The main hub of the world-famous Manchester Christmas Markets is moving to a new location as it returns to the city centre this year.
After Manchester City Council confirmed the return of the iconic event – which spreads festive cheer right across the city centre, and draws in visitors from all across the globe each year – last month, it’s now been revealed that Piccadilly Gardens will take over the reigns from Albert Square as the heart of the markets event as the town hall regeneration project continues.
The area will become the ‘Winter Gardens’.
This year’s markets will open to the public from Friday 12 November, and run right through until Wednesday 22 December 2021 – but the new family-friendly Winter Gardens site is going to remain open until early 2022.
The brand-new central hub will include a live music stage for the first time in the markets’ history, hosting DJs and bands throughout the festive season.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’ll also be marquee seating, festoon lighting, and a huge selection of food and drink.
Some of the returning traders to the Piccadilly Gardens hub this year will include fan-favourites Dutch Frites, Greek Gyros, and stalls serving up a whole host of sweet treats and warm puddings, as well as bars serving locally-brewed beers and signature winter cocktails.
ADVERTISEMENT
Piccadilly Gardens will take over the reigns from Albert Square as the heart of the markets event / Credit: Flickr (Andrew Stawarz)
Manchester City Council has confirmed that visitor numbers will be strictly controlled this year to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Plans for the Winter Gardens includes a one-way system, and separate entrances and exits, and they are also adding a fully-accessible toilet to make the hub as inclusive as possible.
“It’s wonderful to welcome back our world-famous Christmas Markets and the addition of the Winter Gardens for the very first time,” said Cllr Pat Karney, the council’s Christmas spokesperson.
“Manchester has been the capital of Christmas for 22 years since the very first Christmas Market arrived in the UK in 1999 and we know it was a huge disappointment that we had to scale back our celebrations last year [but] we’re making up for lost time this year.
“I can’t wait to see the transformation into the festive wonderland we know and love.”
Featured Image – Flickr
News
Police appeal launched as man, 51, dies MONTHS after M60 crash
Daisy Jackson
A man in his 50s has tragically died several months after a collision on the M60, with a renewed police appeal launched this week.
At the time of the crash in July, none of the injuries sustained were believed to be life-changing or threatening.
But sadly, a 51-year-old man who was the driver of one of the vehicles involved has passed away recently.
Officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are now appealing for information about the M60 crash.
The road traffic collision took place at 9.13pm on Wednesday 1 July, between two vehicles between junction 16 and 17 of the M60, in Bury.
Emergency services at the time reported that none of the injuries were life-changing or life-threatening.
All the vehicle occupants have been identified, and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances into the man’s death.
Police have said that his death cannot be definitively linked to the collision at this stage and work is ongoing to determine the exact cause and nature.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the collision is urged to contact police via 101 or gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3829 of 1 July 2026. Reports can also be made via the Live Chat function at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
No trams to run on THREE major Greater Manchester lines for two weeks this month
Emily Sergeant
Widespread disruption is expected, as no trams will be running on three major Greater Manchester lines for two full weeks.
As the next phase of the ongoing £150m investment into Greater Manchester’s tram network gets under way later this month, it has been announced that essential improvement work is set to be be carried out on three major Metrolink lines across the region in a bid to make the network ‘safer’ and ‘more resilient and reliable’ for years to come.
From Monday 19 October to Sunday 1 November, tram improvement works will take place at Deansgate-Castlefield, and Trafford Bar.
Additional works will also take place in the city centre during this time, allowing Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to keep closures of the tram network to a minimum.
During the dates above, no trams will run on the Altrincham, Trafford Centre, and Eccles lines.
No trams will be running on three major Greater Manchester line for two weeks this month / Credit: TfGM
A number of shuttle bus services will the running over the course of the two-week closure – with services arriving every 10 or 15 minutes, depending which line it’s on, and you can find a full list of these here.
Services operating on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines will terminate at Firswood, and from Firswood, passengers will then need to board a replacement bus service to continue their journey into the city centre.
Services operating on the Rochdale line will terminate at Exchange Square, it has also been announced.
Services will resume on these lines from start of service on Monday 2 November.
However there will be some minor route changes through the city centre in place from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 November, so it’s important to check your journey before you travel.
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2021 
