Beat the Chrimbo Limbo blues!
It’s a strange time of year, especially for those lucky few who are off work between Christmas and New Year. And who, after a few days of eating gout-inducing food in their pyjamas, can start to feel a bit lost and directionless. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of activities to help you beat the Chrimbo Limbo blues.
Feature Image: _campergram_
1. Have a drink at the frozen tiki bar
Take a trip to the village’s South Pacific themed icy paradise for an unforgettable frozen bar experience at -10 degrees! It’s the perfect place for a ‘chilled’ date night or a get together with friends.
The bar includes amazing tropical sculptures including Easter Island ‘Moai’ ice statues, giant fruit and some funky interactive photo opportunities. Click here for more information.
2. Get your tickets for this whisky-blending masterclass
The Blend combines a whisky-tasting masterclass, the chance to blend your own whisky and the opportunity to gain plenty of impressive knowledge along the way. Prepare for a dram good night that’s taking place at Manchester’s very own whisky school – The Loft. Each one-hour session will include the chance to blend your own whisky to take home.
Nose and taste five different single malt and grain whiskies with a wide range of aromas and flavours, then get technical as you delve into blending mastery. Once you’ve stored that knowledge away for your future whisky-based concoctions, try your hand at blending a whisky to your own taste.
3. Treat yourself to a fancy feast at The Ivy
The gorgeous timber-framed space is based in the city’s financial district and surrounded by lush foliage, creating a welcome green space in the heart of the city. The restaurant features a ground floor brasserie, first-floor private dining room, an opulent Asian bar and restaurant on the second floor, as well a sumptuous roof garden complete with fire pits and lush greenery on the top floor. Click here to book. The Pavilion, Byrom St, M3 3HG.
4. See the baby orangutan at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is celebrating the birth of a critically-endangered Sumatran orangutan. The birth is another success story for the zoo’s acclaimed international breeding programme, as the Sumatran orangutan is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). And, as a result of hunting and habitat loss caused by illegal logging and the palm oil industry, is one of the world’s most endangered great apes, with fewer than 14,000 surviving in the wild
5. Visit the alpine village for a karaoke session and a hot toddy
Bar Hütte, our favourite ‘Alpine Après Ski’ village has returned to Spinningfields for another year of cosy cocktails, live entertainment and karaoke in hüttes. Included in their private hüttes, (which accommodate up to 10 people) are ‘Carol-oke’ machines where you can sing your heart out to seasonal favourites or go for chart-toppers – meanwhile, drinks are brought right to your table by your private host. In central situe until January 1, this is Alpine village is worth a visit. Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays there’s live music followed by DJs and it turns into quite the party.
6. See the lovely lanterns at Lightopia
Taking place at Heaton Park (Manchester’s largest historic park and Europe’s largest municipal park) Lightopia is a new immersive and visually-dramatic lantern and light festival, that promises to fuse beautiful art installations with human experience.
The very first of its kind in the UK and Europe, Lightopia will explore the senses with unique interactive and immersive lights, lanterns, installations and an incredible water-screen projection, destined to create unforgettable memories and provide alternative family fun throughout the festival season. Click here for more information.
7 – 14. Add a competitive twist to your post-Christmas night out
We love a drinking game as much as the next fresher, but there comes a time in every mature graduate’s life when you have to move on from Ring of Fire and say no to the dirty pint. But just because you’re forgoing the forfeit drink, doesn’t mean you can’t add a competitive twist to your night out. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best bars for gaming (and drinking) in Manchester. Click here for the full list.