DRINKING 101** Winter Gathering: Manchester’s Finest Festive Tipples

Winter Gathering has arrived in Manchester, a welcome addition to some of best destinations venues in the city this Christmas.

The iconic London Road Fire Station has been transformed into a magical winter market complete with an ice skating rink, centre piece Christmas tree and a raised mezzanine with a cocktail bar with incredible views across the whole of the Grade II listed site.

With a capacity of up to 70, it makes for an exciting private hire for end-of-year parties, winter birthdays or other occasions that call for a uniquely special celebration.

There’s a dedicated tequila bar, no doubt the trendiest hangout in the place, given the astronomic rise of tequila in the UK. The spirit is particularly enjoying popularity in Manchester with the consumer flocking to Tequila themed venues across Manchester with the newly launched Crazy Pedros alongside bars such as El Capo and Luck, Lust, Liquor & Burn. If flirting with mezcal isn’t your thing, there will also be a bubbly truck and bar, with everything from the effortlessly accessible Moet to blowout bottles of Krug.

An array of craft beers and ales are available form an impressively stocked ten-meter bar including Shindigger IPA and Seven Brothers Brewery. Bespoke cocktails are also on offer, with modern classics and Champagne tipples to choose from.

Here’s a look at some of these delicious cocktails:

A pretty take on everyone’s fashionably favourite drink, with pink peppercorn infused gin, Martini Rosso, and bitter Campari

Crowd-pleasing and iconic. Early Years bourbon, Demerara sugar, bitters and a garnish of orange zest are stirred together in this winter warmer

Well-balanced and great if you feel the sniffles creeping up on you in the cold – green tea vodka, smooth salted honey, lemon oils and zingy ginger ale

One for a those with a healthy appetite for somewhere more sun-kissed and still seasonal. A pint-sized blend of house rums, pineapple, grapefruit, cinnamon, lime and bitters make for a comfortingly sweet and exotic elixir

Why not raise a toast to the most celebrated time of the year with the Champagne cocktails, each priced at £8.50 and named after the sculptures of JJ Willson above the Fire Station entrance;

Champagne, Golden rum, fig and cinnamon give the perfect balance of candied and spicy autumnal flavours

London Dry gin muddled with raspberry and orange topped with Champagne makes for an exceedingly British tasting libation

Tart Passion fruit smoothed out with the softened bittersweet citrus notes of Aperol and maraschino is then, of course, married with bubbles

An unusual yet palatable combination of cassis lived up with Sichuan pepper is the perfect glass of bubbly for those who’d like to try something cheekily different