The UK's Largest Christmas Market - Manchester Christmas Market Guide

[@DADDIO1969]

Wow! Being in Manchester seems unpredictable and risky. Lol It looks pretty fantastic to me. Sorry it wasn't feeling festive. 😕 Maybe the wetness played a part. Glad to see you found your sausage!😊 Cathedral Gardens definitely is very beautiful. Ohh...and sausage!😂 Happy to hear the raving review of the Strudel, Wills.😊 We completely enjoyed this adventure, guys. Christmas is our favorite time of year, but we agree, its been way too commercialized and with things being expensive can definitely put a damper on the Christmas spirit. Thanks, guys!!!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thanks for watching. To be honest no one does a Christmas market like the Germans and Austrians! We'd love to go back there. Manchester was ok, definitely not our favourite uk Christmas market, it's way too over priced, but we found sausage and strudel so all was good! Yep the uk weather can be so miserable!!! Cheers 🍻

[@PinnedonPlaces]

You kicked off the video with Cheese, I'm here for that.. 🧀 A great selection on offer, crazy that the Manchester xmas market has over 300, that is crazy! No sausage?! That's actually shocking. Mulled wine though, tick!! I get what you mean about the 'festive feeling' especially in the rain, but love that you guys made the best of it and delivered this incredible video for us to see! Still no sausage 5 minutes in... c'mon Manchester! Ahhh, the sigh of relief to see Wunderwurst! Excellent!! That's more authentic and full of the festivities! Lovely that you met up with John and Cara. Your second visit was WUNDERFUL. Enjoyed it and I think you guys did too! Wills had his sausage 1 minute in, so... life is good! Oh my. Strudel is my absolute favourite dessert, that looked glorious! Loved listening to your roundup and thoroughly enjoyed the vlog! Thank you both! xx

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Ah thank you. Yes, sausage was very lacking! We got there in the end though. It was worth the rain just to meet up with John and Cara again. We'll keep on looking for a Christmassy Christmas market in the U.K., but compared to Germany and Austria, they are sadly lacking! Cheers for watching 🍻

[@clarethwaite7716]

Definitely agree with you, my son livesin Birmingham so have visited their German market most years, it seems to have lost its sparkle a bit now. Love watching the pair of you, hope it wasn't too windy this weekend. Sending love from South Wales.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thank you so much and yes we agree about them losing their sparkle. It was pretty windy here, work related things got damaged and cancelled, but we were ok thank you. How was it down in South Wales?

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

Well you two really showed Manchester in a good way! We agree the markets didn’t feel Chistmasy…they weren’t playing Christmas music when we were there couldn’t understand that one. Well you know our feelings on Manchester (boo). Think we’d love to visit Chester’s next year it’s our kinda town! Wills great joke 🎅🏼🎅🏼🎅🏼! Outstanding job guys! ~Cara ❤

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Haha thanks guys. You’re right about Manchester, we’re actually hoping to get to Chester this week. Hope it feels a bit more Christmassy x

[@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers]

@ can we come? You have no idea how much we are missing the UK! John says everyday he wants to return like tomorrow!!!! ~Cara 🎅🏼💖

[@faithharper1756]

Love this video. Manchester has a very special place in my heart. In 1981/82 when I was 17 I was homeless there. I met some amazing people and can honestly say it was one of the best times in my life. Seeing the video it looks so different now. I know Worcester used to do a Victorian market, not sure what it is like now but I used to like it. Hope you find what you are looking for, it's not too much to ask. Have a great week. x

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It sounds like Manchester was a haven for you and I'm so glad you met the amazing people you did. Thanks for the heads up on Worcester. We will keep looking until we find that Christmas market that embodies Christmas!!! Cheers 🍻

[@grapesodatravels]

It's hard to feel Christmassy in the rain 😢 Glad you met up with John and Cara! N&Nx

[@PostcardAndAPint]

You’re right and yeah, it was lovely catching up with them again. Cheers as always x

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

You two NEVER miss a deadline!!!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Haha, nope. We're too stubborn!!! Although at this moment in time, we don't have anything for next week...but we will! Hey Ken, did you hear that Nicko is retiring from playing live with Maiden? The British Lion drummer will fill his boots!!

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

@@PostcardAndAPint did not know that. Makes sense though. He’s getting old and how many yachts can he water ski behind? Time to enjoy life

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Absolutely. He also had a stroke last year and said he can't play some of the songs like he wants to, so wanted to bow out gracefully.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

He played his last gig with them last night in Brazil. There's loads of clips of Bruce's speech on KZbin, it's well worth a watch!

[@EnigmaBlue..]

Loved this! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us. 👍💙

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thank you so much for joining us. 🍻

[@CooksExplore]

Love a Christmas Market but Manchester? What no Bratwurst? And how much was that mulled wine? Wow! Then sausage heaven!!! And Kaiserwurst too....Yum ....OK Take two....Looking better and certainly an improvement on take one... But no sausage or beer? or even Fish n Chips? But Strudel does the job nicely. This is a good review .... Great to see all the various markets on KZbin. We normally do Brum which we kinda like it there. We like Speyer market, thats been our favourite. Hope the Quireboys Gig was good? great pic and another great video.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

It was somewhat underwhelming! It's just the same stuff over and over again and certainly not where you'd do your Christmas shopping! The lack of sausage on week 1 was concerning! We've never tried Birmingham markets. To be honest I don't think the U.K. can compete with Germany and Austria! I think the gif was good! wills certainly seemed happy enough when he got back!! Cheers 🍻

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

Absolutely incredible video. I’ve been studying how Wills edits. There’s a cut every 1-3 seconds. That’s an amazing amount of work!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thanks mate. Yep, I've always kinda done fast editing. I get bored if a clip is more than about 2 seconds long. Cool that you noticed!

[@PaulBray-g3f]

Great video guys love a good Christmas market shame about the rain on the first visit. The second one looked a lot better. Thanks Paul & Paul

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Cheers guys. Yep it's not my favourite place in the world! Week 2 was definitely a better experience. Cheers for watching 🍻

[@renatalimarzi]

Hello, guys! Always such a pleasure to enjoy your contents! To me this will be a different Christmas, but I love the unique festive atmosphere of the Christmas Markets! Surely it's difficult when the weather is not good.... Anyway, this Market is really huge! So much to see and do and eat... Thanks as always for these minutes in your company, my friends. A true pleasure to me. HUGS and have a blessed and joyful week! My big thumbs up, as always to you. Renata

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Hi Renata, thanks for watching. This market is left very much wanting compared to the beautiful European ones. Week 2 was definitely better, but we find most Uk markets so overpriced these days! Fingers crossed we will be able to get back to the European ones in the next few years. Have a wonderful Christmas. Xx🍻

[@renatalimarzi]

@PostcardAndAPint Hope so, guys!! Big hug and Wishes!!😘😍🎅☃️🎁🎄🖐🖐

[@MrHws5mp]

I live just down the road from Manchester, but I haven't bothered with the Christmas markets for years: repetetive, overpriced tat in garden sheds. It doesn't help that they've utterly ruined Piccadilly Gardens. The main one outside the town hall was always overcrowded too.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

It was the main one by the town hall that I got really claustrophobic at! They had all those concrete bollards all around and it was so packed! But the market did look nicer there. It certainly wasn't the place to do Christmas shopping this year! Nice for an overpriced sausage though!!! Cheers for watching 🍻

[@MrHws5mp]

@@PostcardAndAPint Yeah, I've often wondered what would happen if they had a panic and stampede in that market area: could get very ugly, very quickly. I found myself constantly keeping an eye on where I was relative to exits or shelter.

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

The Christmas market in Scottsdale, Arizona is incredible

[@PostcardAndAPint]

We'd love to do an American Christmas Market. Also, New York at Christmas is on our bucket list.

[@WoodsideWalker]

I've never really explored Manchester. I agree with what you say about how all Xmas markets are the same. I believe down in Rochester in Kent, they do a Dickensian festival and market.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thanks and that sounds lovely, we’ll have to check that out. Cheers

[@WanderingwithWatto]

Perseverance pays off. Shame about the weather at first. Hampering the sausage quest. The second trip looked loads better. Mmm strudel. Wonders. As a diabetic all that sugar gave me palpitations. Along with the price of the mulled wine. I’m with you Rach. We felt very claustrophobic in Gloucester market. Great stuff guys. Keep well. Cheers from Glos vegas. 👍🏻🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Nothing gets in the way of a sausage quest!! We couldn't believe the amount of chocolate and sweet stuff! Thankfully we're not big fans, so all good! Yep very overpriced and underwhelming ont he whole! Praying for the day we can get back to the Germany and Austrian ones!!! Cheers 🍻

[@MattandBecExplores-lt9vf]

I have never been to the Manchester Christmas markets. It's just never appealed to me. Was great to see it on two different occasions from your perspective 😊❤️🎄

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Cheers for watching. To be honest it's not our favourite one. I went to Chester this morning and that one is much nicer. It was interesting to see though. The weather certainly didn't help!!! Cheers for watching 🍻

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

I so get what you are saying about the spirit of the markets. Here in Dordrecht we had a huge Christmas Market for years- but it lost it's focus. We now only have a weekend one ( this coming weekend actually). Small - 50 stalls only, music, lights and a Christmas crib. I will have to go just to see if it will inspire me. Now back to your video: Snow would have helped instead of rain. We love cheese- all year round. Not sure I'd be keen on same here there and everywhere ( that's lie Düsseldorf's market)Same old same old everywhere. Glad the weather was better by the second visit - Pity it wasn't dry while Cara and John were there with you. Aren't they just lovely people? Loved the glüwein mug- did you keep them? Got to have sausages at the market- it isn't a market without them. Lots of trinkets - and fudge. Leen brought back huge chunks of fudge from the York Market mmmmmm! Good evaluation as you went twice. I agree about the lovely architecture. Loved seeing glimpses of that. Anyhoooo, hope your week is going well? "Baby 🎶 it's cold 🎶outside". Snuggle up and keep warm. 🥰🇳🇱🧑‍🎄🥝

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Totally agree Anita, the U.K. markets just don't feel Christmassy! When we look back to Munich and Salzburg of two years ago, they are poles apart both on feeling and price!! John and Cara are the best, so lovely. They didn't have the best experience in Manchester at all! You'll have to ask them about that, I felt so bad for them. We certainly kept the mugs! But again felt it was all very overpriced! Cheers for watching! We've yet to experience a Dutch Christmas market, will add it to the wish list! 🍻

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

@@PostcardAndAPint A friend of mine ( I took het to the airport early yesterday morning) is in South Africa now. She's going to the Christmas market there and said- they hold one Sth Africa Style. Maybe that's where countries go wrong. They try to copy Germany. Maybe each country should showcase their own culture. Just a thought. 🎄

[@CruiseLife22]

Hey guys! It's hard to feel Christmassy when the weather is drab! The only Christmas market I ever fealt that Christmas spirit was in Bruge a few years back! Maybe Europeans just do it better than us. Have a great weekend. Pete & Lisa

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thank you and yes, we agree. Ah, Bruges Christmas Markets - now they are high up on our list. We've only visited Bruges once and that was for a day from the Iona, but we'd love to go back. Thanks both!

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

Wills, I lived 10 years in Scottsdale, Arizona. 360 sunny days a year. When I moved back to Chicago, I cried. The rain all the time can get depressing

[@PostcardAndAPint]

I know what you mean, but we're well used to rain over here in Wales!!

[@OutandaboutwithAndy]

Sausagefest! You two do love a sausage....better stop there 😄. How much for mulled wine, did you keep the mugs? I have some positive memories of Manchester, my best mate lives there now and I used to visit when he was studying at Uni back in my youth. As for a Christmas vibe, I wasn't feeling it either, looking at your footage. Maybe it's just me, I've not got my Christmas head on yet. Visiting twice you certainly gave it a good go and a very thorough tour. I hope you're all OK with the storms!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thanks so much - yep, the storms were really bad, work related things got damaged and cancelled, but we got through it unscathed thanks. Ooh, we do love a German sausage haha. I think the mulled wines were £9 each but that included the £3.50 mug, and yes, we always keep a mug from all the Christmas markets we go to...we have quite a collection haha. Cheers

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

I'm impressed you stuck it out in Manchester in the rain! Much nicer on your second visit. Interesting that you feel that the markets aren't particularly British. Is it a case of markets being introduced as a commercial money making venture, which is why most of the products are the same? (This is what's happened in Australia with Halloween, which has been strongly marketed over the past couple of years, but there's no real tradition here of celebrating it, and the wrong season so very few pumpkins are around)

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Cheers for watching. Yes it feels so commercialised that it doesn't feel Christmas! We'd love to visit a Dickensian one to see if that could get the feel of an old British Christmas! Week 2 was definitely a better experience. Maybe that can be a future quest, a British Christmas market that feels Christmassy and isn't so expensive you can't afford anything!!! If it exists!!! We'd like to find the real Halloween too!! Cheers 🍻

[@GENerationXplorers]

Hi guys we enjoyed this although you are right it’s missing Christmas magic! Shame Manchester feels jinxed for you Rach! Your obsession for sausage makes us smile 😂 £18 for two mulled wines 😮 that included the mugs though? We feel it’s loosing its magic because of how spread out it is! Think you would really love the York one but if you can go on a week day early on to avoid the weekend crowds! We missed it this year as got our weekends mixed up but Bridlington does a Dickensian weekend in the old town and priory where the shop owners dress up Dickensian feels a lot more British but we can’t promise you sausage (maybe a battered one from the chippy 😂) 👍❤️xx

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Oo Bridlington sounds good! Will add that one to the many places of 'must visit'!. Cheers for watching guys, yep I don't know what it is about Manchester, but I just can't warm to it! Yes the mulled wine included the mugs, but it was still extortionate! We'd definitely love to try York for sure. We're off to a light trail tonight, fingers crossed that feels Christmassy!! Cheers 🍻

[@beckieshwenn]

HI rach and wills me and my family love the channel!! Would love to know if your coming to the liverpool christmas markets? You might have to remortgage the house but its lovely and there is a second one on the albert docks! Hope use have a lovely Christmas x

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Hi, thanks for watching and commenting. I don't think we'll make the Liverpool ones this year, which is a shame as we love the city and I think the markets there would be better! Sadly at the moment, work is manic and as you said, to visit the uk Christmas markets you need a 2nd mortgage!!! Have a lovely Christmas too and thanks for supporting the channel. Cheers 🍻

[@AliceGoss]

Manchester does have a lot to offer and well worth spending some time there. Christmas markets can be very hit/miss with overpriced items, but fun in the right places, but in my opinion not in England sadly. German markets seem to be the bestter ones and worth taking the time to visit.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

We absolutely agree with you Alice. We love Christmas markets, but we've never found one to come anywhere near close to feeling as Christmassy as Germany or Austria x

[@sarahjanesanders596]

We don't live that far from Manchester and viist the markets every year. It's just not the same at the minute, its so much nicer in front of the town hall. I have noticed that it's so so expensive :( Chester is lovely this year.

[@PostcardAndAPint]

We totally agree with you! Although when it was in front of the town hall we did find it too crowded (but that could have been a bad day!). We've not been to Chester yet this year, but did find them lovely last year and selling more craft stuff that you could actually use a Christmas gifts. Cheers for watching 🍻

[@DeputyXtinee]

Hi guys, lovely video & it looks so rushed and miss placed (the market). Will you be going to Liverpool Christmas Market & Albert Dock to see the lights? If use can afford it that is😂 You both take care & have a wonderful Christmas ❤

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thank you. We definitely prefer Liverpool, but I don't think we'll make the markets this year which is sad! As you said though, after one uk market we couldn't afford another!!! Cheers for watching 🍻

[@o.bsoutdoors3871]

Sorry guys, have had a bad case of disappearing comments lately😩. This is the first year i (Shell) haven't been dragged by friends to the Manchester Christmas markets in about 7 years, and i have loved the break (so has my bank balance😂). I've always found them to be way too busy, and way too expensive. I also totally agree with you Rach, they definitely lost a lot of atmosphere since they haven't held the main markets outside the town hall, with Santa on the top of the hall 🎅. At £18 for two drinks, it is daylight robbery! And also excludes a lot of people from enjoying the festivities. We also found that there is an awful lot of food and drink stalls, which have replaced a lot of the craft stalls, and there is only so much food and drink you can consume, and afford! However, It was almost worth going for the cheese stalls, almost!😂🧀. Well my very bah humbug rant over 😂🙈. We were glad to see you find your Manchester mojo, find sausage, and find your Christmas spirit 😊🙌. Think this was a very fair representation of the Manchester Christmas markets, and love your positivity and perseverance guys, great video 😊👏🎄. Merry Christmas! Have a great week, Shell and Pete

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Compared to the European ones, they certainly lack atmosphere and the prices are through the roof this year. I don't think we'll get to any others to compare (might stick my head into Chester's this weekend!!). Sad to report that the cheese wasn't a patch on Snowdonia!! We feel very much the same about the U.K. markets and long to find a Dickensian or Victorian market!! Or we'll head off to Europe when we can! Cheers for watching 🍻

[@ruthc6306]

Totally agree with British markets trying to be something they are not. Nothing compares to the markets we experienced in Cologne. The Brits just quadruple the prices of everything!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Yep Cologne is on the list for us too! Can't beat a German Christmas markets! 🍻

[@TheBaldyVlogger]

I'm glad you found your sausage 😮😂

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Haha cheers. We'd have been very upset if we hadn't!!

[@liemvo5039]

Germany are good with sausage on a hot dog delicious ❤❤❤

[@PostcardAndAPint]

You can't beat a good bratwurst! Cheers 🍻

[@ShaneNixonFamily]

18 quid for 2 mugs of mulled wine? Scheiza! That's freakin... um... actually. I paid 12 bucks for a mid strength beer at the footy in September so 18 bucks for a flavoured warm wine doesn't sound too bad. But then again I had mulled wine in Prague once and it was like 2 Euros. Speaking of sausage... thank you Germany. I will always love you for sausage, which, coincidentally, someone told me once. But in the end even I couldn't cut the mustard. I do love a good sausage though. I hate to be a Scrooge McGrinch but Christmas Markets always look like they're full of a bunch of overpriced junk and they all look the same. The sausage is cool though. I thought I hadn't been to a European Christmas Market but I just then had a memory pop up of Christmas Markets in Spain. Pretty sure I had a shite load of those traditional German donuts, Churros. Unlike Oz there were restaurants opened for Christmas so we were able to have traditional christmas fare of tapas and cerveza. Speaking of Christmas, I hope your lead up to Christmas is everything you hope it to be and may all your videos go viral - good viral, not covid.

[@earsandideas7266]

While the markets aren't in as pretty surroundings as the European mainland markets, there was certainly a good selection of nice looking stalls, but no sausages .... what is going on there and the british prices for the mulled wine..... wow!! Shame about the rotten weather on trip one. Pleased you found your festive mojo

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thank you! Yes you can't beat the settings of some of the European ones. We found the sausages in the end, but the prices were notably more expensive this year! Cheers for watching 🍻

[@TheBaldyVlogger]

Naa, no British Christmas markets left in Britain anymore Nothing British in Britain anymore 😢 I better stop here before I get controversial 😮😊

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Haha, we love the multi cultural aspect to it, no problem with that, but most Christmas markets in the UK brand themselves as German Christmas Markets - and believe me, German Christmas markets in German are one of our favourite places to visit in the world, but it would be nice if at some point they focussed on UK traditions - Dickensian, Victorian (although a lot of that influence was from Prince Albert who was German haha) etc

[@maidenengland2]

It did look a bit commercial to be honest, have you been to the Edinburgh one

[@PostcardAndAPint]

We haven't been to the Edinburgh one, although we'd very much like to! Edinburgh is a beautiful looking city. Cheers for watching 🍻

[@maidenengland2]

@ it looks lovely in the snow 😊

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

If you get a refill with the mug you kept, do you get £3.50 off the price?

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Yep, that's right and if you take your mug back, you get the £3.50 back, but we like to keep them

[@theresabigwideworld2632]

Now I do have to register my horror of seeing CUSTARD!!! on the apple strudel, I have never seen anyone put custard on apple strudel, is that a thing in the UK? Strudel is one of our Christmas desserts thanks to having family from northern Croatia which had spent 300 years as part of Austria. I've only ever seen strudel eaten plain, no cream and certainly no custard!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Strudel isn't a U.K. thing at all, but custard is! Saying that when we were in Austria (home of strudel) that was served with a sauce that resembled custard!!

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

You didn’t get a wine glass Rach?

[@PostcardAndAPint]

We nearly did, but it was expensive. It was really nice though!

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

What exactly is a Christmassy cheese?

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Anything with a vaguely Christmas related title haha

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

What is it with you Brit’s and sausage?! 😂

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Haha, especially German sausage!!! It's the best, you ask anyone!!!

[@vicgeorge7502]

Mulled wines taste like liquid mince pies!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

This one didn't!! Cheers 🍻

[@bigdave6246]

I live in Manchester and I would not go to them shitmas markets .can’t believe you bought that rubbish cheese.your better of going to weatherspoons

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Hahah in the cheeses favour it was ok - but Snowdonia is better! Week 2 was a better experience but I think all uk Christmas markets are overpriced these days. Cheers for watching 🍻

[@vicgeorge7502]

Psst... Mchr is a great place to LEAVE!

[@PostcardAndAPint]

One day I need to learn to like it! I just can't warm to it!!! Cheers 🍻

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

I love Manchester, I have yet to have a bad experience there, 😊. I am glad that you both had a more enjoyable day this time, ✨️. I remember you training there, happy days, we were both looking forward to dreams being fulfilled, great memories ❤. Had we garnered any success at that time we had unanimously decided that we wanted you to produce us, 🫂. Like deployed 👍

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Ah thanks mate, and what a kind thing to say!!! Funnily enough, I found your DAT tapes from Manchester again yesterday, I didn't know where I'd put them. Cheers as always x

[@billyb5057]

looks a good market was interesting to hear your experiences *🥸fully viewed🤖Au🦘☑thumbs up👍👍*

[@PostcardAndAPint]

Thanks so much for watching 🍻