Winter Island

Christmas is officially coming as Freight Island once again transforms into Winter Island, packed full of the best festive-themed food, drink and live events. Simultaneously, just outside, Mayfield Park becomes The Twilight Trail – an enchanting winter light show, happening now and running right up until Sunday 31 December.

It’s the perfect inner-city Christmas destination for all ages, transforming Mayfield Park it into “a dazzling city-centre winter escape” known as The Twilight Trail for the duration of the festive period. And dazzling is the right word, whether you’re looking for lights, food, booze and pretty much anything else that comes under the banner of ‘Christmassy’.

During a recent visit, we were constantly impressed by the sheer number of things to do, all high quality, all well worth a repeat visit.

On the drinks front, we particularly recommend the all-new paloma bar, Casa Pomelo, serving up lip-smacking cocktails and frozen serves curated by premium tequila brand Casamigos. There’s another cocktail bar upstairs called Hotel Milano, where you’ll find a wider array of spirits incorporated by the expert-level mixologists. You can also explore a dedicated craft beer and whiskey bar downstairs, plus mulled wine and booze-infused hot chocolate served outside along the trail, which we’ll get to in just a second.

But first, the food. Dip into one of the many top-notch street food vendors found throughout the complex, and you’re in for a treat. Just inside the main hall, Mega Gyros serves up fresh, beautiful Greek cuisine. That’s just next door to Mia’s Arepas A Taste of Venezuela, offering traditional Venezuelan flat breads bursting with various fillings, from chicken to fish to vegetables.

Patterson’s is your spot for gourmet fried chicken, Burgerism if you’re after lean, mean, burger cuisine, and Voodoo Ray’s for a slice of New York in Manchester. Not forgetting the glorious Indian street food at Payal, and the decadent desserts-on-a-stick at Oh My Cheesecake (who have an additional outside spot serving crispy, crunchy chocolate-covered churros).

But what about the Twilight Trail itself? Well, it’s a vibrant, soundtracked show-slash-walk, with thousands of lights threaded around the entirety of Mayfield Park. From the uplit trees to the purple fog that licks the River Medlock, it’s all very dramatic, with a few extra festive extravagances thrown in for good measure – hello giant pink Christmas tree, we’ve been expecting you.

Elsewhere, you’ll find a Grotto in the Plant Room, home to an interactive Visit Santa Experience (a far cry from the low-budget grottos I enjoyed back in the 1980s at Wigan’s finest Labour Clubs, which placed the emphasis firmly on grot), plus a brand-new Northern Lights experience with WeRoad, festive food and drinks from all traders, and entertainment from the likes of La Discothèque. Expect a bunch of live performances and Christmas pop-ups to be announced in the coming weeks.

The festive destination is strategically located in the city centre, just a short five minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, providing easy transport links including trains, trams and buses.