FOLLOWING last year’s barnstorming event, bringing together Manchester’s very best mixologists, masterclasses and music, Cocktails in the City will be returning to Manchester later this month for a two-night celebration of the cocktail.

Tiki hideaway HULA will be installing an urban beach area with mechanical surfboard, sand and deckchairs...

Movers and (cocktail) shakers are invited to gather at Old Granada Studios on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 May to enjoy alcoholic concoctions devised by 24 of Manchester’s finest licensed establishments, all under one roof. Competition will be fierce as each bar tries to outdo the others whilst vying for your attention and tokens. They will also be attempting to impress a panel of judges in the hopes of being crowned 'Best Bar', 'Best Cocktail' and 'Best Stand', stealing the crown from 2015 winners Mr Coopers, Cane and Grain and Elixir, respectively.

Each bar will be working alongside a different premium spirit brand to form the base of their signature cocktails which will be available to taste and to buy. Tickets for the event are £12 and include one cocktail, main stage demonstrations, entertainment, activities and sampling. Additional cocktails are priced at £6.50 each.

 
Cocktails in the CityCocktails in the City, Manchester

Mixing it up on the decks will be the award-winning (and suitably named) DJ Matt Ginter, who will be creating the perfect vibe for this giant cocktail party. Further entertainment has been planned in the form of ‘Tick Tock Unlock’ escape games, the Junk Yard UV crazy golf and a multi-sensory Tattu parlour. Tiki hideaway HULA will be installing an urban beach area with mechanical surfboard, sand and deckchairs.

If you prefer to sit down and chill out with your finely mixed beverage, there will be a cafe area, and a ‘garden’ area for relaxing in.

For those needing to line their stomach, a feasting table centrepiece will be surrounded by a range of street food stalls organised by Friday Food Fight organisers, B.EAT Street. Vendors on Thursday will include Bart’s Dog Kart, Chaat Cart and Poffertjes Kings, while Friday night’s offerings will be provided by Big Grillie Style, Bali Beach Hut and Angel Falls.

Festival founder Andrew Scutts said: “Cocktails in the City is the perfect opportunity for those heading out after work on a Thursday or a Friday to have fun and choose drinks made by over 20 of Manchester’s best bars, spanning from the Northern Quarter to Deansgate, all under one roof.”

Bars and Drinks Brands currently confirmed in alphabetical order: (NB = New bar to CITC)

The Alchemist and The Star of Bombay//All Star Lanes and Evan Williams Extra Aged//Almost Famous and Bulldog Gin//The Botanist and Patrón Tequila//Cane and Grain and Death’s Door Gin//Cottonopolis and Tanqueray No Ten (NB)//Cocktail Trading Co and Funkin (Guest London Bar)//Crazy Pedro’s and El Jimador (NB)//El Gato Negro and Portobello Road Gin (NB)//Elixir Tonics & Treats and Lanique//The Fitzgerald and The Pogues Irish Whiskey//Hawksmoor and Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky / Maxime Trijol//Hula and Santa Teresa Linaje//The Lawn Club and Elephant Gin//Tusk and Whitley Neill Gin (NB)//Mojo and Appleton Estate Signature Blend//Mr Cooper’s House and Garden and Rumbullion//Rosylee and Black Cow Vodka (NB)//Sandinista and Gosling’s Black Seal Rum//Tattu and Opihr Gin  (NB)//Tipplesworth and Woodford Reserve// The Washhouse and Copperhead Gin (NB)

Cocktails in the City hits Old Granada Studios on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 May from 6pm to 11pm. Tickets are £12 and include one cocktail. All additional cocktails cost £6.50. Here's the video from last year's event:

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