a nostalgic throwback that parents and grandparents will cherish.

Better yet, if you book during the early bird window, you can access discount ticket prices from just £25 per person too.

Early bird tickets go on sale at 12 noon today (Thursday, 21 November) – you can grab yours HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

More What's On

Sean Jones and Joe Slight in Blood Brothers in Manchester. Credit: Jack Merriman

Art & Culture

Blood Brothers at Palace Theatre, Manchester – a timeless classic

Blossoms Manchester gigs support acts

Audio

Blossoms’ ‘Five Nights in Manchester’ residency – everything you need to know

Boroughs

Greater Manchester cinemas are screening loads of classic Christmas films throughout December

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches