Whether it’s an intimate yuletide dinner, career-making business lunch, company-wide banquet or the office Christmas party to end them all, Manchester’s bars and restaurants feature some of the best private dining spaces in the North West, available to book throughout the festive season.
From high-end Spinningfields roof terraces to bohemian street food stalwarts, here are some of the best private dining venues in the city:
Ideal for special occasions, refined seasonal parties of almost any size or simply imbuing a business meeting with deal-sealing opulence, King Street Townhouse offers an extensive array of private hire packages across its various lavish chambers.
While the underground Wine Cellar boasts room for 16 beneath vaulted brick ceiling with private dining menus and sommelier service, the South Terrace & Lounge can accommodate informal parties of up to 160 revellers overlooking the Manchester skyline. Elsewhere, the elegantly appointed screening room can host up to 20 guests for cosy Christmas movie nights, big sports fixtures or even a memorable proposal.
Check out the full list of spaces and packages here.
Featuring an enormous oval table flanked by glass doors, Hawksmoor’s private dining room experience comes with three specially curated sharing menus, wine pairings and even an optional cocktail reception. Perfect for corporate lunches and grand festive dinners alike, the warmly decorated high-end steakhouse offers a variety of packages for every mid-size occasion.
Known throughout the city as ‘the height of glamorous entertaining’, Spinningfields sky-bar 20 Stories provides private dining packages for virtually every social event imaginable. Whether it’s a cushy outdoor pod for you and up to 7 friends to enjoy a selection of wintry cocktails, a room for 16 with cityscape views, an exclusive area of the gorgeous rooftop terrace for up to 150 or even half the restaurant, guests can enjoy cocktails and a range of food and bar snacks set to unparalled views of Manchester.
Whether it’s a birthday party, an office Christmas bash or even a make-or-break presentation, beloved NQ bar Pen & Pencil houses an impressive private function room which can fit groups of up to 70 or, on select days, up to 200. They advertise bespoke food and drinks packages for your party, with a variety of curations available.
Take a look at the full private hire brochure here.
Arguably Manchester’s favourite street food cornucopia, Green Quarter darling GRUB also offers the city’s most unexpectedly extensive range of private hire packages. From The Hall, a long 135-capacity upstairs room ideal for banquets, screenings and even weddings, to the 108-seater Chapeltown Picture House cinema and the fete-friendly Garden, GRUB’s numerous and spatially diverse areas cater to any occasion, no matter how novel.
As of October 2023, GRUB is open from Wednesday to Sunday every week.
Check out the full private hire brochure here.
For a peerlessly unique private dining experience, The Blues Kitchen accommodates parties of up to 30 in its 1950s Airstream Caravan. For groups of up to 14, the immensely popular live music bar also offers a dedicated Private Dining Room, where guests can celebrate a special occasion before hitting the dancefloor for an unforgettable night of soul, funk, jazz and blues this Christmas.
Throughout the Christmas season, the Hyatt Regency offers ‘the epitome of festive celebration’ with the £80pp Sparkle Package, which includes a welcome drink, an exquisite three-course meal complete with carvery and dessert stations, a personal DJ spinning irresistible tunes and a dancefloor, with unparalleled cityscape views from the 18th Floor.
Priced at £110pp with room for eighty guests, the Hyatt Regency NYE Sparkle Package includes all the perks of the festive package as well as the unmissable opportunity to usher in the new year as fireworks light up the surrounding sky.
Guests at the hotel can also book a drinks reception for up to a hundred people, with an array of elegantly appointed rooms available for those who wish to skip the journey home and wake up in supreme comfort.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Sat 21 Oct 2023
Alongside their dazzling selection of high-end meeting spaces and function rooms, CitySuites’ offer a tastefully appointed private dining room on the ground floor of their Embankment Kitchen. With twelve spaces, ultrafast WiFi, an in-built sound system, floor-to-ceiling windows and a menu curated by Masterchef contestant Marika Healey, the spacious and elegant suite is perfect for entertaining clients or celebrating Christmas with friends and colleagues, set against stunning views of the Manchester cityscape.