The new bars and restaurants opening in Manchester this December

At it's best, December is a month defined by festive trips to the markets, winter walks and plenty of mulled wine and chocolates. At it's most stressful, it's last-minute supermarket dashes for brussel sprouts, a headache from one too many work parties and panic buying all your presents on Christmas eve.

That's to say, December is very busy. But, amongst all the festive admin, excursions and shopping trips, Manchester's restaurant and bar scene continues to grow - offering new places to try out before the festivities ramp up, or simply escape the madness of the high street. You may think we had all our big openings wrapped up for 2023, but across Greater Manchester - and a little further - there's a strong roster of new bars, bakeries and coffee spots opening their doors.

From New York-born coffee concept Blank Street and it's Candy Cane Cold Brews coming to the city centre, to Smoak Chorlton's expansion to Ancoats - think freshly brewed coffee and delicious bagels - and a brand new subterranean opening up beneath a Northern Quarter pizza parlour. So, let's tuck in.

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It's a favourite of Molly-Mae's, and now Brooklyn-born coffee sop Blank Street is just a couple of weeks away from launching its first Northern cafe at Piccadilly Gardens. Having taken London by storm since launching it's first stores in the UK last year, the trendy coffee concept will be opening its doors on December 13.

As well as the usual suspects - espressos, oat milk flat whites and cappuccinos - there will be a variety of iced drinks