This year's alternative offering to Manchester's Christmas Markets...
A small number of stalls will give shoppers the chance to browse goods from local traders.
Manchester may not be hosting its famous Christmas markets this year but we now know there will be a much smaller scale event to satisfy festive shoppers.
A number of stalls are being set up in Piccadilly Gardens and St Ann's Square to offer a flavour of the usual festivities, while supporting local traders over the Christmas period.
The Piccadilly Gardens markets will include the usual street-food traders, along with a range of craft and gift stalls, and is open now until Wednesday 23 December – 10.30 until 7pm.
St Ann’s Square will welcome some of the usual Christmas Market favourites for two long weekends (Weds 9 December to Sun 13 December / Weds 16 December to Sun 20 December) and will be open from 10.30am until 7pm.
Foodies can expect:
• Porky Pig and his famous Yorkshire pudding wraps
• Eat Greek with traditional gyros and halloumi fries
• Elsie May’s gooey cookie dough
• Traditional Christmas market pancakes
• Gourmet English sausage and German bratwurst
• Mango Rays with hot and fresh burritos and vegan chill con carne.
The weekend markets will be strictly managed to limit the number of people who can access the stalls at any one time, using a one-way traffic system to ensure social distancing can be always adhered to.
Outdoor markets can trade under the Government’s Tier 3 Covid-19 guidelines.
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “We know people were so disappointed to hear this year’s Christmas Markets could not go ahead. Public safety must be at the heart of everything we do, and we could not put on our usual world-class event while keeping people safe.
“Since then, we have been looking at ways of supporting the Christmas traders at an important time of year for their businesses, while also attracting people to the city centre in a safe an manageable way.
“Our Winter Markets have attracted some of the city’s - and region’s - top makers and traders, who provide a real alternative to the high street.”
A number of stalls are being set up in Piccadilly Gardens and St Ann's Square - there'll be a one way traffic system to make sure people can socially distance