The bar owners of Manchester are going head-to-head to be in the mix for a competition to create the Official Manchester Pride Cocktail.
Drinking establishments across the city have joined the #DrinkWithPride contest, a campaign that intends to shake up the annual Manchester Pride festival, which takes place August 22-25.
The cocktails have been concocted, named and are now available with £1 from the price of each drink to be donated to the festival’s charity the Manchester Pride Community Fund.
Customers can vote for the cocktail they enjoyed getting their lips around the most and the winning drink will be served across the festival bars throughout the Pride weekend.
Chief executive of Manchester Pride Mark Fletcher said: ‘It’s great that so many bars and restaurants have got behind the competition and have created some delicious cocktails for the people of Manchester to enjoy.”
Taurus bar boss Mike Pollard, better known as Polly, told MM that this contest is about more than just a weekend tipple.
The bar’s Manchester Mojito entry is made from Old J rum, regular Bacardi, sugared syrup, lime, chilli and ginger before being ‘pummelled’ and topped up with soda and lemonade and Polly hopes it will symbolise more than just three days in August for Mancunians.
“We believe in Manchester Pride a lot,” said Polly. “It is not just all about an August bank holiday; Pride is all-year-round.
“I believe Manchester is the gayest city in the whole of the world. I have been everywhere and it’s great.”
The drinks available span the mixology spectrum and each bring something new to the table, here’s what’s on offer and where you can find them:
·The Alchemist on New York Street – Twist and Pop, £7.50
·Black Dog Ballroom NQ, Black Dog Ballroom NWS, Dogbowl – Rainbow Rum Punch, £7.25
·El Capo – Starry Eyed, £8
·The Garratt – A Rosy Affair, £3.50
·Taurus – Polly’s Pride Passion, £6.95
·Apotheca – Sparkle&Shine, 2 for £12
·The Whiskey Jar – The Pink Panther, £8
·Gorilla – Elderflower Gimlet, £8
·Via & Polari – Pride-tini Vodka, £5.50
There is just one week left to choose your favourite cocktail as voting closes on May 31, which means it would probably be best to start any research with immediate effect!
Mark said: “2014 is the year where the LGBT community showed the world that love has no boundaries – we really are the ‘love generation’ – and Manchester Pride will be celebrating this with the Manchester Pride Parade and our after-party at the Big Weekend in our world-famous Gay Village.
“Applications are now open to take part in the parade so those who want to help us turn the streets of Manchester into a kaleidoscope of colour and jump aboard the ‘love Train’ for an amazing experience they’ll never forget should apply now as spaces are limited.”
Votes can be cast on the Manchester Pride website
Image courtesy of Alpha du centaure with thanks
