From boozy bowling to wreath-making, Christmas at The Great Northern offers something for everyone – even the distinctly un-festive – throughout December.
Here are some of the best things to do at Deansgate’s centrepiece institution over the next month.
From Mon 28 Nov to Mon 2 Jan, Whistlepunks are refitting their airborne axes as festive candy canes and inviting veterans and newcomers alike for 70 minutes of axe-throwing fuelled by mince pies, pigs in blankets, mulled wine and more.
Promising ‘a world of immersive creations, great music, unique settings and food that tantalises your taste buds’, Impossible Bar is running a wonderfully affordable three-course Christmas menu (£35), a pair of Grinch-themed Bottomless Brunch events (£50) and bespoke festive parties in their cavernous indoor space, Theatre Impossible.
As well as an ‘Xmas AF’ party package which provides wings, fries, mac balls, prosecco and more for just £25 per person, Almost Famous have fine-tuned their Xmas burger to create an even more extravagant, towering festive feast for this winter.
From creamy milk to earthy dark and beyond, Dormouse Chocolates boast a renowned selection of organically sourced, ‘bean-to-bar’ chocolates from across the globe, as well as a monthly ‘bean-to-door’ subscription package for the sweeter-toothed connoisseur.
Comfortably the best Polish restaurant in the North West, Platzki have unveiled a hearty Christmas menu brimming with affordable, generously portioned dishes, including Sledz, Golabki, Platzki and more, with a three-course set menu for just £40 per person.
Set to a faultless playlist of iconic Christmas belters, Pong & Puck offer beer pong, prosecco pong, shuffleboard and more, fuelled by a selection of winter-themed cocktails. Packages are available from £25 per person, while the sports-lovers and Scrooges can grab a seat to watch the World Cup on the big screen for just £15.
Priced at £45 per head, Manchester’s new apres-ski-inspired alpine bar provides guests with a welcome prosecco flute before they design their own festive wreaths to take home.
Running from 4pm-11pm Mondays through Thursdays, and 4pm-7pm every Friday, Mews Bar’s After-Work Social menu now features rich, warming mugs of mulled wine for just a fiver each, as well as bottles of house wine, prosecco and more.
Promising ‘good-time-only vibes’ in an ultraviolet interstellar dreamscape, Paradise Skate World are running a range of skate-and-drink packages for mates, dates and office parties this Christmas, including Hyperspace (1 skate session and 2 house drink tokens) for £21, Interstellar (1 skate session and 2 cocktail tokens) from £27 and Galactic (1 skate session and 4 cocktail tokens) for £47, while spaceship passengers can watch on in comfort with the Space Spectator package (2 house drink tokens) for just £8.
For a categorically unbeatable cinema-going experience with friends, family or perhaps an entire office with whom you’d rather spend a social event in total silence, ODEON Cinemas are offering private hire opportunities for entire screens at Great Northern, with cult classics or a film of your choosing available.
Between the markets, the queues and the Shakin’ Stevens on loop in every high street shop, festive fatigue is an increasingly common seasonal bug. Thankfully, Another Hand’s sumptuous dining menu offers guests respite from all things Christmas in a tasteful, unadorned atmosphere. Diners can enjoy beef tartare, Atlantic cod, rare breed pork chop and much more before finishing their timeless meal with a selection of desserts including apple terrine, warm rye chocolate and a selection of cheeses.
Starting from just £21.50, Municipal Bar is running a generous party buffet featuring small bites and cocktails, with an array of other party packages also available in Manchester’s epicentre of ‘chilled elegance’.
Curated around the seemingly justified claim that Christmas is ‘why Lane7 exists’, the beloved bowling bar is offering a pile of party packages ranging from date nights to company-wide blowouts, with bespoke events available for larger groups.
For Christmas dinner with ‘an irresistible Spanish twist’, Evuna’s festive banquet deals provide the perfect blend of tapas and glad tidings, with Queso Manchego, Filititos and more on the menu.
From hilarious comedy to a gleefully unconventional Christmas Hoe Down, Lions Den continues to provide some of Manchester’s best offbeat parties in the heart of Great Northern. Whether it’s the weekly Thursday Laughienda Comedy Club or the festive conclusion to King Kurt’s 40th Anniversary Tour, the intimate yet raucous haunt offers something for everybody during the Christmas season.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Mon 5 Dec 2022
With a choice of milk or white chocolate as the base, Alex’s Bakery are brewing a range of irresistibly decadent hot chocolates during the Christmas period, including Biscoff, Nutella and more served until 6pm daily.