Christmas is fantastic, it’s the best time of the year in fact but my god is it stressful. There’s always a disaster when it comes to cooking Christmas dinner and there is FAR too much washing up for one day. Perhaps 2019 is finally the year to eat out and take every single stress out of the day - including NO washing up!!  There’s plenty of places open and serving up a wide range of delicious Christmas meals from curries to traditional to Italian twists - there’s something for everyone! Zouk I’m a traditional Christmas Day kinda girl but the most commonly chosen alternative I hear about on Christmas Day is everyone opting for a humble curry. But it’s Christmas so you should treat yourself to a sit-down meal and avoid the struggle of all fitting around a table.  That’s where Zouk comes in allows you to indulge in a 6-course spicy banquet, kicking off your meal with a glass of Prosecco. Following that there’s plenty of curry classics and the biggest dinner you could have, a whole leg of roasted lamb. £35 per adult. Book Now Zouk Tea Bar & Grill, 5, The Quadrangle, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5QS zoukteabar.co.uk   Dakota Celebrate Christmas in style at one of Manchester’s newest and most luxurious hotels, Dakota. They’re serving up a 3-course dinner with tea and coffee and refreshers in between. Celebrating the classic way of life, Dakota is offering their take on a Turkey Dinner with roasted Cumbrian Turkey all served with the festive trimmings, including goose fat potatoes and pigs in blankets. Treat yourself and stay the night with a delicious breakfast in the morning too. £95 per adult.  Book Now Dakota Grill, 29 Ducie St, Manchester, M1 2JL dakotahotels.co.uk   The Refuge Tuck into a giant Christmas Feast with hand-carved Cheshire roast turkey, roast beef, roast suckling pig or The Christmas Vellington. Basically, everyone knows that The Refuge's Roast Dinner Platter is quite possibly the greatest foodstuff in the world - and the people of Manchester show this by turning up in their droves every Sunday to eat it. Well, imagine that this dinner is then made 10x better with the addition of more meat, pigs in blankets and lovely, lovely sprouts. There you have it - the best Christmas Day ever. £89 per person, £35 for children under 12. Book Now The Refuge, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA refugemcr.co.uk   Don Giovanni You can opt for an Italian style Christmas with Manchester’s oldest independent Italian, Don Giovanni. On offer for Christmas is, of course, a turkey dinner but there’s also Branzino Al Cartoccio, Anglesey farmed sea bass with cherry tomatoes and clams. Cheers to Christmas with complimentary organic Prosecco before your 3-course meal. £59.50 per adult, children up to 12 years old £28.75pp, children up to 6 years old £20pp. Book Now Don Giovanni, 1 Peter House, Oxford Street, Manchester dongiovanni.uk.com   The Lowry Hotel Go all out for a show-stopping Christmas at The Lowry Hotel, completely taking any of the usual stress away. Have a long and perfectly cosy lie-in in a giant king size bed before joining The River Restaurant for a delicious 3-course Christmas Lunch. Following that is a delectable cheese table and plenty of tea, coffee and mince pies. £130 per adult, £60 per child. Book Now The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5LH thelowryhotel.com   Brasserie Abode Spoil yourself in the glamorous brasserie, beginning with a glass of Champagne before a luxurious 5-course menu. They’ll be plenty of extra festivities including mince pies, crackers and of course the usual novelties that it wouldn’t be Christmas without. The menu includes a cheese course served with fig and Quinta do Crasto 2013 LBV port to really get you feeling festive. £99 per adult.  Book Now

Brasserie Abode, Manchester, 107 Piccadilly, M1 2DB abodemanchester.co.uk

  Mamucium Keep it classic with a touch of luxury at Mamucium. Kick off the meal with canapés before a Roulade of Local Turkey served with all the extra goodies, including Cumbria pancetta and Cumberland sausage. Or opt for Pan-Seared Fillet of Local Beef, Roast Supreme of Halibut or even Truffle Jerusalem Artichoke and Fregola Risotto. £79.99 per adult, £39.99 for children under 12.  Book Now Mamucium, 6 Todd St, Manchester, M3 1WU mamuciummcr.com   Peter Street Kitchen Spend your Christmas in the safe and more than capable hands of the Best Luxurious Restaurant in the UK 2019. Expect a contemporary mix of Japanese and Mexican cuisines and of course, NO turkey on this Christmas menu. Instead, opt for Aged Beef Wellington, Dover Sole Fillet or Roasted Baby Chicken. All served with what might just be the most luxurious side ever, Cauliflower Cheese with Gruyère and Parmesan crust. Following a sublime dessert, there’s even Charbonnel et Walker Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles. £115 per person.  Book Now Peter Street Kitchen, Free Trade Hall, Peter St, Manchester M2 5GP peterstreetkitchen.co.uk   The Bull & Bear Go for a completely traditional meal at The Bull & Bear, beginning with Champagne and canapés, chestnut soup to start a delectable Roast Turkey Dinner or Rotisserie Roasted Dry Aged Rib of Beef. To finish choose between Christmas Pudding (with brandy sauce of course) or Chocolate and Orange Pudding. After dessert, it's time for cheese with port soaked Stilton served with walnuts and crackers for the table with mince pies and coffee. £145 per person.  Book Now The Bull & Bear, 4 Norfolk St, Manchester M2 1DW thebullandbearmcr.com   Elnecot Be greeted to a Champagne reception with amuse-bouche before a delicious and traditional started including a choice between Wild Mushroom and Hazelnut Soup, Prawn cocktail or Chicken Liver Parfait. Of course, for mains, there’s Roast Turkey or Vegan Nut Roast with all the trimmings and plenty of other choices too if you fancy something slightly different. For dessert, there's all the classics and of course a delicious and smelly cheese board for afters. £75 per adult, £40 for children under 16 with unlimited soft drinks & 3 courses.  Book Now Elnecot, 41 Blossom Street, Cutting Room Square, Ancoats, Manchester M46AJ elnecot.com   Hotel Gotham Spending your Christmas in Hotel Gotham might just be the sexiest Christmas you’ve ever had. The day kicks off at 1pm with a Champagne reception including canapés. After a delectable 5-course meal you’ll swing by the Private Members Club and Club Brass for mulled wine and mince pies and before you know it they’ll be live carol singers. Everything is taken care of in true Gotham style - all you need to do is drink Prosecco, darling. £125 per person or £65 for children under 12. Book Now Hotel Gotham, 100 King Street, Manchester, M2 4WU hotelgotham.co.uk