07 Nov 2024
Where to celebrate Christmas in Manchester
The festive season is almost upon us – a time for eating, drinking and spending valuable time with your nearest and dearest. It’s the season of overindulgence, spiking your hot chocolate with something boozy and eating mince pies for breakfast. As the home of world-famous Christmas markets, Manchester is the perfect city to celebrate the season of goodwill. From themed menus to stunning spaces, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and pubs that are prepared to pull out all the stops to ensure you have a Christmas celebration to remember – whether that’s a date night, office party or family reunion. Read on for a guide to the best tinsel-decked venues the city has to offer.
Celebrate the festive season with the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Christmas Special at Richmond Tea Rooms, Manchester. From 22nd November to 13th December, guests can indulge in a whimsical afternoon tea experience with a magical Alice in Wonderland theme. Enjoy a festive selection of sandwiches, scones, and seasonal treats alongside a wide choice of teas or even prosecco. Perfect for both couples and groups, this enchanting tea party makes for a unique and memorable Christmas outing. Book your table now to ensure a spot at this quirky, cosy event.
With a new theme every six weeks, there’s no predicting what will be on the menu at Six by Nico in the build-up to Christmas Day. Every six weeks, the restaurant reinvents the wheel with a new six course tasting menu that’s often inspired by different memories or events. Previous years have featured themes like the ‘Miracle On..’ menu, which spanned the winter months and there’s likely to be further festive-inspired courses this year. From Christmas traditions to festive decorations, the ‘Miracle On..’ menu celebrated old-fashioned nostalgia and transported guests to beloved family memories, with dishes including partridge and smoked salmon blinis. With the option of an accompanying wine flight, Six by Nico promises a seasonal date night with a twist, whatever’s on the menu.
If you’re looking for an award-winning eatery for Christmas, Elnecot will certainly provide that. Located in Ancoats, Elnecot has a different menu for evening, lunch, weekend brunch and Sunday roast so expect a lot of choice and quality. This British restaurant has dishes in size order and is moderately priced. Some evening dishes include the Manchester egg, Welsh wagyu steak frites and Elnecot Staffordshire tacos. Whilst for lunch and brunch expect pastries, full English (vegan and veggie too) and shakshuka. The Christmas party menu is wonderful, and will see you receive a starter and a main including roast turkey, nut roast, and more.
This Christmas, TGI Fridays offers a festive family dining experience from 1st November to 5th January, 2025. The Christmas menu includes a range of fun, family-friendly options with festive-inspired dishes and drinks. There’s something for everyone, from hearty mains to indulgent desserts. Plus, kids can enjoy the festive spirit too, with child-friendly meals and plenty of entertainment. For families looking to dine out together and enjoy festive fun, TGI Fridays is the perfect spot. Book early to secure your table!
Look no further than Anthony Fielden’s cooking. This restaurant is one of the best places for a meal in the Northern Quarter. Located in the iconic Smithfield Fish Markets, TNQ is the winner of This is Manchester’s Leading Restaurant of the Year Award for casual/smart dining in 2019 and 2022. It uses the best British locally sourced ingredients, with the team dedicating time to searching for the greatest seasonal tastes. It’s easy to see why these guys have been applauded by newspapers, such as The Observer and The Sunday Times, who said TNQ was ‘one of the best British restaurants’. The menus change based on the seasons, with the current a la carte menu (at the time of writing) offering amazing dishes such as the Lancashire lamb; courgette, pea, cumin and spelt fritters; Gloucestershire old spot pork cordon bleu; and the splendid sirloin steak.
While the Northern Quarter haunt is a popular drinking den all year round, Trof certainly comes alive in the winter months. As the home of hangover-busting roast dinners, it’s no surprise that the venue delivers when it comes to a Christmas party. Think mulled wine, an indulgent festive menu and three floors of decorations – it’s the perfect spot to round up your mates and toast the holiday season. When it comes to the food, you can choose from the formal set menu packed with all the trimmings or go all out with the ‘hot pot party’ menu, a wholesome buffet with slow-cooked lamb hot pot, homity pie and lashings of homemade gravy.
HOME is a cinema, theatre and restaurant all in one. The restaurant and the bar covers a lot of bases, from pizzas to burgers and other wonderful main courses. Some of the delicious dishes include the Smoked Aubergine Mujaddara and the Harrisa Chicken Salad. The Christmas menu is always a delight. You can get a starter, which have previously ranged from crab cakes, beetroot carpaccio and more, to mains that have included garlic and herb turkey roulade, port braised lamb shank, honey butter roast salmon, and vegan wellington slice. Keep room for dessert because they are splendid. Biscoff cheesecake and cinnamon, and chocolate bread and butter puddling have been previous festive delights.
Bundobust is a top choice for groups of friends seeking festive dining with a twist. From 18th November to 31st December, enjoy the Desi Festive Feast, perfect for groups of six or more, priced at £24 per person. The menu features sharing-style dishes like the signature Sprout Bhajis, spiced curries, and Bundobust’s seasonal beers. With a laid-back vibe and flavourful Indian street food, it’s ideal for a fun, relaxed Christmas gathering. Book now to spice up your celebrations!
Nestled in the heart of Salford, The Blackfriar has recently been lovingly restored into a popular pub, after a fire left it lying derelict for almost two decades. For the festive season, the venue will be transformed into a magical winter tavern, complete with roaring fires, bespoke tipples and a warm atmosphere. The simple set menu includes a traditional turkey ballotine, alongside dishes such as sirloin steak and stone bass fillet, and an indulgent chocolate yule log for dessert. The cosy retreat is the perfect space to gather your colleagues for a festive celebration, combining a decadent menu with all the trimmings of a classic Christmas party – think crackers, mince pies and plenty of prosecco.
As an institution on the Manchester pub scene, The Bay Horse Tavern is always one of the first to get into the Christmas spirit, serving a huge roast every day from November. Dating back to the Georgian era, the pub has that warm, authentic atmosphere that’s perfect for the festive season, alongside open fires and proper British grub. Whether it’s a full-blown office party or a low key gathering with your favourite work pals, there’s a set menu or buffet option to choose from, including rolled pork belly, butter-basted turkey and more pigs in blankets than you can shake a stick at – all sourced from local butchers. The festive food is accompanied by a menu of Christmas cocktails, packed with booze, caffeine and plenty of mulled spice.
Located in the bustling Spinningfields and near the incredible John Rylands Library, Manchester’s newest favourite hotel, Yotel is home to Motley – a melting pot for locals and explorers alike. It’s also a perfect place for a non-traditional Christmas meal. This place prides itself on friendly service and providing food and drinks that are made with lots of quality and care. Expect wonderful cocktails and craft lagers from different breweries, including the Motley brew. The Antipodean-style menu is filled to the brim with uncomplicated, kind to the environment and good for the soul dishes that are homely, local and seasonal. The small plates include the delicious goat’s cheese and Manchester honey bon bons, fish tacos, Manchester tacos and jerk chicken. The main plates range from the Motley fish and chips to ‘Yorkshire Tea’ ramen and classic Lancashire hotpot.
The Smithfield Social offers an ideal festive buffet option that’s ideal for workmates, featuring a variety of delicious options perfect for sharing. Priced at £25 per person, the buffet includes dishes such as Mini NQ Pounder Sliders. It’s a great choice for groups looking for a relaxed yet festive dining experience, with the option to customise menus to suit your group’s needs. Make sure to book early to secure your table for a fun and festive gathering with colleagues!
Known for its beef, bourbon and beer, Cane & Grain has a reputation for throwing some of the coolest gatherings come Christmas season. The popular rib joint and tap room spans over three floors, with rustic interiors inspired by its previous life as a skate shop. Putting a festive twist on its smoky classics, the Christmas menu spans everything from spare ribs and cranberry chicken wings to stuffing balls and cheese croquettes – with moreish mince pies and gingerbread cake to finish. If the edgy eatery wasn’t enough, you can head upstairs to visit not one, but two, secret cocktail bars – Tiki-style Liars Lounge and decadent speakeasy, Science & Industry.
Ancoats is England’s first industrial suburb and has been the home to the Edinburgh Castle pub since 1811. This iconic pub, known for its vibrant atmosphere and rich history, offers a memorable experience for all. Two courses are £30 altogether on a Sunday, making this place brilliant for a roast. Options include butter roasted cinderwood celeriac (vegan option available), roasted fore rib of beef and Swaledale leg of lamb. Whether you’re seeking a lively celebration or a relaxed gathering, the Edinburgh Castle in Manchester is sure to provide gorgeous food for Christmas time.
Canto is a Mediterranean small plates restaurant. In 2018, it was opened in Ancoats Cutting Room Square by famous chef and restauranteur, Simon Shaw and head chef Carlos Gomes. Their food showcases the Mediterranean influences that inspired this restaurant to be created. The dishes are designed to be shared and are made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, sourced both locally and in the rest of Europe. The main menu is separated by petiscos, meat, seafood, vegetables and of course, desserts. All consist of small dishes that are to be shared with a guide of five to six dishes per two people. From patatas bravas to octopus with new potatoes, Italian meatballs and braised ox cheek, the food is stunning and sumptuous. The cheeseboard is a must have, too. This has some of our favourite cheeses in the world, such as Manchego, the local Lancashire bomb and the wonderful Monte Enebro.