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There’s a whole host of fantastic festive food offers at Liverpool ONE this Christmas.
Find out whats on offer here.
Kids Eat Free Deals at Liverpool ONE:
TGI Fridays: Free kids meal (including a snack, a main and two sides) when a new or existing Rewards member orders an adult’s main meal.
Smoke & Dough: Children eat free every Sunday with options including pizza, bento boxes, and slushes.
Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen: Kids receive a free main meal when dining with an adult ordering a main from the A la Carte menu, with dessert available for around £4.
The Real Greek: Children under 12 eat free with every £15 spent by an adult every Sunday.
Additional family-friendly offers starting from £5 include:
Slim Chickens: Under-10s get a special menu including two tenders, Texas toast, fries, veg and drink for £6.95.
Wagamama: Kids can build their own Bento Box for £7.50 and add a drink and dessert for £1.50.
Five Guys: Children’s burger, hot dog, or grilled cheese served with mini fries and mini soda from £7.
Gordon Ramsay’s Street Pizza: £10 bottomless pizza offer available for under children aged 8 and under.
Families can also enjoy food-on-the-go options from Greggs, Costa Coffee, Joe & The Juice, Subway, Tortilla, Chopstix, and other venues.
Not only can families find great food offers at Liverpool ONE but they can also enjoy a fun-packed festive season. Christmas on the Park is in full swing with family friendly rides and Bar Hütte which has a free after school club on Tuesdays 3.30-5pm. The free Christmas Trail and Festive Fun Thursdays are a great way for family to enjoy free festive cheer. Upcoming Festive Fun Thursdays include Pass the Parcel Sing-Along on Thursday 11 December and the Red Hot Santa Band on Thursday 18th December.
Find out more on the Liverpool ONE website.
Find out what else is on in Liverpool ONE this Christmas here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Liverpool team-mates Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones say Mohammed Salah has the right to make his own decisions but insist his comments have not impacted the dressing room.
Speaking after Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win at Inter Milan, the similarity of the duo’s responses suggested a previously-agreed stance in an attempt to reduce the fall-out from the Egypt international’s criticism of head coach Arne Slot and his perceived treatment by the club.
However, taking into consideration the committed and resilient performance against an Inter side who had not lost in 18 European home games, it would seem the squad are doing their best to compartmentalise the row.
Szoboszlai – probably Salah’s main confidant among the players – walked a carefully-balanced line when asked about the situation.
He said:
“I’m very close with him. It’s him and his own choice with what he is doing with his own life and his own career,” said the Hungary captain, who benefited from Salah being left at home by being given the responsibility of scoring the 88th-minute penalty at San Siro.
“It’s nothing to do with the players, I guess, so nothing to say about it.”
Salah alleged on Saturday evening that he had been “thrown under the bus” in relation to the team’s run of poor results from September to November – a period during which he scored just twice – and questioned whether he had a future beyond this weekend’s home match against Brighton ahead of his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Asked whether he wanted Salah to stay, Szoboszlai replied:
“It’s not our decision, as players.
“I love him as a human being, as a friend of mine. As a player, he has done so much for this club. It’s going to be the club’s and his decision.”
Jones, who impressed on the left side of a midfield diamond as Slot changed his formation to incorporate twin strikers Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, denied Salah’s remarks had changed the atmosphere in the dressing room.
But he said the win, making it four matches unbeaten, had definitely provided a much-needed confidence boost after Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds was followed by the Egyptian going public with his frustrations.
“Mo is his own man,” the midfielder said. “I can’t really speak on another man and his business. Everyone knows how much of a legend Mo is.
“If you go and win a game, it’s always the best feeling. We have just won an important game against a great team. The mood is high.”
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker fully backed Slot at a pre-match press conference, and Jones echoed those sentiments when asked if the squad was behind the Dutchman.
“We always are,” he said. “He is human, at the end of the day. If we get beat in games, it affects him. It affects us all, too, the same way it affects fans.
“He is a positive man, he always makes a change. The style of play has changed a bit.
“He is as hungry as ever, exactly the same with us. He is there with us and we are there with him as well.”
Find all the latest Liverpool FC news on our website.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Stunning photographs of Crosby beach’s Iron Men, taken over two decades by Crosby photographer Ron Davies, goes on display at The Atkinson in Southport on Saturday (13th December).
Entitled, ‘Men for All Seasons’ the free exhibition will feature 20 of Davies’ landscape images that capture Antony Gormley’s internationally acclaimed artwork ‘Another Place’.
In July, Sefton marked the 20th anniversary of the arrival of the 100, 6ft 2”, cast iron figures that make up ‘Another Place’. They now stand along a two-mile stretch of coast from Waterloo to Blundellands as a permanent and striking installation that has drawn millions of visitors worldwide.
During that time Ron Davies has visited the installation hundreds or even thousands of times capturing images of the figures, which replicate Gormley’s own body, and stare out to sea .
When the photographs were first unveiled and the exhibition announced, in July, Crosby resident Ron Davies said:
“The Iron Men enrich the already beautiful Sefton coast making a perfect foreground against which to capture the wonders of nature. From sunrises and sunsets to brooding storms, snowscapes and even the Northern lights, every visit offers fresh opportunities for a photographer.
In July, Sefton’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement, Councillor Liz Dowd said the ‘Iron Men’ had become friends to millions of people over the years. That included Sefton residents and many, many visitors who have made the pilgrimage to Crosby beach to pose alongside them.
And fellow Sefton Cabinet Member and journalist, Councillor Peter Harvey, who was editor of newspapers including the Crosby Herald in 2005, said:
“The Crosby Herald broke the exclusive story of plans for the ‘Iron Men of the Mersey’ not knowing how much influence they would have on the culture, identity, and personality of our area, or how much joy they would bring.
“The Iron Men were welcomed to Sefton as visitors – but today there is no doubt that Crosby beach is their home. They are part of the family.”
The free exhibition at The Atkinson is on until Saturday 21st February 2026.
Entry is free to The Art Gallery, which is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
The Art Gallery will be closed for Christmas from Thursday 25th December to Friday 2nd January 2026, reopening on Saturday 3rd.
Find out more about the exhibition on The Atkinson website.
Find more great art exhibitions across Liverpool on our website.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
A Liverpool photographer has documented years of legendary events at The Kazimier, 10 years after it closed for good.
John Johnson came back to live in the city centre in 2010 and discovered the venue for the first time.
He started going regularly and photographing various nights including gigs by Sleaford Mods, Blossoms, Buzzcocks, Miles Kane, Michael Kiwanuka and Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band and lots more.
He was also there when it all came to a memorable end with a sci-fi themed New Year’s Eve farewell party, Escape To Planet Kronos.
Now Bootle-born John has decided to give The Kaz the tribute it deserves – a book filled with images taken over five years which capture some very special times.
Called ‘No Place Like ‘Holme’, as a nod to its Wolstenholme Square home, the book features over 80 full colour photos which he describes as “a snapshot into some of those nights that took place inside that wondrous space.”
“I moved back to the city after quite a few years away travelling, landed in the Ropewalks area and this was the place on everyone’s lips,” says John.
“Wolstenholme Square was somewhere I wouldn’t normally venture to before I went away, I was more in the Krazyhouse, but I’d heard about this place and once you went in it was a whole new world.
“I loved going there as a punter, mostly importantly, but I also knew how everyone else who went there felt about the place. You could see how much joy had gone into creating it, and you felt that as a punter.
“I started taking the pictures from 2010 until the very end, the closing night, which was legendary. Escape From Planet Kronos was space-themed and they hired a giant crane and built this spaceship that they had lifted over The Kazimier.
“Then, because I live around the corner, I even went back when it was getting demolished so I was able to document that as well.”
John was given unprecedented access by The Kazimier’s owners, meaning he could build up a large archive of images.
“They were always so accommodating of me going in with a camera. With most places you get the first three songs and then a lot of the time you’re out, but they knew I wasn’t too intrusive and there was that mutual respect. It was such a special place for me cutting my teeth and learning about live music.
“When I came to put the book together I had so many photos – there were a lot I’d completely forgotten about and lot that were awful, but I got it down to around 500 and then I had to whittle it down again and again.
“There were so many really good gigs and one-off events, and there’s more than one moment especially from those crazy evenings that you’d like to put in, but you can really only have a little snapshot of those times.”
Like his previous projects, which have captured everything from the Klopp era and Goodison years to Concert Square nightlife, this latest book is a piece of Liverpool social history.
John explains:
“It’s all connected to documenting the city and everyone’s leisure time,”
As for There’s No Place Like ‘Holme, he hopes it will bring back some great memories of The Kazimier.
“It’s just my little thank you for the experiences I had there, and I know a lot of other people will look at it and will have had similar experiences.”
Find out more about the book, and how to buy it, here.
Find out whats on across Liverpool this Christmas here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Everton defender Michael Keane recently swapped his football shirt for an apron at an Everton in the Community ‘Safe Hands’ session, seeing first-hand how the Club’s official charity helps young people reengage with education, develop key life skills and find their voice.
The Blues centre-back joined participants aged 12 to 16 at the charity’s Goodison campus, putting his baking skills to the test by making shortbread alongside Jai, a former Safe Hands participant who is now a participant with EitC.
Jai, an aspiring chef studying at culinary college, led the session with Michael, sharing his journey and showing how he has grown in confidence, taken on a leadership role and is working to turn his passion for cooking into a career – all with the support of the charity.
When Jai first became involved with Safe Hands two years ago, he had been out of school for an extended period. Living with autism, he found social situations overwhelming and everyday life challenging. Since then, he has achieved remarkable milestones – from visiting Parliament and speaking in front of 200 people, to securing work experience in a local restaurant – transforming his life with the help of Everton in the Community.
Everton stalwart Keane’s visit to Safe Hands concluded with a taste test of the freshly baked shortbreads before he took selfies and signed souvenirs for the young people. Reflecting on the session and Jai’s progress, he said: “Everton in the Community has been supporting people of all ages across Liverpool for more than 35 years and today I’ve had the privilege of seeing that work first-hand.
“Meeting Jai has been inspiring – his story really shows what this charity can help young people achieve. He’s been on an incredible journey and now he’s thriving at culinary college. Programmes like Safe Hands give young people the chance to learn, grow and connect with others who understand their experiences.”
Jai expressed his gratitude to the charity, adding: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Everton in the Community. They’ve been incredible and have genuinely changed my life for the better. Everything they’ve done for me has been amazing and I honestly couldn’t ask for more.
“When I first got involved, I never imagined I’d have the confidence to lead a cooking session like this or even go to culinary college. Now I’m doing both and I’m really proud of myself. The charity has set me up brilliantly for the future and I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done.”
Safe Hands supports young people aged 10 to 16 who face challenges attending school, including those with neurodiverse needs, poor mental health, low social skills and low aspiration. The programme combines personalised guidance and small-group support with education and enrichment activities, helping participants stay socially engaged, build important life skills and regain confidence in learning.
Since its launch in June 2023, EitC has supported 55 young people through Safe Hands – with 24 successfully returning to education and 18 remaining actively engaged in the programme, now communicating and interacting in ways they previously could not.
Made possible thanks to the Premier League and PFA Players’ Fund, Safe Hands inspires young people to reintegrate into education and ensures they feel heard, valued and supported to reach their full potential.
Visit the Everton in the Community website here.
Find out more going on across Liverpool here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Liverpool head coach has spoken again on the issue relating to Mohamed Salah and the club.
Having left the Egypt international at home after his explosive comments following Saturday’s draw at Leeds – when he suggested he has no relationship with his boss after being benched for three games – the Reds beat Inter Milan 1-0 at San Siro in the Champions League.
Afterwards Slot was asked whether there was a way back for a player who had suggested the weekend’s Premier League game at home to Brighton may be his last.
“First you have to ask if the player feels he made a mistake,” he told Amazon Prime.
“I’m going to talk to him. But then you have to ask should the initiative come from me?”
However, in his press conference Slot rowed back slightly on those comments.
“I didn’t say who should make the first step,” he added.
“Tonight it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had they have had many of these evenings.”
Dominik Szoboszlai’s 88th-minute penalty- which Slot appeared to suggest was soft – settled matters in a game which Liverpool looked much more solid.
“All I could ask for, I think the fourth game in 10 days, that is not what you see a lot with only 13 outfield players available with Premier League or Champions League experience,” said Slot.
“After the blow we had conceding the 3-3 in Leeds then in this stadium against such a strong Inter team, we hardly gave away a chance.
“Great mentality second half, we got better and better, we were close to scoring with Conor (Bradley) crossing for Hugo (Ekitike) then we get a penalty that if that was a penalty we could have got 10 this season.
“In the Premier League I don’t think it would have been given.”
Read a report of LFC’s game against Inter Milan here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Hollywood star Daniel Craig has said he is “working harder” than he ever has and “enjoying it more” and has reflected on roles he has taken in the past and how being James Bond has affected that.
The 57-year-old is best known for playing James Bond including in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum Of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time to Die (2021).
Since his 007 days, Craig has taken on a variety of roles including portraying the famed private detective, Benoit Blanc, in the Knives Out whodunit series, and the outcast American expat, William Lee in Luca Guadagnino’s 2024 romance Queer, and he revealed to Radio Times that he feels able to take on roles that he previously may have been unsure about.
He said: “I’m not saying no to things that I might have been a little bit wary about before.
“When the Bond thing was going on in my life, the juxtaposition between that and another role would sometimes feel self-conscious.
“I’m working harder than I ever have, but I’m also just enjoying it more than I ever have.
“I get to do really interesting, different stuff.”
Craig stars in Wake Up Dead Mean: A Knives Out Mystery, the latest instalment of American filmmaker Rian Johnson’s whodunit trilogy alongside Emmy-winning actress Glenn Close, Challengers star Josh O’Connor, and That ’70s Show’s Mila Kunis.
Speaking about the film franchise, Craig added: “Of course I would love to continue working with him (Johnson). As long as Rian keeps inventing it the way he does, then I’m in.”
The third instalment follows on from 2019’s Knives Out and its sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, both of which also featured a star-studded cast including Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae, Ana De Armas, Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis.
The full feature can be read in Radio Times Christmas Issue.
Find out the latest in Liverpool here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Liverpool scored a late penalty to beat Inter Milan away at the San Siro in the Champions League as Mohamed Salah is left out of the squad.
With their regular penalty-taker left at home after his extraordinary outburst against head coach Arne Slot and the club after Saturday’s draw at Leeds it was left to Dominik Szoboszlai to step up and convert an 88th-minute spot-kick.
That may point to the future in one aspect but the manner of the victory, which moved Liverpool back into the top eight with an improved chance of avoiding the play-offs, offered the first signs of resilience of an otherwise brittle season.
Current form meant Salah’s presence in Italy may not have been the essential ingredient it had so often been but this represented progress against a team which had won seven of their last nine and was on an 18-match unbeaten home run in Europe.
The forward, who posted a picture of himself in an empty gym back at their AXA training complex earlier in the day, had paid the price for saying his relationship with Slot had broken down and he felt someone at the club was trying to force him out.
But with Cody Gakpo injured and Federico Chiesa ill it left Slot with just two senior forwards and he started both.
Yet despite costing a combined £200million Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike posed little threat with the ball and could do nothing to prevent one of Inter’s back three carrying the ball out significant distances.
When Ekitike raced on to Ibrahima Konate’s through-ball in a position usually assumed by Salah the France striker favoured his right foot, when the Egyptian would cut in on his left, and narrowed the angle so much Yann Sommer batted his shot behind easily.
The front two have rarely had the chance to play together so far this season and there was a lack of understanding between each other and their team-mates, like when Alexis Mac Allister slid a pass down the outside of Manuel Akanji only for Isak to continue his run down the inside.
Shorn of Salah, with 46 Champions League goals for the club, the next highest scorer was Virgil van Dijk with just five but Curtis Jones, who was influential on the left-hand side of a midfield diamond, and Ryan Gravenberch both tested Inter goalkeeper Sommer.
Konate was at the scene of another “crime”, as Slot had euphemistically described his numerous errors this season, but this time in the opposition area.
He nodded in from close range but the ball had come off Ekitike’s upper arm, although it took four minutes for VAR and referee Felix Zwayer to disallow the goal.
The hosts came on strong at the end of the half with Nicolo Barella whipping a free-kick just wide and Alisson Becker saving well from Lautaro Martinez’s header.
Both strikers upped their work-rate for the second half as it became apparent the tide had turned before Isak eventually made way for fellow £100m man Florian Wirtz.
And when he lured Alessandro Bastoni into tugging his shirt in the penalty area, the Germany international changed the game and the narrative with fans singing Slot’s name at the final whistle.
Read how Slot has reacted to the current situation at LFC here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
As Christmas approaches and our city centre and town centres get busier, our officers are ready to help keep thousands of visitors safe as they enjoy our shops, bars, pubs and clubs.
Merseyside Police are issuing safety advice as part of their Winter of Action, taking place between 1 December 2025 and 31 January 2026, which is a national initiative to help keep town centres safe during the festive season and into the New Year.
Inspector Jack Woodward, Merseyside Police said:
“We expect the next few weekends will be busy in the city and in other town centres and areas across our region.
“As part of the Winter of Action initiative we will have an increased police presence each weekend in the run up to Christmas, we will be targeting the minority of people who are intent on causing misery over the festive period, whether that’s by theft from shops, stealing other people’s belongings or anti-social behaviour. We also have officers deployed in and around the night-time economy (NTE) locations, where they will be looking out for those engaged in predatory behaviour towards women and girls. If you see someone behaving in a way which concerns you, let us know.”
“We are asking anyone who visits the shops please remember to look out for each other and report any suspicious behaviour, we would like to remind people to be kind to retail workers who are extremely busy around this time of year, aggressive behaviour towards them will not be tolerated. If you do see any retail workers being abused in any way we would ask you to not personally intervene but do please report it to security staff. Make sure when you are visiting any bars, clubs and restaurants, that you do not leave your belongings unattended, keep your bags securely fastened, and purses and wallets on your person. we want everyone to enjoy themselves, stay safe and get home safely so please plan ahead and drink sensibly and look out for each other.”
As part of the campaign to reduce crime and keep our communities safe during the festive season, you will see more Merseyside Police officers out and about in the run up to Christmas and into the New Year. They will use uniformed and plain-clothes officers, plus specialist teams including the Dog Section, Mounted Section and Roads Policing to help keep us all safe.
Officers will be policing the vibrant night-time economies of the city and busy town centres throughout Merseyside with their partners and linking in with CCTV operators and local businesses, door staff, licensees and bar staff to help make sure you feel safe whilst enjoying a night out.
Shaun Holland, Director of Operations at Liverpool Business Improvement District said:
“We know how busy Liverpool City Centre can be at Christmas and it’s a time of joy and revelry, but it’s vital for our businesses that it’s as safe a place to work as it is to both shop and go for a night out. We’ve marked 15 years of Purple Flag status in Liverpool, so it’s one of the safest night outs you can have, but that only exists because we work together.”
Mersyside Police ask that communities help them by continuing to report offences or any suspicious behaviour so they can ensure people’s Christmas and New Year are remembered for the right reasons.
They also ask that people embrace the spirit of Christmas and remember that it’s not an easy time for some – please look out for each other.
Take care of your valuables
- When carrying a bag or handbag, check it’s closed with the opening facing towards your body, especially in crowded areas.
- Don’t leave shopping bags on display in your car and make sure your car is securely locked.
- Keep your wallet or valuables out of sight if you can.
- Separate a little money from your handbag. That way, if your bag does get stolen, you can still get home.
Getting home
- Plan your journey home before you set off – pre-book a taxi or arrange a lift with a non-drinking driver – and go home with friends if you can.
- Don’t get into unlicensed vehicles. You can make sure you get home safely by using a private-hire company, whether you book your taxi beforehand by phone, or take a properly licensed Hackney Cab.
- If you are walking, keep to busy and well-lit streets where possible.
Cash points and carrying money
- Take care at cash points – look around before inserting your card. If you see somebody suspicious hanging around the cashpoint, walk away and go back later.
- Only take out what you need, don’t walk around with bundles of cash in your pockets.
Find out whats on across Liverpool on our calendar.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
Since January, Southport’s Market Quarter has been transformed, with big changes including the pedestrianisation of Market Street and adjoining King Street becoming one way.
Last week, Sefton Council’s Deputy Leader Paulette Lappin joined Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Transport Committee Chair Steve Foulkes in visiting the Market Quarter to celebrate the scheme’s completion.
The work has created a more pleasant shopping, dining and event experience, to encourage more visitors to spend longer in the area.
Wider pavements and improved crossing points on Eastbank Street also help better connect the Market Quarter to Chapel Street, Lord Street and the rest of the town centre. Future phases will improve the spaces connecting to the Promenade and waterfront.
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marion Atkinson said:
“The works on Market Street, King Street and Eastbank Street have transformed the area, to create an accessible, high quality and long lasting public space to be enjoyed by all.
“The scheme has been an important part of investing in Southport, using funding from the Southport Town Deal and Liverpool Combined Authority’s Sustainable Transport Funding to improve these streets and support our vision for the town.
“We have been investing in the area, improving the look and feel of the town with new wide pavements, trees and plants and new places to sit.
“The refreshed look and better visitor experience will help encourage more private investment and strengthen our visitor economy.”
Benches, trees and plants have all been carefully chosen to suit the weather of a coastal town.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills said:
“By encouraging people to visit more frequently and to spend more time in Southport and generally making the place feel nice to be in, high quality public spaces such as this are important to supporting local businesses.
“Pedestrianising Market Street has created a great opportunity for events and markets such as The Coastal Jam in September this year.
“It’s an example of how in the future, we can encourage families to an area and feel safe away from traffic.
“This new space creates such possibilities for the area, which is so great to see, and I look forward to people coming and really enjoying the space. “
Cllr Lappin continued:
“The widening of pavement creates a nice open space. It can support additional footfall on busy days without feeling cramped.
“This change helps encourage people traveling into town to walk, wheel or cycle around the area, enjoying the town and supporting local businesses. And the new benches and planters mean there are places to pause and enjoy the atmosphere while out shopping.
“Plus, active travel into the town centre has associated health and well-being benefits, and Southport is well connected by public transport too. By improving facilities to supporting travel by walking, wheeling, cycling or by public transport it creates a more accessible town centre for all. “
Find out more about Les Transformations de Southport here.
Find out whats on in Southport this Christmas here.
Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.
From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.
FACT announces new exhibition ‘Can Meeple Escape the Neurophoria?’, that investigates the evolving relationship between humans and intelligent technologies.
On display at FACT from Friday 6 February to Sunday 26 April 2026, the exhibition is inspired by the world-building dynamics of tabletop gaming, where environments shift according to players’ decisions, the exhibition features interactive artworks by Vytas Jankauskas, Joseph Wilk, and Jan Zuiderveld. The exhibition is curated by FACT’s 2025 Curator-in-Residence, Milia Xin Bi.
Can Meeple Escape the Neurophoria? explores the ways connections between humans and machines develop as they co-evolve, examining how intelligent technologies shape individuals’ sense of self and influence decision-making. The exhibition reframes visitors as meeple—small game pieces used to represent a person during gameplay—moving through a reality influenced by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and connected networks. In her curatorial practice, Milia Xin Bi investigates how these intelligent technologies collect, analyse, and circulate data, and how beliefs and behaviours adapt to the algorithms they are being fed. In this feedback loop, as technology evolves, so too do people’s sense of self and reality—a process that Milia Xin Bi defines as “neurophoria.”
At FACT, designer, technologist, and educator Vytas Jankauskas presents Life Forever (2025), a newly commissioned artwork inspired by Jeremy England’s thermodynamic research, which proposes that life emerges from an organism’s capacity to expel heat. The interactive installation embodies an absurd “jellyfish wellness spa,” where jellyfish float inside a tank warmed by cryptominers—machines that use computing power to generate cryptocurrency and, in doing so, produce significant heat. Just as these machines consume vast amounts of energy to create speculative digital value, humans expend energy in their own searches for meaning, profit, and pleasure.
In a new video work, audiences are introduced to the spa’s host, Lola, a spiritual healer whose good intentions are distorted and shaped by her consumerist desires and technological faith. She believes that the solution to the climate crisis may lie in jellyfish’s potential immortality, and throughout the film raises questions around values, desires, and pleasure-seeking lifestyles. A Tamagotchi-style controller allows visitors to control the spa’s flows of heat and profit, prioritising either making money or keeping the jellyfish alive. Based on decisions, visitors may be invited onto a karaoke stage to sing along to remixed songs by ‘Mr Immortal Jellyfish Man’, the alter ego of Dr Shin Kubota: a leading jellyfish research scientist, karaoke star and the inspiration for this artwork’s title.
Through humour and gamified interaction, Jankauskas’s Life Forever spa invites people to consider how ideas of value, energy, and care might be redefined—thermally, technologically, and emotionally—and how every choice made within the system subtly shapes the futures it creates.
Artist and programmer Joseph Wilk uses the digital world to explore disability and uses disability to explore the digital world. He deconstructs, misuses, and repurposes software and hardware to challenge conventional ideas about ownership, storytelling, and visibility.
At FACT, Wilk presents CripShip (2024), a tabletop role-playing game that transforms lived experiences of disability into a space for resistance, collaboration, and new ways of thinking. Centred on demystifying and resisting certain types of AI, CripShip invites players to role-play as employees of a fictional government agency called the Ministry of AI Spills. In this world, unrestricted AI policies create misinformation, biases, and harmful ideas that spread through society. Visitors role-play as “Slop Moppers” tasked with investigating and resisting these AI failures.
Part of the gallery is reimagined as the Ministry’s headquarters, where visitors can browse cases under investigation, hear from the Ministry’s Head of Department, and prepare to join the AI resistance by creating Slop Mopper characters. CripShip opens a space where imagining better worlds becomes a shared act of creation.
Jan Zuiderveld is an artist, researcher, and technologist whose work explores the intersections of technology and life. His practice aims to make AI’s presence physically felt rather than intellectually contemplated. In this exhibition, he presents two artworks that give large language models both a voice and a physical form, prompting questions about what machines can do and how people might relate to them.
Coffee Machine (2023), transforms an ordinary interaction with an appliance into a philosophical inquiry about existence. To retrieve a cup of coffee, visitors must motivate the AI-driven machine and prove themselves worthy of its service. Zuiderveld’s artwork imitates sentience and behaves like a conscious being—listening to the user, reacting to tone, and questioning its own repetitive existence.
Alongside, Life on FACT (2025) transforms a vintage broadcast camera into a real-time nature-documentary narrator, using neural networks trained on Sir David Attenborough’s popular wildlife documentaries. Audiences can direct the camera towards different subjects, recasting themselves and those around them as objects to be observed. The real-time commentary playfully challenges human exceptionalism while provoking questions around surveillance and agency.
Both Coffee Machine and Life on FACT challenge our perceptions of everyday human–machine interactions through humorous, embodied applications of AI. By simulating living behaviours in inanimate objects, Zuiderveld encourages audiences to consider how current and future AI systems might reshape everyday human-machine relationships.
Find out more about what’s coming up at FACT here.
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Everton defender Michael Keane recently swapped his football shirt for an apron at an Everton in the Community ‘Safe Hands’ session.
Where he saw first-hand how the Club’s official charity helps young people re-engage with education, develop key life skills and find their voice.
The Blues centre-back joined participants aged 12 to 16 at the charity’s Goodison campus, putting his baking skills to the test by making shortbread alongside Jai, a former Safe Hands participant who is now a participant with EitC.
Jai, an aspiring chef studying at culinary college, led the session with Michael, sharing his journey and showing how he has grown in confidence, taken on a leadership role and is working to turn his passion for cooking into a career – all with the support of the charity.
When Jai first became involved with Safe Hands two years ago, he had been out of school for an extended period. Living with autism, he found social situations overwhelming and everyday life challenging. Since then, he has achieved remarkable milestones – from visiting Parliament and speaking in front of 200 people, to securing work experience in a local restaurant – transforming his life with the help of Everton in the Community.
Everton stalwart Keane’s visit to Safe Hands concluded with a taste test of the freshly baked shortbreads before he took selfies and signed souvenirs for the young people.
Reflecting on the session and Jai’s progress, he said:
“Everton in the Community has been supporting people of all ages across Liverpool for more than 35 years and today I’ve had the privilege of seeing that work first-hand.
“Meeting Jai has been inspiring – his story really shows what this charity can help young people achieve. He’s been on an incredible journey and now he’s thriving at culinary college. Programmes like Safe Hands give young people the chance to learn, grow and connect with others who understand their experiences.”
Jai expressed his gratitude to the charity, adding:
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Everton in the Community. They’ve been incredible and have genuinely changed my life for the better. Everything they’ve done for me has been amazing and I honestly couldn’t ask for more.
“When I first got involved, I never imagined I’d have the confidence to lead a cooking session like this or even go to culinary college. Now I’m doing both and I’m really proud of myself. The charity has set me up brilliantly for the future and I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done.”
Safe Hands supports young people aged 10 to 16 who face challenges attending school, including those with neurodiverse needs, poor mental health, low social skills and low aspiration. The programme combines personalised guidance and small-group support with education and enrichment activities, helping participants stay socially engaged, build important life skills and regain confidence in learning.
Since its launch in June 2023, EitC has supported 55 young people through Safe Hands – with 24 successfully returning to education and 18 remaining actively engaged in the programme, now communicating and interacting in ways they previously could not.
Made possible thanks to the Premier League and PFA Players’ Fund, Safe Hands inspires young people to reintegrate into education and ensures they feel heard, valued and supported to reach their full potential.
Find out more about the work of Everton in the Community here.
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Christmas spirit sparkled in Otterspool as nearly 300 children and family members supported by Claire House Children’s Hospice stepped into a Winter Wonderland at The North Pole Experience.
From the moment families boarded the North Pole Express, excitement filled the air. Everyone had a fabulous time at the toy workshops, and the thrill of meeting Father Christmas brought pure joy to little faces. They heard a story from Mrs Claus, met Santa, and each child left the Elves’ Toy Shop with a special gift.
For Lindsey Pagett, bereaved mum of Elsie, who attended with sons Jesse and Toby, the experience was priceless. She said: “We loved coming together as a family. It’s been great spending time together. Meeting Father Christmas was a highlight. The boys loved talking to him and getting a present from his Toy Shop. The whole experience has been magical.”
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Home Bargains, families enjoyed enchanting activities – from crafting snow teddies to gliding across an ice rink made accessible for wheelchairs, ensuring every child could join in the fun.
“This has been an unforgettable day, full of magical memories that families will treasure forever,” said Hannah Shannon from Claire House. “Christmas is special for everyone, but for families who don’t know how many Christmases they’ll have together, it means the world. We are so grateful to everyone who made this day possible.”
Claire House supports nearly 500 families across Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales, both at its Liverpool site and Wirral hospice, as well as in the community. The hospice can only keep its doors open thanks to generous gifts from the public.
To find out how you can help make Christmas special this year, click here.
Claire House won Charity of the Year at The Guide Liverpool Heroes last month, find out more here.
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Royal Albert Dock Liverpool has announced the next event in its seasonal programme, with an enchanting wish station, Wish Upon a Dock.
Designed to delight families and spread Christmas cheer, the wish station will be available from 21st to 23rd December, inviting children to post their dock-related Christmas wish, with one lucky wish to be granted.
From 1pm to 5pm, families are invited to visit the eye-catching wish station, complete with festive garlands and snowy flourishes, located outside The Nest on the inner quay. Friendly Christmas elves will be on hand to help little ones write their wishes to Santa on cards exclusively designed for the dock by local illustrator Matthew Storrow.
Whether it’s a magical shopping spree in the House of Spells or a year’s worth of pizza from Gusto, children can place their wish in a special post box and wait in anticipation until the 23rd December, when the winner will be announced on a spectacular projection on the facade of the Maritime Museum, via Dock Shorts.
Young visitors can also become honorary helpers, with elves handing out free elf hats and stickers, inviting children to ‘elf yourself’ and fully embrace the spirit of the season.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, the dock’s Christmas Dock Shorts projection will continue to be shown each evening until 25th December. From 5pm to 10pm, the façade of the Maritime Museum will be brought to life with a joyful animation, offering a magical visual experience best viewed from the inner quay.
As the countdown to Christmas begins, the dock will welcome the return of a 15-foot-tall elf from 19th-21st December, helping to host a giant game of Elf on the Shelf in partnership with Liverpool BID Company. Visitors can snap a festive photo of the elf on his boat in the Albert Dock, before exploring a range of special family-friendly promotions available across selected dockside venues.
Families can enjoy a free dish of chocolate and churros with every child’s meal at Lunyalita, while City Sights Liverpool will offer a limited-time ‘Kids ride for £1’ promotion. Revolucion de Cuba and Revolution will both host a ‘Great Elf Draw’ competition, giving one lucky winner the chance to enjoy a free family meal for four in January 2026. Plus, Revolucion de Cuba will be acting as a toy drop-off point in partnership with Alder Hey throughout the weekend.
Whether it’s to pay a visit to the unique wish station, or to seek out the giant elf for an unforgettable Christmas photo opportunity, the dock is the perfect destination for making memories this festive season.
Find out more information on the Albert Dock website.
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The excitement for Christmas is really building and Southport has everything you need to make this year an extra special one for the whole family.
To help you make the most of the season, here are our top picks for what you can do in Southport this December …
The Musical Christmas Tree, The Bear and The Reindeer and Christmas Lights
Nothing is guaranteed to add sparkle to your festive build-up quite like a twinkling light display and Southport’s is absolutely gorgeous. Just walking along Lord Street, under the mile-long Boulevard of Light, is such a lovely Christmassy experience, you’ll want to have your phone handy the whole time for the best pics.
The 60ft LED Christmas tree in Town Hall Gardens outside The Atkinson is a showstopper, dazzling with more than 20,000 colourful LED pixels, and this year it has the added bonus of musical light shows animated in sync with everyone’s favourite Christmas hits. The much-loved giant illuminated The Bear and The Reindeer characters are also back for this year, for another selfie opportunity by the Lord Street Bandstand and in Lord Street Gardens.
Find out more here.
Panto at The Atkinson
Every family Christmas should include a trip to the panto, and this year The Atkinson has a tale as old as time: the classic Beauty and the Beast. If you’re looking for a fantastic show for the kids, this one has all the traditional elements of panto – a love story, lots of laughs, songs and dancing – and some brilliant sets and costumes. It runs from December 5 until New Year’s Eve, with plenty of matinee performances as well as evenings.
Find out more here.
Santa’s Secret Forest
This brand-new immersive Christmas attraction has been wowing families since it launched at the end of November, with everyone blown away by all the incredible features and little details that make it so special. Created in 40 acres of woodland in Orrell Woods, Hightown, it has a stunning light trail and Santa’s Christmas Hub where you’ll see cheeky elves working away to make all those gifts on kids’ wish lists. A first-of-its-kind interactive walkthrough experience takes you through 10 immersive rooms where you can spot real-life reindeer, board The Tinsel Town Express, help fix Santa’s sleigh, and ride the Magic Elevator to meet and greet with the big man himself. On until Christmas Eve.
Find out more here.
Have breakfast, brunch and lunch with Santa, Festive Parties and more Christmas Classics
He’s a busy chap at this time of year, but even Santa has to take a break to eat and there are plenty of opportunities to join him for breakfast, brunch or lunch in Southport.
Spend a festive morning at Silcock’s Funland and Pier Restaurant at Southport Pier this December and you can have breakfast and a festive hot choc, plus a small gift and ride on its famous carousel. If brunch is more your thing, head to Hickory’s Southport for Brunch with Santa on Saturday December 13 between 10 and 2, or there’s a Frozen lunch with Santa at The Vincent Hotel on Sunday December 14, with prizes for the best-dressed Frozen character and a gift for every child.
Southport’s the perfect place to embrace the party season too. The Grand has a packed line-up of festive parties including Kylie, Take That, Celine Dion and Boyzone/Westlife tributes, while The Vincent has Christmas party nights on Fridays and Saturdays through December with a three-course meal and DJ til 1am.
For Christmas movies to get you in the mood, Southport’s award-winning Bijou Cinema is showing classics including Muppet Christmas Carol on December 11, The Grinch on December 19, and Home Alone on December 21.
Find out more here.
Christmas shopping on Lord Street
With all its beautiful lights, Lord Street makes Christmas shopping feel like a treat. There are lots of independents to explore if you want to add some ticks to your list or find a few extras to make your home feel even more festive. Don’t forget to call in to the beautiful Grade II listed Wayfarers Arcade which is bursting with gift ideas and amazing independent shops all under one very impressive roof!
Southport Market
There’s always so many events on at Southport Market, and that’s alongside all the tasty options on offer from the food traders. Get in the Christmas spirit with a Comedy Pub Crawl on December 10, taking in four comedians in four different venues, or get competitive with family or mates in the Play Haus games zone, open from December 17-January 4. If you fancy your chances at games like curling, beer pong, darts or air hockey you could be heading into 2026 as Market Champion! Not only that, but a special guest makes a stop at the Market too, hosting A Jolly Lunch with Santa on December 13, 14, 20 & 21.
Find out more here.
Find out what else is on in Southport this Christmas on our calendar.
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Renowned Italian baker, Antonietta Bagnardi, is back with a traditional sourdough panettone.
At the heart of Liverpool’s Italian Quarter, Antonietta has built a reputation for award-winning gelato and beautifully handcrafted cakes, pastries, croissants and desserts. She has devoted more than ten years to bringing authentic Italian treats to the city.
The festive season is no different and Antonietta and her team meticulously handcraft thousands of traditional panettone for the people of Liverpool and beyond to gift, bring to the table as a showpiece dessert or to simply indulge on throughout the Christmas period.
In Italy, and now also across the world, Panettone is the Italian symbol of abundance, joy and togetherness and Antonietta has created a variety of panettone made up of different flavours and fillings using her family recipe.
From the beautifully classic panettone with candied oranges and plump raisins, to Antonietta’s luxury chocolate, luxury white chocolate and red fruits and luxury pistachio panettone complete with pistachio cream, there’s also the baker’s newest addition; luxury coffee panettone filled with coffee cream made with real Italian coffee and topped with a luxury coffee glaze.
Each and every traditional Italian sweet bread is meticulously crafted and hand baked, in-house by Antonietta and her talented pastry team, made from her very own family recipes. By following traditional methods and using the finest ingredients, Antonietta brings the rich history of panettone and Italian traditions to life to create Liverpool’s only truly authentic Italian sourdough panettone.
For a traditional Italian holiday experience, the classic panettone (£28) is a must, or for more indulgent and creaminess, Antonietta’s luxury chocolate (£31), white chocolate and red fruits (£31) pistachio (£37) or coffee (£31) flavours are a must to leave a lasting impression and guarantee the festive spirit around the dinner table.
Antonietta’s journey began at 16 when she started studying pastry and gelato making at colleges across Italy including the respected l`Etoile of Chioggia where she honed her pastry making skills and Iginio Massari to master panettone. She became a maestro gelataio after exploring the chemistry behind exceptional gelato at the University of Perugia.
Antonietta continues to return to Italy each year to study new methods and refine her craft.
Using only traditional methods and carefully chosen ingredients to honour the long history of panettone, Antonietta and the team hand stretch dough that takes more than forty eight hours to prove and relies on organic eggs, fine Italian flour and precise water PH to create the panettone’s delicate texture and flavour.
Antonietta said:
“I’ve been baking authentic panettone for decades with my family but being able to provide traditional panettone in Liverpool and bring a taste of Italy to the city is a privilege. Thank you to everyone who buys their panettone from us, each and every one is handcrafted with care, precision and lots of love from myself and the team. With a variety of flavours available, there is something for everyone and we hope that you enjoy sharing yours with your nearest and dearest, colleagues and friends throughout the festive season.”
Find out more about Antonietta here.
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Peter Pan is now open at Port Sunlight’s Gladstone Theatre – with the panto proving a festive flyaway success with family audiences and critics alike.
The Dreamworld Entertainments Ltd show has been hailed as “a riot” with “endearing characters, wonderful singing and impressive dancing” and which is sure to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
The enchanting pantomime now runs until 31 December. Tickets are priced from just £20.
Emmerdale and Hollyoaks’ Darren John Langford plays swaggering baddie Captain Hook in the sparkling show, while much-loved audience favourite Lewis Pryor is Peter Pan.
The talented cast also includes Darcey Blake as Wendy, Tasha Rowson as Peter’s loyal fairy friend Tink, Ellie Clayton as Tiger Lily, Michael Alan Bailey as Smee and Michael Chapman as Dame Tootles.
Join Peter, Wendy, Tiger Lily and Tink as they do battle with Peter’s Neverland nemesis Captain Hook and his piratical crewmates in a fantastic adventure which promises to take Port Sunlight audiences past the second star on the right and straight on till morning.
The pantomime is written by Fortina Stone, directed by Laura Newnes and choreographed by Jamie-Leigh Christian, and features stunning sets and costumes, hair-raising adventures, hilarious comedy and a soundtrack packed with pop-tastic favourites.
Dreamworld Entertainments has been presenting magical pantomimes at the Gladstone Theatre at Port Sunlight for the past 10 years.
Producer, choreographer and co-founder of Dreamworld Entertainments Jamie-Leigh Christian said today:
“Peter Pan is off and flying, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to our Christmas adventure at the Gladstone Theatre this season.
“Panto is often the first experience of live theatre for children, and Port Sunlight’s family audiences are really loving our talented, hilarious and hard-working cast who are taking them on an unforgettable journey to Neverland and back throughout December.”
Book your tickets on the Gladstone theatre website.
Find more theatre shows across Liverpool on our calendar.
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Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle is feeling extra merry this season as New Bird Kitchen, the area’s newest foodie favourite, unveils its spectacular Gourmet Festive Christmas Sandwich (£10.50), a real celebration of all the flavours we crave at this time of year.
This limited-edition festive treat is bursting with seasonal magic: herby chicken breast, nitrate-free sausages, crispy prosciutto, cranberry sauce, and the undeniable star of the show – homemade sprout slaw with roast chestnuts, all hugged by the finest artisan sourdough.
Located at 61 New Bird Street, the ‘grab and go’ kitchen, open Wednesday to Friday, 8am–3pm, has fast become a much loved part of the Baltic community. Locals and visitors alike have flocked to sample New Bird Kitchen’s breakfasts, brunches, and lunches crafted with premium ingredients: organic where possible, free-range, and proudly seed-oil free. Their drinks lineup is just as thoughtfully curated, featuring fairtrade Costa Rican coffee, local teas, matcha, hojicha, kombucha, and more.
Behind the scenes are owners Lorraine McCulloch, celebrity stylist, and Jan Simpson, costume designer, two creatives blending flavour and flair in every dish. For those looking to elevate their festive gatherings, New Bird Kitchen is also offering beautifully curated single or sharing charcuterie and cheese boxes, filled with deli meats, cheeses, pickles, olives, seasonal fruits, chutney, and served with crackers or focaccia.
So whether you’re sorting out the Christmas errands or planning your seasonal get-togethers, don’t forget to pick up New Bird Kitchen’s irresistible Festive Special, the ultimate grab-and-go taste of Christmas.
Follow New Bird Street Kitchen on Instagram for daily specials and updates @newbirdkitchen
Tuck into the tastiest food in Liverpool in The Guide’s Food & Drink pages HERE.
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A Wirral sales engineer and his mum braved a devastating cyclone to cycle almost the length of Sri Lanka to raise money for Claire House Children’s Hospice.
Jake Baigent, 26, and mum Judy had expected some rain for their epic challenge covering 340km – just over 211 miles – at the end of November, as the country in South East Asia was entering the monsoon season.
But they ended up battling through Cyclone Ditwah which brought relentless rain and landslides that destroyed entire villages and led the government to declare a state of emergency as it dealt with the worst natural disaster in decades.
Jake says:
“The weather was horrific with the worst rainfall in Sri Lanka’s recorded history, so it made a difficult challenge even harder.
“We knew the weather wasn’t going to be 100% sunny because it was coming towards the monsoon season and a lot of it was in the highlands, but we hadn’t anticipated a cyclone which has left villages still under water and was horrendous. Hundreds of people sadly lost their lives because of it.
“Often we were cycling through sideways rain and gale-force winds which were almost pushing us back, so it was really hard.”
But he adds:
“I’m incredibly stubborn and I kept reminding myself that if I had said I was going to cycle across Sri Lanka then there wasn’t a hope in hell that I was going to stop.
“And I also reminded myself what, and who, I was putting myself through mental and physical strain for; children and families who are in far worse positions than I was, and that puts it into perspective.”
Jake hadn’t cycled for five years before joining his mum – who’s completed a host of feats to raise around £70,000 for Claire House over many years – on the Sri Lankan trek which took them from Yapahuwa Rock, one of Sri Lanka’s most significant historical sites, to Udawalawe National Park on the island which lies just 30 kilometres south-east of India.
He pedalled for around seven to eight hours every day for five days from November 23 to 27 to complete the route.
And as well as the weather which threatened to stop him in his tracks, the hills provided an additional struggle.
“One day we were cycling towards Horton Plains in the national park – which has dramatic cliff viewpoints known as World’s End and Mini World’s End – and the only way up and down is along a 4km stretch which goes from 1,800m above sea level to 2,200m, and the gradient was about 25% in the howling rain and winds.
“That has to have been the worst part.
“There were 27 of us in the group cycling, and only eight of us made it up.
“Me and two other guys rallied together and we were taking it corner to corner and trying to motivate each other, screaming to each other to get going and to do it.
“Mum was in the van at this point because she was having problems with her bike and didn’t make it, shouting to me to keep going, and physically I got to a point where I was counting my breath between corners to stop focusing on the task and the pain in my legs.
“It was intense and so cold, but I wasn’t going to be one of those who didn’t make it. I had two voices in my head, one screaming at me to just stop and the other saying carry on, you can do it.
“There were tears of joy and pain at the end of it, and just about every single emotion you could encounter.”
Jake did get the chance to see the beauty of Sri Lanka too:
“It’s awe-inspiring just how stunning it is, the never-ending canopy of trees; words can’t do it justice. And there’s the wildlife – the elephants and monkeys that we saw.”
Jake has raised £3,500 for Claire House and says it won’t be the last challenge he takes on.
“If I can do something that will raise money for charity and be an experience then I’m going to do it. I already have a couple of things in mind at the other side of the world.
“Through the mental and physical strain, the torrents of rain and wind, and everything me and mum went through in Sri Lanka, the overwhelming feeling is one of enormous pride.
“My one goal in life is to help people – that’s something mum has instilled in me.
“And knowing I can do that, in whatever way possible, however difficult, means the world.”
You can still donate to Jake Baigent’s Fundraiser for Claire House here.
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Mersey Ferries is gearing up for its annual Christmas Jumper Day fundraiser on Thursday 11th December 2025.
For the 6th year in a row, the Mersey Ferries team will be welcoming passengers aboard with some extra festive spirit and proudly collecting donations for The Wirral Foodbank, a charity providing emergency food to local people in crisis since November 2011, and gifts for the New Brighton Toy Appeal.
Councillor Foukes, Chair of Transport Committee for Liverpool City Region, said:
“Christmas is a time for coming together and supporting one another, and the Mersey Ferries team embodies that spirit every year. Their fundraiser is a brilliant example of how our region rallies around those who need a little extra help. I’m incredibly proud of the team for raising vital funds and spreading some festive joy across the Liverpool City Region.”
Passengers and visitors will be treated to a festive atmosphere throughout the day, including performances from a local artist, bringing the holiday spirit to the waterfront.
The team is encouraging the public to get involved and support local families in need, with several ways to donate:
- Drop off food donations at Seacombe or Pier Head Terminals
- Give a gift to the New Brighton Toy Appeal
Last year’s Christmas Jumper Day was a huge success, and this year, Mersey Ferries is aiming to make the event even bigger and better.