10 reasons to smile this weekend in Liverpool (27-29 November 2020)

Full lockdown is nearly over which is a big reason to be cheerful this weekend. Here’s 10 more to keep us going until then …

It’s another Good News Weekend on The Guide Liverpool and this weekend we have loads to smile about and look forward to. Stick with us as we bring you the best news across the Liverpool City Region.

Don’t forget, we have over 1000 local businesses in our Liverpool Directory right now for you to discover. From your next food delivery to Christmas gift inspiration, there’s loads on there. To have your business featured, email directory@theguideliverpool.com.

Liverpool is in Tier 2

That’s good news for us – and great news for the city.

Restaurants can re-open, along with pubs serving food; theatres will be able to welcome back audiences (with limited numbers) so we can look forward to all those festive shows and sports fans will be able to watch outdoor games again. Result!

As Christmas presents go, this one was on all our wish lists.

Find out everything you need to know here.

Theatre is officially back

Thanks to Tier 2 the curtain can rise again in theatres across the city region, and we can get ready to boo and hiss with pantos at the M&S Bank Arena and St Helens Theatre Royal with Jack and the Beanstalk and Beauty and the Beast,  and say hello to Scrooge who’s dropping in at the Playhouse in Liverpool.

The Everyman is creating a cabaret for Christmas, and The Royal Court is sharing its Selection Box of songs, comedy and fun… and there’s lots more going on around the city.

At long last, it’s beginning to look and lot like…

Fleetwood Mac show doubles up at the Arena

Not just hearsay! Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, one of the best tributes to the legendary group, is returning to the Liverpool stage on December 19-20, at the M&S Bank Arena.

It includes a special blues set paying tribute to the memory of Fleetwood Mac’s legendary founder member, Peter Green, while giving fans the chance to listen again to live versions of their hit songs.

Get your tickets here.

Liverpool’s amazing attractions are reopening – book now!

You can start wondering about where to go with the city region’s top events and attractions getting ready to open their doors again.

If it’s culture you’re looking for you can head to Tate Liverpool and all of the National Museums Liverpool like World Museum, Lady Lever Art Gallery and the Merseyside Maritime Museum; Knowsley Safari is making all things magical with an Enchanted Christmas to celebrate at the top wildlife attraction and you can enjoy the panoramic views from the Royal Liver Building again as RLB360 reopens from December 4 (and there’s even an offer with adult tickets £10 throughout December if booked online).

You can start your Christmas shopping online at Liverpool’s MOther, The Nest, Merseymade, Liverpool Gift Gallery, Scouse Bird Shop and LFC & EFC

After all the hard work in getting the R-number down in the city and playing our part to conquer coronavirus, it’s time to celebrate in the city – and simply celebrate the city.

There’s no better way to do that than treat yourself to some great Liverpool-themed gifts from some great Liverpool shops – supporting them to help you!

The Nest at the Royal Albert Dock has got the work of our wonderful local artists, designers, photographers, and makers on offer with exclusive gifts; while Merseymade, Scousebird and Liverpool Gift Gallery focus on great buys which remind us of some of the people and places which make the city so amazing. And, well, with pressies from either of our two fantastic football teams, whichever one you support, means Christmas can be well and truly wrapped up for 2020.

Delifonseca celebrates Thanksgiving

OK, so Thanksgiving isn’t really a British celebration, but the way things are we’ll take anybody’s excuse to do something special. Delifonseca is doing its bit for US-UK relations with a Thanksgiving-inspired ‘Dine at Home’ menu including hushpuppies, mac n cheese with bacon, turkey en croute and rocky road cheesecake.

Order for one or two here.

Drink local with deliveries from Black Lodge Brewery, Berry and Rye and One Stop Bar Hop

Even with this week’s Tier 2 news, pubs and bars aren’t going to be getting quite back to normal so we’ll be carrying on ordering in beers and cocktails until they do. Black Lodge Brewery is doing free local deliveries, on Tuesdays and Fridays in Liverpool postcodes, and it’s open for collection most afternoons and into the evening on Fridays.

Berry & Rye is one of our go-tos for cocktail delivery – look out for its online whiskey tasting sessions too or try One Stop Bar Hop which delivers cocktails from five different local independent bars plus some extra treats. Order via Instagram @onestopbarhop and if you do it before Dec 1 there’s a Black Friday code to get you £5 off all packages.

Order pizza from the new delivery service at Maluco

If you fancy pizza to go with your drinks, don’t forget Maluco on Castle Street is now delivering. The 18-inch is back on this weekend, and you can get it delivered anywhere in L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, L15, L16, L17, L18 and L20. And while you’re at it, you’ll probably be needing some garlic dough balls to share too.

Soak up the stunning surroundings of Calderstones Park and grab a takeaway at The Reader

You can still catch some gorgeous late autumn colours out in the parks, and Caldies is one of our best. It’s chilly out there now, so keep warm while you walk with a coffee, tea or a hot chocolate and a snack from The Reader ice cream parlour which is open for takeaways until 4pm.

Eating out is back and bookings are live at Liverpool restaurants

One of the best bits of being in Tier 2 is the thought of being able to get back out to our favourite restaurants. We’ve missed them and they’ve missed us during this full lockdown, but now the end is nearly here and bookings are back on again so grab yourself a table because there’s bound to be a rush after Wednesday.