If you’re anything like us, you’ll have had the best intentions of getting the Christmas shopping done early but it never seems to go that way. If you’ve missed the final posting date and the thought of fighting your way down Market Street makes your stomach turn, check out these gift experiences you can buy online, and don’t even have to wrap!
A Manchester’s Finest Instagram Subscription
Obviously the best of the lot, duh? Gift your loved one the joy of food and drink with perks and exclusive previews on all of our favourite spots. Complimentary coffee whenever you buy a pastry at Pollen? Check. Free corkage at Isca? Check. Happy hour prices on cocktails at all times at Nordie? Check.
If you head to our Instagram account (click from your phone), and hit ‘subscribe’. You can select ‘GIFT SUBSCRIPTION’ – you can then choose a friend on Instagram, select a subscription plan for them (the best deal is 6 months for £4.99), and send a custom message with your gift for a personal touch.
Gig tickets
We’re very lucky to live in a city bursting with venues, pubs and clubs hosting live music pretty much every night of the week. So if you’re loved one loves discovering the next big thing or wants a stadium-level show, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Manchester. Brand-new arena Co-op Live opens next year with the likes of Take That, Olivia Rodrigo and The Killers all performing at the venue. Elsewhere, check out nightspots like Night and Day, Band on the Wall and The Castle for the best upcoming talent.
The Cube experience at Urban Playground
If you think you can do better than the contestants on TV, challenge yourself to the real thing at Urban Playground’s The Cube experience. Compete with other players and test your mental and physical agility with seven iconic games from the series. Warning, this will get competitive! Prices start from £40 per person.
Dinner at a top Manchester restaurant
We’re lucky enough to have an abundance of brilliant restaurants and cafes here in Manchester. Elevated modern-Greek cuisine at Fenix, Fine-dining at Wood, brilliant tapas at El Gato Negro or brunch at Pollen, there’s loads to choose from. We think gift vouchers are a great way to treat foodie family and friends when the January blues set in.
DJ lessons from Make Me A DJ
Does your loved one fancy themselves as the next Annie Mac or Fred Again? Make Me A DJ in Ancoats does what it says on the tin, really. Suitable for any age, learn the basics or improve your mixing skills with one-to-one DJ and music production tuition. Lessons start from £84 for two hours.
Get crafty
From pottery to painting, there’s plenty of places across Greater Manchester to get your craft on. The perfect excuse to get creative, enjoy classes like pottery painting at Pottery Corner in Chorlton (where you can also bring your own booze), join a tufting workshop at T&T Craft Studio or enrol on one of School of Junk’s sewing courses at Islington Mill.
Wine Tastings and Subscriptions
Get to know the plethora of brilliant wine outlets we have across Greater Manchester with a wine tasting event. You can book a laid-back yet overly informative evening at Provence in Spinningfields or reserve a spot at Reserve Wine’s tasting room in Didsbury. If you’d rather taste the vino at home, Ad Hoc Wine Shop in the Northern Quarter offer a monthly subscription on white, red or mixed bottles.
Wine Tour
Another vino-themed experience next. New indie business Manchester Wine Tours takes guests around town, stopping off to taste five different tipples across four venues along the way. Tours also include stops at local points of interest, so you can get a bit of history and non-wine culture along the way. Hosted by in-the-know food and drink writer and wine bod Kelly Bishop, you can be sure that every place you visit is an absolute corker.
Craft Beer Gifts
If you’re loved one isn’t into wine, maybe craft beer is there drink of choice? Buy tickets for the International Beer and Cider Festival in March 2024 at Depot Mayfield, or grab vouchers for the epic Manchester Craft Beer Festival, also at Depot Mayfield in July.
Mushroom Cultivation
Ok, bear with us. If your loved one knows their closed up from their porcini, chestnut to enoki, this might just be the workshop for them. Take the Complete Mushroom Cultivation Course from Stockport Fungi and learn how to get started in growing your own!
Acrylic Paint Pouring Workshop
Fancy a wholesome creative activity? Decorate your very own sculpture at Blank Studio in the Northern Quarter. Choose from bears, bunnies, clowns and balloon dogs to embellish with acrylic paint and make the perfect addition to your home!
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