Bar Review: Hard Rock Cafe, Manchester

This week I had the chance to experience Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester. Not a new venture for me, but a welcoming return, as this is one of my ‘Manchester Gems’. Invited to sample the cocktails on offer, myself and my girlfriend (who we shall name Miss C) settled for a busy Wednesday evening, and browsed the drinks menu.

Their ‘Classics and Favourites’ covers all the basics, Alabama Slammer, Piña Colada , Cosmopolitan and Daiquiri as well as some quirky little numbers like Rum Runner (Bacardi, banana and blackberry liqueurs, grenadine, orange juice and sweet and sour topped with Myers Rum), Tropical Rock (Stolichnaya Raspberry, crème de banana, piña colada mix, pineapple juice and Midori) and Mosh Pit (Bombay Sapphire, Absolut Citron, fresh basil, lime and strawberries). All reasonably priced too, with over twenty to choose from between £5-7. I myself started my night with a Southern Rock (£6.75) – a mix of Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Chambord & Smirnoff mixed with sweet and sour mix and topped with lemon and lime soda. Refreshing is all I can say. Not badly balanced either despite some heavy spirits in there. Miss C went for a fresh fruit Mojito (£6.25) with a Bacardi Superior base. Mixed Berry was her choice out of the original and raspberry, muddled with of course mint, sugar and lime. It looked stunning, a dark, rich red colour made it a very inviting drink, although a little awkward to drink with the fresh fruit not the best to suck through a straw.

Being a Manchester based venue, there were quotes from Oasis scrolled around the walls, The Beatles equipment, and even Roger Taylor’s (Queen) jacket from a tour. Signed posters, records, drum kits and guitars were all neatly presented so that it didn’t look like your were drinking in someones cluttered basement, but more an open museum. Listening to a good mix of rock from Fleetwood Mac to Van Halen whilst relaxing and eating gave off the perfect atmosphere, one you kind of expect in a Hard Rock Cafe I suppose. It doesn’t disappoint in what your expectations are for this worldwide chain.

 Back to the cocktails and I noticed a section named ‘Classic Rocktails’. Genuinely surprised to see names such as Sazerac, Corpse Reviver, Hemingway Daiquiri and Aviation on the four strong list. A sucker for classics, I just had to order a Sazerac (£6.75), and hand on heart, one of the best I’ve had. Using Jim Beam, Benedictine and brandy alongside blackberry liqueur, bitters and sugar it balanced perfectly. Yes, OK there’s no traditional absinthe there and they’ve used a dash of blackberry liqueur, but for a cocktail that could have easily gone ‘the wrong way’, Hard Rock have created a very good variation. With this, Miss C opted for a Hemingway Daiquiri (£6.75) – Bacardi Oakheart, cherry liqueur, sugar, lime and sweet and sour. Again not a bad variation to the original and it showed off a fantastic colour.

To finish the night, Miss C went for a Blue Devil (£6.75) – Captain Morgan Spiced, blue curacao, fresh margarita mix and raspberry syrup. You could see this coming towards you, it wasn’t hard to work out a name for this one. My last tipple was to be the Aviation (£7.25). A tweak from the original using Hendrick’s, Monin Elderflower syrup, cherry liqueur and sweet and sour mix. It went down way too quickly.

If you ever get the chance to experience Hard Rock I’d give it a thumbs up. Even if your not a fan of rock music itself, it’s still a great place to drink, lots to choose from with both food and drink, the bartenders look after you and you really are more inclined to have two or three – there’s a few surprises to enjoy.

Signature Cocktail – Exotic Margarita – Patron Silver Tequila, Cointreau and Monin Pomegranate, shaken into a rather sizable Margarita glass complete with salt rim.

Rating 4 STARS out of 5