Subscribe Advertise with us

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

Luxury hotel deals Local restaurant deals

Luxury hotel deals from Confidential Guides

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

The best restaurants in Liverpool for afternoon tea

30 places for Christmas parties in Manchester you might not have considered

The ultimate guide to Christmas parties in Manchester - Manchester Central and many more

Top picks for dim sum in Manchester and Liverpool

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.

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Teamsport Go Karting is one of Confidential Guides' recommended alternative Christmas party venues. See where else is on our list.

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

Restaurants open on Christmas Day

Looking for somewhere to spend 25 December? Here's Confidential Guides' list of the nest places in the North West that are open on Christmas Day

The best museums in Manchester

The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool

The lobster at Hawksmoor Liverpool - one of Confidential Guides Hot 20 Liverpool restaurants for November 2025

The 30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Manchester City Centre Cafes

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

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

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

Dakota Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Manchester City Centre Festivals

The Reach at Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Lock 84

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

BAB NQ

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

The Pen & Pencil

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

Atlas Bar

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Sicilian NQ

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

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

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - American

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

The best museums in Manchester

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

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

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

Erst

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - American

Roast masala butternut squash soup at The Black Friar.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants – October 2025

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Namaste Nepal

Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants – October 2025

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Christmas parties in Liverpool: 10 cool restaurants and bars

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Manchester City Centre Historic Buildings & Sites

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

30 places for Christmas parties in Manchester you might not have considered

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Beer pong at Pong & Puck

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

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

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Halle St Peter's on Cutting Room Square - a rehearsal space and concert venue in Ancoats, Manchester

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Hotel Anfield

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Bury Market

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European