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

Spa hotels near Manchester Best restaurants Liverpool Where to go on NYE

15 of the best country pubs near Manchester and Liverpool

Winter warmers: 18 cosy Manchester pubs and bars

The best independent shops in Manchester for last-minute gifts

Manchester Museum shop is one of our recommended independent Manchester shops for last-minute presents

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

Manchester's biggest new restaurant openings of 2024

Liverpool restaurants and bars: 2024’s biggest new openings

The bar at The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie

Party season nails: 5 cool salons for festive talons

16 fun things to do in Manchester

Puppy having cuddles at Paws Yoga - one of our 16 fun things to do in Manchester

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

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

The 30 best team building nights out in Manchester

Cork and Canvas corporate event. Photo by Jody Hartley

10 recommended hotels near the Warehouse Project

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Liverpool

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Man v machine: where to do reformer pilates in Manchester

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

The best gyms in Manchester for 2025

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool 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

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best independent shops in Manchester for last-minute gifts

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Liverpool restaurants and bars: 2024’s biggest new openings

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Big Christmas Food Shop: the best independent traders in Manchester

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Manchester restaurants: the biggest new openings of 2024

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

Wellness in the fells: 5 beautiful Lake District spa hotels

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Liverpool

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Kids eat free: 7 Manchester restaurants parents will like too

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Christmas parties in Liverpool: 10 cool restaurants and bars

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Manchester

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

Man v machine: where to do reformer pilates in Manchester

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The best gyms in Manchester for 2025

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Cocktail served at Three Little Words in Manchester city centre.

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

The best independent shops in Manchester for last-minute gifts

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter 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

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Liverpool restaurants and bars: 2024’s biggest new openings

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

The Big Christmas Food Shop: the best independent traders in Manchester

Bedroom at Manchester Hall with roll-top bath - a romantic Manchester hotel for Valentine's day.

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Discover the new food traders at Winter Island, Freight Island's festive makeover

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Hotel Anfield

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Manchester restaurants: the biggest new openings of 2024

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

Wellness in the fells: 5 beautiful Lake District spa hotels

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Where to spend New Year’s Eve in Liverpool

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

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

The terrace at Seven Brothers Middlewood Locks

Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks

Media City Restaurant - American

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian