Blinker Bar — Restaurant in Manchester

It was amazing to finally get back to Blinker bar on our November staycation in Manchester. We also managed to pop back on our daytrip in December too! Blinker opened last year and managed to hit number 6 in this years Top 50 Cocktail Bars list. One of my favourite things about their menus is that they change monthly so you can try something different each time and all the flavours they use are seasonal. They also have a Martini and Old Fashioned menu. The cocktails are high quality, creative and delicious- they are not shy with the booze either! We absolutely love the drinks here Some of the highlights from our visit were Wolfgang Flip (Havana 7, Dark Chocolate, PX, Banana, Tonka, Eggnog) My husband would never forgive me if i didnt mention this one first as he considers this to be one of his top 5 cocktails ever! Imagine Banana Bread in cocktail form- boozy, rich, vanilla banana heaven

Figgy Pop (Plymouth Dry, Gin, Honey, Lemon, Champagne) This is an elevated version of a French 75 style of cocktail- a drink i am loving a lot recently and this version did not disappoint. It was tart, fizzy, citrusy, refreshing and sweet

Breakfast Margarita (Olmeca Altos Reposa, Cointreau, Marmalade and Toast Reduction, Lime). I love a Marg and this was an epic version of the classic cocktail as it uses a top quality tequila that is smooth and easy to drink and works really well against the orange flavour hit from the Cointreau and Marmalade reduction

Treacle Toffee (Fable Blended Malt, Salted Treacle, Orange Bitters) A Bonfire Night twist on an Old Fashioned- this was alcohol forward but balanced out with bittersweet flavours. Brett loved this one

Check out what amazing cocktail creations they come up with each month- you will not be...

Terrible experience here last night as a couple we were out in the city centre trying out a few bars that we haven't tried before on approaching this bar the doorman refused us entry by saying not tonight guys your clearly intoxicated or on substances! Wow this was far from the truth we were certainly not on any substances and had had a couple of drinks in a previous bar, I then went on to question this doorman who became very angry and defensive I asked to speak with the manager as I was so taken aback and appalled at the treatment from this doorman. The manager did come out and speak with us he could clearly see this was very far from the truth he apologised and offered us to come back on another day and have a free drink as he couldn't override the doormans decision I'm sorry what! Now I'm fully aware of course your entitled to refuse entry to whoever you please and sometimes it is warranted however on this occasion I felt the doorman waw just wanting to throw his doorman authority around. Of course we left and carried on with our evening I've never had this problem before and I frequently visit bars and restaurants in the city centre. I felt compelled to leave a review for the manager/ owner as this doorman is damaging your reputation and losing you business. Also I can see on other reviews this isn't the first time this...

Very disappointing. The security guard wouldn't even let me in. Asked me where else I've been tonight. I said Another Hand (a restaurant in town). Security guard said they're not accepting solo drinkers. I wasn't drunk. Couldn't understand why they wouldn't let me in. Security guard wasn't going to change his mind. I walked away and phoned the bar. A guy answered. I asked them if what the security guard was saying was true. He asked where am I now. I said I was right outside. A barman came out to speak with me (not sure if it was the same guy on the phone). He said the security guard told him he thought I've had too much to drink tonight already and couldn't let me in - so not the same as what he originally told me (i.e. no solo drinkers). The barman said he'd let me in any other night, but he had to go with the security guard's decision tonight. Ridiculous. I could understand if I was stumbling about the place drunk, or if I was with a group of lads on a stag do. The barman wasn't going to change his mind. The security guard just shrugged their shoulders. Very disappointing, especially given the good reviews the place has received. I've never been turned away by the likes Schoffields, or Speak in Code, or Dask Til Pawn. Not sure why this place would be different. I thought this was a proper cocktail place....