Manchester
Visitors who haven’t been to Manchester for a while may no longer recognise the city. In the last decade huge construction projects have transformed the landscape of the world’s first industrial city. Developments include museums, such as the Imperial War Museum North and Urbis, and cultural centres like the Lowry and Bridgewater Hall. Other major projects include the City of Manchester Stadium, built to host the 2002 Commonwealth games, and now the permanent home of Manchester City Football Club.
In the late 1980s and for a large part of the 1990s the city dominated the UK’s music and cultural scene. Bands like the Happy Mondays, Stone Roses and 808 State and nightclubs such as the Hacienda flew the flag for ‘Madchester’. The impact of this scene on this city was tremendous. The University of Manchester became the most popular in the country, and city centre living boomed as old mills were transformed into modern apartments. New hotels, bars, nightclubs and restaurants have mushroomed everywhere, transforming the city into arguably the most vibrant in Britain.
The Tourist Information Centre is a great place to start your visit to the city and obtain general Manchester tourist info, and stock up on guides, leaflets etc.
Latest News
Apr 28, Manchester Pride tickets go on sale this week
Tickets for Manchester Pride, the city’s annual gay festival and parade, go on sale Thursday May 1. The Big Weekend, the highlight of the festival runs from August 22 to 25, at the Gay Village. Tickets are available from See.
Apr 24, Enjoy England Awards 2008
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence were held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool last night, the first time they taken place outside London. Winners from the North West were:
Gold Awards:
Tourism Website of the Year – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Tourism Information Centre of the Year – Liverpool 08 Place
Silver Awards:
Large Hotel of the Year – Radisson Edwardian Manchester
Meet England Business Tourism Award – Manchester Central
Caravan Holiday Park of the Year – Sunset Park, near Blackpool
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Tullie House Museum, Carlisle
Apr 18, Does Manchester have good restaurants?
A discussion on the state of the Manchester restaurant scene will be held at the Circle Club next week. Organised by the Circuit Series the debate will feature a panel of esteemed connoisseurs including Ray King, food and drink writer for Cheshire, Lancashire and Lake District Life magazines, and David Heeley, founder of the Hi-Life Diners Club.
The debate takes place at the Circle Club in the Barton Arcade in Manchester at 6.30 pm on Tuesday April 22 2008. Admission is free for Rejuvenate and Circle Club members, and £5 for non-members. Dinner is available at £10 per head. To book email rsvp@thecircuitseries.com.
Apr 16, Vote for your favourite North West picnic spot
North West picnic lovers can vote for their favourite picnic spot in a competition being organised by Bolton-based bakers Warburtons. Ten sites in the region have been nominated:
Stanley Park – Blackpool
Lyme Park – Disley, Cheshire
Heaton Park – Manchester
Formby Beach – Merseyside
Beeston Castle – Tarporley, Cheshire
Barley Picnic Site – Pendle Hill, Ribble Valley
Jumbles Reservoir – Bradshaw Valley, Bolton
Beacon Fell – Goosnargh, near Preston
Fell Foot Park – Windermere, Lake District
Crook o’ Lune – Lune Valley, Lancaster
Votes can be registered at www.welovebread.co.uk until May 16 2008. All voters are entered into a draw to win a picnic in Central Park, New York.
The winner will be announced at the start of June and will go compete against the other regional winners for the title of ‘Warburtons Best Picnic Spot 2008’.
Apr 14, Afflecks Palace saved
Manchester’s alternative shopping emporium Affleck’s Palace has been saved from closure. Many feared that the popular Northern Quarter haunt would close after founder Elaine Walsh’s 25-year lease expired last year.
Owners Bruntwood have taken over management and have vowed to keep it open without significantly changing its off-beat focus. It was re-launched on Saturday as ‘Afflecks’.
Apr 13, Northern Hospitality Awards 2008
The Lowry Hotel hosted the Northern Hospitality Awards 2008 last week. The winners included:
Best Restaurant - The London Carriage Works, Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool
Best Hotel – The Lowry, Manchester
Best Bar – Barlounge, Chester
Best Chef – Lisa Allen, Northcote Manor, Ribble Valley
Best Wine Offering, Northcote Manor, Ribble Valley
Mar 26, New extension opens at the Trafford Centre
Barton Square at the Trafford Centre is now open. The £90 million extension is linked to the main shopping centre by a glazed bridge and features major furniture and domestic goods stores. Those already open include Habitat, Bhs, Next Home, and Dwell. There will be further stores opening in the next few months such as Marks & Spencer Home, Home Sense, and Natuzzi.
