North Pole Bar Launch

IT’S not just the change of the clocks that lets you know to start Christmas countdown.

The North Pole Bar in Cathedral Gardens is Manchester's favourite festive bar and last week it launched for a fourth year running with the help of local celebrities and Parky, the bar’s 8ft polar bear mascot.

In attendance were Debbie Rush (Coronation Street) and family, Mikey North (Coronation Street),  Ellis Hollins (Hollyoaks) with his mum Jacqui and friends, Ben Ryan Davies (Waterloo Road) with his parents, Jack P Shepherd (Coronation Street) and his new fiance Lauren Shippey, Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), X Factor star Lloyd Daniels and Manchester band the Courteeners.

Ellis Hollins with Parky

The North Pole bar is a 500 square metre venue split into three rooms: a  Chesterfield filled winter lodge, a contemporary ski chalet and the Rudolf Room - a decadent red velvet draped area for Christmas parties and winter film screenings. 

Steve Smith, director of Ear to the Ground – the Manchester-based international event organisers – said: “The North Pole has become the Manchester winter institution that residents look out for. We're delighted with the luxurious new design and have put our heart and soul into making this year the perfect festive destination for our city."

The North Pole Bar is open Sunday to Thursday, midday to 11pm and Friday and Saturday, midday to midnight.

Photos by Seb Matthes.