It’s never easy to hear about hospitality closures around our city – but the news that Hatch, the shipping container village that’s home to dozens of brilliant independents, would be closing hit harder than most.
This brilliant spot just off Oxford Road, literally beneath the Mancunian Way, has hosted countless traders since it opened in 2017.
There’s been dog fashion shows, Christmas discos, football screenings, supper clubs, gigs and loads more in the way of events hosted in its courtyard.
Dotted around the courtyards are shipping containers – some tiny spaces you can barely swing a cat in, others two-storey venue with their own roof terraces – which are all home to different businesses.
Among them you’ll find vintage fashion, beauty services, tapas bars, breweries, and even someone who’ll clean your trainers up.
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Every one of those traders has been given just 30 days notice to vacate their unit. By the end of September, they’ll be gone, ready for the site to be redeveloped by north east operator Stack.
Depending on who you speak to, they feel ‘gutted’, ‘sad’ and ‘screwed over’.
Such was the anger across Manchester that many of our knee-jerk reactions was to boycott the place altogether.
But the resounding message among those who remain desperately trading for another fortnight is this – don’t abandon them now.
The decision taken to close Hatch is not theirs, and as they all scramble to find a new home for their business, it’s more essential than ever that we put our money where our mouth is and give them every financial boost possible to the finish line.
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We popped down to Hatch one (very busy) lunch time to pick out just a few of the incredible businesses you can support.
It’s A Nail Thing
It’s A Nail Thing’s unit at Hatch, which has announced its closure. Credit: The Manc GroupGel nails created by It’s A Nail Thing. Credit: The Manc Group
Long-time friends of The Manc, It’s A Nail Thing is a bright, welcoming and judgement-free nail bar, where you can get some of the boldest and most beautiful gel nails in Manchester.
On learning the news of the closure, they wrote: “This place that we worked so hard for: I love it. The people who have made it what it is: we love you…
“PLEASE please come and support Hatch traders over the next month. We are small independent businesses being completely screwed over and we need you now more than ever.
“Eat, drink, get your nails done, your hair cut, your trainers fixed, your laptop sorted. The staff haven’t done this – support them, tip them. We will keep you informed on our next steps. We love you.
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Fuku
Fuku at Hatch said that Hatch’s closure is ‘difficult’. Credit: The Manc GroupFuku is one of the street food traders affected by Hatch’s closure. Credit: The Manc Group
If you love your street food with an Asian twist and a whole lot of personality, you probably already know about Fuku.
Salt and pepper chicken, katsu curry, Korean fried chicken, spring rolls, bao buns – it’s all good.
They wrote: “I’ve finally processed the loss of my first business, and it’s time to start a new adventure. I want to thank everyone who made the last 4 years a journey to cherish (customers, staff, management and the independent traders).
“Staying positive but it’s a difficult time for everyone involved, so please support the traders and staff at hatch. We close on 30th September.”
You’ll still be able to find them at Mala and Freight Island.
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Fuku added: “To clear up confusion, we were sent an email at 8pm Thursday night to attend a meeting at 11am on Friday. We were subsequently told about the closure of Hatch. The site is to close on 30th September. Stack (Danieli Group) are in partnership with Hatch/Bruntwood, and it’s set to reopen in late 2024. We have to vacate our stores and reapply for a unit (given priority). That is all the information I know so far.”
House of Habesha
House of Habesha at Hatch. Credit: The Manc Group
This is another street food operator that’s well worth travelling up Oxford Road for – authentic Eritrean and Ethiopian food, like home-cooked stews and curries served atop injera bread.
When we visited for a recent Takeaway Champions episode, we were absolutely blown away by the team and by the flavours they put together.
They said: “It’s just surreal for us… Just when we felt more at home at the amazing @hatchmcr and able to provide the service that we always wanted to give to our loyal customers. The unthinkable happens! We have until the end of September until we close. So we please urge you to support us and the rest of the traders here, and that we are looking for a permanent place here in the city please share this and we thank you.”
Sneaker Pharm
Sneaker Pharm, at the soon-to-close Hatch in ManchesterSneaker Pharm, at the soon-to-close Hatch in Manchester
Your favourite trainers seen better days, and looking a bit worse for wear after a lifetime of walking on Manchester’s wobbly paving slabs? Yeah, same.
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Sneaker Pharm is a business that will bring your favourite kicks back to life, from cleaning to mending.
They wrote about leaving Hatch: “I moved into Hatch four years ago with nothing but a dream, nerves and excitement. I’ve met my best friends and worked alongside some extremely talented hard working business owners, management and floor staff. It’s our first home.
“It’s with a heavy heart I have to announce that as of 30th September @hatchmcr will be no more. We have just been told the news and have less than 30 days to make a move. This will of course disrupt service so my sincerest apologies to everyone in the coming weeks but it’s beyond my control, me and all my friends at hatch are still processing the news. PLEASE SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENTS AT HATCH FOR THE REMAINDER.”
Crumbled
A pot of apple crumble from Crumbled before Hatch announced it’s closing. Credit: The Manc GroupA pot of apple crumble. Credit: The Manc Group
More comforting than putting on a fresh-out-the-tumble-dryer dressing gown and more Instagrammable than Molly-Mae with a new haircut, Crumbled is a dessert bar with a difference.
They specialise in one thing – crumbles – with different fruit fillings and toppings, like pretty pink piped marshmallow that’s torched and sprinkled with edible glitter.
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They hinted that they may now look for a permanent site, taking the closure of Hatch as a sign.
Pukht
Imagine street food and your favourite curry house made a baby, and then they rented a tiny shipping container and started selling food.
That’s what the vibe at Pukht is – cheese naan toasties, butter chicken burgers, tandoori nachos, and biryani burritos are all on the menu here.
They said on Instagram: “We had so so many plans to introduce new dishes this month, welcoming new students to #manchester and @hatchmcr but it’s not meant to be. We won’t let this sudden end to Hatch ruin your enjoyment of the food and vibes we provide with our fellow traders.
“Come and join us over the next [29 days] to enjoy Manchesters best food and drink served with the warmest welcome and the biggest smiles.”
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Suzy Loves Milo
Suzy Loves Milo has been part of the Hatch family for as long as we can remember, with vintage clothes and street wear galore.
There’s entire walls packed with colourful sunglasses, rails of vintage jackets, and loads more to browse.
Everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 – dates, locations, and more
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Christmas Markets will be taking over the city centre this festive season, with hundreds of little wooden huts lining the streets.
Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bringing thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on fantastic festive treats and soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.
This year will see a bigger return of Albert Square, after the headline-grabbing partial return at last year’s event – with the big wheel also set to make a comeback.
There’s also set to be some new locations too for 2026, with Lincoln Square joining in on the action, as well as big changes to St Ann’s Square with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’ bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.
There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre.
When are the Manchester Christmas Markets 2026?
This year’s Manchester Christmas Markets will take place between Friday 6 November and Monday 22 December, across 10 different city centre locations.
Some sites will remain open even longer though – there’ll be festivities continuing at both Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens (which is home to the Skate Manchester ice rink) until Sunday 3 January 2027.
Another date for your diary is the Manchester Christmas Parade, which will see floats and performers filling the city on Sunday 6 December.
Manchester Christmas Markets locations
Manchester Christmas Markets
There are some brand-new spots to check out this year as the markets officially leave Piccadilly Gardens and return to their spiritual home around Albert Square.
Notably, Lincoln Square will be hosting a food and drink-focused market for the first time.
St Ann’s Square will also have a brand-new look, and Albert Square will again be home to a helter-skelter and a big wheel, along with loads of food, drink, and festive retail.
The locations are:
Albert Square
Lincoln Square
King Street
St Ann’s Square
Corn Exchange
Exchange Street
New Cathedral Street
Market Street
Exchange Square
Cathedral Gardens
You can see more about what each location will offer HERE.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 opening and closing times
The vast majority of the Manchester Christmas Markets locations will be open from 10am to 9pm daily, through to 22 December.
The only exceptions are as follows:
Albert Square
6 November – 23 December: 10am to 9pm
24 December (Christmas Eve): 10am to 5pm
25 December (Christmas Day): Closed
26 December – 30 January: 10am to 6pm
31 January (New Year’s Eve): 10am to 12.30am
1–3 January: 10am to 6pm
Cathedral Gardens
6 November – 23 December: 10am to 9pm
24 December (Christmas Eve): 10am to 5pm
25 December (Christmas Day): Closed
26 December – 30 January: 10am to 6pm
31 January (New Year’s Eve): 10am to 12.30am
1–3 January: 10am to 6pm
Food and drink highlights at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Great North Pie Co. at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc GroupHong Kong French Toast at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
Until the markets are officially open, we’re not sure exactly what this year’s top stalls and must-eats will be – but looking at the trader list, we can give you a good idea.
The always-popular Yorkshire Pudding Wraps from Porky Pig will be back in Exchange Square, along with the iconic Witch House German bratwursts a short distance away on New Cathedral Street.
Other traders we loved in 2025 who’ll be returning this year include Great North Pie, Flat Baker, Hong Kong French Toast, and Oi Dumplings.
Travel advice and how to get to the Manchester Christmas Markets
As usual, passengers are advised to travel with public transport wherever possible, as the city centre will be very busy with both Christmas Markets visitors and shoppers.
There are eight tram stops in the city centre that will put you within walking distance of the festivities, with St Peter’s Square the closest to the main site at Albert Square.
Trains and buses also serve the city centre well, but if you really need to drive, TfGM is advising to make use of the park and ride system rather than risking traffic delays in town.
Chester Zoo welcomes The Traitors stars Claudia and Alan – but it’s not what you think
Lydia Mastrolonardo
No, Chester Zoo isn’t keeping actual Claudia Winkleman and Alan Carr in enclosures – everybody stand down.
The zoo is in fact welcoming its first pair of hooded vultures, to hopefully boost the critically endangered species, and they just so happen to be named after some of our favourite celebrities from The Traitors.
As famous as Alan Carr and Claudia Winkleman are, these two give them a run for their money, as the first of their kind to ever come to Chester Zoo – making them pretty big celebs in the animal kingdom.
The pair of vultures are currently nestling in to their new home, alongside their new white-headed vulture roommates, at the Heart of Africa aviary. It is here that conservationists are hoping the newly bonded pair will start a family, as part of a Europe-wide breeding programme, to help safeguard their species from extinction – no pressure or anything.
Bird Keeper Heather-Anne Pedley said: “Alan and Claudia came to us from the Horstmann Trust, a conservation breeding centre for vultures, where they are an established breeding pair. We named them after Traitors stars Alan Carr and Claudia Winkelman, because what better way to reflect how funny and engaging they are, than to name them after two national treasures?
“Nobody prepared me for how much I would fall in love with them, their antics and characters. They look like they’ve just put a hood up, and they have this beautiful blue ring around their eyes, like natural eyeliner.”
Alan and Claudia, Chester Zoo’s new vultures. Credit: Chester Zoo
Hooded vultures are distinctive with dark brown feathers, a buff ‘hood’ and a bald face and throat, with wingspans of up to 180cm. They are native to west, central and southern Africa, where they typically pick up their lunch by soaring over the land, looking for carcasses to feed upon as part of ‘nature’s clean-up crew.’
It’s not all gore though, they are very active, clever and interested in their environment. The couples are monogamous, will preen each other, gently touch each other’s bills and co-build nests – quite the romantics.
Heather-Anne added: “This pair are real love birds, and we are hopeful they’ll go on to breed. Any youngsters they go on to have will become part of a European conservation breeding programme, helping to create an insurance population for this incredibly rare species.
“In the wild, vultures help prevent zoonotic diseases – illnesses that can spread between species – because their stomach acid is so strong they can eat decaying meat that other animals would not be able to digest. This helps prevent the spread of diseases like anthrax and botulism into the soil.”
Despite their crucial role across various ecosystems, vulture numbers are declining and they are now sadly classified as critically endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
This decline is driven by mid-air collisions or accidental electrocution by scanning the ground for prey whilst perched on uninsulated power lines. These birds are also at risk of being poisoned or even hunted to facilitate an unsustainable demand for vulture body parts and eggs to be used in traditional medicine and rituals, while there is no scientific evidence to support this use.
We are really rooting these two and hope that they settle into their new home.
Daisy Jackson -
16th September 2023 
