It's not every day that you learn that the official best cocktail bar in the UK is right on your doorstep, and so I absolutely couldn't walk past Schofield's on Friday night without going in.
Beating a number of London-based venues to bag the prestigious accolade, Schofield's is putting Mancunian mixology firmly on the map, letting the rest of the country know just how phenomenal the northern cocktail bar scene really is.
Having won Bar of the Year and New Bar of the Year at last year's Class Bar Mag awards, Schofield's, has done it again this year, scooping up Bar of the Year for the second year running.
Loving Manchester as much as I do, I wasn't surprised at all that one of the city's many bars was getting some much-deserved worldwide acclaim, but I was intrigued to know what exactly sets it apart from the rest.
I'd heard Schofield's tends to attract some pretty hefty queues, so made sure to get there as quickly as the tram would allow, getting to the Art Deco green entrance just after 8:15pm. The up-market boozer only takes a small number of reservations, so bring along a bit of patience and perhaps an umbrella.
At this point, I'd carefully read the menu from top to bottom - changing my choices multiple times - and couldn't wait to be seated with a glass in hand after a long working week.
Fortunately, there was only one other person in front of us and we were swiftly guided to our table in a cosy corner of the old-world-style bar by a friendly staff member.
The venue felt dark, intimate, and atmospheric, with moody blue tones, pools of candlelight, and literary touches. Our server Liza was just as warm, attentive and knowledgeable as could be, bringing over water before we even asked, and offering excellent recommendations.
Like all the best cocktail bars, Schofield's feels a bit special, but not in a way that makes you feel like you need to be on your best behaviour, and despite being seated next to a couple navigating what appeared to be an astonishingly awkward first date, we quickly felt relaxed.
It was also one of those rare occasions where me and my partner both loved every single song played throughout the evening - major kudos to whoever picks Schofield's music.
For our first round, I ordered the Whoopsie Daisy (£11.95), a tequila-based cocktail and margarita lover's dream with apricot, lime, pineapple, passionfruit, and bitters.
The drink that arrived was velvety smooth and fittingly summery for a scorcher of a bank holiday weekend, with a pleasing tequila kick cutting through the fruitiness. It was right up my street, and I had to stop myself inhaling it.
For important work purposes, of course, I had to sneak a few sips of my partner's Ol' Timer (£13.50), a gorgeous fruitcake of a drink made up of Buffalo Trace bourbon, apple brandy, sherry, grenadine, and bitters.
A warming beverage with a pinch of fire and spice to it, Ol' Timer felt Christmassy in all the best ways, despite the heat of the late May evening outside. I may have snuck another couple of sips to make sure.
In my eagerness to get to Schofield's nice and early, we'd ended up forgetting about making tea altogether, and so couldn't resist sharing a cheeseboard (£9.50).
The board that arrived contained three very different kinds of cheese, accompanied by quince jelly and spelt crackers. We sliced and chatted our way through a mild yet flavourful cheddar, a strong, classic blue cheese and a creamy, wonderfully moreish brie.
Cheeseboard picked clean and stomachs suitably lined, we went for our next round of drinks. I opted for a Blueberry Moon (£13.95), a mix of Finlandia vodka, wild blueberry, elderflower, white wine and lemon.
Although I enjoyed the Whoopsie Daisy, the Blueberry Moon pipped it to the post, and was by far the most original cocktail I've had in a long time. Beautifully juicy, the crisp white wine also ensured the drink wasn't too sweet.
For his second drink, my partner ordered the Son of a Beesting (£11.95), made up of No.3 gin, ginger, honey, rose, and lemon. This honeyed drink, with a strong, warming ginger note reminded me of one of the most delicious biscuits I've ever had.
This was my boyfriend's favourite beverage of the evening, and he remarked that it tasted as if it really should be good for you. Now, I'm not one to recommend alcohol for medicinal purposes, but there was certainly something very wholesome about it.
Not wanting to leave our cosy table just yet, we ordered a few nibbles as we savoured our second round, settling on a bowl of nocellara olives (£3) and a bowl of salt and olive oil popcorn (£3).
Admittedly, I can be a bit fussy when it comes to olives, but these turned out to be perfect, plump little bursts of Grecian sunshine that took me straight to some far-off sunlit terrace.
The popcorn was light, moreish and tasty. We expected something a bit punchier flavour-wise, but all in all, this was a fun, nostalgic treat.
The bill came to a total of £75.21 including a service charge (or £37.60 each) for four cocktails and three shared plates of bar snacks - filling enough to make up for our skipped tea.
Although we personally couldn't afford to stay sinking drinks all night, as much as we would have liked to, we enjoyed what we had and would love to return.
Our evening at Schofield's was a memorable one, and it's a bar I'd highly recommend to Mancunians and non-Mancunians alike.
Schofield's is a lively, relaxed cocktail bar with a menu that perfectly blends classic choices with plenty of inventiveness. I'm thrilled to see the world waking up to Manchester's buzzing cocktail scene and can see why this classy, polished gem of a bar is leading the way.
Do you have a food or drink-related story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
