Free things to do this week ft. Gin tasting, J_Clique + more

Gin Tasting at Be At One
If you’re one the burgeoning army of gin heads, you might enjoy this Sipsmith’s Gin tasting event at the Be At One cocktail bar on Deansgate. You can sample a range of gins, from the traditional stuff, through to exotic sloe gin and summer cup blends, and the bar staff will on providing demos of the some of the gin cocktails you can whip out to impress your pals this festive season. Technically, this one isn’t free entry, as it requires a £5 per head after registration, but as this fee can be exchanged for a full cocktail in addition to the tasting, it’s pretty much as good as.
Tue 29 Nov, Be At One Manchester, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BB. 7pm – 9pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Bad Language at The Castle
Language lovers rejoice! Bad Language is back at The Castle after a brief exile across the road at Gullivers. Bad Language are responsible for all kinds of live literature events, but their mainstay is this: Manchester’s biggest open mic spoken word night. Alongside open mic slots, this instalment features readings from novelist Deborah Andrews, who was recently nominated for The Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize for her novel Walking the Lights.
Wed 30 Nov, The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE. 7.30pm – 10pm, www.facebook.com

Christmas Fair at Islington Mill
With the Christmas markets in full swing, there’s no shortage of places to pick up seasonal gifts and snacks this week, but if you’re looking for something smaller and a little more personal, you should get down to Islington Mill. The two-day indoor markets feature stalls from a range of local designers and creatives, many of whom are based out of the Mill itself. See our full preview for more information.
Wed 30 Nov – Thu 1 Dec, Islington Mill, James Street, Salford, M3 5HW. Tel: 0161 278 6404, Wed 5pm – 9pm, Thu 2pm – 10pm, www.facebook.com

J_Clique Exhibition Launch Night at Crown & Kettle (pictured)
Old school boozer the Crown & Kettle – located where Oldham Road joins Oldham Street – is playing host to an exhibition of work by local pop/street artist J_Clique. Clique produces small scale portraits of celebrities and popular cultural figures – From Kurt Cobain to Conor McGregor – rendered in dizzying neon colours. This show features original pieces alongside photographs of his street installations, which will all be on display at the pub until the end of December.
Thu 1 Dec, Crown & Kettle, 2 Oldham Road, Manchester, M4 5FE. 7pm -10pm, www.facebook.com