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

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The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool - December 2025

Loch Fyne King scallop served in the half shell at The Art School Cellars in Liverpool.

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester - December 2025

Chicken liver and port parfait with red onion marmalade and a mini milk loaf from the festive menu at The Black Friar in Salford.

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

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.

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

A hot chocolate at Cocoa Cabana in Manchester.

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

A couple ice skating at Boxpark Liverpool.

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

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

A Christmas tree outside a window decorated for Christmas at Chorlton Cheesemongers.

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

Two people using the co-working space at The Alan in Manchester.

2025’s Michelin star restaurants within 2 hours of Manchester

Dexter beef bavette, black pepper and Delica pumpkin at Skof - which gained its first Michelin star in 2025.

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

The 'Burbs in Heaton Moor - a recommended neighbourhood restaurant near Manchester

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

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

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Atlas Bar

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

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

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

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

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Burger and chips at The Pen & Pencil

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Gelato croissant at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Spicy vegetable kebab at Bab NQ

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Roast masala butternut squash soup at The Black Friar.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

The best museums in Manchester

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

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

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Cocktail at Manchester's Hyatt Regency Hotel

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

A burger at Red Dog Saloon in Liverpool.

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Bury Market

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

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

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

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

The 12 best team-building activities in Liverpool

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out near Manchester

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre 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

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Mercury rising: sauna and ice baths in Manchester

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

The best Thai restaurants in Manchester

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

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

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Nigiri Sushi at Kaji

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

Hotel Anfield

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish