Chris Heasman lists the city’s best spots for a festive feast fest
We don’t need to tell you that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But with so many seasonal meals, festive drinks and other Yuletide treats practically flooding Liverpool’s bars and restaurants, deciding where to celebrate can prove a little tricky.
To help you, we’ve put together this list of some of the best places at which you can get your festive feast on.
Royal Albert Dock’s Christmas Extravaganza
Thursday 22nd November 4pm-9pm
Billed as a sensory experience encompassing the smells, tastes and sounds of Christmas on the city’s iconic waterfront, the dock’s inner quay will be transformed into a winter wonderland with roasted chestnuts, a pop up Christmas tree shop, an ice sculpture trail (ideal selfie opportunities) and a carol singing Christmas choir to get you in the mood. An eclectic selection of outlets and restaurants will be their offering discounts, food, drink and crafts.
32A, The Colonnades, Royal Albert Dock, L3 4AA
Miracle on Seel Street
16th Nov - 31st Jan
After a successful debut in 2017, the secret bar above Salt Dog Slims will be playing host to Miracle on Seel Street once more. This festive bar and grotto is essentially a secret little Yuletide getaway, decked out with decorations, awash with cocktails and filled with festive snacks. Expect to find everything from mince pies and turkey sandwiches to mulled wine and Irish Cream on the menu. They’re also screening Christmas movies on certain nights, meaning you can kick back with some entertainment while you gorge yourself on apple pie martinis and pigs in blankets.
83 Seel St, Liverpool, L1 4BB
Liverpool Christmas Market
16 November - 23 December 2018
Arguably the city’s biggest Christmas event, the Liverpool Christmas market is now open on St. George’s Plateau. As well as a Windmill Bar (which serves traditional beer, mulled wine and other festive drinks), revellers should expect to find a wide range of over forty independent food stalls, serving up everything from burgers to curries to waffles to pancakes and mulled wine with a few arts and craft stalls in the mix.
St George's Pl, Liverpool L1 1JJ, UK
Ice Festival
10th November - 6th January 2019
Liverpool’s other major Christmas market is the Ice Festival, which takes place down on the waterfront in Pier Head. Pop-up food and drink at the festival includes German sausage, stone baked pizza, hot roast rolls, crepes, hot chocolate, mulled wine and more. If you’re after more than just eating and drinking, however, the Ice Festival will incorporate an ice skating rink, an exhilarating 30m ice slide and a variety of fairground rides and games.
Canada Boulevard, Liverpool L3 1DP
Snö Garden @ Camp & Furnace
Monday 18th – Thursday 21st December / Free Entry / 4.30pm-late
Friday 22nd – Saturday 23rd December / Free Entry / 12.30pm -late
The Baltic Triangle's Camp & Furnace will be transformed into Snö Garden, a huge indoor winter festival. As well as a programme of Christmas movies, karaoke, indoor snow and a silent disco, Camp & Furnace's traders will be offering an array of Christmas grub and cocktails. They'll also be setting up a mulling station, serving a choice of festive wine, cider or whisky.
67 Greenland St, Liverpool L1 0BY
Bar Hütte
Until 31st December
Bar Hütte has returned once more to its iconic location beneath the Christmas tree in Liverpool ONE. The private huts which encircled this après ski-themed staple of the Liverpool winter season now feature their own "Carol-oke machines" (their pun, not ours) and dedicated hosts. Along with the usual line-up of winter snacks, cocktails, beers and wines, each booth also comes with a hamper of alpine blankets and sheepskin-covered hot water bottles. Entry is free but a two-hour slot in the booths will set you back a non-refundable deposit of £30. Champagne upgrades are available, of course and they will even supply some props and accessories to turn your hütte into your own photo booth.
5 Wall St, Liverpool L1 8JQ
Chocolate Parties at the Palm House
Saturday 15th December
What's Christmas without a little sweetness? If you're craving some sugar over the coming weeks, you'd do well to get yourself over to Sefton Park. The Palm House will be hosting a number of chocolate parties on 15th December, at which guests can make their own truffles and lollipops, experimenting with a range of flavours and ingredients under the guidance of a professional chocolatier. Earlier slots are available for the kids, too, making this a treat the whole family can enjoy.
Sefton Park Palm House, Liverpool L17 1AP
