On Thursday night I was heading out to see Michael Buble at the MEN as a birthday treat with my Mum and friend Andrew. We decided to make a night of it and grab a few drinks and dinner before the concert! We always end up eating in the same places, so we decided as it was a special occasion we would try something new. I was checking out the offers on Touch VIP and came across Kitchen @ Circle; the menu was to die for! 

We arrived at the restaurant to a great reception and were seated right away – I immediately fell in love with the place, the décor was classy, the atmosphere relaxing and Breakfast at Tiffany’s was just starting on the plasma (my favourite old time classic, I felt like I was back in 1960’s New York!). 

Nothing was too much trouble for the staff; our waiter was unbelievably knowledgeable about both the wine and food list, every dish sounded amazing. We decided not to have a starter, but shared the Focaccia and Olives and enjoyed our wine! 

I went for the Chicken with Black Pudding Gnocchi, Mum had the Duck and Andrew had the Cod – the food arrived and was beautifully presented, and it tasted as good as it looked! I have to say it’s the best chicken I have ever eaten in a restaurant, the mustard dressing that it was served with finished the dish off perfect ly. I think I could have eaten it 3 times over! You could tell we were all enjoying our choices, I don’t think we spoke for about five minutes! Mum, begrudgingly let me try a piece of her duck, she had plenty, she was just being greedy – and it just melted in your mouth.    

Things just got better when we asked for the bill – with my Touch VIP card we got our meal and a beautiful bottle of red wine for £37.45, that was a £22.50 saving on the food – basically “buy one get two free!” (That’s my money back already for the cost of the card!) 

I would, and have been recommending Kitchen to everyone I have spoken to – amazing food, lovely setting, and attentive staff – definitely one of Manchester’s hidden gems!  Cannot wait for my next visit!

By Laura Baxter

Katie Burbidge, at Manchester PR agency, Tangerine PR, has rediscovered the city she grew up in thanks to its digital division’s newest client, Touch VIP. 

I’m a Manchester girl born and bred. I’m infinitely patriotic about the city I’ve grown up in, and despite my friends’ attempts to entice me down to London, you’d have to drag me kicking and screaming to get me to stay down there for more than a weekend. Manchester has a magic that you can’t put your finger on, borne out of its dynamic music, fashion and food scenes. I have to admit, though, that since buying an apartment in the city centre (which was actually bought with the intention of trying new things in the city I love), all my money has been swallowedup in mortgage repayments and council tax, leaving me with precious little cash to experience Manchester’s famed sights and sounds. 

Imagine my joy when our social media sister company, Juice Digital, won the Touch VIP account and bestowed us with the wondrous little discount cards! Touch VIP cards are essentially credit card-sized discount cards that enable people to live a VIP lifestyle without the VIP price tag, giving money off at hundreds of Manchester hot spots. Wholeheartedly embracing this encouragement to reignite my love affair with the city, I have been flashing my Touch VIP card at many a Manchester institution over the last couple of months, watching with glee as my bill gets slashed in half, or a free round of cocktails is brought to the table. And don’t even get me started on what it can do in spas and hair salons. Free massage? Yes please. £150 pamper day for two for a mere £50? Go on then. 

The sell: Touch VIP cards are just £35 and last for 12 months – I’ve already had more than that back in discounts and I’ve only had it for eight weeks! I would highly recommend getting yourself onto www.touchvipcard.com to bag yourself one of these beauties. Oh, and make sure you follow them on Twitter, too, (@TouchVIP) as they have daily no-obligations offers and competitions exclusively for followers.

The Touch VIP card has re-launched in Manchester and now it’s bigger and better than ever before. My shiny new card gives me access to discounts and offers at some of the biggest and best places in the city.

So in the name of research I thought I’d test out my Touch VIP Card, plus it was a great excuse for a girly day out in Manchester.  

I got up bright and early on Saturday morning, and since after all it’s a girly day, my friend and I decided to catch the train into Manchester for a day packed with treats.  

We started off, at Hair1UK. I had a cut and colour, and snapped up a couple of bottles of Bed Head while I was at it, while my friend went for highlights with a restyle.

Then we headed to the newly re-branded Spa Satori in the Northern Quarter for a massage and a facial to complete the treat. I was so relaxed, I’m pretty sure I nodded off at one point. I hope I didn’t snore! 

By five o’clock we were looking, and feeling fab, we thought it’d be a crime to cut short such a great day. So, after a quick check of the touchvipcard website, we went to the Northern Quarter restaurant for dinner, which was out of this world, and drinks (and to show off our new hair!)

On Sunday I felt like a new woman, all be it with a slightly sore head, and when I came to fish out the receipts from the bottom of my bag I worked out that I’d saved:

£50 on my hair

£25 on the massage/facial package

£20 on dinner

I know it was always going to be a bit of a treat day but I was pretty chuffed that I instead of spending £185, I spent £95 thanks to my Touch VIP Card!

Emma

I’m going to wring every last second out of the rapidly diminishing summer nights while the light lasts. But where – which bit of Manchester?

You have Castlefield with it’s canal and nightlife, the City Centre with a plethora of music, food and drink venues or the Northern Quarter.

The Northern Quarter is a particular favourite of mine, where you have great restaurants and independent coffee and music stores, while maintaining a real bohemian/arty feel. It’s soooooo chilled and the vibe is young and fresh. They are even filming the new Captain America film round here just now.

Some of the best food and drink can be found here as well, such as, Bluu and Bem Brasil to name but a few.  I’ve got to admit though, I tend to go where I can get the best discounts on the Touch VIP card – but don’t tell Emma!

Where’s your favourite bit of Manchester?

Mark