Manchester Christmas Markets: Everything you need to know as full details released

As the opening date for the Manchester Christmas Markets looms ever closer, Manchester City Council has unveiled the full list of traders and locations for this year’s festivities.

From November 10th, the Christmas Markets will once again be transforming Piccadilly Gardens into the Winter Gardens, with over 220 stalls confirmed to be opening at the usual locations of Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange, and King Street. 

The council has also confirmed the return of the magical Manchester Christmas lights trail, which will illuminate the city centre throughout the festive season with its walk-through giant baubles, light arches and a Manchester bee. 

And the iconic Big Santa will be making a return to the Central Library at St. Peter’s Square, where he will be keeping an eye on all things Christmas in Manchester from his perch atop of the library.

Here’s the full rundown of what to expect at this year’s Christmas markets:

Winter Gardens

Piccadilly Gardens will once again be transformed into the Winter Gardens, which the council has promised to be ‘bigger and better’ than ever before.

On the food and drink side of things, the Winter Gardens will serve up the likes of pancakes, churros, cookie dough, vegan bratwursts, Korean hotdogs, pork barms, and Amsterdam Frites. There will also be an array of winter tipples and a selection of continental and foreign ales. 

There will also be dedicated weekly trial spots for new local traders as they step into winter trading and try out their wares on the Christmas market crowds.  

And brand new for this year, the Winter Gardens will host a giant Nordic-themed double tipi bar, which will be fully heated, and festooned with ambient lighting, wooden benches, fake furs, and a roaring fire pit.

There will be live music and entertainment within the tipi bar most nights, making it the perfect spot to spread some Christmas cheer throughout the whole week.

St. Ann’s Square and Exchange Street

St. Ann’s Square – which is actually the original site for Manchester’s Christmas markets – will be returning with its large undercover bar providing German beers and warm cherry Gluhwein, all of which will keep Christmas revellers warm and merry throughout the winter season.

St. Ann’s Square and Exchange Street will also host a number of local traders, including Yard and Coop with their salt and pepper chicken fries and Manc and Proud, who will be serving up Mancunian themed treats, plus continental chocolates, English cheeses, and art emporiums. 

Market Street

A firm favourite with Christmas shoppers, Market Street will be home to stalls selling a wide range of gifts from a whole host of amazing crafters and producers. Customers will be able to get everything from tweed hats, spiced rum and Christmas decorations, to candles, jewellery, and gift sets of cheese truckles. 

King Street

Home to some of the best food in Manchester, the Christmas deli stalls on King Street will once again take foodies on a world tour of some of the best loved dishes on the planet, ranging from Italian cannelloni and arancini, Greek gyros, halloumi fries, French garlic mushrooms and even Salford Rum.

And new for 2022, middle eastern restaurant Habas will be bringing their middle eastern menu and seating area to King Street- great for those wanting to eat their way round the world!  

New Cathedral Street

New Cathedral Street will boast a range of stalls selling high-end gifts including fine-cast ornaments, old fashioned liquorice, handmade cocktails for home, and light up Christmas decorations.

There will also be a number of tasty food stalls offering everything ranging from vegan five bean chilli to New York Bagels. These can then be washed down by one of cosmopolitan Bar 3’s famous smoking cocktails. 

Additionally, the famous Witch House will be making its grand return to New Cathedral Street armed with its traditional steins and mouth-watering currywursts. 

Exchange Square 

Market-goers will be able to warm up at the beloved Mill Exchange bar, who will be bringing back their special Mancunian mulled wine.

2022 also sees the return of the famous Porky Pig’s Yorkshire Pudding Wrap, alongside stalls selling hot curries, German kebabs, gourmet Italian pizza mini pancakes and fresh fudge.

The Corn Exchange

Nestled between Manchester’s historic Corn Exchange building and Shambles Square, visitors can expect to find unique fairtrade hats and jackets, character themed hats and belts, as well as handmade pies, cupcakes and soaps. 

Cathedral Gardens

The much-loved undercover ice rink Skate MCR has opened just in time for the half term and Halloween. There is live entertainement on from Thursday to Sunday each week, all the way through to New Year’s Eve.

Next to the ice rink, hot food, warm drinks, pancakes and tipples will be on offer from nearby market stalls to help warm up cold hands and feet after a skate on the ice.     

Councillor Pat Karney, lead councillor for Christmas at Manchester City Council, said: “Christmas is looking better than ever this year in Manchester with our world-beating Christmas markets set to open in four weeks’ time, and a whole host of other unmissable free festive treats also coming our way. 

 “Everyone knows that Manchester does Christmas better than anywhere else and I’ve been counting down the days to the opening of our Christmas markets again since the day they closed last year.   

 “We’ve got some fantastic new festive additions to the markets this year, as well as some other soon-to-be announced unmissable festive surprises which are set to get everyone in Manchester smiling in the run-up to Christmas. More announcements on this very soon – I can’t wait!” 

The Christmas markets will open on Thursday 10 November and will close on Thursday 22 December.