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…
The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve, and what the song means
Daisy Jackson
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 2024.
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
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
Manchester city centre road closures confirmed for New Year’s Eve fireworks display
Emily Sergeant
A number of road closures have been confirmed as Manchester city centre prepares for its first New Year’s Eve fireworks display in three years.
The hustle and bustle of Christmas has died down, Boxing Day has been and gone, nobody has a clue what day it is currently, and we’re all just waiting for New Year’s Eve to arrive, and for 2024 to bring new beginnings and a fresh start.
In what is the first time since 2019, and post the COVID-19 pandemic and several accompanying lockdowns, Manchester city centre is gearing up to host a “spectacular” fireworks display that will “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new”.
Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited down to Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre this Sunday 31 December for the “fun-filled event” that’s free to attend.
Manchester city centre road closures have been confirmed for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display / Credit: Unsplash
Hosted in partnership wit Hits Radio, and kicking off from 10pm and running until the clock strikes midnight and beyond, you can expect a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee, a traditional time-to-hug-all-your-friends countdown to midnight, followed by a huge firework display to celebrate the start of the new year.
Capacity for the event is 10,000, and is being operated on a first-come first-served basis, the Council has confirmed.
The event is also alcohol-free, standing only with no seating – except for disability access points and dedicated viewing areas – and anyone attending is asked to limit the bags they bring with them to no bigger than A4 in size, as bag searches will be in operation.
There will be some temporary road closures for our New Year's Eve event on 31 December.
Affected roads include:
🚗Castle Street 🚗Duke Place 🚗Rice Street 🚗Liverpool Road 🚗Duke Street 🚗Beaufort Street 🚗Castle Street
The Council says that, in order to ensure “a safe and celebratory event for all”, security staff will be keeping a close eye on revellers to minimise any disruption and allow everyone to see in the new year together, while being mindful that this part of the city centre has a large residential population by making sure the event arena is promptly cleared after the fireworks display is finished.
To best accommodate the event and everyone attending, the following road closures and parking suspensions have been confirmed ahead of time.
Road Closures
Duke Place (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 1am
Rice Street (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 12:45am (resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
It’s the first fireworks display in the city centre since 2019 / Credit: Alex Jones (via Unsplash)
“We think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city, and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond,” explained Councillor Pat Karney, who is Manchester City Council’s Christmas and New Year spokesperson, as he confirmed the return of the annual new year tradition.
“Mancunians really are the best people in the world, and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us than spending it with those we love.”
Customer access to all businesses within the closures will be maintained on the night of New Year’s Eve (31 December), Manchester City Council has confirmed.
More information about the event, and road closures planned can be found on the Council website.
Daisy Jackson -
13th December 2023 
