One of Manchester’s best-loved Christmas experiences has returned, and this year Bar Hutte has TWO locations.
The apres-ski-inspired huts have reappeared this week, back at Great Northern as well as a new site at Kampus.
Positively dripping in festive cheer, here you’ll find a twinkling winter wonderland full of fairy lights, fur throws, and plenty of warming tipples.
And arguably the best bit? Each one of the charming wooden huts is kitted out with its own karaoke machine.
Don’t worry if the thought of your own dulcet tones brings you out in a cold sweat – you can swerve the karaoke and listen to professional musicians performing in the courtyard instead.
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With its new location at Kampus, Bar Hutte has created a new alpine experience to explore to mark its seventh year in Manchester.
The row of eight Christmas cabins (including a special Bark Hutte for your furry friend) at the canalside neighbourhood surrounds a heated and sheltered courtyard.
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Bombardinos, Bark Hutte, and slices from Nell’s at Bar Hutte Kampus. Credit: The Manc Group
Then upstairs in the Bungalow – the neighbourhood’s landmark building on stilts – you’ll find an indoor drinking den with plenty of extra seating, and decor including faux fireplaces, sleds, bells and wreaths.
Drinks on offer include mulled wine, festive cocktails like the Merry Kissmas and the Bauble-ini, legendary ski shots and Bombardinos, a warm alcoholic drink popular on the slopes. There’s even boozy Biscoff hot chocolate and gingerbread Old Fashioneds.
As for food, Bar Hutte customers can order pizza from Nell’s via a QR code on their table, or tuck in to treats from Great North Pie Co and Beeswing.
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Adam Higgins, co-founder of Capital&Centric (the developers, along with HBD, of Kampus), said: “Kampus and Bar Hütte is the perfect festive match. People are so used to seeing the lush Kampus garden full of life throughout the summer, so it’s brilliant to see it packed out with the wooden hüttes for winter.
“Whether belting out karaoke in private huts and ordering eats from Kampus’ finest, or soaking up the alpine vibes of our Aprés Ski Bungalow, the neighbourhood takeover will have something for everyone.’
Booking is advised, especially for the private Bar Hutte Kampus cabins, but walk-ins are welcome, particularly for festive drinks in the courtyard.
Across town at Great Northern Square is Bar Hutte’s second location, where once again its cosy Huttes are beneath a heated stretch tent, with entertainment including a schedule of love singers and DJs.
This site has a party lodge for up to 20 people, as well as family-friendly Santa Claus club sessions at the weekends.
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Events at both sites include wreath-making sessions, complete with a complimentary glass of prosecco or mulled wine.
Bar Hütte pop-up will wrap up on New Year’s Eve. You can make a booking now at www.barhutte.co.uk.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Christmas
Government launches £442m drive to get rough sleepers off streets before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas.
Learning from ‘innovative’ approaches put into place during the pandemic, the Government has announced that new accommodation will be rolled out across England this winter, as well as offering practical help with housing, health, and other needs to support people to build a more stable life for themselves in the future.
The new commitment to offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas, along with boosted funding, reflect the Andy Burnham‘s national drive to make ‘real change’ and get everyone playing their part in ending rough sleeping.
Not only will these plans change the lives of rough sleepers, but it’s also said they will have huge benefits for the country as a whole.
Research from homelessness charity Crisis suggests that by preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year, taxpayers could save around £370 million.
The Government has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas / Credit: Number 10 Press Office | Jon Tyson (via Unsplash)
As well provisions to get people off the streets, and the intensive ‘wraparound’ support, the newly allocated funding will also help local areas deliver more than 1,000 ‘settled’ homes over the next three years, it has been confirmed.
Areas facing the greatest pressures will receive the largest share of support.
Working alongside councils, Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action to end rough sleeping, and will be tasked with making decisions that are right for their communities to deliver help where it’s needed most.
The Prime Minister says he ‘won’t accept’ rough sleeping any longer. He commented: “No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station, but we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.
“That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping, and it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas. We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again. But it needs all of us.
“Government will put the money in, but I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.
“Let’s get people out the cold, and let’s bring back hope.”
Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)
Christmas
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.