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

Tattoos Manchester Cocktails Liverpool Hotels Lake District

Comfortably numb: ice baths and open water swimming in Manchester and Liverpool

The best restaurants for Mother's Day in Liverpool

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

50 things to do for Mother’s Day in Manchester

Front runners: 5 Grand National brunch spots in Liverpool

8 indie Manchester florists for Mother’s Day flowers

Frog Flowers - one of our recommended Manchester florists for Mother's Day.

Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

RADAR Festival is one of Confidential Guides' Best Manchester music festivals. See who else is on the list.

What's on in Manchester this March

Dancers at The Lowry.

Thirst things first: the 12 best Liverpool bars

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

8 of the most romantic hotels in Liverpool for Valentine’s weekend

Bubbly in the bubbles - enjoy a romantic stay at Hope Street Hotel or one of Confidential Guides' other recommended Valentine's hotels.

Access all eras: the best Liverpool vintage shops

Vintage clothing at 69A, one of our recommended vintage clothes shops in Liverpool.

An insider’s guide to eating and drinking in Altrincham

15 family-friendly restaurants in Manchester city centre

The Laureate restaurant at The Hyatt Regency - a family-friendly place to eat.

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

Cocktail served at Three Little Words in Manchester city centre.

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Front runners: 5 Grand National brunch spots in Liverpool

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

50 things to do for Mother’s Day in Manchester

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The best restaurants for Mother’s Day in Liverpool

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Best pubs and bars for St Patrick’s Day in Manchester

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

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

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

5 Liverpool Irish bars for celebrating St Patrick’s Day

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

10 women-led businesses in Manchester

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Where to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

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

Stacks of flavour: the best spots for pancakes in Liverpool

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

An insider’s guide to eating and drinking in Altrincham

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

10 healthy places to eat in Liverpool

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Front runners: 5 Grand National brunch spots in Liverpool

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Grand Pacific - one of the most romantic restaurants in Manchester for Valentine's Day.

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

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

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

50 things to do for Mother’s Day in Manchester

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

The best restaurants for Mother’s Day in Liverpool

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

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

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

Best pubs and bars for St Patrick’s Day in Manchester

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

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

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Beer pong at Pong & Puck

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

5 Liverpool Irish bars for celebrating St Patrick’s Day

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

10 women-led businesses in Manchester

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Bury Market

Where to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

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

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel