#AD / Revolution Bar

Revolution Bar is such a staple of the Manchester student bar scene. I didn’t really drink as a student so never actually ventured inside a Revolution Bar before. With a boom in cocktail making classes all across places in the UK, you are really spoilt for choice on where to do it in. Revolution Bar has long been a forerunner in this I feel, so here I will share my experiences of the food I had there as well as the actual cocktail masterclass.*
 

Revolution Bar Interior

The Revolution at Parsonage Gardens has such a gorgeous interior which matches the views of Parsonage Gardens just outside. With lovely wooden floors and tables and comfy seats, it’s the perfect place in Manchester city centre to get away from the hustle and bustle.

The Food

Warm super Grain Salad

Warm Super Grain Salad £9.95

My friend and I arrived at Revolution Bar after work so we decided to order some food whilst we waited for the cocktail masterclass to start. I ordered the warm super-grain salad as I tend to find superfood salads in bars tend to be surprisingly good; the combination of simple ingredients makes it hard to screw up compared to a steak or chips. I highly recommend this, it was wonderfully textured with a good variety of flavours and served warm, perfect for those cold days!

Chicken and pesto baked sandwich

Chicken and pesto baked sandwich £7.50

My friend ordered the chicken and pesto baked sandwich, which she assured me was very good. There was a good amount of pesto, the chicken was moist and the flat bread toasted.

The sides

Fried pickles £2.75

Revolution condiments

My friend wanted to order a side and initially, she wanted the halloumi fries, but I felt this was a bit hefty for what I’d like. We both agreed to get the fried pickles instead as a lighter option and this was served with a dip. The batter was thin, light and crispy. We both really enjoyed this.

Our server, Sam, highly recommended trying the Revolution ketchup which has beetroot in it. He eagerly brought these over and it was amazing. Go try this next time you’re at a Revolution Bar.

Cocktail Masterclass

Long Island Ice Tea

The cocktail masterclass started with Bubblegum Daiquiris for all. There were 6 people total including the lovely duo from Eat and Two Veg and recent Manchester movers. We were then told we would be having a series of competitions, 1v1, losers need to drink a chilli shot. We paired off and then had to decide on a base spirit amongst us. Danny from Eat and Two Veg and I were head to head and he chose the Long Island Ice Tea for our competition. Mine was a cranberry-based version whereas he went traditional. 

Our bartender, Tony, went through which bottles we’d need and how much of each to add to our cocktails. He wouldn’t repeat the instructions, so we only had ONE GO at it. Then it was 3, 2, 1… START. Danny and I rushed around each other grabbing the bottles we needed to form our cocktails. When we were finished, it was up to the rest of the group to decide who made the best-tasting cocktail. I won! Sorry, Danny! Hope the chilli shot wasn’t too bad!

Then we had a rally of 3v3. It was myself and the duo from Eat and Two Veg against the duo from Just Moved To and my own best friend! (She was not impressed that I didn’t choose her cocktail in her 1v1). It was a tag team where we had to pour one component of our drink, rush to drink a shot, then rush back and tag the other team member who did the same. After the cocktail was assembled, we then had to drink it between the three of us and the clock only stopped once this was finished. We won with the fastest time!!! Go, go team Eat and One Elsa!

Overall rating and comments

9.5/10, -0.5 for not actually remembering what goes into each cocktail afterwards. This is a really minor issue as I really enjoyed the cocktail masterclass and the competition adds a very fun element to it. The food my friend and I had prior was also good, I may consider coming back on a Monday when food is 50% off!

Would visit again?

Yes, especially the branch at Manchester’s Parsonage Garden.

Information

Website: http://www.revolution-bars.co.uk/bar/manchester-parsonage-gardens/
Address: Arkwright House, Parsonage Gardens, Manchester, M3 2LF

Have you tried a Cocktail Masterclass before? If so, which is your favourite place?

Leave your comments below!

*I was invited by Revolution to the Cocktail Masterclass and did not have to pay for the class or the food. All words are my own opinion.