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

Where to eat in Didsbury dog-friendly hotels in manchester Hairdressers in Liverpool

Summer in the city: Liverpool's best festivals

In The Park is just one of Confidential Guides' best festivals in Liverpool. Find out what our other favourites are.

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

The 'Burbs in Heaton Moor - a recommended neighbourhood restaurant near Manchester

7 things to do in Manchester this May

Liverpool Restaurant Week arrives at end of April

Manchester restaurant and bar deals: April 2024

Cheese toastie at Blinker Bar, a recommended bar in Manchester.

The best dining deals in Liverpool: April 2024

Lunyalita, a recommended Spanish restaurant in Liverpool

The vinyl countdown: Greater Manchester's best record shops

Piccadilly Records, one of Confidential Guides' best record shops and somewhere you must visit on Record Store Day

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

Journalling in a coffee shop.

The Hot 20: the top Liverpool restaurants for last month

Duck at Gusto Liverpool, one of the Hot 20 Restaurants

Best in show: 18 dog-friendly hotels in Manchester

Leven is one of the best dog-friendly hotels in Manchester.

Headline act: Manchester’s best festivals

We Invented the Weekend - one of Greater Manchester's best festivals.

Roll with it: the best places for breakfast in Manchester

The Alan Breakfast

Dining at Pendergast's Steakhouse, Warrington

Pendergast’s Steakhouse

Warrington Restaurant - British

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Historic Buildings & Sites

Lamb Laziz at Zouk, Manchester

Zouk

Oxford Road Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

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

OXA

Oxton Restaurant - Modern British

A negroni and passion star martini at Cicchetti

Cicchetti

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

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

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

Rigatoni’s Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - Italian

View from Quest Apartment Hotels Liverpool

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

San Carlo Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Almost Famous Brunch

Almost Famous Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Man demonstrating a lunge on a reformer pilates machine at Runway Pilates Manchester

Runway Pilates Manchester

Northern Quarter Gyms

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

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

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Riva Blu Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

One of the spacious bedrooms at Ropewalks Hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Top 40 tasting menus: the finest of fine dining in the North West

Twin bedroom at Premier Suites Liverpool with city views

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Manchester River Cruises Pirates and Mermaids - a recommended half-term day out in Manchester.

Manchester River Cruises

Spinningfields Activities

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

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

Alfredo’s Social

Stockport Town Centre Restaurant

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

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

Opera Grill

Chester Restaurant - Global

The vinyl countdown: Greater Manchester’s best record shops

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

An insider’s guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Freight Island in spring / summer

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Headline act: Manchester’s best festivals

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Prestbury Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the dishes served at MUSU in Manchester

MUSU

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Best in show: 18 dog-friendly hotels in Manchester

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The hills are calling: 12 things to do in the Lake District

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Breakfast in bed at Hope Street Hotel - one of the most romantic hotels in Liverpool

Hope Street Hotel

Georgian Quarter Hotel

Things to do with kids in Manchester this Easter

Federation Gym

Northern Quarter Gyms

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

10 best spots for brunch in Cheshire

Bury Market

Piccolino Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant - Italian

The Fountain House

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Bottomless brunch at Almost Famous

Almost Famous Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - American

Oysters from Climat, Manchester.

Climat

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

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

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

The best Indian restaurants in the North West

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

San Carlo Gran Cafe Manchester, Raspberry Tart

San Carlo Gran Cafe

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

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

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

The kids menu at The Black Friar - a family-friendly restaurant in Manchester.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

San Carlo Fiorentina, Charcuterie Platter

San Carlo Fiorentina

Hale Barns Restaurant - Italian

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

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

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

Riva Blu Leeds

Leeds Restaurant - Italian

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Christmas and New Year's Eve at Piccolino

Piccolino Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Scottish Steakhouse at Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Top 40 tasting menus: the finest of fine dining in the North West

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian

Piccolo by Piccolino

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

A burger at Almost Famous Withington

Almost Famous Withington

Withington Restaurant

Christmas at City Wine Bar & Kitchen in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant