Batting nets, delicious drinks and Great British BBQ – Sixes offers the ultimate night out

Sixes Social Cricket is Manchester’s latest action-packed bar and restaurant for friends and family alike to enjoy an evening full of fun – and a healthy dose of competitive spirit.

Bringing people together through the age-old game of cricket, the Corn Exchange venue fuses great food and drink with batting nets, so guests can test their skills in a relaxed social environment.

We went to try it out and see what it’s all about.

The batting nets, which you can book for 30 minutes, one hour, 90 minutes or two hours, are suitable for all ages and abilities, meaning beginners, club regulars or even professionals can come along and test out their cutting-edge technology.

They have a range of sizes and weights available to use, but if you feel more comfortable using your own bat, then you’re free to bring it to Sixes.

Once in the state-of-the-art nets, you get to test your batting skills against some of the world’s finest bowlers, all recorded on a live leaderboard.

The fastest way to climb the leaderboard is to smash as many sixes as you can. Six is the maximum amount of runs you can score from one shot, rewarding those who manage to hit the bullseye.

Don’t worry if you miss a shot (or several) – it’s enormous fun, even if you’ve never played before.

It’s the perfect night out with the girls or the boys, a partner, or with groups of friends, especially if you’ve got a competitive streak.

And like any great day at the cricket, the game itself isn’t the only highlight. 

For the duration of your game, you’ll have an adjoining table for food and drinks – but you can also book a table prior to or after your booking if you like, and there are plenty of top treats to try.

Founders Calum Mackinnon and Andy Waugh, the sport mad meat masters from London’s Mac & Wild restaurants, have developed a signature British BBQ-inspired offering for the Sixes experience – and there’s a brand new menu to explore, too. 

Expect the best of British meats, seafood and vegetables, flamed, roasted and grilled on the robata grill then presented in a relaxed and easy to share format – the perfect fuel for families, hens, stags and corporate groups, alike.

Sticky pork belly cubes come with Monster Munch pork crackling and a sweet-sharp tamarind ketchup; a bag of triple cooked chips can be ripped open at the table to reveal tender beef brisket, oozy raclette cheese and pickled chilli; burnt end nuggets come with ‘filthy gravy’; and lobster popcorn with the foodie’s favourite, Kewpie mayo.

There’s a range of burgers, and you can even go for a sharing platter of four Beefy Botham, vegan-friendly Sri Lankan Fielder or Delhi Smasher Burgers made with buttermilk chicken, all served on their signature Burger Bat.

Make sure you don’t miss out on  the Doughbat Sharer for dessert, with six homemade raspberry cheesecake doughnuts served on a sharing cricket bat.

Drinks-wise, the menu includes craft ales and fine wines, as well as bespoke Sixes cocktails like Eton Mess, Ashes Manhattan, Sixes Fruit Cup and Tea Time.

After all, what could be more British than watching the cricket whilst sipping on a cocktail containing actual Yorkshire Tea?

With the simple motto ‘Eat.Drink.Bat’, Sixes is fast becoming Manchester’s next hotspot venue, as guests enjoy all the finest elements of a bar and restaurant experience mixed with competitive edge and all-round excitement.

Get ready to net yourself a great night out.