10 new things to check out at the Manchester Christmas Markets for 2025

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.

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.

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

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.

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?!

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

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.

There’s also loaded roast potatoes here, including a portion topped with all sorts of traditional Christmas dinner trimmings.

Blitzen’s Brigade, Albert Square

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.

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.

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

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.

The smart new bar takes up a lot less pavement which means way more space for mingling over a gluhwein or three. Gorgeous.

Read more

• Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 – dates, locations, and essential information
• The best food and drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2025
• Cosy pubs near the Manchester Christmas Markets where you can avoid the madness

Featured image: The Manc Group