Sweet Mandarin is a 10minute walk to the MEN Area. Perfect for a Pre-concert meal. Book here

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 winner Harry Judd will lead an all-star celebrity line-up at this year’s live Manchester shows.

Fellow finalists Australian acting and singing superstar Jason Donovan and local actress Chelsee Healey plus ex-Eastenders legend Anita Dobson, former footballer Robbie Savage, feisty property lawyer and entrepreneur Nancy Dell’Olio and ex-Olympic swimmer Mark Foster will join McFly’s Harry in Manchester for the Tuesday 31 January & Wednesday 1 February shows. Kate Thornton will return as the host of the live shows.

Alongside the exciting celebrity line-up will be judges Lee Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood, who is also directing the live tour for a second year running.

Former Blackburn Rovers footballer Robbie Savage said: I’m enjoying each week more and more and I’m really glad to be continuing the experience on tour. I can’t wait to be out on the floor every night, hopefully there won’t be any cameras to crash into this time!”.

Eccles-born Waterloo Road actress Chelsee Healey said: “I’m so thrilled to be part of the Strictly tour, the TV show has been more fun than I ever could have imagined and I can’t wait to carry on dancing every week”.

Jason Donovan added: “I have been overwhelmed with the support I have had so far on the show and I have really enjoyed dancing every week. Learning so many different dances has been an amazing experience and I can’t wait to see the new routines we’ll be performing on the tour”.

The ultimate in feel-good entertainment, Strictly Come Dancing Live features all the must-haves from the hugely popular BBC1 TV series. Stunning costumes, outspoken judges, dazzling dances from your favourite celebrity contestants and some brand new routines courtesy of the ever-popular professional dancers make this a must-see show.

More than 9 million viewers tuned in to watch the series’ launch show on BBC1.  The television format, also known as Dancing With The Stars, entered the Guinness Book of World Records three years ago as the world’s most successful reality television show and has been sold by BBC Worldwide to over 35 international broadcasters.  2010′s final saw more than 14 million people tune in to see Kara Tointon raise the Strictly glitterball.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here ).

Following her Arena show in May of this year, the Barbados-native returns next October and November to showcase tracks from Loud – including the UK number one single Only Girl (In The World) - alongside the chart-topping hits Umbrella, Don’t Stop The Music, SOS, Disturbia and Shut Up And Drive.

Earlier this year Rihanna became the first female artist of the past decade to score six number one’s on Billboard’s Hot List 100 when Rude Boy topped the charts.

Earlier this year Rihanna became the first female artist of the past decade to score six number one’s on Hot List 100 when topped the charts.

The second single to be taken from Rihanna’s fifth studio album – What’s My Name? featuring Drake – is out now.

Thank God for Peter Kay. I love the Bolton born comic and man-of-a-thousand-faces who loves Chinese food.
Here’s my favourite joke (thanks Peter) ….. So I went to the Chinese restaurant and this duck came up to me with a red rose and says “Your eyes sparkle like diamonds”. I said, “Waiter, I asked for a-ROMATIC duck”.

Finally, Peter has returned to us in Manchester with his tour which has people in stitches as he turns the most trivial of daily nuisances in the world of the working class family, and turns them into comedy gold. Without this man, life would, quite simply, be a bit boring.

I’ll feed Peter and I’ll feed all you lovely people who are going to see Peter Kay’s show at the MEN. We are next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is a short 5-10 minute walk to the MEN Arena. Approximately 40 furry footsteps and you are door to door. Click HERE for the AA Routeplanner and Map.

OK, and I’ll get you revved up with that uber-annoying (because once heard you can’t get it out of your head) ‘Is This The Way To Amarillo’ song that Peter forced upon us, Peter Kay at his exasperated best.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden will return to the M.E.N Arena next summer for their first Manchester show in five years.

Iron Maiden’s return to the city is part of The Final Frontier – Around The World In 66 Days tour – a fifty thousand mile journey aboard ‘Ed Force One’, the specially customised Boeing 757 piloted by airline captain and lead singer Bruce Dickinson.

Ahead of touching down in Manchester, Bruce said: “As our fans all know from the Flight 666 film, which documented the trials and tribulations we underwent in order to get the whole project literally off the ground, the end result was well worth all the effort and complex logistics we had to deal with! The band and crew enjoyed themselves so much travelling that way, it seemed only logical to set up this part of The Final Frontier tour in the same way.”

July’s M.E.N Arena show will see the British Heavy Metal pioneers perform tracks from their latest album, The Final Frontier, alongside classics from their 35 year back catalogue including Aces High, Run To The Hills, Can I Play With Madness and The Number Of The Beast.

Band mascot Eddie, who has appeared on all Iron Maiden’s album and single covers, will also appear as part of the group’s legendary live shows next summer.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Manchester’s M.E.N Arena has been revealed as the host venue for the world premiere of Batman Live next summer.

For the first time ever see Batman – the world’s most popular DC superhero – in a live-action arena adventure, set to take the world by storm.

Premiering at Manchester’s M.E.N Arena next summer, Batman Live is a multi-million pound stage production of unprecedented scale and a must-see for families and Batman fans everywhere.

Based on an original story being created exclusively for the world arena tour, Batman Live is a theatrical extravaganza of thrilling stunts, acrobatic acts and illusions. Never before has Gotham City, Wayne Manor, the Batcave and Arkham Asylum been brought to life on stage in a more visually exciting way.

Join Batman and Robin as they battle their nemesis The Joker and other super-villains such as The Riddler, Catwoman, The Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, set on destroying Gotham City.

This is one adventure and one delicious meal (at Sweet Mandarin) that you do not want to miss!

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Blink 182, the Californian trio return to the Arena for the first time since 2004′s sold-out appearance to perform hits from their pop punk back catalogue including I Miss You, What’s My Age Again, Carousel and All The Small Things.
Blink 182 will open their 2011 UK tour at the M.E.N Arena next summer as part of their first headline shows in the country for more than seven years. Formed in San Diego in

1992 by Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, the band recruited drummer Travis Barker in 1998.

The band’s breakthrough album, Enema Of The State, was released the following year and went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide. Their next two albums, 2001′s Take Off Your Pants And Jacket and 2003′s Blink 182, cemented their position as pop punk pioneers.

Following DeLonge’s seven year hiatus from the band – and Barker surviving a plane crash in 2008 – the trio are now back in the studio working on their as-yet-untitled sixth studio album, due for release next summer.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Glee, making its European premiere at the M.E.N Arena next summer, will now have performances on Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 June 2011.

Glee has been described by the Los Angeles Times as “triumphant” and by USA Today as “equal parts musical theatre, giddy pop culture phenomenon and Journey-loving rock show.”

Following a sold-out 2010 US tour, Glee stars Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike), Chord Overstreet (Sam) and Darren Criss (Blaine) will open their European tour in Manchester next summer in an all singing and dancing celebration of the hit TV show.

All the show’s most memorable musical numbers from seasons one and two will be featured – including Empire State of Mind, Toxic, My Life Would Suck Without You, It’s

My Life and show anthem Don’t Stop Believin’.

Speaking ahead of the 2011 tour, Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy said: “We had such a great time putting together last year’s US shows and the response from the fans was incredible. People around the world want to see our cast live and in person, so this European tour is our way of thanking them for the unbelievable way they’ve embraced our little show”.

To date, over 16 million Glee tracks have been digitally downloaded and over 5.5 million albums sold worldwide. The second season of Glee, currently showing in the US, will air on E4 this winter.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the City of Manchester Stadium because we get to meet all the stars that perform. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

On Tuesday October 26th, the most exciting reunion in British pop history gathered speed as dates for a brand new Take That Tour, Progress Live 2011, were announced at a press conference in London.

Gary, Howard, Jason, Mark and Robbie confirmed that they will hit the road next year for a monumental 14-date summer stadium tour around the UK before heading to Europe for a further six shows. Progress Live 2011, is the band’s biggest tour yet and will be the first time they have toured together as a five-piece since 1995.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Journey will be performing hits from their classic rock back catalogue including Never Walk Away, Any Way You Want It, Open Arms and the massive power ballad anthem Don’t Stop Believin’ - back in the charts after being sung by the cast of the hit US show Glee.

The San Francisco band – Neal Schon (guitars, backing vocals), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Ross Valory (bass, backing vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) – will also be performing tracks from their latest recording project Revelation, a three-disc CD/DVD package.

British-American rock band Foreigner will join Journey in Manchester next summer to perform their worldwide number one hits I Want To Know What Love Is, Waiting For A Girl Like You and the video game classics Hot Blooded and Juke Box Hero.

Speaking ahead of the M.E.N Arena show, founding member and songwriter / guitarist Mick Jones said: “This will be one of the main events of the summer.  Bands who represent the magic era in classic rock together for the first time in my home country.  Get ready to rock!”

Making up the trio will be prog-rock heavyweights Styx.

Over the course of their 38-year career the Chicago band have released 15 studio albums, six best-of compilations, four live albums and eight top ten singles including Lady, Babe, The Best Of Times and Mr Roboto.

Speaking about the 2011 joint tour, Styx’s James ‘JY’ Young said: “Styx has always enjoyed sharing the stage with Journey, going back to the Santa Monica Civic Center in 1976. The tour we did with them in 2003 across the United States was an amazing success of sold out arenas. Journey, Foreigner & Styx seems like a can’t miss “Guitars a-blazin’”  ”Vocals a-mazing” kind of a Classic Rock Evening!”

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Skating legends Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean will return to the M.E.N Arena next spring for the fifth live Dancing On Ice Tour.  Returning to the home of their 1995 record-breaking performance, Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean will join a new line-up of celebrity skaters to perform dazzling routines including their own spectacular show-stopping performance.

Celebrities taking part in the 2011 tour will be announced shortly, along with the judging panel who will cast their expert opinions on each performance.

Using the same format as the hit ITV1 show, spectators can use their mobile phones to text vote for their favourite celebrity. Audience votes will then be added to scores from the judges to decide the overall celebrity winner. The winning couple then take to the ice for a magical finale performance. As with previous tours, all profits from text voting will go to charity.

More than £100,000 has been raised to date which in previous years has been donated to the Royal London Society For The Blind and Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Hip hop trio N-Dubz will play their first headline show at the M.E.N Arena next spring joined by very special guest Professor Green.

N-Dubz return in 2011 to showcase tracks from their latest album Love. Live. Life.

Formed in Camden Town in 2000, Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer have become the breakout stars of the UK grime scene.

The trio’s first two albums, Uncle B and Against All Odds, spawned eight top 40 hits between them including I Swear, You Better Not Waste My Time, I Need You and the Mr Hudson duet Playing With Fire.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

The Jay Kay fronted group return to the Arena for their first performance since 2005′s Dynamite tour to showcase tracks from their latest top ten album Rock Dust Light Star.

Speaking ahead of their Manchester show, Jay Kay said: “I can’t wait to get back out on the road and tour, particularly round the UK where we haven’t toured for a while. We’re looking forward to playing stuff from the new album, as well as giving you new twists on plenty of the old hits”.

Formed during the early 1990′s acid jazz movement, Jamiroquai’s first hit – Space Cowboy – was released in 1994, followed by Virtual Insanity and Cosmic Girl from 1996′s international breakthrough album Travelling Without Moving.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

The list of records Kylie holds at the Manchester venue is unprecedented.

The pop icon has performed more shows, and to more people, at the M.E.N Arena than at any other venue in the world.

More than 300,000 concertgoers have seen Kylie at the Arena since her 2002 debut with her sold-out summer 2008 shows confirming her position as the biggest selling solo artist in the history of the venue.

Kylie now returns to the city which she says “has always welcomed me so much” to perform tracks from her latest album Aphrodite - including current hit single Better Than Today - alongside hits from her back catalogue spanning over two decades.

John Knight, General Manager for the M.E.N Arena, said: “Manchester holds a very special place in its heart for Kylie and the feeling is more than mutual. She loves performing here and next year’s shows are going to be one of the musical highlights of the year.

“Since her first show with us nearly a decade ago Kylie’s returned again and again with bigger and better shows and, after seeing the initial production plans for her new Les Folies shows, her Manchester fans are in for another breathtaking treat”.

Devotion, a duet Kylie has recorded with Manchester synthpop duo The Hurts, is out now.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Her only show in the north of the country during 2011, the US singer-songwriter will bring her Speak Now World Tour to the Manchester venue on Tuesday 29 March.

Following her winter 2009 debut, the country-pop star returns to the Arena to perform tracks from her brand new album Speak Now alongside the chart-topping hits Love Story, You Belong With Me, Fifteen and Mine.

Fearless, her third studio album, became the best-selling US album of last year and earned her a Grammy for Album Of The Year making her the youngest artist, at 20 years old, to collect the award.

Speaking ahead of her Manchester return, Taylor said: “I’m so excited to go back out on tour again in 2011. The Fearless Tour was so much fun and even more unforgettable than I ever imagined. I can’t wait to get back out and play my new music from Speak Now!”

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Performing tracks from his latest album Euphoria - alongside his greatest hits Hero, Takin’ Back My Love, Do You Know and Escape – Enrique returns to Manchester for the first time in two years with special guest Lemar.

Son of Julio Iglesias, Enrique exploded onto the music scene in 2001 with his number one ballad Hero which spent four weeks at the top of the UK charts.

The Madrid-born, Miami-raised singer has since gone on to sell 2.2 million albums and 1.6 million singles in the UK alone including six top ten singles.

Euphoria, Enrique’s ninth studio album, features guest appearances from Akon and Nicole Scherzinger plus Arena favourites Usher and Lionel Richie.

Enrique will be joined in Manchester by special guest Lemar.

The UK soul and R&B singer-songwriter will return to the Arena next spring fresh from supporting Mary J. Blige on her November Manchester date. The MOBO and Brit award winner will be performing tracks from his five hit albums including the singles 50/50, Dance (With U), Another Day and If There’s Any Justice.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Following their March shows earlier this year, Shane, Mark, Kian and Nicky return to perform all their classic hits – including Flying Without Wings, You Raise Me Up and Mandy - as well as tracks from their latest album Where We Are.

No pop band can compare to Westlife’s extraordinary success.  In addition to performing an unrivalled 29 shows at the M.E.N Arena, the band have sold over 40 million records worldwide and, in the UK alone, have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record-breaking 14 No. 1′s.

In addition to numerous awards and accolades they are the only recording artists to win the prestigious ‘Record Of The Year’ an incredible four times.

Westlife are currently working on a new studio album for release in November of this year.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here ).

The 16 year-old singing sensation will be performing tracks from his first two albums My World (Part 1) and My World (Part 2) including the hit singles One Less Lonely Girl, Love Me, Favourite Girl, Baby, Never Let You Go, U Smile and the debut smash One Time.

The teen idol was discovered in 2007 after posting dozens of homemade videos on YouTube. Bieber racked up over 10,000,000 views from word-of-mouth alone and, at just 13, was signed by Island Records after being championed by Usher.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here ).

Tom, Harry, Dougie and Bolton’s Danny return to the Arena for their first Manchester show in over three years to perform tracks from their brand new album Above The Noise including the hit singles Party Girl and Shine A Light.

Formed in 2004, the quartet’s debut album, Room on the 3^rd Floor, debuted at number one in the UK making the band the youngest ever to have an album debut at the top spot.

Since then McFly have gone on to have 17 top ten singles, seven of which reached number one including All About You, Please Please, 5 Colours In Her Hair, That Girl and Sorry’s Not Good Enough.

Named after the main character from the Back To The Future trilogy, McFly have sold over eight million records worldwide, won multiple Brit Awards and starred in the hit Hollywood film Just My Luck.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena.  If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

The X Factor Live Manchester shows will see the X Factor Winner, Matt Cardle – joined by this year’s finalists Rebecca, Cher, Aiden, Paije, Mary, Wagner, Katie and One Direction - perform classic songs alongside viewer’s favourites from the TV series.

The finalists will also perform this year’s charity single, a cover of David Bowie’s 1977 hit Heroes. Proceeds from the single will go to the Help For Heroes charity.

Audiences of the 2010 tour – which included four sold-out shows at the M.E.N Arena – saw last year’s winner, Joe McElderry, take centre stage having already stormed the charts with his debut single The Climb. Other massive performances were given by Jedward, Stacey Soloman, Lucie Jones, Jamie Archer and Arena favourite Olly Murs.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena.If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin here.

Get the lowdown on the Boyz with the men-arena.com’s top five Boyzone facts:

1: Following the ITV1 special, Boyzone: A Tribute To Stephen Gately, the new four-piece will be performing tracks from Brother alongside Boyzone classics Pictures Of You, Love Me For A Reason and No Matter What.

2: Speaking ahead of their Manchester return, Ronan said; “There was a time there when the lads and I didn’t know whether we would ever get back up on stage together again – we just didn’t know if we could do it as a four-piece.

3: “We played three tracks live at the Albert Hall a couple of weeks ago and the reception was just unbelievable.  We all came off stage buzzing, knowing that we had the full support of the fans and it all just suddenly felt so right.  We can’t wait to get back on the road together.”

4: Boyzone: A Tribute To Stephen Gately aired as an hour-long special on ITV1 featuring Ronan, Keith, Mikey and Shane performing a selection of their top ten hits joined by special guests including Mika, Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle and Arena favourites Westlife.

5: Boyzone love aromatic crispy duck with pancakes, scallions and hoisin sauce!

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. Ne Yo is coming to Manchester! Did you hear me? Ne Yo is coming to Manchester . Remember the songs Beautiful Monster, One In A Million….those are some of my favourite songs….and I can’t wait to bop till I drop. If you are going to the Monster Ball aka Ne Yo’s concert, be sure to get your energy boost by booking your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Libra Scale – Ne-Yo’s fourth studio album – features the number one UK hit Beautiful Monster alongside current single One In A Million.

Returning to the Manchester venue following last summer’s Year Of The Gentleman World Tour, the US singer-songwriter will be performing tracks from Libra Scale alongside his chart-topping R’n'B hits Closer, Miss Independent, Mad and Because Of You.

Famed for his ‘Rat Pack’ style look, Ne-Yo – aka Shaffer Chimere Smith – first broke onto the music scene with the 2006 single So Sick, taken from his debut album In My Own Words.

In addition to penning his own work, the 31-year-old is also the songwriting force behind hits for Rihanna, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. I feel like putting on my tutu and having a spin around as Dancing on Ice is coming to Manchester! If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

2010 winner Kara Tointon will be joined by the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, Countryfile presenter Matt Baker, Hollywood actor Jimi Mistry, Olympic athlete Colin Jackson, ex-Corrie star Tina O’Brien, Hollyoaks’ Ricky Whittle, actress Patsy Kensit and comedian Pamela Stephenson when Strictly Come Dancing Live returns to the M.E.N on Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 9th February 2011.

Ann is set to perform a show-stopping dance routine with her harshest critic and this year’s tour director Craig Revel Horwood during the Manchester shows.

Speaking ahead of her visit, Ann said: “I am very much looking forward to dancing with Craig after all the rude remarks he has made. However, as he is even taller than Anton, the result should be funnier.”

Ann and the other celebrity dancers will be joined in Manchester by host Zoe Ball, who came third in the 2005 TV series, and TV judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.

Attracting over nine million viewers each week, the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing is currently being screened each weekend on BBC1. The television series, sold to over 30 countries, has been named the world’s most successful reality TV format by the Guinness Book of World Records 2010.

Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. I feel faint as the gorgeous Usher is coming to Manchester! If you are going to scream your lungs out at Usher’s concert, be sure to get your energy boost by booking your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).

Usher concert tickets sold out in hours…..are you one of the lucky ones? The R&B superstar returns to the Manchester venue for the first of a ten night UK arena tour on Wednesday 26 January – and again on 20th February 2011 – to celebrate the release of his latest album Raymond vs. Raymond.

The OMG Tour will see the US singer and actor perform tracks from Raymond vs. Raymond – his sixth studio album – alongside hits from his 20 year R&B back catalogue.

Usher Raymond IV rose to fame in the late 1990′s with the release of his second album My Way which spawned the R&B classic U Make Me Wanna. His 2001 follow up, 8701, produced the number one hits U Remind Me and U Got It Bad.

Usher’s success continued with his 2004 album Confessions which went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide making it the best selling R&B album of the decade.

Ok, I hear you so here’s a little youtube video of Usher to wet your appetite. See you at Sweet Mandarin Usherites!

I can’t wait for 22nd January when JLS comes to Manchester to perform at the MEN Arena (which is a short 10 minute walk from Sweet Mandarin). I know they love Chinese food especially JB so I can’t wait to prepare a feast fit for a king for these talented guys. Are you going to the concert? If so, it would be great to cook for you too at Sweet Mandarin.

Get the lowdown on Britain’s favourite new boyband with the men-arena.com’s top six JLS facts:

1:  January 2011′s concert will mark the boy’s fourth M.E.N Arena appearance following their 2009 debut as part of The X Factor Live tour and their sold out December double dates.

2: Speaking ahead of their New Year Manchester return, the two-time 2010 Brit Award winners said: “It’s every singers dream to play venues like Manchester’s M.E.N Arena to such huge audiences! It’s going to be a spectacular and we can’t wait for all our supporters to see the show!”

3: JLS have had a phenomenal first year. Their first two singles, Beat Again and Everybody In Love, debuted at Number 1. The quartet’s self-titled debut album stormed to the top of the album charts to make it the fastest selling debut by a group since the Arctic Monkeys in 2006.

4: As well as record-breaking sales, JLS have picked up two MOBOs for Best Newcomer and Best Song for Beat Again as well as two Brits for British Breakthrough and British Single – again for Beat Again – making them the first X Factor contestants to win an award at the ceremony.

5: JLS – Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Jonathan ‘JB’ Gill and Oritse Williams – recently appeared on BBC1′s Sports Relief charity extravaganza duetting with Lemar on What About Love.

6. JLS love Chinese Food and we can’t wait to cook for JB, Marvin, Oritse and Aston. We can’t wait to cook their favourite dishes such as chicken and sweetcorn soup, Beijing dumplings, vegetable spring rolls, salt and pepper ribs, sweet and sour chicken, crispy Sichuan beef and throw in some of our house specials – such as the Volcano Chicken and the Mabel’s Claypot Chicken.

If you would like to book your pre-concert dinner, please book a table here

Manchester’s gonna melt into a Buble frenzy. Michael Buble is playing at the MEN Arena on 6th and 7th October and I can’t wait to feed him. Since I’ve heard him,  I play his  tracks as part of the Sweet Mandarin music collection and those love songs which evoke his passion for life and an edgy sense of humanity and romance. The honesty of feeling sprawls out in the vocals that cut through the night like a dark echo of an aching heart – and couples fall back in love as the candles flicker at Sweet Mandarin.

As our concert goers are bopping to Crazy Love whilst enjoying the delicacies at Sweet Mandarin you can feel what Michael feels and hears in the studio – his jazzy sounds where the the drums bleed into the horn section with the thrill of the moment in mind – even though the songs were written over the course of 80 years. I suppose it wasn’t all that different from the way it might have been in a Louis Armstrong session in the ’40s or even Elvis Presley in the late 50s. The strings would get to carry an extra micro-vibration along with the bows. Sometimes acapella – other times with live bands and even huge orchestras – even some sessions with primitive 8-track recording devices that are a rarity in the crystalline perfection sound of the 21st century. But it isn’t just the time period that is crucial but the breadth of emotional territory a man is willing to live through and share by coming clean emotionally — in front of a bunch of strangers no less. Michael I salute you and am honoured to make you some soulful soup that will make you croon even sweeter.

Chicken broth can help unclog congestion in one’s chest and nose and has anti-inflammatory properties that aid soothing one’s throat and helps stop the movement of netrophis (white blood cells that encourages the flow of mucus that accumulates in the lungs and nose). Enough science. Lets cook!

Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup – Ingredients:

Tablespoon of skinless chicken breast fillet diced finely ( blanch chicken dices first)
Tablespoon of corn kernels (fresh or tinned or frozen)
1 ½ cups chicken stock
Pinch of salt
Pinch of sugar
Potato starch mixed with water
1 egg
A drop of sesame oil

How to Make the Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup:

1. Heat Wok

2. Add chicken stock.

3. Combine adding the chicken and corn

4. When boiling add the salt, and sugar.

5. Add in potato starch water mixture to thicken the soup.

6. Simmer soup and add in beaten egg – swirl in.

7. Add a drop of sesame oil.

8. Stir and Serve immediately.