Belting out Christmas karaoke classics at an après ski-style village, throwing axes that look like candy canes, and feasting on new foods are just a handful of the things you could be getting up to over the next few festive weeks.
And all of this is on offer just in one place too.
Great Northern is a historic Grade II-listed leisure complex that’s home to some of the best-loved restaurants, bustling bars, eclectic independent businesses, and unique activity opportunities in the heart of Manchester city centre all year round, so if you’re looking for somewhere to escape the cold and get into the festive spirit, then you know where to head on down to.
Here’s our picks for four of the best places to go for a proper festive day out at Great Northern before we say goodbye to December.
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Throw candy cane-themed axes and feast on festive food
Whistle Punks
Merry Axemas / Credit: Whistle Punks
Fancy throwing some candy cane-themed axes and sipping on some mulled wine this Christmas?
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A trip to Whistle Punks at Great Northern is always an unforgettable experience, with each 70-minute session designed to make both newcomers and axe-throwing pros alike excel, with lots of top tricks taught to you by instructors, all before you take part in head-to-head tournaments to decide who is the throwing champ in your group.
But through the Christmas period, everything is just that little bit more festive.
Not only is there mulled wine on offer, plenty of mince pies and pigs in blankets to feast on, and special prosecco receptions available for those who enjoy the high life, but the axes you’ll be throwing are also red and white striped like candy cane, just to the whole thing even more Instagrammable.
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Tickets to Axemas at Whistle Punks Manchester start from £22 per person, and you can find out more and book your session here.
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Say hello to Santa, belt out Christmas classics, and do shots off a ski
Bar Hütte
Have you seen that popular après-ski village Bar Hütte is back?
Back and better than ever this year, with 15 cosy Alpine cabins dotted across the Great Northern square courtyard bringing a lively, festive, and vibrant atmosphere to the city centre, Bar Hütte is a great place for both families and groups of friends to head on down to at any time of the week during the festive season right through until the New Year.
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Inspired by some of the coolest après ski bars in Europe, Bar Hütte has everything from live music and free-flowing festive drinks, to the chance to try out the bar’s legendary ‘shot skis’, as well sing-along to all of your favourite tunes inside a private wooden karaoke cabin that’s festooned with twinkling tights.
The Gingerbread Old Fashioned, The Alpine, and Bar Hütte’s famous mulled wine are just some of the festive themed drinks and cocktails that can be brought to you by your very-own hütte host, all while you belt out Christmas karaoke classics.
Bar Hütte is also the only bar in the UK to serve up authentic Bombardinos – a warm Advocaat-based drink topped with cream that’s especially popular in Italian ski resorts.
For the little ones looking to say hello to the big red man himself, the family-friendly Santa Claus Club gives you the chance to meet Santa and get a picture with him, all before singing-along in a karaoke hutte for one hour, sipping on hot chocolate, and playing with some free colouring pads.
You can find out more about everything happening at Bar Hütte this year here.
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‘Get galactic’ and skate the day away
Paradise Skate World
Get Galactic / Credit: Paradise Skate World
Paradise Skate World is one of Manchester’s newest roller rinks.
A hugely-popular addition to the Great Northern Warehouse this year, Paradise Skate World is currently hosting a series of ‘Get Galactic’ parties every Saturday throughout December, and it means families and groups of friends can head on down and have a cosmic Christmas celebration.
With the party starting at 6:30pm and running through to 9:30pm, the skating isn’t all the fun you have to look forward to.
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While making your way around the rink, you’ll also get to enjoy a live DJ, make the most of a glitter face painting station, and try out a brand-new selection of Christmas cocktails and mocktails – including this year’s special, the ‘Intergalatic Reindeer’.
Make suer to keep an eye out too, as alien elves will also be rocking around the rink.
What better way to finish off your festive day out than with a proper Polish festive feast at Platzki
A fixture in the city since 2018, this popular Deansgate spot with a gorgeous plant-filled terrace that backs onto the Great Northern Warehouse, prides itself on providing an interesting list of Polish wines and vodka, alongside an ever-evolving menu filled with traditional dishes like dumplings, pork neck and meatballs – all served on beautiful Polish-made plates imported from abroad.
Serving up a new Ukrainian-inspired breakfast menu from 10am every weekend throughout the festive season, as well as lunch from 12pm-5pm, and the main evening menu from 5pm-9pm, Platzki is a real gem in the heart of Manchester city centre.
If you’re a fan of Polish cuisine, or you’re keen to try something new, then Platzki is well worth a look in, and we can’t recommend it highly enough here at The Manc.
Find out more about everything happening this Christmas at Great Northern here.
Featured Image – Great Northern Warehouse
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Thousands of children in the North West have got involved in the UK’s biggest-ever Schools Cricket Day
Daisy Jackson
History has been made today, with thousands of children in schools across the North West taking part in a record-breaking Schools Cricket Day.
The event has coincided with the 50-day countdown to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will take over the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground this summer.
In Lancashire and Greater Manchester, around 14,500 children from 83 schools picked up a bat and ball as part of the event, the largest single-day cricket participation event in UK history.
It marks a major milestone on the road to this summer’s tournament, which will kick off at Edgbaston on 12 June before heading to Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground for four fixtures from 13 June.
There’s been everything from first-time batting and bowling in playgrounds to competitive matches on sports fields, as schools across the country catch the spirit of the game.
And that’s included 130 children from Kings Road Primary School enjoying a dedicated session at Old Trafford’s Indoor Cricket Centre alongside World Cup Winner and former England star, Alex Hartley.
Alongside lessons and activities, all Lancashire Cricket Foundation (LCF) staff supported additional events, from games and activities to assemblies, taking place across the region.
School children take part in an ICC Schools Cricket day at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester. Credit: Dave Thompson/Route One Photography
Big names from the world of cricket, including Heather Knight OBE, Lydia Greenway OBE and Hampshire captain Georgia Adams also joined school events in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup host cities.
Australian international and current player for Yorkshire women’s, Jess Jonassen, supporting a cricket session at Morley Cricket Club over in Leeds.
Schools Cricket Day is part of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s ambitions to use the tournament to inspire the next generation of girls to play cricket.
This year alone, through various initiatives and programmes, the ECB is aiming to see 500,000 women and girls playing cricket, 300 women taking up key leadership roles within the game’s administration, and 500 Champions of Change created as part of the Young Cricket Collective, which will empower young girls to volunteer and make change at their local cricket clubs.
The day also featured bespoke resources and games created by the ICC’s global charity partner, UNICEF, through its “Rights in Play” programme.
2017 World Cup winner and Lancashire Women’s star Alex Hartley said: “It feels like I’ve been waiting all year for the World Cup to arrive, and now we’ve only got 50 days to go!
“I’m really pleased to support initiatives like Schools Cricket Day today as they’re so important to inspire the next generation of potential cricket players. As an international cricketer I always looked forward to major tournaments, there’s nothing quite like playing on the global stage.
“There was a huge shift after the 2017 World Cup, we all felt it. Having the T20 tournament in England and Wales this summer presents another huge opportunity to continue building a legacy that can be felt by all future generations of cricketers from Lancashire and all across the nation.”
Managing Director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, Jen Barden said: “National Schools Cricket Day is a fantastic opportunity for young people in their education settings to get involved in so many aspects of the game!
School children take part in an ICC Schools Cricket day at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, joined by former England star Alex Hartley, to mark 50 days until the star of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Credit: Photo by Dave Thompson/Route One Photography
“We have members of the LCF delivering cricket across the County but also linking in lessons including the history of the game, using maths and science too!
“We have an amazing opportunity to inspire the next generation of cricketers, volunteers, coaches and officials in all aspects of cricket this summer with the games at Old Trafford, I can’t wait to see lots of young boys and girls giving cricket a go for the first time!”
Gemma Barton, ECB Head of Strategic Growth, said “Moments like this show how the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is shaping the future of the game. Every girl and boy inspired to pick up a bat and ball today can see how inclusive, welcoming and fun cricket is.
“It’s not just about the summer ahead, it’s about what comes next: more girls playing, more teams growing, and more people feeling like they belong in the game.”
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 are selling fast – you can get yours HERE.
Featured image: Dave Thompson/Route One Photography | 07711459404 www.routeonephotography.co.uk
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A major free styling event is coming to Cheshire Oaks, with big discounts, colour analysis, and styling masterclasses
Daisy Jackson
Cheshire Oaks will be hosting a major fashion event over the bank holiday weekend, helping us all to get inspired and fall in love with our spring wardrobes.
The Spring Womenswear Fashion Event will feature everything from styling masterclasses to huge in-store discounts, along with a range of freebies and giveaways.
Some of the top womenswear brands at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will be getting involved, along with fashion experts – and it’s all totally free to attend.
There’ll be live events like colour analysis to help you find your colour profile, plus workshops on styling outfits multiple ways, building capsule wardrobes, and shopping sustainably.
Whether you’re looking for insider advice or just a bit of inspiration for your shopping trip, you’ll find it here.
Personal stylists Laura Davies, Rachael Hughes, and Olivia Roseanna will be on hand to lead workshops and fashion showcases across the three-day weekend.
The Cheshire Oaks Spring Womenswear Fashion Event. Credit: The Manc Group
That will include a summer runway experience with JOSEPH, a capsule wardrobe masterclass, and a showcase to help you understand the transformative power of accessories.
Kate Harrison will also be at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet that day, with colour analysis sessions and a workshop on how the colour we wear can change our moods.
Then brands including Jigsaw and Whistles will show off the spring summer trends and give tips on how to style them.
And once you’re suitably inspired, you can hit the shops to pick up some new pieces, with plenty of stores offering major additional discounts.
Credit: Supplied
That includes an extra 20% off at Whistles, Mint Velvet Hobbs, Phase Eight, Jigsaw, Joseph, Calvin Klein, and Monsoon, plus other deals at Abercrombie & Fitch, Paul Smith, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Dune will be handing out fizz in store, plus giveaways when you spend £100 or more in store, and you can enter a raffle to win a Radley hamper of products when you spend £80.
The Spring Womenswear Fashion Event will take place at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet between 2 and 4 May – find out more HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
16th December 2022 
