Celebrate Christmas with gift ideas from the Corn Exchange

Christmas celebrations will be different this year – and so too will presents.

With most of us not able to see all our family and friends just yet, we’re looking for presents that are easy to send via post or online, or for experiences that can be redeemed later once we can get together again.

Luckily, the Corn Exchange Manchester’s resident brands are each offering great gifting ideas, so Mancunians can spoil their loved ones with everything from a foodie gift to a voucher for their favourite restaurant, and from locally created art to a New Year adventure.

Food and drink vouchers, hampers and books

Offering exciting dishes packed with fresh flavours, Mowgli has long been a firm favourite with curry lovers. 

The restaurant’s founder, Nisha Katona, shares the recipes of some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes in the Mowgli Cookbook, which makes for an even more perfect pressie for a Mowgli super fan when paired with the coordinating tote bag or apron.

Those who like a little spice will also want to snap up vouchers for the recently launched Delhi House Café.

The family-run restaurant has been winning rave reviews since opening earlier this year, including a glowing write-up from The Observer food writer Jay Rayner who loved the “ripely sauced, butter-rich” chicken ghee curry and the special lamb chops, a “glorious, spice-crusted exercise in bone nibblage.”

Cocktail lovers can be indulged via some scrumptious sips at the Cosy Club, or the Instagram worthy drinks at Banyan.

Simply snap up a gift voucher for either restaurant and present to the resident aspiring mixologist in your life.

Meanwhile, for friends and family members who are all about the sparkle when it comes to their tipples, Gino D’Acampo’s My Restaurant has a stylish Prosecco bar that takes the Italian art of the Aperitivo seriously – making a gift voucher for the eateries the perfect gift for the fizz fanatic in your life.

Those gifting to Italian food fans need look no further than Salvi’s Deli, which is the place to shop for the best, authentic Italian goodies –  including everything from chocolates to pasta and coffee. 

In December, the shelves are also packed with festive treats including traditional Panettone and a wide selection of cheeses, meats and snacks. 

Create a bespoke hamper or purchase a voucher online so the recipient can choose for themselves.

The perfect dish for the person that loves their food to be packed full of veggies, vitamins and all the good stuff is a Pho gift card.

With over 40% of their menu offering being vegan, Pho offers healthy, nourishing Vietnamese street food that offers a nice dose of nourishment after all of the excesses of Christmas.

Other restaurants offering vouchers, which are a great IOU for a future celebration with family and friends include Pizza Express, Zizzi, Vapiano and Doner Haus.

Manchester-themed art

CAPE gallery at the Corn Exchange has a fantastic selection of Manchester-themed artwork, each created by local artists. 

Whether the art lover in your life would prefer a Manchester Bee or a music map of the city, there are options galore to help them display their Mancunian pride.

Remote escape room experiences

The perfect gifts for the family brainbox, Escape Hunt offers a range of adventures from Escape Rooms to outdoor adventures or even print and play games to play at home. 

Give the gift of pirate battles or flying through space with Dr Who with an Escape Hunt gift.

Gift vouchers are available for both the Play at Home games and the onsite Escape Room games.

Escape Hunt also offering a fantastic alternative to a Zoom Quiz – Remote Room Escape.

Teams can play one of the most popular escape rooms remotely by directing a real-life Games Master around the room over Zoom; a fantastic alternative to the office Christmas party.

A city break for a later date

A city break is an ideal gift to share with a partner or to give someone that deserves some me time. 

Roomzzz Aparthotel is the perfect place for a leisurely escape, offering a city-centre location and spacious rooms with king-sized beds.

Vouchers start at just £50, and can be redeemed at a later date.

Find out more about gifting ideas at the Corn Exchange Manchester by clicking the button below.