Bianco, Roundhouse

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I would recommend not taking a bag to the Roundhouse when you go to see Bianco. The NoFit State immersive promenade circus show requires just as much energy and alertness from the audience as from the performers. Guests are required to be very mobile, moving around the circular venue after each act… a unique concept but one that was rather frustrating with a heavy handbag and coat.

Internationally renowned for its dramatic live contemporary circus performance, blending jaw-dropping skills with untamed elegance and subversive edge, NoFit State returns to the stage with Bianco. There is little narrative, or at least no story that I could grasp. Instead the show is a series of visual vignettes displaying artistic and acrobatic finesse… the only theme? The colour white. With a constantly evolving tale set to a pounding soundtrack performed by a live band, this is an all consuming theatrical experience. Under the direction of Firenza Guidi the talented cast present a vividly imaginative performance.

Though I felt this show lacked wow factor Bianco does offer fantasy and awe, and there are a few moments of magic. The Cirque du Soleil life-defying risks are instead replaced with visually breathtaking acts exhibiting immense physical strength and incredible flexibility. For me it was the band that made the whole night worth the hassle… the gut-wrenchingly passionate musicians provided a mesmerising soundtrack for the evening.

NoFit State continues to reinvent circus with this stunning performance. After London the show will tour Brighton, Cardiff, Bristol, Narberth, Bangor and Edinburgh.

In London until 27 April, more information and book here.

Things to do in Manchester

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Manchester is the ideal city to escape to for a weekend away from London. Thanks to Virgin Trains super speedy service, it is possible to reach the northern city in just two hours, zooming through the countryside from London Euston straight into the centre of town, Manchester Piccadilly. I spent three years living here studying at Manchester University and yet returning now I feel there is so much more to discover in this cosmopolitan, cool and constantly evolving city.

To Eat

Bakerie – Fresh bread, lovely wine and delectable sharing platters make this restaurant the ideal place to go at any time of day for good food and great atmosphere.
Dough – The best pizzas in town, made lovingly with the freshest ingredients. Choose from white, granary or gluten-free bases and indulge with extravagant toppings for your perfect personalised pizza.
Australasia – A stunning underground restaurant offering exquisitely refined and beautifully presented dishes. A unique menu blending Pacific Rim flavours, European cooking traditions and Southeast Asian influences.

To Drink

Teacup – The ultimate tea room. Located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Northern Quarter, sit at the big windows and watch the world go by as you enjoy a subtle brew of rosebud tea.
Kahlua Coffee House – KAHLUA, the Mexican coffee liqueur company, has teamed up with Manchester’s The Liquorists, The Coffee Circle and Teacup to launch ‘Kahlúa Coffee House’. The bright and cheery cafe is inspired by the heritage of Veracruz, Mexico and makes a great flat white.
North Star Bakery – This friendly delicatessen in Chorlton is great for a spot of breakfast or lunch. Reasonable prices, attentive staff and a selection of lovely gifts available to buy.
North Tea Power – Cafe of the moment, North Tea Power is known to be the best place for tea and coffee in the Northern Quarter. Remember your laptop and headphones and join the trendy crowd on Tib Street.

To Sip

Apotheca – The best cocktail selection in Manchester. The cool and collected bar staff put time and effort into every drink here, making delicious concoctions with creative flair.
The Alchemist – Stylish, smart and sensational, I’m in awe of the cocktails here. The smokey old-fashioned gets my winning vote.

To Watch

Opera House – Currently showing record-breaking hit musical CATS there is more reason than ever to visit Manchester’s Opera House.
The Palace Theatre – This centrally located theatre always has a great show on stage. The Lion King, Save the Last Dance for Me and Giselle are all coming up.

To Indulge

Bali Health Lounge – Manchester’s most luxurious spa. Located in the Chinatown, Bali Health Lounge is a calming retreat to relax and indulge.
Spa Satori – This spa offers an impressive list of treatments including specialist ones like Hopi Ear Candle therapy. The thoughtful staff will ensure your visit is memorable.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled with Virgin Trains.

Typical journey time between London and Manchester is just 2h 7m on one of the state-of-the-art tilting trains, six days a week. Engineering works slow things down a little on Sunday mornings, but by lunchtime they’re operating services – at 2h15m – just a shade slower than Monday to Saturday. Trains every 20 minutes, six and a half days a week.

Booking in advance and travelling off-peak is the best way to get great deals – including some fantastic First Class bargains. Single fares start at: Advance Standard £12.50  and Advance First £38.00, book here.

Apotheca and Dough, Manchester

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Everything you need for a great night out in Manchester can be found at 17 Thomas Street. Apotheca Bar opened in Manchester in November 2008 in a listed building in the creative Northern Quarter. The name comes from the antique pharmacy cabinets, which grace the front bar originally used to provide medicinal remedies. These apothecary drawers are now home to a variety of distilled tinctures and elixirs once again providing a cure but in a more sociable setting.

A mixture of embossed high stools surround the bar and classic Queen Anne chairs are drawn up to elegant bistro tables. Black leather sofas are situated neatly in each bay window and also fit snugly at the back of the room – a great place to sit and contemplate the huge photographic artwork depicting Sheep by the talented Anthony Crook. It is an atmospheric and relaxed place to spend an evening, the ideal location for a first date.

We were greeted by an accommodating barman who helped us to choose from the extensive menu. Cocktails of all kinds are offered, classic and obscure. We tried a wide range of drinks, sweet and sour, strong and refreshing. Here are a few of my Apotheca favourites:

Cherry Bomb: a playful cocktail made with Tanqueray gin, creme de cerise liqueur, cherry puree, aromatic bitters and lemon juice, garnished with a sachet of popping candy. Sweet and girly with the eccentric crackling sweeties adding fizz and fun.

Fig on the Thyme: a shaken cocktail with Monkey Shoulder blended Scotch whiskey, fig liqueur, thyme, lemon juice, grape juice and egg white. A very well balanced drink, with a soft texture thanks to the egg white.

An English Country Garden: a beautiful combination of Hendricks cucumber and rose gin, St Germain elderflower liqueur, cucumber, basil, mint, lime and apple juice. The perfect refreshing English cocktail served delightfully in a dainty teacup.

Salted Caramel & Orange Rum Old Fashioned: this was the ideal dessert cocktail, thick and creamy with a delicious flavour. Creatively served with a mini dark chocolate bar.

We opted for a small pizza to share between three… we weren’t hungry so it seemed adequate. Little did we know it would be so unbelievably tasty. Homemade thin crispy base with thick pepperoni, wonderful flavoured tomato sauce and soft melted cheese. Just a simple pizza but so addictively good, every ingredient in perfect proportion. I’m salivating just thinking about it. Dough offers a contemporary approach to pizza and fuses family friendliness with urban cool to create a unique, affordable dining experience. Dough is set over two floors and has enough room to accommodate up to 140 diners, so whether you require an intimate table for two or want to book your own private space to party, they are able to help. Gluten free and wholemeal bases are also offered so even those with wheat intolerance are catered for.

The Northern Quarter has an abundance of quirky, cool bars and restaurants but Apotheca and Dough is surely an unbeatable venue, offering not just the best pizza in town but the best cocktails too.

More information here: www.apothecabar.co.uk

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled with Virgin Trains.

Typical journey time between London and Manchester is just 2h 7m on one of the state-of-the-art tilting trains, six days a week. Engineering works slow things down a little on Sunday mornings, but by lunchtime they’re operating services – at 2h15m – just a shade slower than Monday to Saturday. Trains every 20 minutes, six and a half days a week.

Booking in advance and travelling off-peak is the best way to get great deals – including some fantastic First Class bargains. Single fares start at: Advance Standard £12.50  and Advance First £38.00, book here.