Another month, another round of new openings – and there’s plenty to get stuck into.
Whether you’re into glitzy late-night hang outs, casual dining turnarounds or award-winning burritos, let’s just say there’s something on the list for you this October.
From the brand new Shogun Ramen and Bar, which sees beloved Chorlton restaurant Peck & Yard give it ‘one more shot’ with a ramen and sushi concept, to Mayfair celeb haunt Mnky Hse, keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.
Shogun Ramen and Bar
Image: Shogun Ramen and Bar
Image: Shogun Ramen and Bar
Fans and staff alike were heartbroken when Chorlton restaurant Peck & Yard announced it was closing its doors for good in August, so we’re all happy to see the team return under a new guise.
Switching from baskets of fried chicken to steaming bowls of ramen and handrolled sushi, bosses will try something entirely new as they delve into the world of Japanese cuisine.
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The concept is something they had originally considered before opening Peck & Yard, and they said that “with the times we’re in” they thought “why not go back to the original idea and give this one last shot”.
Soft launch 1 October from 5pm, open from 6 October.
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Mnky Hse
Image: Mnky Hse
Image: Mnky Hse
Late-night bar and restaurant Mnky Hse (pronounced “monkey house”) is set to be taking over a space in Lloyd House this month.
First opened in Mayfair, London, in 2016, it will be the second UK site for the restaurant and its first in the north of England when it opens its doors this September.
Known for its ‘hidden entrance’, Instagram-friendly interiors, live music, extensive cocktail menu and Latin American dishes, here you’ll find a great range of tacos – both soft and crunchy – alongside a range of sushi, ceviche and grill dishes.
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14 October
Tortilla, Oxford Road
Image: Tortilla
Image: Tortilla
Mexican food chain Tortilla has arrived in Manchester, bringing a new burrito shop to the Oxford Road student stretch this month.
Offering a range of award-winning burritos, nachos and tacos, you’ll also find quesadillas, chips and salsa, salad bowls and more on the menu.
The most hyped brunch restaurant in the city is opening a third site at the Circle Square development on Oxford Road at the end of this month.
With a later license allowing it to stay open longer and serve cocktails, beers and natural wines into the night, Federal Cafe & Bar will look to host occassional events at its new home
Plans for the new site include a new cafe set up, the addition of a corner shop, as well as a late alcohol license.
A new arrival in Longridge, Fell Bistro comes from former Masterchef the Professional finalist Oli Martin who previously spent eight years at four AA rosette restaurant Hipping Hall.
With head chef Rikki Hughes, previousl of Tom Kerridge’s Michelin pub The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, heading up the kitchen we expect great things.
The menu offers a selection of classic dishes with their wood fired oven and grill featuring prominently. Elsewhere, find hearty Sunday lunches and light bites.
Open now
Bread and Bowl, Spinningfields
There are carb overloads, and then there is Bread & Bowls‘ Full English breakfast in a hollowed-out loaf.
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First launched in February 2020, these ginormous loaves of sourdough – stuffed with fry-up favourites like high-grade local sausages, crispy streaky bacon, beans, cheese, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and hash browns – became something of a hungover lockdown sensation.
Now, you can find them at the new Spinningfields coffee shop 92 Degrees, housed inside the no.1 Spinningfields building Served between 8am and 4pm every day.
Open now
Bold Street Coffee, Oxford Road
Liverpool-born Bold Street Coffee has just opened its second shop here in the space of a few months.
Moving into the universities territory, the new site is found at University Green just off Oxford Road.
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Serving the same menu as its Cross Street site, head down for egg boxes, signature BSC frys, and hearty bowls of super porridge and granola.
Open now
Feature image – Federal / Tortilla / The Manc Eats
The Guides
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 3 – 9 November 2025
Emily Sergeant
November is here, and the festive season is on its way.
Can you believe we’ve left October behind last week? Now that spooky season has been and gone, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Greater Manchester – especially as the annual Manchester Christmas Markets get underway this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries. We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Land of Lights 2025
Gulliver’s World
Monday 3 November – onwards
Land of Lights at Gulliver’s World / Credit: The Manc Group
The magical Land of Lights has returned to Gulliver’s World once again.
After proving to be a huge success the past two years, the one-mile trail showcases a huge array of lanterns and displays, creating a wondrous, wild, and magical atmosphere that’s suitable for all ages, and this year, there’s even some new additions.
Alongside returning favourites, visitors can now experience all-new lanterns filled with light and colour inspired by the wonders of nature.
Skate Manchester 2025 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2025, ready for families, friends, and festive fun seekers to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas, Skate Manchester is festive staple in Cathedral Gardens, and skaters can expect to glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink for another year.
This year, there’s also a giant turbine by Octopus Energy that’s partially-powering the rink too, and you can skate around it while enjoying the ski scene in the globe.
The Oast House’s popular teepee draped in twinkling lights is back for the festive season.
Complete with two roaring fires, twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws, The Teepee is made up of four tents joined together to create a huge open hub, complete with a stage area for guests to dance the night away in festive spirit.
It’s all sounding set to be a popular spot for locals and those who’ve finished a hard day at work during the autumn and winter months.
One of the greatest British sitcoms of all time is back, but this time, on stage.
50 years since it first graced our TV screens, Fawlty Towers is now a brand-new stage play adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, and it’s arriving in Manchester this week to take over the iconic Opera House stage.
Fresh from a sold-out West End season, this laugh-out-loud production is set to bring sharp wit, chaos, and calamity at every turn.
Feeling brave? Halloween may be over but Scare City has returned to the North West with yet another ‘immersive’ horror experience, and you’ve just got one weekend left to visit.
Taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park for ‘another year of terror’, just as it has done for the past four years, this year’s event features a selection of terrifying zones to weave your way through – some familiar, some brand new.
Tickets are now available to book for the last weekend at £29.50 for standard entry, or £44.50 for the ‘Gold Entry’ (both plus a booking free).
Find out more and grab tickets to this year’s event here.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s that time of year once again… Manchester Christmas Markets open for 2025 this week.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites all set to line the streets of our city this year.
Visitors will be able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
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Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 here.
Remembrance Sunday 2025 / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester is set to remember the fallen during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
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Just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has revealed the details of how the city will mark this important occasion.
Proceedings will start on John Dalton Street at 10:30am, and run right through until midday – with the service itself being held at 11am.
Find out all the parade plans and road closures here.
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Meet Dr Chris at Operation Ouch!
Science and Industry Museum
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Sunday 9 November
Meet Dr Chris at Operation Ouch! / Credit: The Manc Group | Science Museum Group
Got a curious kid on your hands? Well, you can take them to meet the star of one of their favourite TV shows at the Science and Industry Museum this weekend.
In case you hadn’t heard, Operation Ouch! is back in Manchester again with a fresh new experience for 2025, and this time around, visitors can journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
And now, Dr Chris Van Tulleken will be at the museum to meet visitors as part of his myth-busting mission to answer some of the public’s deepest questions about our senses.
Did you see that Manchester’s libraries are set to become ‘warm spaces’ with free hot drinks and WiFi this winter?
After millions of local residents have visited the ‘stigma-free safe spaces’ to escape and take refuge from the cold each year since they were first introduced in 2022, Manchester City Council has decided to reintroduce its popular ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ scheme once again this year.
All 22 of Manchester’s public libraries are, once again, taking part in the scheme this time around.
Designed to ‘provide support to people who need it’ over some of the most challenging months of the year when temperatures drop, the Council’s scheme is offering a range of different services – and they’re all for free of charge.
Free hot drinks, WiFi and internet access, data SIM cards, and newspapers are just some of the things people can make the most of inside these ‘warm spaces’, as well as get access to information, advice, and extra signposting to other support services they made need in the city.
Just choose the base item you want to personalise, then go to town picking your favourite patches and designs from their huge selection. Once you’ve found your favourites, head over to the till to get your chosen patches ironed onto your item all ready for you to use.
This is perfect for gifting or a fun activity with friends.
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Fancy a roast dinner? Tis the season, after all.
Summer may be over, but guess what? Now that autumn is well and truly here, that means we get to wear layers, cosy up in our favourite places, and eat heartwarming plates piled high with all the major food groups.
Whether you want the likes of Banyan’s bottomless Yorkshire puddings bigger than your head, or swapping your meat out for a pie (you heard us), we’ve got something to suit everyone… you can even get dog roasts too, if you ask The Refuge nicely.
Check out our top 25 best places to head to for a perfect roast in Greater Manchester here.
Roast dinners / Credit: The Manc Group
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Roast dinner not your thing? Well how about an autumnal pizza menu instead.
The Northern Quarter’s legendary Neapolitan pizzeria Ciaooo has just released its autumn menu, and it’s everything we’ve been missing and more.
Think that signature thick crust, but topped with classic faves such as lasagne, boscaiola, and the spicy ‘King’ (which is one for the heat lovers out there). Also did we mention there’s a garlic bread fully-loaded with an entire wheel of camembert?
To make it even better, Ciaooo will be offering 30% off for the first week of November, so book in and get your pizza fix for less.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council | The Manc Group | Skate Manchester
The Guides
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 – dates, locations, and essential information
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 are upon us, bringing festive cheer, seasonal shopping and winter warmer food and drink to the city centre.
The massive annual event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city, with the streets filled with wooden sheds and glittering lights.
Alongside all the food, drink and shopping that the event brings, there’s an ice rink over at Cathedral Gardens and a brand-new big wheel with views of the Manchester Town Hall.
The light installations will also be returning to St Peter’s Square this year.
The Manchester Christmas Markets will return to Albert Square for its 2025 instalment, for the first time in six years.
There’ll be more than 200 stalls to explore across the city centre selling everything from traditional bratwurst and gluhwein to more local and viral treats from familiar independent businesses.
Read on for your essential information for the 2025 Manchester Christmas Markets.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 dates
This year’s Manchester Christmas Markets will take place from Friday 7 November to Monday 22 December 2025.
Manchester’s Christmas Markets will open at ten locations across the city on Friday 7 November and close on Monday 22 December, except for A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square and the stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will remain open throughout the Christmas period until 4 January 2026.
Christmas in Manchester will also see the Skate Manchester Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens open for Christmas skaters from Friday 7 November until Sunday 4 January, and the magical Manchester Christmas Parade which will take place on Sunday 7 December.
Food and drink prices at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2025
If you want to see a proper breakdown of the prices of food and drink across the markets this year, we’ve got it all for you HERE.
But if you just want the ballpark averages, have a look below.
The Manchester Christmas Markets will finally return to their home at Albert Square this winter, but it’ll look a little different to in previous years.
‘A Taste of Christmas’ will include a 50-metre-high Ferris wheel, as well as a bespoke market with twinkling lights and covered seating.
There’ll be traditional food and drink like a German swing grill, German beers, waffles and pancakes, as well as loaded hash browns from Wrap Up, and stalls selling a range of crafts, including jewellery, clothing and handmade decorations.
Piccadilly Gardens
Piccadilly Gardens will again be the main hub of the Manchester Christmas Markets, transforming into the Winter Gardens.
There’ll be global flavours from the traders here, like Greek gyros, British comfort food, Brazilian street food and Korean hot dogs.
And Crimble Crumbles will be back again with their famous fruit crumble desserts, served with lashings of custard.
There’ll be covered seating areas, as well as karaoke huts from Bar Hutte.
Market Street
Manchester’s bustling main shopping street will be filled with more than 40 different stalls selling bespoke crafts, gifts and produce, like crowd favourites of freshly baked coconut macaroons and cheese truckles.
The beautiful Cathedral Gardens is home to Skate Manchester again, a huge ice rink where you can whizz around beneath a towering Christmas tree.
This is the most family-friendly corner of the Manchester Christmas Markets, with plenty of activities to entertain little ones all the way into the New Year.
This part of the markets also stays open until 4 January 2026, and there’s a hub of authentic food and drink.
St Ann’s Square
St Ann’s Square is the original home of the Manchester Christmas Markets, and it still keeps that traditional atmosphere alive and well.
There’ll be music from singers and community choirs, and an undercover bar where you can fill up on German beers and gluhwein.
Exchange Street
Last year’s viral melted chocolate taps will be back this year on Exchange Street, free-poured over strawberries, brownies, or straight into miniature chocolate cups.
There’ll also be new loaded hash browns, and stalls selling lovely festive gifts too.
New Cathedral Street
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025The Flat Baker will return to the Manchester Christmas Markets 2025
Nothing signals the start of the Manchester Christmas Markets quite like the arrival of the giant sausage statue on New Cathedral Street, which will be back for 2025 at the iconic Witch House.
As well as those traditional German bratwurst and beers, you can buy rum, leather goods and other keepsakes all the way down the row of huts.
There’ll also be steak frites, burittos from Mango Rays, and craft drinks at Bar 3.
Exchange Square
Exchange Square is one of the largest sites in the city, home to the legendary The Mill Exchange bar with a whole host of homemade mulled wine flavours.
This is also where you’ll find the always-popular Porky Pig and their Yorkshire pudding wraps, as well as loads and loads of other food and drink.
And as for the shopping, expect everything from soaps to Turkish delight.
King Street
This is always one of the cosiest and most traditional corners of the Manchester Christmas Markets, a row of wooden huts tucked in between the high-end shops and restaurants of King Street.
There are two new bars this year offering an upmarket drinking experience, plus food stalls selling chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, Greek gyros and plenty more.
And this is the home of picky bits, with an Italian deli selling gourmet meats and cheeses.
The Corn Exchange
Last but not least will be a huddle of craft stalls between the Corn Exchange and Shambles Square, where you can purchase pork pies, artisan cheeses, and handmade truffles.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 opening and closing times
Albert Square
7 November to 23 December: 10am to 9pm
24 December (Christmas Eve): 10am to 5pm
25 December (Christmas Day): closed
26 to 30 December: 10am to 6pm
31 December (New Year’s Eve): 10–12.30am
1 to 4 January: 10am to 6pm
Cathedral Gardens
24 October to 6 November: 10am to 8pm
7 November to 23 December: 10am to 9pm
24 December (Christmas Eve): 10am to 5pm
25 December (Christmas Day): closed
26 December to 4 January: 10am to 5pm
Other locations
Piccadilly Gardens – 10am to 9pm daily from 7 November to 22 December
Market Street – 10am to 9pm every day except Sundays, when the market will close at 6pm
St Ann’s Square – every day between 10am and 9pm
Exchange Street – 10am to 9pm daily
New Cathedral Street – 10am to 8pm daily
Exchange Square – daily from 10am to 9pm
King Street – every day 10am to 9pm
Corn Exchange – open daily from 10am to 8pm
Manchester Christmas Markets mug design and price
The design and price for the Manchester Christmas Markets mugs 2025 has been revealed. Credit: Manchester City Council
Festive, collectible, colourful mugs are a huge staple of the Manchester Christmas Markets – and the designs for 2025 are a true Mancunian affair, capturing several festive landmarks in the style of a colourful toy town.
That includes illustrations of the iconic windmill bar, a huge Christmas tree, and a neat row of Christmas Markets huts, complete with traders and (of course) a gigantic bratwurst statue.
The Manchester Christmas Markets mugs deposit remains at £3.50 for 2025, which you can sacrifice to take your mug home as a keepsake or have refunded when you return your mug to the bar.
The mugs will be available at all 10 market locations from opening day on Friday 7 November, while stocks last (and they have sold out in the previous three years).
Travel advice and how to get to the Manchester Christmas Markets
The city centre gets busy during November and December, so people are urged to use public transport wherever possible to travel in and out of the city centre for the Manchester Christmas Markets.
There are plenty of other events running alongside the festivities, from huge football matches to gigs at the AO Arena to Black Friday sales.
Georgina Pellant -
30th September 2022 
