Christmas

The Oast House’s popular winter teepee is returning this Christmas

One of the most magical places in the city this winter.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 2nd October 2025

The Oast House has confirmed that its popular teepee draped in twinkling lights is set to return for the festive season.

By summer, the central Spinningfields venue is a proper sun-trap, but once winter rolls around, the teepee brings the festive spirit to Manchester just like it has done for the past 13 years, so it’s fair to say that it’s become something of an institution.

And now, with the air getting nippier by the day, The Oast House has given Mancs the news they’ve been waiting for.

That’s right, The Teepee – which is famed for its free live music, house-cooked food, and welcoming atmosphere – is back once again for another year, and it’s set to open for the festive season in just a couple of weeks time.

Complete with two roaring fires, twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws, The Teepee will be made up of four tents joined together to create a huge open hub, complete with a stage area for guests to dance the night away in festive spirit.

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It’s all sounding set to be a popular spot for locals and those who’ve finished a hard day at work during the autumn and winter months.

Following a huge summer of festivals in the courtyard, rounding off with the Seed Sounds Weekender last week, The Oast House is set to reopen The Teepee on Monday 13 October, and it’ll then be staying open to festive revellers every day of the week throughout the winter.

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The Oast House’s popular winter teepee is returning this Christmas / Credit: The Manc Group

Inside the new lodge, guests can expect to enjoy winter cocktails, mulled wine, and heart-warming food, just in time for the chilly weather.

Favourites from The Oast House’s street food-style menu set to be served up include katsu chicken fries, Korean fried chicken, chicken or plant-based gyros, and burgers stacked high.

The Teepee will reopen on Monday 13 October, and will then be open every day from 11am until late throughout the winter.

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Read more:

Bookings are now live, so to reserve your table for the festive season, head on over to The Oast House’s website here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Christmas

Trafford Centre announces return of its ‘festive wonderland’ grotto this Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Now that October is here, you know what that means? We’re really not that far away from the big festive ‘C word’.

Sure, it may still feel like a little bit early to some of you to be talking about Christmas now, but the Trafford Centre is really getting into the seasonal spirit as it has this week announced that its popular grotto experience will be returning next month.

This year, the shopping centre is taking things up a notch too, as The Grotto is described as being a ‘joyful’ and ‘interactive’ adventure where you’ll become part of a magical mission – saving Christmas cheer.

The North Pole’s magic runs on the spirit of Christmas, but something’s gone wrong this time.

According to the Trafford Centre, The Cheer-o-Meter has been malfunctioning and dropping fast, and without a high-enough cheer reading, Santa’s sleigh won’t be able to fly and Christmas deliveries will be grounded – so this is where you all come in.

Visitors’ magical journeys through The Grotto will start at Gingerbread Lane as they write their letters to Santa and get briefed for their mission, all before they then head into the Merrymarker Studio to giggle, shout, and complete in colourful challenges to power up the Cheer-o-Meter.

Then finally, in Santa’s Study, visitors will get to seal their letters and get ready for a magical photo moment, all before meeting Santa himself.  

The Trafford Centre has announced the return of its ‘festive wonderland’ grotto this Christmas / Credit: Supplied

“Christmas is our favourite time of year at Trafford Centre, as it’s all about creating unforgettable memories for our guests,” explained Simon Layton, who is the Centre Director at Trafford Centre.

“The Grotto was a huge success last year, with so many families telling us how magical it felt, so we’re thrilled to welcome it back. Tickets are already in high demand, so book early to ensure your family can experience the wonder of meeting Santa this Christmas.”

To make the experience accessible to all, even more Whispering Winter sessions will also be available this year.

These specially-tailored visits feature softer lighting, quieter music, and fewer visitors to create a calm and inclusive environment for every child to enjoy the magic of Christmas.

Read more:

Tickets to The Grotto at the Trafford Centre are now on sale and selling fast – with prices starting from £27, plus booking fee for children (including a Christmas gift), and £9.50 plus booking fee for adults.

You can get them here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Christmas

Cheshire Oaks to debut first-ever ice rink with iconic Christmas tree in the middle to skate around

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Cheshire Oaks has unveiled its big plans for the upcoming festive season.

With less than 100 days until Christmas is here, and festive events being announced left, right, and centre, Cheshire Oaks has now joined in on the action, and for the first time ever this year will be adding a bespoke ice rink into the mix, which is set to become centrepiece of its festive celebrations this Christmas season.

The Designer Outlet shopping mall is already known and loved in the North West for its Christmas events each year, and 2025 is set to be no different.

The highly-anticipated ice rink attraction will launch in late October, and it’s already promising to be an ‘unforgettable experience’ that organisers say blends the timeless joy of ice skating with contemporary design and community spirit. 

A brand-new ice rink is coming to Cheshire Oaks with a big Christmas tree in the middle to skate around / Credit: Supplied

At the heart of the new ice rink will be a custom-designed ice path that gracefully weaves around Cheshire Oaks’ iconic oak Christmas tree in the centre.

The rink itself will be nestled within a dedicated Christmas events space at the shopping village.

“We are incredibly excited to soon introduce this bespoke ice rink experience to our guests,” says Kenny Murray, who is the General Manager at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. 

“It’s more than just a place to skate – it will be a destination where families and friends can create cherished festive moments.”

There’ll be lots of other fan-favourite festive activities returning too / Credit: Supplied

The new ice rink will officially open on Friday 24 October, and tickets will be available soon, with the option to book in advance online or on the day, so keep your eyes peeled.

Alongside the exciting new ice rink addition will, of course, be some of Cheshire Oaks’ fan-favourite Christmas attractions – including the ‘The Big Wheel’ and ‘Santa in the Sky’ experiences, as well as festive film screenings, and the massively popular Winter Village.

The Winter Village is the perfect place to head to if you’re in need of a break from gift shopping and somewhere to soak up the Christmas spirit, as here you can grab a cosy seat and tuck into some traditional German bratwurst from the swing grill, warm up with mulled wine at the bar, and marvel at the UK’s tallest Christmas tree.

You can also book a little wooden hut to relax in, with each hut accommodating up to six people.

The Big Wheel is also one of Cheshire Oaks’ best-loved experiences each year, as here you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the festivities unfold below you, with each flight taking 10 minutes, or you can upgrade to Santa in the Sky to meet the main man in the most unique way possible.

Read more:

Find out everything happening at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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