Christmas

Alternative Christmas Markets you need to visit in Manchester this year

Rounding off my Christmas list as we speak.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 5th December 2024

There are a variety of alternative Christmas Markets happening in Manchester where you can bag yourself even more festive goodies.

If you thought Manchester couldn’t be anymore festive than it already is then think again, because this city has even more yuletide activities taking place this year than ever before.

And the good news is that some of them are much smaller, quieter and more intimate than the madness that is the main Manchester Christmas Markets.

Venture outside your usual wooden huts and show your support for all the different Alternative Christmas Markets popping up around the city this December.

Alternative Christmas Markets in Manchester

Manchester Made Market at Deansgate Square

Manchester Made at Deansgate Square is an alternative Christmas Market in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Manchester Made at Deansgate Square is an alternative Christmas Market in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

In the shadows of the Deansgate Square skyscrapers, a cosy and magical Christmas night market will take shape, filled with twinkling Christmas trees, food, drink, live music, and even a grotto.

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More than 40 artisanal traders and small businesses will take part over the three-day event, selling food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.

Highlights include a 20-piece choir, Gooey sweet treats, a Wild Grill experience plus German sausages from Millington Hall Farm, a Christmas tipi, and a Santa’s Grotto.

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4pm to 9pm on Friday 6 December; 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December | Tickets are free but you can pre-book HERE.

The Night Market UK at Fairfield Social Club 

Alternative Christmas Markets in Manchester / Credit: Joel Chester
People gathering to celebrate the festive season at Fairfield Social Club.
Alternative Christmas Markets in Manchester / Credit: Joel Chester
Some of the stalls you can expect to see at The Night Market UK.
Credit: Joel Chester via supplied

Bordering on Angel Meadows Park and only a short stroll from Manchester Victoria, Fairfield Social Club are hosting a dusk to nighttime event that is the gift that keeps on giving.

‘Shopping chores’ are about to become ‘shopping cheers’ as 50 local makers, bakers and shakers are about to tempt you with their irresistible treats.

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There’s standouts like Killa Carbs and FSC Garden Kitchen for your mind and body, with live music from DJs for your soul.

4pm to 11pm on Saturday 7 December | Tickets are £4 or there’s a two-ticket deal for £7 HERE.

Winter Assembly at Courts Club

This one’s less about shopping and more about Christmas Markets vibes – St John’s tennis court venue has been transformed into a winter wonderland, swapping green lawns for an ice blue rink.

There’s marshmallow roasting, a street-food truck and an open-air cinema where you can watch festive faves like ‘The Grinch’.

While taking in all your surroundings why not sip on a luxury hot chocolate with flavours spanning from honeycomb to chocolate orange.

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8am til late Monday to Friday throughout December; 12pm til late Saturday and Sunday | No tickets required.

Makers Market (across various locations)

Makers Market run a variety of events across Greater Manchester.w
An insight into the stalls on the day at Makers Market.
Makers Market run a variety of events across Greater Manchester.
Smiles all around at the Northern Quarter pop-up.
Makers Market run a variety of events across Greater Manchester.
One of the many intricate gifts you can buy at Makers Market.
Credit: Supplied

The Makers Market is a staple in Northern Quarter with a recurring visit the second Sunday of each month, and December is no different.

These independent artisan creators are working just as hard as Santa’s Elves to bring the best handcrafted gifts to West Didsbury, Sale and Quayside.

Not limited to Manchester, for those wanting to have a mini Christmas excursion, there’s stalls running every weekend up until the big day in Chester too.

11am to 5pm on Sunday 8 December (Northern Quarter) | No tickets required, more locations HERE.

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Victorian Christmas Market in Stockport

One of the stalls at Merseyway Christmas Markets.
Nutella Cafe at Merseyway, ran by the same company.
Elf on the Shelf is popping up around Stockport Christmas Markets.
That cheeky Elf on the Shelf is even making an appearance.
Credit: Matthew Nichol via supplied / Supplied

Live your Dickens dream this winter as Stockport are putting a Victorian twist on the usual Christmas Market experience to make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Enjoy fairground rides and food as well as a live choir to soundtrack and enhance your journey through these vintage huts.

Show off to all your friends about your time here with the on-site family Christmas picture area and enjoy some nutella covered treats. The chocolatey goodness may not have been around back then, but we can’t go a day without that gorgeous spread.

9am to 4pm Saturday 7 December | No tickets required.

Melanin Markets: Winter Wonders at The Royal Exchange

Mélange Dolls at the Melanin Markets in Manchester.
Those ever-so-cute Mélange Dolls at Melanin Markets in Manchester.
Artwork at the Melanin Markets in Manchester.
Black creatives will be setting up stalls selling a variety of products including artwork like this.

This annual event is the largest festive celebration of Black-owned businesses and this time it’s residing at The Royal Exchange with a variation of vendors on hand to help you find your next cherished item.

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The name of this event may be frosty, but you’ll be nothing but warm as you soak up the live music covering everything from blues to reggae.

Esteemed traders Mélange Dolls will be selling toys that reflect the diversity of mixed-race and ethnic heritage children and CalyxDrinks will be selling some thirst-quenching Vegan beverages.

12pm to 5pm on Sunday 8 December | Tickets are free but you can pre-book HERE.

Winterhood at Diecast

This 250,000 square foot site has had a full Christmas transformation with the Tinsel Town Trailer Park, Club Leno and Brooklyn Beer Hall.

Mulled wine has some competition from the new festive spirit champ, mulled negroni, but there’s also cookie crumble hot chocolates on offer too, yum!

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There’s karaoke parties, fire pits, clubbing, steins and lots lots more, as Diecast has really decked the halls this year.

13 November to 31 December | Walk-ins welcome however book in advance to guarentee your table HERE.

FREE Santa’s Grotto at Bury The Rock

Christmas can be a costly feat however, Bury has got you covered with their free Santa’s Grotto running throughout December and everyday from 16 December til the lead up to Christmas.

Kids who visit the Grotto get to meet the big fat man with the long white beard when he stays in town for the month.

Although the Grotto is free, there are a handful of stalls surrounding this cosy cabin selling various sweet treats and kid-friendly attractions.

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Every weekend leading up to Christmas, everyday from 16 December to 24 December | No tickets required, opening times vary HERE.

The Winter Village at Cheshire Oaks

These Christmas super fans started their celebrations off all the way back in November , so it’s no surprise they find themselves featured in this Alternative Christmas Market rundown.

From their giant-sized tree to their fairground attractions like the helter-skelter, Cheshire Oaks is flying the Christmas flag high for the North West.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image: Supplied

Christmas

Gavin and Stacey Christmas special on course to break UK TV viewing figures record

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gavin and Stacey Christmas special breaks record for UK TV viewing figures

Gavin and Stacey is set to break yet another TV record as this year’s Christmas special and definitive series finale has become one of the UK’s most-watched scripted shows ever.

The iconic British comedy returned after a long hiatus to finally conclude the series with its first new episode in five years.

Delighting die-hard fans and comedy fans in general all over the country, millions tuned in to watch the last-ever Gavin and Stacey chapter – over 19 million, in fact.

With 12.3m watching the finale on Christmas Day alone and even more in the week following, the tally has now reached approximately 19.3m and counting.

Not only did this smash their own previous record of more than 18m set by the last Christmas special back in 2019 but it is well on course to cruise past the 20m mark when the official seven-day viewing figures are released, which is standard practice for assessing final ratings and viewing figures in the UK.

Almost a quarter of the viewers who helped achieve the feat were aged 16-34 as well, making it the largest young audience ever, according to the BBC.

The emotional reunion of the beloved cast looks set to see them surpass Coronation Street‘s record of 19.4m set in 2003 and could even see them beat the legendary British sitcom, Only Fools & Horses, which saw 21.3m viewers gather around the box for their 2001 Christmas day episode.

So, although the BBC states that it is the “most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002”, it still technically has a little way to go in order to match/surpass the biggest-ever tally.

That being said, when factoring in the stats from all live views and digital streams, the final numbers should see them over the line.

Regardless of whatever seven or indeed 28-day figure they end up on, co-creators, writers and stars James Corden and Ruth Jones have been blown away by the success of the one-off comeback.

Writing by way of recognition and as a thank you to the fans, they said: “We are completely overwhelmed by the audience response to our show and to these astonishing viewing figures.

“Gavin & Stacey really does belong to the audience and we are beyond thrilled that so many people enjoyed watching it this Christmas. A huge thank you to Charlotte Moore and the BBC for backing us these past 17 years.”

The ratings and overall reaction to the show have also been overwhelmingly positive, with millions tearing up over the long-awaited storyline – even if some of those watching pointed out one little problem…

Viewers find just ONE flaw with ‘perfect’ Gavin and Stacey finale
It got five stars pretty much across the board.

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Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, went on to add: “The numbers are truly outstanding, unprecedented even! It’s the show the entire nation has been talking about over the last week so it’s no surprise that it’s not only smashed its own record but has become the UK’s biggest scripted show.

“Ruth and James’ creation is a true homegrown success story, and their finale is a comedy masterpiece. It’s made us laugh and cry together in a way that only Gavin & Stacey can.”

The final viewership for the 2024 special will be published on Monday, 6 January and take into account viewings across all platforms up to Thursday, 2 Jan – they already look destined for another entry in the history books.

What did you make of the finale – did it live up to the hype and, more importantly, where does it rank in terms of the best British Christmas TV specials of all time?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC

Christmas

The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve, and what the song means

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The lyrics to New Year's Eve song Auld Lang Syne

The clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the confetti is thrown, the kisses are exchanged, and then up starts Auld Lang Syne and you realise, once again, that you don’t know the lyrics to the iconic song.

This classic song is traditionally sung as we welcome in a new year, but you may (like us) find yourself singing the words as ‘dah daaah dah dah daaah dah dah, dah dah daaah dah Auld Lang Syne.”

Well it’s time to stop that behaviour and learn yourselves the Auld Lang Syne lyrics, quick time, before we hit 2025.

The text of the song is actually from a Robert Burns poem, penned way back in 1788 and based on an old Scottish folk song.

It was set to a tune a decade later, and since then has been recorded by dozens of different artists.

Auld Lang Syne can loosely translate as ‘old long since’, or ‘days gone by’ or ‘old times’.

So its meaning roughly is ‘for the sale of old times’.

There are longer versions of the song, but the lyrics to the most commonly-played version of Auld Lang Syne are below.

So hold hands with your loved ones, crack open the champers, and ring in a very happy new year.

What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne?

Fireworks on New Year's Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

And surely you will buy your cup
And surely I’ll buy mine!
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

We two have paddled in the stream
From morning sun till night
The seas between us Lord and swell
Since the days of auld lang syne

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
For the sake of auld lang syne?

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

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Featured image: Unsplash

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