Eats

All the Manchester independents selling food and drink hampers this Christmas

There's just something extra special about about a hamper, right?

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th November 2020
Don Giovanni / Abeja Tapas Bar

With the festive season fast approaching, people up and down the country are getting into the yuletide spirit in preparation for the big day.

The UK government has sadly already conceded that “Christmas cannot be normal this year” amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and while it has been announced this week that up to three families can form a Christmas bubble between 23rd – 27th December, for a lot of people, this still means there will be friends and family members they are unable to spend time with.

This is presumably why many are seeing the greater value in gift giving this year, and if there’s one thing we’re all certain of, it’s that hampers are a classic Christmas present.

There’s just something extra special about about a hamper, right?

And whether it be food, beer, gin, or even Christmas trimmings, there’s plenty of independent businesses across Greater Manchester that are embracing the popularity of the hamper this year and offering their own unique spin on them.

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There’s so many places that are #StillServingMCR in our local area this Christmas, and there’s never been a more vital time to support independent hospitality.

We’ve rounded up some of the best Christmas hamper gifts we’ve seen.

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Don Giovanni

Oxford Street

£25, £50 & £75

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Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni’s Christmas Hampers are really quite special this year.

Stuffed with premium Italian goodies – like parmigiano, truffle oil, homemade bottles of limoncello, truffles salami, tricolore fusilli, olives and balsamic vinegar from Modena – these are not the sort of products you can pick up in your local supermarket.

All sourced directly the restaurant from luxury Italian artisan suppliers, each hamper is designed to give your Christmas that extra bit of sparkle.

You can pre-order your Don’s at Home – Christmas Hampers via the Don Giovanni website here.

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Abeja Tapas Bar

Oxford Road

Abeja Tapas Bar

If you’re looking for a unique Christmas present this year, you need look no further than everything you’d need for a top-quality tapas night all wrapped up in a hamper.

The Abeja Tapas Bar Christmas Board-in-a-Box is packed with all the gourmet goodness you expect from Manchester’s smallest tapas bar, including – your choice of wine, Vermouth from Cordoba (250ml), meat and/or cheese board, your choice of artisan chutney, olives, extra-virgin olive oil (50ml), flatbreads, and a stocking filled with Spanish Christmas sweets.

All hampers are beautifully-prepared by hand, and are wrapped up in eco-friendly packaging.

Get your orders in for the Christmas Board-in-a-Box by by Friday 18th December for UK-wide Christmas delivery (via UPS) here.

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Atlas Bar

Castlefield

£25

Atlas Bar

If it’s premium gin you’re looking for this Christmas, you won’t find a much better option than the wide array of gift sets and hampers that Atlas Bar has put together, as the Castlefield favourite hangout currently has an impressive 270+ tipples stocked on its online gin shop.

The real standout is by far the This Christmas Home Gin Experience Pack at just £25.

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This contains four double gins – Tarquin’s Figgy Pudding, Four Pillars Christmas Edition, Bols Genever and Ferdinand Saar Quince Gin – and alongside these, you’ll also receive four premium Double Dutch Tonics, a Ginger Beer, and botanicals to complement your gins too.

You’ll even receive a link to an online virtual gin tasting experience, and information about your gins.

Grab yours via the Atlas Bar website here.

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Herd

Northern Quarter

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£35, £55 & £75

Herd NQ

Herd’s Christmas Trimmings Hamper could be a real lifesaver this year.

Designed to “take the stress out of Christmas day cooking” with everything prepared as much as possible so you can “enjoy more time out of the kitchen and more time getting merry after this dreadful year”, each hamper comes loaded with everything you need to accompany the perfect Christmas dinner.

You can take your pick from a hamper for two (£35), four (£55), or six people (£75).

The Christmas Trimmings Hampers are available to purchase now for collection from the 22nd – 24th December and will come with full reheating and cooking instructions, plus a little Christmas treat.

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Grab yours via the Herd NQ website here.

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Salford Roasters

Greater Manchester

Salford Roasters

Salford Roasters’ Xmas Boutique is your one-stop-shop for Christmas gift boxes this year.

Described as “a place to shop with simplicity for all your coffee gift set needs” and presented perfectly in recyclable kraft boxes and ribbon, you can choose your coffee, hot chocolate and coffee kit combinations, and it has also teamed up with local Salford Businesses – Seven Bro7hers and Sis4ers Distillery – to provide you with an awesome Festive Bonanza Bundle too.

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There’s six gift boxes to choose from, ranging in price from £21 – £60.

You can grab your Xmas Boutique gift set boxes directly via the Salford Roasters website here.

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Salvi’s

Corn Exchange

Salvi’s MCR

Life may still be on pause for the time being, but Salvi’s is “bursting at the seems” with the very best, hand-selected, imported produce from Italy and is inviting Mancunians to “grab a small slice of Neapolitan life during lockdown” in the lead up to Christmas.

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You can now even get your hands on a bespoke Christmas hamper too, filled with all the best deli goods.

Head on down to Salvi’s Deli in the Corn Exchange to grab yours.

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Albert Street Bakery

Eccles

£45

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Albert Street Bakery

Albert Street Bakery in Eccles – a truly independent and family-run bakery that proudly claims to produce “the only Eccles Cakes actually made in Eccles” – is currently taking orders for Christmas Hampers ahead of the festive season.

Each hamper comes packed with a selection of artisan breads, local cheeses and chutneys, festive filled tarts, homemade mince pies, triple chocolate brownie Christmas puds, and of course, Eccles cakes.

All of this baked goodness delivered to your door for only £45 too.

You can place your orders for the Albert Street Bakery Christmas Hampers before 14th December for delivery on 19th or 23rd here.

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Hampton & Vouis

Princess Street

£25

Hampton & Vouis

The Hampton & Vouis H&V Gift Bundle is the perfect way to “treat yourself or someone special”.

For just £25, you get a H&V Tote Bag (choice of colours Pale Grey or Pastel Pink), a H&V Re-Usable Cup (12oz Gray Goo or Pink, or 8oz Molto Grizio), a box of Brew Tea Co Tea Bags, and an Independent Coffee Guide No 5, and all items when bought separately would usually come out at an RRP of £43.98, so you’re making a cracking saving too.

You can grab your H&V Gift Bundle via the Hampton & Vouis website here.

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Hip Flask Craft Beer

Manchester Box

£35

Hip Flask

Hip Flask Craft Beer’s Manchester Box is designed to “highlight the unique identity of Manchester”.

Inside this ‘Best of Manchester’ box of craft beer is a diverse range of lagers, pale ales and IPAs created in breweries across the region, and each box contains 12 beers (5x 440ml cans and 7x 330ml cans), making it an ideal gift for any beer lover, or someone with a special place in their heart for Manchester.

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There’s brews from beloved Greater Manchester breweries – Alphabet, Beatnikz Republic, Brightside, First Chop, Seven Bro7hers, and Shindigger – inside each hamper, all for £35.

You can find more information about each brew and grab your Manchester Box here.

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The Manc Group has partnered with Deliveroo to help local restaurants deliver during lockdown as part of our #StillServingMCR campaign.

Working alongside Deliveroo, The Manc will ensure all restaurants on the service will get the amplification they need across our social platforms. We’ll update our one million-strong audience on your latest updates and deals and we’ll create conversations with the masses about our favourite scran from your menus.

Basically, we will champion you, and we will go above and beyond to do it.

You can find out more here.

Eats

The best cosy pubs in Manchester city centre to hide away on a winter’s day

Danny Jones Danny Jones the best cosy old pubs in manchester city centre

There’s no better feeling than being tucked up all warm and cosy in one of many wonderful pubs in Manchester on a cold day in Manchester, and we should know – we get more than our fair share throughout the year.

Wind, rain, sleet or snow, there’s nothing that a couple of pints in one of our many beloved boozers won’t remedy and when it comes to the festive season, especially, there aren’t many places that make you feel as welcome as you would in your own front room like a cosy Manchester pub.

That’s why we’re giving you a heads-up on some of the very cosiest and most classic Manc pubs for you and yours to pile into when it’s miserable out.

We’ll cheers to that.

The 20 cosiest Manchester pubs

Let’s start with a personal favourite of ours that’s rather handily just around the corner from our office:

1. The City Arms – Central

city arms pub manchester
the city arms menu manchester
The City Arms get filed firmly under ‘cosy pubs in Manchester’. (Credit: The City Arms via Facebook)

If you want to get out of the house and settle into a lovely little pub right in the city centre, then The City Arms is the perfect place to hide away from the weather whilst still enjoying the buzz of city life.

Calling all cask ale lovers, this place is your paradise, with some top-class ales on offer as well as some great meaty, veggie and vegan pies.

2. The Vine Inn – Central

cosy pubs in manchester
Credit: Adam Fagen (via Flickr)
the vine inn manchester city centre
Credit: The Manc Group
Stumble out of one and straight into the other.

Just next door — and we mean that quite literally — is The Vine Inn: another Manc office favourite that gives you the perfect blend of ‘old man pub’ vibes but with the kind of mass appeal that sees countless punters piling into the pub and crowding outside on the streets, it’s that loved.

Luckily, you should be able to squeeze inside when the temperatures drop as it’s spread across three quaint, almost mini-floors (with two separate bars, by the way) that make it feel kind of like a beer bungalow, and that’s why it’s one of the cosiest pubs you’ll find in Manchester.

3. Lass O’Gowrie – Oxford Road Corridor

lass ogowrie manchester city centre irish pub
Credit: The Manc Group
lass ogowrie
pubs oxford road
So long as you’re wrapped up properly, that little outside bit is one of the cosiest pub spots in Manchester (Credit: Lass O’Gowrie via IG)

“I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour”, so the song goes, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Morrisey was singing about the Lass when he wrote this; there’s always plenty of cheering, laughing and, most importantly, drinking in this popular city centre boozer.

Located just off Oxford Road, it offers everything from big screens showing the footy, hearty roast dinners perfect for this time of year, live comedy, music and more. What you’d call a traditional Manc pub kitted out with local memorabilia and filled with good people, you’ll hear no complaints from us.

4. The Circus Tavern – Portland Street

This is Manchester’s smallest pub and as if that wasn’t cool enough, it’s also one of the oldest pubs in the region, so it’s a must-see if you ask us. A perfect little Hobbit hole to cram in when it’s cold outside.

Built back in 1790, The Circus Tavern became a pub in 1840 and has been frequented by the likes of Georgie Best and many other famous Man United players down the years, many of whom you’ll see photos of on the walls. A tourist spot in its own right and, needless to say, very cosy indeed.

5. Mr Thomas’/Sam’s Chop House – Central

Just off Cross Street on the corner of Back Pool Fold, you’ll find what is, for our money, one of the ultimate cosy pubs you’ll find anywhere in Manchester city centre: Mr Thomas’ Chop House, a.k.a. ‘Old Tom’s’ — and then, head literally across the road and you’ll find its twin, Sam’s Chop House.

Set up by the Studd brothers of the same name, these two sibling boozers have been serving Mancs for over 150 years now and have grown a glowing reputation both for the beautiful condition of their historic bars and for their incredible food. If it was good enough for Lowry, it’s good enough for us.

olds toms pub manchester
Quite comfortably two of the cosiest pubs in all of Greater Manchester. (Credit: Mr. Tom’s Chop House via IG/The Manc Group)

6. The Marble Arch Inn – Ancoats

Heading over beyond Ancoats way and onto Rochdale Road, we have the birthplace of Marble Brewery and the company’s award-winning flagship venue, The Marble Arch. If you’re up for doing a winter’s day ‘the right way’, then The Marble Arch has to be involved.

With its gorgeous mosaic floors, ornate bar, nine hand-pull pumps serving brewery-fresh cask beer, eight carefully selected keg lines on rotation and a partridge in a pear tree, it’s simply one of the prettiest and most traditional pubs you could ask for. The food’s mega too.

@the.manc Friday means a pint is needed, so Daisy took us to her favourite pub The Marble Arch 🍻 #manchesterpubs #manchesterbars #manchesternightout #fyp ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

7. The Kings Arms – Salford

Heading over to Salford now and we’ve got another beautiful boozer in The Kings Arms: a long-standing and simply sublime pub located not too far out of the city centre that’s well worth running into if you’re over that way and happen to get caught in the wind and rain.

Owned by adopted Manc musician Paul Heaton and made even more famous by live-in celebrity cat, Charlie, this real ale house with six curated hand pumps is a Manchester institution, not to mention great for live music and stand-up. Come on, what’s more cosy than a pub that comes with its own cat?

8. The New Oxford – Salford

Sticking in Salford for a spell but down the road to Bexley Square, we always feel the lovely little spot that is The New Oxford never gets anywhere near as much credit as it should given its charm and incredible lineup of real ales and Belgian beers.

Situated on a scenic cobbled corner that could easily be mistaken for some rural road in a small Cheshire village, this place is always packed with footy fans and a few extra in its courtyard during the summer months, but the regulars always know what’s up — not to mention they do a decent pint of Guinness too.

9. The Crown & Kettle – Ancoats

Described as having the ‘oldest pub ceiling in the world’, you can collapse into a comforting armchair by the fire and muse over The Crown Kettle‘s 286-year-old history, pint in hand and plenty of tunes filling the room for sure.

With live music and DJ sets, regular beer-centric events, bingo, the odd pub quiz and plenty more, it’s no surprise this almost statuesque Manchester drinking staple has been named one of the best in the region — and it’s plenty cosy too, believe us.

Ancoats boozer The Crown and Kettle has been named among best in the north west
Not just a super cosy pub but apparently one of the best reviewed watering holes in all of Greater Manchester.

10. Peveril Of The Peak – Central

If you close your eyes and picture a proper English pub, there’ll be round tables, old tiles stained with decades of history, an unbeatable selection of beer, and a jukebox that’s regularly manned by loveable regulars who always make sure to keep the room filled with a warm and fuzzy atmosphere.

That’s exactly what you get with the Peveril Of The Peak: an iconic Manc boozer whose green exterior you can spot from a mile away. It’s only a small gaff but packed with plenty of history, all the best people and it’s still being looked after by the city’s longest-serving landlady to this day. A proper good old gaff.

Hallowed, cosy and homely – truly one of the most legendary pubs in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Group)

11. The Briton’s Protection – Central

From one historic pub to another, you can head over to Great Bridgewater Street and channel your inner Tommy Shelby as you neck a neat bit of bourbon or scotch to warm the cockles and listen to the crackling flames of the open fires at The Britons Protection.

Another oldie but a goldie, the Briton was established in 1811 and has remained a local favourite snug pub ever since, showcasing over 300 whiskies as well as homemade pies and pasties at lunch. This piece of public house heritage has been under threat for a while now but us Mancs are keeping it alive.

oldest pubs in manchester
irish pubs manchester
Credit: The Manc Group/Bob Harvey (via Geograph)

12. Mulligans

Come on, as if we were going to leave out not only a contender for the ultimate cosy pub but possibly the very best boozer in all of Manchester. As well as serving comfortably the best Guinness in all the 10 boroughs and supposedly ‘the best outside of Ireland’, it’s also just everything you want on a cold day.

With live music every day, sport on the box pretty much 24/7; multiple lovely little nooks and more than enough bodies to keep the place warm even in the height of winter, not mention a whole new second floor, Mulligans of Deansgate is now twice the worldie it already was. Sláinte!

13. The Eagle Inn – Salford

An award-winning music venue and a bloody good pub, ditch the open-air venues and stuffy bars this winter and dip into the cosy Eagle Inn instead and bask in its comforting warmth.

Combining a traditional pub that delivers a real sense of ‘old Manchester’ with live music and three small rooms off a central corridor with a central bar — historically known by locals as ‘The Lamp Oil’ — The Eagle can’t really be called Salford‘s hidden gem anymore: it’s a rite of passage at this point.

14. The Wharf – Castlefield

Heading over the other side of the Irwell and to the picturesque canals of Castlefield, waterside pub and restaurant The Wharf is undoubtedly one of the cosiest pubs in Manchester, with the ground floor feeling like one big lounge, the upstairs making for the perfect cost date night spot and the outdoor terrace just as much a dream in winter as it is summer.

With amazing pub grub, a massive and ever-rotating drinks menu, as well as a patio that feels just as warming as the indoors with its big tipi and overhead heaters come winter, plus live music, hosting local clubs and various other events throughout the year, this place has it all. Plenty of cute pups too.

15. The Molly House – Gay Village

Back into the centre now and toward Gay Village for what remains one of the most cosy feeling pubs we’ve ever been in full stop, let alone just in 0161. If you’ve never been to The Molly House then you seriously need to right that wrong.

With a name that harks back to a fascinating backstory, there’s nothing more welcoming than the sight of the open hearth, the waft of their irresistible tapas menu; the glow of their multi-coloured Tiffany-style lampshades and a drinks menu to suit all tastes. It’s even better at Christmas. Enjoy!

16. Grey Horse Inn – Portland St

Just a couple blocks over and back onto Portland Street, you’ve also got the Circus Tavern’s equally pokey little neighbour, The Grey Horse Inn. Once again, it’s among the smallest you’ll find in Manchester but is much more than a mere hole in the wall.

This single-room pub is one of the oldest buildings anywhere in Manchester and is run by Hydes Brewery. Basically just one not-so-big living room plonked right along one of the busiest roads in the city, this place is another very thing slice of Manc hospitality history.

oldest pubs in manchester city centre
manchester pubs
Credit: Grey Horse Inn (via Facebook)

17. Cask – Castlefield and New Islington Marina

Circling back towards Castlefield again, you’ll find the original Cask and its lovely owners who have been serving local crafts and fine Belgian imports for over two decades now. The staff are beyond sound and always happy to talk you through the lineup; they even let you bring in your chippy from next door.

With a nice little garden area tucked away in the back, cosy booths and board games to be enjoyed, it’s no wonder they wanted to replicate their success with the sister bar over towards Ancoats and the Marina — and that’s exactly what they’ve done. Two very welcoming spots all year round.

cask manchester
ancoats pubs cask
Credit: Adam Bruderer (via Flickr)/ Cask

18. The Bay Horse Tavern – Northern Quarter

Not too far from there, you’ll find an NQ favourite in The Bay Horse Tavern: two floors of pure warmth, good vibes, proper food and a steady flow of the good stuff.

From its twinkly fairly light-draped interior to the perfectly dim-lit interior and variety or deals running throughout the week, the Thomas Street staple is busy no matter the season but there’s something very special about it in the winter. Top-tier Sunday roasts incoming.

northern quarter pubs
Looks super pretty at this time of year
cask liverpool rd manchester
They even still serve Boddies.
bay horse tavern menu
Unreal food too.
Credit: The Bay Horse Tavern (via Instagram)/The Manc Group

19. The Old Wellington – Exchange Square

Our penultimate stop is yet another historic site and cultural cornerstone that stood in Manchester for centuries — just not quite the same spot. Shambles Square feels fitting given how many times we’ve stumbled out of this place of a weekend.

Famously put up on stilts and relocated along with the attached Sinclairs Oyster Bar (also not a bad shout for this list), The Old Wellington might just be the closest you’ll get to feeling like you’re in Ye Olde England, stumbling across a tavern and bedding in on a rainy night with tankards full of mead. At least that’s what we always imagine when we’re in there, anyway. Long live The Old Welly.

oldest pubs in manchester city centre
Credit: The Manc Group
cosy old pubs in manchester
Credit: The Old Wellington (via Instagram)

20. Castle Hotel – Northern Quarter

Last but by no means least, no list of cosy Manchester pubs is complete without the always popular and music-filled Castle Hotel over on Oldham Street — another storied venue that only seems to get better with age.

Whether it’s live music or the jukebox, a solid Guinness or a pint of Robinson’s, this tightly-packed space is one of those where you’ll never leave without bumping into a familiar face or having a friendly chat with a total stranger. With multiple rooms, an upstairs and a simple but classic British pub aesthetic, you just can’t beat spots like this.

We hope that puts you in good stead for places to enjoy a cold one this winter, pardon the pun.

It goes without saying that lists like these are never going to every corner of Manchester justice and there are countless other cosy pubs that we would heartily recommend you settle in at when it’s baltic outside, but the list would go on forever if we did that and this should get you started at least.

The same goes for the rest of the 10 boroughs; we’re sure wherever you live in Greater Manchester you’ll know plenty more than us about the cosiest spots near you, but in case you’re looking to venture further out of the region, we’ve put together a list of a few corkers that are a bit more out of the way.

The cosiest country pubs in and around Greater Manchester to visit this winter
There’s obviously plenty more cosy pubs to be enjoyed on the outskirts of Manchester too.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images – The Bay Horse Tavern/Kings Arms (via Instagram)/Amie Johnson (via Unsplash)

Eats

Tawny Stores – Inside the stunning canalside restaurant that’s Stockport’s loveliest addition

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group

There’s a tiny little opening on the outskirts of Stockport that’s so charming, with such delicious food, that we’re going to have to insist you all rearrange your plans to visit immediately.

This is Tawny Stores, a restaurant, cafe and deli where you can do everything from having a romantic candlelit dinner to scoffing a morning pastry to grabbing a loaf of bread to take home.

With a pretty canalside location, and windows that look out over the water, it’s already proving a fantastic addition to Greater Manchester.

Tawny Stores is in Marple Bridge, a picturesque village at the foot of the Peak District hills (which feels a million miles from Stockport, but the name on the wheelie bins doesn’t lie).

It may be a total pain in the arse to get to, especially with every-other train being cancelled, but getting stuck out here is far from being the end of the world.

From their tiny kitchen they cook an ever-changing menu that’s technical, but simple.

By the time you read this the menu will probably have changed again, but here we go anyway.

Rabbit pie at Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group
Rabbit pie at Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group
A cheese toastie at Tawny Stores.
A cheese toastie at Tawny Stores. Credit: The Manc Group
Homemade crisps and a glass of wine. Credit: The Manc Group
Homemade crisps and a glass of wine. Credit: The Manc Group
Roast squash and lentils. Credit: The Manc Group
Roast squash and lentils at Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group

We had a wild rabbit, cider and tarragon pie, with a crust that could win awards and a generous dollop of silky smooth mash.

There was a simple cheese and onion toastie, elevated by some top-quality bread and homemade chutney on the side.

A warming pile of lentils was then topped with roasted squash and a zingy and herby green sauce to zap it (and you) back to life.

And then there’s homemade focaccia, which you can order with olive oil or have it as a sandwich, where fillings are currently festive and include squash and stuffing, crispy sprouts and aioli, and pork Milanese and cranberry.

Inside Tawny Stores, Marple Bridge, Stockport. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Tawny Stores, Marple Bridge, Stockport. Credit: The Manc Group
Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group
Tawny Stores in Marple Bridge. Credit: The Manc Group

Before you head out, take a moment to browse the shelves full of produce (and the display unit filled with homemade cakes).

You can grab a hot drink to walk down the canal and burn off some of that fuel, or do it in reverse and come in here to warm your cockles after a brisk winter stroll.

Either way, it’s one to visit – and soon.

You can follow them on Instagram HERE for their latest menus.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

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