The Manchester Christmas Markets have finally returned to the city centre, filling streets with wooden huts and festive cheer.
It’s one of the biggest events in Manchester’s cultural calendar and attracts thousands to our city every year.
The 2021 Manchester Christmas market celebrations have moved to a new location, with a central hub at Piccadilly Gardens for the first time.
This corner of the city centre will become the Winter Gardens, featuring market stalls, bars, a live music stage and street food stands, taking the reigns from the usual hub at Albert Square.
But the festivities won’t end there, with six other sites, including at St Ann’s Square, King Street and Market Street.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the Manchester Christmas Markets.
When are the 2021 Manchester Christmas Markets?
The old hub at Albert Square. The Markets are now centred around Piccadilly Gardens. Credit: Flickr (Andrew Stawarz)
This year’s celebrations are officially underway, after weeks of wooden sheds beginning to appear across the city centre.
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The 2021 markets are open from Friday November 12, and will run until Wednesday December 22.
The one exception will be the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens, which are open right through until January 3.
The Christmas Markets are open from 10am every day, though some sites and stalls will close earlier than others.
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Where are the Manchester Christmas Markets sites in 2021?
The new hub at Piccadilly Gardens. Credit: The Manc
There’s loads to explore at this year’s Christmas Markets in Manchester, from family-friendly sites with ice skating to the main festive hub with live music and loads of bars.
Here’s a rough breakdown of what you can find and where.
Piccadilly Gardens/Winter Gardens – This will be the heart of the Manchester Christmas Markets for this winter, with a live music stage, covered marquee seating, and dozens of bars and food stalls.
St Ann’s Square – As well as the traditional nativity scene (part of the festive light trail), St Ann’s Square will have a campervan photo booth, food from local favourites Yard & Coop, and lots more market stalls.
Market Street – Manchester’s main shopping street will have a slightly scaled-down offering for 2021 to give people more room to move around.
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Catherdral Gardens – This will be the family-friendly hive of activity at this year’s event, featuring an ice rink and live entertainment, plus food and drink huts.
King Street – A haven for all things Alpine, most of the huts along King Street will be serving up French and Italian produce – including a hot gin bar.
Exchange Square – Someone sound the Yorkshire pudding wrap alarm, for Exchange Square will be home to Porky Pig this year, alongside the familiar Mill Exchange bar with its massive chimney.
New Cathedral Street – This small section of markets is home to a giant sausage sculpture with the Witchouse food stall, joined by loads of market stalls selling gifts and clothes.
How much is beer and wine at the Christmas Markets?
The Witch House at New Cathedral Street. Credit: The Manc
Piccadilly Gardens Hot Roast Pork Rolls – £4.50 mulled wine or cider Off Piste Bar – £5 piste lager, £5.50 Alpine ale or Weissebier, £5 wine, £4.50 mulled wine or plum cider, £5 spirit and mixer
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Cathedral Gardens Well Spruce bar – £5 mulled wine or spiced cider
Exchange Square Elsie May’s Cookie Dough – £5.50 boozy hot chocolates, £5 wine, £6 prosecco (extra 50p for shimmering prosecco) The Mill Exchange – £5 warm drinks, including caramel cider, and mulled wine flavours of raspberry, strawberry and amaretto, and blackberry and apple
New Cathedral Street Witch House – £5.50 lager, £10 Bavarian Maß, £5.50 hot boozy drinks, £5.50 with hot chocolate with alcohol,
St Ann’s Square Mamma Mia! – £5 pint Peroni, £6 prosecco, £4.50 wine or mulled wine Munchen Bar – £5 gluhwein (£7 for special gluhwein), £3.50 hot chocolate (£5 with alcohol), £6 pint of lager or wheat beer
King Street Bistrot Le Petit Paris – £4 mulled wine (£5 with brandy or amaretto), £5 sparkling wine, £10 champagne, £4.50 pint lager, £4.50 wine. Best Sausage – £4.50 pint of lager.
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What about Covid?
This year’s Christmas Markets in Manchester. Credit: The Manc
Manchester City Council has said that there’ll be measures in place at the Christmas markets this year to limit the possible spread of Covid-19.
That includes a one-way system and limited visitor numbers at the main hub at Piccadilly Gardens.
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “We’re making up for lost time this year and I can’t wait to see the transformation in the city centre into the festive wonderland we know and love.
“Of course, all of our attractions have public health at their heart and the safety of our visitors will be paramount.
“Covid remains a real concern and we will have strict maximum numbers in some areas like the Winter Gardens to make sure people can maintain their distance – and security will be helping us manage crowds.”
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Where’s the Giant Santa this year?
Manchester’s new Giant Santa, who has replaced the much-loved Zippy. Credit: Manchester City Council
Sadly there’ll be no sightings of Zippy, Manchester’s famous blue-eyed festive mascot, this year, as he headed into retirement in 2019.
A new (less heavy) model was unveiled that same year, and he’ll be back to keep an eye over the festivities this year.
The newer Santa, complete with his twirly moustache and giant present perch, won’t be at the Christmas Markets themselves, but will instead be built in St Peter’s Square.
He’s expected to arrive next week.
Don’t miss out on any of Manchester’s Christmas celebrations! Keep up with what’s on here.
Featured image – Flickr
What's On
Wildlife conservationist Steve Backshall to host ‘fascinating’ new stage show at Chester Zoo next month
Emily Sergeant
Wildlife conservationist and TV presenter Steve Backshall is hosting a new stage show at Chester Zoo next month.
The new show – which has been created especially for Chester Zoo audiences – will take visitors on a ‘fascinating’ journey into the lives and ancient origins of sharks, which are by far one of the planet’s most extraordinary and misunderstood predators.
Featuring real shark teeth and jaws, lifelike replicas, and historic footage, during each 30-minute live show, audiences will get the chance to travel back in time and discover the earliest sharks that once swam our shorelines, how they have evolved over millions of years, and what makes them such remarkable animals today.
Visitors will have the chance to learn all about a wide variety of shark species – from the iconic great white, to the unusual wobbegong shark.
Drawing on his own experiences, the world-renowned wildlife conservationist and TV presenter will also share stories from his personal encounters with the ocean’s most powerful predators, and will take part in a Q&A all about it too.
Funds from ticket sales – which cost £5 each – will support the zoo’s vital conservation efforts, both in the UK and in more than 20 countries around the world.
“I’m really looking forward to performing my new live show at Chester Zoo,” commented Steve Backshall.
Wildlife conservationist Steve Backshall is hosting ‘fascinating’ new stage show at Chester Zoo next month / Credit: Supplied
“It’s somewhere that’s doing some incredible work to protect species around the world, so it’s the perfect place for me to go and talk about my love of sharks and how we can all do our bit to make the world a better place for them.”
Steve Backshall Live will take place from 23 – 31 May, with shows running at 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm daily.
Zoo visitors will also need to book Chester Zoo admission tickets for the day, or have a valid membership, to attend a show – and tickets to the show can be booked online here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
Stockport’s free street festival Stock Party is returning this summer
Daisy Jackson
Stock Party, the free street festival that sees Stockport absolutely packed, will return to the town this summer.
Organisers are promising that this year’s event will be even bigger and bolder than before, filling the streets from the Great Underbank through Stockport Market Place and along the Underbanks, reaching all the way to Robinsons Brewery Yard.
For this one magical day in summer, Stockport will transform into an open-air, town-wide block party, in a huge celebration of the town’s independent spirit.
The event will bring together street food traders, pop-up bars, DJ sets, and plenty of entertainment in every corner of town.
It’s all one big collaboration between Track Brewing Co., Robinsons Brewery, Cloudwater, SK1 Records, and Totally Stockport (Stockport’s Business Improvement District), along with new partners Stockport County FC.
Robinsons Brewery Yard will host a major hub for Stock Party, with Track, Robinsons and Uskees taking over the space, plus music curated by Odioba and food from Honest Crust pizza and ISCA.
Over on the Underbank, it’ll be Cloudwater pouring the beers and SK1 Records on the decks outside their new shop.
Robinson’s Brewery will host a major hub of Stock Party 2026Independent businesses across Stockport will be getting involved
This is where you’ll find some of Stockport’s most exciting independent food traders in once place, including Mekong Cat and The Spinn Off.
And at Stockport Market Place, Red Bull will have a dedicated DJ stage.
It’s not just about food, booze, and tunes though – Stock Party 2026 will have plenty of family-friendly events going on.
That includes a breakout space in Stockroom, pottery and photography workshops in Merseyway, and craft workshops in Good Yard Studio.
There’s even a free family disco, complete with inflatable instruments, in Hillgate Cakery.
The Apple Core, Stockport’s newest opening, will transform into a wellness space, featuring a social run, curated exhibition, and an evening of music.
A sample of last year’s Stock Party celebration. Credit: Supplied
As the day turns to night, Stock Party will continue with its now-legendary after-party pub rave at Red Bull on Hillgate.
Pop into basically any local business during Stock Fest and you’ll find them getting stuck into the atmosphere, with loads of street bars, takeaway drinks, and DJs popping up all over town.
You’ll even be able to grab a bowl of fresh pasta from the door of Little Scarves, or a sandwich from a Rack pop-up.
We’ve listed a load of the independent venues joining in with Stock Party below so we don’t miss anyone:
Bruk – DJs from day into night, street bar, and special Stock Party cocktails
Runaway brewery – a special Stock Party beer in collaboration with some of favourite Stockport Indies, alongside Honest Crust Pizza specials and a party at the taproom throughout the day
Noah’s – DJs and bar activation
The Good Rebel – outdoor bar with beers and spritz
This Godless Place – house and disco DJs from midday with outdoor seating
Sleepy Parrot Studio – live music and radio station takeover
Fell Stockport – takeaway can deals and vinyl sessions
Little Scarves – fresh pasta served from the door
Rack – sandwich pop-up
On Da Rocks – DJs throughout the day
Marley’s – Mexican street food specialising in birria tacos
Convene – wood-fired Balkan flatbreads with charcoal mangal and natural wines
The Dilly Deli – oysters, sandwiches, spritz, and wine
Underbanks – Gatto sourdough pizza, crémant bar, DJ programme, and outdoor seating
On Da Rocks Caribbean food offers including jerk chicken, curry goat, and plant-based options, alongside cocktail deals
Stock Party will take place on Saturday 4 July between 12pm and 9pm, with free entry.
Daisy Jackson -
11th November 2021 
