The Manchester Christmas Markets are back and bigger than ever, with 274 stalls spread from Albert Square to Cathedral Gardens. That’s a lot of mulled wine and even more excuses to linger.

Albert Square returns after six years away, now sporting a 'mini market' and a big wheel parked neatly in front of the Town Hall. It’s peak postcard Manchester, complete with Yorkshire pudding wraps, Yard & Coop fried chicken, and enough BBQ brisket to ward off the chill. Swing Grill handles the XXL bratwurst, while Loaded Hash Browns does the inevitable Manc twist: truffle, salt and pepper, or full festive mode.

St Ann’s Square keeps things classic. German beer. Giant pans of potatoes and mushrooms. Bravas from El Gato Negro if you’re grazing, and North Star on cocktails if you’re pacing your day. Over on King Street, you’ll find patatas with stuffing and gravy, waffle prawn toast, and Sicilian cannoli sharing space with Greek gyros and tartiflette.

Exchange Square leans into pure chaos. Hash browns piled high with pigs in blankets. Melted chocolate poured straight from taps. Birria tacos, Yorkshire pud wraps and duck burgers all within shouting distance of a mulled margarita. It’s busy, loud and great fun.

Piccadilly Gardens remains the city’s winter food court, still stubbornly resisting any attempts at subtlety. Bao buns, Austrian pancakes, Korean hotdogs, mac and cheese fries, moqueca, shepherd’s pie with chilli or bangers. Then churros. Then tiramisu. Then cheesecake pots. The list goes on...

Cathedral Gardens handles the family-friendly brief, complete with an ice rink and mini pancakes. The Dog House does loaded nachos and proper sausages. If you need warming, The Globe Bar keeps the mulled wine flowing and the hot chocolate boozy.

The markets run until 22nd December, though Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens carry on into January. Go once to get your bearings, then again for that thing you didn’t realise you wanted until you saw it on a stall at half nine in the dark

Here’s the full run of traders. All 274 of them.

King Street

• Waffle Kart

• El Gato Negro

• Ballaro

• Eco Express Ltd

• Selgroves Ltd Cheezy Bandits

• Eat Grk / The Greek

• Hong Kong French Toast

• King Street Craft Bar

• The Grumpy Moose Tea & Liquor

• N & P Events Ltd Tentazioni

• Dorri Limited

• The Salford Rum Company

• Kisses At Christmas Ltd

• The Great British Cheese Company

• Soaps of Provence Limited

• M Crafts

• Johnsons Toffees / Great British Fudge Company

• Made In Italy Ltd

• Poppets Investment Limited / TA SoMD

• Florentale

St Ann's Square

• Manke Markets UK Ltd

• Yard & Coop

• The Pancake House

• North Star Gin & Cocktail Bar

• Continental Kitchen / Porkies Yorkies

• Gingerbread House Confections

• Pure Indulgence

• Johnsons Crafts

• Metal Art Productions

• Leaf Gifts

• Eat Liquorice Ltd

• DPNY LTD

• Luna Mars Living Ltd

• Manc & Proud

• Amber Jewellery

• Forever Florist TA Comgo Crafts

• The Cheese Board

• Continental Cottage

• Monami

Exchange Street

• RJS Event Catering Ltd / TA Hash Browns

• CT Event Catering Limited

• The Great North Pie Company

• Earth, Rock & Stone

• Angel Belle Jewellery

• Farman & Son LTD

• Francoz Garden

• Dontbitchstitch

• Wren and Berry Group Limited / Kin Vodka

• Ridiculously Rich By Alana

New Cathedral Street

• Artisan Catering Services

• Bar 3

• Mango Rays

• The Witch House

• Zen Experiential Ltd / Beckford's Rum

• Cheshire Cheese Company

• Birchwood Leather

• Riverbank Distillery

• The Little Gift Hut

• Eat Liquorice Ltd

• Celtic Spirit Co

• FairyFairs LTD

• Beauty Scents Ltd

• Artesania

• Drydock Driftwood

• DaveRob Design Limited / Where The Heart Is

• Jelly and Fizz Ltd

• Carter & Belle

• Java Bar Espresso Ltd

• Cherry Tree UK Ltd

• Mr Murrays Scotch Eggs Ltd

Exchange Square

• The Mill Exchange Ltd

• Fuego

• de Creperie

• Porky Pig Ltd

• Simply Delicious

• Christmas Quacker

• Round Food House

• CT Event Catering

• Pure Indulgence

• N & P Events Ltd

• Dorri Limited

• Lucelas Ltd

• Nova Jewellery & Bags

• Manicay Ltd

• Daisy & Ralph Children’s Boutique

• Grey Thread

• From The Olive Tree

Corn Exchange

• Gingerbread House Confections / ALMENGO

• Niawi Handicraft

• The Crusty Pie Company

• Cocktails At Home UK Ltd

• AK Distillery Ltd

• Bakes By Millie

• For The Hair You Wear

• Crios Gifts

• De Luciano

• Jinger Drinks Ltd

• Tiger Mountain

• The Cheese Board

Market Street

• Diamontt Ltd

• Sky Import Ltd

• Charles Taylor Trading

• Tatova Hata Ltd

• Kings Jewelz

• Amazonas Gifts

• Exglo UK

• M & N Catering

• London Xmas Ltd

• Popsters

• Rusty Signs

• The Finest Fudge Company

• Kingdom Of Sweets

• Rollercoaster Gifts

• LFH Studio

• Kisses At Christmas Ltd

• Manimu Limited

• The Great British Cheese Company

• Sienna Jennings

• Charlie Boy's Barkery

• For The Hair You Wear

• PC9

• JO's Bulbzzle

• Solid Cologne UK

• Kolour Pop

• 6dots.co

• M Crafts

• TWS Trading Limited

• Tiger Mountain

• O'Donnell Moonshine Ltd

• Lafi crafts

• The Melting Pot

• Daisy & Ralph

• The Sweet Potato Spirit Company

• Amazonas Gifts

• M & C Crafts

• WoodShyne

• HomelessGhostPrints LTD

• Road To One Hundred Ltd

• Monami Healthy Living Ltd

Piccadilly Gardens

• Mexico Joes Festival Ltd

• Bars@Yours Ltd / Off-Piste

• Bar Humbug

• Bars@Yours Ltd / Tipsy Wheels

• de Creperie

• RJE Catering

• Gin Alley Events Ltd

• Artisan Catering Services

• One Catering

• Blitzen's Bar

• Porky's Grill

• Ma Cuisine Francaise

• Oi Dumplings / Cafe Oi

• The Pancake House

• Brook's Mill / Hollies

• Chicken Shack

• Gin Bar

• The Manchester Winter Ale House

• Mango Rays

• Mr Crumble

• Windmill

• Swing Grill

• Little Piece Of Bahia

• CT Event Catering

• BangGa BangGa

• Starlet Trading Ltd / NIWA Yakitori

• The Flat Baker Ltd

• The Great North Pie Company

• Eat Greek / Mexico Joes

• Mamma Mia

• Mamma Mia

• Misu Tiramisu

• G & J Catering

• Turkish The Light Ltd

• Simla Collection Ltd

• We Are Outside In

• Make up or break up Ltd

• Kisses At Christmas Ltd

• The Great British Cheese Company

• So Blossom Accessories

• Gabswonderland

• Premier Promotions GB Ltd

• The Lancashire Cheesecake Company Ltd

• Made in Wonderland

Cathedral Gardens

• Bars@Yours Ltd The Globe Bar

• de Creperie

• Festival Kitchen LTD / Greek

• Kingdom Of Sweets

• Well & Spruce

• Continental Catering

• The Dog House

Albert Square

• The Mill Exchange

• Bars At Yours / Fire Truck

• Albert's BBQ

• Manke Markets UK Ltd

• Yard & Coop

• Pancake House

• Grumpy Moose

• Loaded Hash Browns – Wrap Up

• Swing Grill Albert Square

• CT Event Catering Ltd

• Yorkshire wrap

• Mr Crumble

• Rita's Reign

• Dutch mini pancakes

• Mexico Joes Festival Ltd

• Tatova Hata Ltd

• Rustic Rudolph

• Popsters

• Make Up Or Break Up

• Manimu Limited

• Luminology

• The Manchester Shop

• Amber Jewellery

• Manicay Ltd

• De Luciano

• From The Olive Tree

The markets run from 7th November to 22nd December. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens stretch to 4th January.

Find out more here.