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

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.

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

Thirst things first: the 12 best Liverpool bars

A cocktail at 81 Ltd - one of Liverpool's best bars.

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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 Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

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

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

Gelato croissant at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Roast masala butternut squash soup at The Black Friar.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Atlas Bar

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre 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

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

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Spicy vegetable kebab at Bab NQ

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Burger and chips at The Pen & Pencil

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

The best museums in Manchester

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Bury Market

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Nigiri Sushi at Kaji

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields 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

Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

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 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

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

Hotel Anfield

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour