Free cocktails kick off party season at the NQ's good times HQ
THE Pen and Pencil is currently winning our unofficial award for Bar Most Excited About Christmas 2017. They've put together a calendar stuffed with festive events, Yuletide food and drink, live music, freebies, and not one but two Pen and Pencil Christmas Parties.
The good times start with a cocktail giveaway on 24 November and keep on rolling from there. Highlights include a gin and craft night, a new winter sipping menu featuring mulled sloe gin (yes, please), and the disco-obsessed Lost in Music Christmas Party.
If you're planning a Christmas night out and want good music, great food, and nice folk getting into the festive spirit, head here. Check out the calendar below for details.
The 12 Gifts of Christmas at The Pen and Pencil
1) 100 Free Cocktails – Friday 24 November
To kick off the 12 gifts of Christmas, they're giving away 100 free cocktails to the first customers through the doors after 5pm.
2) The Return of Dave Haslam party – Saturday 25 November
Dave Haslam (Haçienda) aka ‘the man with the golden ears’ will be bringing all the tunes to start the party season. Plus Jason Boardman (Aficionado Recordings) from 7pm. Free entry.
3) Gin and Craft Night – Wednesday 29 November
The Pen and Pencil is teaming up with Paperchase and Sipsmith for a night of gin and craft. Make your own festive gingerbread house gift box while sipping hot gin, tasting the Sipsmith range, and discovering more about winter flavours. Take home your gift box with a miniature gin bottle inside. Advance tickets only. Get yours here.
4) Extended DJ Lineup – throughout December
Some of Manchester’s most cutting-edge DJs will be playing every Wednesday to Saturday night throughout December, from 8pm. Expect all the best funk, disco, soul, electronic and chilled grooves.
5) Christmas Food and Drink Specials – throughout December
Their bar team has joined forces with Sipsmith to create a beautiful Winter Sipping menu featuring a hot G&T, a London cup, and a mulled sloe gin. And look out for the Christmas dinner special sub and the Christmas pudding cocktail – it's one to savour.
6) Wingman’s Indie Mixtape Night – Friday 1 December
Capital Manchester's very own Wingman will be playing all your favourite indie tracks from 9pm-2am. Free entry.
7) Channakuh & Christmas Quiz – Tuesday 12 December and Tuesday 19 December
Every Tuesday is quiz night but throughout December they've planned a few festive specials. Tuesday 12th will be Channakuh themed and Tuesday 19th will be all about Christmas. Plus there'll be extra special festive prizes for the winner and the team with the best name.
8) Lost in Music Christmas Party – Saturday 16 December
Darryl Marsden (Ghetto Child) will be kicking off this disco Christmas party from 7pm and the headliner, Fingerman (Hot Digits Music), will keep you dancing until the early hours. Look out for the Dancing Unicorn who'll be flying in to get you all glittered up for the night.
9) Christmas Carols – Sunday 17 December
Get there from 3pm-4.30pm to hear the Christmas choir performing festive tunes guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit. You're welcome to join in yourself – song sheets will be on the tables.
10) Taylor and the Mason Live Music Night – Monday 18 December
Taylor and The Mason are an acoustic singer songwriter duo from Manchester with a penchant for good harmonies, playing guitars and the odd glass of gin. They'll perform live from 7.30pm. Free entry.
11) Gareth Brooks’ Hip Hop Christmas party – Wednesday 20 December
Their second Christmas party, (yes, they want two) will be all about the hip hop. Celebrate the Christmas holidays with DJ Gareth Brooks at the Christmas Hip Hop party. It's free entry.
12) Christmas ‘We are Rockeoke’ night – Thursday 21 December
The ‘We are Rockeoke’ nights are similar to karaoke but with a full live rock band. Expect plenty of Christmas songs to perform with your very own backing singers. 7pm start, free entry, prizes for the best performance and drink offers all night.
