Manchester Christmas Markets taken down as traders head home after 'tough' year

The last of the mulled wine has been served up, the sausage grills have been stood down and the final wooden huts have been broken down. Manchester Christmas Markets have wrapped up for 2023 after another busy year of trading.

If you walked down Market Street or wandered around St Ann's Square this morning you will have found few traces of the festive chalets and twinkling lights that have lined the city's streets for the past five weeks. Dismantled in record time last night, now all that remains are a few final piles of wood - though the busy shopping thoroughfares remain busy as shoppers battle the elements to grab those last-minute gifts.

Thousands of people have descended on Manchester this year to make the most of the markets, which this year have featured over 225 ski chalet stalls spread across nine different locations around the city. Once again, the main hub this year was based over in Piccadilly Gardens, which is better known as the Winter Gardens at this time of year.

READ MORE: '£5 for a pancake is just unsustainable': The Manchester Christmas Market traders fighting for survival
READ MORE: The best New Year’s Eve events in Greater Manchester from DJ discos to indulgent feasts

Alongside the Winter Gardens, St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, King Street, New Cathedral Street and Exchange Square also provided a home for this year's markets. Meanwhile, Cathedral Gardens, which hosts the annual undercover ice rink remains open for a little while longer until 31 December, including its food and drink stalls.

This year, the markets celebrated a landmark anniversary of 25 years, and while it is not currently held being held in its traditional home of Albert Square while restoration work continues on