Manchester Christmas Markets 2021: Opening and closing times and which traders are there

The Manchester Christmas Markets 2021 kicked off this morning, with people flocking to the city centre to check out this year’s offerings.

Things are going to be little different for 2021: while the heart of the markets is usually centered around Albert Square, ongoing renovations to the Town Hall have forced them to move to Piccadilly Gardens.

The area has been transformed into the ‘Winter Gardens’, with all the usual yuletide bars, market stalls and food huts still at familiar locations such as St. Ann’s Square, Exchange Square and King Street.

David Dixon / Geograph

What dates are this year’s Christmas Markets on?

The markets opened today, Friday November 12th, and most stalls will close on December 22nd – however, there are extended opening hours at both the Winter Gardens and at Cathedral Gardens.

The main Piccadilly Gardens Winter Garden hub will be open until Sunday January 2nd – as will the Cathedral Gardens markets and ice skating rink.

When do Manchester Christmas Markets open and close?

Generally speaking, food and drink stalls will be open from 10am-9pm every day with retail stalls closing at 8pm.

Below are the opening hours for the Christmas Markets that are staying open beyond December 22nd.

The Winter Gardens festive hours:

• Christmas Eve: 10am-5pm
• Christmas Day: CLOSED
• Boxing Day: 10am-5pm
• December 27th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
• December 28th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
• December 29th: 10am-7.30pm
• December 30th: 10am-7.30pm
• December 31st: 10am-5pm
• January 1st: 10am-5pm (Bank Holiday)
• January 2nd: 10am-5pm

Cathedral Gardens festive hours:

• Christmas Eve: 10am-5pm
• Christmas Day: CLOSED
• Boxing Day: 10am-5pm
• December 27th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
• December 28th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
• December 29th: 10am-7.30pm
• December 30th: 10am-7.30pm
• December 31st: 10am-5pm
• January 1st: 10am-5pm (Bank Holiday)
• January 2nd: 10am-5pm
  

@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram

Which traders will be there and which area will they be in?

Piccadilly Gardens:

• Little Spain
• Mexico Joes Ltd
• Bars&Yours Ltd
• One Catering
• Porkys of Yarm
• Clowbecks
• The Pancake House
• Brook’s Mill / Hollies
• The Manchester Winter Ale House
• Elsie Mays
• Cheshire Cheese Company
• Silver Flowers
• G&J Catering
• de Creperie 
• The Great British Cheese Company
• MM Coffee Company Ltd

St. Ann’s Square:

• Star Bakery GMBH 
• The Pancake House
• Yard & Coop
• Manke Markets UK Ltd
• Gingerbread House Confections 
• Pure Indulgence
• Johnsons Crafts
• Metal Art Productions
• Winbridge
• Drydock Driftwood
• Manc & Proud
• The Cheese Board
• Continental Cottage
• Bellapaella
• Amber Jewellery
• Wraptious
• Eat Liquorice

King Street:

• O Sweet Home
• N & P Events Ltd
• Cuisine Provencale
• Xmas Food & Drinks Ltd
• Eat Grk 
• Le Moulin Au Chocolat
• Urban Colours
• Terrasa Ltd
• The Salford Rum Company
• Charles Taylor Trading
• N & P Events Ltd
• Dorri Limited
• Small Batch Cocktails Ltd
• Soaps of Provence Limited
• M Crafts
• Malvavisco
• Johnsons Toffees
• The Best Of Italy
• Frank’s Jewels
• Cherry Tree UK Ltd
• The Toast Italiano

Exchange Street:

• The Great North Pie Company
• Birchwood Leather
• Earth, Rock & Stone
• MCR Wall Art
• Angel Belle Jewellery
• Dontbitchstitch
• Trolle Trading Limited
• Lakeland Picnic Ltd
• Mamma Mia

New Cathedral Street:

• Eat New York
• Mango Rays (MCR) LTD
• Bar 3 
• The Witch House
• Zen Experimental Ltd
• SGB Trading
• Mantra
• Cheshire Cheese Company
• Birchwood Leather
• The Little Gift Hut
• Eat Liquorice
• Celtic Spirit Co
• Unikalus Vaizdas
• Mouse And Moon 
• Artesania 
• The Cocktail Co
• Laura’s Fudge
• Mayflower Apiaries
• Java Bar Espresso Ltd
• The Buddha Beauty Company
• Lanx Group Ltd

@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram

Exchange Square:

• The Mill Exchange Ltd
• Tikka Kebab Kitchen
• Forum Foods Ltd 
• de Creperie
• Turks Charcoal Pit
• Round Food House
• Elsie Mays
• Gingerbread House Confections
• The Crusty Pie Company
• Wall Art Collective Ltd
• Zakad d.o.o.
• Crios Gifts 
• Zara Cakes Ltd
• Faith & Sons 
• De Luciano
• Priya Trading
• The Cheese Board
• Artisan Farm
• The Festive House
• Terrasa Ltd
• Pineapple Events Solutions Limited
• Pure Indulgence
• Riverside Spirits
• Dorri Limited
• Mosaic 
• Grey Thread 
• Sasha Ray Photography
• From The Olive Tree

Market Street:

• Garlic Grater
• Popsters
• Ken The Hat Man
• Baby Leon
• Amazonas Jewellery
• Exglo UK
• Carpe Diems Finest Ltd
• Kingdom Of Sweets
• Edges Arms
• Personalised Gifts
• Xtravertz
• The Great British Cheese Company
• Mandalay Accessories Ltd
• Crios Gifts
• VietnamUKConnect Ltd
• TWS TRADING LIMITED
• Tiger Mountain
• O’Donnell Moonshine Ltd
• Silver Flowers 
• Pretty Little Princess
• Amazonas Gifts 
• M & C Crafts
• Vybrid
• The Melting Pot

Cathedral Gardens:

• Continental Catering
• de Creperie
• Well & Spruce
• Windmill 
• The Dog House
• Agathas Farm
• Farman & Son LTD
• The Great British Cheese Company 
• Sorelle
• The Closet Boutique