IN THE MARKET FOR A WELCOME FESTIVE RETURN
MANCHESTER’S CHRISTMAS MARKETS ARE BACK WITH A BANG FOR 2021
WOODEN huts have popped up across the city centre over the past couple of weeks, heralding the arrival of the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Residents and visitors alike will be celebrating the return of the city’s favourite festive event.
This year the market will run from today to Wednesday, December 22, so there’s plenty of time to drink mulled wine, eat some tasty treats and do a spot of Christmas shopping.
As the Town Hall is undergoing extensive renovations, the central hub of the market will move to Piccadilly Gardens, which will be transformed into the ‘Winter Gardens,’ which will be open until January 3.
The Winter Gardens will feature the usual bars, food stalls and craft stalls, as well as a stage with live music and DJs performing throughout the festive season.
For those who want to burn off a mince pie or too, head to the Skate Manchester ice rink at Cathedral Gardens, which opened earlier this month.
Market stalls will be spread out across the city, and you’ll find them in the following locations: Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, King Street and Market Street.
Popular stalls will be returning this year, including Pork Pig’s Yorkshire Pudding wraps and The Witchouse on New Cathedral Street will be serving up steins and currywurst.
Head to King Street for Frenchinspired stalls and a gin bar with over 100 varieties on offer.
The huge light-up Giant Santa will return this year and will be back at St Peter’s Square, although he will not be built until after Remembrance Day on Sunday, with a likely switch-on of Santa from November 18.
Of course, visitors will want to get their hands on the iconic Manchester Christmas Markets mugs, and this year they will be slightly different.
For the first time they won’t have a date with them, as they were originally designed for the markets in 2020, which never happened.
You’ll pay a £3 deposit when ordering a hot drink, or £1.50 for beer and wine glasses, which will then be given back to you if you return your mug.