Manchester Christmas Markets has been spread out across nine different areas for 2022 - but there’s one street in particular that’s been attracting celebrity visitors including footballers, Love Islanders and Real Housewives stars. So I headed down to see why this particular part of the markets is proving so popular with the elite.
Accessing King Street via St Ann’s Passage, it almost feels hidden, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Market Street and Exchange Square.
Of course, it’s certainly no secret - it’s just the furthest away from the train station and potentially the most easily missed if you’re not well versed with the city. Perhaps that’s one reason why TV personalities have been attracted to it.
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As you reach the King Street market, you’re immediately greeted by the smell of French soap, provided by Soaps of Provence Limited. This part of the market has a fantastic mix of food, drink and gifts, including shoes from Lanx, handmade wooden furniture from Charles Taylor Trading and personalised tree decorations from M Crafts.
Last week, Love Island winner Molly Mae Hague took a visit to King Street, stopping off at the Grumpy Moose. The bar has over fifty different styles of gin and tonic on offer, but, expecting her first baby with Tommy Fury, the PrettyLittleThing creative director stuck to a hot chocolate.
The 23-year-old shared a photo on Instagram of her sipping on a hot chocolate from one of the iconic Manchester Christmas Markets mugs, captioned: “Baby wanted hot chocolate”. For her wintry outing she was weaning a black Pretty Little Thing puffer coat which she accessorised with a red fluffy headband and a classic Chanel quilted handbag.
Following in the footsteps of the stars, I too headed to Grumpy Moose for a hot chocolate and was stunned that it set me back just £3 - particularly when the markets are routinely slammed for being ‘expensive’. There was an additional £3 charge for the mug deposit, but I was able to have this refunded upon finishing my drink and returning it.
The hot chocolate itself, topped with whipped cream and chocolate dusting, was insanely indulgent, really rich and velvety, so I can see why the Love Island star deemed it worthy of its own Instagram post.
King Street is also one of the only areas to have tables and chairs dotted around to sit on, too - another advantage to its location - meaning you can sit down and enjoy the festive decor, including Grumpy Moose’s garlands, baubles and fairy lights.
Further down the street you’ll find Bistrot Le Petit Paris, where Ex-Real Housewives of Cheshire star Nermina Pieters-Mekic and footballer husband Erik Pieters were spotted on Wednesday. Nermina shared a festive family photo with her 77,700 Instagram followers with the caption ‘Christmas markets’, wearing a Balenciaga scarf and a borg bucket hat.
And it’s easy to see why the little Parisian bar is appealing to celebs, with its cobbled street, glittering lights and extensive menu.
The bar sells a selection of draught and special beer, as well as champagne, red, white and mulled wine, including a special with brandy or amaretto. Again, there are tables and chairs to sit down and relax, soaking up the Christmas spirit.
And it’s not just the bars that make King Street market special - there’s a real variety here, not just bratwurst and pancakes. Eat Greek are dishing up gyros while Dorri Limited offer Baklava and Turkish Delight. Best Of Italy offers an array of Italian cheese, salami, ham, dried pasta and sauces, with Habas offering something completely new this year, too.
The Michelin Guide-mentioned restaurant, headed up by Simon Shaw, has popped up with a welcoming blue tent complete with Bedouin carpet and Moroccan lamps offering something really quirky and different, from Moroccan inspired dishes as well as warm churros with cinnamon sugar and Simon's own special take on mulled wine.
I can’t quite put my finger on why King Street’s market is one celebrities are flocking to. There doesn’t seem to be one definitive reason. However, its quieter location offers a relaxed vibe and you can really sit and lap up all the festivities. During my visit on Thursday, there were fewer queues compared to the likes of Exchange square, the prices seemed really good, and there’s a real diverse range of food and drink on offer. Perhaps it's this ‘little bit of everything’ on one street, along with its beautiful setting, that has all the stars posing for social media snaps.
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