Winter at Hulme Community Garden Centre

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Visit now

Winter at Hulme Community Garden Centre

30 November-24 December 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Photo by Boys in Bristol Photography
Book now

Hulme Community Garden Centre is a haven of flora nestled between Kim’s and the Niamos in Hulme. Since renovating, the centre has expanded their cafe and shop as well as making full use of all their community spaces. This season they’re hosting weekly festive activities for all ages so it’s well worth spending some time this winter at Hulme Community Garden Centre.

As much as some Christmas activities can feel superficial and performative the Garden Centre’s annual festivities are the antithesis of this. Here is a place that exists symbiotically between community, horticulture and commerce. You always leave their events feeling a sense of connection to people and a beautiful shared place.

On the 2nd of December, they’ll be hosting their annual Winterfest. A yearly celebration of crafts, activities, live music, delicious food and warming drinks from Cafe Sorrel. There will also be some seasonal cocktails which you can enjoy from the Garden Centre Bar. Sip a seasonal tipple while you peruse stalls from local craft makers, an ideal way to pick up some bespoke and sustainable Christmas presents.

This might go without saying at a Christmas party thrown in a Garden Centre, but it’s also a great chance to pick up one of their British grown, cut Christmas trees.

If, for some reason, you have better things to do on the first weekend in December than some wholesome wreath making, cocktail drinking and music watching do not fear. On the 3rd, 10th, 17th and 23rd of December you can still enter into the seasonal spirit at the Garden Centre with festive wreath and table decoration making using fresh vegetation and sustainable materials.

Aside from the festive fun, the Centre is also just a lovely environment to get lost in. With their Camomile Bed, sociable polytunnel and upgraded Cafe Sorrel we highly recommend letting yourself get lost amongst the plants and resident cats this winter at Hulme Community Garden Centre.

Where to go near Winter at Hulme Community Garden Centre

Venture Arts
Hulme
Gallery
Venture Arts, Manchester

Venture Arts is a progressive visual arts charity based in Hulme, Manchester, with a small exhibition space. It works alongside learning disabled artists to create and show exciting new collaborative visual artwork.

Clay Studio Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
Clay Studio Manchester

Clay studio was founded in 2016 to provide a dedicated workshop for new graduates, hobby ceramicists and experienced makers. The studio also offers a range of classes for students of all abilities.

Manchester
Theatre
Z-arts

Z-arts was formed in 2000 as a ‘creative space for young people’ with a priority on providing participatory activity.

Hulme
Hulme Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, originally known as the Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 6 October 1902. In 2018, the historic venue was relaunched as a community arts centre by NIAMOS – a collective of artists, musicians and local residents.

Manchester
Event venue
Niamos Centre, Manchester

Niamos is a co-operatively run exhibition, arts, and performance space with a micro bakery, music studio’s, a kitchen and a holistic well-being space in the midst of transformation.

Manchester Metropolitan University Brooks building, Birley Campus in Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
MMU Birley Campus

Birley is Manchester Met’s world-class centre for Education and Health Professionals and the university’s flagship community campus.

Manchester
Gallery
Manchester School of Art

The Manchester School of Art, of which the Holden Gallery is a part, is a beautiful neo-Gothic building that’s part of MMU’s All Saints campus.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester
University
MMU Student Union

Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union building houses a bar and various other facilities for students and staff.

What's on: Activity

Bill Callahan in green shirt, looking down in a cluttered room with guitars
ActivityCity Centre
Bill Callahan at Aviva Studios

Bill Callahan brings his new album My Days of 58 to Aviva Studios, facing down mortality with warmth and dry humour.

From £40.00
Until
TourCity Centre
The Oxford Road Tour

Jonathan Schofield’s new walking tour exploring the treasures and famous landmarks of Manchester’s Oxford road.

From £20.00
Elizabeth Gaskell's House
TourManchester
The Manchester Literary Tour

On the eve of Elizabeth Gaskell’s birthday, join Jonathan Schofield Tours for a stroll around the sites (and sights) of Manchester’s literary past.

From £20.00
Stockport Plaza
Until
TourManchester
Secrets of Stockport

Join Jonathan Schofield Tours and explore the fascinating stories and stunning architecture of a town on a meteoric rise.

From £20.00

Culture Guides

Nwando Ebizie and Sidiki Dembélé wear jewel-toned clothes against a midnight blue backdrop.
Music

Returning legends, their noisy heirs and centuries-old music made new – all in our latest guide update.

Woodhill by LUNG Theatre.
Theatre

Contemporary performance, verbatim theatre, dark comedy and a bold vision of Gaza - an eclectic mix for the start of autumn.

Food and Drink in the North

Step into autumn safe in the knowledge that you have the North's very best mid-September guide to food and drink in Manchester and beyond.

Exhibitions

Our latest exhibition picks include a lost recording of the Strangeways protest, Manchester's first sound art festival, and queer archives revisited.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.