Christmas

A brand-new ice rink, a snow globe bar and a festive yurt are coming to Manchester

Assemble your pals at Winter Assembly

Daisy Jackson - 16th October 2024

A brand-new festive hub has been announced for Manchester city centre, where you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.

There’ll be a whole host of new experiences to check out in the new St John’s district, just a stone’s throw from Spinningfields.

A major new attraction here will be Winter Assembly at Courts Club, which will be home to the city’s newest, fully independent ice rink, plus karaoke huts and festive film screenings.

Courts Club is a new social venue that opened this summer, combining basketball, tennis, boules, beer, light bites and a slice of the beach all in one place.

But from 8 November, it’ll be taken over by On Ice, who previously operated the Spinningfields ice rink, offering a premium alternative to the family-friendly ice rink down at Cathedral Gardens. Tickets are currently only £12 and on sale now here.

Once you’ve finished sliding around on the ice there’ll be food including winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials and more.

If you prefer to keep your feet on non-slippy ground, there’ll be a ‘Chalaoke huts’, where you can cosy up in a log cabin with your own private karaoke machine.

Courts Club will be home to an independent ice rink in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Chalaoke huts at Courts Club. Credit: Supplied — Courts Club will be home to an independent ice rink in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

There’ll even be open fires where you can toast marshmallows and a giant Christmas tree to add to the festive atmosphere.

And Winter Assembly at Courts Club will be screening Christmas classics like Love Actually and Home Alone.

Elsewhere in the St John’s creative district, The Dome – previously only accessed by those ‘in the know’ – will be open to the public.

This rooftop dome space will be transformed into a winter oasis that will feel like stepping inside a giant snow globe, with a programme of weekend events and a full bar (plus the option to book the whole thing out for parties up to 200 guests).

The snow globe-like festive edition of rooftop space The Dome. Credit; Supplied

And The Lawn Club’s festive yurt will be back, filled with sheepskin blankets, an installation made up of Christmas decorations, twinkling lights, and DJs.

There’ll be festive food, boozy hot chocolates and winter warming cocktails.

The party will run into the early hours on Fridays and Saturdays, plus there’ll be a festive bottomless brunch running from 10 November.

All three exciting additions – the ice rink and Chalaoke at Courts Club, the snow globe bar at The Dome, and the festive yurt at The Lawn Club – come from Shiko Group.

For more information on all events and venues – and to grab tickets – visit Courts Club, The Lawn Club & The Dome’s booking pages.