Manchester Christmas Markets!

Today is the day we’ve been waiting for since…. oooh, January? Well maybe not quite that long but needless to say we’ve been incredibly excited about today’s launch of the 2013 Manchester Christmas Markets. With 9 specialised markets running the length of the city all the way from the Corn Exchange to Albert Square, expect sights, sounds and smells (mmm….mulled wine!) that will delight your senses and really put you in the festive spirit.

Each market will have its own covered bar area so you can relax and enjoy a drink (our favourite is hot chocolate with Baileys) whatever the weather, but we would advise you wrap up warm and wear comfy shoes because nobody wants to get a heel stuck in those cobbles! The markets open tonight and run until Sunday 22nd December, so there’s plenty of time so shop for gifts, taste delicious food and enjoy the magic of Manchester at Christmas.

After a day of pounding the streets and enjoying a festive tipple or two, why not get one of our beautiful Mantax cabs home? You can book quickly and easily using our iPhone & Android app, and by using code PROMO5 you’ll get £5 off your first journey too, meaning you can buy that beautiful handmade candle…

Ice Skating @ Spinningfields

 

When you think of Spinningfields you probably think of fantastic architecture, great food and luxury goods stores. Well from now until 6th January you can add ice skating to that list!

Back again and better than ever, this year the Spinningfields ice rink is joined by their very own mini Christmas market as well as a variety of pop-up bars and restaurants including Hibernate, from the people behind the fabulous InBloom which graced the city in summer.

So why not head over there for a tasty schnitzel, a warming drink and an elegant glide around the ice (or a good time anyway, whether you fall on your bum or not…) and enjoy everything this part of the city has to offer.

You can book your tickets online here to ensure that you don’t miss out on the fun, and there are discounts for children, students and family packages as well as the option to add a glass of bubbly to the experience. We think we’ll miss out on that one though, as we’d have a hard enough time staying upright on the ice as it is!

All that skating might wear you out, but at least you won’t have to worry about walking home afterwards. Book a Mantax cab through our iPhone & Android app and enter code PROMO5 to save £5 off your first fare. Have fun!

Bass Face @ Sound Control

So after yesterday’s dose of culture with Swan Lake, tonight seems like as good a night as any to let loose a bit and get your bass face on. Bass Face is a weekly night held at Sound Control with three levels of shaky and bass-led beats. Expect to hear everything from grime and hip-hop to drum & bass and dubstep, and put on some comfortable shoes, no heels here!

Having been to this awesome night ourselves we can tell you it might be a good idea to book tomorrow off work, as you won’t stop dancing until well into the early hours of the morning.

Sound control is located right next to Oxford Road station but why not pre-book a 5 seater Mantax taxi on 1061 230 3333 so that you and your mates don’t have to worry about leaving early to catch a train. That way you won’t have to miss out on any of the fun, and can focus on making the weirdest faces possible all night. Have fun!

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake @ The Lowry

Opening tonight for a five day run at the Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays is Matthew Bourne’s three-time Tony Award winning production of Swan Lake. This original, provocative and innovative re-imagining of the traditional ballet is widely regarded as a modern classic and simply shouldn’t be missed. Having already been enjoyed by audiences across the world from America to Australia, the production includes an all-male cast and fuses dance, comedy and spectacle for an unforgettable show.

If your only reference point for ballet is girls prancing around in tutus then prepare to have your mind blown as you watch the traditional story reinvented into a modern Swan Lake for the 21st century.

Make sure you arrive before the curtain call by booking a beautiful Mantax cab direct to your door. You can book using our iPhone & Android app or by phone on 0161 230 3333 and can expect a reliable and friendly service.

Alistair McGowan @ The Lowry

Beat the Monday blues with a two hour comedy extravaganza courtesy of the nation’s favourite impressionist, Alistair McGowan. The comedian is returning to his stand-up roots with a fantastic show entitled “Not Just a Pretty Voice” tonight at the beautiful Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays. Expect to hear some hilarious impressions, wickedly funny songs and riffs on the aspects of life that niggle at everyone, whether you’d like to admit it or not!

So if you’re feeling miserable about being back at work after the weekend, try something new tonight and check out the show. The great thing about the Lowry is that you can make a proper night of it by enjoying a drink in the bar overlooking the breathtaking scenery punctuated with gorgeous architecture and really appreciate all the beauty of The Quays.

Whether you decide to go straight home afterwards or fancy a few drinks in town, a member of the Mantax Salford fleet can get you there quickly and safely. Book using our free Mantax iPhone or Android app and use code PROMO5 to get £5 off your first fare.

Singin’ in the Rain @ Manchester Opera House

Looking for the perfect way to celebrate the weekend? We have just the thing; Jonathan Church’s production of the classic Singin’ in the Rain opens tonight at Manchester Opera House. Is there anyone who doesn’t feel the urge to sing along to the titular song from this gorgeously feel-good musical? Telling the story of how the silver screen first found it’s voice and loaded with charm, romance and laughs this is a show that will delight audiences young and old alike.

The show runs until the end of this month so you’ve got plenty of time to catch the action and polish up your vocals on “Make ’em Laugh” and all the others… unless other people just watch the singers on stage rather than joining in?

Get to the Opera House in style in an iconic Mantax black cab to make sure you don’t get stuck singin’ in the rain yourself waiting for the bus, it is Manchester after all! Pre-book your cab today on 0161 230 3333.

Christmas Lights Switch On @ Albert Square

What do you think of when the festive season rolls around for another year? Turkey with all the trimmings? Presents under the tree? Of course, but surely the glittering lights and elaborate decorations of our beautiful city have to come near the top of the list.

The grand Manchester Christmas Light Switch on is the perfect excuse to gather the family together and enjoy some amazing performances from X-Factor winner James Arthur and musical sensations The Vamps, as well as a ten minute fireworks extravaganza. This completely free event signals the start of more than six weeks of seasonal celebrations and is sure to be a hit with young and old alike.

Ensure you beat the crowd and arrive in style at the event by booking a Mantax cab through our iPhone & Android App and entering PROMO13 to save £2 on your first fare. Each cab comfortably fits five people so the whole family can enjoy the ride, and we even offer a guided heritage tour service so that you can see the sights and sounds of the city in an iconic black cab and feel the magic of Manchester at Christmas.

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• Live bands to super-charge Manchester’s Christmas lights switch-on (manchester.gov.uk)

Jake Bugg @ O2 Apollo

Okay, so pretty much every singer-songwriter cites Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash & Oasis as their influences, and 19 year old Jake Bugg is no different. What is different about him is that critics and listeners alike are almost unanimous in their consensus that Bugg’s haunting voice and melodic guitar riffs can move you in the same way as these greats.

If you’re his biggest fan or just a lover of quality music in general then you’re in luck as Bugg is performing tonight at the O2 Apollo and shouldn’t be missed.  And even if you’re not a fan yet, let’s be honest, he isn’t bad to look at 😉

Why not make a night of it and go for drinks somewhere afterwards? Wherever you go tonight, remember you can count on a Mantax cab to get you there quickly; did you know that black cabs can go in bus lanes? Speedy travel for all!

The Reduced Shakespeare Company @ Waterside Arts Centre, Sale

If you enjoy your culture with a side of comedy then why not check out The Reduced Shakespeare Company, performing their best known production “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” tonight at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale.

If the idea sounds familiar, it’s probably because it is; the stage show was London’s longest running comedy, going for an amazing NINE years! There are a few good reasons for that, not least the hilariously irreverent jokes and songs that will have you holding your sides before the night is over.

Whether you’re a certified Shakespeare nut or you couldn’t give two hoots about the boring bard, this is one show that will please everyone. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to be able to brag to any culture vultures you come across that you “went to see a Shakespeare production last night, darling.”

As the show is a little way out of town, it might be a good idea to book a taxi to get yourself home afterwards without any hassle. Nobody likes waiting in the rain for the bus, after all! Book using the Mantax iPhone & Android app and enter code PROMO5 to get £5 off your journey.

Watsky @ The Academy

Tired of the same old stuff on the radio? Bored to tears of seeing Miley Cyrus’s tongue out wherever you look? If you’ve been searching for something fresh in the music industry then look no further than Watsky, performing tonight at The Manchester Academy as part of his “Hug a Hater” tour.

A Californian writer, slam-poet and rapper who gained a huge online following after a video of him rapping ridiculously fast went viral in 2011, Watsky switches effortlessly from silly to serious and back again, making him an incredibly engaging performer. Who doesn’t love an artist who can make you laugh and think at the same time?

Throwing out social ideas at the speed of light in catchy sound bites he would probably make a pretty good politician, but he’s far too likeable for that. We suggest you get familiar with some of his best work (we love ‘Stong as an Oak’ and ‘Sloppy Seconds’) and turn up tonight prepared to have a blast! We’ll be tweeting from the show using #Manchestergo so see you there!

Don’t forget our fantastic 10% student discount in all Mantax cabs, perfect for getting you safely to and from the gig.