Hinterland - Manchester
Winter is the most wonderful time of the year: before eating too much at Christmas and drinking too much on New Year's Eve, there are dozens of pretty pop-ups to visit. Every year, sections of cities up and down the UK transform into magical winter wonderlands boasting everything from ice rinks to igloos, perfect for evenings of mulled wine and fondue feasts.
Hinterland is popping up just outside Old Trafford in Manchester, transforming the area with snow, tipis and a hot tub. There's an arctic dining experience in the tipis, where you'll be served a two-course Christmas dinner with drinks, or you can head to the Northern Lights bar, with live bands, DJs and a light show inspired by the aurora borealis.
designmynight.com/manchester/blog/this-christmas-forest-wonderland-is-coming-to-manchester-with-tipis-live-music-and-a-hot-tub
The White Forest at Madison - London
Bringing the festive spirit to the city this year is Madison at St Paul's, London, which has been transformed into a winter haven. Guests can sip on seasonal cocktails and tuck into delicious sharing boards under a canopy of twinkling lights, whilst keeping warm with cosy blankets. The menu, in partnership with CÎROC Vodka, boasts some great sharing cocktails, including CÎROC Blushing Cider, CÎROC Wings of Wisdom and CÎROC Chocolate and Vanilla, as well as a homemade hot Buttered Rum with apple and vanilla.
madisonlondon.net
Jimmy's Winter Lodge: Fondue Club - London
London's gone fondue mad. That's not a problem, of course, as not only does dipping potatoes, bread and charcuterie into melted cheese sound like the best thing ever, we can do it in adorable little hideaways like Jimmy's Winter Lodge. Sitting on the bustling Southbank, this two-storey alpine lodge is the definition of festive cute - especially when you reserve a space upstairs for their communal, three-course dining experience with all the mulled wine and fondue you can fit in your belly.
designmynight.com/london/whats-on/food-drink/jimmys-winter-lodge
South Pole Saloon - London
Even outlaws celebrate Christmas, and just in case you didn't know - they do it at South Pole Saloon. This Brixton rooftop pop-up offers a darker spin on your traditional cutesy Christmas, with their Old West-inspired lodge coming packed with three bars, an amazing sound-system and tongue-in-cheek cocktails. But you don't have to just stop by for a drink; there's going to be live music, special events and twisted entertainment.
designmynight.com/london/event-space/brixton/south-pole-saloon
Winter Night Garden - London
There's a magical Winter Night Garden in London, but you'll have to find the Narnia-like entrance first. You mightn't find any lions in the world behind the wardrobe, but you will find a secret tunnel of trees that leads into a beautiful, enchanted woodland. It's here where you'll discover one of the coolest pop-up cinemas in London. Appearing at Winterville in Clapham, Backyard Cinema are showing all the classic Christmas films and childhood favourites with a backdrop torn from a fairy tale.
backyardcinema.co.uk/winter-night-garden
Digbeth Après Ski Lodge - Birmingham
Love partying on a ski trip, but think the whole exercise thing is a bit much? Birmingham's oldest pub has the solution. Opening with the city's seasonal markets, their beer garden will be transformed into a fun après ski lodge for three weekends in December, complete with pine trees, falling snow, fairy lights and all the mulled wine, hot spiced cider and cocktails you can handle. Hungry? Not only will the Bourneville Waffle Company be doing what they do best, there's fondue too!
designmynight.com/birmingham/pubs/digbeth/the-old-crown/digbeth-aprs-ski
Winterland - London
The guys behind beach paradise Neverland have created an enchanted riverside pop-up for winter 2018. This cosy, heated complex doesn't just bring great views to the table, there's lounges with fur-lined sofas, igloos to retreat into, mulled wine at the bars, and two kinds of fondue to dribble over. Perfect for date night, you can also play games like curling, mini-golf…or prosecco pong.
designmynight.com/london/whats-on/date-night/winterland
Winter Forest at Exchange Square - London
A snow-covered forest has popped up in central London, right by Liverpool Street station at Exchange Square. Guests are invited to relax in the Nordic-inspired wintry haven, sip on mulled wine and Baileys hot chocolate and indulge in festive turkey rolls and Yorkshire pudding wraps. The main tipi is dedicated to food and wine, with a roving band providing entertainment, while a second tipi has a cinema that'll get you in the Christmas mood for sure. Professor Green, Nicola Roberts and Heather Watson attended the launch earlier this week, showing their support for Centrepoint charity, which hopes to tackle homelessness this Christmas.
thewinterforest.broadgate.co.uk
Skylight - London
Is there anything more festive than ice-skating on a rooftop while looking over London? There's certainly nothing more romantic, so make sure you grab your partner and take them to Skylight at Tobacco Dock, where not only can you enjoy ice-skating, but mulled wine and street food in their heated outdoor and indoor spaces, as well as - you guessed it - fondue!
skylightlondon.com
© Photo: RexHome Alone Christmas Bar - Liverpool
Get ready film buffs, your childhood movie dreams are about to come true. A Home Alone-themed bar is coming to Liverpool. Expect to find living rooms filled with over-the-top Christmas decorations, festive cocktails and Sinatra remixes blasting from the speakers. Just make sure you don't trip any of the traps meant for the Wet Bandits; no one needs an iron in the face for Christmas Day.
designmynight.com/liverpool/blog/theres-a-home-alone-themed-bar-coming-to-liverpool-this-christmas
The Club House - Liverpool
As winter rolls around, the glamorous Club House in Liverpool opens up their cosy Lodge for a whole host of festive activities. Sip seasonal cocktails, feast on delicious food, and try your hand at wreath making at one of their intimate masterclasses. Or you can get the gang together and play a game or two of Scandinavia's favourite pub game, Shuffleboard, before getting the last of your Christmas shopping done.
designmynight.com/liverpool/blog/the-club-house-is-a-fancy-winter-lodge-retreat-in-the-middle-of-the-city
The Imaginarium - London
The Imaginarium is a six-week festival set in the heart of Borough Market, and it's set to be a factory of ideas, feasts and fun. Get stuck into immersive theatrical feast ChristMESS where you'll be dancing on tables by the end of the night, indulge in live jazz and blues sets, or engage your brain with a series of talks and workshops. We recommend checking out the wreath making workshop and the life drawing classes for something a little bit different.
imaginarium.designmynight.com
For more info on pop-ups in London and across the UK, visit DesignMyNight.
