Manchester’s iconic Christmas 2023 mug designs revealed
Designed by the council’s inhouse design studio, this year’s edition of the much-coveted mugs which are set to grace many a social media feed over the coming weeks, feature festive Nutcracker designs with a distinctive and on-trend Scandi feel.
The collectible souvenir mugs that for thousands of visitors to Manchester’s Christmas markets help spell the start of the Christmas season, will be available at all of the city centre Christmas market sites from November 10 while stocks last.
Anyone wanting to get their hands on one of the must-have mugs this year is advised to get themselves along to see the markets sooner rather than later and not to leave their visit to the last minute.
The advice comes off the back of last year which saw the 2022 Christmas mugs sell out completely the week before the markets closed, after Christmas Market lovers in Manchester got through a staggering 140,000 specially produced mugs. The sell-out saw market traders bringing out vintage mugs from previous years to keep up with the demand from Christmas shoppers.
Determined not to disappoint festive visitors who just can’t get enough of the collectible Christmas mugs, market bosses have this year ordered in 170,000 of the special edition mugs to try and help make sure visitors to Manchester’s Christmas markets can get their hands on one of the mugs if they want one, whenever they make their visit.
As always Manchester’s special edition Christmas mugs can either be bought outright by Christmas shoppers or ‘rented’ when they purchase a hot drink at one of the Christmas Market stalls.
Customers will be asked to pay a deposit of £3.50 for their mug when they purchase a hot drink and can then either choose to return their mug to the stall afterwards to get their deposit back, or keep the mug and take it home with them as a souvenir of their visit to the markets.
This year’s mugs are already proving a big hit with visitors to the ice-rink in Cathedral Gardens who have been given a sneak preview of the mugs as they treat themselves to a post-skate hot chocolate or two ahead of the citywide Christmas Markets opening next week.
Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “Our iconic Christmas mugs are the must-have accessory of the festive season and absolutely no social media feed should be without one!
“With different designs every year the collectible mugs are highly sought after and even have Santa’s seal of approval. Don’t leave it too late to come and get yours!
“No-one does Christmas quite like Manchester and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to Santa’s favourite city and to our world-beating Christmas Markets again this year!”
Manchester’s Christmas markets open on Friday 10 November and close on Thursday 21 December.
They will be open daily at the following times:
All craft stalls 10 am – 8 pm
All bars and food stalls 11 am – 9 pm
Father Christmas will take up residence in St Peter’s Square after Remembrance Sunday.
The Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens will be open for Christmas skaters from 2 November – 2 January. The food and drink stalls in Cathedral Gardens alongside the skate rink will remain open until 31 December.
For more information about Christmas in Manchester including this year’s Festive Sundays and the fantastic Manchester Christmas Parade which is back again this year on Sunday 3 December, visit manchester.gov.uk/christmas or click here
