THERE’S a rainbow on the horizon this weekend (August 24-27) when Manchester Pride scatters its stardust over the city. Partying takes centre stage but there’s always down time for a crafty cocktail or a slice of colourful cake? Here’s a few ToM recommendations…
You can always rely on Black Milk NQ on Oldham Street for a sweet treat and their Rainbow Freakshake is “a celebration of diversity”, served during Pride Week. You get a milkshake plus a six layer Rainbow spongecake with natural colourings and white frostiing with a garnish of hundreds and thousands.
That rainbow theme continues upmarket at the Lowry Hotel’s River Restaurant. Their Pride Tea (£29.50) features rainbow cake and sparkling macaroons alongside classic components – gourmet sandwiches, traditional scones with clotted cream. A £1 donation to the Manchester Pride charity comes with every one sold.
3 Cottonopolis may be celebrated for their Japanese fusion cuisine but they also whip up a mighty fine Arctic Roll. Across the Bank Holiday Weekend this has been gussied into the Pride Arctic Roll with £1 from each sale going to the Manchester Pride charity.
The Velvet Hotel & Bar in the heart of the Village is turning back the clock for the Bank Holiday Weekend. The newly arrived My White’s English Chop House is taking a break and the kitchen is serving a range of old school Velvet classics as well as brunch, served Sunday to Monday, 10am-4pm. If guests pre-book via [email protected], the brunch costs just £27 per person and includes one brunch dish and unlimited prosecco. Lots of DJ activity, too, on an outdoor stage, kicking off with DJ E.M.A at 5pm.
Brunch is breaking out all over. Menagerie down at One New Bailey will be hosting its own exceptionally colourful Rainbow Brunch on Friday and Saturday, 24th and 25th, 12pm-6pm. Choose two brunch dishes and unlimited cocktails including their rainbow special for £40 and take advantage of their glitter make-up artists. To book email [email protected].
Then there’s Pride Disco Brunch too at Gorilla on Saturday, August 25, with perhaps the best Bloody Marys in town and appropriate sounds from Gaydio and Supernature Disco.
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Crying out for cocktail overload? Check out The Living Room’s Pride Tree, a special limited edition of their trademark cocktail trees for £55 (Aug 13-27, pre-book only). You get nine glasses of Tanqueray gin and Fever-tree tonic mixed with variously coloured shimmering syrups. A donation from each tree goes to the George House Trust.
All around the Pride site there are fast food options, notably the market stalls along Chorlton Street, but if there’s room for another burger head over to Northern Quarter bar Dive, who’ve got a Pride Burger special on from Friday to Sunday, £1 from each sold going to the Pride charity. It comes all the colours of the rainbow, naturally.