Christmas celebrations in Manchester

The team recently enjoyed a fantastic trip to Manchester, staying right in the heart of the city. Thanks to Michaela’s expert planning, every part of the itinerary ran smoothly and made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

We set off from Nottingham with a quick lunch stop at McDonald’s before continuing our journey north. Once we arrived and checked into the hotel, we headed to a nearby bar for a few drinks before getting ready for our Christmas party that evening.

After regrouping at the hotel bar, we made our way across the road to the Manchester Central Convention Complex for the evening’s event. The venue itself is enormous and steeped in history. Originally a railway station, it operated as a major terminal from 1880 until 1969. Greater Manchester County Council purchased the disused building in 1978 with the ambition to bring it back to life, and by 1986 it had been transformed into the impressive exhibition hall we know today. Unsurprisingly, our engineers were captivated by the scale and construction of the roof structure.

The following day, we visited St Gabriel’s student accommodation, which combines the conversion of a former convent with a new-build extension to create high‑quality living spaces. It was fascinating to see how the team at McLaren Construction had worked so thoughtfully with the existing building, transforming it into modern bedrooms and amenity areas, including a large hosting dining space and cinema. Conversions are always more complex than starting from the ground up, but the results were outstanding and complement the nearby Victoria Park Conservation area. We appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the project.

With the tour complete, we enjoyed some free time in the city centre. A few of us explored the Christmas markets, clocking up plenty of steps, before gathering for lunch at Circolo Popolare. And unlike last year, there was no frantic dash through crowds at the end of the day to catch a train home!

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable 2 days filled with laughter, great food, and plenty of festive cheer. Trips like this remind us how valuable it is to spend time together, strengthen team bonds, and celebrate our shared successes as we look ahead to a new year.