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Carolyn Wednesday 25.11.09, 5:31pm
Manchester has its own winter wonderland - or in Manc-land it's more of a drizzle-land. But let us celebrate - for the North Pole bar is back!
The festive-themed bar this year has been sited in Spinningfields, just a short hop from the Christmas markets at Albert Square.
A woody pine-smell fills one's nostrils on entrance, from the wood chippings on the floor. This both creates a lovely wintery aroma and saves on the hoovering in one fell swoop.
With all the sensible tables full up when we arrived, our little Taste of Manchester gang sat round on wood logs, feeling like Christmassy woodland elves. Until a table became free of course.
I went straight in for the cocktail of all winter wonderland cocktails. The La Mumba (£4.50) was a hot chocolate delight, with a boozy addition of Corvoisier AND Dark Creme de Cacao, and squirty cream and cocoa powder.
It was the definite hit of the evening. It also helped our festive bunch mourn the loss of the hot buttered rum (who would have thought melted butter and rum would create such a beauty?), which has now been replaced by the hot rum punch.
The hot cocktails are whipped up by mixologists from the Bay Horse and Cord, and the bar also stocks beers, cider and wine. Winter pizzas are supplied by Spinningfields restaurant Strada, are are £7.95 each.
The ice skating rink was opposite, but because it was tipping it down with rain it wasn't open and the rink was looking as miserable as my freezer which is currently defrosting itself. Perhaps a covered ice rink might be on the cards for next year - this is rainy ol' Manchester after all.
The North Pole Bar is run by events company Ear To The Ground.
It is open from 11am to 11pm until January 3, 2010.
www.northpolebar.com
For Christmas offers and events, visit Taste of Manchester's Taste of Christmas mini-website.
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