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Hello

Manchester is stepping up onto the international stage. With more buildings going up and new businesses emerging, we look at the different forces finding their home in the city as Manchester transitions into a new era. This issue is all about our city’s power players; we hear from some of Manchester’s key figures in ‘10 Most Influential Mancunians’ (page 18), along with delving into business intelligence with our ‘Titans in Tech’ (page 64) and taking stock of the city’s property scene (page 56).

The A-Family EDITOR Oliver Lilley HEAD OF CONTENT Bethany Lee ONLINE EXECUTIVE Ash Howson DESIGNER Sarah Snelling sarahsnelling.co.uk

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‘HOW TO BE RIGHT:…IN A WORLD GONE WRONG’ BY JAMES O’BRIEN £12.99 AT WATERSTONES

‘THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK: A COUNTERINTUITIVE APPROACH TO LIVING A GOOD LIFE’ BY MARK MANSON, £17.99 AT WATERSTONES DIDSBURY GIN CHRISTMAS PUDDING GIN LIQUEUR, £30 (50CL)

CHANEL N°5 EAU DE PARFUM LIMITED EDITION, £130 (100ML)

Remember to use #amagazinemcr and #sharewithA to let us know what you’re up to this winter SPECIAL THANKS Editorials

Karl Collins Steven Spencer Louise McCann

Content

Kunal Trehan Thomas Hope Steph Martin Jack Appleton Kit Vickery Alice Bird Melissa Garlick Daisy Lester

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WINTER 2018/2019

MOST

influential

MANCUNIANS

Contents A R C H I E

//

A-Family

4 Hello from the A-Family 54 Manchester’s 20 Hottest Startups

Networking Event

73 Join the A-Family

8 MCR Social 11 Winter at the Lowry Outlet 12 Manchester Cook Book Recipes 18 10 Most Influential Mancunians 42 Parents in the City 56 MCR Property 82 What’s On?

Interviews

16 Meet Manchester’s Bee Man 24 Bhavna’s Story

A-Business

45 Fluid Trust 46 Helical 48 Hamilton George 51 Cube Leisure 52 Tokyo Industries

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2 018 / 2 019

Wellbeing

18

32 Renovatio Cosmetic Clinic 34 REVIV: Wellness from Within 36 KOR: A New Way to Workout

Beauty & Lifestyle

Manchester

52

W I N T E R

MOST

28 Style Her 30 ‘Couture Curls’ with Thomas Hope 38 Style Him 40 Toccata Bespoke Collection with

Kunal Trehan

28

Tech Titans

59 Engage Hub: Influencer Marketing 61 Innside: Social Media in Hospitality 62 Tech 360 63 I Love MCR App 64 Titans in Tech 66 New Era for Manchester Airport 68 Jaguar XE

Travel

70 Tbilisi, Georgia: The New Berlin 74 Sardinia: An Italian Escape 78 New York City Guide

62 16

46

56 54 78


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THE BEST OF MANCHESTER THIS WINTER

MCR Social PHOTO: Jody Hartley

33 Oldham Street

33oldhamstreet.com

33 Oldham Street promises to be a mashup of all things Manchester. The brains behind the venture are Andy Smith, one of the founders of Kendal Calling, Off the Record and Bluedot festivals, and Jason McGuire of Manchester Coffee. Pop in for a latte and don’t be surprised if you find yourself staying until sundown for a drink and some live music. The NQ venue boasts four floors of Manchester goodness, including a lounge workspace, listening room, cocktail bar, and café. Look out for listening parties there and what’s set to be the biggest roof terrace in the Northern Quarter when it arrives in 2019!

ActUpNorth

actupnorth.com

Fancy seeing yourself on the Corrie cobbles or gracing the stage at The Lowry one day? It’s never too late to learn a new skill, so step out of your comfort zone and try your hand at acting. Founded by Peter

Hunt, ActUpNorth’s weekly adult acting classes fit in around your working life. Get to work with wellknown casting directors, agents and producers, and watch your skills back on screen with ActUpNorth’s HD cameras to really hone your craft. Break a leg! PHOTO: ©ActUpNorth Filming

Heart & Graft

heartandgraft.co.uk Great coffee, no snobbery. In a very Manc story of getting sh*t done, founder James Guard wanted to see more speciality coffee

in Manchester so set up his own roastery in 2012. Since then, Heart & Graft has supplied MCR favourites like Albert’s Schloss and Gorilla and have now opened their own coffee shop. Don’t worry if you don’t know your americano from your macchiato, Heart & Graft’s team can take you on a ‘coffee flight’ where you’ll taste coffees from around the world and find out more about coffee’s journey from field to cup. From cupping events to barista throwdowns, this really is a temple for coffee lovers.

Mana

manarestaurant.co.uk Forget fine-dining fads and old-school stuffiness, Mana is here to shake up Manchester’s food scene. From Ex-Noma chef Simon Martin, the Ancoats restaurant is making their own rules, starting with a bespoke £300,000 kitchen. Celebrating real British food made from indigenous ingredients, strap in for a foodie rollercoaster at Mana: we’re talking 16-courses served in just 1 hour 45 minutes.

Freshwalks City

freshwalks.co.uk

Part-walking tour, part-networking, Freshwalks City takes a fresh approach before connecting. Find some inspiration on our city’s streets and some new connections along the way. Do what you never make time for and finally take in Manchester’s impressive architecture on a guided tour, followed by a natter and networking over some food and drink. Try ‘Freshwalks Classic’ if you fancy a countryside getaway.

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CHRISTMAS TIME AT LOWRY OUT LET

CLAUS’

CHRISTMAS

GROTTO EXPERIENCE

22ND – 25TH NOVEMBER

22ND NOVEMBER – 24TH DECEMBER

Bringing together some of the finest arts, crafts, food and drink producers from across the North West.

Let your little ones’ imaginations run wild as they step into the magical Claus’ Christmas Cabin.

The Plaza will be transformed into an enchanting traditional Christmas market offering a slice of seasonal shopping you won’t find on the high street.

CHRISTMAS CABIN MAKERS MARKET Visit the reindeer stables and enter the traditional log cabin. Youngsters will be able to meet Santa and hear stories from Mrs Claus and receive a special gift on their visit. Book your grotto tickets at Lowrychristmas.co.uk. Entry is £8 per child and adults go free.

There will also be a host of hot food stalls offering a great range of tasty treats and street entertainers will bring that extra bit of seasonal sparkle over the four days. Further festive Makers Markets will be taking place in December with traders rotating each week selling unique arts, crafts and food produce. They will be held inside the centre on:

1ST & 2ND DECEMBER 8TH & 9TH DECEMBER 15TH & 16TH DECEMBER THE MOST FESTIVE DAY OUT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. LOWRYCHRISTMAS.CO.UK


MCR Social

YES

yes-manchester.com

Lovingly Artisan lovinglyartisan.com

Having recently taken his keen eye for bread to New York to judge the Tiptree World Bread Awards, Altrincham artisan baker, Aidan Monks is a master of much-loved sourdough and speciality breads. Take a trip to Aidan’s Lake District bakery and learn tips and tricks for making the perfect loaf from the man himself. In the meantime, grab some Lovingly Artisan goodies at Altrincham Market!

Just say yes! An old auction house on Charles Street has undergone a makeover and is now home to YES - a new music venue that’s four floors of fun. Founders of the space wanted a festivalfeel with different experiences on each floor: get down and dirty in the basement club, grab a pizza slice and a pint on the ground floor, catch a gig in the all-pink venue on the first floor, or head up to the roof terrace that’s home to an attic bar specialising in vermouth. Look out for street food pop-ups on the roof terrace.

The Ivy Spinningfields theivymanchester.com

Northern Wine School northernwineschool.co.uk

Grindsmith

grindsmith.com Getting your caffeine fix just got even better - speciality coffee makers Grindsmith are bringing their blends to Bridge Street as they open a new ground-floor site below office space Watch This Space. Get ready to tuck into the likes of buttermilk pancakes, full English and vegan breakfasts, and lunch-time power bowls to keep you fuelled on those busy days.

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PHOTO: ©Matthew Pover

Delve a little deeper into your favourite drinks with some expert guidance at Northern Wine School. Swirl and sniff

your way to becoming a wine-buff on this wine tasting journey run by John Callow. If you’re new to wine tasting, then start off with a ‘Discovery Evening’ to learn all about aroma, flavour and texture in your tipple.

Iconic British restaurant The Ivy has finally arrived in Manchester! Not ones to do things by halves, The Ivy Spinningfields was the largest restaurant to open in the UK in 2018, boasting a huge 535 covers. Set over four unique floors, the restaurant includes a classic Ivy Brasserie, private dining space ‘The Dalton Room’, the first-ever ‘The Ivy Asian’ and a rooftop garden. ‘The Ivy Asian’ can only be found in Manchester and serves the likes of Wagyu beef with truffle sauce, salmon fillet teriyaki, and avocado, crispy tofu, lime and ginger dressing.


5 THINGS TO DO AT...

Lowry Outlet MediaCityUK this winter

If late night shopping with up to 70% off RRP on your favourite brands isn’t enough to convince you to visit the Lowry Outlet, here are five more reasons you should get yourself down there this winter. Christmas Makers Market

Scrap your high street plans to explore the best of seasonal shopping. Visit the North West’s greatest makers at the Lowry Outlet and grab some original presents from their selection of crafts, food, and drink. Be quick, as the market will only run for the first three weekends of December.

Claus’ Christmas Cabin

Keep your little ones happy with a trip to the reindeer stables and Santa’s log cabin. Kids between one and nine can hear stories from Mrs Claus and even get a special toy. Entry costs £8 per child, but adults go free. Santa has to leave on Christmas Eve to deliver toys to all the other children outside Salford!

The Snowman

Celebrate the 40th birthday of Raymond Briggs’ classic book with the ‘Walking with the Snowman’ trail. A dozen snowmen will be on display around MediaCityUK until January 6, with each sculpture being auctioned off for BBC Children in Need

after the event. Pick up a trail map from the information desk and get trekking.

Festive Dining from £15

There’s something for everyone at dinnertime here, with threecourse meals available from Pizza Express (£20.95), Lime Bar (£25), Harvester (£17.49), and Bella Italia (£19.99). Café Rouge is also offering a five-course Christmas Day menu (£49.95), although you’d better get booking for that one!

Francis House Festival of Trees

Want something a little ‘extra’ this Christmas? The Lowry Outlet will host the Festival of Trees again this year to raise money for the Francis House Children’s Hospice. Bid on your favourite decorated Christmas tree until December 9 for a chance to get your hands on a tree designed by the likes of Manchester United Football Club and Lancashire County Cricket Club. • Find out more at lowryoutlet.co.uk

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The Manchester Cookbook

Second Helpings

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Delve into Manchester’s food and drink scene with recipes from the new cook book that celebrates independents across our city Bundobust Paneer Tikka Paneer, red peppers and chestnut mushrooms are marinated in a medley of spices and served drizzled with two piquant chutneys. You need to marinate the paneer and vegetables for at least 2 hours, but overnight is best. SERVES 4 PREP 1 HR, PLUS 2 HRS MARINATING COOK 10 MINS For the paneer tikka 350g Greek yoghurt 1½ tsp garam masala ½ tsp red chilli powder ½ tsp turmeric 1 tsp salt ½ lemon, juiced 2 tbsp gram flour 4 tbsp oil, plus 2 tbsp for cooking 2 cloves garlic ½ thumb-sized piece ginger 1 tsp ajwain seeds 2 blocks paneer 2 red peppers 16 chestnut mushrooms For the red chutney 200ml ketchup ½ red pepper 1 clove garlic ¼ tsp red chilli powder Pinch of salt ¼ lemon, juiced

Beastro potted beef Don’t be put off by meat pastes from the 1980s. Beastro’s potted beef brings the best of the classically British preservation technique of potting, dating back to the 16th century, and updates it. Inspired by traditional recipes, the addition of the mace adds a flavour to the dish that sets it apart from the rest. SERVES 8 PREP 30 MINS COOK 5 HRS

For the green chutney 200ml yoghurt Large handful spinach 10-12 mint leaves 1 green chilli 1 clove garlic Pinch of salt Small handful coriander, including the stalks 1 For the paneer tikka Mix the yoghurt, garam masala, chilli powder, turmeric, salt, lemon juice, gram flour and oil together, ensuring there are no lumps and all the ingredients are combined. Then crush the garlic and ginger in a pestle and mortar to a fine paste, and add this to the marinade mixture. 2 Next add 2 tbsp of oil to a small pan and heat on a high heat. Once the oil is hot, add a couple of the ajwain seeds and see if they begin to sizzle. If they do, add the rest and then turn the heat off. This makes the tarka, flavouring the oil. Add this to the marinade, but be careful as it may spit. 3 Keep the marinade to one side and allow to cool. Next cut the paneer into 16 equal-sized cubes. Cut the red peppers into similar sized pieces and clean the mushrooms with a brush, do not wash. Then add the paneer, peppers and mushrooms to the marinade and mix through ensuring that they are all covered

1kg beef shin 1kg ox heart 1 litre white wine 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 2 bay leaves A small bunch of thyme 1 tsp mixed peppercorns 1 tsp allspice 3 cloves ½ tsp mace 30g salted butter, melted Malden sea salt, freshly ground pepper and cayenne pepper, to season 1 Preheat the oven to 150°c. Dice the beef shin and ox heart into equal-sized cubes and place in a heavy-bottom casserole dish. 2 Combine the wine in a pan with the garlic, bay, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and mace, and bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the wine. Whilst the wine

properly. It’s best to leave it marinating overnight, but a minimum of 2 hours is recommended. The vegetables will release some of their water, this will add to the consistency of the marinade which may be a little thick to start with. Whilst things marinate it’s time to make the chutneys. 4 For the red chutney Start by adding the ketchup, red pepper, garlic, red chilli powder, salt and lemon juice to a food processor. Blend until the red pepper has thickened the sauce. Once this is done it is best to refrigerate as it will keep a thicker consistency. 5 For the green chutney Rinse the processor and add the yoghurt, spinach, mint, green chilli, garlic, salt and coriander. Blend and chill in the same way as the red chutney. 6 To cook and serve Once marinated, skewer the paneer, peppers and mushrooms on pre-soaked wooden skewers, distributing the ingredients evenly between 8 skewers. It’s best to cook them over charcoal embers. Turn 4 times so that all sides receive an even char. It should take no longer than 10 minutes. Once cooked, drizzle over the green chutney followed by the red. Serve as it is serve or on a bed of rice or wrapped in a chapati with a simple salad of red onion, cucumber and coriander.

mixture is still hot, pour it over the diced heart and shin. Cover with a double layer of foil and place in the preheated oven to cook for 2½ hours. 3 Remove from the oven and mix together again. Recover with foil and place back in the oven for a further 2½ hours. 4 Remove from the oven and strain the meat from the liquid, reserving the liquid. Separate the meat from the aromatics, discarding the aromatics. 5 Transfer the meat to a food processor with half the butter and 50ml of the reserved cooking liquor. Blitz to form a textured spread. Add seasoning to taste. 6 Transfer to a sterilized Kilner jar, pressing out all of the air. When cooled, top with the remaining melted butter and place in the fridge. This will keep refrigerated for 7 days. Enjoy served with pickled shallots, cornichons and toasted sourdough

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• The Manchester Cook Book: Second Helpings is published by Meze Publishing. Retail price £14.95. Available for purchase in all of the businesses featured in the cook book and online at mezepublishing. co.uk/shop.

TA K K’s D a rk C h o c o l a t e Br o w n i e TAKK has expanded from its Scandiinspired coffee shop in the Northern Quarter to open an outlet at Hatch. It’s the perfect place to enjoy their bespoke Nordic-style espresso and a slice of this delicious brownie while watching the world go by. SERVES 9 PREP 10 MINS COOK 25-30 MINS 250g salted butter 200g dark chocolate 4 eggs

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1 tsp vanilla extract 360g caster sugar 80g cocoa powder 75g plain flour 1 tsp salt ½ tsp baking powder 1 Pre-heat the oven to 180°c and line a square tin with greaseproof paper. 2 Place the chocolate in a mixing bowl and put it to one side, then melt the butter in a pan over a gentle heat. Pour the melted butter over the chocolate and stir to combine until all the chocolate is melted. 3 Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, vanilla and sugar in a mixer on high speed until

pale and fluffy. 4 Add the chocolate and butter mixture and continue to whisk for a few more minutes. 5 Sift the the cocoa powder, flour, salt and baking powder into the mix and stir thoroughly to ensure no pockets of dry ingredients remain. 6 Pour the mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes. 7 When done, transfer to a rack to cool.


T DA UP ED

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13/11/2018 14:14


Meet Manchester’s BEE MAN We talk to Manchester’s resident ‘Bee Man’, street artist Russell Meehan – aka Qubek – about the rise of street art today WHAT’S THE CORRECT TERM: STREET ART OR GRAFFITI?

A lot of graffiti artists don’t like street art; they see it as a watered-down version of graffiti. According to the dictionary, graffiti is to make a mark illicitly so you’re doing it illegally. I come from a generation in the late 90s where street art wasn’t fully recognised and people were mainly doing it illegally. There were no real legal opportunities back then. It was still underground.

WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY INTO STREET ART?

I’m not professionally or classically trained, and my work shows that - it’s a bit rough around the edges, but because I work on the street it’s more of a rough and ready way into the art world. When I was a teenager we just did it for the love of it. For the first few years, I was painting mainly on train tracks, the streets, the skate

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park in Stockport or abandoned warehouses. It was about being creative, being sneaky, and going against the grain of society. Then I got into trouble a few times and after that I just wanted to paint without the fear of getting in trouble. I started doing a night in Manchester called Sketch City with street artists, graffiti artists, DJs and performers all producing art together as a live show piece. After that, I became a Community Art Worker so I was producing pieces with young people all around Manchester. Now, nearly all my work is commissioned. Creating my mural business and being known for that is bringing me more opportunities to go and paint out on the street. It’s the best thing ever - getting up in the morning and going to paint for a living.

ARE PERCEPTIONS OF STREET ART CHANGING?

Definitely. Most people are saying that you can thank Banksy for that. He’s helped the mainstream understand what it’s all about. Seven years ago, if you went into the NQ and started painting something people would be like ‘What’s this guy doing!?’. Actually, a few times, I’d been painting a commission and someone phoned the police and they turned up. These days, most people would just accept it as someone doing street art. It’s become more of a fine art instead of just graffiti; most people go out and paint pieces on the street that you can look at and say ‘I


RUSSELL’S ARTWORK ACROSS MANCHESTER AND HIS BEE FOR 2018’S ‘BEE IN THE CITY’ TRAIL

get that’ rather than ‘Oh, what’s that? What does it say?’. I don’t see street art, done legally and with permission, any differently to an artist working on a canvas. It’s just a different media and a different way of painting. The Banksy art that shredded itself after it was auctioned off is so interesting because that probably only took him five minutes and it’s worth a million pounds.

WHY HAS MANCHESTER EMBRACED STREET ART?

Nearly every city in Britain has embraced it in particular areas. It’s like an open-air gallery in the NQ now. You won’t really see it anywhere else unless you go to places like Hulme and Moss Side. NQ has always been seen as a bohemian area and a creative space and it’s quite old architecturally so I don’t think many people are bothered about the walls around there being painted. It’s becoming more popular, and why shouldn’t it? It’s crazy that we love just grey and white buildings!

IS THERE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS IN MANCHESTER?

A lot of people are being moved out of their studios at the moment. The studios are being taken over and people are being pushed out of the city centre as it’s being gentrified, so there’s less space and it costs more for people to be creative, especially in the NQ, and that’s what that area is built on.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT YOU’VE CREATED?

Obviously the twenty-two bees in Manchester is one of my favourites because of what it means to everyone. Everyone felt like they had to do something really positive at the time and my way of communicating is painting, so it was just a really automatic response. When I finished the twenty-second bee there was sixty, seventy people clapping. It was surreal. I think that’s the most meaningful and thought-provoking thing I’ve ever done. I

PHOTOS: @BeeStrong

really didn’t expect to get the kind of exposure that I got from the memorial pieces. I thought that I had to do something positive after that, so since then I’ve raised £17,000 painting pieces and giving them to charities.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MANCHESTER BEE SYMBOL MEANS TO PEOPLE NOW?

It’s a symbol that shows solidarity, strength, love, and community. It’s amazing that one symbol can mean something so powerful to people. Nearly every building has a bee symbol on it now and some people could say that it’s being exploited - some people could say that I’m exploiting it, but before the Arena attack I just wanted to paint bees everywhere as a little mission of mine. I am the ‘Bee Man’ here now, everyone knows me for that and if I wasn’t painting them beforehand then I don’t think I would paint them now. • Find out more @mural_life

@graffiti_russ

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W E TA L K T O O U R PI C K O F I N S PI R I N G MANCHESTER PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY 18 A-MAGAZINE


JOANNE RONEY OBE

Chief Executive of Manchester City Council

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED TO RAISE ITS PROFILE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE?

Our international profile has never been higher. The city is attracting significant foreign investment and remains a hugely popular destination for international tourists and students, with our airport being a genuine global gateway. The Corridor Manchester innovation district has helped establish the city as a global leader in advanced materials research, life sciences and smart cities. Our thriving cultural and sporting scene, including of course Manchester City and Manchester United football clubs, has ensured that the name of Manchester is carried far and wide and we enjoy a global profile that many UK cities would envy. That said, we are competing on a global stage and cannot afford to be complacent for one second. Brexit, and the uncertainties surrounding it, makes it more important than ever that we are able reach out to attract investment and

jobs and ensure that would-be investors understand everything Manchester has to offer. Upgrading the city’s infrastructure is critical if we are to remain internationally competitive. This is why the £1 billion investment in Manchester Airport and expansion of the Metrolink to Trafford Park are so important, along with future planned investments in HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

Take every opportunity you can. Keep trying and believe in yourself. Work on your personal resilience. Everyone has knock backs in their life - the trick is to get back up again, keep going, and seek out the support and networks you need to do that.

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED IN TERMS OF NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH?

At the heart of our skills strategy for the city is ensuring that the skills system and our businesses are working together so we can meet the needs of our growing businesses while at the same time equipping Manchester people with the skills and attributes they need to access these emerging opportunities. This is particularly the case in key growth

businesses and bring more opportunities to this city.

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED IN TERMS OF NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH?

Manchester needs to be at the forefront of emerging industries like social media, tech, AR, AI, automation, machine learning, and data. These are the jobs of the future and the jobs that are going to make other roles extinct. We also need to invest in entrepreneurs within the city - Manchester’s entrepreneurs bring hundreds of thousands of jobs to the city.

STEVEN BARTLETT CEO of Social Chain Group

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MANCHESTER BUSINESSES GIVING BACK TO THE CITY?

Knowledge sharing! If you’ve made it, tell others how, so they can make it too! So many great businesses have grown from nothing here in Manchester and the knowledge they have can help grow other

HOW HAS THE WORKING WORLD CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER COMPARED TO TODAY? People expect more from work because of how public our lives these days are. We compare our jobs to our friends’ jobs and the truth is, our friends only really show the best parts of their jobs, so it’s a false comparison. This false comparison is very real though and it means that as an employer, if you want to attract and retain talent, you need to offer more than ever

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industries such as construction; cultural, creative and digital; business, financial and professional services; and science and R&D. We do well as a city in terms of retaining graduates and are now second only to London for this. Critical to our success is the availability of graduate level jobs and the city centre housing, as well as the culture, leisure and transport offer. However, as well as developing new talent, we know that we need to work with businesses to develop the talent of their existing workforces and work with learning and training providers to upskill residents with no or low-level qualifications.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR CAREER?

Responding to the Manchester Arena terror attack in 2017, which claimed the lives of 22 people. As a city, we had to support all those affected by the horrific events, the families, emergency respondents and our staff, while supporting community cohesion and encouraging a sense that the city would not be deterred by this horrific incident and that we would continue to thrive. Out of this terrible incident evolved the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, which I am a Trustee for and from which we have distributed £20m.

before - more freedom, more benefits, a better working environment and better compensation. I personally welcome this I want people to love their jobs.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

Stop being so stupid. You never ‘make it’. All of this is a journey and you shouldn’t put pressure on yourself to meet society’s timelines of where you should be in your life by a certain time - that’ll only lead to bad life decisions. Take your time, life is long, and do your best.

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED TO RAISE ITS PROFILE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE?

I believe Manchester’s profile on the international scene is growing; however, if we want to raise the profile further, we need to do a better job of marketing the city for how special it is, for how many exciting organisations we have, for the beauty the city holds, and for some of its unique assets (like the Manchester football teams) on the international scene. Manchester deserves more credit! I would love to do the marketing for it.

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SACHA LORD Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester & Founder of Parklife Festival and Warehouse Project

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED IN TERMS OF NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH?

I’m not a big advocate of university; I didn’t go to university myself because I didn’t get any grades at A-Level, so nobody would have me. I’m a strong believer in experience. When I interview people for The Warehouse Project and Parklife I just want a conversation with that person and to know what they’ve done in the field that they’re applying for. I think there’s a definite new, entrepreneurial spirit coming in Manchester at the moment. There are some amazing things happening like The White Hotel in Salford and Hidden - both of which were put together by groups with very little budget. People aren’t scared of cocking up which is really good. When I go around to do talks at universities and schools, they say to me ‘Give me some advice’ and my advice is always the same: don’t be scared to fail. Throw at it and get it and when you’re twenty, twenty-five, thirty, you can afford for it to go wrong because you can have another go at it. I think people are really grasping that.

MICHAEL GROVES Founding Director of Thornley Groves

HOW HAS THE WORKING WORLD CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER COMPARED TO TODAY?

While the tools that we use to find buyers and tenants and match them to the homes we are selling and renting have changed dramatically over the years, with the use of technology and data collection, estate agency is still very much a business built around personal contact. Unlike travel

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WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR CAREER?

The biggest challenge was probably winning the council over. When somebody walks in to the Town Hall and says they want to put a rave on in a car park for three and a half months every year - it does raise eyebrows. We’re lucky in Manchester because the council are very supportive of music, culture and leisure, and they always have been because they really understand how much money it brings in to the night time economy. When you think about people having a meal beforehand, getting a taxi, buying new outfits or booking hotel rooms - all those things add up and that’s what Parklife generates in the city.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

People have different views on what it means to have ‘made it’. Unfortunately, lots of people think making it is when you have large amounts of money, but actually that’s not the right answer. I think anybody that’s going out there thinking ‘I want to make a million pounds’ - the chances are, they won’t make that. People who get out there to start a business because it’s what

agents and many other businesses, we are not an online-only business and I don’t see us becoming extinct on the high street. We do compete with the faceless cut price online-only agents that have surfaced in recent years, but we find that many of our clients and customers prefer to get to know an agent, for that agent to understand what they want and help them find it. Buyers and tenants don’t want, and often don’t have the time, to go searching for it themselves. Our landlords and home owners want to be able to easily access and contact their agent in branch and face to face. The biggest change is that we can perform property matches using our database within seconds. The industry has become more efficient and transaction times have speeded up. We market everything online; we send emails not letters, and buyers don’t have to request a brochure - everything is online. However, they will always want to meet an agent and go and look at the property before they make a decision.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR CAREER?

Without wanting to sound too dramatic, it was actually the financial crisis of 2008. The business was strong, had been established 16 years earlier and was

they really enjoy doing and to give it 100% are the people who are going to make the money. Life is really is short; so you might as well enjoy it and if you’re doing something that you really don’t wake up in the morning and get excited about, then take a breather. Do something else.

WHAT MAKES MANCHESTER A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN 2018?

It sounds really corny this, but I think what makes Greater Manchester better than a lot of other cities is the people. I do spend a bit of time down in London but I think people in Manchester are more approachable, more down to earth, and I think we saw that last year after the tragedy at the arena. We saw everyone coming together and there seems to be that spirit in Manchester that I don’t really see in other cities.

financially stable. We had nine branches and 125 employees, but we had been agreeing up to 40 sales a week and saw that fall to less than 10 during the crash. We saw the slow down start in September 2007 (a full year before Lehman brothers in September 2008 which its often used as the marker of the crisis) - by February 2008 we had shrunk our work force and cut costs wherever we could. We managed to survive without closing a single branch, largely due to the fact we had a strong property management business with a recurring income. It helped the business weather the storm and we became much leaner.

WHAT INDUSTRIES DO YOU THINK WILL BE BOOMING IN MANCHESTER OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

Digital, tech and creative industries that are tied to the media and marketing sector seem to be growing fast with no signs of slowing. Continued growth in the financial sector is apparent, with Manchester’s financial sector already the largest outside London. The third industry is the property and construction sector: this includes design, project management and architecture, as well as many skilled jobs needed to enable the construction sector to deliver the dozens of commercial and residential projects in the city.


TOM BLOXHAM MBE

Chairman & Co-Founder of Urban Splash

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The business world has always changed; in the 19th Century, we made money from making things; last century we made money through trading with the world; this century, we’ll make money from ideas. In the next five years, I think we’ll see the obvious growing tech sectors prevail – Amazon’s move to Manchester is testament to that – but I also have great confidence in the modular and offsite industry as it becomes a more popular method of construction, including more of our Urban Splash houses!

different from the Manchester I arrived in as a student in the 1980s - a far cry from the vibrant, buzzing city it is today. As much as I loved the place (it’s been my home ever since), I’d often walk around, perplexed at how quickly it became a ghost town each night. There was very little nightlife or culture - least of all a dense urban population. What there was however was a plethora of beautiful old buildings, but they were dark, dreary and unloved; they cast even more of a shadow on the city each night and something had to be done. The regeneration that’s followed since, with the emergence of new areas of Manchester, such as the Northern Quarter, New Islington, Ancoats and Castlefield for example – all of which Urban Splash has been involved in creating – has made for a brilliant city. Anyone can thrive here; there are great places to do business in, great people to do business with, and plenty of homes, cafes, bars, restaurants and cultural institutions all around us.

Manchester International Festival (MIF), which I chair, was the world’s first festival of original work and special events. Every two years we host something for everyone with a fortnightlong programme of events that have an international outlook and engage the world. As that gets bigger, especially with the creation of a permanent MIF home at The Factory in St John’s, it’ll help raise our city’s profile. Add to that even more innovation and great business leaders from the region promoting their ideas on the global stage – the likes of the Kamani family fashion brands, Lawrence Jones with UKFast, Matthew Moulding’s The Hut Group, AO.com, Booking.com and property peers like Chris Oglesby at Bruntwood – and the great things happening here will stay in the eyes of the world.

WHAT MAKES MANCHESTER A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN 2018?

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED TO RAISE ITS PROFILE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE?

Surviving the global financial crisis of 2008 for one, but also turning around rundown areas like New Islington, Park Hill in Sheffield, and Port Loop in Birmingham.

WHAT INDUSTRIES DO YOU THINK WILL BE BOOMING IN MANCHESTER OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

Manchester in 2018 couldn’t be more

I think we’ve done lots already; the

which we should create and go tell the world about.

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES PEOPLE MUST HAVE TO BE A PART OF YOUR TEAM?

They’ve got to have get up and go. They’ve got to have a real drive for delivering our purpose which is high-quality, distinctive UK media content. They’ve got to be deeply creative; they’ve got to be able to find their way around every problem; they’ve got to have a story to tell, and they’ve got to be people who really want to be greater than the sum of our parts.

ALICE WEBB

Director of BBC Children’s WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED TO RAISE ITS PROFILE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE?

The big thing that I’d love to see Manchester do is to tell its story more. I think people who work and live in Manchester know how great it is, but we only tell our story at particular times, whether with football or music or of course the tragic events at the arena. I think there’s a story that Manchester hasn’t quite found yet of what it means to be Manchester

HOW HAS THE WORKING WORLD CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER COMPARED TO TODAY?

I started life as an engineer working on a building site, so my world is pretty different now. It’s not just that people don’t stay in one job – that was never the case when I started work – but I think the notion that people don’t want to work for other people is really interesting. More and more young people are coming out of university thinking ‘I don’t actually want to go and join a large company or anybody’s company - I want to set up my own’. I’m not sure to what extent people who want to start their own businesses will become the majority because I think it will become

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR CAREER?

really difficult as the market place becomes more crowded. I think that the organisations that can embrace and harness flexibility and give people ownership of what they’re doing are going to win in the future.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

You’re probably far more successful than you give yourself credit for. If you feel like you haven’t made it yet then you’ve probably got all of the ingredients, you just need to go on and make it because if you’re still hungry, if you’re still energised and interested in what you’re doing, then they’ve surely got to be the biggest factors in whether you’re going to make it in the future.

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MANCHESTER BUSINESSES GIVING BACK TO THE CITY?

Everyone has to do what feels authentic and right for their organisation. From a personal perspective, I would love to see us push sustainability even further than Manchester is already doing. The North has done a huge amount to become more sustainable and I’d love to see us doing that more broadly across the city, so we genuinely become the greenest city possible.

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L AWRENCE JONES MBE CEO of UKFast

WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY BUSINESSES HAVE CHOSEN MANCHESTER AS THEIR CENTRAL HUB?

Manchester is small enough to be an effective community where business and government, both local and central, work together collaboratively. Don’t forget, Manchester led the industrial revolution and generations later there’s huge expectation from business leaders to continually reinvent the city. Quite rightly, Manchester is right up there with London when you consider leading tech cities in the UK, but it’s not just the city - it’s the region as a whole. We’re a community - from Bolton and the likes of AO.com to MusicMagpie in Stockport. Plus, our close physical links with the likes of Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield make for an enviable network of businesses, suppliers, support and collaboration. From Manchester you can reach Leeds in the time it takes to get from Mayfair to the Shard in the capital. London, of course, is the centre of commerce and the economy, but Manchester is taking its innovation crown. Not only are we delivering startup after startup, the community in GM nurtures these startups to scaleups and

MARK FLETCHER CEO of Manchester Pride

HOW HAS THE WORKING WORLD CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER COMPARED TO TODAY? The working world is now much more focused on the support and wellbeing of employees. When I started my career, employee wellbeing barely existed as a concept. Due to the nature of the work of Manchester Pride I guess I should focus on how organisations are now, thankfully, taking the necessary steps

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beyond. Look at the incredible success of LateRooms.com, Missguided and Boohoo.

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED IN TERMS OF NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH?

The skills gap is a huge challenge, there’s no doubt about it. With the flow of talent still leaving to London, for many years, the focus for Manchester businesses has very much been on talent retention and skills development, as well as attracting new skills. That’s why we’ve seen so many incredible workplaces popping up - UKFast Campus, of course, but also spaces like those of Autotrader, Missguided and Rentalcars. com. We’ve committed millions of pounds to upskilling our current team, as well as helping to transform tech education in schools and universities in the region. It’s impossible for traditional education to produce work-ready graduates with the latest skills without help from the business arena itself. That’s why we work with more than 60,000 students and pupils across 60 schools and universities across the region. We help young people to see the real opportunities that a career in tech brings. Of course, the skills challenge is only going to grow when we hear of large multinational businesses coming to the city with recruitment drives for

toward promoting inclusion, equality and diversity in the workplace. This is greatly affecting our industry - we are seeing the promotion of equality being understood and implemented by organisations that previously seemed to think that simply having a policy document meant that they were ‘doing their bit’. Organisations are now actively promoting inclusion and diversity. Since we announced the imminent introduction of the Inclusion & Equality charter that we’re developing at Manchester Pride, it’s been brilliant to see how many organisations, both large and small, have expressed an interest in signing up. When I started my career, I never expected that I would be championing the first large scale LGBT+ inclusion and equality charter. I certainly didn’t expect that the working world would be so passionately engaged in supporting such an initiative.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR CAREER?

I’ve always been an ambitious, focused and driven individual. However, I have experienced many difference prejudices - some that you just wouldn’t expect. I’ve learned that sometimes others simply feel that your face just doesn’t fit. One of the greatest challenges I have had to overcome in my current role is to gain the

hundreds of technically skilled people, so we need to do everything we can to increase that talent pool.

HOW HAS THE WORKING WORLD CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER COMPARED TO TODAY?

When we set up UKFast, we had to encourage people to get their businesses online. We had to explain the benefits of the internet and being connected. Now everyone is connected and the conversation has changed to optimising efficiencies and securing online business. Social media and smartphones have transformed the way we communicate, shop and consume media and with that, it’s transformed the way the world does business. Industry specific, we’ve seen the change from shared server hosting, to dedicated server hosting and now the rise and rise of cloud hosting.

trust and support of our stakeholders. When I stepped into my role, the charity was not in a good place. Many people were disengaged, disheartened and disappointed with the diminishing funds and impacts of the charity. I’m pleased and proud that the implementation of my strategy has seen us step out as one of the largest and most important LGBT+ charities in the UK which now achieves incredible impacts and is making real positive changes to the lives of LGBT+ people and our allies in Greater Manchester and beyond. I’ve always enjoyed facing a challenge, even those which have beaten me.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

Today, my idea of ‘making it’ means something altogether different to me than it did ten, or even five years ago. I now believe that success is subjective. I think it should be measured only by ourselves and set against personal goals. It should not be measured against the perceived success of others. For anybody who feels that they’re not yet where they would like to be, I guess it would be useful to remind yourself that it pays to be tenacious. The rewards of hard work seldom fail to materialise, although they may not always be immediately recognisable.


DANIELLE HAUGEDAL-WILSON Head of Technology CMO at Co-op

WHAT MAKES MANCHESTER A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN 2018?

As we saw after the Manchester Arena attack, Manchester has a very kind spirit. It has this inherent collaborative nature to it which I think really lends itself to the technology landscape of today. To be able to deliver a great product, you really need to have a collaborative spirit and have an ethnicity fusion as well. I think now even Amazon have recognised it by occupying the Hanover building at NOMA and bringing lots of really important technology jobs here which is great for the region.

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED IN TERMS OF NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH? There is a big misconception that when we say we need more people in

technology, people assume that you have to be a developer but actually there’s a lot more roles that we need to fill. We certainly need more engineers and developers, but there’s also the service side of technology. You need the researchers, the business analysts, the delivery managers - they’re all really critical roles. A brilliant guy who used to be our Head of User Research said to me that some of the best user researchers start out in call centres. They’re always on call to customers and they’re really good at user research but connecting those people with the opportunities is something that I don’t think we do very well at the moment.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

It is hard, but it’s never too late to get into the career you want to. One of our oldest apprentices in our funeral care business was in his sixties. If you find the right space, and you find the right opportunity, you will get there. If you’re interested in technology, go and find your local meet-up groups and meet people. It doesn’t matter if they know more than you, the groups

environments to work in, soft benefits and dynamic spaces that help tease out creativity. We should also celebrate and appreciate the talent that’s already here to stop it from ever leaving. Talent acts like a magnet to other people eager to emulate or learn from successes. We’ve recently been involved in the ‘This is Manchester Awards’ - a multi-sector awards celebrating talent in all areas including fashion, tech, sport, entertainment and community. It’s initiatives like this that act as a reminder of how great the city is and who some of the unsung heroes are making it all happen.

PETER BURLING Client Services Director at Brazen PR

WHAT DOES MANCHESTER NEED IN TERMS OF NEW TALENT COMING THROUGH?

Even more students! Love them or just tolerate them, new talent can come from bright minds that arrive to study here then decide to stay and make Manchester home. Businesses need to adapt to cater for the needs of a whole new generation of workforces who crave experiences over pay-packets. If you’re going to attract the best talent you have to offer amazing

HOW HAS THE WORKING WORLD CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER COMPARED TO TODAY? This is easy. In the 20 years I’ve been doing this, the way we communicate with people has changed at lightning speed. The growth of social media and the connectedness of people means things can happen and change so incredibly quickly. We went from one-way dialogue with journalists and publishers, to multiple conversations with different types of media, to today’s reality where everyone is an influencer. In addition, people have changed. Our new team of ‘Millennials’, ‘Gen Z’ even,

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– especially in Manchester – are always very welcoming and happy to help people on their way.

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MANCHESTER BUSINESSES GIVING BACK TO THE CITY?

We have a lot of talented kids out there. When those kids get to choosing their GCSEs, they’ll often apply for work experience to help make their decisions, but we’ve found that a lot of businesses don’t put much effort into giving them a really good experience. Every business will have jobs that never get done or times when lots of people are on holiday and all hands on deck tend to be needed. I would encourage businesses to look at offering paid work-experience and paid internships, really give these kids the opportunity to see what they can be, get that experience on their CV, and deliver some value to your business as well. Kids living in houses where they’re struggling to put food on the table, who are having to work jobs in shops, or warehouses - these people could be the brightest sparks, and one of the best opportunities for your pipe-line.

have different attitudes to work from the likes of when I started. The party hard, play hard, JFDI (Just F*cking Do It) attitude from when I started out in the industry has changed - this new generation is worldlier and it’s important to inspire them too because many believe finding a new challenge is as easy as swiping left (it isn’t by the way).

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THEY HAVEN’T ‘MADE IT’ YET?

The immediate answer to that question is always ‘keep going’, but I’d also ask them to make sure they know what ‘it’ is. Set yourself a goal and then work backwards to see how you get there. I’d advise setting short-term achievable goals to ensure motivation. Start by getting clear on what’s important to you. What do you value? How do you want to be perceived? How hard do you want to succeed? What will you sacrifice to get there? Be consistent in how you present yourself, how you act and work hard to develop your own personal brand. My number one mantra has always been ‘Your success is not my failure’ - it allows me to celebrate and enjoy others’ successes, to learn from and surround myself with successful people and not be phased by it.

Read the full interviews at amagazine.co.uk A-MAGAZINE 23


Bhavna’s story

Bhavna Limbachia, best known for her roles on Coronation Street and Citizen Khan, shares her very real journey to becoming one of the UK’s most talented rising actors CREATIVE DIRECTION Oliver Lilley PHOTOGRAPHY Karl Collins STYLING Steven Spencer HAIR & MAKEUP Louise McCann WORDS Bethany Lee

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B

ecoming a ‘known actor’ is a bit of a mysterious concept; it’s often portrayed as though you land a great role and wake up the next day launched into stardom. In a world where we’re bombarded with ‘overnight success stories’, Bhavna’s journey into acting comes as a refreshing tale of determination and hard graft. Bhavna sat down with A-Magazine to share the twists and turns along the way to reaching her acting dream. When we arrive, Bhavna is bright-eyed on the A-Mag set, wearing jeans and a jumper, asking if anyone wants a coffee. That’s Bhavna in a nutshell: energetic, down-to-earth, caring. As our stylist is unpacking the jewellery for the shoot, Bhavna can’t help but go to take a look at the pieces. ‘I used to own a jewellery business,’ she tells us. Throughout the day, we discover Bhavna is a woman of many talents: costume designer, owner of a vintage jewellery business, temp at Trading Standards, prime-time TV actor often wearing many of these hats at once. Having long been spinning multiple plates, Bhavna’s journey into acting isn’t as straightforward as some might imagine. Bhavna says she always wanted to be an actor, but after being discouraged by a high school careers advisor, she settled on a more sensible career in costume design. ‘In a way, I did my plan B first’ she explains. Her passion for the arts led her, firstly to college to study photography, fashion and textiles, then onto a degree in Costume Design at the (now defunct) Breton Hall, The University of Leeds. During her time at university, Bhavna took her first steps into the world of acting - although not gracing the stage or screen yet. Over the university holidays, Bhavna ‘would do placements on films or in theatres to get experience’. Once she graduated, TV, film and theatre sets became her home as she got steady work as a costume designer across the UK. But being in this world proved to be a double-edged sword.

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Bhavna explains, ‘the more I was backstage or behind the camera, the more I wanted to be in front of the camera.’ Bhavna thought that her career as a costume designer ‘would be enough creatively’, but her urge to act just wouldn’t quit. The turning point came at one o’clock in the morning on the Runcorn promenade. Bhavna says ‘The last costume job I did was Drop Dead Gorgeous with Connor McIntyre [Coronation Street] for BBC3… It was minus three degrees. I was holding Connor’s umbrella thinking “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t regret something I didn’t do - it just doesn’t make sense”’. It was time to give ‘Plan A’ a shot. The transition from costume design to acting wasn’t a simple one. Bhavna moved back home to Preston and over the next few years honed her craft whilst working a 9-5. When it came to getting costume jobs, she was used to being judged on her talents alone but auditioning for acting jobs brought with it a whole host of challenges. She says: ‘With costume, it’s about how good you are, how creative you are…with acting it was “You’re too tall. You’re too short. You’re too fat. You’re too thin.” I once went to a job and was told I was too pale to play an Asian character and I said, “I’m full Asian!”’. Industry norms came as a shock. She describes the realisation that ‘certain things in the industry weren’t as easily

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in reach for [her] as they were for a Caucasian actor’ as a ‘difficult pill to swallow’. Despite these ingrained industry standards, Bhavna remains determined to make the most of her position: ‘If you’ve got a platform to try and make a difference then you should use that platform. If it means you have to work a little bit harder than other people may have to, it’s still worth doing.’ It’s Bhavna’s resilience and work ethic that’s allowed her to succeed in a notoriously tough industry. After her debut stage role, the lead in Rafta Rafta (a comedy about marital difficulties within a close-knit Indian family living in Bolton) at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre, she didn’t work for a year. Bhavna confesses that it was ‘probably the lowest point of [her] life’. Following this, she decided to ‘start right from the bottom again’, taking temp jobs, building up her acting portfolio through student films, and setting up a vintage jewellery business as an outlet for her creativity. She says, ‘On my lunch breaks, I would go and get a Greggs pasty and walk around the flea markets and vintage markets collecting vintage jewellery and upcycling it’. Just as her business was on the cusp of taking off, she was cast as Alia in Citizen Khan and had to close the business. Even whilst starring on prime-time BBC TV, Bhavna still returned

LGBT+ people in the Asian community. Bhavna says ‘Having the platform on Coronation Street and having the opportunity with this storyline means so much to me. I did a lot of research and put my heart and soul into it’. Although she was nominated for Best On-Screen Partnership with her Corrie co-star Faye Brooks at the British Soap Awards and Best Actress at the TV Choice Awards 2018, Bhavna shies away from the suggestion that she’s made it. ‘I think I still have a long way to go,’ she says, ‘but the thing that’s probably helped is pushing myself to do things that’s scare me, staying true to myself and having a lot of respect for the people around me.’ She is grateful for the personal journey that acting has taken her on. She says ‘You often grow with a character and grow as a person in the process’. Of her Citizen Khan character, Bhava explains ‘There was no such thing as less is more with Alia - it was more is never enough [laughs]…I think I became more daring through that character, more confident.’ As has been the theme throughout her working life so far, she’s not content to choose just one path. She says, ‘I would like to have a versatile career like Charlize Theron. I’d love to do a bit of comedy, a bit of drama, some action, I’d love to do a bit of everything and push myself’. Despite her dreams for a blockbuster-sized career, Bhavna is still firmly planted in the North. ‘I’m so proud of being Northern,’ she gushes, ‘I think some of the best writers in drama have come from the North: Jimmy McGovern, Sally Wainwright. Don’t get me wrong, I love dipping in and out of London for work, but as soon as I get off that train and onto Northern soil I just feel way more relaxed and happier.’ We talk about her future and the future of the acting industry. Bhavna explains ‘I know in America it’s changing; there’s a lot of colour-blind casting, but in the UK we’re slightly behind. A lot of people are doing good work and a lot of the girls I used to audition with are now flying high, but I know there’s still a few barriers that we have to overcome.’ If anyone is putting in the graft to smash those barriers, it’s sure to be Bhavna.

The more I was backstage or behind the camera, the more I wanted to be in front of the camera to office jobs between filming the series. Bhavna’s big break came on Coronation Street in 2016. During her lunch break on Citizen Khan, Bhavna auditioned for the soap. She says ‘I ran across the bridge, auditioned, and ran back’. BBC and ITV bosses were so impressed with her that they struck a deal allowing Bhavna to star in both programmes at the same time. Landing the role of Rana, the soap’s first lesbian, Muslim character, led her to working sixteen-hour days, running from the BBC to ITV studios for her hectic filming schedule. She doesn’t take her Coronation Street role lightly. Bhavna describes playing Rana as ‘one of my biggest challenges but also one of my biggest achievements.’ You only have to look at Bhavna’s social media accounts to see her support of


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DMR Honeycomb Collection

Chanel: La Crème Main

In 1927 Mademoiselle Chanel dreamt up a luxurious hand cream and her vision continues with La Crème Main. This winter, keep your hands discreetly perfumed whilst protected from the season’s elements with Chanel’s nourishing and velvety crème formula, made from enriching ingredients of May rose and iris. With its elegant design, it’s an essential accessory for the upcoming frosty months and available at Harvey Nichols.

Personalised Ferrero Rocher

Perfect for those with a sweet tooth, Ferrero Rocher’s personalisation pop-up is coming to Manchester for the first time. Head to Harvey Nichol’s Foodmarket to get a Grand Rocher personalised with a name and message, all beautifully wrapped in a Ferrero Gift Box. Available until 30 December, this is one fail-safe way to treat your favourite chocoholic.

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Ahead of expanding their St Ann’s square showroom, David M Robinson have refreshed and re-released their ever-popular Honeycomb collection. Having had a home in Manchester for almost 40 years, it’s no surprise that the worker-bee inspired designs have gone down a treat here. The 18-carat rose and yellow gold collection includes pendants, earrings and rings that give an elegant nod to Manchester’s heritage - the perfect investment for proud and stylish Mancunians.

Louboutin: Tape à l’Oeil Eye Colour

Make your eyes pop at this winter’s festive parties with Louboutin’s new Tape à l’Oeil Eye Colour. Boasting both matte nudes and metallics, the collection offers six shades complete with calligraphystyle brushes to perfect your winter look. Pick up these beautiful bottles at Selfridges Manchester Exchange and Selfridges Manchester Trafford.


This season’s must-have items for the Manchester woman

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13 1 PHILOSOPHY DI LORENZO SERAFINI Sequined tulle top, £315 2 SAINT LAURENT Lou patent-leather ankle boots, £685 3 ORSEUND IRSIS Le Funk silk-satin shirt, £260 4 DIANE VON FURSTENBERG Shearling jacket, £2,625 5 DIANE VON FURSTENBERG Satin-trimmed striped devoré-velvet jumpsuit, £815 6 AQUAZZURA Viviana leopard-print calf hair and leather pumps, £710 7 BOTTEGA VENETA Pleated glossed-leather skirt, £2,005 8 ORSEUND IRIS Cropped ribbed-knit turtleneck sweater, £525 9 SEMSEM Plissé-lamé wide-leg pants, £895 10 RIXO LONDON Rixo London + Laura Jackson Samantha sequined crepe mini dress, £295 11 GOLDSIGN The A high-rise straight-leg jeans, £385 12 BOTTEGA VENETA Veneta large intrecciato leather shoulder bag, £2,070 13 ROXANNE ASSOULIN Gold-tone Swarovski crystal clip earrings, £160

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HAIR CARE

Cr e a t i n g

COUTURE CURLS with THOMAS HOPE

We hear from A-Magazine’s Hair Expert about how to get his key look for the winter party season ABOUT THE LOOK

We cater for a broad spectrum of looks at Artisté from natural to dramatic. My aim within this look is giving the wearer an undeniable presence when walking into their Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties. Let’s be honest, winter isn’t the time to be cosy - it’s party season, it’s time to be that little bit extra! ‘Couture Curls’ teams the 1980s voluminous vamped up curl with a glossier finish and a deep side part. After years of being a hair stylist to VIPs, I know that luxurious curls are the best way to change up your everyday vibe instantly. Glossy curls and serious volume add that extra touch to any party outfit - perfect for dancing the night away. ‘Couture Curls’ let you make a lasting impression at your winter outings, and I’m here to give you tips to create the latest Artisté look so you can have your very own magic moment.

PREP

Protect hair with Balmain Argan Moisturising Elixir and Leave-In Conditioning Spray for the ultimate duo: soft-bodied shine

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with heat and UV protection. Apply both products, then comb evenly from root to end. Squeeze excess moisture out of the hair to prepare it for heat styling.

LABEL.M STYLE BRUSH, £9.45

BLOW DRY

Make the perfect product by combining together a small amount of Balmain Couture Texturizing Salt Spray and Volume Strong Mousse in your hands for a balance of control and volume. Add this throughout the hair, combing through to spread that luxurious mix on every strand for an even hold. Using a comb, part the hair into a deep side part, making sure it’s nice and sharp to give some edge to your look. Blow dry the hair back away from the face using the label.m Style Brush to get added oomph at the root. Dry the hair in the direction you want to let it fall, so it will defy gravity longer and won’t fight you when heat styling.

BALMAIN HAIR STYLING GIFT PACK, £77.90

BALMAIN PROFESSIONAL 32MM CERAMIC CURLING WAND, £99.95


HEAT ST YLING

Once dry, section the hair and spritz with Balmain Thermal Spray. To create this spiral curl, twist the hair from root to tip before wrapping around the Professional Ceramic Curling Wand. Hold the tong horizontally to allow the curl to fall in a consistent shape. The best way to create long-lasting curls is to allow them to cool so they can set into their new shape. Allow each curl to cool, then wrap the curl back on itself and pin using a small grip.

DRESSING THE HAIR

Now for the best bit - dressing out that style to create your finished result. As you remove each pinned curl, use a backcombing brush to gently build volume at the root without knotting the hair. Always go a little bolder with height than you think you need. Add extra lift around the crown and the fringe using the Balmain Texturizing Volume Spray. This will allow the hair space to drop whilst still staying photo-ready all evening.

FINISHING

Comb one side of the hair behind your ear. Shake out those curls by putting a little Balmain Hair Argan Moisturising Elixir through the hair with your fingers or a wide tooth comb. If you want to keep those enviable waves defined for a little longer, finish with a mist of Sebastian Re-Shaper Fierce Hairspray to lock in the look. The best accessory is always confidence, so wear it with a smile and own your look. Remember, if you’d like a helping hand just reach for the Artisté app or book online to get your own personal artisan to give you your pre-party pamper. • Find out more at artiste.co.uk

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THERMI TREATMENT

Renov at io Cosmet ic Clinic

Discover your new, luxury destination for cosmetic treatments

This season is the perfect time to treat yourself and try something new. Look no further than Renovatio Cosmetic Clinic who opened their doors this winter. Their stunning converted-barn clinic is tucked away in the Cheshire countryside. The clinic makes for a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre where you can take some well-deserved time for yourself. Renovatio’s founder, Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr Sofiane Rimouche (also known as Dr Sof), and his talented team are proud to have created a beautiful space to provide the best-quality surgical and non-surgical treatments to their patients. After years of extensive worldwide education and research, Dr Sof has worked hard to carefully select a team of highly-skilled professionals who are just as passionate about helping patients achieve their desired results. For their launch, Renovatio welcomed some very special guests including Coronation Street’s Kym Marsh and Hollyoaks’ Ashley Taylor Dawson, along with family and friends for the first tour of the beautiful clinic. The red-carpet affair saw Renovatio lit up in pops of colour getting the night off to a magical start. Guests chatted away, sipping on champagne to a backdrop of chilled-out music. Some lucky guests were given a taste of the Renovatio experience with live treatment demonstrations throughout night. Combining state-of-the-art technology and a team with decades of training and experience, Renovatio treatments are all about restoring your body to its natural beauty. From non-invasive liposuction

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(SculpSure), Thermismooth and Thermiva – popular on LA’s celebrity scene – to laser skin revitalisation and hair removal, guest saw the incredible results of Renovatio’s treatments firsthand. Whether you’re popping in for an MLD facial, favoured by Kate Moss, or want to discuss something a little more invasive, nothing is more important to the Renovatio team than putting your health and wellbeing first. Not only this, but Renovatio are committed to confidentiality and discretion, so the clinic’s calming private waiting areas are there to give you peace of mind as soon as you arrive. Dr Sof says “We’re so proud of our clinic and we can’t wait to help people start their rejuvenation journeys at Renovatio.”

DR SOF AND THE RENOVATIO TEAM WITH CORONATION STREET’S KYM MARSH


RENOVATIO THE COSMETIC R EJU VENATION CLINIC

Surgical & Non-surgical Rejuvenation Treatments For Both Men And Women Our flagship clinic is located in Cheshire and serves the North West of England. Renovatio boasts cutting-edge cosmetic technology which is low-risk, tested and has a strong record of producing great results.

T: 0161 850 6818 E: info@renovatioclinic.co.uk W: renovatioclinic.co.uk ADDRESS:

Renovatio Clinic, Cherry Tree Farm, Cherry Tree Lane, Rostherne, WA14 3RZ


WELLBEING FROM WITHIN at REVIV IV therapy comes to Manchester to give our city an extra boost

Whether you’re working long hours or you’re out until the early hours, it’s easy to let yourself become rundown, but REVIV, the global market leader in intravenous therapy, is here to put your wellbeing first. Formerly IV therapy had been reserved for the wealthy and famous but Sarah Lomas, along with her co-founders, created REVIV in 2013 to bring IV therapy to the general public. A proud Mancunian, Sarah wanted to bring the REVIV experience to her home city so launched REVIV’s Manchester Clinic on St. Ann’s Square in 2018. As Manchester takes its place on the global stage, Sarah made the investment in a state-of-the-art flagship for our city. She says ‘Our global clients are very fluid. They travel between LA, New York, London and Hong Kong, and in the last year Manchester has become part of that footprint.’ REVIV is all about wellness from within. Their treatments are based on the idea that when your body is fully hydrated you’re able to perform at your optimum and your body has all the WELLNESS IV TREATMENT

REALITY TV STAR AND ENTREPRENEUR ROSS WORSWICK ENJOYS WELLNESS IV TREATMENT

tools it needs to fight off illness. Sarah explains that REVIV is the combination of ‘the Eastern philosophy of medicine, which is wellness from within, and Western medicine’. At all of the 70 REVIV clinics across the world, there’s a dedicated team of experienced medical professionals to guide you through the process and ensure higher than hospital standards. Every step of the REVIV journey has been designed to be as relaxing as possible. From cosy blankets and comfy sofas to chill out on during your treatment to numbing spray before your therapy, it’s all been thought of, so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest. When you head to a REVIV clinic, the team will take you through a screening and prescribing process to make sure you’re recommend the right therapy for you and your needs. Which treatment you have mainly depends on whether you’re well or unwell. If you’re in good health, then a Wellness IV is perfect for you, but if you’re under the weather then a Recovery IV will help you to feel fighting fit again.With the combination of hydration, vitamins and antioxidants in REVIV’s laboratory tested infusions, and a choice of five intravenous therapies and four muscular therapies, REVIV has something to give everyone

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REVIV combines the Eastern philosophy of medicine, which is wellness from within, and Western medicine CLIENTS RELAXING DURING WELLNESS IV TREATMENT

an extra boost. REVIV is a great introduction to your wellbeing routine as part of preventative health. Along with helping you bounce back after a heavy night out, REVIV’s therapies complement clean eating and regular workouts by giving you the hydration and vitamins you need to be in the best possible health. If it’s your first visit and you’re a little nervous, REVIV’s friendly team will stay with you in a private treatment room, but most regulars prefer to chill out on the loungers and take the roughly 30-40minute treatment as time just for themselves. When REVIV becomes part of your wellbeing routine, Sarah compares it to ‘women having their nails done or men going to the barber’s shop’ - another step towards feeling your best. • Find out more at revivme.com or call the Manchester clinic on 0161 834 4411

MANCHESTER’S REVIV TEAM

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A NEW WAY TO WORKOUT No mess, no faff, this is the workout Manchester has been waiting for. KOR is shaking up Manchester’s fitness scene. With Manchester expanding at such a rapid rate and the fitness industry going from strength to strength year after year it’s only natural that Manchester would become home to a new way to do fitness. Proud to be a part of the hub of independent businesses in the Northern Quarter, KOR’s founders Josh Yell and Tom Melody are here to provide a slick service that fits seamlessly into the lifestyles of Manchester’s professionals. Tom and Josh have a combined twenty years’ experience in the fitness industry and have both been successful personal trainers at Hale Country Club for the last six years. Now, they’ve decided to bring a premium fitness experience to Manchester that’s just what our city’s professionals deserve. Tired of outdated classes and sexist branding, Josh and Tom have created

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a space where effective training comes together with challenging group workouts in a luxurious setting. Gone are the days of pricey personal training sessions and annual gym contracts, KOR know that today our workouts need to be time and cost effective. That’s why there’s no joining fees or payment plans, you just download the KOR app, credit your account, book on and head to a class. You’ll be in and out in under an hour, so you can fit a class in before, after or even during work. KOR want to make your fitness journey as straight-forward as possible, so you can pre-pay for a pick-me-up from their espresso bar for when you arrive, or a post-workout shake for when you leave. At KOR, it’s all about 45-minute small group workouts only that promise big results. Make no mistake, their sessions will push you, but if you follow KOR’s week of workouts that combine the best of HIIT, strength training, top trainers and a buzzing studio energy, you’re set to work off the fat and the stress. Simply download the app to start your fitness journey with KOR today.


CLASSES AT R E VOLU TIO N

Revolution is Manchester’s first ICG indoor cycling group studio, fully equipped with brand new IC7 bikes allowing you to experience the ultimate calorie burning session. Not only do KOR guarantee you will burn some serious calories, but you will have a fun ride doing it with scenic views throughout the class on an ICG fitted screen. Each rider will have resistance levels suited to their ability along with the ICG Coach by Colour intensity guide Monitor which your instructor will supervise throughout the class ensuring that you are always performing to your best. Every session you do with KOR can be tracked in the ICG App giving you all you need to maximise your performance when you ride at KOR.

R ESISTA N CE

KOR’s resistance class combines HIIT and strength training to create the ultimate calorie burning workout in Manchester. Their unique set up of 4 stations including treadmills, dumbbells, kettlebells and the ultimate cardio killer - the Aerodyne assault bike, will ensure you blast fat and increase lean muscle. Each day KOR provide a different class to ensure they are effectively targeting all major muscle groups. At resistance classes, you can burn up to 850 calories in just 45 minutes! KOR advise you hit their Espresso Bar ahead of a Resistance session.

A TRAINING WEEK AT KOR

TIMETA BLE Mon

Upper Body

Tues

Lower Body

Weds

Core

Thurs

Full Body

Fri – Sun

KOR Ultimate Workout

Revolution classes to run 8 times daily alongside Resistance classes.

MANCHESTER

45 — 47 NEWTON ST. M1 1FT DOWNLOAD THE APP AND FIND OUT MORE AT MADEBYKOR.CO.UK


Breitling Superocean

Breitling have partnered with clothing company Outerknown to create the sleek Superocean Héritage II Chronograph 44. Inspired by our seas, the Superocean features a bold blue dial and is waterproof up to 200 metres. Designed with sustainability in mind, the econyl watch strap is made from waste fishing nets. Head to Breitling’s St Ann’s showroom to pick up your new timepiece.

Airlok Custom

Style and security come together in Hiplok’s new custom bike lock. Cycling enthusiasts can now colour coordinate their bike frame to their bike lock with this customisable bike hanger. Elegant yet practical, the triangular design means the Airlok Custom can fit lots of different bike frames. Choose your colour and finish at hiplok.com.

MiN New York: Voodoo

MiN New York Scent Stories first brought us Vol.1, a selection of scents inspired by travels and trips, Vol.2 stimulated our senses, and now comes Voodoo. Inspired by those inexplicable attractions we all feel, Voodoo combines oud, rose and patchouli in one intoxicating fragrance that’s perfect for standing out this winter party season.

Tudor 1926 Collection

DMR Manchester welcomes Tudor’s timeless 1926 Collection. Blending the traditional mechanics of the Swiss watchmaker’s past with the demands of our busy lifestyles today, the 1926 line sees steel link bracelets and opaline dials come together for a modern update on a classic look. Check out the collection at David M Robinson’s St Ann’s square showroom.

COS Flagship Comes to MCR

Say hello to COS menswear, Manchester! There are already COS concessions in Manchester’s Selfridges stores but this is the first time we’ve been able to shop the brand’s menswear ranges in the city. St Ann’s Square is set to be the home of COS’ Northern flagship and our new stop for COS’ minimalist styles.

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This season’s must-have items for the Manchester man

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1 PRADA Cotton-Corduroy Straight-Leg Trousers, £390 2 A.P.C Stonewashed Japanese Denim Jacket, £210 3 OLIVER SPENCER Talbot Mountain-Intarsia Wool Rollneck Sweater, £180 4 VANS Anaheim Era 95 DX Two-Tone Canvas Sneakers, £60 5 BERLUTI Bowling GM Leather Holdall, £3,700 6 CONVERSE 1970s Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas High-Top Sneakers, £70 7 BATTENWEAR Cotton-Corduroy Overshirt, £205 8 FOLK Striped Slub Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt, £75 9 COMMON PROJECTS Polished-Leather Derby Shoes, £405 10 BURBERRY Double-Breasted Tartan Wool Coat, £1,790 11 A.P.C Han Felted Merino Wool Sweater, £195 12 OFFICINE GENERALE Ribbed Cashmere Beanie, £120 13 GARRETT LEIGHT CALIFORNIA OPTICAL Calabar 49 Square-Frame Acetate Sunglasses, £245

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TOCCATA BESPOKE COLLECTION from KUNAL TREHAN

A-Magazine’s Interiors Expert shares the inspiration and motivation behind his latest, luxury furniture collection Over the last 10 years, along with my team at Touched Interiors, I’ve been passionate about creating true luxury for people’s interiors. Whether I’m sourcing unique products or designing rooms that have my own take on a trend, this is an extension of my natural draw to all things different and indulgent. My latest collection, Toccata Bespoke, is to mark Touched Interiors’ tenth anniversary. With this new line, I set out to prove that bespoke doesn’t have to break the bank. However much my clients spend, the value of what they’re purchasing really comes from what it means to them regardless of the price point, but I wanted to bridge the gap between high-street and high-end stores by introducing something in the middle. Even though the price points for Toccata Bespoke are lower than our signature collections, the same opulence and

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elegance that sets Touched Interiors apart is of course still there. Inspired by medallions, bronze hues and grand capitals of the world, the Toccata Bespoke Collection brings together precious materials and luxury objects with my signature twist - a desirable design. The Toccata Bespoke Collection doesn’t sit quietly. Each of these oversized pieces have a real presence about them that captures attention whist staying true to my commitment to make all of our pieces tasteful works of art. I want to encourage creativity and for my clients to sit down with me or the team and design a piece just for them. That’s why with this new collection there are no bespoke surcharges - the designs are fully customisable to the clients’ desired size and finish, and I can’t wait to work with them to create their dream space.


INTERIORS

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KUNAL TREHAN CREATING THE COLLECTION

1 THE ELEGANCE TEXTURED BAR STOOL £549-699 W 46cm; D 48cm; H 67/104cm For me, this piece is the definition of modern opulence: luxurious, textured, but by no means overbearing. The Elegance Textured Bar Stool will bring some much-needed glamour to any space. The combination of smooth and textured fabrics really draws the eye to this piece and the contrast piping is the perfect finishing touch.

2 THE MEDALLION CENTRE TABLE £1,490 130cm; H 45cm I find inspiration for my designs in many places and for this particular piece, I wanted to translate a beautiful bronze medallion into a piece of luxurious furniture. The contrast of the soft, herringbone, sateen fabric and the brown stud detailing gives the piece balance. Bronze colourings bring a luxe feel and, combined with the table’s hidden wheels, make this a stunning yet practical choice for your living space.

3 THE ELEGANCE PLEATED SOFA £3,900-£4900 W 200/250cm; D113 cm; H 83cm The Elegance Pleated Sofa really forms the heart of any room it sits in. It certainly makes a statement, but the soft bronze hue of the fabric ensures that it’s muted enough to sit alongside oversized pieces like The Medallion Centre Table beautifully. I worked hard to get the stunning pleating on the sofa just right to emphasise the soft curves that make this piece stand out. Once you’ve selected a stand out piece like this, I recommend that you build your room around it. Add in some custom throw cushions and this sofa is just begging for you to take a seat.

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4 THE UPHOLSTERED BRONZE CENTRE COFFEE TABLE, £1,490 W 120cm; D 120cm; H 40cm

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This oversized coffee table never fails to draw the eye! Combining the colourings of bronze metals with bronze stud detailing, this is certainly one piece that doesn’t sit quietly. Although this is an attentioncommanding table, the bronze mirror at its centre works to reflect any central feature lighting or detailed ceiling beautifully. As with all my designs, it’s important for me to make them beautiful and practical, so whilst the faux leather sides and edges look undoubtedly sophisticated, they’re also wipeable so you can easily keep this table in perfect condition.

• Shop these items at touchedinteriors.co.uk or visit the showroom at 26 Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 5JS

A-MAGAZINE 41


Parents in the City Steph Martin from Out And About With Kids shares her pick of things to do with your little ones this winter and her best buys for parents

Ice Village

icevillage.co.uk

Wrap up warm and head to Cathedral Gardens for a festive day out that the whole family will enjoy. Immerse yourself in an arctic experience, where you can get up close to frozen mythical creatures and beasts in the ice cavern. Travel deeper, and you will find Santa in his grotto, and good girls and boys will receive a gift handpicked by the big man himself. Finish the day with some laps of the ice rink!

Walking with the Snowman walkingwiththesnowman.co.uk

Fancy a family-friendly walk in the city with a festive twist? To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ famous story The Snowman, the team behind the Bee in the City trail, Wild in Art, have designed twelve giant snowman sculptures themed around the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. The sculptures will go under the hammer in early December to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

Lightwaves

quaysculture.com

One for the kids to remember, make a night-time trip to Salford Quays for the UK’s biggest digital light festival. Explore interactive and inspiring digital light displays that will illuminate public spaces for an extraordinary ten days. Find out what’s revealed when you join hands with a loved one in front of the ‘Heart Beat’ sculpture or visit as the sun is setting to watch ‘The Squirrel’ sculpture come to life.

Bring Your Own Baby Comedy byobcomedy.com

PHOTO: © ElyseMarks

Get ready for a cracker of a show that will keep the grown-ups and the babies entertained. BYOB is back at the Lowry Theatre on December 3rd for a Christmas special featuring Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Robert White and Live At The Apollo star (and mum of twins) Jen Brister. Your hosts for the afternoon will be baby comedy queen Carly Smallman and Alyssa Kyria aka The Funny Mummy.

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Best buys for parents

PHOTO: Gary Brown GM Multimedia

SOPHIE WEBSTER Mini White Evangeline Leather Shoes, £150

SÄTILA OF SWEDEN Unisex Grey Pom-Pom Hat, £33

Bubble

joinbubble.com This year parents can join in the winter festivities with help from the Bubble app. The app means finding a babysitter has never been easier. Parents just advertise for a sitter then choose from the vetted people that apply. All Bubble babysitters are verified and background checked and the app lets you look at reviews from other parents, so you can be sure you’re leaving your little one in safe hands.

RNCM Christmas Family Day

MOLO Unisex Disco Cotton Sweatshirt, £40

MOLO Cotton Tuxedo Print Babygrow, £50

rncm.ac.uk

Join the Royal Northern College of Music on December 16 for an afternoon of musical delight with a screening of Raymond Brigg’s classic film Father Christmas with actors and a live orchestra - a real feast for your ears! Families can also get stuck into seasonal activities, and meet the Snowman, Rudolf and Santa to really get into the Christmas spirit.

TOMMY HILFIGER BOYS Yellow &Green Sweater, £60

• Find out more at oaawk.uk • Follow @OutwithKidsMCR

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Fluid Trust Meet the bridging finance company supporting Manchester’s growth

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Helical Find out about the transformation of Manchester’s working spaces

Hamilton George Learn how the rec-to-rec specialists are nurturing new talent

Cube Leisure Cube are shaking up leisure recruitment with their specialised service

Tokyo Industries Discover the brains behind the future of night life in Manchester


ANSAR MAHMOOD

WILL JACKSON

FLUID TRUST: A NEW WAY TO LEND Meet the bridging finance company supporting Manchester’s growth

W

ith more cranes on our skyline than any other UK city, it’s clear that Manchester is on the rise. We’re seeing more businesses than ever putting down roots in Manchester and many entrepreneurial Mancs starting their own ventures here too. One of these innovative Mancunians is serial entrepreneur, Ansar Mahmood. On a mission to help Manchester grow, Ansar has spent the last twenty years driving our city’s finance industry. Through his chartered accountancy firm, Pomegranate Consulting, and property development company Legend Property Group, Ansar and his team of trusted advisors have earnt a solid reputation for helping businesses grow across the UK. Building on this wealth

of experience, Ansar has now founded bridging finance company, Fluid Trust. In today’s financial climate, it seems that banks are less willing than ever to lend. This is where Fluid Trust come in. Many businesses have the drive and ambition to expand but they don’t have the cash readily available. Securing funds from a traditional lender can often be a long process filled with negotiation, but Fluid Trust allows businesses to seize the day and take that next vital step. Whether you’ve found the perfect premises or need some new machinery but don’t have the funds to buy it, Fluid Trust provide short-term financial solutions when businesses need funding fast. Supported by Operations Director Will Jackson, Fluid Trust are committed

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT EXCITING PROJECTS AND HELP BUSINESSES GROW AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR THEM

to continuing Manchester’s rapid growth. Fluid’s loans are secured against businesses’ assets (this could be a building or even a brand) and they will lend up to 70% of the value of that asset. Will says, “Fluid’s accessible and dependable service means that we’re dedicated to assessing applications quickly and effectively”. Funds for Fluid Trust’s bridging loans are raised through Fluid Bonds. As is the company’s philosophy, Fluid’s Bond allows you to get results sooner. Fluid’s Bond is a type of Innovative Finance ISA which promises an attractive interest rate of 6% per annum fixed for the three years in which the bonds are held. Not only this, but unlike other bonds which pay interest annually, the Fluid ISA delivers interest quarterly and is tax-free for investments up to £20,000. Rather than putting your money in an account where it grows slowly, or not at all, the Fluid ISA is a smart investment that could allow you to get some extra income sooner, rather than years down the line. Ansar’s latest venture is a culmination of his experience in the world of finance and his pride for our city. Ansar says, “Having lived and worked in Manchester all my life, I’ve seen the city go from strength to strength and recognised that I could be part of giving Manchester the push it needs and deserves.” Fluid Trust are willing to take risks for the Manchester community because, as Ansar sees it, it’s not much of a risk when you’re betting on the city’s greatest asset: it’s people. “I see such an entrepreneurial drive across Manchester, especially right now,” he says, “so there’s nothing better than being able to support exciting projects and help businesses grow at the right time for them”. • Find out more at fluidtrust.com or call 0161 974 5810

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CHURCHGATE & LEE

HELICAL: CHANGING MANCHESTER’S WORKING SPACES Will Parry, Asset Management Executive at office developers Helical, talks setting a new standard for working spaces across Manchester

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anchester is changing: we’re seeing buildings rising from the ground and new areas of the city emerging faster than ever before. One company that’s part of Manchester’s rapid rise is office investors and developers, Helical. Over the last five years, Helical have invested over £120 million in Manchester, and the company’s Asset Management Executive for Manchester, Will Parry, is on a mission to help regenerate our city through the activation of real estate. Many businesses in Manchester’s traditional fringe locations, like Northern Quarter and Ancoats, have come to expect lower standards of office space. Will says, ‘The real problem is the blight of buildings staying derelict for too long and no one stepping in’. Drab décor and overcrowding are common problems that many businesses have just put up with. ‘The only way we can improve Manchester,’ Will explains, ‘is by making significant investment into buildings and managing them properly’. As the city’s traditional fringe locations become the new core, higher standards of office space are expected there and Helical are proud to be delivering this. Since 2015, Helical have acquired five properties across Manchester as part of their commitment to transform working spaces throughout our city. Will and the Helical team know that Manchester needs

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and, more importantly, deserves working spaces that are fit for purpose but that also inspire. Their approach is a simple but effective one: Will explains ‘The acid test for Helical is looking at everything that we buy and asking whether we would work in it ourselves’. It’s about giving Manchester’s people the work space they need so they can get on with what they do best. You won’t see Helical roll out the same approach across the city - in fact, at first glance, you might not spot when a building belongs to Helical at all. This is because their goal isn’t to splash their branding across a space, instead Will says that ‘every one of Helical’s buildings is designed on its own merits.’ Helical know that we don’t want to be stuck at our desks all day, so they provide booths for small meetings and break out spaces where you can brainstorm, all within close proximity to coffee shops, restaurants and transport links. They strive to enhance their buildings and embrace the areas they belong to with the needs of our working lives in mind. Taking their property 35 Dale Street as an example, Will says ‘I’m next door to Cottonopolis if I want food or a beer. I’m nearby Piccadilly Gardens if I want to get the tram home, or Piccadilly station if I’m getting the train to London. There’s Idle Hands downstairs to go to for a coffee - the owners Dave and Lucy did loads of pop-ups and then found a home here and

WILL PARRY


FIVE ASSETS IN, IT FEELS LIKE WE’RE STARTING TO HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THE PROPERTY SCENE IN MANCHESTER 35 DALE STREET

35 DALE STREET

FOURWAYS HOUSE

their success is brilliant.’ It’s not just about retaining their occupiers but also helping them and the city to thrive. Will explains ‘The hardest thing to do in this market is to recruit good people’. By consistently delivering spaces where people want to work, Helical help their occupiers to attract top talent when making new hires. More than the occupiers benefitting from happier staff, Helical’s injection of investment and introduction of proper management kicks off a chain reaction of improvements including a more attractive, but crucially safer, environment for us to live and work in. Will and the Helical team are aiming to champion the regeneration of our workspaces citywide. Will says, ‘Four years ago, when I first joined Helical, it was very hard to get people to invest in Manchester, but today there’s a huge amount of occupiers which are coming out of London and moving to Manchester.’ Helical are seizing on this shift and acquiring properties in areas they think are about to boom. Will explains ‘I think the city is going to expand quicker than any of us realise - it’s about having the vision and confidence to know that’s about to happen’. Time and time again, Helical’s predictions for popular pockets of the city have been right. Helical acquired: the Grade II listed Churchgate & Lee on Oxford Street in 2014; then the Northern Quarter’s Grade II listed 35 Dale Street in 2015; followed by 31

Booth Street in 2016; and Grade II listed Fourways House in the Northern Quarter in 2018. Helical’s latest prediction to come to fruition is the 56,000 sqft Trinity building set across seven floors near Spinningfields. Will explains ‘Trinity is one of the first office buildings being delivered around Lincoln Square. This part of the city will link the traditional CBD to Spinningfields and with 125 Deansgate under construction and Dalton Place being let to WeWork, this area is destined to be a new and interesting part of the city for office occupiers’. For Helical, it’s not just about putting their stamp on a building, it’s about making a mark in Manchester. Will says ‘Five assets in, it feels like we’re starting to have an influence on the property scene in Manchester - and I still want to do more’. Following Will’s careful reading of our changing cityscape, Helical will ensure high-quality work spaces are ready and waiting to answer the demand they know is there, and continue to champion this new chapter in our city’s redevelopment. • Find out more at helical.co.uk

A-MAGAZINE 47


O

GREG SOUTHERN

ur jobs are one of the biggest aspects of our lives. It’s where we spend the majority of our time and has a huge impact on our wellbeing. Expanding your team or making that big career move can be a daunting task. Making the right decision relies on an experienced guiding hand to help you take the next step that’s right for you. A key figure who is supporting Manchester talent on their career journeys is Greg Southern, founder of recruitment to recruitment specialists Hamilton George. Greg has seen the industry transform dramatically from the introduction of technology into the recruitment process to being associated with a ruthless reputation. Despite these changes, what remains at the heart of Greg’s approach is people. When starting his own company, Greg knew he wanted to do things differently. Greg explains ‘The most important aspect of recruiting is the human element. We have built very strong relationships with our candidates

HAMILTON GEORGE: NURTURING NEW TALENT Greg Southern, founder of recruitment-to-recruitment specialists Hamilton George, talks about his people-first service and inspiring Manchester’s youth

PHOTO: @shamm_ismail

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THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF RECRUITING IS THE HUMAN ELEMENT


and clients’. From the beginning, he made a commitment to putting people first and fostering a friendly approach. It’s these strong connections and consistent delivery of excellent customer service that’s won Hamilton George clients from boutique consultancies to multinational recruiters. This personal approach is strengthened by Greg’s own experience. Greg knows recruitment inside out: having started out as a Trainee, Greg rose through the ranks in recruitment companies across Manchester. In 2013, Greg’s recruitment journey came full circle when he set up Hamilton George. As an expert in all things recruitment, Greg’s experience has put him ‘in a good position to advise and coach other people’. Whether he’s working with his team, candidates or clients, Greg knows what it’s like to be in their shoes. He explains ‘I’ve always taken a hands-on approach in coaching candidates and ensuring that they are well prepared for each stage of their interviews.’ This comprehensive understanding of the recruitment process, from both a client and candidate perspective, is invaluable. Greg says “Strong candidates are hard to come by and the competition is fierce” but Hamilton’s George’s peoplefirst strategy has won them their fair share of great talent. The drive to deliver and get the best for candidates and clients stems from Hamilton George’s

responsiveness. Greg explains ‘We move quickly and make the process as efficient as possible for both companies and candidates. Our record was three working days from initial contact with a candidate to them accepting a job offer.’ Greg’s commitment to nurturing Manchester talent and passion for sharing his wealth of knowledge is the foundation on which Hamilton George is built. There’s no greater testament to Greg and his team’s passion than the full-circle journeys they’ve inspired. Greg says ‘We can give examples of candidates we’ve placed into recruitment, who have then gone on to start their own recruitment companies and have come back to us to help hire for their growing businesses.’ Much more than a track record of recruitment success stories, Greg’s desire to help people find the right career for them has led him to work with Manchester’s young talent. Through Ernst & Young’s ‘EY Foundation’, Greg is encouraging Manchester’s next generation to keep an open mind when it comes to careers. By sharing his own entrepreneurial story, Greg wants students to realise that ‘starting a business can be a fulfilling way to launch a career’. Keen to facilitate more success stories, Greg’s latest project is investing in other businesses that need capital to grow or launch. For Greg, the ultimate goal is to help someone on the same path he once was. He says ‘It would be great

to invest in someone else who wanted to start their own recruitment company.’ Along with upholding Hamilton George’s reputation for excellent customer service, the next step in Greg’s own career journey is enabling someone else to truly come full circle as he has done, championing Manchester’s entrepreneurial spirit.

• Find out more at hamiltongeorge.co.uk

A-MAGAZINE 49



CUBE LEISURE: EXPANDING CAREER HORIZONS Meet the man that’s transforming the leisure recruitment industry

F

rom hotels and holiday resorts to fitness centres and leisure facilities, Cube Leisure are helping place professionals into their dream jobs. The man making this happen is Craig Barclay. Having worked in both recruitment and leisure for many years, it was a natural step for Craig to bring the two together and set up specialist recruitment business Cube Leisure. It’s this invaluable insight that allowed Craig to see a gap in the market and create a specialist business that delivers a service no one else is offering. Craig says ‘I wanted to be able to serve an industry that I love and have a passion for, so it made absolute sense to use my and my team’s knowledge to support leisure candidates and clients across the country’. Working in theatres, fitness centres and holiday resorts like Haven and Warner’s for over nine years, Craig knows the leisure industry inside out. Because he has been on both sides of the process, he understands exactly what leisure professionals need from a recruitment service. That’s why Craig and his team are committed to delivering a personable, professional and memorable experience for their clients and candidates. At Cube Leisure, it’s all about taking the time to fully understand the candidates they speak with and the roles they are recruiting for. Craig and the Cube team ensure they meet each candidate face-to-face to discuss the candidates’ career goals. This, combined with their in-depth knowledge of the sector, helps them deliver a service that goes the extra mile time and time again. Over the last two years, Craig has worked hard to build a strong team that are just as passionate about placing the right candidate in the right role as he is. He says, ‘In recruitment, you are changing lives, but in leisure you could be moving someone to the other side of the country for a role - so you’re not just finding them a new role, you’re creating a lifestyle for them!’. Whether his client’s will be putting together exercise classes or providing entertainment, they’re creating lasting memories for guests and Craig is proud to be a part of this journey. Craig understands that many professionals in the leisure industry won’t want to be seen actively looking for a new job, so Cube Leisure can represent them without revealing their name and inform them of upcoming vacancies that suit them, offering a way for them to take their next career step whilst still feeling comfortable. Along with this, for larger leisure companies that want to manage their own recruitment requirements, Cube Leisure can complement in-house services by sourcing

CRAIG BARCLAY

candidates that leisure companies aren’t able to reach. Cube’s candidates and clients are always appreciative of Craig’s first-hand experience in the sector. Craig says ‘The feedback that we get from the people we have placed is fantastic, because we know we have placed them in the right role with the right company, in the right part of the country.’ You only have to look at their glowing testimonials to see Cube’s track record for making clients and candidates happy. Always ambitious, Craig is driven to continue creating success stories and by 2020 he aspires to take Cube to the international market. With the ever-expanding holiday market abroad having such a big crossover with UK holiday companies, Craig hopes to be able to give candidates a choice of roles in the UK, Europe, and further afield - helping more candidates to expand their horizons. • Find out more at cubestaffing.co.uk

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IMPOSSIBLE

TOKYO INDUSTRIES: THE FUTURE OF NIGHT LIFE

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rom buying his first club in Oldham in 1997 to now owning 36 music venues across the UK, Aaron Mellor, CEO of nightclub patron Tokyo Industries, has been the brains behind some of our biggest nights out for the last twenty-two years. Boasting sites in Ibiza, Croatia and Los Angeles, as well as Manchester’s Impossible, it’s safe to say that Aaron lives and breathes night life. Aaron’s always had that very Northern drive to get out there and do. Growing up in Oldham at the peak of Manchester’s music scene, it wasn’t until he moved to Newcastle to attend university that he realised such a rich music scene isn’t something you find in many places. He says that at the time ‘Newcastle felt a little bit musically lost’, so he started up club nights there which were the early beginnings of Tokyo Industries. Aaron describes his company as ‘one half property company, one half operator’. Part of Aaron’s job is to scour the world for inspiration for his venues. He says ‘I see a lot of trending activities first hand and I go out and hunt those things. If I hear of a new club that’s opening in Miami or Dubai, I’ll be the first to go and see it.’

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Meet Aaron Mellor, the DJ and architect designing our nights out across the world

Having a finger on the pulse of what people want from their nights out across the world is no easy task. Aaron explains that it’s not about facts and figures: ‘you can’t predict where nightlife is going in the next six months, let alone ten years,’ he says, ‘It’s a case of constant evolution and being two steps ahead of where everybody else is’. Tokyo Industries have stayed ahead of the curve thanks to Aaron’s background in architecture and as a DJ. He says, ‘There’s no other operators that I know that have got that full 360-vision of the industry that we have as a company.’ Armed with a deep understanding of spaces and still performing DJ sets around the world, Aaron has an ideal perspective from which to understand our night life needs and translate them into exciting, new venues. Unlike the high-street’s cookie cutter method where the same ideas are repeated across the UK, Tokyo Industries always take a fresh approach for each venue. Aaron says ‘A concept may work in Shoreditch, but it’s not going to work in Rotherham or Bolton, and this is the problem the high-street has got now. You have to be unique and we have to

understand each and every location that we go into.’ The building, the city, its music scene and global trends – all of this comes together to shape the character of Tokyo Industries’ venues. When it comes to UK night life, Aaron knows that times are definitely changing. It’s not enough to put on a night and just expect it to take off - our appetites have changed and in 2018, night club has become a dirty word. Today, we’re looking for ‘something more experiential and more immersive’ from our nights out says Aaron, and this is the very idea behind his Manchester venue, Impossible. The seeds for Impossible’s concept were first sown when Aaron worked on Ibiza project ‘Heart’, a joint venture between one of the world’s best chefs Ferran Adrià and Cirque de Soleil. He wondered why no one was offering a similar concept in the UK and decided it was only right to bring the first taste of a night of this calibre to his home city. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Tokyo Industries take on unloved, and often unusual spaces, and reenergise them. Aaron says ‘I’ve always purchased architecturally curious buildings…Because


THE FACTORY

ALPINE LODGE

IMPOSSIBLE

IT’S A CASE OF CONSTANT EVOLUTION AND BEING TWO STEPS AHEAD OF WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE IS AARON MELLOR

of my architectural background I’m able to see sense in things that other people can’t’. With Impossible in particular, this couldn’t be more true. The Peter Street building is a glass triangle with half its space underground which Aaron has now transformed into three distinct floors: a gin nest, a ground-floor bar and dining space, and a subterranean club for up to 600 people. Aaron is very aware that, especially in today’s financial climate, customer’s time is expensive to them. This is why he’s passionate about creating new concepts to excite them every day of the week. From ‘Mentalist Mondays’ where mind reader Luke Jermay tells of the audience’s past and predicts their future with astonishing accuracy, to Saturday’s ‘Casa Loca’ which sees dancers, contortionists, and opera singers grace the stage in the ‘Theatre of Impossible’, Aaron is always providing immersive experiences for us to get lost in. This has even caught on with the corporate crowd looking for something different for their work celebrations. Aaron says ‘Corporate hospitality is getting

bigger and is also moving away from the traditional spaces it once belonged to’. Tokyo Industries’ 360-vision means that they’re able to create and execute bespoke concepts for corporate clients ‘in a way that a hotel or a traditional hospitality space probably isn’t quite adapted to’. From speed-networking in the bar’s booths, to private parties in the gin nest, or even going all out for club experiences downstairs, Impossible promises something to excite us whether it’s for work or play. For Aaron, Impossible was his chance to give back to his home city - the place that first inspired his love of music and night life. He says ‘Creating more high-end concepts in Manchester is my way of giving back to the city’. Winning a host of awards for Impossible, including Best New Venue at the 2017 Late Night Awards, Aaron describes as ‘quite humbling, especially when you’re competing against ten million pound spends in London. You don’t realise how far you’ve come from that one club in Oldham twenty years ago’.

• Find out more at tokyoindustries.com and be-impossible.com

A-MAGAZINE 53


MANCHESTER’S

HOTTEST STARTUPS

N E T WO R K I NG EVENT ROSSO RESTAURANT & BAR

sponsored by

ARAITZ HARMENS AND CHLOÉ COTARD FROM JOLIE STUDIO

Find out what happened at our exclusive networking event

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XAVIER CABALLÉ AND REBECCA TESSLER FROM JD STUDIO

GLYN JONES FROM ULTIMATE FINANCE

professionals in the city and it was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and potential business contacts.’ The night gave startup founders a chance to share the highs and lows of setting up your own business here in Manchester. Amy Brown from Love Creative said ‘It was really inspiring to meet so many creative startups and hear their experiences of starting their own businesses’. During the night, we heard from our social-savvy sponsors Engage Hub, an agency dedicated to social media engagement and influencer marketing, about the amazing work they’re doing for Manchester businesses and international brands. We’re proud to have helped connect so many great Manchester businesspeople and to welcome some new faces to the A-Family. We can’t wait to do it all again at our next networking event in early 2019! If you’d like to get involved with A-Magazine’s future networking events, please email info@amagazine.co.uk. @amagazineuk #amagazinemcr #mcr20startups

PHOTOS: Carl Sukonik @ The Vain Photography

F

or our latest networking event, A-Magazine once again brought together the A-Family: our network of influential Manchester professionals. This time, the focus was on A-Magazine’s 20 Hottest Startups. Manchester is famed for its entrepreneurial spirit, so for A-Magazine’s autumn issue, we wanted to recognise some of Manchester’s most exciting startups and hear the stories of their founders. Our selection of startups champion the Mancunian spirit of getting out there and making your vision a reality. At our event, we welcomed teams from our Manchester startups along with some of the city’s influential professionals for a night of celebration and connection at Rosso Restaurant & Bar. The A-Family were treated to Prosecco and delicious canapes courtesy of Rosso surrounded by stunning white festive decorations. Professionals from finance and fashion to recruitment, tech, and hospitality came along to spend the evening with us. Glyn Jones from Ultimate Finance said ‘A-Magazine hosted a perfect event; it was great to be able to meet and network with people from startups in the city who have such huge potential - the talent in this city is phenomenal.’ We loved finding out about new projects our startups are working on since being featured in A-Magazine and learning about the great work they’re doing for our city. Libby Witherden from Solid Ground said ‘A-Magazine truly champions young


AMY HARRISON FROM D&D LONDON

CRAIG BARCLAY FROM CUBE STAFFING

AMY BROWN FROM LOVE CREATIVE; CARMA MASSON FROM PLAYGROUND

STEPHEN POWELL FROM VIPER; DOMAIN ESDALE FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD; CRAIG DAVIES FROM VIPER

MASA PRASTALO FROM TATE DIGITAL; DAN SHIDLOW FROM AUSTRALASIA

LIAM MANTON FROM DIDSBURY GIN

ALEX KEENAN FROM PADOQ

MARTHA MOORE AND AMY BUCKLE FROM ROLAND DRANSFIELD; ANTONIO GIANSANTE FROM BGN

NATALIE WILSON, CHARLY BOOTH AND ASHLEY OPENSHAW FROM ENGAGE HUB

MATTHEW JONES FROM POMEGRANATE CONSULTING; EDDIE LEWIS FROM FINAL STAGE

FRANKY ROUSELL FROM JOLIE STUDIOS; REMI AKANDE

MATTHEW JONES FROM POMEGRANATE CONSULTING

JACQUI BLAND FROM BROADSTONE

A-MAGAZINE 55


MCR P R O P E R T Y

Find out the latest about Manchester’s booming property scene

K AMPUS Say hello to Manchester’s newest neighbourhood, KAMPUS. Henry Boot Developments and Capital&Centric are reviving the neglected area of our city on the doorstep of Piccadilly and Gay Village. The former Manchester Metropolitan University site is undergoing a £250 million makeover. It’s all about the urban garden here: the lush green hangout will draw on laidback European culture. Championing independents, there will be two floors of bars, restaurants and shops surrounding the garden. The space will also have 553 apartments in two new blocks that are set to open in summer 2019. The project sees Little David Street given a complete overhaul to become a shop-lined alley with outdoor seating and a brand-new square off Chorlton Street being created. Currently on track to complete in 2020, there will be plenty to explore at KAMPUS!

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THE FACTORY St. John’s neighbourhood is set to welcome a new addition in the form of cultural space, The Factory. Building on the success of Manchester International Festival, the space will commission and present the world’s most exciting artists, as well as playing host to epic concerts and immersive experiences. Manchester’s creative talent will get a welcome push from The Factory’s programme of backstage training and skills for people living across GM.

NEW CHAPTER FOR MIDL AND HOTEL The iconic Midland Hotel enters a new chapter as it’s sold for £115 million. New owners, Swedish hotel investment company Pandox and Fattal Hotels Group will give the much-loved building a £11 million makeover. Home to 312 bedrooms, Adam Reid at the French, Mr Cooper’s, a spa, gym and 14 conference rooms, it’s one hell of an undertaking that’s set to step up Manchester’s luxury hotel offering.

THE LONDON WAREHOUSE Formerly The Place Aparthotel, operators Native and David Archer of Archer Humphryes have transformed the historic building into The London Warehouse. The fresh look embraces the cast-iron columns and wrought-iron girders of the building’s industrial past and boasts 166 luxurious suites. Not just for tourists, The London Warehouse is a must-visit destination for Mancs too. Ready to go for work and play, The London Warehouse will be home to an all-day Bistro, co-working space, flower shop, cocktail bar, mini cinema and outdoor terrace courtesy of Bistrotheque. Break a sweat at art and fashion-inspired gym, BLOK - the company’s first site outside of London.

KENDALS TRANSFORMATION Manchester city centre is transforming rapidly: a change none of us can ignore is the closure of 180-year-old department store Kendals. The store that’s been a firm fixture of many Mancs lives closes in January 2019. This is another big step in the changing face of Manchester and we’ve no doubt that investors will be hard at work planning what’s next for this distinctive Deansgate block.

A-MAGAZINE 57


EAR TO THE

INDUSTRY IN

KEEP YOUR THE TECH

GROUND ABOUT

MANCHESTER

TECH TITANS

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WITH

ENGAGE

We talk to Charly Booth, Head of Influencer Marketing at Engage Hub, about what makes influencer marketing work FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW, WHAT IS INFLUENCER MARKETING?

Influencer marketing is the use of influential people within a particular sector to promote a certain product. You can easily reach your target market through an influencer who has an audience filled predominately with your target demographic.

DO YOU THINK PERCEPTIONS OF INFLUENCER MARKETING TODAY ARE ACCURATE?

Even though influencer marketing has been around for a few years now, many brands still struggle when choosing the correct influencers which is why you often see the same celeb faces promoting anything and everything. IM is much more than just putting a product on someone’s feed with 1 million followers, it’s about assessing their audience, the credibility, the ROI and creating a campaign concept.

HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS?

We’re seeing more visibility on what is an ad and what is gifted products, along with Instagram’s option to add ‘paid promotion with’ above a post, clearly marking it as an advertisement. As with many marketing techniques, audiences become wise to the constant plugging of different products and immediately switch off when they see the same few faces promoting a new fitness tea for example, so brands often won’t see a big ROI when going for this approach in their campaigns. With my campaigns, I always create a larger concept that the influencers are a part of; we make everything genuine and authentic, and we never use influencers that aren’t totally invested in the product and are comfortable recommending it to their audience. Influencer marketing is all about transparency.

TECH TITANS

INFLUENCER MARKETING

HUB

around the brand, their product and their ethos. We evoke emotion from our target audience and get consumers invested in the brand. We also include influencer engagement in our campaigns whereby influencers interact with one another in the same campaign to strengthen audience engagement and authenticity. Our campaign for toothpaste BlanX took them from being a forgotten brand to having every micro influencer and blogger trying their products and talking about them online. The main consensus online after our micro influencer campaign was, ‘Im seeing this brand everywhere! Where can I try their products?!’.

WHAT SORT OF BUSINESSES IS INFLUENCER MARKETING RIGHT FOR?

Sometimes businesses think it only works for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands, but it can work for any brand as long as you do the correct research into your audience and create an engaging campaign concept. It’s all about sourcing the correct people. Our campaign with Betfred for the world cup worked incredibly well; we sourced influencers in sporting to take part, not only that, our whole campaign revolved around engagements and the influencers commenting on each other’s posts, giving banter about who they supported for the world cup. It made the campaign so much more authentic and their audiences loved watching the influencers banter with one another.

HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT AN INFLUENCER MARKETING CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDS FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

WHY IS INFLUENCER MARKETING A VITAL TOOL FOR BUSINESS’ MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IN 2019? If done right, it’s an amazing marketing technique that offers amazing ROI. You’re able to tap into niche audiences easily, you’ve got complete control of the creative process and who sees the posts.

By working closely with the influencer to create the best content possible, we work out peak engagement times, and assess content that their audience will react best to. We make sure we feel confident that our influencers care about the brand and their ethos as much as we do. It’s amazing to work with an influencer on a campaign who genuinely loves the brand’s message and wants the campaign to succeed. We also provide in-depth analytics at the end of the campaign (these are monitored throughout) to make sure we’re meeting targets and reaching our audience, second by second as the content is delivered online.

WHY IS INFLUENCER MARKETING A KEY SERVICE FOR ENGAGE HUB?

HOW DO YOU THINK INFLUENCER MARKETING WILL CHANGE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?

We knew the power that influencers harnessed, and how valuable their content creation skills were. With myself already heavily invested in following content creators, bloggers and influencers on the rise, we had the perfect foundations to develop the influencer side of the business and begin building our roster and campaign concepts.

WHAT MAKES ENGAGE HUB’S APPROACH TO INFLUENCER MARKETING DIFFERENT?

Micro influencers are already on the rise and there’s no stopping it! We’re definitely already seeing a huge crack down on fake followers and engagement. Personally, I would love to see Instagram roll out the ‘paid partnership’ feature to all influencers on their platform so everyone can disclose their ads in the same way. • Find out more at engagehub.co.uk

We go further than a single post with #ad, we create a narrative

A-MAGAZINE 59


INSPIRING

Manchester

to build our future

MANCHESTER INTERVIEWS BUSINESS TECH PROPERTY FOOD TRAVEL

amagazine.co.uk @amagazineuk


TECH TITANS

SOCIAL MEDIA IN

HOSPITALITY

Jack Appleton, Community Manager at Innside by Meliá Manchester, shares his top tips for taking social media in hospitality to the next level CONTENT IS KING One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to social media in hospitality. Five years ago, it was fine to roll out the same content across all of your platforms, but today it just won’t cut it. Content is king and it’s more important than ever that you get it right. Post regularly and consistently and make the investment in quality content. Unprofessional images aren’t going to get you any new customers, so invest in great photography or, even better, great video content. You need to figure out what platforms work best for your brand and tailor your content accordingly. If you’re finding that guests regularly geotag content when in your hotel using Instagram, it’s likely a large portion of prospective guests and customers sit in this space too. For Innside, LinkedIn is key. A common mistake is just to scroll through the feed looking for posts asking for business recommendations, but it’s lazy - and people know it. Set out to be a trusted source; jump into other conversations and share your expert opinion - this way you’ll enhance your reach and be first in mind when a potential client is looking for a venue or hotel. Don’t be afraid to partner up with other brands and organisations. It’s not always all about you and your industry - sometimes the best engagement comes when you’re sitting alongside another brand, talking about each other in a positive way. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure you see the absolute value in partnering with them. Ask yourself, can you champion each other in the social space? At Innside, we partnered with a Rugby Union team - not an obvious choice for a hospitality brand, but thinking outside of the box worked and drove awareness and traffic to our channels.

stamp on it. Make sure you budget for adverts on social media. It’s incredibly cheap and, if used correctly, can bring lots of new business through your doors. More importantly, to make sure you get the most from social ads, understand your analytics so you can measure the results of your efforts. Don’t forget that the social media landscape is constantly evolving, so whoever is looking after this space for you needs to be researching all of the time. There are a ton of free tools, guides and e-books, so read, listen to what’s changing, and adapt as best you can.

C R E AT E A N A R R AT I V E I often hear that hotel ‘x’ or brand ‘y’ is more ‘traditional’ so social ‘doesn’t work for them’, but there’s really no excuse. Your customers are in this space - you should be too. Prospective guests are buying into experiences on social media and if you aren’t showcasing your brand as an experience through great content, then they aren’t buying into you. It’s so important to give whoever is managing this space in your business creative license. Social media is, of course, subjective and you won’t always nail it the first, or even second, time, but it’s about working together to carve out a distinctive voice for your brand. Consider: What makes your venue different from its competitors? What sort of experience do you hope to give every person that walks through the doors? Who do you want to see at your venue? How does your venue and brand fit into this person’s life? Brainstorm ideas using questions like these and then build your narrative around it. • Follow @innsidemcr

PL AN, PL AN, PL AN Picking up and putting down social media management is a huge bugbear of mine and I see lots of hospitality businesses doing it. There’s a direct connection between prospective guests browsing your social profiles converting into paying guests, so social media needs to sit at the top of your priorities. You have to make a consistent commitment to your social channels - not just with your budget but with your time too. Excellent customer service is of course important, but it comes once your guest has made up their mind to reach out and connect with you. You need to be ready and waiting! At Innside, social media is very much a team effort. We’re always sharing ideas on WhatsApp groups and over email to make sure that we’re constantly evolving. Discuss all of your ideas and come up with a social strategy for the coming weeks and months that you all agree on. Always remember to be honest with yourself and think about what you can realistically execute. There’s no point over-committing yourself and doing things halfheartedly. Take a look at what comparative brands are doing and think about how you could adapt this concept and put your own

A-MAGAZINE 61


TECH TITANS Fitbit Charge 3

Bose QC35 II

Wireless headphones are must-have for modern life and the popular Bose QC 35 II gets a fresh update courtesy of Google Assistant, as well as a new choice of colours. Bose are pushing boundaries with the QC35 II being the first time anyone has integrated Google Assistant in a headphone. The latest model boasts the same whopping 20-hours of battery life along with a new action button on the left ear cup to activate Google Assistant. No need to unlock your phone, just press and hold the

TECH

Trackers make up a huge portion of wearable sales on the market today and Fitbit’s much-loved trackers are heading to the next level with the Charge 3. Along with features that we know and love, like up to 7 days battery life and 15+ goal based exercise modes, the Charge 3 is making our fitness journeys better than ever before. Whether you’re just taking a shower or you’re hitting the beach, the Charge 3 is water resistant up to 50 metres. It’s swimproof design means all you have to do is use Swim Mode and it’ll track your laps and pace in the pool. Ready to come along on our active workouts, Fitbit Charge 3 is made of an aerospace grade aluminium case and Corning® Gorilla® Glass, so it’s now more durable and the OLED display is almost 40 percent larger and brighter than its predecessor with crisp graphics to help you celebrate when you smash your goals. In a Fitbit first, the Charge 3, along with the Fitbit Ionic™ and Fitbit Versa, has a Sp02 sensor which allows it to estimate changes in blood oxygen levels. By tracking your breathing in this way, the Fitbit can help pinpoint indictors of allergies, asthma or even sleep apnoea. Using this Sp02 sensor, trackers with advanced 24/7 PurePulse heart rate tracking will create a Sleep Score, a kind of MOT for your snoozes, that allows you to

62 A-MAGAZINE

button and then start talking. This voice access means it’s now easier than ever to put on your go-to playlist, call your friends, or find out what’s on at your local cinema that day. Don’t worry if you’re walking down Manchester’s busy city streets as the QC 35’s noise cancellation dramatically reduces unwanted sound around you, leaving you with your Assistant or Bose’s epic audio performance to make the most of your favourite tunes. Available for £329.95 at bose.co.uk

3 6 0 Our roundup of the latest tech that should be on your radar this season understand your sleep quality and what factors affect it. For just £20 extra, you can opt for the Special Edition (£149.99) which lets you make contactless payments using Fitbit Pay. Available at fitbit.com/uk for £129.99

Honor 8X

Honor’s latest model, the 8X, proves that you can have top of the line tech without breaking the bank. The sleek smartphone benefits from a 91% screen-to-body ratio. This huge display means it seems like you’ve got a cinema in the palm of your hand when watching films or TV series onthe-go. Budding photographers are in for a real treat with the AI dual camera that makes getting that perfect highresolution shot easier than ever. The new device’s powerful chipset and big battery life promises it can meet the demands of our busy lifestyles today. Available at £299.99 at hihonor.com


TECH TITANS

I LOVE MCR APP

Manchester is in for a treat with I Love MCR’s new offers app Delve into Manchester’s rich food and drink scene with the new I Love MCR app. The app is set to be a hit with Manchester’s foodies, offering top deals and discounts at restaurants and bars around the city. Download the app for free or upgrade to a VIP membership which gives you access to exclusive offers, events and rewards for just £5 a month. As every offer has a value of £5 or more, VIP members will save their membership fee from their first use of the app. If you’re a Manchester police, fire or medical worker, then you can enjoy VIP membership for free as a little thank you for all your hard work, courtesy of I Love MCR. Not only this, but users are able to give back to the city through optional donations of any savings from the featured offers to the We Love MCR Charity, which helps to improve the lives and life chances of people across Greater Manchester. For a tailor-made experience, just switch on your ‘Location Services’ and the app will show you the best offers near where you are in the city at that moment, so it’s easier than ever to take advantage of great deals.

The I Love MCR app is all about celebrating our city’s venues, allowing locals and visitors alike to make the most of all the amazing things that Manchester has to offer. Available on iOS and Android, the app might just help you find your new favourite watering hole or brunch hotspot. • To download the app, visit ilovemanchesterapp.com

A-MAGAZINE 63


TITANS IN TECH We speak to Manchester’s tech professionals about the rise of business intelligence in the city DA MI AWOBA JO HEAD OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE & MOSAIC IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME MANAGER AT OLDHAM COUNCIL

TO THE PERSON ON THE STREET, WHAT IS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE?

It is the art of turning anything that can be measured into meaningful information that serves a purpose.

HOW DO BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM USING BI?

From my perspective, it takes out guesswork about how to provide great services for the residents of Oldham, it identifies new and more efficient ways of doing things and it allows us to know how well we are doing as an organisation and how well we are serving the residents of Oldham.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE IN YOUR ORGANISATION?

Here in Oldham - it is central. We take evidence-based decisions informed by business intelligence - you can see that in how it has informed our thriving communities’ work.

WHAT INSIGHTS DOES BI ALLOW YOU TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR RESIDENTS AND HOW IS THIS USEFUL? The insights allow us to understand the aspirations

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of residents, their needs and what they want in their communities. That is really useful for an organisation like ours, which delivers such a wide range of services, to know and understand.

WHY IS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE IMPORTANT FOR THE GROWTH OF MANCHESTER?

Having meaningful information that serves a purpose is vital to Greater Manchester. It allows us all to plan for population growth, continue to develop an inclusive economy and design public services that support all our residents.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES MANCHESTER NEED TO INVEST IN BI?

The region as a whole needs to continue to invest in the digital economy, continue to invest in smart infrastructure and drive forward platform interoperability.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF BI IN MANCHESTER?

The future of BI in Greater Manchester will be more predictive analytics and an increasing use of machine learning to inform ever more complex decisions. An exciting future!


TECH TITANS GUILL AUME LECOUTEUX BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ARCHITECT AT GREENERGY

HOW DO BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM USING BI?

DANIEL MILL ARD ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AT MEDIACOM

TO THE PERSON ON THE STREET, WHAT IS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE?

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve tried to explain this to my fiancé without realising he doesn’t hold quite the same excitement for data as I do. To me, BI is the art of merging and analysing countless streams of data to measure the effectiveness of ‘something’. Whether it’s a service, a project, a campaign or an entire business, it’s so much more than just producing spreadsheets of numbers. The sole purpose of any BI function is to provide detailed insight which can then be used to drive action and impact the day to day, as well as keeping a focused eye on the bigger picture.

HOW DO BUSINESSES BENEFIT FROM USING BI?

It still surprises me how so many businesses today don’t understand their own data and don’t see it as an asset. I’ve worked with several companies over the years who either had very little or no BI and were sitting on mountains of data they didn’t know what to do with. BI does so much more than just report the facts! When done right, it highlights the problems and tells you what you need to do to fix them. Once a business understands the true value of what they are sitting on, it becomes transformative.

WHAT INSIGHTS DOES BI ALLOW YOU TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR TEAM AND CLIENTS AND HOW IS THIS USEFUL?

Some of the key things it helps us understand is how efficient and productive we are at whatever it is we’re doing. For example, if we’re running a new advertising campaign for a client, BI can help us understand if we’re using the right media channels at the right time, if

we’ve got our TV spots in the right place, even down to how effective a specific piece of creative has been. Having this level of detail allows us to make real-time adjustments to campaigns to reach wider audiences in the most optimum ways. From an inward-looking perspective, BI is invaluable as a performance management tool. Helping us understand our people, their strengths and weaknesses, where we can support them to improve and drive further efficiency for the business.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES MANCHESTER NEED TO INVEST IN BI?

A big (and obvious) piece of investment for me would be in BI apprenticeships. A lot of people either don’t know what BI is or assume you need a degree to even think about working in BI which just isn’t true. I left school with a handful of GCSEs, my working-class circumstances meant I didn’t get the opportunity to go to university (which surprises a lot of people!), but it also meant that I started working a lot sooner than most people and quickly amassed a lot of experience and up-skilled myself whenever I could. I was lucky because analytics was relatively new, but I don’t think many could follow my path today. Apprenticeships would attract more people into this field who may not be naturally academic, you just need a love for data and a passion to want to make things better! The big sticking point in advancing BI is the sharing of data. Obviously, we are living in a post-GDPR world where this may now be more difficult but getting the most out of data means working collaboratively - having some sort of intra-city BI think-tank or working group could potentially help to pull down some of the barriers and certainly get people thinking about the ‘big data’ picture.

Read the full interviews at amagazine.co.uk

With the increasing profusion of internal and external data it can be really difficult to get any insight of what is going on inside or outside of an organisation. Business intelligence is a set of concepts, processes and tools to support, measure, visualise, distribute and analyse business indicators relevant to a business, a market or an organisation.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS?

The core idea of our business intelligence function in the company is to improve the way departments and the business as a whole measure and report their performance.

WHAT INSIGHTS DOES BI ALLOW YOU TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS AND HOW IS THIS USEFUL?

Our BI platform helps to assess and improve our business model by assessing customers’ data such as sales.

WHY IS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE IMPORTANT FOR THE GROWTH OF MANCHESTER? It’s important for Manchester’s businesses to help identify their strengths and weaknesses against the competition and differentiate themselves.

WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF BI IN MANCHESTER?

Manchester could help to raise awareness of BI concepts. The city is an attractive place for talent and I would be glad for business intelligence communities to grow in the area.

A-MAGAZINE 65


TECH TITANS

A NEW ERA

FOR MANCHESTER AIRPORT See Manchester take flight as our airport is transformed 2019 welcomes the rise of Manchester Airport. As the travel hub enters it’s 80th year of service, it gets a new lease of life thanks to a £1 billion transformation. This exciting refresh sees the airport become a gateway to the East. They’re taking it to the next level with this development as it’s the biggest investment Manchester Airport has ever had, along with the construction programme being one of the largest in the North of England. This is good news for our city’s workforce as over 1,300 people will be working on site, including 90 apprentices.

TERMINAL 2 TRANSFORMED

The project sees Terminal 2 extended to more than double its current size, allowing our city to welcome more global passengers than ever before. The five-floor building boasts panoramic windows with views across the airfield, as well as an extra 60 units for shopping, drinking and dining. Alongside Terminal 2’s refurbishment, the second pier is due to open in 2020, followed by a third pier in 2024. Once the entire project is complete, the new-look terminal will be able to handle 35 million passengers!

ROUTES TO MUMBAI, A D D I S A BA BA A N D T E L AV I V

Our city’s increasing global connections sees Manchester Airport invest in new routes that embrace our links with the East. The first direct Manchester to Mumbai flight launched in November 2018. The UK’s only direct service to Mumbai outside of London is set to deliver a £400 million boost to the North over the next five years, creating an extra 2,000 jobs in the city. Before the new route had launched, Jet Airways upped the service from four to five weekly flights showing the increasing economic ties, and strong demand to travel between the two cities. The service will run every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with return flights available from £391. Not only this but, Ethiopian

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DR CHARLOTTE SHI

MUMBAI SKYLINE

Airlines launches flights to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in December 2018, offering four flights a week from £499 return, along with Israeli airline El Al offering a direct flight to Tel Aviv from May 2019, operating three flights per week from £289 return.

NEW MARKETING MANAGER

Manchester Airport has hired a new Airport Marketing Manager Dr Charlotte Shi. Formerly a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing & Branding at Nottingham Trent University, and a Project Consultant for Unibail-Rodamco in Paris, Dr Shi received her PHD right here from the University of Manchester. Her appointment comes after the launch of The China Dividend: Two Years In, a report that looks at the economic and social benefits felt by the North of England since Hainan Airline’s Manchester-Beijing direct service started in 2016. The new position sees Dr Shi take charge of Hainan Airlines’ marketing scheme, as well as leading Manchester Airport’s Chinese social media. As a fluent English and Mandarin speaker, Dr Shi’s global mindset is sure to help put Manchester on the right track.


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JAGUAR

XE

Efficient, powerful, everything you expect your Jaguar to be, but with some added extras - say hello to your new ride THE RIGHT GEAR FOR ANY CONDITION

Whether you’re speeding down snowy motorways or going off road this winter, the XE has got you covered. With a six-speed manual transmission, and an eight-speed automatic transmission available, the Jaguar XE is always ready for wherever your day may take you, offering the best gear for any condition.

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TECH TITANS

SEMI-AUTOMATIC PARK-ASSIST

Take the guess work out of your drive and let the XE deal with the rest. Ultrasonic sensors measure your parking space and allow the car to steer itself during parallel and bay parking maneuvers, along with an exit-assist function that’ll guide the XE out of the space. All you have to do is keep control of the brakes and accelerator.

L ASER HEAD-UP DISPL AY

Always ahead of the curve, Jaguar are taking things high-tech with the XE’s Laser Head-Up Display. Virtual, colour images ‘float’ two-metres in front of you showing essential information like traffic signs, vehicle speed and turn-by-turn navigation, making sure you keep your eyes on the road ahead at all times.

ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Focus on enjoying your drive and give the hard jobs to the XE. The car makes light work of motorway journeys with the ACC system’s long-range radar scanning the road ahead to maintain a pre-set distance from cars in front of you. Equipped with Traffic Sign Recognition, the XE can read speed limits and keep you driving at the right speed, as well as initiating emergency braking if it detects an impending collision. • Find out more at jaguar.co.uk

A-MAGAZINE 69


Forget Berlin, Tbilisi is the new go-to European destination

TBILISI GEORGIA

Tbilisi - probably not the first destination that springs to mind for your next getaway, but Georgia’s capital is carving a new identity for itself that’s drawing travellers from across the globe. Georgia, a former Soviet Union republic, has been shaped by many years of war and poverty with older generations often tying it to its troubled past. Today, Tbilisi is going through a creative boom with new artwork and stylish hotels across the city springing from Georgia’s young peoples’ passion to change their country for the better. Much more than just providing an

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PHOTO: Jaanus Jagomägi

STA Y MOXY TBILISI

marriott.com/hotels/travel/tbsox-moxy-tbilisi Moxy by Marriott is known worldwide for its Instagram-able interiors that are much-loved by millennials. Far more than an undeniably stylish hotel, Moxy Tbilisi represents the city’s fun, forward-thinking youth culture. The boutique hotel draws guests from far and wide with the wealthy from the world’s biggest cities flying in for Moxy’s bi-monthly parties for 600 fabulous guests.

injection of investment into Tbilisi, the city’s Moxy hotel is one way that the area is now embracing the Western world. The hotel provides a safe space where staff feel at home and want to welcome you into the moment with them. At Moxy, ideas are exchanged, and guests and staff alike can let loose in a way that was discouraged in the past. Grab a glass of ‘chacha’ (Georgian brandy), sit down together and hear the locals share their story and their hopes for the future. Something we often take for granted in Manchester is our flourishing art and fashion

scene. Out of Georgian’s desperation for change comes a huge influx of incredible art. Walk around any of Tbilisi’s central parks and you’ll find artwork and sculptures from local and international artists along with neighbourhood craft markets. Opening up the city as a space for new culture, Tbilisi also play host to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Georgia’s premier fashion event. Exciting projects like Art-Villa Garikula were founded in the city as well: artists from around the world, like Gregg Fleishman known for his huge sculptures at Nevada’s Burning Man

festival, are invited to stay at the Art-Villa and create their work on the property’s grounds. Whilst we’re beginning to put restrictions on our night’s out here in Manchester, Tbilisi’s night life scene is exploding with pioneering clubs like Bassiani and Khidi embracing freethinking beliefs and rivaling the likes of Berlin’s Berghain. From raves to rallies, the city’s young people are championing change and a visit to Tbilisi is the only way to truly understand the emergence of this new Georgian era alongside them.

A-MAGAZINE 71


DO

KETO AND KOTE

EXPLORE THE CITY

BLACK LION CAMORA BASEMENT

E AT & DRIN K KETO AND KOTE

facebook.com/ketodakote Tucked away in Vera, an older, bohemian area of Tbilisi, is a beautiful, historic Georgian house that’s been transformed into restaurant, Keto and Kote. It’s a little tricky to find but trust us it’s worth it for the incredible food and local wines. It doesn’t get much more authentic than traditional Georgian dishes cooked by Georgians themselves. In the warmer months, enjoy your food out in the courtyard along with stunning views of the city. Make sure to order local brandy ‘chacha’ for a true Georgian experience

BLACK LION facebook.com/blacklion.ge

Get ready for a Georgian feast at Black Lion. This hideaway is home to flea-market furniture and china, making for a laid-back, intimate feel where original takes on hearty Georgian dishes are served. Chefs offer up their own regional favourites making for a foodie fusion that sees the likes of ‘Khachapuritos’, a take on chicken and beef quesadillas, and ‘Ghobi’ a must-taste bowl that’s packed with cheeses, pickles and breads to share between friends.

CAMORA BASEMENT facebook.com/camorafabrika

Barbers by day and bar by night, Camora Basement takes multitasking to the next level. The oldschool babershop offers some of the coolest cuts around and hot towel razor shaves. Stop by for a fresh cut and then a cocktail or two as night falls.

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Take to the streets and get exploring Tbilisi on foot. As you walk around, you’ll notice the growth in the area. The influence of wealth and youth culture is coming through with coffee and wine shops like Skola Coffee & Wine Bar popping up. Local boutiques sit alongside high street favourites like H&M, but if you fancy a shopping spree that’s a little different, then support local makers at Tbilisi’s craft markets. Get a dose of culture with a stroll around the park near Moxy hotel and spot sculptures by Georgian artists.

KHIDI CLUB khidi.ge

KHIDI CLUB

Hidden under a bridge next to a river, this former industrial space is now a two-room techno club that beckons techno lovers far and wide for its floor-filling sets. Party into the early hours here and experience Tbilisi’s thriving techno scene.

BASSIANI bassiani.com

Getting into this club is compared to getting into the famous Berghain in Berlin. Bassiani want make sure that the right crowd get in so it’s a safe space for people to let loose and have fun into the early hours. More than a club, for locals, Bassiani has become a much-needed destination to escape in a city that has been hampered by conflict. BASSIANI


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The Italian island boasts something for everyone

SARDINIA

C LA SSIC ME DITER R EAN GETAWA Y HOTEL MARINEDDA

hotelmarinedda.com/sardinia/en When you try to imagine what an Italian paradise might look like, it doesn’t get much closer than Sardinia’s Hotel Marinedda. The 5-star setting and the untouched landscape come together for slice a Mediterranean bliss. Naturally pink

74 A-MAGAZINE

granite rocks, sandy bays and clear seas make for the perfect place to chill out and recharge - along with the beach bar for some cocktails in the sun. DO When staying at a hotel with one of the biggest spas in the Mediterranean, it’d be rude not to indulge in a treatment or two.

Boasting four pure seawater pools and two saunas, Hotel Marinedda is the ideal spot to relax and renew. If nothing else, you have to make use of the Hammam with views overlooking La Marinedda bay. Delve deeper into Sardinia’s North-West coast with a guided sea excursion from Isola Rossa harbour to discover the beauty of La Maddalena and the Corsican Archipelago.


Hotel Capo d’Orso

The spa’s Thalasso saltwater pools

C OUP LES E S CAP E

The view from the President Suite

HOTEL CAPO D’ORSO hotelcapodorso.com/en/

Nothing says romance like this 5-star secluded Italian escape. Tucked away amongst junipers, wild olive groves and sandy beaches, Hotel Capo d’Orso is all about privacy. Stroll along the beaches and discover hidden hammocks and secluded coves that feel like little corners of the world that you can have just to yourselves. At the end of each day, the hotel’s luxury Sardinian suites with private verandas make for a welcome hideaway.

Hidden hammock

EAT Start your day with a dose of romance by eating breakfast at Gli Olivastri where you’ll be serenaded by the hotel’s resident harpist, surrounded by olive trees and sea views. When in Italy, it’s only right that you tuck into a traditional woodfired pizza that’s cooked to perfection at L’Approdo. DO A must-do for your romantic retreat is a helicopter flight over the National Park of the Archipelago of La Maddalena to truly

appreciate the Italian island’s stunning natural beauty. Feel closer than ever with a couple’s massage outside amongst the Mediterranean gardens, followed by a plunge in the spa’s Thalasso saltwater pools. If you’re looking to soak up the sun (aren’t we all), then opt for a Turkish bath as a great way to prep your skin for the sunshine. Create some magical moments with a boat excursion, straight from the hotel’s marina, to do some dolphin watching out on the crystalclear waters.

The spa

EAT What better way to while away your evenings than by enjoying a mix of Mediterranean dishes whilst taking in views of the bay at Petra Ruja. For something a little more special, head to Punta Canneddi for a candlelit dinner with waiter service. Candlelit dinner

The Hotel Marinedda overlooks the Marinedda bay

A-MAGAZINE 75


Xhxyxhxyxhxyx Xhxyxhxyxhxyx

F A M I L Y G E T A WAY

Family activities Xhxyxhxyxhxyx

HOTEL ERICA

hotelvalledellerica.com/en/ Nothing is more precious than time spent with family. With our hectic schedules it means that those two weeks booked off during the summer really have to be unforgettable. It’s not always easy holidaying with little ones but Hotel Erica is designed with families in mind, taking the guess work out of your getaway. Hotel Erica is home to 148 luxurious junior suites with the option of interconnecting family suites for a little extra space. Chill out in the hammock on your private veranda, or go all out with the President Spargi suite that has a private plunge pool for you to take a dip in overlooking the La Maddalena Archipelago.

DO Set in 28-hectares of scented shrub-land, sparkling coastline and sandy beaches, Hotel Erica is a Sardinian sanctuary where family memories are made. If you’re in the adventurous spirit, visit nearby ancient village Santa Teresa Gallura, or take to the seas with a boat excursion to the to the islands of the Archipelago of La Maddalena and Southern Corsica which leave from the resort every day. Don’t let the kids have all the fun mountain-biking, windsurfing, kite-surfing, diving, private helicopter charters, sportfishing and sailing cruises should be

76 A-MAGAZINE

enough to get your heart racing. If working up a sweat is your thing, then hit the gym or practice your swing on the golf course.

EAT With seven restaurants across the resort, you’ve got just enough time to try all of them and find a firm favourite. Head to La Prua on the sea-front to enjoy chef’s specialities with amazing views, have an alfresco dinner at beachside Li Zini in high season, or visit hilltop restaurant Li Ciusoni where you can whip up your very own Sardinian dishes at one of their complimentary cookery classes.

FOR THE KIDS Just for the kids, Mini Club Ericaland – open every day from 9am-11pm – promises to keep them out of your hair for a few hours at least. Switch off your brain for the week thanks to the resort’s complimentary nursery

with bottle service, highchairs, pushchairs, sterilizers and baby food. Gamers are in for treat as Nintendo Wii, Play Station, or X BOX can be arranged for children aged from ten to thirteen. Indoor and outdoor play areas give them plenty of space for fun, along with special experiences like the Robinson Crusoe Adventure day where they can head out in a canoe to explore uninhabited beaches bordering the resort.

FOR THE GROWN UPS Between work and little ones, it’s easy to feel frazzled, so take some time for yourself at Hotel Erica’s Thalasso & SPA Centre ‘Le Thermae’. Set amongst granite rocks and Mediterranean herbs, Le Thermae offers four seawater swimming pools to indulge in. Book in for a massage or beauty treatment for some well-deserved relaxation • Book your 2019 summer getaway at delphinahotels.co.uk/sardinia/


VISIT ORLANDO, FLORIDA Escape to Florida this year! Stay in this luxury Davenport villa in a gated

community that’s just a 10-minute drive from Walt Disney

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unforgettable holiday.

For more details visit floridavilladavenport.co.uk


78 A-MAGAZINE

Here’s our guide to making the most of the Big Apple

NEW YORK CITY


PHOTO: Andre Benz

THE KNICKERBOCKER

STAY

ROOFTOP BAR, ST. CLOUD

sipping on champagne in a plush Sky Pod high above the city.

THE KNICKERBOCKER theknickerbocker.com

LIBRARY HOTEL libraryhotel.com

A stay at the 5-star Knickerbocker gives you luxury right in the heart of Times Square. A great hub to explore the city from, The Knickerbocker is just a few blocks away from must-visit spots like Broadway for a big show, or Fifth Avenue for some retail therapy on what’s considered one of the most elegant and expensive streets in the world. No stay at The Knickerbocker is complete without a visit to the rooftop bar, St. Cloud. It doesn’t get more luxurious than

Prepare to be schooled in the best way at the boutique Library Hotel. Each floor is themed to a school subject with books and art on the topic decorating each of its luxury rooms. Make the most of the daily continental breakfast and 3-hour wine and cheese reception to kick off your adventures in the big city. From the Library Hotel you can make your way around midtown Manhattan and the city beyond from Grand Central Station.

LIBRARY HOTEL

AER LINGUS

Aer Lingus, Ireland’s only 4 Star airline, currently operates up to two flights per day to New York, seamlessly connecting UK travellers via Dublin from Manchester where they can preclear US Immigration before they step on board their flight, which saves from lengthy queues upon arrival into the US. Fares start from £199 in Economy Class and £829 in Business Class each-way including taxes and charges. For further information please visit aerlingus.com.

A-MAGAZINE 79


TO DO CHELSEA MARKET chelseamarket.com

HOTEL ELYSÉE

HOTEL GIRAFFE

STAY HOTEL GIRAFFE hotelgiraffe.com

Luxury décor and a laidback vibe come together for a top-notch NYC stay at Hotel Giraffe. Set in the NoMad neighbourhood, just north of Madison Square Park, Hotel Giraffe is a great place from which to explore the renowned shops and restaurants in the area. Try to stay in a room on the twelfth floor for amazing views of the city, or if you’re in the mood to splurge then go for The Piano Suite - Hotel Giraffe’s penthouse that was Mr Big’s apartment in Sex and The City: The Movie.

HOTEL ELYSÉE elyseehotel.com

Two of the world’s greatest cities (after Manchester, of course), Paris and New York, inspired Hotel Elysée. Parisian style lends some old-school grandeur to this hotel that’s just steps from famous department store Bloomingdale’s. Take in views of the city from the very same suites that were once home to NY’s stars of the past from famed writers to big screen heros.

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Built in the former National Biscuit Company factory where the Oreo cookie was produced, this indoor food hall in the Meatpacking District is Mackie Mayor on steroids. Arrive hungry and make your way through this foodie’s paradise that boasts vendors selling everything from coffee and cheeses to wine and nuts. More than great food, look out for brands from local designers and New York scene favourites like Moscot eyewear. When you arrive, head to Ninth Street Espresso for a coffee and Fat Witch Bakery for a sweet treat - and then get browsing!

CHELSEA MARKET THE HIGH LINE

THE HIGH LINE thehighline.org A historic freight railway line elevated above the city streets was transformed into this raised public park in 2009. Some locals were concerned at first about the amount of noise The High Line might bring, but now it’s a huge part of the community that celebrates nature, art and design. Enter The High Line in Chelsea at street level and wander the 1.45 mile walk, that’s surrounded by greenery in the summer months, and enjoy city views at a slower pace over the bustling streets.

BROOKLYN Take an afternoon to explore this iconic NY borough. A walk over Brooklyn Bridge brings you into the DUMBO (short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighbourhood. Delve deeper beyond the river and you’ll find great restaurants like: Misi for simple but delicious Italian in South Williamsburg; Llama Inn for Peruvian THE MET

dishes and Latin cocktails, and the ultrachic FREEHOLD for day-time parties leading into Brooklyn’s buzzing nightlife scene.

THE MET metmuseum.org New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is a must-visit on your Big Apple bucket list. The iconic building hosts the annual Met Gala for the world’s most fabulous, and features in famous flicks like Cruel Intentions, The Thomas Crown Affair and When Harry Met Sally. Have your very own Madonna moment on the steps outside before heading in to explore exhibitions like ‘Armenia!’, which celebrates the countries art and culture over fourteen centuries, and ‘The Art of Native America’, which features sculpture, pottery and drawings from Native American artists.


THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER

EA T & DRIN K BEST FOR BRUNCH

CAFETERIA cafeteriagroup.com Cafeteria serves American comfort food in the heart of Chelsea. Open 24-hours a day, this foodie hotspot has become an NY institution for late-night grub and weekend brunches. It’s a sleek, laid-back place to enjoy a flat white and ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ (ham steak pesto and goat cheese scrambled eggs with buttermilk biscuit) order it, you won’t be disappointed.

MAMAN mamannyc.com Inspired by childhood memories and recipes from the founders’ mother’s, Maman brings together French and North American cuisine to delight your inner child. Loved by locals and visitors alike, Maman has locations across New York. Their main menu changes every day but a must-try for brunch is the ‘Truffle Croque Maman’ with parisian ham, comté cheese, and homemade truffle béchamel sauce on brioche, topped with a fried egg. If you’re tight for time, grab a coffee and one of Maman’s chocolate chip cookies that are said to be some of the best in NY.

THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER thebutchersdaughter.com

At this ‘vegetable slaughterhouse’, it’s all about - yep, you guessed it - veggies. Completely vegetarian and mostly vegan, this restaurant and juice bar in the West Village boasts Instagram-able interiors in a modern twist on an old-fashioned butcher shop. When you visit, order the

MAMAN

KOBRICK COFFEE CO.

‘Pesto Quesadillas’ (flour tortillas filled with mozzarella cheese, baby spinach, avocado and walnut pesto, served with salsa) or the classic ‘Avocado Toast’ that’s said to be the best in the city.

BALTHAZAR balthazarny.com

BEST FOR COFFEE

KOBRICK COFFEE CO. kobricks.com/café

If Guinness did coffee shops, it’d probably look something like Kobrick Coffee Co.’s café. Serving everything from flat whites to espresso martinis, this is a coffee lovers heaven. Brunch and light CAFETERIA bites are on offer during the day, but as darkness falls the café whips up coffee cocktails until 4am, offering the perfect way to get your caffeine-fix and keep the NY party going.

BEST FOR SPLURGE EVENING ME AL

BUDDAKAN

buddakannyc.com Lavish and luxury, treat yourself to Buddakan’s PanAsian dishes surrounded by ornate chandeliers and surreal art. Sip on cocktails and share a selection of dim sums between friends, or go big with the

‘Mongolian Lamb Chops’. Found beneath Chelsea Market, this is just one NY spot to live your Sex and the City dreams as Carrie and Mr Big’s rehearsal dinner was filmed here.

BUDDAKAN

The UK caught the Balthazar bug in 2012 when its Covent Garden restaurant opened, but a visit to the original is a real treat. Set in SoHo, the busy brasserie is famed for its Parisian style and incredible fish. You might just think you’ve been whisked away to Paris as you tuck into seafood and shellfish surrounded by French speakers.


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BEN HOWARD

10

FILMED UP DECEMBER 2018

18-6 Jan ▼ AN EVENING OF ERIC AND ERN AT CHRISTMAS

Manchester Academy

2

O2 Apollo

▼ KATIE MELUA The Lowry

Manchester Arena

10

THE OVERTONES

11-5 Jan

DR DOLITTLE

12

DEF LEPPARD

13-22

SLÄPSTICK

13

DMA’S

HOME

SIX

5

MABEL

6-8

DARA O’BRIAIN

6

FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS

The Lowry O2 Ritz

The Lowry

Manchester Arena

7 THE SOUND OF MADNESS

Manchester Arena

8 - 9

BLOSSOMS

Victoria Warehouse

82 A-MAGAZINE

ANDRE RIEU

Victoria Warehouse

21

JOOLS HOLLAND ND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA

Manchester Arena

O2 Apollo

22

SLADE

14

A TRIBUTE TO MANCHESTER 2018

31

NYE AT STORE STREET

14

BURY TOMORROW

31

▼ KENDAL CALLING NYE

Manchester Academy O2 Ritz

16

RAZORLIGHT

16

LILY ALLEN

4-16

20

The Lowry

St Peter’s Square

Palace Theatre

The Lowry

Manchester Arena

WICKED

Victoria Warehouse

The Bridgewater Hall

14 UNVEILING OF THE STATUE OF EMMELINE PANKHURST

4-5 Jan

Albert Hall

10 BLACK STONE CHERRY

YEARS & YEARS

O2 Apollo

HOME

2

Opera House

O2 Ritz

Albert Hall KENDALL CALLING NYE

Manchester Academy The Warehouse Project – Store Street Victoria Warehouse

31 MANCHESTER NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS

Albert’s Square


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W H AT ’ S O N ? 1

JA N UA RY

NYD AT STORE STREET The Warehouse Project – Store Street

2-3

▼ THE NUTCRACKER

4-6

SNOW WHITE

7-8

ADAM KAY – THIS IS GOING TO HURT

The Bridgewater Hall

The Lowry

The Lowry

9-26 ▼ THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Opera House

JERSEY BOYS

18-19

MOSCOW CITY BALLET SWAN LAKE

24

SAM AVERY – THE LEARNER PARENT

19

JUDY COLLINS

24-26

THE STREETS

19

SYMPHONIC CINEMA- STRAVINSKY & RAVEL

25-26

FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS

22-26

SATURDAY 25 NIGHT FEVER

24

▼ THE 1975

9

Palace Theatre

St Ann’s Church

The Bridgewater Hall

Palace Theatre

Manchester Arena

SANDI TOKSVIG LIVE

11

A BOWIE CELEBRATION

14-15

ARCHITECTS

17

▼ MOSCOW CITY BALLET ROMEO & JULIET

O2 Apollo

Victoria Warehouse

CONFETTI AND CHAOS The Lowry

25-27 NATIONAL TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

National cycling centre

25

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Albert Hall

Manchester Arena

27

THE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW

O2 Ritz

The Lowry

29-16 Feb ▲ JERSEY BOYS

Victoria Warehouse

Palace Theatre

ROMEO & JULIET

84 A-MAGAZINE

The Lowry

26-27 STRICTLY COME DANCING

10 SPEED MATE-ING WITH GIRL GANG MANCHESTER

People’s History Museum

The Lowry

Palace Theatre

29

PARKWAY DRIVE

29

MASSIVE ATTACK

30

O2 Apollo

Manchester Arena

▼ SNOW PATROL

Manchester Arena



W H AT ’ S O N ? 15

LOST VOICE BOY

15

WHITE DENIM

The Lowry

Albert Hall

16 SLASH FT MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS O2 Apollo

17 MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL GOSPEL FESTIVAL

The Stoller Hall

18- 23

THE FULL MONTY

19

POST MALONE

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL

FE B RUA RY 1

1

GORGON CITY Albert Hall

KAISER CHIEFS 02 Apollo

1 WINE AND CHEESE TASTING

6 SOUL LEGENDS FT LEMAR

22-24

THE LIFE I LEAD

25

PETAL

Manchester Arena

HOME

26-23 Mar ▲ MOTOWN THE MUSICAL

MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN

Opera House

27

BILLIE EILISH

▼ PROFESSOR BRIAN COX

BOYZONE

9

▼ ANNIE Opera House

STEELY DAN

THE ANIMALS AND CHILDREN TOOK TO THE STREETS

2

21

6-16

DON BROCO

2-16

Palace Theatre

THE DEAD SOUTH

1-2

Manchester Arena

6

8-2

19-30 Mar LES MISÉRABLES

The Bridgewater Hall

The Castlefield Hotel

Victoria Warehouse

Manchester Arena

Opera House

O2 Ritz

Royal Exchange Theatre

Manchester Arena

The Lowry Gullivers

Manchester Academy

27- 2 Mar NANJING

Royal Exchange Theatre

28

▼ FATBOY SLIM

Manchester Arena

28- 3 Mar IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE

9

THE SPITFIRES

10

MATT RICHARDSON

11

WILD NOTHING

12

THE MURLOCS

14-15

CHVRCHES

14-17

BILLIONAIRE BOY

14

HIPPO CAMPUS

3

ENTER SHIKARI

3

DAVE GORMAN

3

OZZY OSBOURNE

Manchester Academy The Lowry

Manchester Arena

3 ROGUE VALENTINE FAIR

The Frog and Bucket

5 BUCKCHERRY & HOOBASTANK

O2 Ritz

86 A-MAGAZINE

The Lowry

Gorilla

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Victoria Warehouse The Lowry O2 Ritz

FATBOY SLIM


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