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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 Best gyms Manchester

15 of the best country pubs near Manchester and Liverpool

8 recommended Liverpool gyms to check out in 2025

Elev8 Performance Gym is one of our recommended gyms in Liverpool for 2025

11 best Manchester bars for alcohol-free drinks

Non-alcoholic cocktails at sober bar, Hinterland, in Manchester's Northern Quarter

The best gyms in Manchester for 2025

The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool

Extracurricular activities: 20 clubs and classes to try in Manchester in 2025

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester

Lunar New Year: the 10 best restaurants in Chinatown, Manchester

Happy Seasons in Chinatown, Manchester.

What's on in Manchester this January

What's on in Liverpool this January

Winter warmers: 18 cosy Manchester pubs and bars

An insider's guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury

Have you tried the places in our insider's guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury? This is Cocoa Cabana.

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

21 vegetarian friendly restaurants in Manchester

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

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

10 uplifting things to do in Manchester

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Extracurricular activities: 20 clubs and classes in Manchester

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

The best restaurants in Manchester for 2025

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Dry January: 11 best Manchester bars for alcohol-free drinks

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

15 healthy places to eat in Manchester city centre

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

8 recommended gyms in Liverpool to check out in 2025

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Man v machine: where to do reformer pilates in Manchester

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The best gyms in Manchester for 2025

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Cocktail served at Three Little Words in Manchester city centre.

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

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

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

The best independent shops in Manchester for last-minute gifts

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Liverpool restaurants and bars: 2024’s biggest new openings

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

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

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

21 vegetarian friendly restaurants in Manchester

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

10 uplifting things to do in Manchester

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

Extracurricular activities: 20 clubs and classes in Manchester

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

The terrace at Seven Brothers Middlewood Locks

Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks

Media City Restaurant - American

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Bury Market

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

The best restaurants in Manchester for 2025

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Dry January: 11 best Manchester bars for alcohol-free drinks

Halle St Peter's on Cutting Room Square - a rehearsal space and concert venue in Ancoats, Manchester

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

15 healthy places to eat in Manchester city centre

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

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

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Hotel Anfield

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

8 recommended gyms in Liverpool to check out in 2025

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

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

One of the rooms at Aloft Liverpool, a hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Man v machine: where to do reformer pilates in Manchester

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

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

The best gyms in Manchester for 2025

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

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

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique