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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

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

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

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

A couple ice skating at Boxpark Liverpool.

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.

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

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.

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

Christmas turkey from Taylors of Sale, an independent butcher

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 Thai restaurants in Manchester

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

A Martini with lemon on a table at Posie Manchester.

15 family-friendly restaurants in Manchester city centre

Family friendly eating at The Laureate restaurant, Manchester's Hyatt Regency

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

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

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

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

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

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Atlas Bar

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Spicy vegetable kebab at Bab NQ

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Burger and chips at The Pen & Pencil

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Gelato croissant at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

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

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

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

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

The best museums in Manchester

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

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

Nigiri Sushi at Kaji

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

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

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Bury Market

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

A burger at Red Dog Saloon in Liverpool.

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American