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

Woodland walks Manchester Vintage shops Liverpool Christmas party ideas

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.

Meet you at the mall: 10 things to do in the Trafford Centre

40 recommended Sunday roasts in Manchester and Greater Manchester

What's on in Manchester for kids this Christmas

What's on in Liverpool this Christmas

What’s on in Manchester in November

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Manchester

15 family-friendly restaurants in Manchester city centre

The Laureate restaurant at The Hyatt Regency - a family-friendly place to eat.

You spin me: the best record shops in Liverpool

Your best shot: 28 independent Manchester coffee shops

Coffee at Lupo - a recommended Manchester coffee shop

Premier pints: the best sports bars in Manchester

Mulligan's is one of Confidential Guides' top Manchester sports bars. Who are the other worthy winners?

Take a bao: The best Chinese restaurants in Manchester

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

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Lamb Laziz at Zouk, Manchester

Zouk

Oxford Road Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Manchester

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Winter warmers: 18 cosy Manchester pubs and bars

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Prestbury Hotel

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

40 recommended Sunday roasts in Manchester and Greater Manchester

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

40 cool new restaurants, bars, hotels and days out on Confidential Guides

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Meet you at the mall: 10 things to do at the Trafford Centre

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

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

Bar Hütte Great Northern

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

Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread

Northern Quarter Restaurant

Cocktail served at Three Little Words

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Your best shot: 28 independent Manchester coffee shops

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Bottomless brunch in Manchester

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

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

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

20 fun things to do in Liverpool

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Hope Street Hotel is a dog friendly hotel in Liverpool.

Hope Street Hotel

Georgian Quarter Hotel

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

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

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

30 best team building nights out in Manchester

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Manchester

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Winter warmers: 18 cosy Manchester pubs and bars

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

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

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

40 recommended Sunday roasts in Manchester and Greater Manchester

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

Grand Pacific - one of the most romantic restaurants in Manchester for Valentine's Day.

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

40 cool new restaurants, bars, hotels and days out on Confidential Guides

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern