The Big Christmas Shop: Manchester’s top traders for festive food

Missed stir-up Sunday? Not a fan of the old fruitcake? Order an impressive Italian cake from Sicilian NQ instead.

Axons of Didsbury will see you right for all your festive meat, from a turkey or a joint of beef for the big day or sausages for a slap-up breakfast.

Be prepared for the queues but Barbakan is the place for fresh bread, cooked meats and above all, stupendous Viennese mince pies.

Buy your festive champagne, wines and speciality beers from Carringtons in Chorlton.

The Cheese Hamlet in Didsbury is a good place for festive foodie gifts and to treat yourself to a proper Christmas cheeseboard. Pass the port.

Smoked nuts from The Cheshire Smokehouse are an essential part of Christmas but they also sell good quality meat and other tasty titbits.

Order your Christmas cheeses from Chorlton Cheesemongers ahead of time to avoid the queues then pick them up from outside. It’s hard not to feel smug when the queue snakes out the door and down the street.

Cork of the North is a family-owned wine merchant. It should be top of your list for Christmas gifts with its selection of wines from around the world and artisan spirits,

Epicerie Ludo is the chi-chi version of the corner shop selling gourmet groceries, wines and spirits. You can also find savoury treats like sausage rolls and scotch eggs as well as freshly-baked breads and French pastries.

The Epicurean in Heaton Moor sells a comprehensive selection of beers. From Belgian and German specialities to cans of fancy IPA from local indie breweries, this is a very wide range.

Mettrick’s Butchers is an award-winning business. Order your turkey, rooster or High Peak lamb or beef for Christmas. They also make the UK’s best pork pie. Officially.

Out of the Blue is a quality fishmonger with first class customer service. It’s also a good place to source ethical and sustainable seafood.

The monthly Mud Farmers Market is a great place to buy Christmas produce with veg so fresh it’s still got mud on it. There’s a festival atmosphere and a firepit with ‘smores.

Christmas port? Wine for the big day? Last-minute Christmas gifts? Get them all from Reserve Wines with top-class advice.

Salut Wines is a lovely independent wine shop in Manchester. It’s a top choice if you need corporate gifts but it’s equally good for a special bottle of wine for Christmas Day.

Slattery is one of Manchester’s finest chocolatiers. Buy gifts and treats that are a step up from a tub of Quality Street.

Taylors of Sale only deals with farmers who have a commitment to animal welfare. From a centrepiece turkey to locally reared lamb, you’ll get great service at this popular butcher’s shop.

Unicorn is an outstanding vegan co-operative that once won ‘best food retailer’ at the Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards. For Brussels sprouts, umpteen varieties of potatoes and all sorts of organic produce, Unicorn is the place to go.

There’s an interesting selection of wines at Whole Bunch in Prestwich. For a really special Christmas present, sign someone up to their Sauce Subscription for a monthly curated care package.