North star

Youthful, diverse, energetic and bursting with character, Manchester is one of the most exciting places to visit in the UK, as Bridget McGrouther discovers

Didsbury is the neighbourhood to head for if you want to find most of the Cold Feet filming locations and perhaps even some of the stars

Are you, like me, a Cold Feet fan? I’m not referring to chilblain-afflicted toes but the TV comedy drama about the ups and downs of a group of 50-something Manchester friends.

I have been an avid viewer since the series began, err, 20 years ago but enjoyed the recent episodes even more as, having just been in Manchester, I managed to recognise some of the locations the programme was filmed in.

This included the impressive lobby of the luxurious property I stayed at – the Midland Hotel and Spa (www.qhotels.co.uk), an iconic grand dame that has stood in the heart of the city since 1903.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that such a prestigious establishment was chosen as a TV star. After all, over its long and colourful history, the doormen in top hats and tails have greeted countless celebrities, royalty, political leaders, sportsmen and rock legends.

So I’d suggest that if you’re looking for a pre-Christmas or weekend break, this might be the very place. The hotel has had a multimillion-pound makeover to restore it to its Art Deco glory and boasts award-winning restaurants, bars, stylish rooms and a very relaxing spa.

I enjoyed dinner in the excellent Mr Cooper’s House and Garden Restaurant, with its quirky foliage centrepiece, but there is also the elegant Adam Reid at The French.

For another taste of something very special, I highly recommend the Signature Serene Sleep on the spa’s treatment menu. It does exactly what it says on the packet, being so sublime that I nodded off. The relaxation room, too, with its unusual tented pods, is a heavenly oasis to curl up away from the cold, dark and dreich winter days.

Nearby hot spots include Piccadilly Gardens, Old Trafford (for Manchester United supporters), the Etihad Stadium (for Manchester City fans), Salford Quays and MediaCityUK, home to another television favourite – ITV’s Coronation Street – as well as an outpost for the BBC (tours are available).

For Christmas shopping, you’re spoilt for choice: from market stalls and the boutiques of King Street to high end department stores like Harvey Nichols, the bargain-filled Lowry Outlet or vast Trafford Centre.

Pantomimes, musicals, comedy shows and concerts should get you in the festive mood, while you should watch a film or play at HOME, reputedly one of the best arts centres in the country.

If wintry weather hits, stay indoors at a wealth of museums – masters aplenty at the Manchester Gallery, matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs at the Lowry Centre or there’s the poignant Imperial War Museum.

A new Christmas trail in Manchester will be open from December 1–30, lighting up the National Trust’s Dunham Massey and transforming the Georgian mansion and deer park landscape into a magical, illuminated wonderland.

Didsbury is the neighbourhood to head for if you want to find most of the Cold Feet filming locations and perhaps even some of the stars.

I wouldn’t miss afternoon tea at The Midland’s newly-renovated Tea Room, which is the epitome of elegance and grace and children’s afternoon teas are also available. If that doesn’t make you all warm and fuzzy inside, I don’t know what will… well, apart from the fact that we can look forward to an eighth series of Cold Feet come the New Year.