There’s a lot going on at Heaton Park this festive season. Whether you’re off to see the glimmering light trail that is Lightopia, gift hunting at the park’s first ever Christmas markets or picking out the perfect Christmas tree at the garden centre, there’s always time for a little respite and luckily the heated canopy at The Stables Cafe returns for winter.
Housed within the courtyard outside The Stables Cafe in Manchester’s Heaton Park, the heated canopy is here to warm you up as well as provide merriment and festive treats throughout the day. A perfect pitstop on your winter walk, the heated canopy will extend from the back to the front of The Stables Cafe, creating a mini Christmas market, featuring food and drink vendors from the local community.
Catering in the courtyard is headed up by the Life Cafés & Resorts team that operate Heaton Park’s popular lakeside dining domes and cafés. Their dedicated chef team is led by Chris Holland, an award-winning chef and ex-contestant of the BBC show, Great British Menu.
This winter, Chris and his team will bring a range of hearty seasonal dishes to the courtyard, including signature pulled pork sandwiches. Food stalls at The Stables courtyard include; a classic airstream serving their innovative and popular vegan scotch egg and homemade sausage rolls. There will also be loaded pasta dishes, such as a rich beef bolognese and a plant-based version. Stone-baked pizzas will be handcrafted and served from a vintage converted horsebox.
Warming festive drinks such as mulled wine and luxury hot chocolates will be on offer from the bar, as well as classic beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, so all the family are covered. The canopy will ensure come rain or shine, guests are protected from the elements, and the heat lamps, Christmas music and decorations inside will bring the cosy, Christmassy ambience.
The Stables is open throughout the festive period, with local market traders, wreath making and live music filling the courtyard on weekends. By night, the experience is open as part of this year’s Lightopia festival, which runs until January 2. The Stables will be closed on Christmas Day.
Find The Stables Cafe at Heaton Park, Middleton Rd, M25 2SW.