Below you'll find all the news of what happened in Manchester bars in January 2018.

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Back in October, Cottonopolis invited you to follow the fire and embark on a journey that would take you to a secret location, to indulge in an eight-course dining and cocktail experience, the details of which were kept a secret until the night. 

Following the success of that Secret Supper, they have announced three further events in February, April and June 2018, starting on Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th February. Each event will deliver a completely unique and innovative concept, with their own immersive theme and imaginative menu.  [more info]

The Lowry Hotel will be hosting a Perrier-Jouët Champagne Dinner in their intimate Private Dining Room on Friday 23rd February 2018.

Limited to just 22 people, we can't think of a better way than spending the evening sampling wines matched to each course with wine experts providing the history of the Perrier-Jouët vineyards.  [more info]

For one day only, Pug Cafe & The Pen and Pencil have teamed up to invite the pugs and pug crosses of Manchester (and their humans) to celebrate Chinese New Year at their Pug Paw-ty to help celebrate the Year of the Dog.

The pug was the prized pet of the Emperors of China and lived a lap of luxury; they were even given the same status as their wives - spoilt and treated just like royalty!

Whilst we're on the subject of the Pen & Pencil, they will be hosting two free parties in February 2018. First up, on Friday the 16th, Warehouse Project/Snowbombing DJ Marco Giannini hosts a Synth-Pop Party, mixing the likes of Depeche Mode, Erasure, The Human League, Kraftwerk, Yellow, M83, Robyn, La Roux, The Knife, and Chromatics.

A week later, on Saturday 24th, Melvo Baptiste, the voice of Glitterbox Radio (syndicated on over 40 stations globally and regularly top of the iTunes podcast charts), brings his epic set of of Soul, Funk & Disco from across the decades to the Northern Quarter bar. [more info]

To help you avoid cheating on your New Year’s resolutions, Hard Rock Cafe have launched a brand new, guilt-free beverage program, using only the most authentic and fresh ingredients, perfect for those seeking new, healthier alternatives in 2018.

On Wednesday 28th February, they are giving you the opportunity to make and taste these new cocktails, with help from their mixologists. A selection of bites are provided too, although there's no mention of whether these (or the alcohol, for that matter) come guilt-free. [more info]

El Gato Negro are rumoured to be the latest name with plans to open a branch in Ancoats. Although by the time you read this, the rest of the city has probably followed suit.

Taking the empty unit next to Rudy's Neapolitan Pizza, which for years was earmarked for the illusive Wild Goose Fat & Garlic, they are looking at a more casual affair than their King Street offering.

Black Dog Ballroom NWS are bringing back The MatchPint Football Quiz night on February 15th, in collaboration with sports pub finder app, MatchPint. Simply check in to the bar on the app, whilst at the quiz and get a free pint in return. 

Whilst the British Beer & Pub Association may have warned of the consequences of a Brexit vote back in June 2016, brewers, wine distributors and bars have largely absorbed the rising costs related to the self-inflicted drop in value of sterling, that the 'Project Fear' experts warned us about.

Despite the costs of EU-imported booze and hops remaining at least 15% higher, due to the plummeting pound alone, the customer has not really seen a knock on effect since the 27th June 2016, due to pre-ordered stock and a reluctance to pass on costs. That is until now.

The world's largest brewer, AB InBev (Boddingtons, Budweiser, Stella, Corona, Becks, Hoegarden, etc), as well as Molson Coors (Carling, Staropramen, Cobra, Coors, Blue Moon, Miller, Worthingtons, etc) will both be raising beer prices in the UK by an above inflation rate, of upto 3.9% over the next 12 months. Other brewers and wine importers are expected to follow suit.

Manchester voted 60.4% to remain in the EU (as did Trafford at 57.7% and Stockport at 52.3%), so we can but hope that the costs are instead passed on to pubs in Leave voting areas... or maybe to drinkers at Wetherspoons, a chain that campaigned passionately to Leave.

Rusholme Curry Mile favourite, Mughli have joined forces with Eccles craft brewery First Chop to launch an exclusive gluten free and vegan light ale called ‘Horn OK Please’.

The collaboration between Richard Garner, founder at First Chop Brewing, with Haz Arshad of Mughli restaurants, alongside the renowned Mancunian artist, Stanley Chow, delivers a craftily hopped, straw-coloured ale with a noticeable aroma of citrus and honey, making it the perfect accompaniment to Mughli’s bold ‘Indian Soul Food’ dishes. 

The popular Castlefield real ale bar Cask are the latest to join the Ancoats revolution, with plans for a second venue alongside the canal in the new Cotton Field Wharf apartment building. 

An ale drinker's heaven, the welcoming bar on Liverpool Road has remained the city's most comprehensive Continental beer bar since opening in 2003 and is sure to be a winner in Ancoats when it opens in Spring. 

Northern Quarter restaurant Evelyn's officially open the doors of The Daisy, their new private members co-working space and basement cocktail bar, on the 1st February 2018. Membership costs £100 per year but does include free Rare Tea Company tea and Ozone Coffee. Taking its name from the game "Love Me, Love Me Not", membership requests are reviewed by a panel, based upon the applicant's social media accounts. It's the first time the concept has been tried in Manchester since the closure of The Circle Club in December 2013.

KFC have released a few recipes for customers to make 'Stocktails' at home. The savoury cocktails, in this case based around KFC's own gravy include 'The Southern Twist', which contains KFC gravy, bourbon, pepper, and brown sugar, served over ice with the glass rim garnished with lemon juice and chopped parsley. 

As the anti-plastic packaging movement gains speed, San Carlo have pledged to move to the use of paper on straws, ditching the plastic variety which are part of a known menace towards the environment.  They join many bars across Europe who have been part of the rapidly growing #RefuseTheStraw movement, long before Blue Planet II hit our screens.

With the entire Manchester bar scene seemingly relocating to Ancoats, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the area is new, however the story of the Northern Quarter's new fashionable suburb is one that is integral to both Manchester's and Britain's industrial history.

Dating back to 1212, the small settlement of just a few dwellings was called "Elnecot"; a name derived from the Old English 'Ana Cots' or 'lonely cottages'. Fast forward 805 years, and the name has been revived by the neighbourhood bar that has most of the city's barflies talking.

With cocktails for £5 during Happy Hour, there's no better time to explore "the world's first industrial suburb" and see why Elnecot has those in the know a tad excited. [more info]

Harvey Nichols Manchester launches its first vegan menu, created using seasonal plant-based ingredients, giving everyone a reason to try vegan this January.

The delicious menu, with dishes ranging from £6 - £12 offers customers three tasty courses, a selection of vegan wines by the bottle and a speciality vegan cider. [more info]

Gary Neville's controversial St Michaels Tower project between Jackson’s Row and Bootle Street has been redesigned with revised planning permission submitted, which seem to have taken on board many objections. These include keeping the facade of the historic Bootle Street Police Station and Sir Ralph Abercrombie pub, rather than demolishing them as was originally planned. The development's height has been scaled back and moved on to a plinth further along the street so as not to overpower local, historic buildings, such as the Town Hall and Central Library.

As well as the city's most expensive luxury apartments, it will also house a five star hotel, a new synagogue, office space, shops, bars, restaurants, and a huge rooftop garden.

Crazy Pedro’s stick two fingers up at the idea of a detox and invite you to keep the good times rolling with their January special pizza... The Re-Tox. Topped with all the essentials to get your New Year off to a great start, like English Sausage, Black Pudding, Smoked Bacon, Hash Browns, and Baked Beans. They also stock arguably the largest selection of tequila and mezcal outside of Mexico... Hasta La Pizza Baby! [more info]

Talking of re-toxes, The Botanist are offering 2 for 1 on selected gins in January, including Masons, Whitley Neil, Bombay Sapphire, Liverpool Gin and handcrafted Scottish gin, Caorunn. The offer applies at their Deansgate, Media City, Didsbury and Alderley Edge branches.