Manchester's world-famous Christmas Markets are now open!

Credit: Darren Robinson

With 220 stalls across nine market sites in the city centre, selling food, drink and a stockingful of crafts and seasonal gifts, the markets are a must-visit attraction for visitors to the city and locals alike,  guaranteed to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

24 years on from the first Manchester Christmas Markets back in 1998, the markets continue to attract Mancunians and visitors alike to the city in their thousands to fill up on the fantastic festive treats on offer.

This year sees the iconic ski chalet market stalls take over Piccadilly Gardens, which is once again transformed into the Winter Gardens, Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange, and King Street.

With food and drink stalls cooking up everything from Bratwurst, vegan 5-bean Chilli, Korean Hotdogs, and gourmet Italian pizza, to pancakes and chocolate dipped Churros there's plenty to satisfy both foodies and Christmas shoppers alike.

Those seeking out a tipple won't be disappointed. If they are looking for a hot chocolate laden with marshmallows whipped cream and festive sprinkles, or a grown-up Gluhwein, German beer, or Salford Rum, there's a selection of drinks wide enough to quench the thirstiest of thirsts, they'll be well pleased!

Christmas gift hunters are also going to be spoilt for choice with gifts from amazing crafters and producers, selling all kinds of things from tweed hats, Christmas decorations, candles, fine soaps, jewellery, and gift sets of cheese truckles and more besides.

The markets will be open until Thursday 22 December.

Food and drink stalls across all Christmas market locations will be open from 11 am and close at 9 pm every day, Monday to Sunday.

Craft stalls across all the Christmas markets open at 10 am and close at 8 pm daily, Monday to Sunday.

Stalls at all Christmas market locations except Cathedral Gardens end at 6pm on Thursday 22 December.

However, the food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens will continue trading until 31 December to complement the ice rink which is also open until then. 

The opening times for stalls at Cathedral Gardens from 22 December are as follows:

22 Dec - open 11 am close at 9 pm

23 Dec - open 11 am close at 9 pm

24 Dec - open 10 am close at 5 pm 

25 Dec - closed for Christmas Day

26 Dec - 31 Dec - open 10 am close at 6 pm

This year also sees Dock 53 at the Winter Gardens with a selection of stalls selling food and drink, and live entertainment in all evenings.

Open through to December 24, Dock 53 is open as follows:

Opening times from 10 Nov through to 23 Dec are:

Mon - Wed open 11 am and close 10 pm

Thur - Sun open 11 am and close 11 pm

Dec 24 - open 11 am and close 6 pm

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester said: "Hello Christmas! Our world-beating Christmas markets are back! 

"They look totally amazing, stuffed full of treats and surprises for everyone. And with festive stalls filled with all the lights, sound, and magic of the season right across the city centre, they are a treat you won't want to miss. 

"This is such a magical time of year. We all know that Manchester does Christmas better than anywhere else - come and see us!"

For more information on Christmas in Manchester visit : manchester.gov.uk/christmas

Mendip District Council declares Shop local and park for free on Small Business Saturday

In the pre-Christmas period Mendip District Council is offering free parking at selected car parks across the district on Saturday, 3 December, to support Small Business Saturday.

The Council is encouraging shoppers to visit its high streets and purchase locally to support their independent businesses.

A spokesperson said: "Shop local and park for free on Small Business Saturday Small Business Saturday is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Free parking will be available in the following Council-owned car parks to support this initiative:

Cattle Market Car Park, Frome

St John's Car Park, Glastonbury

Great Ostry Car Park, Shepton Mallet

Cranhill Road Car Park, Street

Union Street Car Park, Wells

Councillor Simon Carswell, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said: "It's great to again support Small Business Saturday. Our high streets are packed with fantastic local retail businesses and this important campaign shines the light directly on them.

"The cost of living crisis is having an impact and now more than ever small businesses are facing tougher circumstances. Let's do all we can to support them."

Remember, it's free to park in all Mendip owned car parks after 6pm and this includes on county Carnival nights at Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Wells.

Residents are asked to note all terms and conditions of car parking within the relevant car parks remain in force, including maximum time limits. To ensure everyone has a fair chance to enjoy this offer, please don't overstay. 

Please don't park in disabled bays, unless you're a blue badge holder. And park responsibly, by staying within the parking bay markings, and avoiding hatched lined areas, for safety reasons.

Penalty charges will be issued if you breach the conditions. There is an appeals process, details of which can be found on your parking ticket.

For more information on Mendip car parks, please visit Pay & Display Car Parks in Mendip: www.mendip.gov.uk/paydisplay.

For more information about Small Business Saturday, or to get involved, please visit smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

Shoppers at Asda can pick up Christmas Dinner for a family five for less than £22

Asda has launched its Frozen dinner offer, at a cost of a mere £4.40 per head. But it also unlocks free cash for Asda Rewards App users, too.

Customers using the Asda Rewards App can earn £1.50 in their cash pot, when spending £20 or more on Frozen Christmas dinner essentials until 27th November 2022.

As Christmas gets ever nearer and shoppers are seeking ways to begin spreading the cost, smart Asda shoppers can stock up on their frozen Christmas dinner essentials in advance, packing the freezer to feed a family of five for just £21.48.

And there's more! Asda Rewards App users can also earn £1.50 in their Rewards App cash pot, when they spend just £20 on selected frozen Christmas dinner essentials including Brussels Sprouts, British Turkey and Pigs in Blankets.

The list of Frozen Christmas dinner products available includes all of the below;

Asda Basted Small British Turkey, Frozen (approx. 2.6kg) - £13.50

Asda Frozen for Freshness Sliced Carrots (1kg) - £1.10

Asda Frozen for Freshness Garden Peas (1kg) - £1.25

Asda Party Pigs in Blankets, Frozen (12pk) - £2.50

Asda Crispy Roast Potatoes, Frozen (800g) - £0.88

Asda Frozen for Freshness Brussels Sprouts (1kg) - £1.25

Asda Frozen Yorkshire Puddings, (12pk) - £1.00

Currently the cheapest frozen deal on the market, Asda’s Frozen Christmas Dinner offer is over 40p cheaper per head than their nearest competitor, and with the additional £1.50 cash reward, customers will be able to spend on other exciting Christmas goodies, too.

Also, shoppers don't have to spend £20 in one transaction in order to complete the £20 Rewards App ‘mission’ on Frozen Christmas Dinner, so customers can spread the cost of these items between now and 27th November.

To learn more about Asda's Rewards scheme, visit: https://groceries.asda.com/event/asda-rewards?cmpid=ahc-_-ghs-_-asdacom-_-hp-_-card-3-_-rewards.

Get Christmas crafting for fun!

I was in our local branch of the bookshop called "The Works" looking for a book (as you do) when I noticed that they had a wide range of Christmas craft items.

Idea of a book forgotten for that moment, I decided that I needed to put my barely adequate crafting skills to use and I browsed through the shelves for something appropriate to make for Christmas.

They had a Decorate Your Own Festive Wooden Village at £3.00, an LED Wooden Christmas Scene at £6.00, a Wooden Merry Christmas Garland at £3.00, a Wooden Build Your Own Merry Christmas Hanging House: Pack of 2 at £3.00, a Wooden 3D Christmas Tree at £5.00, a Wooden Christmas Tree Advent Calendar at £13.00, a Fill Your Own Baubles: Pack of 6 at £2.00.

Also a Christmas Cookie Cutters: Pack of 10 at £3.00, a 10 Piece Christmas Stamper Set at £3.00, Paint Your Own Hanging Christmas Decorations Kit at £4.00, a Jar of Assorted Jingle Bells at £3.00, a Upper Case Alphabet Wooden Stamps: Pack of 26 with the ink stamp at £3.00, card making kits, garlands, Christmas craft kits and more besides.

I chose the alphabet wooden stamps, the assorted jingle bells and the build your own hanging Merry Christmas house. Though you have to be careful to make sur you glue the sections the right way round or your decorative house would say samtsirhC yrreM instead of Merry Christmas!

To find your nearest branch of The Works or to shop online visit https://www.theworks.co.uk.

All I want for Christmas is my Asda Christmas Tree pizza!

The tree-shaped pizza features a whole host of festive favourites, including stuffing, turkey, and cranberry sauce!

Priced at a nifty £3.75, customers will be able to purchase the pizza at in-store Asda Pizza Counters from the 12th December.

The pizza is launching as part of Asda’s biggest Christmas offering to date, with 723 new items released for an extra special Christmas.

With Christmas right around the corner and festive staples starting to make their way into homes across the country, what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with Asda’s new Christmas Tree Pizza?

It's idea for an evening in with the family, or even a pre-Christmas party with colleagues and friends, the dough-licious tree-shaped pizza combines a teatime favourite with the nostalgia of Christmas, promising a mouth-watering treat with every bite.

The pizza features a range of seasonal ingredients like juicy, diced turkey breast, flavoursome sage and onion stuffing balls, crispy bacon, delicious cheese and topped at home with fruity cranberry sauce, ideal for those looking to indulge and get a taste of the big day.

They'll be available from Asda’s in-store pizza counters nationally between the 12th and 24th December, made by hand using fresh ingredients daily.

What’s more, for just 40p extra, customers can heat their pizza in-store, when purchasing at the Pizza Counter. Simply ask the colleague at the counter to heat your pizza in the in-store oven, and enjoy the cheapest takeaway-style pizza on the market!

Asda’s Christmas Tree Pizza is one of many new festive products launched for 2022, with this year’s offering marking the store’s largest Christmas range to date, featuring 723 new products available to buy in-store and online.

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Oxfordshire-based charity aims to help the 14% this Christmas

Mehiel Foundation, a small registered charity (1198017) based in the Oxfordshire town of Bicester has given itself the task of providing a festive Christmas dinner to every child in need this festive season.

According to joint DWP and HMRC estimates, 14% of the children in Oxfordshire live in poverty. 

A spokesperson said: "In an age when we spend more on dieting than we do on poverty eradication, no child should go to sleep hungry."

Through the “Sacks of Hope” initiative, Mehiel Foundation works with local schools and churches to identify families who are in need and supplies them with sacks of groceries which include fruits, vegetables, rice, pasta, tins of soups, sweets, a Christmas pudding, a whole chicken and many more goodies costing around £23/sack.

But Mehiel Foundation needs your help! Because of the pandemic, the number of families requiring assistance has increased considerably over the past two years.

You have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate Oxfordshire children this Christmas. Mehiel Foundation’s 100% Donation Policy will ensure all your donations go towards purchasing the groceries and not a single penny will be spent on “admin” costs. Text SOH followed by your donation amount to 70580 to give that amount (max £20) or visit www.mehiel.org/donate.