10 reasons why we love Manchester
Photo: Rachel Docherty
Manchester is unique. If you live, work, or go to university there, or just went to a party in Manchester, we’re sure you know what we’re talking about. There is so much to love about this city…
Manchester was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and the cooperative movement, and it is where the first programmable computer was invented. Vegetarianism also emerged there. It is home to Oasis, Elbow, The Smiths, The Hacienda and the Warehouse Project. It’s a city full of talent, and a place where anyone with an idea can change the world. Fresh, cosmopolitan…
Here are ten reasons why we love Manchester.
1. Industry
Duckworth’s Essence Factory, Old Trafford. Photo: tarboat
Manchester was the centre of the Industrial Revolution. Richard Arkwright built the first cotton mill there and other factories shortly after. The city was transformed into a Victorian town under the pseudonym Cottonopolis. The worker bee became the symbol of this industrial hive: trade, science, and technology put Manchester on the world map.
www.grimshaworigin.org/ManchesterIndustrialCity
2. Music
Oasis
From Bee Gees to Oasis, from The Smiths to Take That, from New Order to Elbow, The Stone Roses and Madchester. If you like their music, you’ll like this city. These groups, on various tours, have performed in places like Night & Day, Gorilla, The Deaf Institute, The Ritz, The Albert Hall, The Academy and Apollo.
wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_artists_and_bands_from_Manchester
3. Architecture
John Rylands Library. Photo: Steve Cottrell
Our advice for anyone visiting Manchester is tokeep your eyes wide open so you don’t miss the architectural delights that were left as a legacy by Victorians. The John Rylands Library, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Museum, Chethams and St Ann’s Square are unmissable places (there are excellent walking tours of the city). You can also go underground and explore the tunnels, where you can hear the trams rumbling above your head.
www.visitmanchester.com/architecture
4. Northern Quarter
Manchester Northern Quarter. Photo: Stacey MacNaught
Twenty years ago the Northern Quarter was full of wholesalers, jewelry stores and pet shops. Now, it’s an independent area full of cafes, bars, shops and restaurants. The old buildings have been put to good use, and the streets are used as places to shoot films or do fashion shoots and parties. You’ll find the best burger in town here, at Solita. Soup Kitchen combines homely food, concerts and club nights, while the Northern Quarter Restaurant is one of the best in town.
5. Bars
Victoria Warehouse
The Northern Quarter has become the cornerstone of the city’s night scene, catering to all tastes. 57 Thomas Street is a must for anyone who wants a locally brewed beer. Twenty Twenty Two combines beer with ping pong. Cask, on Liverpool Road, has a varied assortment of beers, while Cloud 23, in the Beetham Tower, offers spectacular views and drinks in a sumptuous environment. Elixir offers sweets and tonics at an Ibizan pace. One of our favorite places is Corbieres: the uninitiated will need help to find it, but it’s worth the search and has the best jukebox in town.
www.designmynight.com/industrial-bars-in-manchester
6. Nightlife
Suede Night Club
Once you’ve warmed up with a few drinks, it’s time to dance. South, with resident DJ Clint Boon from Inspiral Carpets, offers up a healthy dose of indie music, while Kraak is home to a more eclectic underground sound. Jazz lovers can head to Matt & Phreds, while The Venue and 42’s are especially for students in Manchester.
www.manchesterbars.com/top10-clubs
7. Football
There are two world famous teams in Manchester. The red team and blue team bring tens of thousands fans to the city every weekend. The National Football Museum has a new home in the Urbis building, in Cathedral Gardens, which attracts many visitors and has free entry.
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com
8. Markets
Photo: Donald Judge
Manchester has markets in Albert Square, Piccadilly Gardens, Exchange Square and St Ann’s Square all year, and they expand during the Christmas period. The Manchester Food and Drink Festival in September is always a great event. Castlefield Market is an alternative crafts market in Upper Campfield (Deansgate / Liverpool Road). It is indoors, so there are no problems on rainy days .
9. Creativity and history
Manchester is home to the world’s oldest passenger train station, but the city also welcomes innovative eventslike Food Fight Friday, which reveal the creativity of Manchester’s residents.
Other creative ideas include the oldest free public reference library in Chethams, which opened in 1653, and the computer whose first program was known as “The Baby” (built at the University of Manchester in 1948).
Speaking of creativity, Vimto was created in Chapel Street, Salford, in 1908 and was originally called Vim Tonic. The demand for this soft drink was very high, so it was sold at 49 Granby Row. The city also had one of the first telephone centres in the UK. It opened in Faulkner Street in 1879, using the Bell patent system.
wikipedia.org/History_of_Manchester
10. Cakes
Manchester has an endless supply of cakes. There is such a variety that is practically impossible to live there without ever trying any.