The annual Manchester Christmas Markets make their big return this week, when many will be heading out for a warming hot chocolate or gluhwein. And Manchester Council has now revealed the design for the collectable Manchester Christmas Markets mug for 2022.
Council bosses have also confirmed the mug deposit scheme for this year's festive event which returns from Thursday November 10 through to Thursday December 22.
Revellers who purchase a hot drink or gluhwein will pay a £3 deposit for the mug - which is refundable if you take the mug back after your drink. Or alternatively you can keep the mug as a souvenir of your visit to the markets.
Read more : Map and guide to Manchester Christmas Markets 2022
This year's mug design features Christmassy characters in cartoon form, including Santa, Rudolph and polar bears. And in a super-cute detail - if you line up your mugs you can make the character's "high five" each other, awww.
Council bosses say this year's design is all about "all celebrating the fun of the festive period" and is aimed to be perfect for those Instagram-worthy moments on the markets. Previous years' mugs have seen kissing snowmen, mistletoe, interactive and wearable red nose reindeers, and even Santa himself.
The mugs have been designed by Manchester City Council’s studio team who they say wanted to portray the "message of unity this Christmas".
As ever, visitors will be given a mug when purchasing a hot drink and will be asked to pay a £3 deposit (£2 for beer and wine glasses) – and collectors can either choose to return the mug for the deposit, or keep the mug as a memento of their visit to the famous markets.
The mugs will be available at the Christmas Market bars that will be selling mulled wine, gluhwein and hot chocolate across Winter Gardens, Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange and King Street.
The markets will be open daily from 10am till 8pm and bars will be open 11am –9pm.
Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s Christmas Spokesperson, said: "This year’s Christmas market mugs are brilliantly festive and scream Christmas. Their arrival marks that holiday season is truly back in Manchester, the capital of Christmas.
"Over the years our mugs have become incredibly popular, they’re a firm Instagram favourite and have even become collectors items! We know that some visitors have a complete collection of mugs going back more than 10 years – and we expect those people to be first in line for a warming gluhwein or hot chocolate".
Last year the Christmas Markets mugs proved to be so popular that stalls RAN OUT of them in mid-December, and old designs had to be shipped in for the final few weeks of the run instead.
Manchester Christmas Markets launch on Thursday November 10, and will then be open daily until December 22. Market stalls open from 10am until 8pm, and bars will be open 11am –9pm.
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