Festive feasts, party packages and free art exhibitions: The best of Christmas at The Great Northern

From bottomless brunches and boozy bowling to traditional fine-dining and spellbinding art displays, Christmas at The Great Northern delivers a wide array of unmissable urban festivities throughout December and into the new year.

Open now on the alpine climes of Great Northern Square, the immensely popular après-ski lodge experience Bar Hütte is back for 2024 with an endless supply of wintry wonder, from private party cabins and cosy karaoke pods to wreath-making masterclasses and floor-filling DJ sets, as well as a brand new festive cocktail menu. Bookings are live, so grab your spot here.

If you fancy adding a round of boozy games to your big Christmas night out, Pong & Puck offer a choice of seasonal party packages for you, your mates or your entire office with welcome drinks, beer pong, pizza and shots available for groups of all sizes starting at £25pp. Elsewhere, Great Northern’s neon-flecked throwback bowling bar Lane7 promises a yuletide bash to remember with packages including bowling games, welcome drinks and piles of irresistible food until Christmas Eve.

As always, Manchester’s notorious dirty burger joint Almost Famous hosts its annual Festive AF Bottomless Brunch every day, which includes any Famous burger,, a selection of sides and unlimited booze across a riotous 90 minutes for just £45pp. Over at the decadently sinful Impossible Bar, you can book a table for their Grinchmas brunch on Sat 14 and Sat 21 Nov. Priced at £60 a head, the immersive annual blow-out welcomes the grumpy green miscreant to Manchester for a double-bill of unlimited beer, prosecco and festive cocktails as well as a sumptuous seasonal menu, with DJs spinning Christmas classics throughout the day.

For those in search of a more refined winter dining experience, James Martin Manchester serves an elevated three-course festive banquet featuring spiced parsnip veloute, slow roast pork belly, roast turkey breast, Yorkshire ox cheek bourgignon and more for £55pp, available every Wednesday through Friday from 5pm throughout December.

Renowned throughout the region for their irresistible authentic Polish cuisine, Platzki celebrates Christmas with a seasonal menu full of hearty, exquisitely crafted dishes ranging from roasted pork neck and turkey and cranberry pierogi to grilled smoked sausage and red wine poached pear with gorgonzola, beginning at two courses for just £25.80. You can also book a table for their Wigilia meal, a traditional Christmas Eve supper featuring oven baked cod fillet, braised sauerkraut, mini tartlets and more classic pierogis, with slots available on Mon 23 and Tue 24 Dec. Click here for more.

Free to visit until Mon 6 Jan, a new exhibition from vibrant Salford homeware brand Neighbourhood Threat takes over the 24/7 Dez Rez art space at 285 Deansgate. Showcasing a collection of chic throwback interior design pieces inspired by 70s space age retrofuturism, glam rock, floral patterns and the titular Iggy Pop and David Bowie tune, the studio’s latest installation brings a flash of kaleidoscopic colour to the blustery city streets with a display of fabulously chic household items and antique treasures.

A few doors down at 283, celebrated local artist Sophie Nixon exhibits her captivating paintings and sketches depicting iconic locations around Manchester every Thursday to Saturday until Fri 20 Dec. Over the coming weeks, Nixon’s winter pop-up also invites visitors to take part in open sketch sessions, with a special event in partnership with Manchester Urban Sketchers on Sat 14 Dec.

For more information on Great Northern’s packed Christmas offering, check out their website.