For the first time in a few years, the Manchester Christmas Markets have been given a big shake-up, with loads of new stuff tempting thousands of visitors into the city centre.
The most notable, of course, is the return of Albert Square to the Christmas Markets circuit, which hasn’t been used for the festivities since the Town Hall restoration began.
It may be a ‘mini’ Christmas Market, with the main hub still at Piccadilly Gardens, but it feels like the spiritual home of the event is back where it belongs.
Beyond that, the hundreds of wooden huts around town are home to new food traders, exciting new bars, and even a brand-new Giant Santa (though he does look awfully familiar…)
Have a read for 10 new things you can check out at the Manchester Christmas Markets in 2025.
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The big wheel, Albert Square
Albert Square’s return to the Manchester Christmas Markets is news enough in itself, but for the first time this year you can get way up above the festive celebrations.
A gigantic big wheel is currently standing proudly over Albert Square, with views across all the traders below as well as the rooftops of the city centre and the Manchester Town Hall itself.
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As well as that, there are other fairground rides like a helter skelter, carousel, and plenty more.
A new Giant Santa, St Peter’s Square
Zippy, Manchester’s favourite Giant Santa, has made a surprise return
Manchester’s legendary Giant Santa sculpture is back – but you might be surprised to see the bearded fella who’s appeared this year.
Yep, that haunting blue gaze does indeed belong to Zippy, the beloved figure who ruled over Albert Square all the way up until 2018.
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This fat lad is officially back in town for another festive season (it’s actually Zippy 2.0, but close enough) and he’s SO bright. Like get your sunglasses ready, because when we say Zippy’s had a glow up, we actually mean he’s lit up with 20,000 LEDs.
Toast-your-own marshmallows, Albert Square
Why has no one done this at the Manchester Christmas Markets before?!
Right in the middle of Albert Square you’ll now find a stand with a roaring campfire in the middle.
You can buy a gigantic skewer of marshmallows, then toast them slowly over the fire for a melty, gooey, nostalgic sweet treat to walk around with.
Feuerzangenbowle (Flaming cocktails), St Ann’s Square
What could possibly be better than a mulled wine at the Manchester Christmas Markets? How about a mulled wine on FIRE?!
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Feuerzangenbowle loosely translates to ‘fire-tong punch’ and is a traditional German alcoholic drink, where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips down into the mulled wine.
Ordering one of these at the Manchester Christmas Markets is a real theatrical moment.
Goulash in a bread bowl, Piccadilly Gardens
Austrian goulash in a bread bowlThe best food and drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets
There’s loads of new food and drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets this year (you can see 10 of them here), but this is the one that immediately caught our eye.
Anyone who’s skied in Austria or visited in the winter will know that goulash is the ultimate winter warmer dinner.
Now imagine that, but instead of a bowl, it’s served inside a hollowed-out bread loaf. Hell yeah.
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There’s also loaded roast potatoes here, including a portion topped with all sorts of traditional Christmas dinner trimmings.
Blitzen’s Brigade, Albert Square
The Blitzen’s Brigade fire engine bar
That fire engine in the middle of Albert Square? The only fires it’s fighting is your desperate craving for a lager.
This brand-new bar in a converted fire engine is serving Reinbeer, Brew-dolph IPA, and prosecco from its main bar in the side of the vehicle.
Then if you head up towards the driver’s cab you can find the mulled wine and hot chocolate window.
Hong Kong French Toast, King Street
This seems to be the food trader that’s caught everyone’s attention this year – and it’s not hard to see why.
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Thick, fluffy white bread is layered with fillings like peanut butter, Nutella, and pistachio cream, before being dipped in egg batter and deep-fried.
They’re then topped with things like condensed milk and miniature pats of butter for the ultimate indulgence that’s worth being on the naughty list for.
Rita’s Reign, Albert Square
This is a spot that’s far-from new to Manchester – Rita’s Reign is one of the best-loved street food operators in the North West and trades from Piccadilly Markets all year round.
But for the first time, they’ve made it onto the Manchester Christmas Markets, with a new colourful trailer serving festive twists on their legendary Afro-Caribbean boxes.
Expect boneless Jerk chicken, curry goat, and vegan bowls, all served with that sunny Rita’s Reign service.
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Roasted Chestnuts, Albert Square
‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ except this, to our knowledge, has never actually been a thing at the Manchester Christmas Markets?!
Well, it is now, and it’s all happening in a delightfully vintage cart lit up with 1920s-esque lightbulbs, where the team here gently toast chestnuts before your very eyes.
It’s handily positioned right at the entrance to Albert Square too, so your festive Spidey senses can get tingling before you’ve even got into the main market.
New bars on King Street
The smart new bar on King Street at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Last but not least, you may notice on your travels that the Manchester Christmas Markets on King Street are looking rather lovely.
That’s largely in part to the brand-new Float bar, which splits into two around a large, covered seating area.
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The smart new bar takes up a lot less pavement which means way more space for mingling over a gluhwein or three. Gorgeous.
Alternative Christmas Markets to visit around Greater Manchester in 2025
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Christmas Markets are in full swing, and despite having a new layout this year and a few brilliant new traders, they are kinda the same as always.
So if you’re seeking out something a bit different for your festive day out, Christmas shopping, or even dinner, there are a few alternative markets to try this winter.
From a brand-new event where street food traders centre around a flaming mulled wine bar, to one of the region’s best-loved weekend markets that now has a festive twist, there’s absolutely loads going on.
These spots are a great place to discover new local businesses, buy something from an independent creator, and fill your cup with festive cheer too.
So if you’ve had your fill of Piccadilly Gardens, King Street and Albert Square, get your skates on and try these alternative Christmas markets around Greater Manchester instead.
Down in the St John’s district, beneath a 200-capacity heated stretch tent, you’ll find all sorts of independent food and drink, and even a Christmas tree shop.
Christmas at St John’s is curated and operated by GRUB – and if you love to spend your spare time in a market setting, you’ll already know you couldn’t be in more trustworthy hands than this.
At the centre of everything is a Feuerzangenbowle bar, serving flaming mulled wines, with pop-ups from resident favourites like Trading Route and Stables Tavern as well as Good Wines and Verdant brewery.
And as for the food, you’ll find traders like V Goode Pies, Bab Korean, and Spuds Bros.
There’s a brand-new feasting hub on the waterfront at Salford Quays this year, and again, it’s the award-winning GRUB at the helm.
GRUB On The Docks: Christmas Takeover is transforming the On The Docks site into a cosy Christmas market, with great food, winter drinks, festive entertainment, community-led experiences, and even a mini Christmas market.
The core trader lineup includes local favourites like CAFF, Above and Beyond, Baby Mayhem, and Wholesome Junkies.
Christmas is here at Circle Square
Circle Square is a great spot to visit for an alternative to the main Manchester Christmas Market. Credit: Studio Vertigo
Over at Circle Square just off Oxford Road, you’ll find a vibrant winter wonderland has overtaken this new neighbourhood, with loads of events going on (and the beauty of this vs the Christmas Markets is that they’re all indoors…).
There’s a festive paint and sip event at Hello Oriental (10 December), Christmas chocolate making with cocktails at North Bar (17 December), and a gingerbread decorating workshop at Tsujiri (13 December).
Then all the businesses that call this area home will have festive specials on, like a festive feast pizza at Taphouse, mince pie danishes at Half Dozen Other, and more from Onda, Meatworks, Detroit Slims, Monkey Trio and Federal.
The North’s largest indoor and outdoor winter festival is now open at @Freight Island ✨ Twilight Tales is a new immersive light and story experience in the garden, and inside, Winter Island has taken over with festive food to enjoy. 🎄 #manchester#christmas#thingstodoinmanchester#christmastime#manc
Winter Island has returned to Freight Island, the enormous street food and events space just near Manchester Piccadilly – and there’s a brand-new light trail here too.
Twilight Tales has taken over the heated courtyard, filling it with a twinkling Christmas tree forest and other glowing installations and promising to be the most financially accessible Christmas experience with tickets from only £5.
Beyond that, you’ll find loads of new food inside Winter Island, including V. Goode Pies.
The Makers Market
The Makers Markets are one of the most long running and popular marketplace events in Greater Manchester, taking place in a different neighbourhood every single weekend.
These beloved markets have naturally taken a festive twist as Christmas draws closer with masses of traders selling all kinds of seasonal gifts, food and drink.
Before Christmas actually arrives, you’ll still find some Xmas markets from these guys, including at Quayside, plus less Christmas-focused markets in areas like the Northern Quarter, Prestwich, Sale, Chorlton and West Didsbury.
Why should your dog miss out on all the festive action, when there’s an alternative Christmas Market created especially for them?
Bruce’s Doggy Day Care in Lymm is bringing the ultimate Christmas market to Cheshire, in support of Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home.
You’ll find a Santa Paws the Grotto where dogs can meet Santa and get a treat, explore Bruce’s Elf Trail, and check out a series of arts, craft and gift opportunities including artisan gifts for dog parents.
And both you and four-legged friend can warm up afterwards with puppacinos and mulled wine.
New survey reveals Britain’s ULTIMATE Christmas dinner combo – including ‘surprising’ sides
Emily Sergeant
A new survey of the British public has revealed what our ultimate Christmas dinner combination is, including some very surprising sides.
With December now well underway and the festive feasting season already thriving, it won’t be long until the big day is here and lots of Brits sit down to tuck into the heartiest meal they’ll likely have all year – their Christmas dinner, of course.
But do we all like to eat the same things? Apparently not.
You may remember that a survey conducted a couple of years back found that a good chunk of Brits would prefer to eat a curry over a traditional Christmas dinner, but now, a big new survey by YouGov has revealed what the nation’s ultimate Christmas dinner combination would be in the year 2025 – all the way from mains, to sides, to dessert.
A new survey has revealed Britain’s ultimate Christmas dinner combo / Credit: PickPic | Pxhere
When it comes to mains, it’s no surprise (or maybe it is?) that turkey still rules the roost at the Christmas dinner table, with 57% of Brits having it as part of their main meal.
On the other hand though, chicken or beef are not uncommon, with just under a quarter (24%) having either as part of their Christmas dinner, while one in seven(15%) tuck into some Christmas ham, and 10% of festive dinner tables feature other joints of pork.
Vegetarian or vegan alternatives, such as the ever-popular nut roasts, were found to feature on the Christmas dinner table for 13% of Brits.
When it comes to sides, it really is no surprise this time that roast potatoes and gravy take the crown, with around eight in 10 Brits (79-81%) accompanying their roasts with the duo.
Everything from mains, to sides, to desserts are on the menu / Credit: Realmac Software (via Unsplash)
Carrots will be on the table at 76% of Christmas dinners, while just over two thirds (70%) will feature stuffing, pigs in blankets, or Brussels sprouts, 62% typically have parsnips, and half (49%) add Yorkshire puddings to their plate.
Roughly four in 10 (40-42%) include cranberry sauce or broccoli, and 51% of us lot in the North will include mashed potatoes in the mix too.
Surprisingly, 16% add bread sauce to their plate, and 5% even opt for potato dauphinoise.
Ready to chat sweet treats? When it comes to dessert to finish things off, traditional classics like Christmas pudding (41%) and mince pies (31%) come out on top, but a little lower down the list you’ll also find trifle (18%), sticky toffee pudding (9%), and even stollen (5%).
On the flip side though, the survey also found that a traditional roast dinner doesn’t feature in everyone’s festive seasons, with 7% of Brits saying they have something else as their main meal on Christmas Day.
Daisy Jackson -
13th November 2025 
