Manchester International Festival unveils its amazing self-service bar

While some of the best visual and performance art from around the world has arrived in Manchester, thanks to the Manchester International Festival, heads might well be turned by an innovation in its Festival Square space.

Today the festival opened up Festival Square at Aviva Studio, home of Factory International, which is hosting the festival - complete with its own self service bar. A bank of three beer taps sits beside the square’s stage area, with festival goers able to grab themselves a drink rather than wait to be served at the bar.

Customers can choose the number of pints - from Amstel, Birra Morretti and Manchester Union - and then pay with their card (£6.20 for a Manchester Union Pale Ale). A plastic glass is then put in the chamber, where the pint is filled.

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It’s among a range of food and drink offerings at the festival. In the outdoor square, ARMR is serving up Caribbean jerk chicken, loaded fries and vegan West Indian dishes. Ancoats favourite Hip Hop Chip Shop is also set up, with excellent fish, chips and mushy peas (curry sauce optional).

There’s also spicy, homely curries and seekh kebab sandwiches from Zouk and stuff pittas from Super Serve. If you’re hankering after a cold marg, there’s a margarita bar there too.

The festival launched last night with an immersive art installation at Mayfield Park from Pakistani artist Rishan Syed. You can check out our full guide to the programme here…