Christmas has just got tropical at Chorlton’s Island Vibe

Island Vibe has an undeniable beach bar vibe, no matter what the time of year. Listening to the rattle of ice in the cocktail shaker, you could almost be on a Caribbean beach. If it wasn’t for the number 85 bus going past outside.

But that’s Island Vibe; when the winter sun streams through the floor to ceiling windows, you start to relax and feel sunnier inside. And it does have great transport links - it’s just seconds from the tram stop too.

Everyone needs somewhere bright and cheery that makes them feel more positive about winter. Island Vibe is that place.

Festive menus are famously, well, festive. Redolent of leaping reindeer, snowy scenes and ho ho ho. But what if a Christmas menu brought a bit of much needed sunshine into your life? In the depths of winter, that’s what we all crave.

I’m afraid we can’t send you on a jet to Jamaica, but we can tell you to head to Chorlton’s Island Vibe for your Christmas meet-ups and eat-ups and that’s the next best thing.

Both the festive lunch and evening menus are available from Tuesday 26 November.

The done-to-death turkey is replaced by jerk turkey and stuffing with an altogether lighter feel. The meat comes to life with a hit of spices whilst the sauce has the depth you’d want on a festive plate, all sage, sorrel and red wine notes. Find it on both the lunch and evening menu.

The rum and raisin cake on the lunch menu is a perfect replacement for the ubiquitous Christmas pudding which nobody really likes anyway. It’s generous on the rum and full of flavour. Top drawer.

As for the coconut brownies on the evening menu, I challenge you to leave even a crumb behind. This was dark, oozy and full of naughtiness. The sharp, sour cherry gel with a real blast of brandy and the rich chocolate sauce make this one very grown up dessert but you’ll be licking the plate clean like a little kid.

The lunch menu includes two courses for £20 and the evening menu includes two courses for £25 or three courses for £30.