Manchester City Council has today announced that two mini socially-distanced Christmas Markets will go ahead in the city centre from this week.
The event – which will invite independent local traders in Manchester and across the region who would have been part of the city’s usual Christmas markets – is hoping to provide a “flavour of Manchester’s famous Christmas Markets”, all while supporting businesses during the festive period.
The markets will be located in Piccadilly Gardens and St Ann’s Square, and will offer visitors a seasonal alternative to the high street.
The Piccadilly Gardens markets will include the usual street food traders, along with a range of craft and gift stalls, and is open now until Wednesday 23rd December from 10.30am – 7pm, while the markets in St Ann’s Square will welcome some of the usual Christmas Market favourites for two long weekends.
These will take place between Wednesday 9th December – Sunday 13th December & Wednesday 16th December – Sunday 20th December from 10.30am – 7pm.
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Cllr Pat Karney – Christmas Spokesperson at Manchester City Council – said: “We know people were so disappointed to hear this year’s Christmas Markets could not go ahead [but] public safety must be at the heart of everything we do, and we could not put on our usual world-class event while keeping people safe.
“Since then, we have been looking at ways of supporting the Christmas traders at an important time of year for their businesses, while also attracting people to the city centre in a safe and manageable way.
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“Our Winter Markets have attracted some of the city’s – and region’s – top makers and traders, who provide a real alternative to the high street.”
Geograph / David Dixon
St Ann’s Square
Porky Pig – Yorkshire Pudding Wraps
Eat Greek – Traditional Gyros and Halloumi Fries
Elsie May – Cookie Dough
Mango Rays – Burritos and Vegan Chill con Carne
There will also be the fan-favourite traditional Christmas market pancakes, and gourmet English sausage and German bratwurst too.
Piccadilly Gardens
Week One
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The Crusty Pie Company
Popsters
The Great British Cheese Company
Johnsons Toffees
The Closet Boutique
Zen Experimental
Mandalay Accessories
The Cocktail Co
Amazonas Gifts
Cheshire Cheese Company
Personalised Gifts
Paul Collins
Trolle Trading Limited
Snugglebottle
Priya
Sticky Chocolate
The Olive Tree
Week 2
Snugglebottle
Chi Chi’s
The Little Gift Hut
Mayflower Apiaries
Priya Trading
The Cheese Board
Sticky Chocolate
The Closet Boutique
From The Olive Tree
O’Donnell Moonshine
Malvavisco
Just The Cheese
Amazonas Jewellery
Johnsons Toffees
The Crusty Pie Company
Popsters
The Cocktail Co.
Paul Collins
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The weekend markets will be strictly managed to limit the number of people who can access the stalls at any one time, using a one-way traffic system to ensure social distancing can be always adhered to.
Outdoor markets can trade under the Tier 3 guidelines.
You can find more information about all the stalls via the Manchester City Council website here.
Trending
Will Smith announces huge gig in Manchester this year
Hollywood icon and music star Will Smith is releasing new music for the first time in 20 years, and he’s performing in Manchester later this year.
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down because The Fresh Prince a.k.a Will Smith is coming to Manchester and he’s bringing new music too.
One of the biggest names in the world, the 56-year-old is behind some seriously catchy songs like ‘Miami’, Summertime’, ‘Gettin Jiggy Wit It’.
His new album drops on 28 March, titled ‘Based On A True Story’, and has some featuring credits from R&B megastar Teyana Taylor and his own son Jaden too.
The opening track of the new record ‘Int. Barbershop – Day’ even sees the Philadelphia native linking up with ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ theme tune collaborator, DJ Jazzy Jeff.
It should come as no surprise that this superstar is returning to the stage since both his children have been reaching impressive heights with their musical careers, especially Willow.
Smith has been kicking it with the big dogs of the rap scene recently as current global phenomenon Doechii recruited him for a viral video surrounding her latest single ‘Anxiety’.
This isn’t the only way Smith has been staying in the public eye, he’s also dropped the collaboration ‘First Love’ with Spanish singer, India Martínez, even performing it at Latin award show, Premio Lo Nuestro.
This isn’t the only huge stage he’s performing on as he took to social media to announce he’ll be playing for Concacaf Nations League at Sofi Stadium on 23 March.
The Hollywood star has picked up an Oscar, four Grammys, a BAFTA and films he’s featured in have grossed just under $10 billion – he is legendary.
Now, he’s set to play three UK cities including Manchester, London and even a show in Wolverhampton, we really did get lucky with this one.
The album cover for his latest drop in 20 years ‘Based On A True Story’.The tracklist for Will Smith’s upcoming project.Credit: Instagram
Aldi is launching a range of mystery hot cross buns, and there’s a cash prize up for grabs if you correctly guess the flavours.
Easter may be more than a month away at this point, but chocolate eggs, themed sweet treats, and, of course, hot cross buns are already stacked on supermarket shelves nationwide – with loads of different varieties to choose from.
Long gone are the days when the traditional current spiced hot cross buns are all you could find, as now there’s everything from chocolate orange and coffee, to lemon, blueberry, and even chilli cheese to try out.
But would you be brave enough to try a mystery hot cross bun?
In what is thought to be the first taste challenge of its kind by a supermarket, Aldi is giving shoppers the chance to win £1,000 worth of shopping vouchers if they manage to correctly guess the secret flavour of its three limited-edition hot cross buns.
Aldi launches mystery hot cross buns and you can win £1,000 if you guess the flavours / Credit: Sarah Horrigan
Launching in Aldi stores every Thursday for three weeks starting this Thursday (20 March), the mystery hot cross buns will come in eye-catching colourful packaging to tempt daring shoppers to put their taste buds to the test.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is pick up a pack of mystery hot cross buns, at just 99p for a two-pack, then spend some time tasting, smelling, and pondering over what the flavour may be, before submitting your guesses to guesstheflavour@aldi.co.uk.
You must be over 18 to enter, and can only enter once per flavour of hot cross bun.
There’ll be three winners in total, one for each mystery flavour, who’ll be chosen at random from correct entries.
The Manc -
7th December 2020 
