Some of Manchester’s most talented chefs are sharpening their knives especially for Christmas Day, serving up course after course of delectable festive grub. Feel like kicking back and having someone do the hard work for you this year? Read on for our picks of the best places to enjoy a Christmas Day dinner right here in Manchester, whether its a traditional Christmas dinner offering or a divine meal enough to give the roast turkey and all the trimmings a pass this year.
1. Ducie Street Warehouse
Providing Mancs with the perfect escape this Christmas Day, Ducie Street is cooking up a storm for families to enjoy, serving turkey and all the trimmings on December 25th. Guests can enjoy a special Christmas menu priced at £120 per person and £60 for children under 12, which includes three-course menu and snack on arrival. Mains include roast free range turkey breast, Massey’s roast potatoes, piccolo parsnips, sprouts & greens, pig in blankets & poultry gravy and roast prime beef sirloin, Blackstick’s blue dauphinoise, baby vegetables & Tuscan kale with red wine jus. Ducie Street Warehouse, Ducie St, M1 2TP.
2. 20 Stories
Making the big day extra special this year, 20 Stories will be open from 12pm-3pm, serving a delectable menu of Christmas Day classics. Think roast turkey breast served with pork, turkey leg & chestnut stuffing, honey carrots, truffled potato puree and cranberry jus, finished off with a delicious sherry Christmas pudding served with redcurrants and a brandy sauce. Plus, you can listen to the sounds of live music from the wonderful String Infusion, as they play classics from 1pm – 4pm for you to enjoy. 20 Stories, NO. 1, 1 Hardman Square, M3 3EB.
3. The Refuge
Providing refuge and dinner to those in Manchester this Christmas Day, The Refuge’s Christmas Day offering is sure to excite guests, with tons of options to suit all this Christmas. Expect mains such as roast turkey ballotine, gochujang glazed pork belly or vegan Wellington, alongside pigs in blankets, creamed savoy cabbage, Vimto-braised red cabbage and glazed Chantenay carrots. The Refuge, Oxford St, M60 7HA.
4. San Carlo
Say Buon Natale this year with San Carlo, who’ll be serving up an array of Italian-inspired Christmas dishes on December 25th. Served at their King Street West venue only, guests can expect delectable dishes such as turkey with Italian gravy, fillet of beef cooked in Madeira wine sauce, pan fried salmon with prosecco and Norwegian prawn sauce or slow cooked lamb shoulder with spinach. Ticking the boxes for both those who fancy something traditional and those that want something different, the menu has a little something for everyone this year. Plus, you can enjoy Italian desserts like tiramisu and Sicilian pistachio cake to finish. San Carlo, 42 King St W, M3 2WY.
5. The Lowry
Continuing to bring luxury vibes to Manchester even on Christmas Day, The Lowry Hotel’s River Restaurant is serving an absolute feast this Christmas Day, helping to take the pressure off and allow guests to truly celebrate. Enjoy turkey ballotine with all the best trimmings (hello, pigs in blankets!), alongside a selection of alternative main courses like mushroom pithivier and pan fried halibut, festive puddings or cheese selection to finish. The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Pl, Salford, M3 5LH.
6. King Street Townhouse
Alongside their festive screenings this season, King Street Townhouse in Manchester is bringing some Christmas magic in the form of a delicious Christmas Day dinner. Choose from the likes of hand-dived scallops, beef tartare, sweet potato and coconut soup or heritage tomato tart to start, followed by either roasted turkey ballotine, beef Wellington, seared halibut, hen-of-the-wood mushroom and gnocchi. Finish with classic Christmas pudding, a festive trio of desserts or an epic cheese board. King Street Townhouse, 10 Booth St, M2 4AW.
7. Ewe Restaurant & Bar
Leave the cooking to someone else this Christmas and relax by heading to newly-opened restaurant, Ewe, near Bolton. Priced at £85 per person, this magical four course Christmas menu includes all the classics with a modern twist, from pigs in blankets and shrimp cocktail to turkey feast and Scottish salmon Wellington. With a delicious selection of desserts to choose from, like Christmas pudding and gingerbread trifle, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Ewe Restaurant & Bar, 370 Chorley Rd, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3NB.
8. INNSiDE Manchester
On Christmas Day at four-star hotel, INNSiDE by Melia, will be offering Gino D’Acampo’s traditional menu served with all the trimmings at First Street Bar & Kitchen. Guests can sit back, relax and indulge in a delicious four course Christmas Day menu, complete with a glass of fizz on arrival, for only £80 per person. There’s also a Christmas Day menu for kids, priced at £45 per child. INNSiDE by Melia, 1 First St, M15 4RP.
9. 8 Manchester
Who says you have to have Christmas dinner on Christmas Day? How about a Chinese instead? The lovely Chinese restaurant situated next to Whitefield Metrolink station, 8 Manchester, is open on December 25 and will be offering an affordable Christmas Day banquet at £50 per person, served between 1pm and 5pm. The banquet features turkey and sweetcorn soup, a mixed platter with steak roll in black pepper sauce and shui mai, steamed seabass in black bean sauce, crispy chilli chicken, diced char shui with cashew nuts and more. 8 Manchester, 260 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, M45 8AB.
10. OSMA
The chic Scandi-style restaurant OSMA based in Prestwich, which recently opened a kitchen at Exhibition, is offering a Christmas Day menu full of elevated classics. Beginning with canapés and a glass of Cremant, guests can choose between blue cheese, ham hock terrine and salmon gravadlax to start, followed by a choice of Goosnargh turkey, corn-fed goose, grass-fed beef or wild mushroom pithivier for the main course. At OSMA, there’s not a Christmas pud in sight with sherry trifle, orange marmalade sponge with custard and a British cheese selection making up their dessert menu. OSMA, 132 Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 0AA.
11. The Eagle & Child
Venture north of the city to the quaint market town of Ramsbottom for some festive fayre this year. Priced at £115 per person, the Christmas Day dinner menu at the pub, restaurant and hotel The Eagle & Child is both extensive and delicious, which will have you wanting to curl up by the fire content by the feast. With canapés and fizz on arrival, followed by three courses of pure festive indulgence then coffee and mince pies to finish, this Christmas Day menu from The Eagle & Child is definitely a reason to escape the city. The Eagle & Child, 3 Whalley Rd, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 0DL.
12. Zouk Tea Bar & Grill
Fancy spicing up Christmas Day dinner? Zouk’s four-course Christmas Day Banquet, which costs £45 per head, kicks off with poppadoms, pickles and Prosecco to get everyone in the festive spirit. For the main course, guests can choose a selection of classic curries and accompaniments to share or dive into our Sunday roast sharing platter with a twist. The platter features Indian roasted meats served with Yorkshires, roasties and all the trimmings plus our luscious spicy gravy. If you’ve any room to spare, there’s a selection of tasty puds to complete your feast. Zouk Tea Bar & Grill, 5 The Quadrangle, Chester St, M1 5QS.
13. Etçi Mehmet
Next door to Zouk is Etçi Mehmet who is also getting involved in the Christmas Day dinner feasts in Manchester. Offering a lunch and dinner menu starting from £40 per person, the Turkish steakhouse will be serving up a special mezze platter featuring Turkish bread, baba ganoush, hummus and cacik, followed by either slowed cooked lamb shoulder or assado beef, marinated chicken breast or a spicy giant meatball loaded with cheeses. The festive feast at Etçi Mehmet will also include special salads, winter vegetables, mashed potatoes and a selection of sauces, with vegetarian options available on request. Etçi Mehmet, 4 The Quadrangle, Chester St, M1 5QS.
14. Peter Street Kitchen
One of the winners at the British Restaurant Awards 2022, Peter Street Kitchen is serving not three but five courses for their Christmas Day Luncheon. Guests can pick between lobster, crispy duck salad and chargrilled asparagus for starters, followed by a palate cleanser consisting of champagne and mint jelly with organic lemon sorbet. Main courses include dover sole fillet, aged beef wellington and roasted garlic and sage herb butter baby chicken, all served with orange and Manuka honey-glazed heritage carrots, cauliflower cheese with Gruyère and Parmesan crust, garlic and herb roast potatoes. Desserts range from cinnamon crème brûlée to baked blackberry and vanilla cheesecake, with Charbonnel et Walker pink truffles as the petit fours. Peter Street Kitchen, Free Trade Hall, Peter St, M2 5GP.