Cocktails and cupcakes, has a certain ring to it doesn’t it. Ok so it’s not your classic combo but it’s certainly one of my favourites! Here I’m on a mission to pair delicious cocktails with equally delicious cupcakes!

Why specifically cocktails and cupackes you may ask… Well these days afternoon tea is certainly a fashionable past-time of which I do love. However I don’t really like tea… Huh?! A Brit that doesn’t like tea??!! I’m afraid so, never have, possibly never will, but never say never. Anyhow this little project came about when after I had afternoon tea in two VERY fancy establishments in London… The Ritz and the Lansdowne. Oh the cakes were so airy light and topped with the freshest cream, scones were hot, buttery and laden full of chunky fruit jam and those delicate little finger sandwiches so elegantly filled with the finest smoked salmon and cream cheese and the thinnest slivers of cucumber… Wonderful!

But there is only so much one can eat.. It pains me to admit that…. And then you’re left with the tea…. and it would seem that my friends can drink their weight in tea, and mine too. Roll on three-hours later and I’m still holding onto the last dregs of my now not-so bubbly glass of bubbly. Yawn, yawn, yawn….

Then I went to a bottomless brunch in Manchester, right on my doorstep an abundance of places offering bottomless afternoon tea! FAB!

So as a Christmas present, my Dad and myself treated my Mum to tickets to the Strictly Come Dancing Tour show (Sooooo good by the way!) and brunch at the Hilton in the Cloud 23 bar.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, maybe a glass or two (if we smiled nicely possibly three)… How wrong I was – it really was bottomless, knowing we had a whole day ahead of us we paced ourselves… I think it’s the first time I have ever seen my Mum refuse a top up of bubbly! But not only that, the food was delicious too, a fantastic range of brunch items.

A combination of the bubbly, food and panoramic views of the city made this a fantastic experience. As fantastic as the bubbly was I though a little twist on this idea would be good and there you have it, cocktails and cupcakes was born.

If you want to check some guys that certainly know their cocktails head over to my post on Brockman’s #pressforgin post.