A popular Festive Winter Fair is set to return to an iconic Manchester venue to kick off the Christmas season.
With the nights drawing in, the temperatures dropping by the day, and the shops and supermarkets already getting filled up with lots of festive food and gifts, it won’t be long before Manchester becomes a Christmas city once again – especially as the world-famous Manchester Christmas Markets are set to return in early November.
But for those keen to escape the hustle and bustle of the main Markets, and soak up all the festive spirit on a smaller scale instead, then Victoria Baths has just what you’re after.
Ready to transform the beautiful Grade II-listed building into a cultural Christmas hub for the day, and all set to encapsulate the “very best traditions of Christmas shopping”, Victoria Baths has confirmed that its much-loved Festive Winter Fair will be making an exciting return for 2024.
This is a chance to get your Christmas shopping done and dusted, all while supporting small independent businesses at the same time.
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Happening on the first day of December under the famous glass roofs of Victoria Baths’ pool hall, with the stunning building set to be decked-out to look its seasonal best, you can expect to find a wide range of Christmas gift ideas from Manchester’s finest makers, crafters, and creators.
Visitors will be able to browse and shop from a carefully-curated selection of 50 stalls that feature art, decorations, ceramics, clothing, glassware, jewellery, and so much more.
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A popular Festive Winter Market is returning to Victoria Baths to kick off the Christmas season / Credit: Supplied
The venue’s popular Tea Room will also be open and serving a selection of sweet and savoury snacks on the day too, as well as traditional mulled wine and mince pies, while local choirs will be adding to the atmosphere with renditions of everyone’s favourite Christmas carols, so it really is the perfect way to start the most festive month of all.
Not only that, but in the spirit of seasonal goodwill, Victoria Baths will also be a Christmas collection point for those wanting to donate a gift or food items to local charities.
Unwrapped gifts will be collected on behalf of Trafford Domestic Abuse Services this year, while and non-perishable food items will be collected for Manchester Central Foodbank.
The Festive Winter Fair will take over Victoria Baths for 2024 on Sunday 1 December from 11am-4pm, with tickets now on sale and starting from as little as £4 each, while under 18s go free.
James Blunt announces huge Manchester gig on new European arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, and has announced a massive Manchester gig as part of his run of arena shows.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad ‘You’re Beautiful’, is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour in Leeds next spring, before heading over for a night at the almighty Co-op Live in Manchester.
Then he’ll head to more cities including Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be ‘exhilarating’.
James has already released the first single, ‘Tastes Like Summer’, and ‘Weight Of It All’, with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who’ll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: “Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury.”
James Blunt will be at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 3 April, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Emily Sergeant -
17th October 2024 
