What's On
Manchester Christmas Markets 2023 details and locations announced
They’re almost here!
As the beloved wooden Alpine huts start popping up around town, this year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Passing Mancunians will have already spotted them being built around several locations in the city centre, and now Manchester Council have confirmed everything we can expect from this year’s festive favourite.
The official opening date for the Christmas Markets is November 10th with the stalls opening daily until December 21st – featuring nine different zones around the city.
Once again, while the Town Hall is still undergoing restoration works at Albert Square, Piccadilly Gardens will be the main hub – even though after last year’s mud-fest, councillors said it would not be used again.
Last year once the festivities were over, because of wet weather conditions, Piccadilly Gardens saw its turfed areas left in a bit of a ‘state’ and had to be replaced.
But with no viable alternative, the winter wonderland will return to the grounds as the council have assured the public that extra steps will be taken to protect the grassy areas of Piccadilly Gardens this time round.
This Christmas is a special one for the markets as it marks their 25th year of featuring in the city, and has now become a seasonal staple for all to enjoy in the run up to the big day.
The very first Christmas Markets launched in 1998, attracting Mancunians and visitors from further afield to fill their stockings with all the festive treats on offer.
This year, over 225 stalls will spread across nine different zones which include Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Anne’s Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange and King Street.
Manchester’s iconic huge Santa will peer down over the streets from his home at Central Library in St Peter’s Square. What would a Mancunian Christmas be without him?
Skate Manchester will be bringing its ice rink back for those who enjoy a seasonal skate under twinkling fairy lights, with the festive ice rink situated at Cathedral Gardens.
The Christmas Parade is set to take place on Sunday, December 3rd and promises to be even bigger and better than the first-ever Christmas Parade last year. Families are expected to line the streets again to enjoy its spectacular performances.
Also featured as part of Christmas in the city will be the return of Festive Sundays. These family-friendly pop-ups – delivered in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District – will bring joy to many.
Festive Sundays will run on the dates of November 26th, December 10th and December 17th.
And of course, the Manchester Christmas Lights trail will illuminate the dark wintery skies with giant walk-through baubles, a Manchester Bee and Santa Claus himself.
Councillor Pat Karney said: “Christmas is looking even better than ever in Manchester this year, with the opening of our world-famous Christmas markets now only three weeks away and a stocking rammed full of things for all the family to see and enjoy over the festive season, including our magical Manchester Christmas Parade.
“And what a special year for our world-beating markets! Hard to believe it was exactly 25 Christmases ago that Manchester’s first-ever Christmas market took place.
“A quarter of a century later and the markets bring visitors from quite literally all over the world to fill upon the fantastic festive treats on offer. Everyone knows Manchester is the city that Santa loves best and we just can’t wait to share all the Christmas fun and festivities with everyone.”
What's On
Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Can’t wait for this!
Live From The Grill is returning in 2024 for a third year, bringing with it next level barbecue food, drinks, live music and DJs.
Deansgate Square will once again host a weekend of BBQs from some of Manchester’s best restaurants, including Hawksmoor, who will be serving up the ultimate steak sandwich.
Also serving up some top scran will be Knight’s Caribbean BBQ, Japanese robata by Kitten, Food Sorcery Cookery School, and Chit ‘n’ Chaat with Indian street food.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Plus, there’s £3.50 pints all day and other drinks deals exclusively for Manchester’s Finest subscribers – so make sure you get signed up.
The free event is taking place on Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st, down at one of the city centre’s most exciting new neighbourhoods, New Jackson.
Both Saturday and Sunday’s day-long parties are free to attend with tickets. Saturday will feature Rinse.FM residents Habitat, DJ G2 & Friends, soulful drum and bass from Rare Groove, and Manchester’s longest-running club night, Funkademia.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Sunday is curated by Gigpig and is all about the bands, including rising jazz superstar Kemani Anderson, electro-soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa, 60s and 70s-inspired blues duo Corduroy Moustache, singer-songwriters Ruby J and Grace Kelly, as well as a set from DJ Lenny.
Live From The Grill 2024 is happening at Deansgate Square, New Jackson, M15 4TN, from 12pm till 8pm both days.
Tickets are free, grab them here.
What's On
Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
Get yourself down!
What promises to be Manchester’s biggest after work drinks is happening this week, and you can head down for a pint on us.
Manchester’s Finest is serving up complimentary drinks at a secret location in town, and you’re invited to enjoy an after work drink on the house.
This is in collaboration with the new ChinChin app, which helps you organise nights out with your mates.
Manchester’s Finest Group
The massive after work social is happening this week, on Thursday August 15th.
Simply head to the secret location from 5.30pm to enjoy one of 400 pints being given away – choose from Amstel, Inch’s cider or a soft drink.
The fastest and easiest way to make plans with friends, download the ChinChin app to find out where to head and join in the fun.
Manchester’s Finest Group
To secure your invite (and free pint), create your ChinChin account, click the link to let us know you’re coming, and head to the secret spot – which will be revealed on the app.
And if that’s not enough, ChinChin will also throw in £5 Uber credit for attendees to safely get home too – redeem it when you first check-in on ChinChin.
Please drink responsibly.
What's On
The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
The best street food is coming to Manchester
The British Street Food Awards Northern heats are coming to Freight Island this weekend, bringing with it some of the region’s best street food.
Part of the largest street food competition in the world, the free event arrives in the city this summer this weekend, August 17th and 18th.
The Northern champion will be selected by a panel of judges: Matty White, known for his work on Manchester’s Finest and Steph’s Packed Lunch, Luke Payne, chef at The Pack Horse in Hayfield, and British Street Food Awards founder and food journalist Richard Johnson.
Hello Oriental
The participating traders have now been released, along with their taster dishes which are all available at £6.50, as well as an additional ‘killer dish’.
You can sample Caribbean food from Back-a-yard Jamaican, Baldy’s artisan pies, Burgerism, Colombo Street’s Sri Lankan street food, and Asian fusion from Fuku, and Hello Oriental.
There’s Greek classics from Mega Gyros, Mia’s Arepas, Pattersons fried chicken, Indian street food from Payal, Rio-Mex’s fusion of Brazilian and Mexican street food, and BBQ from Smoking Coal.
British Street Food Awards
Don’t miss traditional Malaysian cuisine from Syiok-Lah, That Ziki’s Greek street food with a modern twist, and Zapp, who are bringing traditional Polish street food.
Past winners of the prestigious award include MEATliquor, Wingmans and BAO. The winner of this year’s competition will head to London for the UK finals in September.
And in even better news, you can head down yourself and try all of the North’s best street food over the weekend.
Colombo Street
You can also have your say in the People’s Choice award, with the winners of both announced on August 18th.
The awards coincide with Freight’s summer of top tier – and free – music programming too, with Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip headlining Sunday’s line-up, alongside the Body Heat DJs.
Grab your free tickets here.
Find something to do in Manchester
Powered by 
The Italian spot doing 50% off their entire a la carte menu
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
