Travel review: Liverpool at Christmas

The train makes for a lovely change, with views of fields and valleys along the Welsh border. A bit different to the three lanes of brake lights on the M6.

In a couple of hours, and one change at Chester we arrive at our room for the night, the Liverpool Marriott Hotel, situated just over the road from Liverpool Lime Street station.

We checked in, and very helpful staff were able to get us into our room early, and also informed us of local attractions and things going on in the city that weekend. The Marriott is well located, not just for the ease of the train station, but everything was only a short walk too.

The backdrop of reception not only looks great but is a good place to start for ideas of things to do in the city; in the form of stylish wall art, cartoon doodle style, it’s a black marker pen map of the city. Check out the artist, his name is Dave Draws and has done all sorts of cities in the same style – inculding Brum.

We dropped off our bags, freshened up and headed straight out to get in the festive spirit.

First up was the Ice Festival at Pier Head. We were booked in for a session of ice skating on the outdoor – but covered – rink. However, there were plenty of other things going on there including the Ice Slide, festive fairground rides and games, and food stalls across the waterfront. There is also the Après Bar if you require some Dutch courage before you ice skate – or to calm your nerves after braving the ice slide.

You’ll be glad to know I survived the ice skating, no blood or bruises, or broken bones. This doesn’t mean I was dancing around like Christopher Dean, more like Todd Carty in Dancing on Ice, but at least I didn’t fall over.

If you’re feeling the chill after all this ice, get some sunshine back in the way of Wahaca for lunch. For those who haven’t heard of the chain, it’s a market eating- inspired Mexican restaurant, offering tapas-style street food or bigger plates.

As soon as we were out of the chill and through the doors, we were warmed up with the smells and sounds of Mexico; brightly coloured walls and South American beats. It was easy to forget it was was a cold November day outside – until we were presented with the Christmas Specials: turkey, or beef shin, tacos, and mince pie empanada.

Our waiter talked us through the menu, and we ordered five or six small plates to share, trying a bit of everything. All delicious, but the highlights were the beef shin tacos, the buttermilk chicken tacos, and the roasted chilli quesadillas. Yum!

Onwards to get some things ticked off the Christmas shopping list, we headed to Liverpool ONE, which offers high street favourites​ and flagship stores such as John Lewis​, COS, ARKET​ ​and five floors of Primark​.

I didn’t see the big man himself, but ​I​‘m told you can book in to see Santa and if you’ve been good he might read you a story at his Story Time Sessions at the Town Hall.

We returned to our hotel to rest our feet and get our glad rags on before heading out for the our evening meal. We had a table booked at Piccolino, a popular Italian chain.

First impressions are great, good Christmassy vibe, people enjoying a drink or two in the bar area and further back into the restaurant diners tucked away in a relaxed atmosphere.

Staff were knowledgeable and ​they ​talked us through the menu, giving us wine recommendations and offering olives while we browsed.

We decided to surf and turf up our starters, choosing to share the scollops and beef carpaccio. We’d chose​n​ well, the scallops ​were ​cooked to perfection and the beef carpaccio, sliced super thin and seared on the outside was just melt in the mouth.

For our main courses​,​ Emma went for the creamy chicken and mushrooms with​ gnocchi, while I chose the sea bass with a side dish of roast potatoes​. It was superb.

The staff were very attentive, alway​s​ topping up a very well-matched bottle of wine.

And afterwards, we couldn’t resist the sweet menu, going for the chocolate fondant and the tiramisu.

All in all, it was a lovely evening, the perfect choice to round off a great day in the city.

After a comfortable night’s sleep, we had breakfast in our hotel. There was a hot buffet with a chef on hand to cook up your eggs, including adding a little spice in the form of ​​a chilli omelette to wake you up.

Out to the Christmas market next, which is just across the road from the hotel, opposite the train station​, featuring the stand-out windmill bar. A traditional German​-​​style market, there were also a few twists such as offerings of Chinese food and Mediterranean, tapas. Other stalls included Chilli Jam Man and The Great British Cheese Company. With Christmas music and mullled wine flowing, it was easy to get into the festive mood.

We then went back to Liverpool ONE, to visit a few shops we didn’t have chance to the day before.

It was also the location of a ​‘carol-oke’ at Bar​ Hutte​, ​ underneath ​Liverpool ONE’s love heart Christmas tree​.​

With the pasta we didn’t have chance to order the night before still on our minds, and with just enough time to eat before our train, we decided to continue the Italian theme at Gino D’Acampo’s restaurant, a short walk away.

We arrived to friendly staff who took our coats and shopping from us. It offers an open kitchen, with industrial features in the decor. There are stylish metal gurders, ​but ​also a touch of elegance with a marble tiled floor and leather chairs.

We had a knowledgeable and passionate Italian waiter, not too dissimilar to Gino himself, who was helpful with recommendations of food and wines.

To start we chose bread and oils to share which was delicious. Then for mains I opted for the ‘special special’, a four-cheese cannelloni. Meanwhile, Emma had the prawn linguine which was so good she’s vowing to return for another time. It was a superb lunch, but too full for a des​s​ert, we finished our meal with a shot Limoncello – we’re pretty sure it’s what Gino would have wanted.

So a very enjoyable weekend in Liverpool. Great food, festive cheer and a step closer to finishing the Christmas shopping. And I di​​dn’t mention the Beatles once . . . Oh, I just did. Damn​!​