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

Luxury hotel deals Local restaurant deals

Luxury hotel deals from Confidential Guides

10 cool restaurants and bars for Christmas parties in Liverpool

Frederiks is one of Liverpool's best places to book a Christmas party, See where else is on the list.

Sweet spots: the best places for hot chocolate in Manchester

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

The ultimate guide to Christmas parties in Manchester - Manchester Central and many more

Top picks for dim sum in Manchester and Liverpool

Top of the copse: woodland walks near Manchester

Woodland walks near Manchester

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Teamsport Go Karting is one of Confidential Guides' recommended alternative Christmas party venues. See where else is on our list.

Review: Marina Abramović’s Balkan Erotic Epic

Aleksandar Timotic, Marina Abramovic, and Kath Fitzgibbon-in Marina Abramovics Balkan Erotic Epic. Photo by Marco Anelli © INSTAGRAM-@marco_anelli_studio

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

Restaurants open on Christmas Day

Looking for somewhere to spend 25 December? Here's Confidential Guides' list of the nest places in the North West that are open on Christmas Day

The best museums in Manchester

The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool

The lobster at Hawksmoor Liverpool - one of Confidential Guides Hot 20 Liverpool restaurants for November 2025

The 30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

Manchester Tattoo Convention by UKTTA

Piccadilly Festivals

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

Steak at San Carlo - one of the Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester for March.

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

exterior of on the hush manchester church street northern quarter

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

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

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Roast masala butternut squash soup at The Black Friar.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment

Albert Dock Art Galleries

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Bar Hütte Great Northern

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

The best museums in Manchester

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

7 Manchester coworking spaces that will re-energise your workday

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

20 alternative Christmas nights out in Manchester

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants – October 2025

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Atlas Bar

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants – October 2025

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Christmas parties in Liverpool: 10 cool restaurants and bars

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

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

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

A burger at Red Dog Saloon in Liverpool.

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

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

Bury Market

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

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

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

The best restaurants in Liverpool for afternoon tea

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

The best cocktail bars in Manchester

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

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

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

30 best team-building nights out in Manchester

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

Rigatoni’s Altrincham

Altrincham Restaurant - Italian

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Sushi at Kaji - one of Confidential Guides Hot 50 Manchester restaurants for October 2025.

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

The Hot 20: the most popular Liverpool restaurants

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

Hotel Anfield

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

The Hot 50: the most popular Manchester restaurants

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities