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Singalong Christmas carols and orchestral movie soundtracks among Christmas events at The Bridgewater Hall 

Festive overload in Manchester’s most beautiful concert hall.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th November 2023

The full Christmas programme at The Bridgewater Hall has been announced, with plenty of festive events on the bill over the coming weeks. 

The beautiful concert hall’s line-up includes singalong Christmas carols and live orchestras bringing movie magic to life. 

You’ll be able to see soundtracks from blockbuster films and TV shows like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones performed by a full symphony orchestra. 

The music of legendary film composers Hans Zimmer and John Williams will then go head-to-head in an epic concert celebrating their scores. 

And it’ll be Christmas overload with All I Want for Christmas… Live!, a brand-new show combining festive pop hits with singing, dancing, and even fireworks. 

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The upcoming concerts at Bridgewater Hall make for a perfect Christmas night out – here are some highlights. 

The Music of Lord of the Rings and Beyond

Sunday 10 December 

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It’s one of the biggest film franchises of all time, with an epic score – and the music of The Lord of the Rings will be performed by a full symphony orchestra at this Bridgewater Hall event. 

J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit will also be included, along with fantasy TV show Game of Thrones. 

There’ll be a stunning choir on hand too to deliver a concert full of the greatest movie music of all time.

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All I Want For Christmas…Live!

Tuesday 19 December 

The Christmas at Bridgewater Hall programme has been announced. Credit: Supplied

A brand-new show presented by Raymond Gubbay, All I Want For Christmas…Live! will blend festive pop hits and traditional favourites. 

There’ll be a dazzling live ensemble including The Manchester Concert Orchestra and four headline singers, plus dancers, fireworks, lights, and incredible live music. 

Christmas Carol Singalong

24 December

The Christmas at Bridgewater Hall programme has been announced. Credit: Supplied

What better way to welcome Christmas Eve than by singing your way into the big day, with a huge carol singalong?

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Jonathan Cohen will lead his audience through the very best seasonal classics in a family-friendly extravaganza. 

Expect to be belting out songs including Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Merry Christmas Everyone, Frosty the Snowman, and carols like Good King Wenceslas, O come, all ye Faithful, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

The Music of Zimmer Vs Williams

Wednesday 27 December 

The Christmas at Bridgewater Hall programme has been announced. Credit: Supplied

The worlds of two of the world’s most legendary film composers of all time – Hanz Zimmer and John Williams – will collide this winter at the Bridgewater Hall. 

This epic concert will celebrate the movie scores of both men, whose CVs including E.T., Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman Begins, Star Wars, and many more. 

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Find out more and book your tickets at bridgewater-hall.co.uk/christmas-concerts-at-the-bridgewater-hall.

Featured image: Supplied

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Namaste Nepal – West Didsbury favourite reveals new look and even more phenomenal curry

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Namaste Nepal, one of the best restaurants in West Didsbury – if not all of south Manchester – has undergone a big refurbishment, with new menu dishes to boot.

The family-run business has become a local institution over the last 15 or so years, famed for its comforting, authentic Nepalese food. 

For the first time since it opened, Namaste Nepal has had a full-scale cosmetic transformation to become a modern – but still cosy and welcoming – neighbourhood restaurant. 

You’ll now find green suede, gold, and marble, in amongst the Nepalese artefacts on the shelves. 

Namaste Nepal is known for its menu of curries and street food which takes influences from India and China.

One of its hero dishes is its handmade Momocha dumplings, which are stuffed with lamb mince and topped with a classic peppery, spicy sauce.

There are platters of mixed shashlik, the meat slow-cooked in the tandoor oven; fiery traditional Chwela; and Kantipur Methi, where Tandoori chicken and minced lamb are mixed together. 

Namaste Nepal is a much-loved Nepalese curry house in West Didsbury. Credit: The Manc Group
Namaste Nepal is a much-loved Nepalese curry house in West Didsbury. Credit: The Manc Group
Namaste Nepal is a much-loved Nepalese curry house in West Didsbury. Credit: The Manc Group
Namaste Nepal is a much-loved Nepalese curry house in West Didsbury. Credit: The Manc Group

Curries range from the mouth-numbingly spicy (looking at you, vegetable naaga) to a crowd-pleasing Makhan Chara (aka butter chicken).

There’s plenty to keep vegetarians well-fed, from saag paneer to aloo gobi. 

Namaste Nepal has been spicing up our lives since 2005 and is well and truly standing the test of time. 

The restaurant is taking bookings for Christmas now. 

You can find Namaste Nepal at 164-166 Burton Road, West Didsbury.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Manchester’s ‘sky park’ Castlefield Viaduct to become sparkling grotto as night falls

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Castlefield Viaduct has a series of night time events including a Lantern Lates light trail

Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester, the lush National Trust site built up on a disused railway viaduct, has announced plans of night time activity this winter.

The beautiful park in the sky will be inviting visitors to see the urban green space by nightfall.

There’ll be a free Lantern Lates series where the park will transform into a ‘magical, sparkling grotto’.

Visitors can climb up to Castlefield Viaduct, the huge industrial landmark that has views right across Manchester city centre, and savour the winter wonderland created for the coming season.

It’s before the National Trust project closes for a few weeks in the new year for work to refresh the gardens for spring and summer.

The viaduct itself has been abandoned since 1969, until the charity revealed plans to turn it into a sky park similar to New York’s High Line.

The temporary urban garden has attracted thousands of visitors and the National Trust is now fundraising to secure a permanent future for the project, which is currently closing in September 2024.

Along with the Lantern Lates series, Castlefield Viaduct’s other night time events will include a Winter Garden Tour, where guides will explain the stories behind winter plants like holly, ivy and mistletoe.

Castlefield Viaduct has a series of night time events including a Lantern Lates light trail. Credit: David Bewick/National Trust.
Castlefield Viaduct has a series of night time events including a Lantern Lates light trail. Credit: David Bewick/National Trust.

And at the end of it all there’ll be a Cosy Corner, a relaxing spot with books, boardgames and crafts.

The Cosy Corner will be built at the far end of the Castlefield Viaduct park, where huge windows look across the overgrown and untouched section of the old railway bridge.

Castlefield Viaduct is the ideal spot to escape all the madness of the silly season and non-stop parties going on in the city below.

It’s open all the way through winter until Saturday 2 January (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day), with free entry. You can book morning tours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, or take a wander after 12.30pm on those days or any time on Wednesdays, weekends and bank holidays.

Lantern Lates at Castlefield Viaduct

17 November 2023 – 1 January 2024, 3.30pm – 5pm | Free – Drop-in 

As the nights draw in Castlefield Viaduct transforms into a magical, sparkling grotto. 

From 3.30pm to 5pm every day, drop in to wander along the light trail and visit the garden in  the sky in a different way. It’s the perfect time for a moment of rest above the busy city, take  in Greater Manchester’s 21st century skyline and maybe even spot a bat or two. 

The Winter Garden Tour 

Wednesday 13 Dec, Friday 15 Dec, Thursday 28 Dec, Friday 29 Dec – 2pm | Free – booking essential 

Get out of the busy city streets and join Castlefield Viaduct for a tour around some festive flora.  

Nature has long associations with this time of the year from holly and ivy to mistletoe and  chestnuts. Your guide will tell you the stories behind some of the winter plants on the viaduct  and introduce the beauty of winter in the garden. 

Book a spot at the website and take a festive look at nature on the viaduct and beyond.

Cosy Corner 

11 December 2023 – 1 January 2024, daily | Free – Drop-in 

Warm up and chill out… After a walk through the winter garden take some time out in the  Castlefield Viaduct Cosy Corner. 

This December the visitor building will be transformed into a relaxing spot with books, board  games and easy crafts plus the spectacular views of the wild viaduct and Castlefield below.  Take a break from the rush, settle in with a good read or simply watch nature go by.

The viaduct is a temporary project from the National Trust and due to permanently close after summer 2024. To help secure a future for the project and help the garden grow, you can make a donation or give one as a gift? Click here to give direct to Castlefield Viaduct. 

Featured image: David Bewick/National Trust

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