Mcr12 Spring

MCR

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Manchester City Region Magazine

Whitworth Art Gallery: The Gallery in the Park Opening Summer 2014

Spring 2014

GAME CHANGERS 125 Years of The Football League

20 September 2013 - 27 April 2014 Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, M4 3BG

Open 7 days a week Fresh food served in the cafĂŠ every day 2 minutes walk from Manchester Victoria

Images courtesy of Mirrorpix, Popperfoto / Getty images & Stuart Clarke

National Football Museum is a registered charity no 1050792

Follow us: @footballmuseum facebook.com/NationalFootballMuseum nationalfootballmuseum.com

FREE ADMISSION OPEN DAILY

FIRST WORDS phenomenal turnaround as a club. Team GB Cycling made the ‘Velodrome’ their home and have bagged more Olympic medals since then than entire competing nations. And the Aquatics Centre on Oxford Road has helped Manchester establish itself as a European base for the best swimmers in the business.

A great legacy, I’m sure you’ll agree.

So what does 2014 have in store for us? Well, over at Old Trafford, David Beckham is once again drawing the crowds, although this time in the form of a special exhibition dedicated to his career and impact on ‘the beautiful game’.

United’s neighbours at IWM North are all set to lead the region’s commemorations to mark the First World War Centenary. At the helm Stockport’s own Diane Lees, the directorgeneral of Imperial War Museums.

There’s also the re-opening of two of Manchester’s most important buildings – the Whitworth Art Gallery and Central Library.

Both are landmarks of the city and their content a highlight of our cultural offering.

Welcome to the latest issue of MCR – the destination magazine for Manchester.

In 2014, Glasgow will be presented with the same incredible marketing opportunity that Manchester was in 2002 – host city of the Commonwealth Games.

From 23 July to 3 August, the eyes of the world’s media will be firmly fixed on the Scottish city – as they were on Manchester some twelve years ago.

What is perhaps more important is that Manchester (and the country, in some cases) continues to reap the rewards of those twelve days of sport in 2002 to this day.

Man City’s move from their Maine Road base to the Games’ stadium (now re-branded the Etihad) was arguably the first step of their

And that’s just four things we’ve got to look forward to. Keep an eye out for our ‘What’s On’ pages for more details of the big events, festivals and exhibitions taking place in Greater Manchester in the coming months.

If you’re planning a trip to the Manchester, make sure to follow @visit_mcr on Twitter – and if you want to learn a little more about the work that my team and I do to promote the city around the world, follow @marketing_mcr.

Enjoy the read.

Andrew Stokes Chief Executive, Marketing Manchester November 2013 marketingmanchester.com | @marketing_mcr

On the cover Queer Contact Queer Contact develops work and presents events throughout the year, for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities of Greater Manchester. Each February, as part of LGBT History Month, this programming converges in a week-long series of events featuring the best performance, music, spoken word, and theatre with local young people and performers interacting with the best UK and international talent.

Queer Contact 2014 will take place from 6 -15 February 2014. contactmcr.com

The Whitworth Art Gallery The Whitworth Art Gallery re-opens to the public in summer 2014 following a £15m development that will transform the 120-year-old gallery and connect it with the Whitworth Park around it. The new Whitworth will feature an elegant, contemporary extension of two new wings, together with extensive refurbishment of the current space which will reveal hidden areas of the historic building. whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Contents Features 06 - 09

IWM North ‘Top 10’

What’s on 42 - 44

Charlotte Czyzyk of IWM North takes us through her top ten experiences that a visitor to the museum should enjoy in 2014.

Retail therapy: Barton Arcade

10 - 11

Tucked between Deansgate and St Ann’s Square, Barton Arcade is one of the city’s retail hidden gems.

Antarctic architecture, Goldfrapp, Scottishness and David Beckham.

38 - 39

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Conflict uncovered Check out these other attractions across Greater Manchester that explore the various aspects of conflict: The Fusiliers Museum in Bury, the Air Raid Shelters in Stockport and the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in Tameside.

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46 - 49

Which night out are you?

A ‘great night out’ means something different to each and every one of us. Take our quiz to work out what Manchester has to offer you.

56 - 57

Mike Todd takes a look at the ‘great and the good’ of Manchester’s university alumni.

Festivals The future, gardening, music and history.

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Music & Performance Albert & Joey, Stockport in the 70s, Beethoven and Miranda.

Gallery in the Park The Whitworth Art Gallery is currently closed for a major redevelopment that will see it embrace its neighbour, Whitworth Park. We take a look at the plans.

What Manchester thinks today

Exhibitions

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LGBT History, sports, vigils and bears.

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Sport Ironmen, racket sports, runners and bikes.

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Saved for the city

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The first in a new series looking at buildings saved from the brink. In this issue, we look at Gorton Monastery.

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Rediscovering England’s North West: A VisitEngland bucket list road trip

Snapshots

Kate Lo takes us on a foodie road trip around the North West.

The Manchester Food Matrix Whether it’s lunch with the girls, Afternoon Tea with mum and dad or you’re looking to impress on a first date – we’ve got your meals in the city covered.

Greater Manchester

Bellowing smoke and the bustling noise of clattering mills, right? Try the scent of chocolate and aroma of brewing hops. Introducing the beauty of Bury.

The Queen of Cottonopolis Watts Warehouse on Portland Street is a landmark of the city and a ‘grande dame’ of the Industrial Revolution.

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The beauty of Bury Cockleshell Heroes, vintage cars, the sea and chocolate.

Craig Easton captures some amazing street scenes.

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Oxford Road The heart of ‘student Manchester’.

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The last word Bernard Donoghue talks tourism.

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Anita Street So clean they named the street after it. All will become clear.

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Whitworth Street West Nightlife in the city’s railway arches.

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Angel Square Manchester’s newest neighbourhood, NOMA.

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Toad Lane Home of The Co-op.

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Contributors Craig Easton Craig Easton is known for his dramatic landscape work and intimate portraits of real lives. His early career was defined by his work for the groundbreaking Independent newspaper in London and he has since gone on to win numerous awards for both his commissioned work and personal projects. His personal work is deeply rooted in the documentary tradition often mixing portrait photographs with his love of landscape.

He was awarded the Cutty Sark Award for Travel Photographer of the Year 2012 and his prints are held in public and private collections worldwide. craigeaston.com

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Kate Lo

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Manchester Voices 04 - 05

Diane Lees

Useful stuff 92

The IWM chief gives us the lowdown on their plans to mark the First World War Centenary and the museums in her home town of Stockport.

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Transport information Accessibility could be our (rather boring) middle name. It’s true though – we have all the rail, bus, coach and tram services we could ask for. Well, until High Speed 2 comes along.

John Clarke & John Robinson Fancy a pint? A real pint that is. Introducing the men behind the first Manchester Beer & Cider Festival, coming in 2014.

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Kate is a 'general northern mix' born in West Yorkshire to Scouse parents, schooled in Preston, studied French and Spanish at Liverpool’s John Moores University and now a proud resident of Manchester. A welltravelled civil servant with a passion for writing and food, who's travel blog about the 'Tales of Diplomatic Janet' detailing madcap adventures and foodie exploits whilst touring Costa Rica, Mexico, China and Turkey.

Gavin Sharp

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Manchester Airport Did you know our airport’s route network is bigger than Heathrow’s? We have direct flights from over 200 destinations around the world. Save time, fly direct!

As the CEO of one of Manchester’s most iconic music venues, Gavin Sharp brings some of the world’s most talented musicians to the city.

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Barry Priest

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Queer Contact is Contact Theatre’s contribution to LGBT History Month. One of its producers, Barry Priest, discusses the line-up for 2014.

Gary Neville

Designed & Published: Marketing Manchester, November 2013

James Humphreys A trip on the Orient Express is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience for most of us. For James, it’s his day job – and one he loves like mad.

Helen is a journalist who has worked for most of the national newspapers, including The Guardian, The Times and The Mail on Sunday. She also writes for The Big Issue in the North and, in a previous life, worked as a broadcast journalist at the BBC. She is founder and editor of the Northern Soul website, a celebration of all things Northern. northernsoul.me.uk / @nugehelen

Helen Tither Marketing Manchester Carver’s Warehouse, 77 Dale St, Manchester, M1 2HG T. +44 (0)161 237 1010 marketingmanchester.com visitmanchester.com

Already a United legend, Gary Neville is now building a hotel opposite his former workplace. We take a look at the plans.

Helen Nugent

Photography: David Lake, Jonty Wilde, Jan Chlebik, Ben Page, Craig Easton, Joby Catto & VisitEngland Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy in this publication, Marketing Manchester cannot accept liability for any loss or damage arising from its use. As changes often occur after publication date, it is advisable to confirm the information given.

The information contained within this guide is copyright and no part of the guide may be reproduced in part or wholly by any means, be it electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the publishers.

Marketing Manchester is the agency charged with promoting the city-region on a national and international stage. Visit Manchester is the Tourist Board for Greater Manchester and is a division of Marketing Manchester. They are funded by 360 commercial members and the organisations below.

Freelance journalist and TV assistant producer Helen Tither confesses to a life-long love affair with all things Mancunian, having filmed and written about the area for 13 years. Former women's editor at the Manchester Evening News, she recently won a BAFTA for Best Children's Factual Programme with Manchesterbased Nine Lives Media. @HelenTither

Mike Todd Mike Todd is a documentary film maker and is director of Manchester production company Riverhorse. He has produced and directed numerous films that have been broadcast around the world. Mike previously worked as a United Nations spokesperson in Kosovo and is an Associate Fellow at the University of Manchester's Brooks World Poverty Institute. @RiverhorseUK

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Manchester Voices

Diane Lees In 2014, people across the world will come together to mark, commemorate and remember the lives of those who lived, fought and died in the First World War. Here, the directorgeneral of IWM (Imperial War Museums) talks to us about their role in the centenary and gives us the lowdown on the museums in her home town of Stockport, Greater Manchester.

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IWM is leading a special First World War Centenary Partnership to deliver the programme of cultural events and activities. How do you even begin to plan such a high profile task?

It’s a massive task which has taken years in the planning - we established the First World War Centenary Partnership back in 2010.

The First World War was a turning point in world history. The first total and global war, it claimed the lives of millions of people across the world and had an impact on the lives of everyone.

We are a national museum which was founded in 1917, while the war was still being fought, to collect and display material as a record of everyone’s experiences during that war and to remember the men and women who took part either at home or on the front. Our ambition is to help people understand the causes, course and consequences of this remarkable global event which took place 100 years ago – and how it still impacts on our lives today.

The First World War Centenary Partnership (a growing network of over 1,400 local, regional, national and international members) will present a programme of cultural events and activities. They are organised by not-for-profit cultural and educational groups, large and small, in order to mark the centenary in a way that is meaningful to them. This collective international programme, in addition to the large-scale national events, will enable millions of people to discover and commemorate the First World War. In early 2014 we will launch an innovative way for people to engage with the Centenary digitally. Livesofthefirstworldwar.org brings material from across the world together in one place and will inspire people of all ages to explore, reveal and share the life stories of those who served in uniform and worked on the home front. By the end of the centenary we will have built the permanent digital memorial to more than eight million men and women from across Britain and the Commonwealth and saved their stories for future generations. You can sign up to get involved now at: livesofthefirstworldwar.org

Tell us about IWM North’s flagship exhibition for 2014.

It opens on 5 April (2014) and we are in the process of uncovering some extraordinary and surprising personal stories. This will be the largest exhibition ever created exploring how our original modern city, and the North West, was both shaped by and helped shape the First World War. As the first industrial city in the first industrial war, Manchester made a significant contribution to the global events of the First World War. The exhibition will feature objects and stories never before on public display. Throughout the exhibition we will be creating immersive, interactive experiences to bring this fascinating story vividly to life. It will challenge our thinking about the First World War and reflect on how it has shaped our world today.

Accompanying the exhibition will be a major events programme each month including world premieres of music, dance and art, exploring new ways of looking at the conflict after 100 years. Visitors to London from July will also be able to visit our groundbreaking new First World War galleries at IWM London.

Last year, IWM North celebrated its 10th anniversary. Do you have any personal highlights of those first ten years in Manchester?

I am extremely proud of IWM North. It is an integral part of the IWM family (our other branches being IWM London, IWM Duxford, HMS Belfast and Churchill War Rooms) but importantly, both for IWM and for Manchester, it is a world-class museum in its own right, winning over 30 awards since it has opened (including being named one of the top four Large Visitor Attractions in England three times) and attracting over three million visitors.

The fantastic building which has been named as one of the top ten buildings in England was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind to represent a globe shattered by conflict. It has given us the chance to be a museum that does things differently. We

offer unique experiences, showing off our incredible collections through our immersive Big Picture Shows and providing daily object handling sessions. It is an unforgettable visit for all ages. My favourite quote from a visitor to IWM North recently is that it’s an experience that is “exceptional... makes you feel something to your very core”.

We have originated some groundbreaking special exhibitions at IWM North too over the past ten years which have attracted international critical acclaim including the photography of Don McCullin and our exhibition on War Correspondents. We have never been afraid to talk about contemporary conflict either and be a centre for discussion and debate.

IWM North is one of three national museums in Greater Manchester – the others being the National Football Museum and the People’s History Museum. What do you think of your competition?

Manchester is one of the best cities in the world for heritage and culture and the quality of these venues is first rate. Visitors to Manchester and, of course, Manchester residents are very lucky people! My other favourite venues include Manchester Art Gallery, The Whitworth, MOSI, Manchester Museum and The Lowry. It’s been very exciting to see The Quays develop into a great visitor destination too over the last couple of years.

You’ve worked in the museum industry for many years. As a Stopfordian (that’s someone born in Stockport, Greater Manchester) you must be proud of the Air Raid Shelters, Hat Works and Staircase House.

Of course! My mother used to take me to work when she worked at Stockport Museum and from being eight years old I never wanted to do anything else.

For more information about IWM iwm.org.uk For more information about the First World War Centenary Partnership: 1914.org

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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The Imperial War Museum North The Imperial War Museum North – or IWM North for short – is a landmark of the city on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal.

In 2014, it will play a key role in events across Greater Manchester to commemorate the First World War Centenary. Here, Charlotte Czyzyk from the stunning venue’s research team tells us of her ten favourite things to see and do at the Museum.

The First World War field gun

Big Picture Show

IWM North contains thousands of unique objects on permanent display, some large, some small, but each telling a remarkable story, revealing how war shapes people’s lives. One of the most striking is a 13 pounder Artillery Piece that fired the British Army’s first shell of the First World War in Belgium on 22 August 1914. Part of the gun’s shield still bears the scars of battle, and on 15 September 1914 the gun received a direct hit which killed one crew member, Bombardier William King, and injured four others.This piece is unique in historical terms but I also find it very poignant as it allows us to think about the individual human experiences and losses during this vast global conflict.

As the lights fade down, giant screens and powerful surround sound immerse you in the heart of the action, creating a complete sensory experience. The award-winning Big Picture Show is a unique 360° audio-visual experience, showcasing IWM's worldrenowned collections of photography, art and sound. My favourite Big Picture Show is Remembrance. It is an extremely moving piece, which begins by reflecting on casualties from the First World War before considering the story of a soldier killed in recent conflict in Iraq. The beautiful music soundtrack and powerful imagery of poppies always brings a tear to my eye.

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@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Art

9/11 steel

IWM holds one of the most important collections of 20th century British art in the world. One of the most powerful works on display at IWM North - a huge seven metre high sculpture by artist Gerry Judah that is his response to global conflict - greets visitors immediately as they enter the Main Exhibition Space. It is inspired by images of cities destroyed in attacks, and within the sculpture you can see various buildings and structures that have been damaged. The artist would like each visitor to interpret this piece in their own way – for me, it echoes the ruins of the Belgian city of Ypres in the First World War, but it could equally remind us of the Blitz, Hiroshima or a contemporary example of an area affected by conflict such as Baghdad.

On display at IWM North is a huge section of steel recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center, where nearly 3,000 people were killed on 11 September 2001. The steel, distorted and twisted, is evidence of the massive force and impact of the collapse of the towers. It stands at seven metres in height and weighs more than a tonne and for me, the size of this piece really brings home the scale of this watershed event in recent history. It offers visitors a chance to reflect on the 9/11 attacks and their human cost, as well as the wider impact of modern conflict on people’s lives.

Object handling sessions

The building itself

One of my favourite museum events is the regular object handling sessions, which are a great opportunity for visitors to get hands-on with objects from IWM’s collections. With the help of IWM staff and volunteers, visitors can discover the stories behind the artefacts, ranging from uniforms and equipment to personal possessions such as diaries and photographs. I particularly enjoy it when visitors offer their own information and anecdotes about particular objects, and it is wonderful to see families learning about Second World War objects from those who experienced it personally.

Designed by internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, IWM North’s iconic structure was inspired by the idea of a world shattered by conflict. The three interlocking shards of the museum reflect conflict in the air, on the land and at sea. One of the best ways to see the building is by looking down upon it from the viewing platform. Climb the 180 steps or take the lift that rises at an angle and stand almost 100 feet in the air. For those brave enough to make the journey, they are rewarded with spectacular views of The Quays, Manchester and beyond, as well as the site of the new Coronation Street set next to the museum.

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Personal stories Every object on display tells a remarkable personal story. From 1914 to the present day, hundreds of objects from IWM’s collections reveal how war has shaped people’s lives.

They include the possessions of the famous nurse Edith Cavell, who was executed for helping Allied soldiers to escape from Germanoccupied Belgium in the First World War. Another story that I like to highlight on tours is that of Marjorie Prince, who was evacuated to live with her aunt in Australia to escape the threat of bombings over Manchester in the Second World War. Marjorie’s doll and letters home to her parents are amongst many personal items on display highlighting the experiences of children in wartime.

Unique items

Changing exhibitions and displays

As a keen crafter, I am drawn to items in IWM Collections that have been made by hand.

I particularly like a ukulele instrument made by a Prisoner of War in the Far East in the Second World War to allow him and his fellow prisoners to briefly escape the terrible conditions through music and laughter. I also find an object from the Genocide display very evocative – it is a Menorah candelabra made by a soldier to allow Jewish children who had survived Bergen Belsen concentration camp to celebrate their first Hanukah in freedom.

The care and thought that has gone into making both of these items to give joy to those in the most difficult of circumstances is truly inspirational.

IWM North offers a strong and lively programme of changing displays. During my time working here, I have seen many fascinating temporary exhibitions, which have covered diverse themes ranging from the bravery of animals in wartime, to the work of war artists. The exhibition to which I am contributing in my current post promises to be equally engaging and thought-provoking – it will explore experiences of the First World War through the eyes of people from the North West of England. Specially created to mark the First World War Centenary in 2014, the exhibition will feature surprising stories about how men, women, children and whole communities were mobilised for the war effort and how life in this amazing original modern city and the region changed forever as a result.

Silos Silos are six themed areas within IWM North’s Main Exhibition Space. Each Silo considers a particular theme - such as Women and War and Empire, Commonwealth and War through incorporating a variety of items from the Museum collections, such as objects, images and personal testimony. The Legacy Silo stands out for me because it provides a space for visitors to ponder the immediate and long-term impacts of war, by displaying thought-provoking items such as an artificial leg belonging to someone who was injured, and a wall of suitcases to symbolise the journeys that people often make to flee violence or to start a new life.

For more information about IWM North: iwm.org.uk

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What’s on Exhibitions

Double Indemnity Cornerhouse Until 5 January 2014 Curated by Michael Connor and staged across all three of Cornerhouse’s galleries, this new group exhibition will explore questions posed

by Billy Wilder’s classic film with a selection of photographs, video, paintings and installation artworks by high-profile artists including Sophie Calle, Jenny Holzer, Ming Wong, Anicka Yi and Frances Stark. cornerhouse.org | @CornerhouseMcr

Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in Antarctica MOSI Until 6 January 2014 Organised by the British Council and curated

by The Arts Catalyst, this exhibition is the first of its kind, presenting some of the most innovative and progressive examples of contemporary architecture in Antarctica.

Visually compelling and rich in material this exhibition will not only focus on the design of buildings, it will also highlight some of the diverse and cutting edge science that takes place on the frozen continent. mosi.org.uk | @voiceofmosi

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Picturing Stories: British and French Romantic Illustrations

Performer as Curator: Alison Goldfrapp

John Rylands Library Until 9 January 2014

The Lowry Until 2 March 2014

This exhibition explores the development of French and British Romantic illustration during the period 1770-1860. In contrast to earlier allegorical images, Romantic pictures are full of action, emotion and exciting story-telling.

Highlights of the exhibition include works by Byron, Dante and Walter Scott and images by artists such as Flaxman, Cruikshank and Girodet. library.manchester.ac.uk | @TheJohnRylands

Curated by the elusive, enigmatic and uncompromisingly glamorous musician and style icon, Alison Goldfrapp, this new exhibition gives the public a rare opportunity to explore some the personal inspirations that have shaped her own inimitable artistic vision. The diverse and high profile selection of works also portray the artist’s fascination in the darker side of fairy tales and folklore. Goldfrapp will be the first performer to take over the galleries as part of the new series, Performer as Curator. thelowry.com | @The_Lowry

Catalyst: Contemporary Art and War IWM North Until 23 February 2014 The first major exhibition of IWM’s national collection of contemporary art will reveal how war has been a crucial subject matter for contemporary artists in the last two decades.

This large-scale, free exhibition features responses to conflict since the First Gulf War by artists such as Langlands and Bell, Miroslaw Balka, Willie Doherty, Paul Seawright, Ori Gersht, Jananne Al Ani and Edmund Clark. iwm.org.uk/north | @I_W_M

Images this page: Game Changers 125 Years of the Football League; Vivarium Previous page: Ice Lab, New Architecture and Science in Antartica; Double Indemnity

The People’s Business – 150 Years of The Co-operative People’s History Museum Until 11 May 2014 This changing exhibition will feature an indepth look back at 150 years of history since the beginnings of the co-operative movement in 1863 through to the organisation it has become today as the UK’s largest mutual business.

Exploring the story and values behind the ‘caring sharing co-op’, the exhibition will offer a unique insight into the way we shop and live. phm.org.uk | @PHMMcr

David Beckham Manchester United Museum Until August 2014 David Beckham first signed as a schoolboy with the Manchester United at the tender age of 14 and this new exhibition records his career at the Club - from the training kit he wore as a teenager, to his first team shirts from big matches such as the 99 Champion’s League Final. See some of David’s winner’s medals and commemorative shirts feature; predict where he will place the ball during one of his many famous strikes; and relive some of ‘Becks’ changing hairstyles via the interchangeable portrait of the his famous face. manutd.com/museum | @manutd

A Highland Romance: Victorian Views of Scottishness Manchester Art Gallery Until September 2014

Game Changers: 125 Years of The Football League National Football Museum Until 30 April 2014 The world’s first football league was formed at a meeting in Manchester in 1888. A lot has changed in the 125 years since. This new exhibition, supported by The Football League and Arts Council England, traces the characters that have helped shape the game we know today. It will feature stories from all 72 league teams, never before seen personal mementoes from George Best and brand new artist commissions. nationalfootballmuseum.com | @footballmuseum

A Highland Romance is a new display of significant 19th century works by Scottish artists such as Sir David Wilkie, on show alongside depictions of Scotland by artists from England including JMW Turner. To coincide with the run-up to the Scottish referendum, Manchester Art Gallery draws together these important works to explore Victorian representations of Scotland and notions of Scottish identity. manchestergalleries.org | @mcrartgallery

Vivarium (Live Animals) Manchester Museum Permanent gallery See unusual reptiles and amphibians in the highly anticipated, re-designed Vivarium (Live Animals) gallery. The new Vivarium will provide better displays, enhanced interpretation and reveal more of the conservation work that currently takes place behind the scenes at the museum. The new gallery will look at themes such as human impact on the natural world, local and global reptiles and amphibians, how humans help these animals and how these animals help humans. museum.manchester.ac.uk | @mcrmuseum

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Conflict uncovered Check out these attractions across Greater Manchester

The Fusilier Museum Moss Street, Bury, BL9 ODF The Fusilier Museum in Bury is home to the collections of The Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The museum was opened in 1934 and was originally housed in the Training Depot at Wellington Barracks before moving to its current home in Bury town centre in 2009 after a £4.1 million development project.

The museum tells the fascinating stories of the people who have served or continue to serve in the regiments through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum is currently working on a £1.4m Heritage Lottery Fund project which will enable the first floor of the museum to be re-developed, creating new learning facilities and events spaces as well as providing improved collections storage and exhibitions. The project is due for completion by September 2014. fusiliermuseum.com | @FusilierMuseum

Museum of the Manchester Regiment Ashton Town Hall, Market Place, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6DL The Museum of the Manchester Regiment tells the story of generations of Manchester Regiment soldiers through 200 years of service from 1756 until 1958. The museum tells their unique stories through the objects they left behind. There are thousands of objects on display in the museum; including uniforms, equipment and weaponry, to the souvenirs they collected and medals they won all over the world. There are over 2,200 medals on display in the Museum reflecting the service, to crown and country, of more than 800 men. These medals tell us their stories, from the disease ridden West Indies of the early nineteenth century, the mud of France and Flanders during the First World War, ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland and service in Afghanistan today. tameside.gov.uk/museumsgalleries/mom @tmbc_culture

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Stockport Air Raid Shelters Chestergate, Stockport, SK1 1NE Opened in 1939, the shelters were the largest purpose-built civilian air raid shelters in the country designed to provide shelter for up to 6,500 people. This labyrinth of tunnels under part of the town centre provided shelter, and a way of life for families from in and around Stockport through the dark days of the Blitz.

In 1996 Stockport Council re-opened the shelters as a visitor attraction, and the unique award-winning museum is one of Stockport’s best loved attractions. Carved into the natural sandstone cliffs, the intriguing network of underground tunnels offer visitors an unparalleled insight into life in wartime Britain in the 1940s. stockport.gov.uk | @SMBC_Museums

The multi-award winning IWM North (part of Imperial War Museums), is a great FREE day out for all ages.

Designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to represent a globe shattered by conflict, it reveals how war and conflict have shaped people’s lives from 1900 to now.

DISC SHA OVER H PES LIVEOW WAR S

Open daily 10am – 5pm FREE ENTRY (Closed 24, 25, 26 December) iwm.org.uk The Quays, Manchester M17 1TZ Connect with us Facebook.com/iwm.north @I_W_M #IWMNorth

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Snapshot: Oxford Road Stretching from the tip of Manchester’s famous ‘Curry Mile’ to the landmark Palace Hotel, Oxford Road is one of the key gateways to the city. Shown here is The University of Manchester - one of the leading research universities in the world and home to the largest student community in the UK. manchester.ac.uk

What Manchester thinks today...

Mike Todd takes a look at ‘the great and the good’ from Manchester’s university alumni.

There is a famous quote from Eric Cantona: “Perhaps time will separate us, but nobody can deny that here, behind the windows of Manchester, there is an insane love of football, of celebration and of music.”

You may have seen it on a T-shirt. Or a poster. It sort of sums up how many people think about this city. And why not? If music and football are the cultural currencies of the world, then Manchester is rich.

The problem is, there’s much more to this complex, polymorphic city than these popular pursuits. Scratch the pop culture surface and Manchester reveals hidden scientific, political and social depths.

Yes, the shadows cast by the likes of Morrissey and the Haçienda loom large over the city. As do the reputations of Sir Alex Ferguson, George Best and the new Premiership defining rivalry of Manchester’s two biggest clubs.

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But what of the man who split the atom, Ernest Rutherford? Or the father of modern chemistry, John Dalton? What of those names of more recent times whose lives have been inspired by the unique milieu of this ever evolving city?

Long before Manchester acquired its current shorthand reputation, there was another quote that defined its zeitgeist – “What Manchester thinks today, the world thinks tomorrow”. The quote is attributed, in slightly nuanced forms, to various people, from Sir Robert Peel to J.B. Priestley but it exists more as a folk memory of what the city once stood for. In it’s industrial heyday it was a place that pioneered new thoughts and new ways of doing things. And the world followed.

The fact of the matter is, although it doesn’t appear on many T-shirts, it’s a saying that many would say still rings true.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice chancellor of the University of Manchester, is one voice among many who believe there is still a long way to go before Manchester’s role as a centre for knowledge, science and culture is better understood. Yet, it isn’t a great leap of faith to connect the dots.

This is, after all, nothing if not an intellectual city. Even the music and the football have that quality. Cantona being a case in point.

Same goes for Stephen Morrissey.

According to Rothwell: “Manchester has been very good at highlighting it’s achievements in certain areas but I think we as a University could still do more in promoting an understanding of the people who are connected with this city.”

With it’s international reputation, the University has certainly played a key role in creating some of the intriguing links Manchester has to leading global figures in a variety of fields.

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell

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Did you know, for example, that the deputy prime minister of Singapore Teo Chee Hean attended University here? How about Olafur Ragnar Grimsson President of Iceland?

Former CEO of Tesco Sir Terry Leahy is also an alumnus, as is former British foreign secretary, Dame Margaret Beckett.

And this tradition of ties with people, and ideas, of global influence is not a new one.

Manchester’s character has been defined by pushing back at the boundaries. People seem to have thrived on a sort of collective spirit here that seeks a better world through change. Communism’s impact on the 20th Century may not have unfolded as its architects imagined but few would deny that it’s inspiration lies within Manchester’s great industrial experiment. Free trade was a different idea, born from the city’s indomitable entrepreneurial spirit, with an aspiration to tackle prevailing hegemonies. Over the last three centuries, Manchester’s progressive energy has inspired people from many different backgrounds to feel empowered to effect change within their world.

The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, established in 1781 to “promote the advancement of education and public interest in any form of literature, science arts or public affairs”, is the oldest of its kind in the world. Rutherford and Dalton were both members. What made it so different was its focus on inclusiveness in terms of important public debate. To this day, the society continues to attract prominent speakers who are active in significant contemporary issues.

As the world changes, so do the questions but Manchester has never been afraid to ask

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code during World War II, he was hounded over his sexuality and his eventual suicide is now a warning for us to remember. A locally driven fundraising initiative helped build a statue to Turing, which now sits in Manchester’s Sackville Park, as a poignant reminder of his legacy and the ill-treatment he suffered.

those questions, even though the answers may be elusive. The city is open. This is a place where strangers and new ideas have always been welcome.

Last year there were numerous events to celebrate the Centenary of Alan Turing.

A lecturer at the University of Manchester from the late 1940s, this is where he did much of his groundbreaking work in computer science. He was also a member of Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

His life evokes parallels with the city’s own 20th Century story: the persecuted outsider, a fallen hero who ultimately gains redemption in the eyes of a world catching up with its own conscience. Despite his national recognition for cracking the enigma

And what of those whose relationship with the city is less remembered. Figures like the legendary Sir Frank Worrell - first Black Captain of the West Indies cricket team. He was a student here. One only needs to read the great CLR James’ ‘Beyond a Boundary’ to understand the significance of his achievements in the Caribbean. Worrell read economics at the University of Manchester in the late 1940s while playing cricket in the local Lancashire leagues. Upon his untimely death in 1967, aged just 42, he was the first ever sportsman to be honoured by a memorial service at Westminster Abbey.

Speaking of post-colonial change, little is now talked of the 1945 Pan-African Congress held here in Manchester. It was attended by the likes of US sociologist W.B.Dubois, Kenyan independence leader Jomo Kenyatta and Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana. Practically ignored by the mainstream British press of the day, it is difficult to underestimate the global significance and ripple effects of this gathering of change makers.

Then there is Manchester’s strong connection to the Suffragette movement.

Even though it’s possible to visit what her former home, many still think much more could be made of Emmeline Pankhurst’s

legacy here in the city. She is, after all, perhaps one of the greatest of all Mancunians. Time magazine cited her as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th Century. She is an inspiration to women, and many men, all over the world. Plans by Norwegian artist Lotte Karlsen for a sculpture garden to honour her memory in Moss Side’s Alexandra Park have your author’s vote.

But this is a place where history doesn’t stand still. The past is prologue. People with their eyes fixed on a future of possibility continue to emerge from, and be attracted to, this City. People come to learn here, to grow and to absorb what this global melting pot has to offer.

Current darling of British drama Benedict Cumberbach is an ex-student who has recognised the city’s influence on him. He follows in the dramatic footsteps of the likes of Oscar winning screenwriter Robert Bolt, Ben Elton, Meera Syal and many others who attended University here. Then there’s film maker Danny Boyle who was born and raised in the city region, Steve Coogan, Nicola

Shindler, who’s Manchester based Red Productions is one of the UK’s most influential producers of television drama.

Mancunian authors such as Booker prize winner Harold Jacobson and Anthony Burgess are just two names reflecting the city’s literary tradition. In science, the University of Manchester is current home of Noble Prize Winners Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. The list goes on.

The names change but it would seem the spirit remains the same.

Is Manchester one of the world’s greatest cities for football and music? Probably. Is it also a place where ideas are born and where people challenge established thinking?

Definitely. This is a city of revolutions large and small. In the well-worn words of our patron saint Tony Wilson – “we do things differently round here”. You may see that quote on a poster. It’s true.

Images this page: deputy prime minister of Singapore Teo Chee Hean; Noble Prize Winners Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov Previous page: Olafur Ragnar Grimsson President of Iceland; Dame Margaret Beckett

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Manchester Visitor Information Centre

Manchester Visitor Information Centre Piccadilly Plaza, Portland Street, Manchester, M1 4AJ Monday - Saturday: 9.30am - 5.30pm Sunday: 10.30am - 4.30pm Tel: 0871 222 8223 Email: touristinformation@visitmanchester.com

Saved for the City The Monastery’s Angels Appeal is the ďŹ nal stage in a restoration and conservation project that began 17 years ago.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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with all profits going back into the Charitable Trust that saved them.

Designed by acclaimed gothic architect E.W. Pugin and built by the Franciscan Order between 1863 and 1872, the Church and the Franciscan community themselves were established in Gorton to serve the growing population of immigrant Catholics arriving in Manchester during the Industrial Revolution.

For over a century it operated as the spiritual and social heart of the community, and incorporated three schools and church hall on the site, forming a base for sports teams, brass bands, choirs, an amateur operatic society and youth clubs.

Although it was not strictly a monastery, local people saw the Friars in their brown robes and dubbed them ‘the monks’, giving rise to the name that endures today, ‘Gorton Monastery’. Congregation numbers began to dwindle in the 1960s and by the 1970s, widespread ‘slum’ clearances in the area relocated many to other parts of the city, leaving the Franciscans with a huge building they could no longer afford to support.

By the time they finally abandoned the buildings at the end of 1989 they had already demolished the front wing of the Friary, with its impressive entrance, and much of the rest of the building was showing signs of neglect.

Bought by a property developer who intended to convert it into apartments, many of the precious artefacts were removed from the building, before he went bust and the buildings were left unsecured. Vandals and thieves took or destroyed everything left of value that they could reach, including all of the lead from the Friary roof, and the building quickly began to disintegrate.

Many who saw the building in its derelict state doubted that it could ever be saved.

Thanks to the efforts of a small group of committed individuals it is now lovingly restored and widely recognised as one of the country’s architectural gems and an important part of Manchester’s heritage and history.

A wonderful example of Sacred Geometry, this Grade II* listed building is home to a wealth of intriguing stories, from how and why it came to be built in the residential area of Gorton, to the remarkable way in which natural light has been incorporated into its design.

The majestic Great Nave is now a stunning venue for conferences, awards dinners, weddings and concerts, while the Friary rooms are a popular choice for day delegates looking for a calm and inspirational space.

The venue business provides for the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings, ensuring their future is secure once more,

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Local people formed a Monastery Watch group in an effort to protect it, and in 1996 The Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust was formed, led by Elaine and Paul Griffiths with a small, committed group of volunteers.

These volunteers have recently been recognised with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and they continue to have a strong presence at the regular Open Days held most Sundays, 12-4pm.

It took over ten years of hard work, many devastating set-backs and heartbreaking moments, before the £6.5m was secured to at last save Gorton Monastery for the city, and for future generations. However, during the campaign, the second floor of the Friary collapsed, taking the first floor down with it.

Urgent repairs diverted money from the former Church, and so today the Trust is working to finally complete the job with the Angels Appeal.

Everyone is invited to Be An Angel for the Monastery, and help raise £1m. This will be used as match funding for a further £2m, following a successful stage one bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, enabling the Trust to complete the long-overdue restoration and conservation work.

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The Trust’s original vision was for the building to always be open every day for everyone, putting it firmly back at the heart of the community and a focus for local pride once again. However the overriding need to pay the bills, operating as a sustainable business in the form of an events venue, doesn’t allow for this. When private events are taking place the Monastery lacks the facilities and resources to be open all the time for both commercial and community use.

The Angels Appeal will provide local facilities and educational benefits by being open every day for everyone. With a new, purpose-built front wing, the Monastery will be able to generate essential income as a venue, and at the same time be open for the general public, benefitting the local community, schools, local visitor groups and wider community too.

Thanks to the dedication and tenacity of a few individuals, the Monastery buildings have been saved for the city, and with the help of Manchester people again, it can make a real difference to future generations.

For more information themonastery.co.uk

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© Manchester Libraries

The Queen of Cottonopolis

By Helen Nugent If your office building was at risk of burning to the ground, would you try to save it? Probably not. But, in 1940, the employees of S & J Watts did just that, such was their loyalty to the company and love of their workplace.

Today, Watts Warehouse is better known as the Britannia Hotel, a Victorian Grade II* listed building and one of Manchester’s most important structures. Its Venetian palazzo frontage has dominated Portland Street since it opened as a textile warehouse in 1856. But it was very nearly reduced to a heap of rubble.

In December 1940, Manchester was under siege. Night after night the Luftwaffe bombed the city, killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands more. Many buildings were burnt to ashes, others were beyond repair. Those that survived were demolished to stop the fire from spreading.

But the workforce at S & J Watts refused to let this happen to their warehouse.

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Even when the fire brigade cut their water supply, the staff would not be moved.

And, as textile workers, they were prepared for fire.

Andrew Derbyshire, a green badge tourist guide in Manchester, explains. “The employees wouldn’t leave, no matter what.

The staff had hoses, they rolled them out to the Rochdale Canal and pumped the water back in. They saved the building despite the fire brigade and the air raid wardens. That’s how much they loved the building.”

So, why did these men and women fight so hard to save Watts Warehouse? The answer: this building is special.

In its heyday, the edifice that is now a modern three star hotel looked like a Roman palace. In fact, the interior was so lavish that it was chosen to stand in for the sumptuous decor of the Titanic in the 1958 film A Night to Remember starring Kenneth More. It’s hardly surprising that a building which inspired untold devotion was a glamorous film set.

Consider this comment from a journalist writing in 1867: “I’m not naturally of a sceptical or suspicious cast of mind. I have eaten sausages and kidney pudding without asking questions but when I was told that this was only a warehouse, I felt that it was necessary to draw the line of credulity somewhere.”

Š Manchester Libraries

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brother-in-law. She returned to Abney Hall as an adult after her notorious disappearance in 1926.

So what did Christie see when she toured Watts Warehouse? It was a feast for the eyes.

Described by English Heritage as “eclectic palazzo style”, this grandiose building was full of surprises.

Designed by Travis and Mangnall and clearly intended to be an ostentatious display of wealth, this was architecture fit for the largest drapery business in Manchester. Five storeys, roof pavilions, 23 bays, cornices, balustrades, urn finials, colonnades, panelled pilasters, Gothic wheelwindows...the list goes on. The Watts brothers weren’t alone when they commissioned an ornate palace that reflected their own extravagant confidence, but they were trailblazers when it came to lavish eccentricity.

Each storey was decorated in a different style: on one floor Italian Renaissance assailed the senses, on another it was Elizabethan decadence. Then came French Renaissance and Flemish, and the aforementioned Gothic rose windows at the top.

But the piece de resistance was the sweeping iron cantilever staircase. Visitors to the Britannia can still enjoy this feat of architecture and engineering today. As they enter the hotel foyer, the spectacular open staircase rises in front of them, then divides, doubles back and crosses over itself via a bridge that wouldn’t look out of place over a Venetian canal. This repeats a further four times so that the visitor can admire a succession of ‘Ponte Rialtos’.

Also dominating the entrance is a magnificent chandelier – best viewed from above if you’re up to tackling the numerous stairs (don’t worry, there’s also a lift).

Andrew Crompton is head of the Liverpool School of Architecture and used to work at Manchester University. He describes Watts Warehouse as a sensationally lavish, palatial warehouse.

Although a grand and impressive warehouse was not out of place in 19th century Manchester, the sheer scale of the Watts superstructure made it stand out from the crowd. John Rylands (for whom the Watts brothers had worked previously) was the most successful merchant in the city but S & J Watts created the biggest and most stunning warehouse.

Like so many working men made good, the Watts brothers wanted to put their hard work on show. And they had a lot to shout about. From an inauspicious beginning as hand-loom weavers in Didsbury, James and Samuel went on to become millionaires, brushing shoulders with the rich and famous as their business went from strength to

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strength. At one point, Prince Albert stayed in the home they’d bought with their earnings and described it as “one of the most princely mansions in the neighbourhood”. The house is still in one piece: Abney Hall in Cheadle.

“It’s one of the most amazing buildings in Manchester,” he says. “It’s a conspicuous display of wealth which was built with no regard for cost. Just as the Victorians liked over-dressing, every surface is covered with a pattern. It was totally overdone.”

According to the Manchester Confidential website, Abney Hall has more than one connection with celebrity. Agatha Christie, the celebrated author, spent much of her childhood at Abney Hall after her sister married James Watts’ eldest son – and Christie made occasional visits to Watts Warehouse. It is thought that many of the country house scenes in her detective novels were based on her trips to Manchester. In fact, some of her books are dedicated to her

He adds: “It’s a little bit nouveau riche. He [James Watts] didn’t give a damn, he had made it and he was flaunting it. It’s a bit like Dubai, but in the 19th century. Basically, it’s a show-off building.”

James Watts went on to become Mayor of Manchester as well as High Sherriff of Lancashire, and was later awarded a knighthood. An important figure among industrialists, at one point a thousand major

orders were processed in his warehouse every day. But he and his descendants always recognised the importance of their workforce.

During the First World War, many of S & J Watts’ employees lost their lives in battle.

They are remembered in the form of a striking war memorial which can be seen in the main entrance on Portland Street.

Commissioned from the British sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger (who also designed the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London), ‘the Sentry’ is a bronze statue robed in full battledress, standing on guard with his Lee Enfield rifle, topped with a ‘sword’ bayonet. He wears hob-nailed boots and is swathed in a gas cape, one of the few genuinely waterproof pieces of clothing issued to soldiers at that time.

Across from the serviceman is a marble plaque commemorating the dead. Its moving message reads thus: “To the enduring memory of those members of the staff of S & J Watts and Co. who laid their lives for their King and country in the cause of truth, justice and freedom during the Great War. Their name liveth for evermore.”

Image by Stephen Beed at OWT

On the rear of a nearby central pillar can be read 17 names of the fallen from the Second World War and, rather unusually, a sole inscription for someone who lost their life during the Korean War. Following the Second World War, Watts Warehouse was still standing thanks to the courage of its dedicated employees. But, like so many other industrial constructs in the North of England, the building fell into disrepair as its core business dwindled. At the end of the 19th century, Lancashire mills accounted for one quarter of Britain’s entire export trade; by the middle of the 20th century, the sector was in terminal decline.

And so Watts Warehouse lay derelict for many years. It narrowly avoided demolition in 1972 and it wasn’t until the early 1980s that it was given a new lease of life. Britannia Hotels spent a year renovating the building and it was partially opened in May 1982.

Today it houses 363 bedrooms and a number of bars and restaurants.

Crompton says: “Any building that changes use loses some of its character. The power of the Watts building is in its exterior. This is a very important building in Manchester.”

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Anita Street Formerly Sanitary Street (because its houses were considered among the most hygienic in the city), Anita Street sits at the heart of Ancoats – at one time Manchester’s industrial heartland. Tours of this ‘workshop of the world’ are available with the city’s Blue Badge Guides. manchesterguidedtours.com

Image: Robert Owen Brown, Executive Head Chef of The Mark Addy

The Manchester Food Matrix It’s no secret that Manchester is currently enjoying a culinary revolution. From headline grabbing, Michelin-star-seeking fine-dining to bursting-full burgers that you can’t help but tweet about - hungry visitors have never had it so good! Of course, this mean you’ve got some tough decisions to make, but don’t worry we’re here to help with our handy Manchester food matrix...

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Around Albert Square and Exchange Square

Gay Village, Chinatown and Piccadilly

Spinningfields and King Street

Smoak Bar & Grill at Malmaison

Breakfast with the family

The Second Floor Brasserie

Feeling particularly famished?

The gut-busting ‘Mal on Sunday’ brunch – which features a stunning ‘help yourself’ chefs table plus main and dessert – will sort you out.

Piccadilly | malmaison.com @ManchesterMal

What better way to start a day of shopping than with a Bento Brunch – toasted topped bagel, fresh fruit salad, granola and waffles – at Harvey Nichols’ iconic brasserie?

New Cathedral Street harveynichols.com | @HarveyNichols

Afternoon Tea with mum and dad

San Carlo Cicchetti This glam little Italian will surprise you with one of the best full English breakfasts in the city. Contrary to the fancy décor Cicchetti is well-known for its child-friendly atmosphere.

King Street West | sancarlocicchetti.co.uk @SanCarlo_Group

The Sculpture Hall Café

Hey! Little Cupcake

Housed within the beautiful neo-Gothic Town Hall and set amongst the statues of Manchester’s great and the good, The Sculpture Hal Café is a truly hidden gem for Afternoon Tea aficionados.

Albert Square manchester.gov.uk/townhall

In a unique take on afternoon tea, expect cupcake shaped sandwiches, scones with the works, chocolate coated strawberries and mini cupcakes of course!

Little Quay Street | heylittlecupcake.co.uk @HLCupcake

Richmond Tea Rooms Hiding down the back alleys of Manchester’s Gay Village, the heavenly cakes and extensive tea selection will impress whilst over-the-top Alice and Wonderland décor will leave you utterly charmed.

Bloom Street | richmondtearooms.com @richmondtearooms

The Molly House

Pub grub with your friends

Impress on a first date

Sam’s Chop House Once a regular haunt for LS Lowry; this wonderfully preserved Victorian pub is serious about British food, offering a classic menu and a staple selection of Mancunian dishes.

Back Pool Fold off Cross Street samschophouse.com @ChophouseSams

Okay, so technically its tapas not pub grub, but then nothing is quite what it seems at Molly’s... A place for the discerning, eccentric and alternative, it serves a fantastic selection of real ales has one of the best stocked bars in the city.

Richmond Street | themollyhouse.com @themollyhouse

The Oast House The last thing you’d expect to see in sparkling Spinningfields, the cosy 16th century Kentish oast house keeps guests happy with year-round barbecued meats and interesting ales from around the world.

The Avenue Courtyard theoasthouse.uk.com @TheOastHouseMcr

Annie’s

Manchester House

Owned and managed by Coronation Street’s Jenny McAlpine, Annie’s offers traditional British food and regional specialities, including a renowned three cheese and onion pie.

Old Bank Street anniesmanchester.co.uk | @anniesMCR

Manchester’s latest headline-grabbing opening has Aiden Byrne – the youngest person to ever be awarded a Michelin Star in the UK – at the helm aiming to redefine fine dining for Manchester’s new generation of foodies.

Bridge Street manchesterhouse.uk.com @MCRHouse

Michael Caines at Abode Housed at the Abode Hotel, executive chef Robert Cox puts together an incredibly delicate and innovative European menu signed off by owner and celebrity chef Michael Caines.

Piccadilly | michaelcaines.com @michaelcaines

Yang Sing

Make a night of it with mates

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Grill on the Alley One of two Blackhouse Grill’s in the city centre these guys know how to cook a steak and pair it with great wine.

Book a pre-dinner cocktail master class to get the party started.

Ridgefield | blackhouse.uk.com @GrillManc

visitmanchester.com | @visit_mcr

A Manchester institution, Yang Sing is arguably Manchester’s best Chinese restaurant – known for its innovative dishes, you can easily spend a night here grazing whilst guzzling some beautiful fine wine.

Princess Street | yang-sing.com @yangsingmcr

Australasia A menu of Pacific Rim and South East Asian flavours combined with a busy bar and weekend DJs makes Australasia one of Manchester’s most popular dining spots.

The Avenue | australasia.uk.com @AustralasiaMcr

Northern Quarter

Oxford Road and Petersfield

Castlefield and Salford

Out of town

Home Sweet Home

The Banyan Tree

True to its name, this place really is a home from home for Northern Quarter locals. Set yourself up for the day with American style waffles with a tasty maltshake.

Edge Street | cheeseburgertoastie.co.uk @HomeSweetHomeNQ

Those who make the effort to seek out The Banyan Tree will be rewarded with a stunning breakfast and one of the friendliest welcomes in the city.

Ellesmere Street thebanyantree-manchester.com @BanyanTreeMcr

Teacup The afternoon tea here is insanely popular, as the weekend queues will attest. If you’re not quite hungry enough for a mound of cake and sandwiches try to the freshly baked Madeline’s with chocolate dipping sauce.

Thomas Street | teacupandcakes.com @teacupandcakes

Cornerhouse

This former police station is especially popular with weekend runners refuelling after a few laps around Sale/Chorlton Water Parks. The full English is quite frankly phenomenal.

Beech Road | theleadstation.co.uk @theleadstation

Radisson Blu Edwardian

The Gardner’s Cottage

Housed in the historic Free Trade Hall and served in beautiful Opus One, this is the place for afternoon tea to impress.

Ask for a table at the windows overlooking Peter Street.

Peter Street radissonblu-edwardian.com @RBEhotels

The former head gardener’s cottage at Tatton Park - in the beautiful setting of its award-winning gardens – is the perfect location for a relaxing afternoon tea during a day out of town.

Tatton Park | tattonpark.org.uk @tatton_park

Great John Street Hotel Both ladies and gentlemen’s afternoon tea is on the menu here. The ladies version comes as you would expect whilst gents can enjoy bites such as homemade scotch eggs, chicken and leek pies and fish and chip skewers.

Great John Street | eclectichotels.co.uk | @Eclectic_Hotels

Kosmonaut

Mark Addy

The NY speak-easy vibe at this cavernous bar and restaurant makes it the perfect place to while away a winters afternoon.

The American fare - burgers, hotdogs, pizza and pulled pork – stand out on the extensive menu.

Tariff Street | kosmonaut.co @KosmonautMCR

Set on the banks of the River Irwell, Chef Robert Owen Brown serves up some of the best regional British food in the city.

Think roast pheasant, black pudding, Eccles cakes…

Stanley Street | markaddy.co.uk @TheMarkAddy

63 Degrees This family-run French restaurant – one of the best in the city – takes locally sourced ingredients and implements a unique cooking method that will delight the senses.

Church Street | 63degrees.co.uk @63DegreesNQ

The Lead Station

Offering arguably the best peoplewatching spot in town, grab breakfast here on a rainy day before catching a matinee film or visiting one of the changing exhibitions.

Oxford Street | cornerhouse.org @CornerhouseMcr

The Marble Arch

Bar, kitchen, stage, club; Gorilla ticks all the boxes. Grab a booth and get stuck in to a Gorilla Dog, Chemoula Chicken Kebab or one of their amazing Sunday Roasts.

Whitworth Street | thisisgorilla.com @thisisgorilla

Having recently celebrated its 125th birthday the flagship pub of the Marble Brewery dishes out fantastic grub alongside their own award-winning beers – all set in a beautiful listed building on the fringe of the city centre.

Rochdale Road | marblebeers.com @TheMarbleArch

The French

Aumbry

There’s been nothing but rave reviews since Michelin starred Simon Rogan took over The French at The Midland Hotel in March 2013. Order a three, six or ten course tasting menu and await sensory overload.

Peter Street | the-french.co.uk @TheFrenchSR

Tucked away in sleepy Prestwich, Aumbry offers thoughtful British cooking led by a Mary-Ellen McTague and supported by one of the most knowledgeable and friendliest front-of-house teams in Greater Manchester.

Church Lane | aumbryrestaurant.co.uk @aumbrydining

Gorilla

River Bar & Restaurant The recently refurbished River Bar & Restaurant at the 5* Lowry Hotel offers a modern European menu, a wonderful outdoor terrace and is one of the best places in the city to celeb-spot.

Dearmans Place | thelowryhotel.com @RF_Hotels

Bakerie

Sapporo Teppenyaki

With friendly and unpretentious service, Bakerie houses communal benches making it the perfect place to sit back, relax, break bread and share wine.

Lever Street | bakerie.co.uk @bakeriemcr

As dining experiences go, for big-group fun there’s arguably no better place than Sapporo Teppanyaki. Let your dedicated chef entertain before chowing down on yummy Japanese.

Liverpool Road | sapporo.co.uk @Sapporo_Tepp

Whim Wham Café A self-styled epicurean eatery and gin saloon, expect artisan local produce, slow food and speciality cocktails.

It also houses a semi-regular Vintage Emporium fayre.

Whitworth Street West thewhimwhamcafe.com @TheWhimWhamCafe

Vermilion & Cinnabar Located near the Etihad Stadium, Vermilion and Cinnabar is an ultra-cool Asian Fusion restaurant and cocktail bar and one of the most decadent and glamorous places around.

Lord North Street vermilioncinnabar.com | @vermilionuk

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Manchester Voices

John Clarke & John Robinson The inaugural Manchester Beer & Cider Festival takes place at the National Cycling Centre in January 2014. It is organised by the Greater Manchester branch of CAMRA – the UK-wide Campaign for Real Ale. CAMRA’s John Clarke and John Robinson of Stockport’s famous Robinsons brewery explain why the event is a great addition to the city’s events calendar and how Manchester still plays a leading role in the brewing industry.

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Tell us about the new festival: JC: It’s a huge celebration of beer and its many varieties. We’re aiming to feature 300 different cask ales which will be the largest range ever featured in Manchester.

In addition there will be a large choice of ciders and perries, foreign beers and “real ale in a bottle”.

We’re also hosting two prestigious beer competitions and as a bonus, Team GB will be training at the Velodrome each weekday (and possibly Saturday) between 2pm and 5pm in preparation for Glasgow 2014.

Why is brewing still such an important industry to Greater Manchester?

JC: Greater Manchester is home to four established family brewers (Holts, Hydes, JW Lees and Robinson’s) who all employ a significant number of people. Their presence gives a distinct identity to many of the region’s pubs which have thus avoided the corporate anonymity that pub company ownership can bring.

JR: Including Robinsons, Manchester breweries as a general rule, brew really good beer. So not only is it an important industry for Manchester, it’s also important for every human being in the world that we continue to brew well!

Which Greater Manchester pubs would you recommend to visitors?

JC: In the city there are two unmissable pubs. The ten minute walk to the Marble Arch (73 Rochdale Road) is worth it for a combination of Victorian splendour, great food and beers from the nearby Marble Brewery. In the Northern Quarter the Port Street Beer House (39-41 Port Street) has a national reputation for selling craft beers from top UK and foreign producers. (Visitors should note it is closed on Mondays.)

In Rochdale, the Baum (33-37 Toad Lane) is CAMRA’s current National Pub of the Year.

It’s an inspired conversion of two old shops and sells a changing range of beers and traditional cider.

JR: The Castle Hotel (66 Oldham Street) is our city centre pub – it doesn’t do food but the beer is fantastic. There are 12-13 handpulls on the bar with an outstanding range of regional beers – these include Robinsons and guest ales. Also, The Briton’s Protection (50 Great Bridgewater St.); it’s just a fantastic, proper pub and simply how all pubs should be.

Can you recommend three beers brewed in Greater Manchester, explaining a little about them?

JR: Robinsons’ Old Tom (8.5% ABV) is a multiple award-winning barley wine that has been brewed in Stockport since 1899. It’s a full bodied dark beer but not too sweet and can be very drinkable. However it’s very strong and should be treated with respect. There are lower gravity chocolate and ginger versions.

It’s available on draught and in bottle.

JC: Bank Top Brewery is based in Bolton and its Dark Mild (4% ABV) is a great northern drink that sums up everything that is good about this overlooked beer style. It’s relatively low gravity but hugely full bodied with coffee and chocolate notes throughout.

You’ll find this in the Bank Top Brewery Tap at 68 Belmont Road in Bolton, as well as the local free trade.

JC: Boddingtons’s Bitter, the former “Cream of Manchester” is but a shadow of its former self (if you can find it). A far better bet is Marble Manchester Bitter (4.2% ABV), a beer inspired by the old Boddington’s brew. It’s a pale yellow beer with hops everywhere – in the aroma, on the palate and in the finish.

It’s available at the Marble Arch pub and other local free houses.

For those interested in how beer has shaped Manchester from a social perspective, what would you recommend for them to see and do in Manchester?

JR: Our brewery visitor centre in Stockport has become a major attraction. It covers our history in depth – we’re the region’s largest family brewer, and it’s also possible to book a brewery tour as well. There’s a café on site selling well-regarded food. The website (robinsonsvisitorscentre.co.uk) provides full details.

Now apologies for this, because I’m actually a Manchester City fan, but the Manchester United Museum is also really interesting. Its got a few too many trophies for my liking but whoever you support, it’s still a great place to go. Why the recommendation? It was a brewer who originally gave them the funds to build the Old Trafford stadium in the early 20th Century.

JC: You could also take a tour of some of the city’s great heritage pubs. Apart from those already mentioned, The Circus Tavern (86 Portland Street) is a tiny Victorian survivor with two small rooms off a corridor served by a one-man bar. Just down the road is the Peveril of the Peak (127 Great Bridgewater Street), with a spectacular tiled exterior and a largely original multi-roomed layout. The Hare & Hounds (46 Shudehill) is an inter-war survivor with a interior unchanged since a remodelling in 1925 while Mr Thomas’s Chop House is a classic late 19th century building with an impressively tiled interior.

For more information about the Manchester Beer & Cider Festival: manchesterbeerfestival.org.uk/

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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What’s on Festivals FutureEverything

Manchester Histories Festival

Flying Solo Festival

Various locations March 2014

Various Venues 21 – 30 March 2014

Contact Theatre 10 – 22 March 2014

Collaborative arts festival FutureEverything brings together a variety of artists together to each present their visions and concepts of ‘the future’ to audiences. FutureEverything festival uses digital culture, music art, and performance together to create something truly unique. futureeverything.org | @futureverything

Ten days celebrating the unique histories and heritage of Greater Manchester from Belle Vue Zoological Gardens and World War One, football and photography. Get involved in a digital game, take a walking tour, visit an exhibition, join in a family klezmer workshop or record your own oral histories. mancheterhistoriesfestival.org.uk @mcrhistfest

The ability of a single artist to captivate and hold an audience is one of the great performing traditions. Contact’s Flying Solo Festival celebrations this skill with performances including live art, spoken word, comedy and theatre. The festival also gives new and emerging artists the chance to work with established performers to gain the experience and confidence to develop their own solo work, through masterclasses and workshops. contactmcr.com/flyingsolo | @contactmcr

Manchester Irish Festival Various 7 – 17 March 2014 This years’ award winning 2014 Manchester Irish Festival celebrates its 19th Birthday. The ten day Irish cultural extravaganza with over 200 events at 100 different venues is now firmly established as Europe’s biggest Irish Festival outside of the Emerald Isle. manchesteririshfestival.co.uk

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¡Viva! 20th Spanish and Latin American Film Festival Cornerhouse 7 – 23 March 2014 The UK’s largest, most popular Spanish & Latin American Film Festival ¡Viva! returns to Cornerhouse for the 20th year, showcasing the best new filmmaking from Spain and Spanishspeaking Latin America. With dramas, comedies and documentaries from a range of countries there’ll be something for everyone, including world premieres and previews alongside highcalibre features, shorts and documentaries. cornerhouse.org | @CornerhouseMcr

Sounds From the Other City Festival of New Music Various – Salford 4 May 2014 A celebration of new music and performance, Sounds from the Other City brings together independent promoters, collectives and club nights with a selection of fantastic new music.

The festival takes place across numerous venues in Chapel Street, Salford, and has previously had stages curated by Wet Play, Hey! Manchester and Now Wave. soundsfromtheothercity.com | @sftoc

Dot To Dot

Parklife

Various locations June 2014

Heaton Park June 2014

Dot To Dot festival is a spectacular musical showcase and in recent years has presented the likes of Mumford and Sons, Tom Odell and The xx before their rise to stardom. The festival takes place across numerous venues in the city throughout one day, and night, and truly highlights the diversity of Manchester’s music venues and the city’s status as a true musical hub of the UK. dottodotfestival.co.uk | @d2dmanchester

One of Manchester’s most beloved festivals is back for 2014… Parklife came back bigger and better than ever before in 2013 after moving to Heaton Park, showcasing musical talents from the likes of Rudimental, Rita Ora, Plan B, Example and Disclosure. 2014’s line-up will be released nearer the time, but it can be guaranteed to be another huge two day party in one of Manchester’s most popular green spots. parklife.uk.com | @parklifefest

Dig the City – Manchester’s urban gardening festival City Centre August 2014 Manchester becomes a garden city. From King Street to the Cathedral, via flowers, food and a fete; with markets, workshops and 100 tonnes of soil – join us for Manchester’s urban gardening festival. Horticultural highlights include talks by gardening experts, show gardens, and green-fingered fun for kids. digthecity.co.uk | @digthecitymcr

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Manchester, the capital of the North of England and the birthplace of the modern world. Envied by the masses for its notable influence on modern music and its sense of style. The third most visited city in the United Kingdom after London and Edinburgh and at its very heart, you’ll find Manchester Arndale. The perfect Mancunian mix of popular and cool.

As the UK’s largest inner-city shopping centre, Manchester Arndale has nothing but noteworthy brands inside.From one of the biggest Next stores in Europe, cutting edge looks at All Saints and Kurt Geiger, as well as catering to ever y fashionista’s dream in a three-storey Topshop/ Topman. While tech heads will find it all in our huge flagship Apple store, Manchester Arndale has it all.

Shops hops Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm | Saturday 9am to 7pm Sunday 11.30am to 5.30pm | Bank Holidays 10am to 6pm Foodcourt / Restaurants Monday to Saturday 7am to 9pm | Sunday 9am to 7pm Bank Holidays 9am to 8pm

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Retail therapy: Barton Arcade Situated in a prime city centre location, yet tucked away out of the hustle and bustle, Barton Arcade is an extravagant experience. It is ideal for those looking for an escape from the high street and department stores close by.

A Grade II listed building that has sat proudly in Deansgate since 1871, the iron and glass structure is an aesthetic delight, both from the inside and out. What makes the restored Victorian build all the more special is that, since its refurbishment in the 1980s, the retail outlets kept within are all high quality, often independent stores, that house chic and unique items that elsewhere you might struggle to find.

Set over three fabulous balconies, it is an architectural delight and worth a visit just to explore the building itself.

There are two entrances into Barton Arcade from Deansgate, and a third from St Ann’s Square, adding ease both before and after your visit depending on where you wish to come from or go on to.

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AKA Bespoke Jewellers

Nicolas Wines

As one of the only workshop based jewellers in Manchester City Centre, AKA specialise in collaborative pieces, working directly with customers, designers and craftsmen to create the perfect piece of jewellery for all occasions.

In addition to this, the store stocks a comprehensive range of prestige and vintage watches, including Breitling, Omega, Heuer and Rolex. akabespokejewellers.com

French wines specialists with over 70 UK stores, Nicolas Wines is your one stop shop for finding the perfect bottle(s) of vino for any occasion, event, group or individual you have in mind.

The Barton Arcade store has been open for over six years, and employs an extremely knowledgeable team of staff who will ensure all of your wine needs are met and matched. nicolas.com

Design A Sandwich Circle Club Manchester’s premier private members’ club, Circle offers a sumptuous space to eat, drink, meet and dance. It’s a hub for the creative, media, music, fashion and professional circles, and is a fantastic place to maximise social lives and network. If you’re looking to spice up your nightlife – it’s definitely the venue to look into becoming a member of. thecircleclub.com

Platter and catering service Design A Sandwich has an extensive menu of delicious and extremely affordable sandwiches, breakfasts, salads, pies and potatoes. It’s a great spot to stop and grab a bite to eat if you’re spending the day in and around the Arcade, you will be looked after by professional and friendly staff who know exactly what they’re doing. designasandwich.co.uk

© Mark Barnes

Each To Their Own

Too Funky Hair

This unique shopping destination stocks an eclectic range of designs and styles from independent designers including Blonde & Wise, Roc & Doll, Emily Sharp and the in-house designer, Alex Christopher. The Alex Christopher collection spirals around nightlife culture, with pieces inspired by classic tailoring and a modern edge with only a limited amount of each item being produced, the garments are truly exclusive.

Each To Their Own sells everything from handmade shoes, to leather goods and jewellery. eachtotheirown.co.uk

TFH was established in 1995 by husband and wife team Gary and Michelle Levy, and seeks to create a unique salon brand that creates on-trend cuts in a lively, fun environment. It no doubt achieves this, with designer styles without the designer price tag. Since Gary unfortunately passed, Michelle and her fantastic team have continued to grow this salon and brand (one of 32 in the UK), and are one of the best in the area. They are a fantastic addition to Barton Arcade and ideal for getting a quick trim before outfit shopping for your big night out! toofunkyhair.com

STA Travel If you’re lusting for a little travel, perhaps combine your retail therapy with a spot of holiday booking… STA Travel is based in Barton Arcade and has over thirty years of industry experience and covers hundreds of wonderful destinations across the globe. statravel.com

Jill Black / Phil Black Jill Black has been around for seventeen years and Phil Black for fourteen years respectively; the latter was the first man to begin stocking Armani in the UK, and the pair now are exclusively independent retailers. Completely against large plc companies, everything stocked in the stores is exclusive, and is worn by television stars, footballers and their wives and families, and plenty of Manchester’s elite. With a range that spans from clothing to boots, shoes and accessories – you’ll find your perfect piece at either Phil or Jill Black.

Edwards of Manchester Shoe shop Edwards is truly a hidden treasure within the city centre, hugely popular with both loyal customers and their recommendations. The store is a huge hit with famous locals and visitors alike, and hosts a made-to-order service to allow customers to create a pair of shoes unique to them. Edwards of Manchester is the oldest men’s shoe company north of Watford, and stocks a fantastic range for both men and women. It’s a must-see for shoe fanatics. edwardsofmanchester.co.uk

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Jeffery West Gentlemen’s fine shoe shop Jeffery West dedicates itself to creating high quality, classic shoes with a twist. In store you will find exquisite styles ranging from classic wing-tip brogues, to the more decadent pointed Chelsea boot; with everything in between. jeffery-west.co.uk

Close by An entire afternoon can be built around one’s visit to Barton Arcade, as it surrounded by many attractive spots, both for tourists and locals. For a light lunch to start your shop, or an evening meal to wind the day down with, Deansgate has an extensive offering, from Las Iguanas, to Living Room, to La Tasca. Alternatively, a slightly further walk down will lead you to Spinningfields, where additional dining options include Australasia, Artisan, and The Alchemist.

It is also nearby to Manchester Cathedral, the National Football Museum and the Town Hall and Albert Square, where events often take place throughout the year.

Opening times: Monday – Saturday 09:00 – 17:30 Sunday 10:00 – 16:30 For more information on Barton Arcade: bartonarcade.com | @bartonarcade

SHOP AND with added pleasure

Lowry Outlet Shopping @ MediaCityUK Outlet stock is subject to availability.

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lowryoutlet.co.uk

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What type of night out are you?

Whether it’s cocktails o’clock, you want a quiet one ‘with the lads’ or perhaps something with a few additional home comforts – we’ve got you covered.

Take our little quiz to prove it...

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START HERE On a scale of ‘lettuce leaf’ to triple bacon double cheese burger meal with all the sides, how likely is food to factor into your night out?

Peckish Peacock

Not so sure

When you’re out for a dance with friends, do you prefer: Live and loud; filled with real atmosphere Your favourite tunes on request, and space to chill inbetween Tonight is no doubt about having fun, but are you hoping to…

Catch up with friends you’ve not seen in a while Let your hair down with your best pals

Are you after a high-end show, complete with interval and ice creams, or somewhere you can leave your seat without falling victim to a ‘shush’?

Three scoops, please!

For your evening’s activities you are…

Lack of shush

Looking for top entertainment to sit and enjoy Are more interested in making your own entertainment with friends

You’re catching up with old friends, but what kind of mood do you all enjoy most?

Relaxing and indulgent, to unwind together Do you look good on the dance floor?

Fun and fast pace lets get competitive

Yes - like Prince in his heyday No - These are not ‘moves like Jagger’.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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A few drinks and a gig Manchester has an electric and eclectic music scene, and in addition to large acts hosted across the Phones4U Arena (phones4uarena.co.uk) Manchester Academy (manchesteracademy.net) and the O2 Apollo (o2apollomanchester.co.uk) much smaller alternatives such as Night & Day (nightnday.org), The Ruby Lounge (therubylounge.com), Dry Bar (drybar.co.uk), The Castle Hotel (thecastlehotel.info), St Philip’s Church (salfordchurch.org/concerts) and Manchester Academy 3 (manchesteracademy.net) welcome a fantastic range of up and coming acts – many of whom are from Manchester. This is a great way to catch-up with friends, find your new favourite artist and grab some drinks in some of the city’s best bar, café and pub venues: a night as chilled as the pint in your hand…

Dinner and a trip to the theatre From world-renowned musicals at The Palace Theatre and Opera House Manchester (atgtickets.com) to critically acclaimed performances at The Lowry Theatre (thelowry.com) and The Royal Exchange (royalexchange.co.uk), or independent arts theatre over at Contact Manchester (contactmcr.com), theatre is hugely popular with locals and visitors in Manchester. Why not turn it into an evening to remember, by dining out before at the likes of Australasia (australasia.uk.com) Yang Sing (yang-sing.com) Annie’s (anniesmanchester.co.uk) or The River Bar (thelowryhotel.com/dining) – each located close to one of the city’s popular performance venues, and known for providing high end food, as beautiful to look at as it is to taste – for the perfect sophisticated evening out.

‘A night out night in’ – spa treatments and an overnight stay If you’d prefer to unwind and relax, rather than let your hair down, a hotel and spa experience is the right choice for you. Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester (radissonblu-edwardian.com) and its Sienna Spa offer the perfect combination with a range of treatments to fit any need, as does the equally fabulous The Lowry Hotel (thelowryhotel.com) and its Spa. To enjoy both parts of the experience as separate, the Bali Health Lounge (balihealthlounge.com) is the city’s top standalone venue, with a large loyal customer base. You could then retreat to one of the city’s most fabulous Aparthotel venues with friends, such as Roomzzz (roomzzz.co.uk) or The Light Boutique Aparthotel (thelight.co.uk).

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A drink and a dance in Manchester’s hottest nightspots Kick off your night with catch-up cocktails at Apotheca (apothecabar.co.uk), Blue Bar in the DoubleTree by Hilton (hilton.com/manchester) and the bars in both Artisan (artisan.uk.com) and Australasia (australasia.uk.com) – before moving onto the equally fabulous Hula Tiki Bar (hulabar.co.uk), Liar’s Club (theliarsclub.co.uk) and The Whiskey Jar (thewhiskeyjar.com) as you’re starting to feel more in the mood for a dance. For those looking to continue the night on a larger dancefloor into the early hours, Black Dog Ballroom (blackdogballroom.co.uk), Noho (noho-bar.com) and Gorilla (thisisgorilla.com) are all options, where the moves begin to bust and the drinks continue to keep flowing. Manchester’s Gay Village (canal-st.co.uk) is notorious for being a party scene hot-spot, and has all flavours on offer, with something to satisfy all tastes.

A pint, ‘on the go grub’ and a night of comedy For a laugh-a-minute, check out Manchester’s popular Comedy Store (thecomedystore.co.uk), situated in Deansgate, or the fantastic Frog and Bucket (frogandbucket.com) comedy club based in the Northern Quarter. Both venues are known for bringing stellar stand-ups to the city for a laugh a minute, no matter who you’re with; in addition to local up-and-coming acts, renowned comedy acts from across the UK can often be found making appearances at both. For a pre pint at a local, Deansgate Locks have a range of bars and pubs, whilst the likes of Dusk Til Pawn (facebook.com/dusktilpawn), The Bay Horse (thebayhorsepub.co.uk) and Kosmonaut (kosmonaut.co) are some of the Northern Quarter’s hot spots.

A bowl and a burger The trends of All American dining and group bowling have collided in Manchester over the past eighteen months, creating fantastic options for a fantastic night out with friends. Dog Bowl – of the Black Dog franchise (blackdogballroom.co.uk) – is located off on the student corridor on Oxford Road, open into the early hours each night.

Alternatively, All Star Lanes (allstarlanes.co.uk) of London fame, is located next door to the AMC cinema in the Great Northern Warehouse. Both with fantastic soundtracks and an irresistible food menu, it’s a must-do for a big group of friends looking to catch up!

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Whitworth Street West Once home to the infamous Hacienda nightclub – and today of the ever-popular Deansgate Locks and The Ritz, Whitworth Street West has always been something of a party street. Two of the latest additions include Gorilla and Dog Bowl. thisisgorilla.com | blackdogballroom.co.uk/dogbowl

Manchester Voice

Gavin Sharp Band on the Wall, previously the George and the Dragon pub, has been a part of Manchester’s history for over 200 years and has been a music venue since at least the 1930s. As Band on the Wall it exists to present the best music from around the world and also operates a dynamic education programme. Gavin Sharp has been chief executive at the venue since December 2008.

Band on the Wall is now a significant venue on Manchester’s music scene, but it also has an extraordinary past. Can you tell us about its journey to become Band on the Wall?

Band on the Wall has a remarkable history and you could write a whole article just on that; however suffice it to say that when it was first built over 200 years ago it was in the heart of a bustling market district and music was always heard within these walls.

There is a full history in the archive section of the website written by Ian Croal who ran the venue for thirty years up to the re-launch in 2009 for any readers interested in the history of the venue and the surrounding streets.

What are your favourite stories or anecdotes about the venue?

They say that Marx and Engels probably drank in the venue as they often wrote about looking out on the gravel pits of East Manchester, which were straight over the road. From more recent history the story of Joy Division signing the contract with Tony Wilson for Factory Records in blood in our dressing room is always a favorite. Also the launch of our new Foundation which was hosted by David Gest and featured Gwen Dickey was totally amazing and will no doubt be one of the tales told in the future.

Can you explain the reason it’s called Band on the Wall?

Back in the 1930's the then landlord built a platform high on the wall so that he could have live music without losing any floor space and reduce the capacity for drinkers.

By the 1940's the nick name Band on the Wall had started to take hold and finally in the late 1970's it became the official name of the venue. It was quite a precarious looking set-up; we've got a few photos of it in The Picturehouse, not something we'd do today!

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What should tourists expect if they go to Band on the Wall during their visit to Manchester?

We've got the broadest spectrum of music on offer in the city – jazz, folk, blues, rock, reggae, soul. We're also home to Mr Scruff, Craig Charles and Soul:ution club nights, as well as Night Of The Living Dread which is our free reggae night. We also programme shows at venues like The Ritz, Manchester Academy, The Brewery in Kendal and The Wardrobe in Leeds. The people who come to our shows are of all different ages and backgrounds, the place was filled with under 25s when The Tapestry played in early May, yet sometimes we're welcoming people who remember Yes and Focus the first time round in the 70s. The educational events we put on attract a wide range of people too, we run guitar classes, harmonica classes, dance, and we've got a choir. And as well as all that, we're home to The Manchester College's accredited music course, students learning sound engineering, production, performance, using our top quality facilities.

There are so many people coming through the venue it's hard to keep up!

What are some of the most popular nights held at the venue?

Craig Charles’s monthly Funk and Soul Club, which is on the last Saturday of every month, and Mr Scruff’s Keep It Unreal are consistently our most popular nights. Jo Good’s new XFM residency is going strong as are many of our other Friday and Saturday

residencies. However the venue is known for it’s Soul, Funk, Jazz, World and Reggae live events and even though these happen when they happen, they are the backbone of our programme and underpin Band on the Wall’s unique identity. We often describe Band on the Wall as a living music library - a place where people can come and explore new and interesting music from across the world and expand their musical horizons.

Can you tell us a bit more about the education programme at Band on the Wall?

It is the development of our education, learning and training programme and the innovative partnerships we have developed in this area that we believe will drive the future of the organisation and provide a significant addition to Manchester’s offer as a centre for music and creativity.

We have enthusiastically dedicated ourselves to a growing partnership with Brighter Sound in order that we commit properly and fully to our mission to educate and participate in a programme of engagement with the communities in which we work.

This partnership is central to our strategic ambition and to fail to develop this effectively would be a missed opportunity.

Through our joint 'Wall of Sounds' programme, supported by ACE, Granada Foundation, PRSF and the Take That Foundation, we have already delivered an inspirational residential programme, masterclasses, conferences and individual advice and guidance to an initial cohort of emerging musicians.

Are there any future plans to develop the venue?

We have the potential to expand into the Cocozza building next door and build a centre that is fit for the purpose of making the opportunities for developing our educational activity a reality. One that allows for exciting residential summer schools, weekend and after-school activities, and creates an exciting and creative environment for rehearsal, composition, training, innovation and talent development. That creates opportunities for interaction between young creatives in a space that is both secure and safe but connected to an internationally renowned venue, which adds credibility and excitement.

Finally, you’re originally from Blackpool and spend a lot of time in Manchester.

What would you recommend that people visiting Manchester for the first time must not miss?

Manchester has so much to offer it is difficult to know where to start. If its for a night out I would have to say the Northern Quarter as it has been my favorite part of town for almost twenty years now and I really love the way it has developed over that time. However, if visiting with the kids and looking for something a bit more sedate I would recommend both MOSI and the Manchester Museum for great days out. bandonthewall.org | @bandonthewall

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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What’s on Music & Performance

War Horse

Blindsided

Dance ‘Til Dawn

The Lowry 18 November 2014 – 18 January 2014, and 22 July – 20 September 2014

Royal Exchange 23 January – 15 February 2014

Opera House Manchester 11 – 22 March 2014

The Simon Stephens drama centres on a girl growing up in a battered part of Stockport at the end of the seventies. She falls in love with the man who will break her heart into a thousand pieces. Blindsided is an unexpected and romantic play about murder, spanning from the beginnings of theThatcher Government in 1979 to the birth of New Labour in 1997. royalexchange.co.uk | @rxtheatre

Strictly Come Dancing favourites Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace are back with a brand new show, Dance ‘Til Dawn, a sensational production of timeless sophistication and breathtaking dance straight from the Golden Age of Hollywood. In 1940s LA, a romance unfolds between a beautiful starlet and her handsome lover. Dance ‘Til Dawn will transport audiences to a time of elegance with stunning sets, a live band, world class dancers and Vincent and Flavia themselves with their flawless footwork and spellbinding choreography. atgtickets.com | @PalaceAndOpera

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse tells the powerful and uplifting story of young Albert, his beloved horse Joey, and the unimaginable obstacles they overcome both individually and together.

The internationally acclaimed production is presented by The Lowry’s partner company, The National Theatre. thelowry.com | @The_Lowry

English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire Palace Theatre 11 – 15 February 2014 Le Corsaire is a thrilling ballet about the love between a dashing pirate and a beautiful harem girl. It’s a swashbuckling drama of kidnap and rescue, disguise and betrayal, culminating in the breathtaking spectacle of a shipwreck.

English National Ballet is the first UK company to perform the complete work, which showcases some of the best bravura male dancing in the ballet repertoire. Hollywood film designer Bob Ringwood (Batman, Troy) has created new sets and costumes for this adventure story which promises unmissable entertainment and great dancing. atgtickets.com/Manchester | @PalaceAndOpera

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Anton Chekov’s ‘The Seagull’,

by Anya Reiss Library Theatre Company at The Lowry 21 February – 8 March 2014 A famous actress’s visit to her brother’s remote estate exposes the frustrated yearnings and ambition of her family and friends. As her son puts much more than his self-respect at stake by trying to impress her with a play he’s written himself, others dream of love, the bright lights, and being able to escape their past. librarytheatre.com/the-seagull | @librarytheatre

Bedroom Farce

by Alan Ayckbourn

Jack Whitehall – Jack Whitehall Gets Around

Oldham Coliseum Theatre 31 January – 22 February 2014

Phones 4u Arena 8 March 2014

Delia and Ernest. Malcolm and Kate. Jan and Nick. Susannah and Trevor. Three bedrooms and four couples makes for one chaotic night.

Funny, gripping and acutely observed, Alan Ayckbourn’s sophisticated comedy lifts the lid on the secrets of middle-class marriage. Tightly written, both funny and sad, Bedroom Farce explores the different pressures of relationships at their different stages, slicing deep into the soul of suburbia. coliseum.org.uk | @OldhamColiseum

Jack Whitehall has firmly established himself as one of the country’s most successful young talents. Jack Whitehall Gets Around is a brand new show that will see Jack perform at the Manchester venue ‘in the round’, a UK first for a solo stand-up tour. The new tour is Jack’s first since his critically acclaimed sell-out 2011 standup show Let’s Not Speak Of This Again. Please note, this show is not suitable for under 16’s. phones4uarena.co.uk | @phones4uarena

Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster Royal Exchange 26 February – 8 March 2014 Previously a sell-out success, the acclaimed show that acts as a moving response to the tragic death of a young gap-year student comes to The Studio at Manchester’s Royal Exchange theatre. The production stars Julie Hesmondhalgh, known for her role in ITV’s Coronation Street. royalexchange.co.uk | @rxtheatre

Miranda Hart Phones 4u Arena 14 and 15 March 2014 The award winning Queen of Comedy Miranda Hart has added a matinee performance to her Phones 4u Arena debut shows next year. Tickets for the 2.30pm Saturday 15 March show are on sale now. Miranda will also play two evening performances on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March. Miranda's new tour - her first stand-up since her hit series Miranda aired on BBC - is the first chance Arena fans will have to see her 'galloping, attempts at song and dance, and simply - such fun!" phones4uarena.co.uk | @phones4uarena

This May Hurt A Bit Octagon Theatre Bolton 25 March – April 2014 Nicholas James is in and out of hospital thanks to his ageing mother and unruly prostate. Or is it the other way round? Lost medical notes, mysterious stains, bodily malfunctions, and a family descending en masse all get in the way of an unexpected - and quite delightful blossoming romance. In this biting, buoyant new political comedy, Britain’s beloved NHS is under the stethoscope. But is it a terminal case?

Tickets: £9 - £24 octagonbolton.co.uk | @octagontheatre

Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas (John Lill) The Bridgewater Hall Until June 2014 In a series of eight recitals (Sept 2013 – June 2014), the pianist John Lill marks his 70th birthday year by performing all 32 of Beethoven’s ground-breaking Piano Sonatas.

John Lill is one of Britain’s best known pianists.

Known for his aristocratic interpretations of Beethoven and other great masters of the piano repertoire, this is a rare chance to be led on one of the greatest of all musical journeys by an artist of consummate skill and experience. bridgewater-hall.co.uk Box Office: 0844 907 9000

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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#galleryinthepark The Whitworth Art Gallery is one of Manchester’s most important cultural institutions. Part of The University of Manchester, it is home to internationally renowned collections of modern art, textiles, watercolours, prints, drawings and sculpture.

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Opened in 1889 as the first English gallery in a park, the Whitworth is today developing a new vision for the role of a university gallery, and is forging stronger connections between park, community and landscape through this development and extension.

A stunning new extension will be the centerpiece of a £15m transformation that will reconnect the Gallery with the surrounding Whitworth Park. It will double public space and create state-of-the-art new facilities for visitors including expanded gallery spaces, a learning studio, study centre, collections access zone, an art garden and a beautiful café nestling amongst the trees in the park.

This increased exhibition and public space, which includes galleries, learning and study spaces, and a collections access zone will allow the Gallery to show, share and care for its significant collection of over 55,000 historical and contemporary works including

outstanding landscape works on paper by celebrated British and European artists, world textiles and wallpaper collections.

The new extension will also provide space for large scale sculptures to be displayed and enable visitors to make connections between works on display and the surrounding landscape.

Meanwhile, a £1.8m grant from Arts Council England will fund a complete reorganisation and refurbishment of the existing 19th century building. This will include revealing previously hidden architectural details, a new state of the art and partly accessible Collection storage area, improved space for the shop and a new entrance to the Gallery on Oxford Road.

The public will be able to access the Grand Hall once again via the glorious Edwardian staircases that lead up to the Hall and a central sight line through the gallery into the park beyond will also be created.

The Whitworth Art Gallery will re-open in summer 2014 with a characteristically bold and varied programme.

For more information about the project: whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

The 19th century Beaumont barrel-vaulted ceilings of the ground floor’s three back galleries will be restored, while on the first floor the Grand Hall will be recovered.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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mosi.org.uk

See the North West’s most incredible industrial inventions and super scientific achievements ever imaginable.

Be inspired by world-class galleries, live demonstrations, events and exhibitions that’ll blow your mind and startle your senses.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Manchester Voices

Barry Priest Barry Priest is Marketing OďŹƒcer for Contact Theatre, and produces its annual Queer Contact season. Barry talks to MCR about his highlights in producing Queer Contact, how it is programmed, what we can look forward to in the future from both the season and Contact Theatre in general and more.

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What is Queer Contact?

Queer Contact presents and produces events throughout the year for Greater Manchester’s LGBT communities, at Contact, a dynamic theatre in the heart of the city’s thriving Oxford Road.

Each February, as part of LGBT History Month, this programming culminates in the Queer Contact Festival featuring the best in performance, music, spoken word, theatre and visual arts, with local young people and performers interacting with the cream of UK and international talent.

The theatre has recently been shortlisted as LGBT Venue of the Year by members of the public as part of the Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s Homo Heroes Awards.

Tell us a little more about yourself, your background and your role with Queer Contact and Contact in general?

I have over 20 years experience in marketing/PR after working in club promotion, large scale corporate conferences and arts festivals. I moved to Manchester and was a part of Queer Up North festival from 2004-2008, working with venues including Contact, where I now work as Marketing Officer, and as the Producer for Queer Contact.

Contact is an arts charity whose core aim is the development of young people through the arts. The organisation has a firm commitment to diversity and part of this work lies in introducing young people to different communities and life experiences through a varied programme of workshops and events. Each year we programme the best in theatre, cabaret, music, dance, spoken word, comedy and visual arts.

What has been the highlight so far?

From transatlantic Vogue battles to the fantastic Tiger Lillies – there have been so many highlights.

However for me, it’s amazing to see the programme embraced so widely and regularly selling out, as well as the development of young LGBT people and artists as they work with established visiting companies.

How do you programme the festival?

Must all performers identify themselves as LGBT? I go and see as much as I can throughout the year, along with Contact's Artistic Director, our Programme Manager, and Creative Producer, and members of our young programming team RECON. We also talk to our audiences each year to find out what artists they'd like to see at future events.

Artists don’t have to identify as LGBT, the main consideration has to be that their work is of relevance to the LGBT community.

How do you think Queer Contact fits in with the rest of Manchester’s LGBT landscape?

Who sponsors Queer Contact?

Manchester is a cultural melting pot - there is a brilliant alternative queer scene in Manchester with collectives like Tranarchy, Bollox, Drunk at Vogue, Cha Cha Boudoir, Queer as Fringe, and more, creating amazing events – sitting alongside nights out in the Gay Village, and large-scale celebratory events like Manchester Pride.

As a charity Contact relies on the support of our funders, donors and supporters. Contact alone couldn't present Queer Contact without the support of some amazing organisations and individuals.

Contact is core funded by Arts Council England, AGMA, Manchester City Council and The University of Manchester.

So far for 2014, Queer Contact has secured the support of Cake Tin Foundation, The Granada Foundation, national poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes, and Manchester Pride – who we are hoping to work with as a part of their Fringe next year.

We also have media partnerships with Canal Street, Gaydio, and OutNorthWest/The Lesbian and Gay Foundation.

Contact’s vision is to empower young people through creativity. Can you give us an example of how Queer Contact has achieved that?

Core to Contact's work is participation and Queer Contact is part of a wider programme - allowing young people to gain confidence and skills from their interactions with visiting artists. Contact Young Actors Company (CYAC) - like all of our projects for young people - is fully inclusive - and has had many LGBT young people as part of its membership.

Queer Contact bridges the gap between the underground and the mainstream, presenting a platform for home-grown talent and UK and international artists.

What is the future for Queer Contact?

Queer Contact Festival will return 6-15 February 2014 with artists including New York Diva Joey Arias, Opera North and The Tiger Lillies, Jackie Kay, Craig Hill, Zoe Lyons, Mother’s Ruin, The House of Suarez and much more. We’re also working alongside our partners to provide more events throughout the year, and we'll continue to support the next generation of queer artists.

Contact also has a new Artistic Director Matt Fenton - who has lots of new ideas for Queer Contact - it's an exciting time!

For more information on Queer Contact, visit contactmcr.com/queercontact, or call 0161 274 0600.

Young people from LGBT Youth North West and Albert Kennedy Trust regularly take part in projects including a recent circus piece with the Roundhouse - Puffball - that will premiere in London next year. The show is being developed from the stories and experiences of LGBT young people across the UK, and we’re hoping to present it in Manchester in 2014. Many of our non LGBT artists also learn and grow from their experience of working with visiting Queer Contact artists.

In addition to this, Contact is a registered charity. How does this function and in what ways does the organisation support others?

Contact exists to develop young people through the arts – working locally, nationally, and internationally to provide life-changing opportunities for the next generation of creative leaders, artists, and audiences.

This is achieved through a varied programme of workshops and events taking place across Greater Manchester and beyond, as well as providing training and employment opportunities.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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What’s on LGBT

LBGT History Month

Great British Bear Bash

Sparkle

Various venues February 2014

Gay Village 1 – 5 May 2014

Sackville Gardens, Gay Village 11 – 13 July 2014

Following 2013’s event dedicated to maths, science and engineering, LGBT History Month 2014 will celebrate the impact that the LGBT community has had on music. Expect walks, talks, exhibitions and a programme of arts events exploring this special, and at times, dependant relationship. lgbthistorymonth.org.uk | @LGBTHM

Roll up, roll up for GBBB17 – The Big Top. Organised by the Manbears, the Great British Bear Bash is a celebration of bear, cub, daddy, chaser and chub culture and will be held over the early bank holiday weekend in May. The majority of programmed events will take place within the Gay Village with Friday and Sunday club nights taking place at Alter Ego. manbears-manchester.co.uk | @manbears

Following the outstanding success of Sparkle 2013, the 2014 event – and 10th birthday celebration – is set to be bigger and better than ever before. Sparkle is the largest annual celebration of transgender culture and lifestyle in the UK and is an important part of the LGBT calendar in Manchester. sparkle.org.uk | @SparkleWeekend

Queer Contact Contact Theatre 6 – 15 February 2014 As part of Contact's ongoing commitment to diversity, Queer Contact develops work and presents events throughout the year for the LGBT communities of Greater Manchester. Each February, to coincide with LGBT History Month, the programming converges in the Queer Contact Festival which this year features highlights including Opera North’s new production with The Tiger Lillies, The House of Suarez Vogue Ball, and Mother’s Ruin. contactmcr.com/queercontact | @Contactmcr

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Manchester Pride Big Weekend Pride Games Various venues June 2014 Pride Games is an annual international LGBT sport festival for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their friends. With a range of sports held at various venues in Manchester, it’s the perfect opportunity to try a new sport, re-awaken old talents, brush up on current skills, have loads of fun and meet new people! pridesports.org.uk | @LouEnglefield

Gay Village 22 – 25 August 2014 The UK’s favourite Pride celebration returns for another four day party in and around Manchester’s famous Gay Village. The flamboyant parade through the city centre on the Saturday and the though-provoking HIV Candlelit Vigil will once again bookend a weekend of revelry and world-class entertainment. Meanwhile the Lifestyle Expo and Village Markets will provide a relaxed opportunity to get further involved with the LGBT community. manchesterpride.com | @ManchesterPride

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Angel Square Nestled between the Shudehill Interchange, Victoria Station and Angel Meadows sits Angel Square – the centrepiece of The Co-operative’s 20-acre, four million square foot development, NOMA. With phase one of the ten-year project complete, Manchester’s new neighbourhood is really taking shape. noma53.com

FOLLOW US TO MANCHESTER’S NEXT DESTINATION Join the story… facebook.com/noma53 @noma53 noma53.com

noma53.com

What is NOMA? NOMA is an evolving neighbourhood of shops, restaurants, hotels, new homes and both cuttingedge and refurbished work space, with acres of outdoor space for new events and the public to enjoy.

Tell me more…

NOMA is a 10 year regeneration project, designed to meet the needs and aspirations of both modern businesses and life, with a real community at its heart.

What’s next?

With Phase 1 now complete and The Co-operative settled in to the stunning new 1 Angel Square office, 2014 will see more developments brought forward for NOMA. These include a second new public square in the heart of the listed estate, which will be home to a variety of street-food and pop-up shops as well as an exciting events programme.

Why NOMA? NOMA is a gateway location and central hub that puts you right in the heart of city life. So if you’re thinking about moving offices, looking for a new place to expand your retail business or to set up home, or simply a great place to relax and take it all in, then follow us to find out what’s new at NOMA.

noma53.com

Manchester Voices

Gary Neville Gary Neville is a true Manchester United legend, with 400 appearances, winning eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one European Cup. He also gathered an impressive 85 caps for his country. Here, Gary talks to us about life at United, his role as an ambassador for Soccerex and updates us on the hotel he’s building opposite his former workplace.

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Manchester United is, without doubt, the city’s biggest modern day export. You spent 20 years with the club. How did it feel to be part of such a global phenomenon?

To play for Manchester United and be a part of it was like a dream to me. I never looked at it as a global phenomenon, however when you travelled around the world with the team, especially on pre-season tours, you could see the high esteem in which Manchester United was held and the reputation it commanded. It never ceased to amaze me how people in Asia or America knew so much about the club, the players, and idolised the club as if they had been born around the corner from Old Trafford.

And now that you’ve retired, looking at the club as an ‘outsider’ (for want of a better word), do you appreciate its size / reach in a different way?

I work as an ambassador for Manchester United which allows me to still travel and see the enormity of Manchester United's success, not just locally but globally. The rest of the football world admire Manchester United, it's stature, it's success and many wish to emulate that level of professionalism.

You’re still very much in the ‘football public eye’ as a commentator on Sky Sports. And you’re also an ambassador for Soccerex – the world’s leading football business event. How are you finding life off the pitch?

I am enjoying it and I can honestly say that I don't miss playing, I was ready to retire.

I am lucky as my jobs allow me to watch so much football, either with my role at Sky or coaching England. I also have other interests in business' plus my role as Soccerex Ambassador. It is important to make sure you are constantly challenged and stimulated otherwise you will certainly miss the buzz that football can bring.

And so we take it you agree that the National Football Museum has truly ‘come home’ now that it has moved to Manchester?

Manchester is an important football city and some of the top clubs in the Premier League all hail from the North West. Manchester United and Manchester City are critical parts of the city and Old Trafford is instantly recognisable all over the world. I think it is a fitting tribute for the National Football

Museum to be in Manchester as the North West is a hot bed for football and can take it's place alongside Madrid, Turin, Bayern, Liverpool and so on.

Next year, you’re opening a new 139-bed hotel just a stones throw from Old Trafford. What made you want to get into the hospitality industry?

Ryan (Giggs, Neville’s business partner) and I have known each other for years, since we were in our early teens. A few years ago, when we knew we were coming to the end of our careers, we were talking about how we could use the experience we’ve gained from playing football all over the world, staying in various hotels.

When you have experienced hospitality around the world, you soon learn what you like and what you don't. Those experiences have helped us gain an insight into the things that make the difference. But, we knew our experience alone wasn’t enough to turn our vision into reality, which meant we had to enlist a team of industry experts, including leading hotelier, Stuart Procter.

The three of us all have the same vision and passion - we’re willing to put in whatever it takes to make Hotel Football a success. We’re living and breathing every element of Hotel Football and involving ourselves in every stage and with every detail.

With our past experiences and Stuart’s industry knowledge we hope to create something truly memorable – where people can eat, live and sleep football.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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What’s on Sport

The British National Squash Championships

Bupa Great Manchester Run 18 May 2014 Manchester City Centre

12 – 16 February 2014 Manchester Squash Centre, Eastlands

The Bupa Great Manchester Run has raised over £22 million for charities since it began in 2003 – and is considered the nation’s ‘favourite 10k running event’. A detailed programme of events now surround the Bupa Great Manchester run, forming a ‘festival’ and is supported by numerous high profile sports stars. greatrun.org | @great_run

Run by England Squash & Racketball and Manchester City Council, the National Squash Championships are back in 2014, with men’s events, women’s events and Masters competitions with set age groups. Among those leading the way into 2014 as potential winners include Nick Matthew, James Willstrop and Peter Barker. nationalsquashchamps.net | @SquashMSA

Bike and Triathlon Show 8 – 9 March 2014 Manchester Central After a successful draw of over 6000 at its last event, the Bike and Triathlon show is back at Manchester Central for 2014. Confirmed exhibitors include Starley Bikes, 2pure, ADR Carbon, Zoggs and USN – but many more are expected to be announced. manchestercentral.co.uk | @bikeandtri

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Ironman UK Triathlon Greater Manchester Marathon 6 April 2014 Old Trafford The flattest marathon course in the UK, the Greater Manchester Marathon is one of the most exciting and fast-paced events of its kind.

With thousands of spectators who come to cheer on those taking part, it is a brilliant event in the city’s sporting calendar. greatermanchestermarathon.com

20 July 2014 Bolton Returning to Bolton for the 6th year, and with qualifying slots for the World Championships in Kona Hawaii, IRONMAN UK continues to offer a world class event, in the heart of the beautiful North West Countryside. Watch 1500 athletes swim 2.4miles, cycle 112 miles and run a marathon with a spectacular finish in front of Bolton town hall. ironmanuk.com | @Ironman_UK

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The beauty of Bury

By Helen Tither Where once you might have been greeted by the bellowing smoke and bustling noise of clattering mill towns, now you're much more likely to catch the scent of chocolate in the air, or the gentle aroma of brewing hops from award winning micro-breweries.

Helen Tither takes a day trip to discover the beauty of Bury.

It’s hard not to feel a little bit Harry Potter as you step off the antiquated station platform and on to the shiny East Lancashire Railway steam train headed for the hills. Roll down the window, get a face full of that nostalgic steam and you'd be forgiven for expecting to see Hogwarts on the horizon.

But you’re not bustling through the pages of a J.K. Rowling book, you’re in Bury. A former mill town hidden in the rolling hills north of Manchester, surrounded by stunning countryside, packed with nostalgic treats and home to a whole range of funky festivals. Once at the heart of the Industrial Revolution – it’s now a town magically transformed into a day-tripper’s dream destination.

The lovingly restored and maintained East Lancashire Railway that chugs in and out of the town centre is the perfect way to discover the area in style

(eastlancsrailway.org.uk). Formerly a frenetic working trade line, shuttling back and to between a network of busy Bury mill towns, it’s now a charming tourist service run by volunteers who brought it painstakingly back to life and still man it at weekends and holidays. There’s a charming insight into the history of the line and other local wonders – such as Hilda the steam roller – on site at the small but perfectly formed Bury Transport Museum.

Clattering through the surrounding countryside, you can hop on and off at a variety of intriguing destinations. For some extra cultural flavour, you could book on to one of their Rail Ale trails, which will introduce you to the delights of locally brewed beer as you go. I’d recommend the Costa Del Salford brewed on site at the Irwell Works Brewery (irwellworksbrewery.co.uk) in Ramsbottom for a cheeky pint brimming with character.

Although more genteel ladies might prefer a spot of on-board afternoon tea, to try a more refined type of rail travel. Provided

by Prestwich-based ‘cake-makers to the stars’ Slattery’s, no less (best to book ahead for this one!).

Now, before we continue this journey of discovery, I should probably confess a bias towards all things Bury-related, as a fairly recent interloper to the area. My heart still soars as I drive up the M66 out of Manchester and see those hills rising up before me.

Working in TV documentaries, my job takes me all over the country filming in weird and wonderful locations. But none takes my breath away quite like the wild and windy view from one of Bury’s most famous monuments Peel Tower, (built in honour of the town’s most famous son, former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel) which can see and be seen for miles on top of a hill at Holcombe.

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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Famous local faces like filmmaker Danny Boyle, the Elbow boys and designer Henry Holland have been putting their home town firmly on the national map of late. But what makes them all so proud to be born and bred in Bury?

It couldn’t be easier to find out - just hop on a tram from Manchester and in half an hour you can be tailoring your own treasure trail around this town.

My first stop off the Metrolink would be to take a peek through the impressive façade of Bury Art Museum, just two minutes from the tram stop.

Gazing down on the winding green valley below, once scattered with mills and factories bringing folk and fortunes to this industrial hotspot, I wonder what Peel would think of his home town’s latest lease of life.

Because there's no doubt that Bury and it's pretty towns and villages are enjoying a renaissance. Only this time it's buzzing, not with cotton or coal, but talent, taste and treats for the ever-increasing train loads of visitors.

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Bob into the basement museum for a crash course on the town’s history before nipping up the stone staircase to take a peek at some beautiful Victorian fine art.

Personally, I couldn't leave the building without stopping for tea and retro cakes from the museum’s delightful cafe, served from a vintage wooden Victorian barrow amid stunning stained glass and a domed ceiling.

And you definitely need to exit through the gift shop - a fantastic emporium of locally produced art, pottery and jewellery.

Across the road you’ll find the fascinating Fusiliers Museum (fusiliermuseum.com).

Winner of the Manchester Tourism Awards

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year prize, it’s actually a Tardis of a place and will easily keep you and the kids amused for hours.

Packed with interactive exhibits, including the smells of the World War I trenches and uniforms to try on, it traces not only the 300-year history of the Fusiliers but also provides a kid and adult accessible introduction to wider military history.

Also home to the Bury Tourism Office, it’s got another cracking gift shop and a café worth making a foodie pit stop for.

By now you might be feeling peckish – so it’s well worth a saunter round the awardwinning Bury Market. I took mum and dad, who declared it ‘how a real old-fashioned market should be’. By that they mean it stocks everything and anything – from local delicacy Bury Black Pudding to boots and braces.

Shoot the breeze with a surprisingly Mediterranean pit stop at Katsouris deli – a foodie Mecca for many thanks to its continental carvery treats or sticky Greek desserts dripping with syrup. Or pick up some local pies and speciality teas at Mrs Ogden’s Tea Room.

Suitably refreshed, you’re ready to explore some of the more unexpected delights of the surrounding area...

Fabulous foodie trail Why not embark on a taste trail around one of the north west’s foremost foodie haunts?

Ramsbottom would be a good place to start, with everything from fine dining (the renowned Ramsons) to cheese cafes (The Mouse Trap, home to the giant cheese and biscuit board) covered. This small town is big on taste and is also packed with a gourmet range of gastro pubs, from homegrown produce champions The Eagle and Child, to Hearth of the Ram and the Shoulder of Mutton at Holcombe. You could even pay a visit to the Saturday job starting point of fashion designer Henry Holland, who used to be spotted serving up cream teas at Bailey’s Teashop in Ramsbottom.

Over in Prestwich, Aumbry creates culinary magic with the finest local ingredients for a special treat. Or, head back to Bury for a cocktail and some diner-inspired nibbles at the popular Automatic café.

Festival fun Barely a weekend goes by in Bury without some carnival-style capers. Hop on the East Lancashire Railway and back in time for their regular 1940s Weekends, which see whole towns dressing up for retro fun.

Culture vultures could try the Prestwich Book Festival in June or regular music and stand-up comedy events at The Met (themet.biz).

One of the quirkiest events in the calendar is the famous World Black Pudding Throwing Championship (second Sunday in September) in Ramsbottom – where people flock to see contestants hurl black puddings at stacks of Yorkshire puddings. Or, strut out in some stylish wellies to the annual Ramsbottom Music Festival in September – three days of folk, indie, rock and pop music with Mongolian foodie vans and even a silent disco! (ramsbottomfestival.com) But it’s the sweet smell of success that really draws visitors from far and wide – with the annual Chocolate Festival (the weekend before Easter) in Ramsbottom. For a whole weekend the town goes cocoa-crazy, with stalls filling the main street, and confectionary eating competitions. And the chocolate-related fun carries on all year round at the town’s Chocolate Café (try their home-made salted caramel bars for a taste revelation).

Over in Ramsbottom you’ll find a whole host of independent shops to spend your pennies in. Check out the organic beauty treats on offer from award-winning boutique Earth Mother (earthmothersoulsister.co.uk) - run by super sisters Rachel and Joanna. Pop across the road to the treasure trove of vintage delights at Memories Antiques (memories-antiques.co.uk). Or nip round the corner to browse the unusual artwork at the Atelier Rose & Gray gallery (atelierrosegray.co.uk), home to some pieces only otherwise found in London.

Shop till you drop

Or, take a hike up Holcombe Hill, a traditional Sunday jaunt for local families.

Climb up Peel Tower to get a stunning view right across the region – take a deep breath, fill your lungs and take in the scenery that puts the Great in Greater Manchester.

As well as all the top high street stores at the recently renovated Rock development, Bury’s got its fair share of hidden shopping gems. Nip down the road to Whitefield and stock up on some unique culinary treats at Slattery Patissier and Chocolatier shop (slattery.co.uk). Cake-makers to the stars, the store is worth a visit just to marvel at the magnificent creations on display in the window.

Go green Head for the hills and valleys around Bury and you’ll be surprised at the green spaces on the Greater Manchester doorstep. Burrs Country Park is a great start – or take a cultural stroll spotting art as you go on the Irwell Sculpture Trail, through the beautiful Irwell Valley.

For more information: visitbury.com/@visit_bury

@visit_mcr | visitmanchester.com

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What’s on Greater Manchester

Saints & Sinners

Open All Hours

Albert Adams

Stockport Story Museum 23 Nov 2013 – 26 October 2014

Portland Basin Museum 22 November 2013 – July 2014

Gallery Oldham 30 November 2013 – 19 April 2014

An exhibition exploring virtue and vice as depicted in the John Benjamin Smith Collection, gifted to Stockport in 1879. Iconic religious scenes, stories of martyrdom and vistas of classical ruins provide an interesting backdrop to the story of the man behind the collection. Smith was an MP for Stockport for over 20 years and one of the founding fathers of Stockport’s Museums. He collected these paintings during his grand tour of Italy in the first half of the 19th century. stockport.gov.uk | @stockportmbc

This new exhibition looks at shopping through the ages – how we used to shop and how our habits have changed over the years. It will feature fascinating objects from the museum’s collection, such as old food packaging, tills, wartime ration books and Green Shield coupons. There’s plenty more to see and do at the museum too - take a stroll down the 1920s street and experience the old schoolroom, grocer’s shop, parlour and pub; learn about Tameside’s past from the Romans to the industrial revolution; and visit the industrial history gallery packed with innovative machinery and goods made in the borough. tameside.gov.uk | @tmbc_culture

Albert Adams (1929-2006) was one of the greatest artists to emerge from South Africa in the 20th century. His work explored not only the specific trauma of Apartheid, but broader issues of abuse of power, justice, and personal expression through art. This show is on loan from the University of Salford who received a gift of over 70 works following Adams’ death. In addition to paintings, drawings and prints the exhibition includes objects from his collection, including Indian embroidered textiles and wood carvings from Sierra Leone and Nigeria. galleryoldham.org.uk | @GalleryOldham

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By Hand: the exhibition

Harold Riley: Salford 1947 to 2012

Ordsall Hall Until 19 January 2014

Salford Museum & Art Gallery Until 23 February 2014

Looking for that special Christmas gift or a unique shopping experience in the beautiful surroundings of Ordsall Hall? Then this exhibition is for you. Running alongside the new shop space at Salford Museum & Art Gallery, this temporary exhibition at Ordsall Hall will showcase quality art and craft work made by local and national artists, for sale at affordable prices. salford.gov.uk/museums | @TheOrdsallGhost

Harold Riley has dedicated much of his career to capturing the everyday street life of his home city, Salford. This exhibition is a mini retrospective of these works including oils, watercolours, photographs and drawings, placed next to a selection of portraits of some of the people important to him. salford.gov.uk/museums | @SalfordMuseum

Big Whistle Festival The Met 7 & 8 February 2014 The Big Whistle Festival returns in February for its sixth outing with more folk gigs and workshops with the humble tin whistle at its core of all performances. Big Whistle 2013 will once again feature a number of top artists from the world of folk as well as a number of rising stars, showcasing the best in traditional music. themet.biz | @themet

Defining Me: Musical Adventures in Manchester The Lowry Until 23 February 2014 From the Hallé Orchestra’s first performance in 1858, to the diverse musical character of the present day, this exhibition presented by Manchester District Music Archive celebrates Greater Manchester’s musical heritage as told by a wide variety of participants from the archive’s online community. Key artefacts such as photography, posters, ticket stubs and video footage, helps visitors explore the emotional, life-changing and inspirational experiences that we all have with music; charting the cultural significance of Manchester within music history, as told by the people that know. thelowry.com | @The_Lowry

Sea Touchstones Rochdale Until 8 March 2014 This exhibition from the borough's art collection explores the theme of the sea in all its aspects the seaside, coastline, ports, shipping and sailing. Combining historic and contemporary work, artists include Dorothea Sharp, Terrick Williams, Frank Brangwyn and Junko Mori. link4life.org | @Touchstones

Bolton Vintage Car Rally Bolton Town Hall, Victoria Sq Sunday 6 April 2014 Come along and welcome a showcase of vintage cars visiting the Bolton area. All cars will follow a route taking in some of Bolton’s key landmarks before finishing at Victoria Square to park up for the day. Visitors are invited to look around the cars, speak with their owners and take some unique photographs. bolton.gov.uk | @boltoncouncil

Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival Bridge St, Ramsbottom Town Centre 12 & 13 April 2014 Now in its 6th successful year the award-winning festival is one of the most talked about events in the North West. Alongside the two day chocolate market showcasing high quality cocoa from award winning chocolatiers, expect interactive workshops and activities, alfresco dining, choc fest beer, music, competitions, Giant Easter Egg display, our loveable mascot Charlie Chick and much more. ramsbottomchocolatefestival.com | @ChocFestival

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Toad Lane In need of premises from which to trade, the Rochdale Pioneers took a three-year lease on no: 31 Toad Lane in December 1844. Recognising the historical significance of the building, the movement later raised the money to buy the building and opened it as a museum in 1931. rochdalepioneersmuseum.coop

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Manchester Voices

James Humphreys The Northern Belle is one of Manchester’s quintessentially British experiences. From the comfort of its plush carriages you can take in picturesque countryside whilst en route to a historic castle, country house or sporting event. We caught up with train manager, James Humphreys, to ďŹ nd out more about his experiences on the luxury train.

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For those unfamiliar with the Northern Belle, could you give a little introduction for us?

The Northern Belle is the sister train of the famous Venice – Simplon Orient Express and the British Pullman. It operates out of Manchester and fifty other departure points across the UK How did you come to work for the Orient Express?

I came from the Chester Grosvenor, a five star hotel in Cheshire. I joined the team for the Northern Belle’s inaugural run on 31 May 2000. The Grosvenor is renowned for its impeccable service – and so is the Orient Express. The only difference for me is that this one moves at up to 120mph!

How would you sell the experience to a would-be guest?

The leisure rail travel industry is at the height of all people’s expectations at the moment with the Art Deco movement and the golden age of travel, so people wish to do days out whether it be to high society events like Ascot or the Chelsea Flower Show. This is the finest way to achieve those days out.

In particular, the Northern Belle puts on an impeccable service, which captures the true essence and sophistication of the classic rail era of the 1930s – the intricate furnishings, the picturesque views and, of course, finedining. It’s a chance to re-live an era now considered bygone.

Has the Northern Belle changed at all during your time with the train?

Since its launch 13 years ago, the train has definitely grown in stature. It also travels to even more destinations than before. We go out to Pembrokeshire coastline, North Wales and up to Edinburgh - all from the Manchester.

The operation is very slick. How do you ensure the finesse and class for which the train is known is consistent?

It’s all built around the team on board.

They’ve been together for a number of years – and as well as investing heavily in training – you’ll find that all those working on (and off) board the train are as passionate about ‘the Belle’ as I am. We all want the guests to have a memorable day.

Aside from the Belle and your experiences with it, what other activities, events, sites and individuals from the North do you enjoy?

On my days off I love visiting places around Manchester. The Imperial War Museum North, my kids have a great time there.

The Teppanyaki tables at Sapporo, are also a favourite of mine. The Lowry and the Bridgewater Hall are both places we visit as well.

For more information: orient-express.com/uktrains

Tell us about the food and drink about the Northern Belle…

All of our food and beverage is sourced locally from the areas we travel through. If we take a trip from Manchester to North Wales, we’ll use the finest Welsh lamb; everything is sourced from farms which our chefs have spent time going out to visit to ensure that the Northern Belle has the best produce on board.

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Rediscovering England’s North West: A VisitEngland bucket list road trip

By Kate Lo Kate is a 'general northern mix' - born in West Yorkshire to Scouse parents, schooled in Preston, studied French and Spanish at Liverpool’s John Moores University and now a proud resident of Manchester. To show her other half that us Northerners offer more than just fantastic fish, chips and mushy peas, she took the Stockport lad-cum-South Coast defector on a road trip of the region’s best 'food heavens' – incorporating the region’s experiences on VisitEngland's ‘101 Things To Do Before You Go Abroad’ bucket list.

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Image: Grasmere, the Lake District

As the ultimate Virgoan 'planner', I'd taken charge. A conversation similar to that of "What d'ya fancy for tea Hun?" had followed.

Now, I say 'tea' because that's my evening meal. 'Dinner' you eat at lunchtime. Fact.

His response, particularly in winter, was normally "Hmm, something warm and comforting." With both in mind, I'd scanned the bucket list and picked our first stop, Grasmere - with a last-minute deal at the Mossgrove Organic B&B, promising luxury and privacy, and an eco-friendly spec to rival any five star resort in Mexico, topped off with a yummy organic breakfast. We ogled at our superior room, complete with private balcony and views overlooking beautiful Cumbrian greenery. The chunky six-foot bed, fashioned from reclaimed timbers and set on an oak stage, looked like it was straight out of a Flintstones cartoon and would dwarf even the most manly of fellas.

I'd turned my back for a minute and he'd flaked out on Fred's bed. "Come on, no time to chill, let's eat gingerbread and explore!"

Sarah Nelson, the original creator of Grasmere Gingerbread, died 100 years ago and is buried in the quaint St Oswald's churchyard, just behind the shop occupying a quaint abode once known as "Gate Cottage". Stood inside, gazing at shelves crammed with all manner of ginger-y foodstuffs, it was hard to choose something!

"Try the gingerbread!" prompted the lady dressed complete in a Victorian white pinafore and cap. "Compliment it with Ginger Wine!" Himself perked up. "It's non-alcoholic but has a bit of a kick, so sip it slowly." She wasn't wrong about the 'kick'.

We'd made the mistake of pouring wine glasses full of the stuff! Grasmere village, although dinky, is full of lovely surprises around every corner. For outdoorsy types, there's Helm Crag and Easedale Tarn which is an hour's steady climb out of the village. I can't pretend we attempted either. I was far too busy working out which t-shirt to buy from The Herdy Shop. Inspired by the native, loveable Herdwick sheep, they produce great gifts featuring cute 'Herdy' faces.

Filled up by our wholesome brekkie the next day, we left the leafy dell on a slight detour to appease my fella, who'd grumbled about feeling claustrophobic. "Why can't the Lake District be more like Scotland with open, otherworldly landscapes?" he'd said. Right, I'll give him bloomin' 'Monarch of the Glen'.

Squeezing through a road barely allowing Mickey the Mini to pass, we reached a plateau where the landscape stretched out, our eyes drawn towards a spectacular scene.

Tarn Hows, close to Coniston, was originally created to supply water to a saw mill and is now a popular spot for family walks and picnics. The air felt heavy with anticipation or was it the grey clouds and smell of rain?

The Lake District isn't full of lakes for no reason I guess! Luckily, rain didn't halt play and after an invigorating, 1.5 mile circular stroll it was time to leave. I looked across at my Laird. He was grinning - all was well with the world again.

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Another weekend, another chance to get out and explore. Consulting the list, we decided to check out Blackpool Illuminations.

Spurred on by the promise of bracing Irish Sea air, we needed sustenance. Naturally, I had a foodie plan - Whelans for traditional fish 'n' chips in Lytham St Annes en route.

Having won countless awards and deservedly received acclaim from the 'codfather' of fish, Rick Stein, it never disappoints. With 'light' grilled fish options and home-made gourmet fishcakes, forget your stereotypical northern chippy! I ordered the usual - small haddock, chips, mushy peas, tea, bread and butter.

Mmmm...succulent large flakes of sweet fish, wrapped in a light batter, accompanied by Whelan's homemade tartare sauce - be warned, you'll need a full pot as it's moreish!

Now, despite being a local, I've always forgotten when the Illuminations are switched on! Top tip: always check beforehand! They’re usually on from the end of August until the first week or so of November. 2013 marked the 101st year since they first started. As an already wellestablished seaside resort, Blackpool pioneered the use of eight electric streetlights in 1879 and drew 100,000 visitors to witness the event. Replacing gas lamps, the lights emitted the equivalent light of 48,000 candles. In May 1912, Princess Louise officially opened a new section of the promenade decorated with a "novel fashion of garland lamps". This signalled the start of an annual tourist attraction, paused only by

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he was OK with heights! Embarrassed, he shook his head and quietly asked if they could return to the bottom. I braved the rest alone. The uppermost part of the Tower, accessible via a staircase, leads out onto a 360-degree vista that's exposed to the elements. I didn't linger long, but the view lit up along Blackpool's prom was simply spectacular, even without the Illuminations.

Las Vegas eat your heart out!

the outbreak of the First World War. Although the old-fashioned trams have been updated and the lights replaced with spectacular animated images, the whole experience still evokes memories of Victorian Britain.

Sadly, I'd miscalculated again! A quick backup plan - Blackpool Tower. We squeezed in for the last admission time and raced through the 4D displays explaining the Tower's history, straight to the lift, chaperoned by an informative lady who took our minds off the ascent with trivia we'd missed. Reaching the top, the lift doors opened to reveal a breathtaking panorama of the North Western coastline. I looked across at my Laird and realised he'd turned an odd shade of green akin to the mushy peas from earlier. It hadn't occurred to me to check if

Along the coast towards Liverpool lies 'Another Place'. I'd taken the Old Dears out for a run and a bite to eat when they'd felt inspired - Antony Gormley's statues have put Crosby beach firmly on the tourist trail. A proud fact for my Dad, a Crosby lad who's never failed to point out his road from childhood, each and every time we've driven through! The 100 cast-iron, life-size figures, cast from the artist's own body, stand solemnly facing out towards the horizon.

Spread out across 3km, they're a sight to behold, representing a poetic response to the individual and universal sentiments of emigration, sharing a sadness at leaving but a hope of a new future in another place. Our reflection was broken by a particular display of Scouse humour - two figures being subjected to Liverpool and Everton shirts for a cheeky photo! I bet Mr Gormley didn't anticipate a highjacking of his statues to depict local footballing rivalry but there's no denying that football has ensured Liverpool is known worldwide. More thanks to Liverpool FC than Everton. But then I would say that, being a Red!

Images this page: Chester Rows; the Cavern Club & Liverpools Albert Docks Previous page: Antony Gormley’s statues on Crosby beach; Blackpool’s Illuminations

"Scousers" are even named after a tasty meat stew, "Scouse", still cooked by inhabitants of Liverpool but said to originate from Scandinavian settlers. Bellies rumbling, we headed to The Pheasant at Hightown, a stone's throw away from Crosby. Whilst there wasn't a bowl of Scouse in sight, The Pheasant fed us well. Snugly cozied up to an open fireplace, I'd spied another diner's dinner and was set before I'd even glanced over the menu - Slow-cooked Pork Belly with Seared King Scallops. O, M, flippin' G. Both Old Dears were likewise smug with their choices - another grand day out.

Liverpool is home to arguably the most famous band in the world, The Beatles - but The Pool is no one trick pony. In recent years, the waterfront and city centre have benefitted from significant regeneration in time for 2008 as the 'Capital of Culture' and is now a popular destination for shoppers flocking to 'Liverpool One' (containing an Everton FC Store entitled 'Everton Two'!) as well as the architecturally striking Museum of Liverpool, ever-popular Merseyside Maritime Museum and Tate Gallery Liverpool for culture vultures. Having studied at Uni there, I know first-hand the experiences on offer. Admittedly, a fair few involved alcohol-fuelled nights out ending up in the Cavern Club, dancing to 90's House, Abba, and other such student tunes, whilst benefitting from the delight of fellow dancers' sweat dripping from the lowceilinged arches. The Old Dears can go one better and recall the heady days of bopping in The Original Cavern Club, entertained by the Fab Four themselves. They can't beat my claim to fame though - the Magical Mystery Tour bus used to pass by my last student house, with a view of my washing on one side and Penny Lane on the other! You're impressed I can tell.

Zuger's Tea Rooms. We made a beeline for it, kidding ourselves we'd walk off the calories along the City Walls afterwards. The food has a distinctive swiss influence so I was keen to sample the 'Rostï Alpine' served with bacon, cheese and topped with a fried egg. Wow! Ideal to combat any monster of a hangover!

Pa equally was silenced by 'Zuger's Stacker' our only regret being no room for cake!

Whilst a far cry from the more traditional offerings of the North West, this café packs a punch and could well earn itself a title alongside the culinary greats yet - "Swissshire Stacker" anyone?

For more information about VisitEngland’s ‘101 things to do before you go abroad’ bucket list: 101thingstodoinengland.co.uk

Last stop, my Magical Mystery "Foodie" tour of the North West wouldn't have been complete without a stroll along Chester's Rows. Stretches of half-timbered galleries that are reached by steps leading up to a second row above street level, The Rows are unique in the world, some buildings dating back to 13th century. Little is known as to why they were constructed so. Modern stores now occupy both levels but it's still possible to soak up their historical beauty, adding to the charm of the Roman city.

Before my Ma and I could get distracted by shopping, I had one last culinary gem up my sleeve, a Gold award winner as "Best Café" in the Chester Food & Drink Awards 2013 -

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The Manchester Store visitmanchester.com/store

L OND ON - M A N C H E S T E R 2 HR S 8 MINS B O O K I N A D V A N C E A T V I R G I N T R A I N S .C O M

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Perfectly positioned, Perfect packages, Perfect meetings at The Palace Hotel

The Palace Hotel is a fabulous grade II listed landmark building in the heart of Manchester city centre. Perfectly positioned just across the road from Oxford Road train station, within walking distance of Manchester Piccadilly station and only 8 miles from Manchester International Airport.

The Palace Hotel offers: Largest hotel conference facilities in the North West Flexible spaces, including dedicated training rooms Ideal spaces for conferences, meetings, events, exhibitions and training 19 function rooms, accommodating up to 1200 guests in our Grand Room

The perfect setting for gala dinners, award ceremonies, dinner dances and private dining A great nights sleep in one of our 275 luxury bedrooms Central location, within walking distance of over 1000 car parking spaces

Perfectly-priced Banqueting, Day Delegate and 24 Hour Packages Banqueting packages start from just £29* per person including a 3 course dinner.

For all new Banqueting enquiries contracted over £10,000 you will receive a free iPad**.

Day delegate packages start from just £39* per person and 24 Hour packages from £139* per person.

Plus all new conference and meeting enquires contracted over £20,000 will receive a free iPad**.

Our star studded PH Festival incentive goes global.

Register now to earn rewards when you book and be entered into a prize draw to win a trip to a Dream Destination. To make an enquiry and register go to www.ph-festival.co.uk

To make an enquiry contact Sharon Cameron, Regional Director of Sales today on:

0161 233 5143 or Palacesales@principal-hayley.com

*Rates shown are inclusive of service and VAT where applicable. **iPad offer on bookings as stated when signed and contracted within 8 weeks of the initial enquiry. All prices and incentives are subject to availability and may change or be withdrawn at any time and without notice.

The leading 5 star hotel in the north west The Lowry Hotel offers 165 bedrooms, six suites and the Charles Forte Presidential Suite. The hotel is contemporary, luxurious and comfortable.

The River Restaurant offers a Modern British menu whilst the River Bar and Library offer a modern, light menu throughout the day.

The luxurious Lowry Spa, offers a range of treatments from Carita and Elemis, a gym, sauna and relaxation lounges.

Room rates from £169 including breakfast.

Special menus from £19.50 per person for 3 courses from our daily menu.

To make a booking, call us on 0161 827 4000

The Lowry Hotel

50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Salford, Manchester, M3 5LH Telephone +44 (0) 161 827 4000 Fax +44 (0) 161 827 4001 enquiries.lowry@roccofortehotels.com www.roccofortehotels.com

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Transport information Manchester is one of the most accessible cities in the UK thanks to its location and level of connectivity with national transport infrastructure. Once you have arrived in the city, getting around couldn’t be easier thanks to a fleet of buses, trains and trams...

Trains There are four main stations in the city centre: Piccadilly, Oxford Road, Victoria and Deansgate.

Piccadilly welcomes the majority of visitors and is the main arrival point for those flying into Manchester Airport or travelling up from London. The city has direct rail services south to Birmingham, Bournemouth, Reading, Bristol and Plymouth as well as north to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Operators include: CrossCountry Trains (crosscountrytrains.co.uk / @crosscountryuk) First Great Western (firstgreatwestern.co.uk / @FGW), Northern Rail (northernrail.org / @northernrailorg) and TransPennineExpress (tpexpress.co.uk / @TPExpressTrains).

Bus & Coach Within the city centre, Metroshuttle provides a free ‘hop on, hop off’ service that links all of the main rail stations, shopping districts and business areas. It runs every ten minutes from 7am - 7pm Monday to Saturday and 10am - 6pm on Sundays. Across Greater Manchester, Arriva (arrivabus.co.uk), First (firstgroup.com / @FirstManchester) and Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com) operate a comprehensive network to get you out and about.

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Further afield, National Express provides services from all over the country into Chorlton Street Coach Station in the heart of the city (nationalexpress.co.uk / @nationalexpress)

Road Manchester is well connected to the rest of the UK via excellent motorway links. The M60 ring road connects the city to motorways north, south, east and west.

In the city, NCP has over 13,000 car parking spaces across 43 sites, including a number of exclusive parent and child bays and green bays for vehicles with low emissions. Parking with NCP in the city centre starts from just £1.60 an hour. ncp.co.uk / @ncpcarparks

Trams The city’s Metrolink network is one of the most successful light rail systems in the UK, carrying nearly 20 million passengers every year. With services roughly every five to ten minutes, it is great mode of transport for those not on a strict timetable. Don’t forget to purchase your ticket on the platform before you board. metrolink.co.uk / @OfficialTfGM

Journey Planning Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the official public transport body for the city. Its website has a wealth of information to help you plan your journey, including details of Park & Ride services, accessible transport, bus service maps and a journey planner. For service information, call: +44 (0)871 200 22 33 (10p per minute from landlines). tfgm.com / @OfficialTfGM

System One Want to travel on any bus? Or a combination of bus and train, or even bus, train and tram? Why not purchase a System One Travelcard. It covers a wide-reaching area from Bolton and Bury in the north to Stockport and Altrincham in the south, Oldham and Rochdale in the east to Standish and Wigan in the west. It can make your travel planning much simpler and save you money too. systemonetravelcards.co.uk / @OneManchester

Treat yourself to some me-time Fabulous shopping easily reached by Metrolink. 2Ƭ SHDN WUDYHOFDUGV IURP RQO\ £4.90 www.metrolink.co.uk/travelcards

Terms and conditions apply. Please see website for details.

© TfGM 13-1571/4297-MCR-0913

Manchester Airport - Part of M.A.G With three terminals handling over 20 million passengers each year, Manchester Airport is the global gateway to the North of England.

Sixty-five airlines ensure Manchester Airport is directly connected to over 200 destinations and no more than one-stop away from anywhere in the world. Whether travelling for business or pleasure, Manchester Airport offers a host of facilities and services to help ensure hassle-free travel:

Airport Shopping and dining Join the vast number of savvy shoppers already taking advantage of exclusive tax and duty free savings at the airport. Then, make the most of the wide selection of food and drink options available across all three terminals.

Escape Lounges

Free Wi-Fi

For those looking to start their holiday in style, or simply some peace and quiet to complete last minute business, the Escape lounges in Terminal 1, 2 and 3 offer a tranquil environment. Here you can also enjoy a host complimentary refreshments and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

Stay connected to the outside world, with free Wi-Fi for up to 30 minutes, across all three terminals.

For the kids If you need to keep the kids entertained or use up some of their excess energy before a long flight, there are now two free soft play areas.

These are located in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

The Manchester Airport App For the perfect travel companion download the Manchester Airport app, it’s your one-stop guide for flight and airport information. Even better it’s completely free to download on your smartphone.

Airport Parking

Disabled access

There is a parking option to suit every need, from great value Long Stay parking to the ultimate convenience of Meet & Greet parking.

A pioneering new access guide has been designed, which provides disabled customers with all the information they need to plan their journey from door to door.

For the latest information visit manchesterairport.co.uk or follow @manairport on Twitter.

Fly direct to Manchester from...

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A SUPERSONIC DAY OUT Follow in the footsteps of the world’s elite, onboard a true icon.

CONCORDE TOURS > Guided tours > VIP Champagne tours

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FROM ONLY ONLY £13.50* MAKE A DAY OF IT... > Breathtaking views of the runway > Get up close to planes, such as the A380, as they take off** > Tour our Trident, DC-10 & RAF Nimrod > Children’s play area > Restaurant > Gift shop

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Give your event or wedding the edge, under the wings of Concorde.

runwayvisitorpark.co.uk *Subject to availability, **Subject to flight schedules.

The Last Word Yesterday I was at a museum with my two nephews, aged 11 and 8.

In the course of about thirty minutes they stroked a snakeskin and found out a) it isn’t slimy and b) why a snake sheds its skin. They picked up a snake spine which had been made into a necklace by an Amazonian tribe and found out that it moved together just like a bicycle chain and that wearing it conferred status on a chief.

They saw a stuffed dodo and learned why it died out, that hunting endangered species still happens and that some animals, which we consider to be beautiful and important, are eaten for their meat (like gorillas) or killed to make false medicine (tigers and rhino). They asked questions about birth, life, death, extinction, sex, poverty, power and wealth. All in less than thirty minutes thanks to a snake and a dodo.

Museums and galleries provide us, adults and children alike, with the most creative, fascinating, inspirational environments which encourage us to be curious. They are places which are always there, always open, always safe and always welcoming. The museum which presents it’s collections for the passive viewing of the bored and press-ganged are disappearing fast. Curators don’t want to bore, they want to inspire. They didn’t become experts in their fields to guard and protect and hoard but to explain and to reveal and surprise. A ‘wow’ is their best feedback.

Museums are where we grow our cultural economies, sure. But, most importantly, they are where we grow people.

The reaction in Manchester – and Bradford and York – to the possible cuts or closures to MOSI, the National Media Museum and the National Railway Museum respectively, was impressive but should not have been surprising. Warnings in July that deep cuts in the central Government grants which sustain these brilliant museums would render them vulnerable and potentially financially unsustainable were received with shock and dismay. In the days that followed the warnings – and these were genuine warnings not ‘Cry Wolf’ lobbying tactics – families, schools, councillors, communities, teachers, local newspapers and radio stations spoke up to say how much these museums meant to them and their communities.

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What was fascinating in the reaction of Mancunians was the sheer number of personal stories of how MOSI, the Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, People’s History Museum had been the backdrop for some of the most important moments in people’s lives. First dates, first time they’d seen a Lowry, first time they’d understood what the Peterloo massacre was about, first time they’d seen a whale, first time they’d realised that Emmeline Pankhurst was a local, first visit to a museum, first time in a café with their baby. Realising why Manchester’s claim to be the ‘original modern city’ isn’t hubris or marketing but grounded in fact and sweat, innovation, toil, creativity and courage.

I hear stories like these time and time again from people across the UK. ALVA’s members are the most popular, iconic and important attractions in the UK; from Blackpool Pleasure Beach to the British Museum; from Titanic Belfast to Chester Zoo; Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter. Attractions are loved and visitor numbers are on the increase because spending time with your family is becoming more precious. Research for VisitEngland shows that 64% or people are still worried about their job security; where people are working they are working for longer for less. They are concerned about their disposable income and are always on the look out for value for money. Family time - including days out and holidays – has become more precious and more valued.

At a time of recession and economic constraint many people feel that the future is uncertain and unpredictable and a little scary. The past, in contrast, feels definite, certain and sure.

Nostalgia becomes a safe and warm place to be. Witness the plethora of programmes from ‘Downton Abbey’ to ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ and ‘Who Do You Think You Are?; genealogy TV tourism, making sense of who we are, where we come from and what our grandparents might have done and how they might have lived in the past. And programmes about the skills that they had have become a guarantee of ratings success; it’s no surprise that “Great British Bake-Off” is so popular. Paul Hollywood’s put-downs and Mary Berry’s insights wouldn’t in themselves make for great TV but people’s yearning to learn skills and to be practical chime with the era of nostalgia. Not quite ‘Make Do and Mend’, but pretty close.

In the same way museums, galleries, stately homes and other attractions know that their visitors want to hear stories of people, not just buildings. They want artefacts and treasures

brought to life through story-telling and drama, not handouts and labels. They want to stand on the spot where history was made, to feel a physical umbilical link with history, to feel the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. They want to go home with new facts, new skills ideally, and a greater awareness of their world and where they fit into it. They want to experience new things – science, history, art, power, danger, death, glory, oppression – not through Wikipedia, but for themselves. They want to have the conversations you can’t timetable.

When I was Chair of Visit Manchester one of the things I loved most about the city was visiting the museums and galleries and witnessing for myself that the staff and volunteers all understood one thing above all others; that people may visit your museums and galleries on the first occasion for what’s in them – artefacts, collections, the ‘stuff’ – but they return because of who’s in them - the staff and volunteers. People who bring the collections alive, who inspire, who have the ability to translate the great moments and creations of the world into meaningful stories.

The outcry about the threat to museums was important because it showed that Mancunians care about who curates and tells their story, and who cares about ensuring that precious family time is spent enjoyably and well. You can put a price on that, sure, but its value is much greater than pound notes.

Bernard Donoghue is the Director of ALVA – Association of Leading Visitor Attractions alva.org.uk

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