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

Laptop-friendly coffee shops Manchester Old pubs Liverpool Christmas party ideas

20 fun things to do in Liverpool

A hop on Mersey Ferries is just one of Confidentiall Guides' 20 fun things to do in Liverpool list

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

Woodland walks near Manchester

20 places serving bottomless brunch in Manchester

Bottomless brunch at Zouk is one of Confidential Guides' top recommendations. Is your favourite on the list?

What’s on in Manchester in November

Next level horror: Halloween scare attractions near Manchester and Liverpool

Journey to Hell at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, a Halloween scare event

The 30 best team building nights out in Manchester

Cork and Canvas corporate event. Photo by Jody Hartley

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.

30 places for Christmas parties in Manchester

Three Little Words - one of our recommended places for Christmas parties in Manchester

What’s on in Manchester: Halloween 2024

What's on in Liverpool this November

Halloween activities for kids in Manchester

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

Journalling in a coffee shop.

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Lamb Laziz at Zouk, Manchester

Zouk

Oxford Road Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly 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

20 places serving bottomless brunch in Manchester

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

20 fun things to do in Liverpool

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Hope Street Hotel is a dog friendly hotel in Liverpool.

Hope Street Hotel

Georgian Quarter Hotel

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

30 best team building nights out in Manchester

Beer pong at Pong & Puck

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

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

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

The best restaurants in Liverpool for 2024

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

10 cool restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Cocktail served at Three Little Words

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

30 places for Christmas parties in Manchester you might not have considered

Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The best restaurants and bars near Co-op Live

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter 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

Take a bao: The best Chinese restaurants in Manchester

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Prestbury Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

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

Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread

Northern Quarter Restaurant

The best restaurants and bars near the AO Arena

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

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

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Bury Market

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

One of the dishes served at MUSU in Manchester

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Next level horror: Halloween things to do near Manchester and Liverpool

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

20 places serving bottomless brunch in Manchester

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 exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

The terrace at Seven Brothers Middlewood Locks

Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks

Media City Restaurant - American

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

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel

20 fun things to do in Liverpool

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Hotel Anfield

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

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

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

Exterior of the restaurant Alfredo's Social with its famous clock

Alfredo’s Social

Stockport Town Centre Restaurant

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European