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

Laptop-friendly coffee shops Manchester Old pubs Liverpool Christmas party ideas

Restaurants open on Christmas Day

Malmaison Liverpool - one of our recommended restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

10 Christmas days out in or near Manchester

The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool

Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool is one of our Hot 20, who else is on the list?

10 cool restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

Christmas at Riva Blu - one of our recommended places for Christmas parties in Manchester and Liverpool.

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester

Autumn venison dish at The Black Friar, one of our Hot 50

30 places for Christmas parties in Manchester

Three Little Words - one of our recommended places for Christmas parties in Manchester

What's on in Liverpool this November

What’s on in Manchester in November

Your best shot: 28 independent Manchester coffee shops

Coffee at Lupo - a recommended Manchester coffee shop

Take a bao: The best Chinese restaurants in Manchester

Dim sum at Yum Cha - one of the best Chinese restaurants in Manchester.

Skof, Maya, Vetch and more: new restaurants and bars on Confidential Guides

Where to go paddleboarding in Manchester, Liverpool and the North West

Paddleboarding at Wild Shore Delamere - one of our recommended places to go paddle boarding in Manchester, LIverpool and the North West

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Lamb Laziz at Zouk, Manchester

Zouk

Oxford Road Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out in or near Manchester

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Your best shot: 28 independent Manchester coffee shops

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

20 places serving bottomless brunch in Manchester

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

20 fun things to do in Liverpool

Grilled prawns with chilli, lime & coconut sauce at The Burbs restaurant in Heaton Moor

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Seafood at The Assheton Arms, a country pub with rooms to stay overnight, near Pendle Hill and Clitheroe in Lancashire

Assheton Arms

Clitheroe Restaurant - British

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

Hope Street Hotel is a dog friendly hotel in Liverpool.

Hope Street Hotel

Georgian Quarter Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

30 best team building nights out in Manchester

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Bar Hütte Manchester is one of Confidential Guides' recommended bars for Christmas parties

Bar Hütte Manchester

The Alan Hotel

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 restaurants in Liverpool for 2024

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

10 cool restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Prestbury Hotel

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Founder's Hall is a great place for a drink and a meal before a show at the AO Arena.

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

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

Cocktail served at Three Little Words

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Garlic bread from Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread - a recommended street food takeaway in Manchester city centre.

Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread

Northern Quarter Restaurant

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best restaurants and bars near Co-op Live

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

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 Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Take a bao: The best Chinese restaurants in Manchester

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out in or near Manchester

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

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Your best shot: 28 independent Manchester coffee shops

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

20 places serving bottomless brunch in Manchester

Beef tataki at Sora Manchester, a rooftop bar and restaurant in Malmaison Deansgate

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

20 fun things to do in Liverpool

The Bells of Peover, a country pub in Cheshire, just south of Knutsford

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant