A new underground cocktail den has opened beneath Barton Arcade – what’s it like?

A new underground cocktail bar has opened beneath Barton Arcade selling festive-themed cocktails and boozy hot chocolates over the festive period.

You can find it in the former home of Manchester’s Circle bar beneath the historic St Ann’s Square arcade.

Bar Barton takes over from London cocktail chain Be At One which moved into the Arcade in 2016.

Throughout the festive period it will be catering to the overspill from the markets on St Ann’s Square, offering a warm and cosy setting to carry on the party once the sun goes down.

Not much has changed decor-wise since the Be At One days. But, as they say, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

A winding spiral staircase takes you down into the basement cocktail den, with a wealth of red neon signs, rich dark woods and green subway-style tiling.

Here you’ll find two spacious rooms kitted out with chic red leather booths, crisp check floors and exposed brick walls.

The bar is focused entirely on drinks and is open every Friday and Saturday from 4pm until 3am with extended hours throughout the markets. Bosses have added some extra special festive concoctions to the menu to tempt in the holiday crowds, too.

These include Terry’s chocolate orange-style martinis and a tantalisingly tart lemon cocktail combining gin and sake with a homemade citrus syrup.

Other festive offerings include a boozy maple syrup margarita and a range of spiked hot chocolates with either amaretto or Bailey’s.

Beyond this, a wide-reaching cocktail menu offers plenty of classics from sours to Palomas, mai tais, mojitos and daiquiris. With cocktails and spirits two for the price of one during happy hour, running every day from 4pm until 10pm, this place is offering more bang for your buck than your average Christmas bar and that’s for sure.

With DJs busting out chart-topping hits into the early hours every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December, why not get your party started here this Christmas? Or throw the whole shebang in their private room. With deposits as low as £5pp, it’s certainly tempting.

Find Bar Barton at 15 Barton Arcade, M3 2BB

FIND OUT MORE