There’s no escaping the Christmas spirit around Manchester these days, with baubles and twinkly lights and tinsel practically bursting out of buildings all over town.
With Christmas right around the corner, local restaurants, shops, bars and hotels have wheeled out their decorations, and they’re taking it very seriously indeed.
Artistic installations are now wrapped around doorways and spilling off windowsills all over the city centre.
From Rosso’s legendary decorations to fairytale characters, there are loads of stunning displays to admire in Manchester this year.
You can watch our video tour here or keep reading for all you need to know.
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And if you’re feeling festive, you can turn the whole thing into a pub crawl. Because why not.
Selfridges
You really need to see the Selfridges decorations in the flesh to get the full impact of the effort that’s gone in here.
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Channeling a seriously disco Christmas, they’ve erected a huge gold mirrored wall around the entrance that shifts and shimmers in the wind, as well as a tree made out of felt brussels sprouts.
Grab a drink at…
Sinclair’s Oyster bar, the legendary local boozer still serving some of the cheapest pints in Manchester.
Royal Exchange Arcade
It’s not just a pretty display at the Royal Exchange this year – it’s also got a big social community impact.
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Local school children and communities were invited to make decorations for the trees that line the arcade, to raise awareness and funds for Manchester’s homeless as part of the Baubles 4 Beds campaign.
Grab a drink at…
Corbieres, an underground wine bar with a great jukebox that’s been a staple of Manchester’s bar scene for as long as we can remember.
Stock Exchange Hotel
Gary Neville’s luxury hotel in the centre of Manchester, regularly voted as one of the best in the world, has a suitably lavish Christmas vibe going on.
Thousands of tiny red berries, plus pine branches sprayed gold and shimmering red baubles, have been installed around its historic entrance.
Grab a drink at…
Sterling, the bar based in a bank vault beneath the hotel. It’s operated by the renowned bartender brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield, who are also set to take over the restaurant space next year.
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Hotel Gotham
Five-star Hotel Gotham has easily one of the most creative displays we’ve seen this year, with huge toy soldiers standing watch on either side of the door.
They’re surrounded by pink and gold baubles and tonnes of foliage too.
Grab a drink at…
Blinker, the cocktail bar that’s made it into the UK’s 50 Best just six months after opening. You’ll find an entire menu of old fashioneds and another of martinis.
Rosso
Rosso’s prominent position at the very top of King Street means that there’s a lot of pressure on it to look fabulous and festive.
They’ve nailed it once again this year, covering the entire building in fairy lights and crafting a gigantic tree-shaped installation into the wall. Amazing.
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Grab a drink at…
Mr Thomas’s Chop House, the historic and very cosy pub on Cross Street which will lead you neatly on to our next stop.
Piccolino
Sometimes a classic colour scheme and a bucket load of baubles can create a serious impact – as per Piccolino’s 2022 efforts.
The baubles are interspersed with sprigs of holly, gold leaves, mistletoe and general glittering decorations.
Grab a drink at…
Salt Dog Slims, the underground dive bar that has a big Christmas secret in store for you…
Albert’s Schloss
Christmas decorations at Albert’s Schloss in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupChristmas decorations at Albert’s Schloss in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
One of Manchester’s most popular bars has a frequently-changing display around its entrance on Peter Street.
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For Christmas, they’ve opted for a pair of ENORMOUS pine trees, adorned with red ribbons and twinkling lights.
Grab a drink at…
Erm, Albert’s Schloss… Well you’re already at one of the best bars in Manchester, so what’s the point in looking anywhere else?
Get ready for round-the-clock entertainment and a seriously lively atmosphere in this bohemian bier palace.
Richmond Tea Rooms
Richmond Tea Rooms has leant right into its charming Alice in Wonderland theme this Christmas, installing a life-size Alice cut-out reaching into a Christmas tree.
On the other side, you might spot the familiar features of the Cheshire Cat grinning through the branches too.
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Grab a drink at…
You’re spoilt for choice here with all of Canal Street at your disposal. Or for a more relaxed vibe, walk over to Nell’s New York Pizza bar at Kampus.
San Carlo
This might be our favourite installation of the year. San Carlo heard baubles and said ‘yes please’.
Thousands of rainbow-coloured baubles are bursting out of a giant Christmas cracker above its door and winding around the windows. It’s so creative.
Grab a drink at…
Crazy Pedro’s is a local favourite for a reason – especially if you catch it during happy hour.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Christmas
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.