Don't bite the hand that feeds you, suggests conventional wisdom. While few would argue against such a no-brainer apothegm, there are nevertheless those who insist on defying its spirit. In Manchester, England, a hip watering hole routinely invites patrons to vex those who serve them. Down a nondescript ally in the city's Northern Quarter lies Twenty Twenty Two (pictured), known as "Manchester's worst kept secret." Since its inception in 2014, Twenty Twenty Two has become a mecca for thirsty ping-pong players. While ping-pong bars are nothing new, Twenty Twenty Two offers a novel variation on the theme. Every Thursday, barflies swarm around for the chance to challenge their bartenders over a friendly game of ping-pong. Best the barkeep and your next round is two for the price of one. Jamie Scahill, owner of Twenty Twenty Two, explains the genesis of the concept. "The idea came over a drunken conversation in Dr. Pong in Berlin," says Scahill, referring to another node in the worldwide web of ping-pong bars. While the "beat the bartender" challenge has certainly helped Twenty Twenty Two shed its secrecy, the gimmick may bear unintended consequences. After all, the folly of biting the proverbial hand that feeds you is inarguable. Can wounding the pride of the mixologist who concocts your brain-altering chemical solutions be any wiser?

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