“2012 is going to be our most exciting year yet”

We are now recruiting for a general manager, assistant general manager and duty managers to join our award winning team as we prepare for the continued growth of the Black Dog Ballroom.

We’re looking for people who have built a reputation working in the leisure industry and have experience of delivering exceptional levels of service in a busy late night bar environment.

If you are passionate about Black Dog Ballroom this is the perfect opportunity to make a name for yourself on the Manchester bar scene…you’d be barking not to apply!

If this sounds right up your street just email an up to date CV and covering letter telling us why you would be the perfect addition to our team to careers@blackdogballroom.co.uk

The deadline for application is Friday 2nd March 2012

I think we’ve finally flipped here at Black Dog Ballroom!

Pancake Day is something that we really like and we know that you like it too! So, what better way to celebrate it than give away free pancakes to you guys all day long?!…….Nope, I can’t think of anything either.

All you have to do is pop into the bar on Tuesday 21 February and enjoy one! If you find them cheaper elsewhere, we’ll refund the difference!

Tom

Since 29th February only comes around every four years, we thought we would leap at the chance to launch our new menus and throw a party for good measure!

Krysko (WHP) and Will TRAMP! (Homoelectric / WHP) are going to join our Friday resident DJ, Stuart Richards, to spin some tunes on the wheels of steel and help us make this a night to remember!

Those of you who are lucky enough to attend will be treated to drinks and canapés from our brand new menus.

Come and join us on the day that never was and we’ll make sure it’s the day that should always be.

We have five pairs of tickets to giveaway to the party so to be in with a chance of winning comment below letting us know what you think we should add to the new menu…

Tom

We are proud to announce we have won another award. Manchester Confidential have, ever-so-kindly, named us Bar of the Year 2011.

We are so grateful, here at Black Dog Ballroom, to receive this award as there are so many amazing bars in the city of Manchest……….hang on a minute, this is starting to sound a bit like an acceptance speech isn’t it?! I don’t have any emotional music or a handkerchief so let’s just stop right there!

Black Dog is a top bar, we make sure our customers have a good time and we love the fact that people have noticed. Thanks to you all, we’ll make sure you still like us next year.

You can read the piece here to see who else Manchester Confidential honoured in 2011.

Tom…

Burns Night is upon us and we cannae let it sneak past unnoticed now, can we? Och no! On Wednesday Jan 25th we’re going to celebrate it in the style it deserves down at Black Dog Ballroom.

It’s going to be a bonnie evening spent sampling the finest whiskys, creating whisky cocktails under expert instruction with canapés provided to add the, traditional, haggis to the supper.

It all starts at 6.30pm so head on down and make it a night to remember. The whiskys to be sampled include Highland Park 12yr, Malt, The Macallan Fine Oak 10yr Malt, Ardmore Highland Malt, Glenrothes Select Reserve Malt, Laphroaig 10yr Islay Malt and Snow Grouse.

If any of you would like to book onto the cocktail class to ensure your place, contact info@blackdogballroom.co.uk.

Tom

As if Christmas wasn’t going to be crazy enough, we’ve only gone and invited Danielle Moore down to raise the roof on Boxing Day. And raise the roof she, most certainly, will……..we’ve got the proof.

Crazy P’s lead singer hit the decks at our summer party and helped our Kennel Club celebrate its anniversary a few months later. Quite frankly, she kicked the living daylights out of it on both occasions.

So, expect disco and expect funk, this ballroom is gonna lay down the boogie. Boxing Day doesn’t have to be about dry turkey, left-over stuffing and falling asleep in front of the T.V. Dust off your dancing shoes and strut your stuff at the best party in the city.

Tom

What does the New Year hold for you? The January blues? No chance people! Not at Black Dog Ballroom anyway.

We’ve decided to make you cash rich with our brand new Black Dog Bills. You can find them at the bar any time you visit; to be used all the way through January, they can buy you an hour’s worth of free pool or if you buy a main meal you can get another one for a quid. Can’t say fairer that that.

So, get your-good-selves down here over the festive period and you will be provided with a lovely dollar bill bearing our Bruce’s head. It’s just like the real thing…….. only it looks a lot cooler.

January is all about great deals and we’re going to give them to you, ‘nuff said. See you soon.

Tom

It is with great pleasure that we at Black Dog Ballroom are droppin’ a spot of hip-hop flava into our festive line-up.

Xfm’s Gareth Brooks is going to stop by on New Years Day and spin some tunes for us from 11pm ‘til 2am. One thing is fo sho; it’ll be straight up bouncin’.

With an eclectic blend of beats spanning from old school hip-hop to RnB to reggae, there will be something to tickle everyone’s pickle.

If you’re looking to start the new year with an empire state of mind, get on down ‘cos blackdoggin’ ain’t never been so fresh.

Tom

‘Radio’s’ Stu Baillie has very much become Becky Wants’ in house bartender and last Saturday he popped into the Trafford Centre to teach her how to make winter warmers as part of the Retail Therapy show.

Stu, who wasn’t all that keen on getting up early on a Saturday morning after the late shift in the Ballroom on Friday night, created some special drinks including the ‘Scrooge Driver’ along with a non alcoholic version for the designated drivers over the festive period.

His winter warmers are cold drinks with a warming feel created by the Christmassy spices and stuff you should be able to find in the back of your cupboards.

For the Scrooge Driver put some raisins in the bottom of a glass with a couple of shots of dark Cuban rum, half a shot of freshly squeezed lime juice and some cinnamon syrup (you can use dried cinnamon if you don’t have the syrup). Add ice, give it a shake and top it off with ginger beer.

For the perfect mocktail combine equal parts of cranberry and apple juices with some cinnamon syrup and a squeeze of fresh lime juice in a jam jar, shake them up and pour over ice. Not just great for the drivers but a nice choice for the kids too so they don’t feel left out!

It’s a great piece so well done Stu. If you missed it you can listen again here, you will find the piece at about 1 hour and 12 minutes.

If you’d like to learn how to make any particular cocktails or how to combine your favourite ingredients to create something a bit different comment below and we will ask Stu to answer your questions.

Dais x

Christmas is the party time of year and we have some excellent parties planned.

Elliot Eastwick’s World Famous Massive Christmas Quiz – Thursday 22 December

It’ll be a Merry QUIZmass for all as Elliot Eastwick’s World Famous Pub Quiz goes festive with prizes under the tree, PLUS, play bonus game ‘WHAT’S IN ELLIOT’S SACK’. Elliot’s quizzes have become a real favourite in our events schedule and this one promises to be one of the best of the year so far. Win pizza, Prosecco and much more!

You can have as many people in your team as you like. To register your team contact Rachel at Rachel@blackdogballroom.co.uk

Christmas cocktails

This week is forecast for snow so we’re offering a warming mug of Rokerderlig winter cider for the very affordable £2.50 a mug throughout December.

Christmas and Boxing Day

Never fear the Black Dog Ballroom will be open as usual over the festive season closing only on Christmas Day itself. And on Boxing Day we have the amazing Danielle Moore of Crazy P fame playing from 11pm – 2am.

New Year’s Eve Disco

Saturday night regular Neil Smallridge will be joined by Leo Outcast to bring in 2012 with his own unique blend of funk and disco. Tickets will be available from Skiddle, Ticketline and the bar from 1 December.

It promises to be a great one so get your tickets now. Who’s in?