It can be tempting at the Manchester Christmas Markets to find one spot and stay in it, happily getting merry on beers and mulled wine – but you’ll be missing out on some of the amazing bars dotted around this year.
This year’s huge festive event has loads of great bars slotted in with the wooden huts selling gifts and festive food.
There are slushy cocktails, shimmering gins, and refreshing spritzes, as well as the usual Christmas drinks like mulled wine and Bailey’s hot chocolates.
The beauty of the markets too is that although they cover a massive chunk of the city centre, everything is within walking distance of each other.
So clear an afternoon in your diary, wrap up warm, and hit the Manchester Christmas Markets for the ultimate booze tour.
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The Windmill Bar, Winter Gardens
The Windmill Bar, Winter Gardens at the Manchester Christmas MarketsThe Windmill Bar, Winter Gardens at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Starting off strong with one of the Manchester Christmas Markets’ most iconic bars – the Windmill Bar.
This festive landmark is dominating Piccadilly Gardens (aka the Winter Gardens) this year.
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Grab yourself a pint of sweet cherry beer, or a classic mulled wine, to warm your cockles. It’s even got undercover, heated seating.
The Manchester Gin Bar, Winter Gardens
Gin fans unite – there’s a whole bar specialising in different flavours and perfect serves of the world’s best spirit.
The Manchester Gin Bar has sparkling Christmas cocktails like a Cranberry Fizz with prosecco and raspberry, and a whole menu of spritzes (because Aperol isn’t just for summer).
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Other flavours here include Parma Violet, blood orange, and plum vanilla.
Bar 3, New Cathedral Street
Bar 3 at the Manchester Christmas MarketsBar 3 at the Manchester Christmas Markets
This might be our favourite bar on the whole Manchester Christmas Markets, with great people-watching from all the shoppers walking along New Cathedral Street.
You can sip on shimmering pink prosecco cocktails with a view of the Corn Exchange.
And Bar 3’s fruity raspberry cider is an absolute must for everyone having gluhwein fatigue.
The Winter Bar, Cathedral Gardens
The Winter Bar at Cathedral Gardens at the Manchester Christmas MarketsThe Winter Bar at Cathedral Gardens at the Manchester Christmas Markets
The Cathedral Gardens site of the Manchester Christmas Markets may be the most family-friendly bit, thanks to its ice rink, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find a cracking bar here.
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The Winter Bar has loads of themed Christmas cocktails, including a fruity The Grinch and a creamy festive The Snowflake.
You’ll be surrounded by pretty twinkling lights and the sounds of happy shrieks from the ice rink here too – it’s like a cheesy Christmas film in the best way possible.
King Street Craft Bar, King Street
King Street Craft Bar
King Street is definitely one of the best spots on the Manchester Christmas Markets, home to some of the best food traders and loads of places to sit and take the weight off.
As well as loads of beers and wines at the King Street Craft Bar, you can dive in on surprisingly festive slushy cocktails.
Flavours include ‘The Grinch’ (made with vanilla vodka and a lemon-lime slush), ‘Mad Santa’ (pink gin and strawberry) and ‘Yellow Snow’ (limoncello, vanilla vodka, and lemon slush).
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The Grumpy Moose, King Street
The Grumpy Moose bar at the Manchester Christmas MarketsThe Grumpy Moose bar at the Manchester Christmas Markets
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a Baileys, and The Grumpy Moose on King Street has the most delicious boozy hot chocolates in town.
You can also get yourself a delicious gin cocktail, or an espresso martini to give you that final burst of energy to get back home again.
Where to eat on your way around the Manchester Christmas Markets
You do not want to tackle this brilliant booze tour without stopping for fuel on your way around.
So head to the Dirty Chicken Co on Piccadilly Gardens for some absolutely delicious loaded fries.
And if you can walk past the smell of toasted coconut wafting from Macaroons on Market Street without buying a whole tray, you’re a stronger person than we are…
A big Christmas sing-along concert with Alexander Armstrong and Aled Jones is coming to Manchester
Emily Sergeant
We know it’s only April, but brace yourselves… we’re about to talk about Christmas.
You are reading today’s date correctly, but whether you can believe it or not, this isn’t an April Fool, as it’s time to get ready to lift your voices and celebrate the festive season because The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long starring much-loved performers and presenters, Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong, is heading out on its debut UK tour later this year.
This heartwarming live experience is promising to be an ‘unforgettable’ evening of music, laughter, and Christmas cheer.
Performing in some of the most beautiful cathedrals and venues across the UK, when the concert arrives in Manchester in late November, it’ll be taking over the stunning Manchester Monastery.
On the night, Aled Jones – who is one of the UK’s most iconic voices – will perform some beloved highlights, including his signature rendition of ‘Walking in the Air’, alongside a selection of classic festive carols, and joining him on stage will be Alexander Armstrong, whose rich vocals and natural charm will bring ‘humour, warmth, and festive sparkle’ to every performance.
It may be Aled and Alexander’s show, but audiences are also being told to expect some special surprises along the way too.
As this is a sing-along event, audiences will be invited to put on their favourite Christmas jumper and join in with a joyful mix of traditional Christmas carols and modern festive favourites.
The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long – UK Tour Dates 2026
Tuesday 24 November – Llandudno Venue Cymru Theatre
Sunday 29 November – Manchester Monastery
Tuesday 1 December – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Wednesday 2 December – Durham Cathedral
Thursday 3 December – Bath Forum
Friday 4 December – Guildford G Live
Wednesday 9 December – Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Thursday 10 December – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Friday 11 December – York Barbican
Sunday 13 December – Edinburgh Queens Hall
Tuesday 15 December – Birmingham Town Hall
Sunday 20 December – Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion
Monday 21 December – London Union Chapel
The tour kicks off in Llandudno on 24 November and wraps up in London on 21 December – with a stop off here in Manchester on Sunday 29 November.
The Big Christmas Sing-a-Long is coming to Manchester Monastery on Sunday 29 November, and is expected to capture the true spirit of Christmas, offering a magical evening filled of festive cheer and uplifting songs that everyone can join in with.
Tickets go on general sale tomorrow (Thursday 2 April) at 9:30am, and you can get your hands on them when they go live here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Christmas
Massive festive event dubbed the ‘Glastonbury of Christmas’ is returning to the North West
Daisy Jackson
The North West’s most extravagant festive event, with everything from a frozen skating pond to a snow-covered world filled with elves, will return just outside Greater Manchester this winter.
Dubbed the ‘Glastonbury of Christmas’, LaplandUK recreates the home of Father Christmas himself right outside Greater Manchester.
The event was so popular last year, organisers are expecting more than one million people will join the queue for tickets when they go live this week – with tickets expected to sell out in hours.
Families who book tickets for LaplandUK – which range in price from £60 to £195 – will be greeted by hundreds of elves and other performers in a snow-covered landscape.
You’ll be able to visit the Lapland Toy Factory to make a toy for Santa’s sleigh; decorate gingerbead with Mother Christmas in the Lapland Bakery, as well as skating on a frozen pond and travelling through the Whispering Woods.
Every child leaves LaplandUK with a gift from Father Christmas.
The immersive experience takes around four and a half hours from start to finish, but the magic begins way before – ticket-holders are sent personalised invitation boxes (which you can pop in the freezer for extra magic for the kids).
LaplandUK has invested an additional £30m into its Cheshire site, which is the second location after a long-standing residency in Ascot.
Keeping this impressive festive event running are more than 2000 members of staff across the two sites.
It’s drawn in some very high-profile guests, too, with previous visitors including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Sir Elton John, and the Beckhams.
The Lapland experience is based on eight best-selling books, written by founders Mike and Alison Battle.
LaplandUK will run from 7 November to 24 December 2026, with tickets ranging from £60 to £195.
Tickets for LaplandUK Manchester go on sale from 10am on Friday 27 March HERE, with the waiting room open from 9am.
Daisy Jackson -
13th December 2023 
