“What hath night to do with sleep?”
The question posed by poet and free-thinker John Milton in his famous poem, Paradise Lost, is a question answered by The Milton Club, the recently opened Deansgate bar created in his name.
The club is full but not rammed, the music is loud but not deafening and the party doesn’t bounce but gently pulsates, making it comfortable to both dance and chat to someone new.
Me and my companion would be reminded that nights, particularly on leisurely Saturdays, is for sipping beautifully blended cocktails, a little hedonistic partying and in this case, enjoying the soft-lit ambience of a luxury private members club. That's what the God-fearing, sober poet would've wanted, of course.
Saturday night at The Milton Club
While I’m not quite a VIP - or even an IP for that matter – I’m inclined to 'bask in the exclusivity' of a private member venue every now and then. An attentive service and elegant showmanship from smartly dressed waiters is far from wasted on women who like their drinks with a dash of flamboyance.
Drinks with a dash of flamboyance at The Milton Club
Flattered by the invite to try The Milton Club’s cocktail offering, I skipped over the velvet rope and sashayed to the reserved section of the elegant club night and didn’t look back.
Under the glowing centrepieces of the Milton’s main room there’s a subtlety to the club’s extravagance – after you’ve been bowled over by the grandness of the period regal entrance. While the private booths (around £1,000 for the night) are shielded behind curtains, there’s no over-arching feeling of ‘them and us’ - them being the important people and us being the regular folk.
Ages of the partiers range from 25 (the minimum required age) to mid 40s. The club is full but not rammed, the music is loud but not deafening and the party doesn’t bounce but gently pulsates, making it comfortable to both dance and chat to someone new.
The Saturday night atmosphere at The Milton Club
I was introduced to a self-assured French waiter who was readied to impress with his creative flair. Siezing our menus he decided to throw caution to the wind and tailor two cocktail to our tastes; one rum and one vodka based. They were pretty in taste and presentation, both a gradient pastel in colour, garnished with fruit and as requested, sweet to the palette.
Not on the menu: our waiter impresses and tailors to our taste.
The menu provides a tempting selection of classic, contemporary and ‘VIP’ cocktails. There’s also a wide wine collection, offering anything from a classic Red Wine Shiraz at £25 per bottle to a Armand de Brignac Rosé Champagne that would set you back £850 per bottle, or £1,650 if you’d prefer to go magnum.
Fitting with the weekend's racing events, I chose A Day At Races one of The Milton Clubs’ contemporary cocktails. It was girly, a combination of Remy Martin VSOP, Chamboard, fresh lime and cranberry Juice (£9.50) and the booziness was masqued by the fruity blend.
Day At The Races cocktail
With legs crossed and pinky fingers in air, it felt fitting to also order the Sophisticated Lady off the VIP menu. This cocktail consists of St Germain, Maraschino liquor with cherry and lemon topped with champagne (£12). One of the more pricier drinks, it was a treat to try.
L-R: Long Island Ice tea, Sophisticated Lady and A Day At The Races.
The treats, or rather the splurges, continue on The Milton Club's menu. It boasts brazenly a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII which costs a staggering and eye-wateringly expensive £3,500. Evidently, The Milton Club had set the precedent for the guests with thick wallets. As one of the humbler party-goers, I would have to make do with a classic Long Island Ice Tea to finish.
The sophistication continued throughout the evening as popular 90s R&B began to flood the room and attendees began to loosen up. Although a Saturday night at The Milton Club is not a dancing round handbags affair, there's permission and freedom to shake a leg.
The Milton Club is a welcome addition to the Saturday night club circuit. The impressive interior alone, designed by Bernard Carroll, fulfils the club's purpose of joining the ranks of Manchester's upmarket restaurant and bar offerings. It seems that many will return to experience the grandieur of the Paradise Regained on Deansgate.
Membership at The Milton Club is free for professionals over-25. Find out more on the website.
The Milton Club,
Milton Hall Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4BQ
0161 850 2353
Follow @LOreal_B on Twitter.
