One of the very best chippies in Manchester is making it markets debut and we’re very happy about it. Hip Hop Chip Shop is serving up their perfectly fried, flaky fish and chips from £12 or £15 for a large but, to be honest, even the kids portion at £8 is well worth your money.
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The only thing better than the ‘proper chippy chips’ here are the mustard and onion and a lovely chunky curry sauce. Having said that, we’ve now tired battered brussel sprouts (£6) for the very first time and we were very surprised about how much we liked them.
A vegan battered sausage and chips tray can always be snapped up at the same price point as the superb fish supper and they’ve even for beers starting at £5 and costing you no more than £7 for a posh pale ale.
The Flat Baker, Piccadilly Gardens
The Flat Baker are at The Winter Gardens in Manchester
At its main site in Ancoats, The Flat Baker always pulls in the queues, and its spot at the Manchester Christmas Markets is no different.
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After last year’s runaway success, they’ve got a bigger unit and a proper queue system, bringing back hits like croissants served with warm dipping sauce (pistachio, dulce de leche, Nutella and Oreo, and Kinder) which are £7.50 each.
There’s also new items like a Brazilian mince roll ice cream (£6.50), and an indulgent hot chocolate served in a cookie cup (£7.90).
Oi Dumplings, Piccadilly Gardens
Oi Dumplings are back with a disco ball shed at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
One of our favourite restaurants and street food traders ever, the lovely Oi Dumplings are back at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Head here for delicious, handmade steamed dumplings (£8 snack size, £12 meal size, £13 with rice) and the friendliest faces in town.
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Fillings include pork cabbage and ginger, Chinese chicken curry, and vegan peanut, with sauces to go on top.
El Gato Negro, King Street
Meatball sandwich at El Gato NegroTapas and spanish sandwiches at the Christmas Markets
El Gato Negro has always found itself in the midst of the Manchester Christmas Markets, thanks to the fact its award-winning restaurant is slap-bang in the middle of King Street. So it was only a matter of time before they joined in with their own stall.
Now back for a second year, they have small tapas-style plates like chorizo in cider, lamb meatballs, and patatas bravas (all £6).
There are also fully loaded bravas topped with chorizo, cheese, sriracha mayo, crispy onions and aioli (£8), and meatball sandwiches (£8).
This legendary Spanish spot is even doing a mulled margarita (£6)
We ran faster than a Manchester run club the second this gorgeous food stall dedicated to all things crumble opened at the Christmas Markets because honestly is there anything more warming to the soul than a pot of home made crumble?
Choose your base – apple and cinnamon, winter berries, or chocolate caramel brownie, plus classic crumble or granola, then add on vanilla custard or whipped cream.
It’s £7, then for an extra quid you can add in toppings like toasted marshmallows, salted caramel, and pistachio sauce.
We couldn’t think of a better way to keep your hands warm as you browse the festive wooden huts.
Waffle Kart, King Street
Waffle Kart are back at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Stop what you’re doing right now and look at the above food p*rn. Just look at it.
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‘What if KFC and a Chinese restaurant made a baby?’, they ask on their blackboard above the door – if this is the result, we’re all for it.
Tender buttermilk chicken with an outrageously crunchy batter is served alongside fluffy waffles, with pickles and maple syrup for drizzling (£13.95); or you could get the prawn toast waffles (12.50), an unconventional twist on a family recipe. It’s all great.
Cheezy Bandits, King Street
There is never a season I don’t want to eat a big pot of melted cheese and carbs – and if you whack a bit of cranberry sauce on top too I’ll be there faster than Santa down a chimney.
Cheezy Bandits has a full menu of mac n cheese (£8), with toppings including Buffalo fried chicken and blue cheese sauce; bourbon BBQ pulled pork; and a ‘Festive Pig’ with maple glazed pigs in blankets, sage and onion stuffing and cranberry sauce (all £11).
You’ll find them tucked in amongst the festive scenes on King Street.
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La Bavette, New Cathedral Street
You just can’t go wrong with steak, can you? Treat yourself to a seasonal steak sandwich stuffed with rocket, mustard mayo and topped with crispy onions for a a tenner – or, go one even better like we did and get a helping of freshly carved, melted Raclette cheese on top for an extra £4.
They do healthily portioned plates of steak frites too, which we topped with peppercorn sauce for an extra couple quid and it definitely levelled up the already well-seasoned carbs and the protein too.
Steaks are served medium rare as standard but you can ask for less/more cooking time if you like.
Yard & Coop, St Ann’s Square
Yard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc GroupYard and Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
If you don’t yet know of Yard & Coop – where the hell have you been, loca?
This Northern Quarter institution is back at the Manchester Christmas Markets with a menu full of its usual comfort food with a festive twist.
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There are huge trays of loaded fries, like the salt n pepper tray or the Dirty Santa (£11), plus chicken in a waffle cone (£7) and the Buff Daddy burger (13).
BangGa BangGa, Piccadilly Gardens
Another insanely viral hit from a couple of years ago, and familiar face from the Piccadilly Street Food Markets, here you’ll find Korean hot dogs with so much mozzarella stretch you need two people to reach breaking point.
There are a few combinations of hot dog, potato, and cheese, with the option to roll them in a delicious salt and sugar blend before topping them with gochujang and mayo or whatever sauces you fancy (between £5.50 and £10.20).
There are also super spicy ‘Tteokbokki’ rice cakes (£5).
Printworks is hosting a FREE ‘fireworks’ display on its digital ceiling this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Printworks is hosting a free ‘fireworks’ display on its digital ceiling next month.
Aiming to ‘bring Bonfire Night to life’ next month, Printworks has announced it’ll be hosting a dazzling evening of lights, music, stories, and Manchester spirit, as the iconic venue transforms Europe’s largest digital ceiling into a spectacular celebration for all the family.
Kicking off from 4:30pm, the free event will begin with an incredible display of ‘Manchester Stars’, where hundreds of stars will appear across the ceiling, each carrying the name of a real Manchester hero, creating a unique celebration of the people who make the city shine.
Members of the public can nominate someone to become a star, whether it’s a child, parent, grandparent, friend, colleague, community champion, or simply someone who deserves a little extra recognition. Nominations can be made here.
Printworks is hosting a free ‘fireworks’ display on its digital ceiling this Bonfire Night / Credit: Jason Lock (via Supplied)
Two cosy story time sessions with BBC Radio One and former CBBC presenter, Katie Thistleton, and children’s favourite, Hacker T Dog, will follow the star display, and each child will receive light-up headphones to enjoy the sessions in a dedicated chill-out zone.
Then comes the main event, Printworks’ digital ceiling will take centre stage for two firework displays between the story time sessions, including a dedicated SEN-friendly display at replacing the traditional loud noises with incredible visual effects, designed to offer a more accessible and welcoming way for families to enjoy the festivities.
The main fireworks and music experience will follow at 6:15pm, before the fun continues on into the evening with a live choir.
If you get a little peckish throughout the evening, there will also be a pop-up dessert cart serving Bonfire Night-inspired sweet treats, while Barney’s Coffee offers up an autumn drinks menu featuring seasonal favourites, such as pumpkin spice lattes and chocolate orange hot chocolates.
“We’re really excited to welcome back Printworks’ Bonfire Night event for the third year running,” explained Sophie Rooney, who is the Marketing Manager at Printworks.
“With fewer bonfire and firework displays taking place in the city, it’s the perfect opportunity for families to come together and enjoy an evening of celebrations right here at Printworks.”
Printworks is promising an ‘immersive evening’ for all the family, free of charge. Find out more information and timings HERE.
Featured Image – Jason Lock (via Supplied)
City Centre
Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American girl group Pussycat Dolls have reunited for a UK tour, stopping off at Co-op Live in Manchester with their powerhouse pop anthems.
Releasing their first LP in 2005, this pop girl group have a variety of radio hits to their name like ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Buttons’.
Over the years, the Pussycat Dolls lineup has gone through significant changes with this latest reunion comprised of Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.
The trio even released some brand-new material to coincide with the announcement of their UK and EU tour titled ‘Club Song’.
Now the girls are about to put their Doll Domination to the test as they bring their PCD Forever Tour in arenas across the nation.
Gig guide – Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live, Manchester
Doors for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live open from 6pm with a start time listed of 7pm with Lil’ Kim and rising girl group Deja Vu kicking things off.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home and loosen your ‘Buttons’, hopefully before the clock strikes twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Daisy Jackson -
8th November 2024 
