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The first word that springs to mind at the mere mention of November is always fireworks. You can remember, remember the 5th of November at Freight Island and Mayfield Park this year. In the absence of the city’s recently cancelled bonfire night they have decided to put on an epic firework display; lighting up the sky with a kaleidoscope of colours above their festive Christmas tree forest and cosy heated terraces. Round up your friends, swing by the bar for some mulled wine and grab a first row seat to witness the dazzling display. 4. Enjoy a fun sip and paint in the dark experience Paint in the Dark Newsham Park Hospital in Liverpool could easily be mistaken for an old hotel left to ruin – its windows boarded up, perimeters overgrown. This Halloween, the haunted building less than an hour’s drive from Manchester will host a spooktacular in the form of Newsham Scream Park, a series of blood-curdling spooky attractions to get you in the gruesome spirit. Each experience will wind through the dark bowels of the building, filled with deepening dread and moments of sheer blood-curdling panic, as guests follow each nightmarish path through Newsham Scream Park. 6. Watch a creepy cabaret performance at the King’s Arms Credit: Supplied The all-new VR karting attraction in Manchester, Chaos Karts, will be welcoming all the ghouls and boys for an exhilarating spine-tingling experience this Halloween for a thriller-ing night out. Gather the squad and prepare for a hair-raising race through the dark and immersive realm of augmented reality. With each race varying in design, complete with pumping music, fully interactive karts, and usable power-ups, players can battle right up to the finish line at this unique state-of-the-art experience. 24. Brew your own magical potions at this masterclass at Bird & Blend Tea Credit: Supplied/Bird & Blend Tea The first thing we recommend to do in Bolton is get a pasty, because it’s the single most important thing to do. Whether you pop into Bolton-beloved Carrs or have a gander at Greenalgh’s, there’s a unique and expertly crafted parcel of goodness around every corner. It’s the closest thing Boltonians have to a regional delicacy, and although the Cornish pasty is often the more famous sister, Bolton’s underdog is so much more versatile and is perfect for nibbling whilst mooching around town. 2. Chill out with a cup of coffee Credit: Self Westhoughton A boomtown in the 19th Century, Bolton had 216 cotton mills in operation at its peak, with 26 bleaching and dyeing works, making it one of the largest and most productive centres of cotton spinning in the world. That industrial history is still visible and celebrated in the town today, with many mills being repurposed into housing, offices and other new businesses. The town’s history also lends inspiration to many TV and film productions that have been filmed here recently, making use of the cobbled streets and historical buildings.

The ice and chilly air won’t be the only thing making you shudder at Skate Manchester this October. The arena has something spooky up their sleeve, namely some curiously creepy décor and fancy dress is more than encouraged. New for this year, the spooktacular Manchester ice rink will see a frightfully realistic giant spider take centre stage this Halloween, wrapped in a bright white LED light web around the sparkling Christmas tree centre piece. 3. Enjoy a spooky night out at this huge, Halloween hip-hop party Credit: Floripa They were so rare that only rich people could afford them and therefore, putting a pineapple on your house or office was a sign of wealth. The staff at the entrance will explain everything to you and will be more than happy to answer any questions. When you wander around Ancoats with your coffee, your Pollen bread and your French bulldog you ironically named Gustave, you might notice some brass eyepieces set into the walls on the outside of buildings. These peepholes allow you to look into spaces that have long since been forgotten. Thing is, there isn’t really any explanation for them. Nobody knows what they really are, how many there are or why they are there. You just have to sort of stumble upon them like Alice stumbled on the rabbit hole. The peeps do have something to say about the Industrial history of the area- but what that thing is, we really do not know. Ensuring you eat well during Iftar and Suhoor is vitally important to a successful day’s fast, which runs from pre-dawn until sunset. Finding somewhere to eat during Ramadan can be tough, but here to offer some inspiration is our round-up of the best places to visit in Manchester during Ramadan. 1. Zouk Tea Bar & Grill Credit: ZoukMean-Eyed Cat has given the classic Old Fashioned a spooky makeover, featuring pumpkin spiced syrup, orange zest and pumpkin chocolate. Downstairs in a hidden Caribbean paradise, Tiki Hideaway is serving up a twist on the traditional Pina Colada, with winter spices and pumpkin purée to get you into the Halloween spirit. 28. Celebrate Halloween with your pooch at this spooky pawty at Freight Island Credit: Supplied On a fateful (and fictional) day in Manchester a student named Loky met his watery end when he drowned in the icy depths of the canal. The act was not an isolated incident or unfortunate accident but the malicious work of a serial killer who roamed the banks of the canal, his name: The Pusher. On this Haunted Manchester tour you’ll explore the darker side of the city, solving clues and uncovering stories about the trapped spirits who fell victim to this murderer. Keep your wits about you: everything might not be as it seems… 11. Celebrate Halloween with a spine-chilling schedule of events at GRUB Credit: Cultplex So John Noel Nichols, a local chemist, decided to create a soft drink that would be so good people would stop drinking alcohol and drink this instead.

Former executive chef at Harvey Nichols, Simon Shaw founded El Gato Negro after being inspired by a trip to Catalonia and it’s possibly one of the best tapas restaurants you’ll find in the centre of Manchester. At El Gato Negro, guests can expect a combination of both modern and traditional Spanish flavours with dishes such as truffle salami, salt cod croquetas and braised ox cheek. The restaurant is a real social space, even including a roof terrace, which almost feels like you’ve been transported to the bustling city of Barcelona. Interestingly, Shaw also owns Canto too, a testament to how much he loves creating delicious tapas. El Gato Negro, 52 King St, Manchester, M2 4LY. 3. Wholesome Junkies Credit: Wholesome JunkiesExpanding new concept Dokes Pizzeria – which has so far only been available at the Society food hall – the owners of Ancoats restaurant Elnecot introduced their ‘Anglo-Saxon’ pizzas to Prestwich last summer. You can expect nods to the Old English with their Beowulf pizza topped with pepperoni, ‘nduja, chilli, burrata and pesto; and Roll Right topped with smoked bacon, white onion, Rollright cheese, crème fraîche and new potato (trust us, it works). Dokes in Prestwich is the perfect all-day dining destination – not only serving proper stone-baked pizza topped with the finest British produce (think Welsh chorizo, cured pig’s cheek and English cheeses), but an array of brunch and lunch dishes, too. Expect pasta from Yorkshire, seasonal salads and more – all showcasing the best of British and changing with the seasons. Dokes, 449A Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 1AF. 16. The Spärrows Credit: The Sparrows Manchester’s largest virtual reality arcade, DNA VR, is giving guests the chance to live out their horror movie dreams (and nightmares!) with an array of horrifying and gruesome immersive virtual reality experiences. Visitors will find a wide-range of hair-raising virtual horror simulations to complete, such as navigating their way out of the Hospital Of Horror escape room, evading the supernatural in Manor Of Escape, or fighting off hordes of the undead in Arizona Sunshine, there is something for every horror-lover at DNA VR. 14. Watch an entertaining performance of 2.22 A Ghost Story at The Lowry Credit: The Lowry It occupied the entire Grade II*-listed building when it opened in 1806 and now takes up the first floor, accessed via a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it doorway with buzzer entry on Charlotte Street. After years working in multiple highly-regarded restaurants, chef Tim Allen has gone solo, hence the name. Located in a converted pub in Aughton near Ormskirk, guests can expect contemporary, seasonal dishes with some unique touches. Plus, Sō-Lō also has a vegan option as well as reasonably priced three course lunch and four course Sunday lunch menus.

The first day of the month is officially World Vegan Day. As if you needed a reason to visit one of the many spots around Manchester that serve tasty vegan grub? Whether you’re someone looking to dip your toe in the world of vegan food for the first time or are a long-time vegan who is constantly on the hunt for new haunts serving delicious plant-based dishes, you are sure to find a favourite among these vegan eateries in Manchester. 11. Explore over 250 craft gins and spirits at this festival at Victoria Baths Credit: Jez Timms, UnsplashFrom there, if you look under the bridge, you will see that the sentence ‘Cast No Shadow’ is written. With January bringing bitterly cold temperatures, comfort food is definitely on the cards this month. One of Manchester’s top spots for comforting pub grub is The Bay Horse Tavern, where this January the Northern Quarter eatery will be offering 50% off your food bill, Monday to Friday. The Bay Horse Tavern, 35-37 Thomas St, M4 1NA. 7. Cane & Grain Credit: Cane & Grain The second-oldest library in the city after Chetham’s, you’ll find The Portico hidden away above The Bank pub on Mosley Street. The early members of the library included politicians, textile traders, factory owners and scientists such as John Dalton, father of the atomic theory. Situated in a former bank building in Didsbury, Hispi provides intimate dining, with each dish as beautifully presented as the next. The restaurant serves posh bistro dishes that are full of flavour, even offering up a sirloin of beef Sunday roast sharer. Think crispy pig’s head croquettes, pan-fried fish, and stuffed pork belly. there are a considerable amount of Sunday lunch choices, which can also be followed by an unreal crumble for the ultimate comfort food experience. Hispi, 1C School Ln, Didsbury, M20 6RD. 14. Colleen’s Credit: Colleen’s