While ITV's Coronation Street has the Rovers Return pub for its soap celebrations, the stars of the show have adopted a rather more glitzy bar for all their party nights and celebrations. The Alchemist at MediaCity is just a stone's throw from the ITV Corrie set, and has fast become the hotspot for the soap's stars celebrating birthdays and leaving dos.
Over the summer months it played host to a number of Corrie parties and gatherings, most recently for the leaving party of soap favourite Millie Gibson. And it's not hard to see why the restaurant and bar is quite so appealing.
It has a simply stunning setting right at the heart of the old docks at Salford Quays - looking out to The Lowry Theatre on one side, and the vast swathe of TV studios at MediaCity to the other. There is a large outdoor terrace where you can eat and drink soaking up those waterside views.
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You can even see the Coronation Street's Trafford Wharf Road set from the terrace - looking out across the waters of the North Bay. The swish restaurant and cocktail bar first opened at the landmark site on the Manchester Ship Canal back in 2017.
It is described online as "creating a unique and futuristic venue similar to a gigantic golden spacecraft that landed in Salford Quays, bringing the future with it". And ever since it opened it appears that a host of TV stars have found it out of this world too.
Coronation Street star Millie Gibson, who plays Kelly Neelan, was the latest to enjoy the bar space when she hosted her star-studded leaving party there. A galaxy of the show's stars packed onto The Alchemist terrace, including Millie's Corrie pals like Tanisha Gorey, Mikey North and Georgia Taylor, while soap mum actress Kel Allen was also there for the emotional send off.
Also hosting leaving dos there in recent times has been Corrie's Alexandra Mardell, who left the soap as lovelorn hairdresser Emma Brooker back in February. Being a rather chillier month, Alexandra and her Corrie pals posted plenty of pictures from inside the swanky bar, rather than outside on the terrace.
The bar was also the spot for Corrie's Imran Habeeb actor Charlie De Melo to say his farewells to co-stars. He was pictured on Insta with Georgia, who plays his on-screen love Toyah.
In the pre-drinks picture the pair are pictured embracing with the glistening lights of the Quays behind them.
In August, Corrie pals were all spotted out at The Alchemist again - with Millie Gibson pictured alongside Samia Longchambon and Gary Windass star Mikey North.
With the bar being right at the heart of MediaCity it's also a popular haunt for after-work drinks and parties for BBC stars too. BBC Breakfast presenters have regularly been spotted there due to its position right at the heart of MediaCity - with BBC and ITV studios right next door.
The bar is part of The Alchemist group, which also has locations in Manchester city centre at Spinningfields and New York Street and in Chester. The venue is famous for its huge cocktail list, hence the name The Alchemist.
The MediaCity bar caused something of a stir when it first opened at the landmark site, known as The Bund, at the old Manchester Docks - with its giant golden spaceship design. The design had been a dream of the late, great Living Ventures founder Tim Bacon - who apparently told developers at Peel that he loved the design, as long as it was made gold!
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