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Manchester
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Manchester is known by some for its influence on the histories of industry and music, and for its sporting connections. It has the largest number of students in Britain outside London.
[edit] Districts [edit] CityCentral:
 Suburbs:
[edit] Cities within the Greater Manchester Conurbation
[edit] Understand[edit] City informationManchester is located in the Northwest region of England, about equidistant between Liverpool and Leeds. Due to its proximity to the Pennines, which force the prevailing Atlantic Westerly clouds to rise, it receives more than its fair share of wet weather. Manchester once had a negative reputation derived from its industrial past. Things have dramatically changed in the last decade and now the city has a vibrant exciting air. Investment in the city's regeneration following the 1996 IRA bomb and 2002 Commonwealth Games have paid off. Manchester is well worth a visit, even if just for a couple of days, or for longer, if you plan to use it as a base to explore northern England and North Wales.It is becoming more and more a city where people are choosing to settle.It is seen by many as young ,vibrant and cutting edge.Over the years, many have moved to Manchester from London for example.These people are by no means all returning to their northern roots.Some are from overseas ,who stopped off down south on their way to a better quality of life! Many have come in search of a more affordable urban existence! Manchester IS a friendly city too. It is not a myth! Northerners do talk to each other and to strangers.Just compare asking for directions in London and Manchester and the difference is often clear! The adjective associated with Manchester is Mancunian or simply Manc. The distinctive linguistic accent of the city's indigenous inhabitants is much more closely related to that of Liverpool with its strong north-Waleian roots than it is to the Lancastrian or Cestrian of the neighbouring cotton towns.
[edit] HistoryManchester was the site of the Roman Fort Mamucium (breast-shaped) in AD 79 but a town was not built until the 13th Century. A priests' college and church (now Chetham's School and Library and the Cathedral) were established in Manchester in 1421. Early evidence of its tendency towards political radicalism was its support for Parliament during the Civil War and in 1745 for the Jacobite forces of the Young Pretender. It was not until the start of the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th Centuries that this small Medieval town would build its fortune. The presence of an existing cloth trade, coupled with the mechanization of spinning in nearby Bolton, created a thriving cotton industry in Manchester. Though the high and frequent rainfall may lower the spirits of today's inhabitants, the availability of copious supplies of clean, soft, water was of great utility to the various cotton processes particularly in the bleaching, printing, and dyeing of cotton cloth. Water power rapidly gave way here to steam invented by Boulton and Watt in Birmingham and a steam-driven factory was built in the Ancoats Northern Quarter section of the city. By the end of the 19th Century, Manchester was one of the 10 biggest urban centres on earth (even before counting the wider population, within 50 miles of the Northern England region, such as Liverpool, Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds, and Central Lancashire). Whitworth, inventor of the eponymous mass-cut screw thread, also manufactured his equally revolutionary rifled guns in huge quantities at his factory on Sackville Street. And after their initial meeting at the Midland Hotel, still one of the city's most luxurious, Rolls and Royce began manufacture of their luxury motor cars in Hulme. Trafford Park, in Trafford, was to become the first industrial estate in the world, housing the Ford Motor Company and much of the pre-wartime aircraft industry, notably the 'Lancaster' Bombers of the AVRO Co. Manchester's success during the Victorian era and before is evident everywhere you look. Great Ancoats street was a source of wonder to Schinkel the neo-classical architect of Berlin. Equally grandiose neo-Gothic buildings line the old Financial District around King Street, and public institutions such as the University and the many libraries are dotted around everywhere. There is even a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln Square (Brazennose Street, straight across Albert Square from the Town Hall main entrance) commemorating his personal thanks for Manchester's support during a cotton famine created by Britain's refusal to run the Federal blockade of the slave-owning Confederacy during the American Civil War. Continuing its radical political tradition, Manchester was the home of opposition to the Corn Laws and espoused Free Trade, as well as Chartism and the Great Reform Act. It was instrumental in the establishment of socialism in the UK. Both Engels and Marx frequented the city, where the former conducted his famous inquiry into the condition of the working class; the latter seeking to draw universal rules from the particular circumstances of the early industrial evolution with disastrous consequences for the history of the 20th century. Cleaving to a more gently pragmatic English tradition it was the birthplace of the Trades Union Congress which led to the creation of the Labour Party. It was also home to a number of philanthropists of the industrial age, such as John Owens and John Dalton, who bequeathed large parts of their fortunes to improving the city. In more recent times, Manchester has been famous for its influence on the UK music scene. The Madchester movement of the early 1980s, started by Factory Records and Joy Division, led to the creation of the Haçienda nightclub (now unfortunately demolished after standing empty for many years) and the birth of modern club culture. Manchester has given life to many hugely successful musicians, among them The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Joy Division/New Order, The Happy Mondays, Oasis, James, and Badly Drawn Boy. At 11:20AM on Saturday 15th June 1996, Manchester's city centre was rocked by a huge IRA bomb blast. Although preliminary intelligence managed to clear people from the scene enough for there to be no fatalities, the very heart of the city was ripped to shreds. A huge amount of money and effort was put into regenerating the blasted region of the centre, redubbed the Millennium Quarter. The area has renewed interest in the centre and contains the entertainment and shopping heart of the city. [edit] Student lifeManchester is home to two of the largest universities in the UK, The University of Manchester (formerly Owens College and subsequently the Victoria University and its Institute of Science and Technology UMIST) [3] and Manchester Metropolitan University (aka 'Man Met', formerly the Polytechnic, itself a conglomeration of municipal colleges), as well as the Royal Northern College of Music. There is a university in Salford within one mile of the city centre which is renowned as a European Centre of excellence in Media. Together they create a body of over 86,000 students living full-time in the city. Manchester is often compared with Sheffield when competing for 'best student city' titles. It is very welcoming to the student lifestyle and many establishments in the centre and South Manchester are geared towards students; eating and drinking in Manchester can be very inexpensive due to the high competition that goes on between these establishments. However, if you don't like hanging around students, there are many places that are not frequented by students, although you may have to be prepared to pay a little extra. Also, some places have a strictly 21-and-over only policy, so take identification with you. Although, the number of bars or clubs that are for 21-and-over is relatively low. When visiting the student areas of Fallowfield and Withington, some venues operate a student only policy, so production of a student card (or something resembling a student card) is necessary. [edit] SportingManchester is famous all over Europe thanks to its football clubs, including Manchester United (Old Trafford) and Manchester City (City of Manchester Stadium, Sportcity). Old Trafford is also home to the Lancashire County Cricket Club. In 2002, Manchester was the host to the Commonwealth Games and a large area of East Manchester was converted into a new Sportcity, the centre-piece of which is the new athletics and football stadium. [edit] CosmopolitanManchester is a very mixed city. Many races and religions have communities in the city and it has a long history of being more tolerant than most cities to people of any background. Bear in mind, however, that it's not very used to tourists, so you might get the occasional funny look if you're dressed in a backpack and trying to read this guide in a loud voice! Manchester is also very gay-friendly and liberal minded. The Village is an area concentrated around Canal Street and is very popular with people of all sexualities. It is also home to an annual Pride festival and Mardi Gras. Most Mancunians have grown up with a tolerant attitude towards sexuality. [edit] ClimateManchester has a temperate maritime climate and rarely gets too warm or too cold. It is the UK's 9th wettest city (900mm per year) and has developed a reputation for poor weather. Although, it is not significantly far behind London in terms of the average number of hours sunlight per day (within nine minutes per day, based on the last 100 years data from Met office) it does have considerably more days with rain. However, as a result of relatively mild winter conditions, there is never a period where one should avoid visiting due to extreme weather conditions. [edit] Get in[edit] By planeManchester International Airport (Template:IATA) (Template:ICAO). [4] in the South of the city is the largest airport in the UK outside of London and is in the largest 50 airports in the world. Nearly 100 operators fly to and from hundreds of locations worldwide, including most major cities in Europe, along with services from North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Direct trains run from the airport station (reached by Skyway, between terminals 1 and 2) to Piccadilly and Oxford Road stations about every 20 minutes and cost about £3. Taxis are available from outside each terminal, costing about £15 and taking about 30-45 minutes. You can also catch a coach/bus to Manchester Central Coach station.
John Lennon Airport, [6] in Liverpool is served by budget carriers Easyjet [7] and Ryanair [8] and is also relatively conveniently located for access to Manchester. A coach service runs connecting the airport to Manchester's central coach station and takes about 45 minutes. Some airlines will provide this service for free. There is now a direct train link between Liverpool Parkway (i.e. the station at John Lennon Airport) and Manchester Oxford Road Train Station (in the city centre). Services currently run once per hour, but are planned to increase to every half hour in late 2008. [edit] By trainManchester city centre is served by two major railway stations, Victoria in the north (the area around the station has recently undergone extensive redevelopment with much more to come) and Piccadilly(transformed in recent years and voted one of UK's most popular stations in 2007!) in the south. These stations are well-connected with the rest of the UK, although it is more likely that you will arrive at Piccadilly as it deals with the most services in and out of Manchester. Fares vary dramatically depending on time of day and rail operator. Other stations close to the centre are Deansgate/G-Mex, Oxford Road, and Salford Central, but generally only local services will stop at these stations. Connections from London Euston to Piccadilly are run by Virgin Trains. The journey on the West Coast Mainline takes about 2hrs 15minute Pendolino trains that do not need to slow down when going round bends. Online Virgin Value fares can dramatically reduce the cost of this trip [9] if you book well enough in advance (at least 14 days is advisable), purchase two single tickets (one for each leg of the journey) and/or travel outside of peak times (after 9AM and before 3PM during the day, after 6:30PM in the evening). [edit] By carThe outer ring road of the Manchester conurbation is the M60. It is accessible from Leeds or Liverpool by the M62 and from Scotland and the South by the M6: from the North and Scotland follow the M6 and the the M61. From the South take the M6 and the M56 (the most direct route from the M6 to the M56 is to take the A556 leaving the M6 at junction 19 — this has a 50mph speed limit for most of its length and can be somewhat congested. It is signed Manchester and Manchester Airport. Another route would be to carry on northbound up the M6, taking you directly to the M6/M56 interchange. This is, however, a longer way round. Bear in mind that parking in the city centre of Manchester can be very expensive (£10-20 per day). Avoid the multi-storey car parks if you can and look for some open-air car parks. There is a good one by Salford Central station. If you have to use a multi-storey, the one by The Coach Station and The Village is handy.This is fine as a last resort, if you have been driving around for an hour, looking for a place to park, after the introduction of more and more double yellow lines, which mean no parking at any time. Ladywell Park & Ride [10] is situated near Eccles (M602, Junction 2); the car park is free and there is a tram station. Similarly, parking at the Trafford Centre (M60, junctions 9 and 10) is free and there are buses to the centre and Stretford tram station. A tip worth noting is that on Saturday from 12:30PM to Monday morning, just over from the city centre into Salford, you can park on a single yellow line (remember in The UK you can never park on a double yellow line!) or in a designated space without paying, unlike in the city centre where restrictions apply even during weekends. Streets like Chapel Street, Bridge Street, and the areas around them are a good bet and much safer now with all the new housing developments. There you are just a short walk from Deansgate.Problems are rare as long as you take the usual precautions and do not leave valuables on display.Watch out on Bank Holidays around here.Sometimes these are treated like a sunday in the centre,but people have been known to get parking tickets on the Salford side.If in doubt treat a holiday,on the Salford side, as a normal day of the week or ask a warden if you can find one! Also check out Parkopedia.com [11], a website that allows users to search and compare parking rates and locations for commercial and private parking facilities in Manchester. [edit] By busChorlton Street Coach Station is the central coach station in Manchester, located close to the centre, between Chinatown and The Village on Chorlton Street. Coaches run from all over the country and are generally the most reasonably-priced way to get into Manchester. London to Manchester on the coach can take about four hours, but it depends on the time of day and number of stops.
[edit] Get around Transport in Greater Manchester is overseen and co-ordinated by the GMPTE (Information: 0870 608 2 608) [14]. GMPTE sells a number of tickets which are valid for multiple operators, such as the any bus day ticket or the Wayfarer. If you are planning to do a lot of travelling in one day, these might be your cheapest option. Metromax day tickets are good value if using the tram network. There are tickets for single people and family tickets. The best value are valid after 9:30AM. [edit] MapsDotted around the city centre in all the places you wouldn't look for them are the pedestrian-level street maps. They are usually placed in normal advertising hoardings, which makes them all the more difficult to spot. From a distance, the map looks like a light-brown horse's head on a blue background. Once found, the elusive maps are very handy for navigating all regions of the centre, even as far south as the universities. Your position is marked by a blue circle. [edit] By busMost of the buses in Greater Manchester are operated by First [15] or Stagecoach [16] and serve most places you are likely to want to go in the conurbation. The main bus station for the south is Piccadilly Gardens and a new state-of-the-art £24 million interchange has been built at Shudehill for the north. Metroshuttle [17] is a free bus run jointly by the local council and First. It runs three lines that between them cover most of the major areas in the city centre, as well as all the stations and many of the larger car parks. The number 250 bus [18] goes from Piccadilly Gardens to the Trafford Centre and is much more reasonably-priced and convenient than the tram. There are other bus services from Central Manchester to The Trafford Centre and additional services from other towns and suburbs in the conurbation. The South Manchester corridor that begins with Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road is the most-served bus route in Europe. Buses connect the centre with the universities and Rusholme, as often as every one minute. The general rule on this street is to get on any bus that is not operated by Stagecoach and your fare is likely to be under £1. Some buses have a student fare, which they will charge you if you look like a student, regardless of whether you ask for it or not. Be warned, though, during peak hours it can take as long as 30 minutes to make the relatively short three mile journey from Piccadilly Gardens to Rusholme. [edit] By tram Metrolink [19], also known as the tram, is the name for Manchester's troubled local mass-transit system. Currently, Metrolink runs two lines, Altrincham-Bury (every 6 minutes at peak times, every 12 minutes off-peak. At peak times, trams either terminate at Piccadilly or do not stop at Piccadilly Gardens or Piccadilly at all, there are usually 24 minute delays on most lines for no apparent reason) and Piccadilly-Eccles (every 12 minutes at peak times, every 15 minutes off-peak). A small part of the city centre from Piccadilly to Cornbrook is shared between the two lines. There are plans to extend the system to five lines, with the three new destinations at Oldham/Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne/Tameside, and Manchester Airport. This expansion will be carried out in two phases, with work on the first phase expected to commence once the current round of track renewals on the Bury/Altrincham lines is completed. In part due to its financial difficulties, Metrolink is quite expensive to travel on and does not provide good value for money. If you are going to be using it for more than one journey in a day, your best bet is to buy a Metromax ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the automated vending machines at each station. Press the required destination followed by the required ticket type and then insert your money. Most machines accept notes, but if your note is anything more than even slightly crumpled, it will more then likely be rejected by the machine. Change is not guaranteed over £7 at any machines, or at all, at some machines with the appropriate warning lamp. There is no point buying a ticket, ticket checks rarely take place and during peak times due to the 'sardine can' nature of the carriages, at quiet times it is unsafe for the ticket inspectors to work. If you do get stopped then the fine is only £10 for the first time you get caught, the tickets are so expensive that it has paid for itself after a couple of journeys. The following stations might be useful to you:
[edit] By taxiTaxis are considerably cheaper than in London. As a general rule, you should be able to get anywhere you need to go within the city for £5-10. You may only flag down the black cabs (London-style Hackney carriages) — other taxis must be booked in advance over the phone and are marked with the yellow Manchester City Council sign on the bonnet, and the firm's phone number (again on a yellow strip) on the sides. You may find it difficult to get a black cab after the pubs shut on Friday and Saturday nights in the city centre, so it serves to have a back-up plan for getting back to your accommodation. The black cabs with the amber "TAXI" sign illuminated are the ones that are looking for fares. There are a number of taxi ranks within the city centre, that are staffed by security/logistical staff during busy periods. These ranks are serviced only by black cabs, but there are also private hire taxi companies that you can walk to, and then wait (inside or usually outside) until a taxi becomes available. [edit] By trainLocal rail services run regularly and to most places in the surrounding area and beyond. Most trains will pass through Piccadilly or Victoria, but it will do to call National Rail Enquiries (08457 48 49 50) [20] to find out which one before setting off. GMPTE has a tube-style map of the Greater Manchester rail network, including Metrolink. [edit] See
[edit] Cosmopolitan Manchester
Check out the restaurants in The Village too. The best and longest established has to be Velvet. Staff are friendly and the food is good. It has a cool vibe on a Sunday afternoon. There is a bar and a new restaurant space to enjoy. Art works are also on display.
[edit] Historical Manchester
[edit] Cultural ManchesterThere are many theatres and concert venues in Manchester, (The Opera House, Palace Theatre, Royal Exchange, Green Room, Dancehouse Theatre, Library Theatre, and The Contact, not forgetting The Lowry at The Quays). Further afield, The Bolton Octagon, Bury Met, Oldham Coleseum and Stockport Plaza are worth a mention, as are university and RNCM venues. You can catch the likes of Madonna and Kylie at The MEN Arena (the largest of its kind in Europe). Other venues include the Apollo, Bridgewater Hall, and the revamped Manchester Central.
[edit] Sporting Manchester
[edit] BuyManchester's shopping district may not be quite as diverse as London's , but it is much less spread out and the vast majority of city centre shops are within walking distance of each other. Even in the most upmarket stores you are treated in a friendly manner. The same can not be said of the capital! The recently redeveloped Arndale Centre is a large 1960's city-centre shopping mall, with 280 stores, including the largest Next store in the UK. Although the place still retains it's 1960's concrete charms and STILL some of the infamous yellow tiles that are a testament to bad urban planning of that era. There are a lot of large shops aimed at lower income families (including the largest Primark in the country and an Aldi) in Piccadilly Gardens, and Market Street (just off Piccadilly Gardens). The Millennium Quarter (at the back of the Arndale Centre) is now quite smart and good for shopping. There's the Triangle, an upmarket shopping centre based in the beautiful old Corn Exchange, worth a visit for the building alone and Selfridges, with its large Louis Vuitton concession and fantastic food hall in the basement! You will find everything from sushi to fine chocolates, kosher foods, to a juice bar, etc... Harvey Nichols, opposite the Triangle, offer luxury fashions and produce to Manchester's rich and famous, with the old Kendals department store nearby. The centre of Manchester's shopping area has traditionally been St. Ann's Square, and there are many shops nearby. King Street city centre offers a Vivienne Westwood store (a local girl, from the nearby Peak District), Joseph and DKNY, as well as Emporio Armani. Collezione, the former catering for the city's Premiership footballers, soap stars ("Coronation Street" has been produced in the city since the early sixties!), and many media types can also be found in the area! Deansgate has a fair number of decent shops, as do some of the roads off it. The House of Fraser store, considered by many to be the top people's shop, (still known as "Kendals" to Manchester people!) is on Deansgate and has been on roughly the same site since the mid-19th century. It is somewhat old school and the eating places are worth a visit. One of central Manchester's few quiet green squares is just behind the store. There is also an outlet mall at The Lowry, in Salford, near the proposed site of a new media village and BBC development. The Trafford Centre is a huge out-of-town shopping centre and accessible by car, taxi, or a bus/tram journey. It does not yet have a tram station of its own. It has been designated the Temple to Consumerism, and is the largest centre of its kind to date in Europe. Remember, Manchester prides itself in being a city of firsts! The centre is spectacular, luxurious, and 'posh' inside and out. Look out for the biggest chandelier in Europe, near the eating places! If confused how to get there by bus and not too worried about the cost, opt for a through ticket on the tram and catch the link bus from Stretford station on the Altrincham line, (turn right out of station and take the first right for the bus stop). If you already have a Metromax day ticket for the tram, just pay extra on the link bus. You can catch the same bus back to the station from a couple of stops around the centre. The cinema is also one of the best in the area. [edit] Of particular interest
Kendals/House of Fraser department store,Deansgate. (basement and top floor). Selfridges,Exchange Square. (basement ,in the corner, near TV department). Marks and Spencer, Market Street. (basement, near the food hall). Harvey Nichols. (Near the food hall, bar, and restaurant). Debenhams department store, Market Street. (Near cafe, top sales floor). Royal Exchange Theatre, St. Ann's Square. (by bars and restaurant — not available to public during performances). Town Hall. (entrance opposite Beluga restaurant, on Mount Street, just off Albert Square towards The Midland Hotel). There is nothing stopping you popping into any busy pub to us their conveniences! At busy times you would hardly be noticed! [edit] Do
[edit] Arts festivals
[edit] LearnThere is no doubting that Greater Manchester's universities continue to be a big draw. More and more language schools are also now opening and offer a more reasonable option than the likes of London and other southern venues. [edit] WorkThere are numerous temp agencies in the city and there is work in the hospitality industry to be had. There have been reports, of late, of teacher shortages (though not quite on par with London) and this could be of interest to overseas candidates with the relevant qualifications. If qualified to work in Britain, work can be found. Many thousands of east Europeans have been drawn to the city in recent years. Many have found work in the building trade, where there has been a boom as of late. Manchester is an important financial centre and the media are also well represented, as can be seen in the BBC's forthcoming partial move to The Media City at Salford Quays and the ITV-Granada presence on Quay Street. Retail, too, is a large employer and there are many gyms in need of trainers for the growing city centre population. [edit] EatAs you would expect from such a cosmopolitan city, Manchester has a huge selection of restaurants and eateries that serve a vast array of cuisines. Look hard enough and you will be able find any type of international food. It is also worth exploring some of the suburbs for superb, small independent bistros / restaurants. West Didsbury and Chorlton are noted for their large number of great eateries. [edit] FreeRevolution on Oxford Road has a policy where your food is either ready within a 15 minutes wait or it's free. Worth going at busy times of the day! [edit] BudgetThere are hundreds of kebab and pizza shops on Oxford Road and in Fallowfield and Rusholme. In Rusholme, in particular, locals speak of the £10 curry. Where if you bring your own drinks into the curry house, you should leave with change from a ten pound note. Some of the cheapest, long-established curry cafes, though, are still to be found in the back streets of the Northern Quarter. The Little Aladdin cafe at 72 High St (on the corner of Turner St, near Arndale centre) is a tiny little curry house with real charm. They serve a range of delicious curries and kebabs for £3-£4. Here's the menu: [24]. On John Dalton Street, on the left, just up from Deansgate, going to Albert Square, is a gem of a cafe, "Essy's", (imagine a cross between an American diner and an old style British "cafe"). It is run by a group of Iranians, for whom nothing is too much trouble. You can be satisfied for under £5. Clean, welcoming table service. There are a couple of other similar places around town; in the Northern Quarter and one just behind Kendals, on King Street West.
[edit] ChineseThere are plenty of all-you-can-eat buffets in Chinatown for less than £10.00 (€ 13.00). Prices tend to change with the time of day and likely demand. Wing's Dai Pai Dong in the Arndale Market city centre is set around a sushi counter. It serves a variety of mainstream Cantonese (Hong Kong), Thai, and Japanese dishes. The Hong Kong style roasting dishes are particularly good value and well-made. Typically any mixture of Char Sui, Duck, Belly Pork, Jelly Fish, and Cold Cuts can be paired with Rice, Soup Noodle, or other fried noodles, typically for around £4.50 for a very large and filling bowl/plate. Teamed with a bottle of Asahi Beer, the bill per person will be well under £10. It is difficult to think of anywhere in the city that offers better value. [edit] Mid range[edit] ChineseAmongst the enormous range of Cantonese restaurants in Chinatown, the Great Wall on Faulkner Street offers authentic, reasonably priced food, including many one bowl/plate dishes (Roast Pork and Roast Duck in soup noodle is particularly popular). The only downside is that the decor is rather authentic too and the service charge increases the bill.
Outside Chinatown, there is also Moso Moso on Oxford Road and the increasingly esteemed Tai Pan on Upper Brook Street and Brunswick Street.
[edit] IndianRusholme's Curry Mile is, as the name suggests, home to a lot of Indian restaurants! Due to the high concentration of curry houses, and all the competition, you should be able to get a really good curry in just about any restaurant. [edit] Korean
[edit] Japanese
[edit] Greek
[edit] Splurge
Harvey Nichols restaurant and cocktail bar, with views onto Exchange Square, are hard to beat if you like rubbing shoulders with Manchester's wealthy set. When the store is closed there is a dedicated entrance and lift at the side of the building. Their afternoon tea is worth a try, but you may prefer the older style version at The Midland Hotel or a new take on the theme at The Lowry Hotel. [edit] Chinese
[edit] SpanishThere are the usual chains to be had on Deansgate, but try to search out "El Rincon de Rafa", hidden away behind Deansgate, near St. John's Gardens. This is an authentic Spanish restaurant, established many years, and popular with Spanish and South American people, based in the city. It is a stones throw from The Cervantes Centre!! Good on a Sunday. [edit] ArmenianThe Armenian restaurant, very long established, hidden in a basement on Albert Square (by the Town Hall) is good. It's to the left with the Town Hall facing you. [edit] DrinkManchester has a diverse nightlife and can offer a wide range of night-time activities. It has a vibrant and varied nightlife scene, including numerous clubs as well as a huge range of drinking establishments from traditional pubs to ultra-chic concept bars. The best of these, of late, has to be the bar on the 23rd floor of the Hilton, Deansgate. Pricey maybe, with attentive table service, yet worth it for the views alone. To avoid the queues, try it during the week! Famed for its musical past, the University of Manchester Student's Union on Oxford Road hosts almost nightly gigs in its three venues on Oxford road ranging from local unsigned bands to international superstars. The Manchester Apollo in Ardwick is a slightly bigger venue having boasted appearances from Blondie to new-comers like Kasabian. Smaller bands can also be seen at a range of excellent venues in the city including the Roadhouse, Night and Day, both in the Northern Quarter, and Jabez Clegg, off Oxford Road. The club scene in Manchester is varied with the dance-orientated clubs you'd expect from a city setting alongside indie, rock, and gay clubs. For the commercial dance music fan, the "place to be" would be Deansgate Locks in Peter's Fields where the clubs and bars can be expensive, but are always full of fashionable types and members of the local student population. More eclectic dance music styles are played at the Music Box and The Phoenix, both on Oxford Road. For fans of rock music, Jillys on Oxford Road is something of an institution. On a Thursday, it costs just £1 to get in, while Fridays see them open until 6 or 7AM. It has three rooms incorporating punk, ska, metal, goth, and everything in between. Also check out Rock Kitchen on a Saturday night at the Manchester Metropolitan University Student's Union, again on Oxford Road. More rock can be found at the weekly Caged Asylum night, at Club OHM. Next door to Jilly's is Music Box, home to the very good (and increasingly famous) Mr. Scruff. Come here once a month to have a good dance and a cup of tea! For fans of indie and alternative music, there are a whole host of new exciting clubs opening. Any late evening walk up Oxford Road should enable you to collect a variety of fliers for club nights. The Friday edition of The Manchester Evening News has a good listings section, which is handy for the weekend. Papers are handed out free of charge Mon-Fri, at various points in the centre and at some newsagents. Successful nights that were championed by City Life include Killing Fantasy on the last Thursday of the month at the Retro Bar on Sackville Street, with a play list that includes Blondie, The Ramones, and Le Tigre. Invest in Property at Joshua Brooks on Charles Street is also another of these nights, falling on the last Friday of the month. Again, expect a mix of indie, electro, punk, and rock. Weekly, Smile at the Star and Garter [25] in East Manchester is something of a local indie institution with a great play list. Be warned, it sells out very early and can often be unbearably busy as a result of this. Saturday's also play host to Tiger Lounge near the Town Hall. This plays more in the way of lounge alongside experimental and indie sounds. If you want to hear music by Manchester bands like The Stone Roses, visit Fifth Avenue on Princess Street, often brimming with students — unsurprising when you see the cheap drinks prices! However, the best city centre club for indie music is 42nd Street, just off Deansgate. It plays a mixture of classic and modern indie, 60's pop, and 70's funk and soul. To enjoy Gay Manchester, it is probably best to visit Canal Street with its concentration of bars and clubs and visit places that appeal along the way. Just off Canal Street, the most popular gay clubs are Essential, a multi-floor super-club open until the early hours and Poptastic, a two-room pop and indie club held at Alter Ego every Tuesday and Saturday night. Although entry can be expensive, this is usually reflected in a reduced price bar inside the club. For bars, try the cocktail lounge Socio Rehab in the Northern Quarter (ask a taxi driver where it is) and Tribeca on Sackville Street (in the popular Gay Village). Trof, a funky student bar in Fallowfield, has recently opened a second venture, Trof North, on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter.
Comedy wise, Manchester has a fair number of offerings: The Frog and Bucket on Oldham Street offers student friendly prices and The Comedy Store at the Deansgate Locks is the largest comedy venue in town. XS Malarkey in Fallowfield is cheap but good. [edit] ContactAlthough you will find a whole bunch of available wi-fi hot spots in central Manchester, they can be very expensive. Until the free municipal wi-fi network comes live in a few years, make best use of the free wi-fi available at:
[edit] Stay SafeIf you're uncomfortable around thousands of drunk, aggressive and violent young people, then you should probably avoid Friday and Saturday night taxi queues in the city centre! You should also avoid any conflict with door staff. Much of Manchester is safe but caution would be advised in the following areas:
[edit] CopeMany countries have consulates and commissions in Manchester. For others, you may have to travel to London.
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[edit] Get Out
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