A jaw-dropping bar tab from a Manchester nightclub has ignited a national conversation about wealth and excess after a former sportsman and his party spent an astonishing £88,589.60 in a single evening.
The Record-Breaking Receipt
According to an image of the receipt shared on social media by the exclusive venue, Continental Club, the total bill for a party of twelve reached a scarcely-believable £88,589.60. The eye-watering sum included a single bottle of Clase Azul tequila priced at £9,500 and multiple magnums of Dom Perignon rosé champagne costing £2,000 each.
Other premium items on the bill were Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades Champagne at £1,500 and Chivas Regal 25 blended Scotch Whiskey priced at £950. Perhaps most staggering of all was the service charge, a tip calculated at 10 percent of the total, which alone amounted to a painful £8,053.60.
Club Owner and Public Reaction
The club's owner, who goes by the name Hass, confirmed the story, telling the BBC that a 'celebrity client' settled the entire monumental bill with a single card payment without flinching. 'Sometimes with a big bill a few people are kind of chipping in but just one person dealt with that, so it's quite impressive,' he added.
Hass revealed the customer was not from Manchester and suggested he was not 'foreign to spending that kind of money'. He expressed hope that the publicity would help put Manchester on the map as a city that can compete with the luxury scenes of London and Dubai.
While the club celebrated the spend on Instagram with a post titled 'RECORD BROKEN', public reaction was sharply divided. Some commentators called the staff 'lucky' for the huge tip, but many others were sickened by the expenditure.
One critic highlighted the stark contrast, posting: 'Meanwhile, just outside on the cold, wet pavement, there are men and women who literally dedicated their lives to protecting this country.' This sentiment echoed the concerns of many regarding the number of ex-servicemen and women struggling this winter.
A History of Extravagance
While the Manchester bill is extraordinary, it is not the UK's highest. In 2012, foreign currency dealer Alex Hope spent a mind-blowing £203,948 on drinks at a Liverpool venue. However, his extravagance was funded by crime; Hope was later jailed for seven years in 2015 for swindling millions from investors to bankroll his playboy lifestyle.
The Continental Club, which promises 'luxury, privacy, and elite entertainment', has firmly positioned itself as a haunt for the wealthy, but this record-breaking night has undoubtedly cast a spotlight on the vast disparities in modern British society.
