There’s something really special about this time of year – crisp nights, twinkling lights, and many, many pints in bars that have fully embraced the Christmas spirit.
But for a lot of us, getting a festive drink can also mean getting shoved and elbowed and sucked into six-person-deep scrums to get to the bar.
Manchester’s Christmas Markets are world-famous, for good reason, but their popularity does make them astonishingly busy.
Thankfully, there are more than a few local bars opening pop-ups and other festive drinking dens.
Salvi’s Italian Christmas Market, Deansgate Square
Credit: The Manc Group
One of Manchester’s best-loved restaurants has got in on the festive action, in the most impressive setting of all.
Standing at the foot of the awesome Deansgate Square towers is Salvi’s Italian Christmas Markets, with two tipis, four festive huts, and loads of food and drink.
Expect all the Salvi’s favourites like sweet and savoury takes on soffietti (fried doughballs), as well as mulled negronis and limoncello spritzes.
It’s been thrown right back to the 80s over at Hatch, the shipping container street food hub just off Oxford Road.
It’s been kitted out with fluorescent lights and disco baubles, transporting visitors back to a ‘different era when iPhones and ‘furlough’ were yet to enter our mainstream vocabulary’.
There’s food too, of course, like pigs in blankets parmos from Parmogeddon, vegan Christmas burgers from Herbivorous, and Terry’s Chocolate Orange martinis from Miama Ice.
Bar Rumbug, Salford
Our Secret is out….
We didn't quite have time to build our distillery before Christmas so we created something a little special…
Rum drinkers will like this one – the Salford Rum Company has launched its very own Christmas bar this year.
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The temporary space has been opened before it launches its distillery.
It’s been decorated with custom art from local artist Urbie, and will serve drinks from its own rum range (naturally), as well as other local breweries and drinks producers.
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Food & Drink
10 places kids eat for £1 or FREE in Greater Manchester this half term | February 2026
Emily Sergeant
Bella Italia, IKEA, and Yard & Coop are just some of the places offering kids the chance to eat for £1 or free this half term.
With schools across Greater Manchester set to break up for half term at the end of this week, and with many families understandably wanting to keep costs low where possible, plenty of supermarkets, independent and chain restaurants, and pub groups across the UK are offering kids the chance to eat a hearty meal out for as little as £1.
Some are even offering up children’s meals completely free of charge, meaning you really don’t have to break the bank.
So if you’re looking to treat the kids to a meal, but you’re keen to keep things on the cheaper side and save a few pennies, then thankfully, eating out just got a whole lot easier.
Kids eat for £1 or free in Greater Manchester this half term / Credit: Las Iguanas | Yard & Coop
Asda
Asda’s £1 kids meal deal is available all year round, including this half term, and it includes a hot meal or sandwich, drink, and piece of fruit, as well as other treats like as a jelly pot or a jelly squeeze pouch as an alternative to a pack of crisps.
Morrisons
When you spend £5 or more on an adult’s meal at a Morrisons cafe at any point in the year, not just during the school holidays, you’ll also get a free kids’ meal for those under 16 years old. Children can either build their own breakfast or main meal, and they’ll get a drink included too.
IKEA
If you’re heading to IKEA, you can claim a kids’ meal for just 95p once your shopping is done. Children can choose from pasta with tomato sauce, a soft drink, and piece of fruit for 95p, or upgrade to sausage and mash, or the store’s famous meatballs for £2.50.
Yard & Coop
The Northern Quarter’s home of buttermilk fried chicken is back offering its popular ‘kids eat free deal’ this half term. Available each weekday from 12pm-6pm, one free kids meal comes with every adult main meal, and children can choose a main, dessert, and cordial drink of their own.
Frankie and Benny’s
A free kids’ meal – including a main, two sides, a drink, and dessert – is available with any adult main meal at Frankie & Benny’s this half term, which could save you on average around £6.80 and only having to pay about £13 in total.
Bella Italia
Order one adult main from Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February, and you’ll get a free three-course kids’ meal as well.
Bill’s
Up to two kids per table eat free all day at Bill’s from on weekdays this half term when an adult orders any main, so whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there’s a dish to feed your little one no matter the time of day.
Las Iguanas
Kids eat free all year round when you download the Las Iguanas app, not just this half term, and they can choose from quesadillas, coconut curry, guacamole, and plenty more.
Banana Tree
At Banana Tree, you can get a free kids’ meal when you buy any adult meal this upcoming half term week, with options including ramen, katsu, chicken nuggets, crispy chicken, and sweetcorn fritters on the menu to choose from.
Yo! Sushi
When you spend just £10 at Yo! Sushi this half term, children aged 12 or younger will get a bento box for free, which includes edamame, maki, mixed veggie rice with chicken or prawns and a drink, or little sushi fans can also roll their own if you upgrade to the mini bento box for £1.45.
Featured Image – Frankie & Benny’s
Food & Drink
Manchester’s very own Central Park-style lakeside cafe reveals major refurb
Daisy Jackson
Heaton Park’s beloved Lakeside Cafe has just unveiled a major transformation.
The waterside cafe overlooks the park’s iconic boating lake, where swan boat pedalos and row boats float on the water.
It’s always been a popular spot to stop on a day out for coffees, cakes, and classic full breakfasts – but now it’s got a brand-new look too.
The Lakeside Cafe has just reopened its doors, showing off a retro, lakehouse-style interior, complete with a mural by local artist Myro Doodles.
There’s a brand-new vintage-style photobooth outside, which adds to the charm and nostalgia of the boating lake – and it’s arrived just in time for Valentine’s Day too.
You’ll still find the grab-and-go hatch outside, where you can pick up takeaway coffees, milkshakes and ice creams to walk around the lake with.
Back inside, there are loads of unique touches like items sourced from vintage shops and other pieces from independent local businesses, plus cosy and accessible seating.
Staff at The Lakeside CafeThe takeaway coffee and ice cream hatchInside the refurbished cafeA new retro photoboothCoffee and cake at the Lakeside CafeA new retro photoboothStacked sandwichesThe Myro Doodles muralMilkshakes
The cafe has invested into brand-new equipment like a state-of-the-art coffee machine to speed up proceedings for customers too.
The Lakeside Cafe, and its sister site up the hill The Stables Cafe, are both popular places to refuel post-Parkrun, mid-dog walk, or on a full date day.
The menu remains as before, with huge stacked sandwiches like a classic BLT, a beef brisket with dipping gravy, and a maple and bourbon BBQ chicken stack.
Those are alongside cafe classics like full English breakfasts, jacket potatoes, and toasties.
The Lakeside Cafe has now reopened at Heaton Park – you can find it beside the boating lake.
Daisy Jackson -
9th December 2021 
