TikTok is going wild for a Manchester loo that’s basically a mini nightclub, with reams of videos being posted online of excitable punters getting their groove on inside.
Albert’s Schloss on Peter Street has become something of a TikTok darling, with partygoers seeking out its subterranean basement loos to have a private party of their own.
Videos shared to the platform show excitable groups singing and dancing along inside the funky bathroom, whilst disco lights flash and pop music plays loudly in the background.
And many of the captions say the same thing, as users reveal they have spent more time partying in the disco toilet than inside the German-themed party palace itself.
One user wrote: “When you find the disco loo inside Alberts Schloss and stay there most of the night.”
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Another said: “Deffo worth waiting to try out the disco toilets in Schloss.”
And a third commented: “TBH this is ideal if you’re an IBS girlie.”
But whilst social media makes it seem as if Schloss was the first to launch a ‘disco loo’ in Manchester, the concept is not quite as fresh as it seems – as others have already paved the way for the city’s newest p*ssed-up party cubicle.
The first I ever visited in Manchester was next door to Schloss at a ‘La Piscotheque’ party, held in the ladies’ bathroom of its sister venue The Albert Hall whilst La Discotheque raged upstairs.
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Image: Alberts Schloss
Image: Alberts Schloss
Hosted in the former Peter Street chapel, whilst hundreds raved away upstairs in its basement loos we danced with original Hacienda resident DJ Paulette as she spun Crystal Waters’ remix of Gypsy Woman on the decks.
Other bars in Manchester to have explored the disco loo concept include speakeasy The Washhouse, which installed its own unisex ‘secret disco bathroom’ earlier this year complete with neon signs, a giant disco ball, lights, and of course its very own DJ booth.
Is this part of a new craze in Manchester, where punters would rather party up their night in the p*sser? It certainly seems to have sold itself to the TikTok crowd, but as for the rest of the city? That’s yet to be seen.
Featured image – The Manc Group
City Centre
Acclaimed Manchester cocktail bar named one of UK’s best quietly closes its doors
Emily Sergeant
An acclaimed Manchester cocktail bar that was formerly named one of the best in the UK has quietly closed its doors for good.
Tucked away beneath the former set of Coronation Street in the Old Granada Studios complex, and hidden in the basement of Manchester‘s historic 1800s Bonded Warehouse at St. John’s, Project Halcyon Distillery officially opened its doors in 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic delays – with the intimate venue going on to become a city favourite.
The acclaimed, Speakeasy-style bar drew inspiration from Prohibition-era Chicago, focusing on ‘halcyon days’ of calm and luxury.
It included an on-site distillery used to create bespoke ingredients for its seasonal menu, and beyond cocktails, even featured a so-called ‘Stillroom’ for masterclasses and had private, curtained room dedicated to absinthe, with traditional fountains, called ‘Salon Vert’.
Project Halcyon has quietly closed its doors for good / Credit: Project Halcyon | The Manc Group
But despite its success over the years, and even earning a place in the coveted Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK list on several occasions, Project Halcyon has officially – but somewhat quietly – now closed its doors for good.
“It was with sincere regret that due to unexpected challenges at the ownership level we must close our doors for the foreseeable. Though we say goodbye, the memories live on.
“Thank you to everyone who shared in our craft, our community, and our story.”
After the news broke on social media, Project Halcyon’s Instagram post was flooded with dozens of comments showing support for staff members, and remembering the venue as one of their favourite cocktail bars in the city centre.
The nature of some of the comments also prompted Project Halcyon to issue a follow-up statement below addressing concerns over money owed to workers and other partners, adding: “We sincerely hope that anyone who may be owed by the owners of Project Halcyon – past and present team included – receives what they are owed.
“We are not deleting comments and have no interest in doing so. We also cannot control how Instagram manages comment threads. This page is run by the team, not the owners.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
City Centre
11 men arrested following ‘busy’ day of protests and marches in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
11 men have been arrested following a ‘busy’ day of protests and marches in Manchester city centre over the weekend.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said several demonstrations – the most noteworthy being that of the widely-reported Britain First march – took place ‘peacefully’ across central Manchester at the weekend, particularly on Saturday (21 February), with officers working closely with organisers to ensure people could protest ‘safely’.
Police were also on-hand to ensure that wider disruption to the general public around the city centre was ‘kept to a minimum’ as best as possible.
A ‘significant’ policing operation was said to be in place throughout Saturday – with additional resources deployed and pre-prepared plans activated by GMP, alongside partner agencies, to help the day run smoothly.
While the demonstrations on the day were described by authorities as ‘peaceful’, 11 people were arrested on suspicion on a range of offences.
These included two men on suspicion of prevention of a breach of the peace, four men on suspicion of public order offences, and one man on suspicion of assault, just to name a few.
Two of the 11 were de-arrested, while the nine others were taken to police custody, and a section 34 dispersal order was subsequently put in place until 8pm that evening (21 February), allowing police to direct people to leave the area.
11 people have been arrested following a ‘busy’ day of protests in Manchester / Credit: GMP
Speaking following the demonstrations and arrests made over the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson, who was the gold commander for policing operation, commented: “Manchester was expected to be extremely busy today, with multiple planned protests in the city centre as well as several football matches.
“We put extra officers on duty to support people’s right to protest peacefully, while reducing the impact on the wider public.
“Thanks to the efforts of our officers on the ground and the planning done with our partners, hundreds of people from a range of groups were able to come together safely, with no significant issues reported.
“Greater Manchester is a place where people can confidently and lawfully express their views, while ensuring that residents, workers, and visitors can go about their day feeling safe.”
Georgina Pellant -
18th May 2023 
