Piccadilly Gardens' Christmas Family Fair opens

Manchester’s newest Christmas attraction, the Piccadilly Gardens’ Family Fair has arrived and is now in full swing. Part of the ‘Manchester’s Magical Christmas’ activity across the city centre, it features a range of traditional and affordable family rides and attractions including a galloping horse carousel, a helter skelter, swing boats, hook-a-duck, high striker, hall of mirrors, wave swinger ride and a coconut shy.

It features a range of traditional and affordable family rides and attractions including a galloping horse carousel, a helter skelter, swing boats, hook-a-duck, high striker, hall of mirrors, wave swinger ride and a coconut shy.

Open every day apart from Christmas day until 3rd January, the fair also features a Big Top Bar operated by Kro events. The Big Top Bar serves hot cocktails, traditional ales, warming hot cider, mulled wine and winter cakes, with entertainment from Band on the Wall every Thursday, Friday and Saturday leading up to Christmas.

There is also be a choice of food stalls selling seasonal gourmet food including Ginger’s Comfort Emporium serving hot waffles with homemade ice cream, Pieminister offering pies and mash, the Manchester hot sausage barrow, Baron Bruchard selling soups and stews and What’s Cooking selling hot speciality meats.

Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “This traditional family fair has really brought the heart of the city centre to life this Christmas. Piccadilly always offers something different and this year is no exception. This major Christmas attraction looks superb and I’m sure will create some special memories for every one of the families that visits it.”

Alex King, Piccadilly Partnership manager for Cityco, the city centre management company said: “We’ve worked hard to source a high quality family-friendly attraction for this important part of the city centre and our efforts have really paid off. Not only does the fair itself look really pretty but the food and drink offers are of a very good standard. We’ve hand-picked companies that offer tasty, winter-warming food at reasonable prices. The funfair has brought a really festive feel to Piccadilly and is already proving a popular place for all the family.”

Mark Ruby, managing director of Kro who are operating the Big Top Bar commented: “We’re thrilled to be involved in such an exciting event and starting to welcome families into the Big Top Bar. It’s been a lot of hard work to get the bar built in the recent weather but the whole of the Gardens have been transformed into a magical winter wonderland and look superb.”

The fair is open daily 11am – 8pm and the Big Top Bar will be open daily 11am – 10pm. Smaller rides are priced at £1.50 and larger rides at £2.00.

For further information visit www.piccadillymanchester.com or www.cityco.com.