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Welcome to Confidential Guides. Here you’ll find the best food, drink and things to do in the North.

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The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool - December 2025

Loch Fyne King scallop served in the half shell at The Art School Cellars in Liverpool.

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester - December 2025

Chicken liver and port parfait with red onion marmalade and a mini milk loaf from the festive menu at The Black Friar in Salford.

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Raft-building session at Liverpool Watersports Centre

10 cool restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

Frederiks is one of Liverpool's best places to book a Christmas party, See where else is on the list.

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

A hot chocolate at Cocoa Cabana in Manchester.

Glide away: Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

A couple ice skating at Boxpark Liverpool.

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

The Big Christmas Shop: Manchester's top traders for festive food

A Christmas tree outside a window decorated for Christmas at Chorlton Cheesemongers.

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

Two people using the co-working space at The Alan in Manchester.

Urban luxury: the best aparthotels for a Manchester city break

Relax on the balcony at Church Street by Supercity, one of our top aparthotels. Which other apartments in our guide will take your fancy?

The best restaurants in the Northern Quarter

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Steak at San Carlo - one of the Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester for March.

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

A bedroom at Dakota Manchester, a hotel in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

A selection of the small plates at Voyagers, one of Liverpool's most exciting new restaurants for 2024.

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars in Liverpool is always a treat

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Mother's Day bouquet from Northern Flower - a florist in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Gelato croissant at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Big Christmas Shop: Manchester’s top traders for festive food

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Ropewalks Hotel is a dog-friendly hotel in Liverpool.

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Two pints of craft beer at Seven Bro7hers Manchester, also known as the Ancoats Beerhouse.

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Stunning views from the living room at Hyatt House aparthotel in Manchester

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

One of the holes at Golf Fang Liverpool, a crazy golf bar in the city centre.

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Atlas Bar

Spicy vegetable kebab at Bab NQ

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Tapas dishes at Evuna, a Spanish restaurant in Knutsford, Cheshire

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

The infinity pool at King Street Townhouse - one of the coolest hotels near Manchester Arena

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Concert night at the Manchester Arena, or AO Arena as it is currently known.

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Roast masala butternut squash soup at The Black Friar.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Roast dinner and a pint at 11 Central in Mediacity Manchester.

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Quest Apartments are a dog-friendly place to stay in Liverpool.

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Black pudding with marinated peppers at Erst, one of the best restaurants in Manchester

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Burger and chips at The Pen & Pencil

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best museums in Manchester

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

A pasta dish at La Famiglia Bar and Restaurant in Liverpool.

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Hakkapo is a Japanese restaurant in Manchester's First Street district.

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

Premier Suites in Liverpool is dog-friendly for those staying for 29 nights or more.

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

One of the dishes served at Kambuja in Marple - one of the few Cambodian restaurants in the North.

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

One of the rooms at Aloft Liverpool, a hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Trophies and famous football shirts on display at the Liverpool FC stadium tour.

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

The Big Christmas Shop: Manchester’s top traders for festive food

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

The whimsical Flamingo Room - one of the party suites at The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Beer pong at Pong & Puck

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

A pumpkin patch at Speke Hall, a National Trust property near Liverpool.

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Cocktails served in King Street Tavern, the restaurant and bar at King Street Townhouse hotel

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Motel One St Peter's Square and the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst outside

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The front of Liverpool Cathedral, the biggest cathedral in the country.

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Cured mackerel in horseradish emulsion, from the tasting menu at Skof, one of the best restaurants in Manchester.

Skof

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Bury Market