An Italian Christmas market with tipis and a fire pit is opening in Manchester
Italian restaurant Salvi's is launching a Christmas Market at Deansgate Square in November. The market will feature two tipis, four festive huts, and loads of food and drink.
An Italian take on a Christmas Market is heading to Deansgate Square in Manchester city centre.
With two tipis and four festive huts, plus a fire pit, workshops, and live entertainment, the new winter hub comes from beloved Italian restaurant Salvi’s.
The Italian Christmas Market will take shape at the foot of Manchester city centre’s giant skyscraper neighbourhood from November 27.
Salvi’s will be opening a new permanent site at Deansgate Square in the new year, but in the meantime, visitors to the market will be able to feast on authentic Italian food and drink, like sweet and savoury takes on soffietti (fried doughballs).
Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco has created the Italian Christmas Market. Credit: Supplied.
Italian drinks legends Aperol, Campari and Peroni will all run their own bars on site, whipping up warming tipi tipples.
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Expect hot mulled negronis (£8, made with Campari, red wine, sweet vermouth, gin, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange), Aperol Spritzes (£8), and Italian mulled wine (£6).
There will also be other twists on the classic negroni cocktail, like a fig negroni (£8), a hazelnut negroni (£8), and a negroni sbagliato (£8) which is topped with prosecco.
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A ‘Vin Brule’ – the Italian version of a mulled wine. Credit: Supplied.
The Italian Winter Market will also include traditional Italian soft drinks like Crodino, Chinotto and Cedrata, plus house wines, prosecco, and – of course – limoncello.
The other tipi bar will be manned by Peroni, serving their lager on draft (£4.50) and their alcohol-free Peroni Libre.
During the market’s run, the tipi will host occasional Peroni and Pizza parties.
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You’ll be able to pick up gift hampers from the festive huts at the market. Credit: Supplied.
As well as that, visitors will be able to get stuck in with tiramisu or panettone-making workshops.
One of the four festive huts will be a grotto of Salvi’s produce, where you can pick up top-quality Italian produce like pasta sauces, cheese, oils and meats, plus gifts like aprons and hampers.
The whole thing will be soundtracked by a programme of DJs (every Friday and Sunday), live music (every Thursday and Sunday) and live entertainment.
Salvi’s will put on some entertainment and events for children too, and people can borrow blankets to sit around the fire pit.
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Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco said: “We are so excited to be involved in the Christmas market at Deansgate Square; with our new venue opening there in early 2022 we want to create an authentic Italian festive wonderland for customers old and new.
“Come along for food, drinks, dancing, or just a chat if you’re passing… the Salvi’s door is always open.”
The Salvi’s Italian Christmas Market will be open in Manchester from November 27 to December 22. Head over here to discover all things Christmas in Manchester this year.
Feature image: Supplied / Wikimedia Commons
Food & Drink
Lavish Spanish restaurant backed by Pep Guardiola announces shock closure
Daisy Jackson
Tast, the luxury Spanish restaurant in Manchester that was launched with the backing of Pep Guardiola, has announced its sudden closure.
The beautiful restaurant in King Street, led by acclaimed executive chef Paco Pérez, said that it’s taken the ‘difficult decision’ to close the doors for the ‘very last time’ this week.
Tast opened back in the summer of 2018, taking over the site that was previously home to restaurants like Quill and Suri.
It had a much better run of things than those previous occupiers, thanks to its menu of Catalan-style rice dishes and traditional but refined tapas.
Sadly, Tast Cuina Catalana has now decided that it’s reached the end of the road, and will be closing its doors for good on Saturday 20 December.
They cited a number of factors leading to the closure, including ‘exceptionally challenging trading conditions’ and ‘increased costs’, stressing that the restaurant’s ‘shareholders and the dedication of our team’ have seen the restaurant through the last seven years.
Tast wrote in a statement: “We are proud to have been able to share some of Catalunya, our beloved country, with the people of Manchester.
Tast will close for good on 20 DecemberTast on King Street launched in 2018 with backing from Pep Guardiola
“Between now and our final service on 20 December, we look forward to welcoming you and celebrating what Tast has always been about: great food, great people and memorable moments shared around the table.”
Other restaurant owners in Manchester have been sharing their messages of support with Tast, including Beeswing, who wrote: “This is so sad to read. Such lovely food and thoughtful service — a real reflection of how hard things are for hospitality right now. Manchester will miss you.”
Mary-Ellen McTague, the renowned chef at Pip, said: “Really sad news! Sorry to hear it.”
Tasts’s full statement reads: “After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close Tast’s doors for the very last time on 20 December 2025.
“Tast has been built on the passion, talent and commitment of an exceptional team, and we want to begin by thanking every single person who has worked with us over the years. Your creativity, care and professionalism have been the heart of Tast.
“To our loyal customers: thank you for choosing to dine with us, celebrate with us and support us. Your belief in Tast has kept us alive for seven years and it has been a privilege to welcome you through our doors.
“We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our suppliers, producers and partners. Your quality, reliability and collaboration have played a vital role in shaping what Tast stands for.
“Like many in the hospitality sector, we have faced exceptionally challenging trading conditions and increased costs. But the unwavering support of our shareholders and the dedication of our team have seen us through these past seven years.
“Above all, we are proud to have been able to share some of Catalunya, our beloved country, with the people of Manchester.
“Between now and our final service on 20 December, we look forward to welcoming you and celebrating what Tast has always been about: great food, great people and memorable moments shared around the table.
“Thank you for being part of our journey. With gratitude, Tast Team.”
Anyone with vouchers to dine at Tast will be automatically refunded if they can’t be spent in the next few days.
Tast will officially close on Saturday 20 December.
Inside Mollie’s Motel and Diner in Manchester as beautiful new hotel opens with rooms from just £109
Daisy Jackson
Mollie’s Motel & Diner has arrived in Manchester, with beautiful hotel rooms from just £109 plus a retro diner serving American classics.
The space has taken over five floors of the iconic Old Granada Studios down at St John’s, with interior design that celebrates the building’s history.
Mid-century modern details like dark woods, textured upholstery, and retro lamps abound in this stylish new opening for Manchester.
Soho House Design has worked on the build of Mollie’s Motel to preserve the modernist facade of Old Granada Studios and make playful nods to the building’s vibrant history.
This is particularly obvious downstairs in Studio IV, a cocktail bar with a live music stage, where vintage TVs have been inserted over the bar and guests sink into plush couches for pre-dinner drinks.
You can already check out Mollie’s Diner, which is open now (with a decent discount for its launch – more on that below), with the Mollie’s Motel bedrooms set to launch early 2026.
The hotel rooms at Mollie’s Motel Manchester
A bunk room at Mollie’s Motel ManchesterA Mollie’s Motel suiteAnd a tub with a viewThe bedrooms are all beautifully designed
Hotel rooms at Mollie’s Manchester start from an incredibly reasonable £109, with different size and spec bedrooms and suites for guests.
There are cosy bunk rooms where up to four guests can tuck into their own bunk pods, suites that have their own Peleton room, and cosy double bedrooms with gorgeous views of the southern side of the city.
Regardless of the level (or price) of your chosen room, you’ll have the same design detailing (dark wood panelling, terrazzo and aged brass finishes), plus rainshowers, a super king bed, Dyson hairdryers, GHD straighteners and Cowshed toiletries.
Mollie’s Diner in Manchester
Mollie’s Diner is open nowBreakfast dishes at Mollie’s DinerBurgers and fried chicken at Mollie’s DinerClassic thick milkshakes
The diner space itself looks like it’s been lifted straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with deep burgundy leather banquettes, counter seating, and globe pendant lights.
It’s all been inspired by the interior of a vintage Cadillac, and has space to 110 diners plus private dining for 30.
As for food and drink, you can expect everything from waffles and French toast to huge burgers and steaks, with thick milkshakes to wash it down.
You can get 50% off food if you book Mollie’s Diner HERE.
The rest of the spaces in Mollie’s Motel & Diner, Manchester
Studio IV cocktail barStudio IV cocktail barThe library snug
As you enter this reimagined building, you’re plunged straight into its design-led vision, with couches and cosy corners everywhere.
The communal reception space has a library snug, coffee counter, and beautiful bar, but you head downstairs you’ll find the real treat – Studio IV.
This beautiful bar is built around a magnificent central bar, with retro TV screens above it and scalloped leather bar stools surrounding it.
There’s a mid-century-era stage, too, which will host live entertainment to a crowd gathered on couches before it.
You can get 25% off signature cocktails in Studio IV if you pre-book HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
19th November 2021 
