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

The coolest restaurants in Liverpool Premier Club manchester's hot 50 restaurants Veggie & Vegan Days out in Liverpool Christmas parties

Manchester restaurants: 2023’s biggest new openings

Sushi from Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay, Manchester.

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

Hot chocolate at Trove - a bakery and cafe in Ancoats, Levenshulme and Manchester city centre.

All our Christmas lists, all in one place

Christmas party at Sixes Social Cricket in the Corn Exchange, Manchester.

The Hot 50: the top Manchester restaurants for December

Chocolate Torte dessert at Grand Pacific in Manchester.

The Hot 20: the top Liverpool restaurants for December

Shrimps on toast at Barnacle in Liverpool.

10 Christmas days out in or near Manchester

Winter warmers: 18 cosy Manchester pubs and bars

The Black Friar - a cosy pub and restaurant in Manchester

Things to do with kids in Liverpool

The Sgt Pepper's suits on display at The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool.

Best indie Christmas gifts in the North West

Manchester Museum candle - a Christmas gift idea

Get the Confidential Guides newsletter every Friday morning

12 cool restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

Christmas at San Carlo

20 things to do in Manchester this December

Disney on Ice at the AO Arena

Inside Notjust barbers in the Northern Quarter, Manchester, one of Manchester's best barbers

Notjust

Ancoats Barbers

A negroni and passion star martini at Cicchetti

Cicchetti

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Historic Buildings & Sites

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Oysters from Climat, Manchester.

Climat

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Beer at 11 Central, a bar in Salford Quays

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Love Lane Brewery

Baltic Triangle Restaurant - American

Coconut, passion fruit & banana from Restaurant 8 in Liverpool

Restaurant 8

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Piccolino Caffe Grande is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Piccolino Caffe Grande Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Christmas at Freight Island, Manchester

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

The terrace at Piccolino Hale

Piccolino Hale

Hale Restaurant - Italian

Christmas at San Carlo in Manchester

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Steak at Pendergast's Steakhouse in Warrington.

Pendergast’s Steakhouse

Warrington Restaurant - British

Manchester restaurants: 2023’s biggest new openings

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

A Christmas cruise at Manchester River Cruises

Manchester River Cruises

Spinningfields Activities

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

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Christmas at Seven Brothers Liverpool

Seven Bro7hers Liverpool Beerhouse

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

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Sud Pasta Sign

Sud Pasta Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - Italian

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Things to do with kids in Manchester this Christmas holidays

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The Corn Exchange Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Gusto is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Gusto Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Always on trend: 5 cool Liverpool hairdressers

Dishes at The Pen and Pencil, manchester

The Pen & Pencil

Northern 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

A rare thing: top 10 steak restaurants in Manchester

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

Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread

Northern Quarter Restaurant

One of the dishes at The Burbs, a recommended restaurant in Heaton Chapel, Stockport.

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

One of the dishes served at MUSU in Manchester

MUSU

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Almond croissant and cortado at Trove Marble Street

Trove Marble Street

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Winter warmers: 18 cosy Manchester pubs and bars

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Dakota Grill Manchester Lamb Rump

Dakota Grill Manchester

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

The terrace at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Let it glow: 10 Christmas days out in or near Manchester

Girl lifting dumbbell at gym Lifestyle Fitness Manchester Ancoats

V1BE by Lifestyle Fitness Ancoats

Christmas at Piccolino

Piccolino Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

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

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Awesome HQ Chicken Halloumi Burger Almost Famous Manchester Northern Quarter

Almost Famous NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - American

New on Guides: Sexy Fish, ‘The Burbs, Old Fire Station Cafe and more

Christmas at City Wine Bar & Kitchen in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Black Friar - a cosy pub and restaurant in Manchester

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Outside Holmes Mill in Clitheroe

Holmes Mill

Lancashire Hotel

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

San Carlo Gran Cafe Manchester, Raspberry Tart

San Carlo Gran Cafe

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

16 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Riva Blu Manchester | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Hot chocolate at Trove - a bakery and cafe in Ancoats, Levenshulme and Manchester city centre.

Trove Ancoats

Ancoats Bakeries

A burger at Almost Famous Withington

Almost Famous Withington

Withington Restaurant

Pho | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Vietnamese

Bottomless brunch at Almost Famous

Almost Famous Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - American

Lit city: Manchester for book lovers

Garten Bar | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Bars

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

Traditional barber chair at Jersey Street Social Club - a barbers in Manchester, Ancoats.

Jersey Street Social Club

Ancoats Barbers

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

The relaxation pods at Rena Spa at The Midland

Rena Spa at The Midland

Manchester City Centre Spas

Riva Blu Leeds

Leeds Restaurant - Italian

Riva Blu Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Opera Grill

Cheshire Restaurant - Global

5 Liverpool restaurants to head to this week

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Christmas at Escape Hunt in the Corn Exchange, Manchester.

Escape Hunt | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Activities

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

The Real Greek | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Mediterranean

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Sausages from one of the butchers in Bury Market, Greater Manchester

Bury Market

Manchester restaurants: 2023’s biggest new openings

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Piccolo by Piccolino

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Piccolino Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant - Italian

Exterior of Holiday Inn Express Liverpool, a hotel at Albert Dock

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool

Albert Dock Hotel

Vapiano | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Croyaki Tea | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Brunch cocktails at Trove Levenshulme.

Trove Levenshulme

Levenshulme Restaurant - European

Barber at RPB barbers in Manchester, Northern Quarter.

RPB Tib Street

Northern Quarter Barbers

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

Bottomless Brunch at Banyan in the Corn Exchange

Banyan | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

The terrace at Seven Brothers Middlewood Locks

Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks

Media City Restaurant - American

Mowgli | Corn Exchange

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Things to do with kids in Manchester this Christmas holidays

One of the dishes served at Oxa, a modern British restaurant on the Wirral, Merseyside.

Oxa

Oxton Restaurant - Modern British

San Carlo Fiorentina, Charcuterie Platter

San Carlo Fiorentina

Hale Barns Restaurant - Italian

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Scottish Steakhouse at Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Almost Famous Brunch

Almost Famous Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

The terrace at The Cosy Club at The Corn Exchange in Manchester

Cosy Club | Corn Exchange

Restaurant - Global