All About Manchester

Credit crunch Christmas

With our economy in tatters and the outlook for 2009 oh so grim, it might be tempting to curl up in bed with the duvet pulled over your head and hope the storm passes you over. But with so much fun to be had in Manchester over the festive period, that would really be a shame. Andrew Watson picks ten things to do in Manchester this month that will put a spring in your step without drilling a hole in your pocket.

1 Skate away into the sunset

Get your skates on this Christmas for a whip around the ice rink. Where? Well, take your pick. One of Manchester's top festive attractions is a temporary open-air ice rink at Spinningfields, just off Deansgate (until Jan 4). The rink, located at Hardman Boulevard, just oozes Christmas spirit. Adults pay £8.50, children under 12 pay £6 and children under five skate free. Visit www.manchesterlive.co.uk for more details.

There is also a brand new synthetic ice skating rink at The Trafford Centre's Barton Square, which boasts all the speed of real ice without the wet knees. The rink will be open until Jan 4 and you can enjoy a 45-minute session for £7 (adults) or £5 (children under 14) including skate hire. For opening times visit www.traffordcentre.co.uk/whatson.

2 Slide down Manchester's ice tube

This month, a new attraction comes to Piccadilly Gardens in the form of a 50-metre- long open-air snow slide. The snow is artificial, but who cares? No skill or previous experience is required to whizz down the slide, and it only costs £1.50. Give it a go before strolling through the fir trees and Christmas lights to enjoy a drink or snack in the purpose-built alpine chalet in the gardens.

The snow slide is open every day except Christmas Day, from Dec 4, 2008 until Jan 4, 2009. Visit www.manchesterlive.co.uk for more details.

3 Dine at the North Pole

You do not have to travel far to enjoy a rich meaty stew and a spiced winter cocktail in arctic surroundings. Check out Manchester's The North Pole, the city's first festive marquee bar and restaurant, offering credit-crunching meal deals daily until Dec 31.

Located in Cathedral Gardens, next to Urbis, The North Pole boasts a fabulous bespoke menu created by award-winning chef Robert Owen Brown, with warming bowls of stew costing £3.95 (vegetarian) and £4.95 (meat).

You can also enjoy one of the innovative cocktails - including mulled wine sweetened with Manchester's own Vimto - created by acclaimed Northern Quarter bar manager Adam Binnersley.

The North Pole, which houses a winter forest, 50 giant Christmas trees and a Northern Lights installation, also hosts one-off DJ performances and club nights. Visit www.northpolebar.com for details.

4 Browse Manchester's Christmas Markets

Low-budget Christmas pressies do not have to be unimaginative. Manchester's Christmas Markets are bursting with quirky stocking-fillers - there's beautiful jewellery from Bali, wooden toys from Germany, leather goods from India and ornaments from Africa among many other fabulously affordable gift ideas.

Even if you don't fancy shopping here, this is the place to catch up with friends and soak up the festive atmosphere, while you enjoy a cup of steaming hot chocolate laced with brandy or a sizzling bratwurst and a cold Bavarian beer.

The markets spread across the city, but our favourite spot to stop and stare is Albert Square, with its magnificent backdrop of Manchester Town Hall.

5 Go late night window shopping

It doesn't hurt to look now, does it? December brings late night shopping in Manchester city centre and although retailers will want you to listen to that irrational little voice in the back of your head that spurs you on to frivolous shopping, you won't crack because you will leave all plastic at home before you set off - that's a neat little trick this journalist has found very handy, anyway.

There's nothing like a browse around Manchester's shops, from the Northern Quarter's quirky boutiques to the indoor malls like the Triangle and the luxury shopping temples like Selfridges and Harvey Nichols to lift your spirits. After all, if Jimmy Choo still makes sparkly sandals with a £455 price tag on them, how bad can the economy be, right?

6 Catch a theatre show

The Wizard of Oz at The Lowry

Escape to a better, brighter, happier world with a feel-good theatre show. Peter Pan wreaks havoc at the Opera House, Mary Poppins works magic at the Palace Theatre, and Dorothy finds there is no place like home in The Wizard of Oz at The Lowry.

And there's more. Over at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Philip King's World War II comedy, See How They Run, will make you realise you really don't have it that bad, while The Library Theatre's revival of Great Expectations looks like a guaranteed Christmas heart warmer. See our What's On section for show listings.

With theatre tickets in the city starting from as little as £8.50, we dare you to find better value for money this Christmas.

7 Watch a blockbuster at the cinema

OK, £7.20 is quite a lot to pay for a seat in a cinema (especially when you then have to pay a small fortune for popcorn and Munchies) but if you choose wisely you can get a lot of bang for your cash. Blockbusters like Quantum of Solace will transport you to a more glamorous, dangerous, action-packed world for two hours. Yes, it's also more often than not a silly, frivolous world but don't let pseudo-intellectual film critics with their tiresome rantings deter you - anything with sound effects loud enough to drown out the doom and gloom messages we are bombarded with on a daily basis will do beautifully this Christmas.

We love the Odeon Manchester, in the Printworks, which offers the ultimate luxury movie experience in the form of its Gallery. We also recommend the Odeon at The Trafford Centre, where there is free parking.

8 See an exhibition

Entry to most of Manchester's museums and art galleries is free, and with so many fascinating exhibitions on at the moment, there has never been a better time to dip your toe in a bit of culture.

From stunningly colourful paintings by famous Pre-Raphaelite artist Holman Hunt to politically charged visual messages by Black Panther Party graphic artist Emory Douglas and luxurious wallpapers by international textile artists, there is something on show to satisfy all tastes. See our What's On section for show listings.

9 Let the music move you

Manchester is a hotbed of musical talent across all genres. We know that. You know that. The whole world knows that. But here is a secret that we divulge with great reluctance: In a city where so much talent competes for attention, you can watch the next big thing before they hit the big time for free, if you know where to look.

For example, on Dec 3, The Salford University Brass Band performs a free concert at Salford's Peel Hall from 1pm to 2pm. Later on that evening you can catch a night of live music by student rock and pop bands at The Old Pint Pot, Adelphi Street, Salford (show starts at 8pm). And at 7pm on Dec 10, you can walk into Whiteley Hall to watch some of Chetham's best students perform selected works by Chopin in the school's annual Chopin competition.

10 Take to the snow-covered Mancunian slopes

The weather forecasters may be annoyingly noncommittal about the possibility of a white Christmas in Manchester, but take our word for it; there will be snow and loads of it at Chill Factore.

Britain's largest indoor ski centre boasts the longest and widest real snow ski slope in the UK, complete with a button lift, sub-zero temperatures and mountain vistas (albeit painted on a wall).

Located next door to The Trafford Centre, less than four miles from Manchester city centre, the 250,000 sq ft Chill Factore also houses an 'Alpine village' featuring shops, bars and restaurants with balconies overlooking the slopes, so you can just chill out if you prefer.

Parking and entrance to Chill Factore is free. Adults pay £19 (off peak hours) or £24 (peak hours) for 90 minutes on the main slope - slightly less expensive than the French Alps. For details visit www.chillfactore.com.

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