Theatre tickets
A chance to win tickets to see 'Allo Allo' at the Lowry's Quay Theatre.
FIND OUT MORESee How They Run
Win tickets for the hilarious festive farce, See How They Run, at the Royal Exchange.
FIND OUT MOREChampagne afternoon
The Calico Cafe Bar is offering one reader a free Champagne Afternoon Tea for two, worth £45.
FIND OUT MOREAspiring entrepreneur?
Chartered Accountants Lucas Reis are offering an hour's free business consultation.
FIND OUT MOREA taste of China
As the Chinese New Year draws near, we ask three of Manchester's most eminent Chinese restaurateurs what's cooking for the Year of the Rat.
Harry Yeung, Yang Sing
How would you describe your restaurant in one sentence?
Delicious, traditional but adventurous.
What's on the menu for Chinese New Year?
A traditional and sumptuous Cantonese banquet, including stir fried diced lobster with water chestnuts and Chinese celery topped with pine kernels (pictured). The name of this dish in Cantonese symbolises a life of invincibility and eternal health.
Which dish would you recommend to adventurous customers who want to try something different?
We once served snake soup as a special, which proved quite popular after a bit of persuasion! Sea cucumber is an acquired taste, but a real aphrodisiac.
What do you hope the Year of the Rat will bring to Manchester?
The Rat is the first in the cycle of 12 animal signs, so it is a time of renewal, an ideal year for the opening of our first hotel - Yang Sing Oriental - in April 2008. It is also a good year to start a new job, so I think that I might volunteer as the next England manager!
Rat people are courageous and enterprising, so the year should see Manchester really making a stand as the UK's second city. With a bit of luck it should also see Man United top of the Premiership!
Warren Yeung, Little Yang Sing
What makes Little Yang Sing special?
An appropriate ambiance for any occasion, and our authentic Cantonese fare.
Which dish would you recommend from your Chinese New Year menu?
Our extensive menu includes a wide range of dishes for the discerning diner to select from. Traditionally, the Chinese always have a fish dish as part of their New Year meal. We believe fish brings us an abundance of food and wealth for the new year, so we don't have to worry about hunger and financial problems. We recommend the monkfish with garlic in a mild spicy sauce.
What do you hope the Year of the Rat will bring to Manchester?
We hope this year will bring peace, prosperity and harmony to all. Rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors, so this is the time for Manchester to push forward and establish itself as the gastronomic capital of the North.
Lisa Tse, Sweet Mandarin
How would you sum up Sweet Mandarin?
An award-winning restaurant, which serves modern Chinese cuisine and exotic cocktails.
What's your signature dish?
Lily Kwok's Famous Chicken Curry (pictured), which is a secret recipe by my grandmother. It's definitely a dish to try - we have served it to three generations of families and even The Beatles before they became famous!
Are you doing anything special for Chinese New Year?
Yes, we are hosting a festival of food tasting menus throughout February: Feb 8 - Beijing Night (Peking Duck); Feb 15 - Shanghai Night (Potstickers); and Feb 22 - Sichuan Night (Sichuan Style Prawns).
What are your predictions for the Year of the Rat?
Chinese believers of the zodiac say business will be on the upswing, fortunes can be made and it will be an easy time to accumulate wealth. On a personal level, I would say a Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity and renewal. It's an exciting year ahead, with many things to look forward to.