Christmas
The Manchester Christmas Markets have run out of mugs – again
We're resorting to retro mugs from previous years again.
Daisy Jackson -
18th December 2023 
The world-famous Manchester Christmas Markets have run out of mugs for the second year in a row, despite ordering extras to try and keep up with demand.
Manchester City Council is now resorting to using vintage mugs from previous years after completely running out of 2023’s Nutcracker design.
The festive white and blue mugs have been carrying mulled wines, hot chocolates and other winter warmers all over the Christmas Markets since they opened in November.
Visitors to the world-famous festive event are charged a £3.50 deposit (up 50p from last year’s £3 deposit) for each mug.
It’s then up to you whether you take the mug home as a souvenir of the Manchester Christmas Markets 2023, or whether you get your money back.
And it seems like this year’s more expensive deposit hasn’t put people off, with mugs running out a week before the markets close for the year.
It means that we’ve got through 170,000 mugs this year, 30,000 more than in 2022 – quite a feat.
There are apparently still some of the smaller blue gluhwein mugs in circulation, but they’re few and far between.
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “The love that is out there for Manchester’s Christmas Markets and for our iconic Christmas mugs is just off the scale right now. 25 years on and people still can’t get enough of them, it’s incredible.
“Whilst this year’s fabulous Nutcracker inspired mugs are now few and far between on the markets, we’ve been bringing out the vintage mugs from Christmases past since last weekend to re-stock the stalls that have run out of this year’s.
“And what a hit they’re proving to be with shoppers who are just loving the nostalgia of it all!
“So come on down and grab a bit of merry Manchester memorabilia while you still can – when the vintage stock goes it’s going to be jingle bells and recyclable paper cups all the way ’til the markets close.”
Manchester’s Christmas markets close on Thursday 21 December.
They are open daily until then at the following times:
- All craft stalls 10 am – 8 pm
- All bars and food stalls 11 am – 9 pm
The food and drink stalls in Cathedral Gardens alongside the skate rink will remain open until 31 December.
Read more
- Manchester Christmas Markets 2023 – prices for beer, mulled wine, prosecco, bratwurst and more
- Council to offer support for ‘anyone struggling’ in Manchester over Christmas
- The best Christmas party food and picky bits at M&S this year
Featured image: The Manc Group
