Since BOX opened on Deansgate last year, it’s become one of the most popular places in town, both for watching the sport and for dancing the night away.
With a proper festive season ahead (not a lockdown in sight, we hope) and a World Cup happening at the same time, it’s set to be a sillier season than ever.
BOX has got both parts covered, with a Christmas line-up of food and drink as well as offering you the chance to cheer on the England squad in Qatar.
Combining the footy with the festivities is clearly a strength of BOX, and the St. Nick’s Kicks is just one example of the imaginative cocktails on offer this year. Served in boot-shaped glasses, choose from a striking red drink that resembles either the England squad or Father Christmas’ boots, and there’s even a dedicated Golden Boot cocktail for those strictly celebrating the football.
The Brewdog kegs are another crowd pleaser that’ll have the whole team at the table this winter. Served in huge five litre kegs, you’ll get almost nine whole pints out of these whilst you while away the freezing nights without having to leave the table.
Whilst there used to be no place like the beer garden for a football match, the wintry season has got us thinking less about huddling up outside and more about warming foods served whilst we watch the game- and BOX has got all the half time snacks sorted.
Festive food offerings at BOX Deansgate. Credit: BOX
There’s a festive special pizza option with all the tasty trimmings you’d expect this time of year with pigs in blankets, pulled turkey and, of course, sage and onion stuffing. Prefer your trimmings wrapped between two delicious burger buns? There’s an option for that too. The Christmas Burger is all about encapsulating that taste of a sit-down dinner from December 25th- and there’s even a vegan version with Beyond plant-based alternatives too.
The Ho Ho Hotdog is also destined to be a favourite throughout the festive lead-up. Imagine a giant pig in a blanket: nine inches of hot dog goodness wrapped in pancetta with sage and onion stuffing inside one giant fluffy bun.
If you’re looking for something that brings the best of post-match treats and the World Cup together without stuffing yourself with turkey, the Santa Sub and Christmas kebab are ideal options if you want an easy-to-grab food option whilst watching a match.
Click here to book your next visit to BOX Deansgate.
And the options aren’t just for watching the footy either, BOX is also offering a festive feast fit for any footballer this season.
Festive Feast. / Image: BOX
There’s a Christmas buffet option for sharing that offers the best of the festive menu on one giant tray. Think burgers with mountains of fries and the added option of bottomless drinks to make this a night of food and flavour to remember- the unmatched atmosphere that the football brings is just a bonus.
All this talk of Christmas is bound to have you singing along to Jingle Bells in no time, but for those wanting to step it up a notch, grab the mic at Bandeoke every Thursday night and sing the night away with the best Christmas hits. This is where karaoke meets a live band and offers you the unique chance to get up on stage and give the crowd your best Wham!, or Mariah impression.
There will also be plenty of live music every Friday and Saturday night for those that prefer to be singing and dancing in the crowds, and we really can’t think of a better place to get in the Christmas spirit.
Whilst booking ahead of any football games or peak party hours is highly recommended, BOX knows that sometimes there’s nothing better than spontaneous plans, and has room for walk-ins every day of the week.
For more information on any of the BOX Christmas menus, or to get yourself a table booked, visit the BOX website.
Feature Image- BOX
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Hit theatre production set at a house party to visit Manchester on UK tour
Daisy Jackson
Alright then, 24 hour party people, we’ve found a theatre production you might like the sound of – it’s called The House Party, and it’s set in (you guessed it) a house party.
This smash hit production by pioneering theatre company Headlong is set to land at HOME in March as part of the arts venue’s 2025 theatre season.
It tells the tale of a wild 18th birthday party, where Christine is trying to pick up the pieces of her best friend, a newly-dumped Julie (who happens to be the birthday girl).
Themes of class, power and privilege are all explored with a raw intensity as the cast on stage plough through shots and dive head-first into a night that will change everything they know.
The House Party, which has received glowing reviews from previous showings, is filled with ‘privilege, desire and destruction’.
When it stops off in Manchester, its cast will include Bridgerton’s Sesley Hope as Christine, Synnøve Karlsen (Miss Austen, Last Night in Soho) as Julie, and Tom Lewis (Gentleman Jack, Patience) as Jon.
The ensemble of Frantic Assembly performers includes Ines Aresti, Oliver Baines, Cal Connor, Micah Corbin-Powell, Rachael Leonce, Jaheem Pinder and Jamie Randall.
The House Party is written by Laura Lomas and is a reimagining of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie for today’s generation.
It’s directed by Headlong’s artistic director Holly Race Roughan, who directed the Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere of David Edgar’s major new political play The New Real.
The House Party. Credit: Ikin YumThe production will be at HOME. Credit: Supplied
Movement direction will come from Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham.
Prior to the UK tour of The House Party, Headlong celebrated its 50 year anniversary, including the hit production of A Raisin in the Sun which played nationwide.
The House Party will be at HOME in Manchester between 25 and 29 March, 2025 – you can get your tickets HERE.
Greater Manchester’s annual Repair Week is back to make you fall back in love with your stuff
Daisy Jackson
If you’re not a handy person, when something breaks, the temptation is often to abandon or bin it straight away.
But that’s just not how we’re gonna do it here in Greater Manchester any more, with the return of the annual Repair Week to help you learn valuable repair skills and save money at the same time.
Whether it’s tinkering with your bicycle, fixing up your small tech items, or having your furniture re-varnished and upcycled, there are so many places and people who are on a mission to help you fall back in love with your belongings.
There are even workshops to help you put flat-pack furniture together.
Taking place between 3 and 9 March, Repair Week will be the chance to learn skills, fix your stuff, gain repair confidence and find local fixers.
Events throughout the week (and beyond) will be hosted by community groups, businesses and plenty more.
You can sharpen knives, fix zips, and un-wobble chairs with a little hand from local repair heroes.
JillyGDesign Jewellery in Heaton Moor will fix up your sentimental and special jewellery items, while Rag Revival will help you turn unusable textiles into new creations with basic sewing skills.
There are repair cafes popping up all over Greater Manchester where you can take your belongings.
Greater Manchester’s annual Repair Week is back to make you fall back in love with your stuff. Credit: Supplied
Repair Week will highlight schemes like the Manchester Library of Things, where you can borrow the tools and equipment you need for those repair jobs at home.
During the week you’ll also be able to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the incredible Renew Hub, the UK’s biggest reuse hub, where donated items are brought back to life.
Similarly, you’ll be able to get inside the textile recycling centre run by homelessness charity Emmaus Bolton, where you can choose your own fabric from the scrap store and turn it into a very handy draught excluder to keep costs down and your heat in.
Recycle for Greater Manchester’s Repair Week will take place between 3 and 9 March, with workshops, events and resources to help you revive your belongings.
Sophie Smith -
25th November 2022 
