A completely COVID-safe and socially-distanced Ultimate Grotto Experience is arriving in the heart of the Northern Quarter next week.
We all know by now that the festive season is gearing up to be a little different this year, with the UK government having sadly conceded that “Christmas cannot be normal” amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and while it has been announced that up to three families can form a Christmas bubble between 23rd – 27th December, it just won’t be the same as it usually is for many.
But luckily, The NQ Grotto is still adamant on bringing some festive cheer to Manchester as safely as possible.
Both children and adults alike are invited to be taken on “a magical 60-minute journey through Christmas” next week by visiting “a fairytale land called Mancunia” tucked away in the majestic basement of the Northern Quarter’s iconic Hilton House.
The NQ Grotto is promising a “meet Santa experience like no other”.
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Included in the Ultimate Grotto Experience ticket price, you’ll get to meet & greet the Ice Princesses and Ice Queen, listen to some magical story telling with Mrs Claus, enjoy a spot of socially-distanced fun with elves Holly & Ivy, and of course, have the chance to wave to the big man himself, all from the comfort of your own private box with your household / social bubble.
Up to six people from the same household / social bubble will be permitted in a single box.
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With safety of “paramount importance” at The NQ Grotto, all boxes will be fully disinfected between sessions, hand sanitiser will be available throughout the building, face coverings must be worn at all times – not required for children under 11 or for those legally exempt – and all guests must remain seated and in their box for the full duration of the session.
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You are asked to arrive 10 minutes prior to your session and remain on Hilton Street in the queue which will be clearly marked ‘The NQ Grotto’, and once your session is over, prompt vacation of the building is encouraged so that staff are able to prepare for the next session.
Track & Trace will also be required by the lead guest before entering the building, and where possible, it is asked that prams and pushchairs are not brought to the event.
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Up to 30 guests maximum will be in the building during any one session.
The NQ Grotto is taking place in 60-minute sessions throughout the day on Saturday 19th – Thursday 24th December, with tickets setting you back £80 per single household / bubble box.
There’s still plenty of time to grab your tickets and suitably get into the festive spirit before the big day rolls around, but it’s advised to act fast if you want to secure your spot as dates and sessions are being snapped up quickly.
The NQ Grotto, Hilton House, Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EH
What's On
Co-op Live confirmed as the host venue for the 2026 Netball Super League Grand Final
Danny Jones
Manchester’s Co-op Live has booked its latest big event as the 2026 Netball Super League (NSL) Grand Final is set to be held at the massive indoor venue.
As one of the biggest indoor entertainment venues not just in the country but all of Europe, there’ll be room for plenty of UK fans to pile into the stands.
This being not only the NSL‘s debut at the arena but the first final to ever be held in the building, it’s set to be a historic night for lots of reasons.
Announcing the huge coup – not just for the increasingly popular female-led competition, but for sports fans around Greater Manchester in general – this week, the reaction to the big date on the women’s sporting calendar has been just as big.
As mentioned in an official press release, “The selection of Co-op Live for the 2026 Soft & Gentle Grand Final builds on the arena’s rapid emergence as a global destination for sport and entertainment, following a programme of major global broadcasts across music and sport.”
The 23,500-capacity and completely indoor stadium has quickly established itself as a leading destination for live music and more since it finally opened back in May 2024.
Last year’s Super League Grand Final was held down in the capital at The O2 Arena as the fast-rising franchise London Pulse beat Loughborough Lightning 53–45 to lift the title for the first time in history.
Now, the NSL is looking to capitalise on those record-breaking crowds by bringing the action closer to another foundational home for so many competitive disciplines: Greater Manchester.
With England Netball themselves being headquarted at the England Netball is headquartered at the National Squash Centre and Regional Arena on the Etihad Campus (next door to the arena), choosing Co-op Live only felt natural this time.
Elsewhere, another big tournament is being held up in the North, too, with the Netball Super Cup set be hosted at the Utilita Arena over in Yorkshire – much to our mates at The Sheff‘s delight.
Treat a netball fan in your life ❤️
🤝 Help them start #NSL2026 in style and get them tickets to see the Netball Super Cup live.
As for Co-op Live itself, general manager Guy Dunstan commented: “We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Soft & Gentle Grand Final to Co-op Live and to make history by hosting the first sporting final at the arena.
“Co-op Live was designed to bring people together for unforgettable shared experiences, and this reflects everything [we] stand for: world-class events, inclusivity, community impact and inspiring the next generation. We can’t wait to see Manchester play host to such a landmark moment for the sport.”
As always, official Co-op members get early access through the venue’s dedicated presale window, which will open at 10am on Monday, 2 March.
Meanwhile, general admission will then be available from the same time the following Thursday (5 Mar); you can get ready to grab your tickets for the Netball Super League Grand Final in Manchester at Co-op Live right HERE.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Co-op Live)
What's On
The best cheese tasting party in the North is BACK at a new Manchester venue
Danny Jones
That’s right, one of the biggest and best cheese tasting nights in the entire land is returning to Greater Manchester at a brand new city centre venue.
Not to be over-the-top, but this isn’t just another experience sampling possibly the greatest foodstuff on Earth, it’s a fully-fledged cheese-lovers’ party.
Some of you may have come across Homage2Fromage before, but for anyone unaware of the Yorkshire-born event, it started out as a monthly cheese tasting club and went on to expand across the dairy-adoring North at large.
Relaunching here in Manchester for 2026, all you lactose-intolerant people better watch, because Home2Fromage is coming back with a vengeance and heading to the Northern Quarter. Here’s how it went down the last time we visited one in Leeds:
Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate, Manchester and who knows where else next.
Posting up in a relatively recent addition to NQ‘s bar and restaurant scene, The Faraday – a pub on Lever St that replaces the old Seven Sins back in October – it looks set to be an ideal venue for the regular evening series.
Homage2Fromage will be making its Manc return this month, and better still, they’re holding a cheeky little giveaway to sweeten the pot.
As in the deal, we mean – not the inevitable bowls full of olives, chutney, oil and various other dips…
To welcome this celebration of all things cheese coming back to Manchester city centre, they’re giving away a bunch of free tickets: 20 pairs in total.
Worth over £50 a piece for each twin set of tickets, you’d be a fool not to at least throw your hat in the ring for this one.
As you can see, the competition closes this Thursday, 19 February, ahead of the full relaunch party next week (Wed, 25 Feb), and all you have to do to enter is fill out this super quick survey.
It really is as simple as that; a few quick words are all that stand between you and a potential mountain of cheese and more.
You can find all you need to know about the event right HERE, and in case you haven’t popped into The Faraday just yet, see more down below.
It’s still somewhat early days, but we can see ourselves spending a fair bit of time in this up-and-coming Manchester watering hole, especially when there’s cheese nights involved.
Emily Sergeant -
16th December 2020 
