The Skinny Student Handbook North 2017

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INDEPENDENT

CULT U R A L

J O U R N A L I S M

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2017 - 2018

2017 – 2018

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2017 – 2018

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Contents

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From film festivals and Pride shenanigans to carnivals and Christmas markets, it’s your guide to the year’s top cultural events.

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MUSIC: Chester indie-pop trio PEANESS send you out into the world with some solid gig venue recommendations.

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A handy how-to in becoming a promoter, ‘cause everything starts from nothing.

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CLUBS: Theo Kottis shares the records that have shaped his taste in music.

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ART: Some of our favourite arty types tell us what they’ve been up to since graduating (spoiler: some pretty cool shit).

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SEX: Let’s talk about sex, baby! Specifically, the lack of sex ed for the LGBTQIA+ community.

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FOOD & DRINK: £1 tacos, half-price pizza and BOGOF burgers? Turns out there’s more to cheap eats than your student card.

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Put down the value vodka and 20p mixer: there are actually tasty drinks to be drunk.

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Alcohol and social anxiety.

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THEATRE: How the AF do you fund a theatre show? We’ll tell ya.

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FILM: Short films by directors who’d go on to be famous = perfect career inspo for budding filmmakers... or, at the very least, solid hangover content.

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ACTIVISM: The world’s a mess, sure. But rather than moping about, we’ve some tips on things you, humble student, can do to make a difference.

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DAY TRIPS: Get up off your arse and out into the great outdoors... Or at least to the nearest country pub for a pint.

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VENUE GUIDE: Pubs, clubs, museums, galleries, libraries... The North’s full of ‘em!

Find out more with our venue guides for Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.

CREDITS Editor: Jess Hardiman Designer: Kyle McPartlin Production Manager: Sarah Donley Contributors: Tallah Brash, Charlotte Brimner, Jamie Dunn, Kate Pasola, Toby Sharpe, Peter Simpson, Amy Taylor, Megan Wallace Sales & Marketing: Sandy Park, Keith Allan, George Sully, Issy Patience, Sebastian Fisher Illustrator: Jacky Sheridan Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA (openstreetmap.org) RADGE MEDIA Editor-in-Chief: Rosamund West Bookkeeping & Accounts: Rebecca Sweeney Publisher: Sophie Kyle theskinny.co.uk @theskinnymag @theskinnymag @theskinnymag Get in touch: E: hello@theskinny.co.uk T: 0131 467 4630 P: The Skinny, 1.9 1st Floor Tower, Techcube, Summerhall, Edinburgh, EH9 1PL The Skinny is Scotland’s largest independent entertainment & listings magazine, and offers a wide range of advertising packages and affordable ways to promote your business. Get in touch to find out more.

E: sales@theskinny.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within this publication do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the printer or the publisher.

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Heads Up Your month-by-month guide to the year’s best events, from music festivals to carnivals and foodie feasts to Pride

October Following its debut last year, Neighbourhood Festival (7 Oct) returns to various venues in Manchester’s city centre with the likes of The View, The Subways, Peace, Ratboy, Black Honey, HMLTD and The Amazons, while Manchester Literature Festival (6-22 Oct) welcomes authors Armistead Maupin and Reni Eddo-Lodge, human rights activist Shami Chakrabarti and domestic goddess Nigella Lawson, and Design Manchester (11-22 Oct) celebrates the local design scene with talks, exhibitions, workshops, films, fairs and parties. You can also soak up some late night cultural vibes with Light Night Leeds (5-6 Oct), a yearlytwilightcelebrationofthecity’smuseums,landmarks and galleries, or get involved in one of the UK’s leading LGBT arts festivals, Homotopia (30 Oct-1 Dec), in Liverpool.

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LISTINGS

Light Night Leeds

Stay Fresh Fest

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Photo: Jack Kirwin

September Clubbing behemoth The Warehouse Project launches its 2017 season (16 Sep) just in time for your arrival, with LCD Soundsystem, Floating Points, Chemical Brothers, Craig David and Thundercat all on the bill between now and the New Year’s Day finale. If you’re more in the mood for checking out some local bands, you can also kickstart the uni year with Stay Fresh Fest at The Deaf Institute (30 Sep; keep your eyes peeled for more details on round two in January, too), or scope out the talent from near and far at the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia. Catch some LOLs at Liverpool Comedy Festival (15 Sep-1 Oct), or simply get boozy at Leeds International Beer Festival (7-10 Sep) or Manchester’s Indy Man Beer Con (28 Sep-1 Oct).

Photo: Carl Milner

The Warehouse Project

November Beacons Metro (2-5 Nov), the metropolitan reincarnation of Beacons Festival, brings the likes of Little Dragon, Jungle and Wiley to Leeds along with a roster of rising names, before the city rounds the month off with High & Lonesome Festival (25 Nov) featuring John Smith, Josh Rouse, The Travelling Band and others. There’s also Dark City (3-5 Nov), a beer festival at Northern Monk dedicated to “all things dark” (so your stouts, porters, black IPAs and such), an ode to cinema with Leeds International Film Festival (1-16 Nov) – while across the Pennines HOME becomes host to Manchester Animation Festival (14-16 Nov), which doffs a cap to the animated art form across one weekend.

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January January can be notoriously dull, what with post-Christmas poverty, the #DryJanuary hype and that small matter of impending exams. But it doesn’t have to be so! Get back on the bevs with the Brew-denell Beer & Ale Festival (13-15 Jan) at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club or Manchester Beer & Cider Festival (25-27 Jan), or check out PUSH (12-20 Jan) cross-arts festival at HOME in Manchester to dip back into the local creative scene after a hedonistic festive period. Finally, Chinese New Year (28 Jan) wraps up the month with the cities’ Chinatowns leading the way for parades, markets and events.

Photo: Ross Gilmore

Little Dragon

December No doubt it’ll be the Christmas markets that succeed in vying for most of your attention this December, with German bratwurst, mulled wine and endless samples of curiously flavoured cheese to work your way through in both Manchester and Leeds. In Liverpool we suggest you get yourself over to the Winter Arts Market (2 Dec), where the area’s many designers, makers and creatives come together to provide you with the independently and locally made present potential that’ll get you serious brownie points this Christmas.

February One of Manchester’s favourite celebrations of LGBT culture returns, as Queer Contact festival (date TBC) serves up several days of theatre, music, dance, comedy, art and more. And don’t forget Valentine’s Day (14 Feb), you absolute bloody lothario, you! If you need a little help, head to theskinny.co.uk for guides to our favourite date spots in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

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Photo: Sam Needham

Magic Rock Beer

March Following a successful inaugural festival last spring as the UK’s first hop-led beer bash, Hop City returns to Leeds (date TBC) to fill your face with yet more delicious delights. Keep all those fingers and toes crossed for the return of Liverpool’s grassroots festival Threshold (date TBC), too, which for several years has been bringing The Baltic Triangle to life with live music and arts – but came under threat last March when funding setbacks forced organisers to reach out to the local community for help via a crowdfunding campaign.

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April Leeds International Festival (28 Apr-12 May) makes a worthy return following last year’s historic debut, which brought the city to life over the course of two weeks with tech events, live music, film screenings and more. You can also munch on some tasty global eats with the World Food Festival (20-22 Apr) at the Royal Armouries, which promises to be the biggest food and drink event that the city has seen, or sip on some cocktails at Cocktails in the City (6-7 Apr; Manchester, it’s also your turn on 12 May and Liverpool’s on 30 Jun). Meanwhile, Manchester flies the flag for the animal-friendly lifestyle with the Northern Vegan Festival (7 Apr), which last year graduated onto the gigantic Manchester Central convention centre.

May May’s a month packed with some of our all-time favourites – not least Salford’s Sounds from the Other City (6 May), a beautifully bizarre grassroots festival that promises to give you some reet good fun times. Over in neighbouring Manchester there’s also multi-venue hopabout Dot to Dot (25 May).

In Leeds, there’s another Skinny favourite in the form of Leeds Indie Food, which celebrates the region’s thriving independent food and drink scene through street food events, beer tastings and more, while Liverpool’s also got May nailed with its annual ace card, LightNight, a one-night arts and culture festival that takes place after hours at many of the city’s museums, galleries and venues.

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Photo: Jessie Leong

Leeds Indie Food

June With those pesky exams out of the way, you’ll have plenty of time to revel in the North’s many summery happenings, including Africa Oye at Sefton Park in Liverpool, the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture that always guarantees the good times, or Positive Vibration (8-10 Jun) festival of reggae. Parklife throws a bit of life into the outskirts of Manchester, as Heaton Park hosts the big names from the international circuit – Frank Ocean, Run the Jewels, and Stormzy and The 1975 were among highlights from 2017’s festival.

Stormzy

July Above all else is Liverpool Biennial (14 Jul-28 Oct), a free festival of newly commissioned contemporary art from around the world that runs until autumn. Aside from that there’s also Liverpool International Music Festival (20-22 Jul), a long weekend showcasing new talent while also celebrating Liverpool’s music heritage, and the Sven Väth-curated Cocoon in the Park (14 Jul) in the grounds of Temple Newsam in Leeds.

Liverpool Pride

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August August is the month of LGBT Pride in both Manchester and Leeds, when both cities will come to life with lots of live music, comedy, theatre, vigils and, of course, parades. Local rite of passage Leeds Festival may also be worth your time – if you like muddy fields, warm cider and portaloos, that is. End the month with a vibrant bank holiday blowout courtesy of Leeds West Indian Carnival and Caribbean Carnival of Manchester, where live music, street food and a colourful carnival atmosphere provide the suitably fun setting to do so.

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Photo: Amy Muir

Photo: Michael Sheerin

Africa Oyé

Desert Island Discs After much hand-wringing and self-analysis, here are the records our team chose to accompany them when stranded all alone on a desert island

GZA – Liquid Swords Obviously this isn’t a mood lifter. But the album has had a huge and lasting effect on me. As a film fan, it’s cinematic in scope, theme and imagery; as a bookish type, the Clan, as usual, draw from a vast vocabulary of diverse origins, some of their own making. Liquid Swords is the antidote to all vapid, mainstream, factory-produced music, in sound and lyrical content. So, for that reason, it brightens up my day when I still regularly listen. [Alan Bett] The Beatles – Revolver The album is only 34 minutes long and two-and-a-half of these are spent on Yellow Submarine. While a song about a submarine might seem taunting when surrounded by ocean, I think it’d help keep my mood up. Ringo’s down-to-earth and friendly voice always makes me smile, and it is just hilarious that this track is splashed into the middle of such an iconic album. [Ben Venables] Angel Olsen – My Woman Despite exhaustively listening to it every time I’m walking across town for about six months I’m still not bored of a single track. I think this bodes well if it’s the only thing I’ll be able to listen to indefinitely. That could be due to the fact Olsen’s a brilliant lyricist who sings on behalf of a generation of women wanting to be taken seriously, to be respected and to be given what they deserve – but I secretly like to hope it’s just because Angel and I are kindred spirits. And what’s better on a desert island than a kindred spirit? Just ask Tom Hanks. [Kate Pasola] 10

LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver I listen to it fairly regularly – it lifts me when I’m sad, relieves stress when I’m angry, comforts me when I’m lonely and when I’m happy it’s just the best thing ever to listen to or dance around to. For whatever reason I have an incredibly strong inexplicable connection with this album; I’m glad I found it and I feel like it’s a big part of me. It’s my good day, bad day and everything in between go-to album – I genuinely would feel lost without it. [Tallah Brash] Nelly Furtado – Woah, Nelly!

On a desert island, I’m worried I’d go from Smeagol to Gollum by Sunday. To slow/ soundtrack this realisation of my full loincloth-wearing and wide-eyed potential, I’d go for Nelly Furtado’s Whoa, Nelly! Cos if I’ve got a lot of space to be dancing naked and crying at the same time, I’d like to have year-2000 Furtado’s nasal and precocious pop vox blaring out the maddening crash of the tide. [Adam Benmakhlouf] The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You Since being stranded on a desert island is as good an opportunity as any to ditch all pretence, I’ll go back to my dad-rock roots and pick The Rolling Stones’ Tattoo You. No Use In Crying seems good advice for being lost at sea, Slave has a beachy reggae groove, and Tops is perhaps the Mick Jagger at his most ironic, self-aware best (‘every man is the same come on / I’ll make you a star’). Rock on. [Claire Francis]

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Photo: Debbie Ellis

PEANESS’ Favourite Gig Venues

With so many venues for you to check out in your new home, we thought we'd ask our pals from indie-pop trio PEANESS to give you a heads up on what's good

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i! Jess from PEANESS here. We’re based in Chester so have the pleasure of being right on the doorstep of some great cities with great venues. Our guide is based mainly on vibes... and the very important business of toilets. We’re not really drinkers so we won’t be able to comment on where to get the cheapest beer, but we will be able to guide you if you’ve had a few drinks and need to go pee.

MANCHESTER Soup Kitchen | Spear St We’ve played here a lot, and we’ve become very attached to the building and all the people who work there. Lovely down-to-earth vibes at Soup Kitchen. They’ve recently upgraded the speakers, raised the stage, and taken out some of the old bar area, which means they can get more people through the door. We had our most recent single launch there, and it was a great night and the perfect place to have it. It’s a bit rough around the edges, and the first time we played I was a bit scared to take a pee in the toilets. It’s not particularly dirty, but it’s very dark! The venue itself is also in the basement so maybe don’t look up when you’re in the toilets if you don’t like cobwebs/spiders. The toilets are also gender neutral which is always cool.

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Castle Hotel | Oldham St A wicked little venue on a wicked street. The sound is great in there, with lots of wood and curtains which also makes it a tad warm. It’s about 80-capacity, so it’s a very intimate space and it gets very hot in that room very fast. We’ve played in winter and in summer and every time we were physically dripping on stage. Nice. Toilets are fine: locks are a bit stiff, but the hot tap will cause your hands to fall off.

The Deaf Institute | Grosvenor St The biggest/fanciest stage we’ve been on in Manchester. They have loads of great shows and they do great veggie and vegan food in the restaurant downstairs (result!). There’s a big space for standing audience members and cool seating bits at the back and on the side. The sound in there is amazing and there’s a nice little outside area too. The venue toilets are basically in a cupboard and you will have to enter side-on and leave personal belongings with a friend before entering the cubicles.

Eagle Inn (Salford) | Collier St Nearly impossible to find if you’ve not been before!

Our Uber driver was very confused. But once you get there you’ll feel right at home. The venue room

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looks like it was a house that had the first floor ceiling taken down. You can see where the fireplace was! It’s a really cool venue and has a lovely intimate vibe. Toilets are fine, just make sure you pay them a visit before trying to get back to civilisation.

LIVERPOOL Maguire’s Pizza Bar | Renshaw St Our second show was at Maguire’s. This is a proper small, simple pizza bar and venue. It’s DIY punk, hosts some great shows and sells pizza (including vegan pizzas too, FYI)... What’s not to love? The venue itself is at the back of the building and is pretty basic, but what it lacks in audio quality it makes up for in ethos. And the toilets are clean, with cubicles covered in stickers and posters, and always has toilet roll. Win. Buyers Club | Hardman St Hidden away off Hardman Street, the Buyers Club is a fairly new venue. The sound is booming and the lighting is really nice. The toilets, however... missing doors on all but two in the whole building!

Not what you want when everybody goes to pee in between the sets.

The Magnet | Hardman St Also on Hardman Street is The Magnet, which used to be a burlesque venue and it still carries those vibes. The stage is really cool and the sound is great. They generally host nights that are a little heavier/grungier: we went to see Drenge there last year, and we played with Menace Beach earlier this year. I remember the toilets missing a few doors and lacking working hand dryers.

Invisible Wind Factory | Regent Rd Looking over the river Mersey, this massive old factory building has rooms and rooms full of community projects and art spaces. If you need to rent

a space to do your art in Liverpool, this could be perfect. Downstairs is a big hall with a giant stage, where some of the bigger acts play. We played FestEvol this year, which was an amazing event and shared the building alongside acts like Wild Beasts, The Big Moon and Pulled Apart By Horses.

LEEDS Wharf Chambers | Wharf St Although we’ve heard Leeds is bursting with rad venues, we’ve only had the pleasure of playing there once. Wharf Chambers is a DIY community space and hosts various events, from live music to workshops to drop-in NHS health advice, and openly advertises itself as a safe space for the LGBT community. The venue area is a decent size and the sound was nothing too special, but none of that was really an issue considering how wicked the vibes were.

CHESTER Telford’s Warehouse | Raymond St Easily the best venue in Chester, Telford’s Warehouse sits over the canal, has great food, interesting beers, great vibes, and is full to the brim with lovely people. If you’re in a band and want to be looked after properly, I’d highly suggest Telford’s! Not only is this our favourite place to play in Chester, the toilets are spotless.

Alexander’s | Rufus Court Recently under new management, Alexander’s has shifted from jazz to student-based audiences.

Lots of events and open ‘til late, this in-town venue has a large outdoor garden and quiet seats out front too. Great for when the music inside is far too loud, which it definitely will be. It’s a nice space to hang, but you may find yourself with a constant cringe face from all the interior design clichés, including the toilets.

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Dance to Your Own Beat Our music editor discusses her experience of running gigs and club nights and George Maund of Cartier 4 Everyone talks us through making it in the Liverpool scene

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ecoming a DJ or putting on your own gigs is a dream for a lot of people. It’s something which seems utterly unattainable, but it’s actually quite an easy thing to do. Success rates may of course vary, but the basic premise is simple. Get some friends together. Hire a venue. Make some flyers.

Dance to your own beat. The important thing to remember is everything starts from nothing.

In 2006 I was going through a bit of a ‘What am I doing with my life?’ crisis. I was 24, I’d dropped out of uni (architecture is tough, guys), and had bumbled about working in retail for the previous four years. I was not where I wanted to be.

I joined Fresh Air, Edinburgh University’s student radio station as a non-student member and everything slowly but surely started falling into place.

I very quickly found myself helping out on the fundraising team and before I knew it I had booked a big John Peel night at The Bongo Club in Edinburgh and it was bloody great – I loved organising it all and meeting the bands, and seeing the pay-off on the night was a total thrill. I ended up putting on Metronomy at Cabaret Voltaire as well (nine years ago), also for Fresh Air, which was a great way to learn the ropes.

While at Fresh Air, I met my now excellent friend Craig ‘HP’ Neilson, who like myself was a non-student member. He got up at a general meeting one week to tell everyone in the room that him and two of his pals were putting on a night – This is Music – at Henry’s Cellar Bar. I weaseled my way in and a few weeks later found myself DJing one of their nights. We ended up playing a weekly night at Sneaky Pete’s for years. Sadly, we called it a day a couple of years ago, but I was there right until the end.

Through This is Music I ended up DJing a weekly night at Cabaret Voltaire called Sick Note.

Every week was like an episode of Skins – it was a raucous affair and the bookings courtesy of Nick Stewart (Sneaky Pete’s) and Solen Collet (who was Cab Vol’s booker at the time) were second to none. I ended up on some insane bills playing with

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Words: Tallah Brash Illustration: Jamie Allan Shaw

the likes of Little Boots, Erol Alkan, Miike Snow and Diplo. DIPLO. It was crazy.

Over the years I’ve met a lot of people wanting to get into events/DJing and they all ask me the same questions. “What should I do?” “How should I do it?” Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer and not everyone’s path will be the same. As Nike famously tell us, ‘just do it’. It will be terrifying, like throwing a party at your flat when you told everyone to come at eight and nobody shows up until nine. Start small and work up. Get to know your local scene. Go to gigs/clubs. Join a society.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Talk to people.

It can be awful, but if it works it’s the greatest fucking thing ever.

I no longer actively promote gigs/clubs, so I spoke to a local Liverpool promoter about his experiences on the current North clubbing circuit.

George Maund (Cartier 4 Everyone) “Cartier 4 Everyone began in summer 2016 out of a desire to host under-represented DJs, with an inclination towards emerging styles of club music found globally and online. At that point I’d been working on the bar at a city centre venue for a good while, and was fortunate enough to have some sway over booking policy. Up until then, the only club night to tackle this disparity between an over-represented white, straight-acting, cis-male bloc of DJs – and essentially everyone else – was Witch Beach, hosted by Queen of the Track. Their residents – Alec Tronik and Faux Queens – were among my first guests: very keen music fans and selectors of music you still won’t find anywhere else in the city. On top of that, Meine Nacht (a team of young women operating parties in out-ofthe-ordinary settings) also made me feel that much was possible, and to be ambitious – audacious even.

“I’ve been going to nightclubs since I was 15, have been in and out of DIY guitar bands playing every kind of venue conceivable for over a decade, and been making my own electronic music all the

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while, so in a way C4E was a long time coming.

Witnessing Deep Hedonia and Upitup work challenging programming into their bookings was inspiring, too.

“I wanted Cartier 4 Everyone to occupy a prime time slot, so as many people as possible were exposed to the concept and the sounds – the last weekend of every month; pay day. The nature of the premises meant that it had to be free entry, too. I was afforded the benefit of the doubt and thanks to the skills of that first flurry of DJs we hosted, it’s been a fixture in the calendar ever since. I’m lucky to count these co-conspirators as the de facto C4E residents and among my best friends. It’s grown to be a community of like minds.

I’m driven by how it can only continue to open up to more people, while still remaining intimate enough to feel like a group of friends. Cartier 4 Everyone has called the Kazimier Garden and its Rat Alley back room (of sorts) home for over a year now, and it remains an honour and unique sensation to look around and see the core crew surrounded by a crowd that gets what we’re all trying to do.”

Any advice to those wanting to put on their own nights?

“The most important thing is to foster an attitude of inclusiveness. Take the notion of a safe space policy to heart. This is more important now than ever; it is where dancefloor-oriented music has its origins, and should be held up as a defining characteristic of the nightclubbing experience for all. I’m not suggesting that this is something we get right every time at C4E, but it is what our ethos and driving mantra can be boiled down to.

“Other pieces of advice can be condensed into Baz Luhrmann-style soundbites: find your niche; settle on an aesethetic; ponder the nature of the clubbing environment (soundsystem, light, smoke, security, bar); be open to collaboration; be ready to hand the baton on; be more than just aware of your audience; be subversive; keep listening and loving; don’t get into this for financial reasons; wear earplugs.” theskinny.co.uk/music

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Guest selector: Theo Kottis The emerging talent shares the records that have shaped his taste in music Interview: Claire Francis

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heo Kottis is certainly a local talent on the rise – since the release of his debut EP Waiting Game on the Moda Black label in late 2014, he’s already gone on to play alongside the likes of Jamie Jones, Tale Of Us, Seth Troxler and Nicolas Jaar. He shares with us the records that have inspired his burgeoning career.

“The music I’ve chosen to share comes from all stages of my life,” Kottis explains. “Some have stayed with me as favourites but others have formed great memories I often go back to when producing. I’ve kept my list original and raw; my shortlist included some obvious classics, but I delved deeper. I won’t lie that I could have been tempted to opt for 10 songs that show my ‘matured tastes’ to impress the chin strokers – but these are the tracks that mean the most to me, and have influenced and inspired me.”

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here [1975] A timeless album ahead of its time. It’s a tribute to former band member Syd Barrett, who suffered from a mental breakdown. When Pink Floyd were recording the album, Syd appeared at the studio, quietly watching at the back. He was un-recognisable as he had completely shaved his head and eyebrows. Eventually the band realised it was him and were reduced to tears.

I recently watched a documentary about their story and found it fascinating – I got into it and have scoped more and more documentaries since.

I love seeing music being celebrated and explored in such a profound way. The guitar, synth and saxophone sounds throughout the album are beautiful; listening to this when I was younger motivated me to learn to play the guitar. Please listen to this album in its entirety – it is perfection.

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Tame Impala – Lonerism [2012] Tame Impala often get compared to albums from the late 60s and early 70s and I love that. Kevin Parker, the lead singer, also writes and produces all of the tracks; he is a real idol of mine.

He uses a lot of synths and new technology that I can relate to and experiments to recreate sounds of psychedelic rock. I think he is very similar to electronic producers as he doesn’t write a typical verse and chorus, he plays around with the arrangement of tracks.

Brian Eno – Music for Airports [1978] Brian Eno… what a legend! I love his experimental and minimalistic approach to music. I always listen to this album when I can’t sleep, it helps clear my head. The album was designed to ‘defuse the tense, anxious atmosphere of an airport terminal.’ Sometimes when I am travelling to my gigs I’ll get this on and fall asleep on the plane so easily!

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Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians [1992] Once I heard this album I couldn’t stop listening to it all the way through, it really grabbed my attention. It’s one of those I can put on in the background when I start working, only to realise by the end I’ve been blissfully unaware of the task at hand.

Soul Capsule – Lady Science (NYC Sunrise) [1999] The greatest house record written in my opinion – pure beauty. I listen to this and float away, it’s a classic. I closed my set with this at a sold-out O2 Academy Brixton when I supported Paul Kalkbrenner, and I received the biggest applause. Goosebumps!

St Germain – Rose Rouge [2000] An edit of this has been a regular in most of my sets for the last year. I played this on NYE 2015 in Edinburgh. Kerri Chandler was also on the bill, so I had to pull out all the stops. When he heard me play this, he ran up on the stage and started playing the keys live alongside me. The energy in the club was electric.

I’ll never forget this moment, there was a bond formed and we have stayed in touch since.

Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy [1991] I really love string orchestras and they sound perfect on this record. The strings were originally recorded on synths, a technique I use, but they eventually recorded a real orchestra at Abbey Road Studio to

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emphasise and enhance the sound. I wish I could do that! It was released the year I was born and I love playing an edit that fits in my sets perfectly.

DJ Shadow – Private Press [2002] Tough choice between this album and his Endtroducing... album. Vivid memories of listening to this when I was younger before I really knew what sampling and being a DJ were. I guess my subconscious knew I was going to end up working in this industry!

Tiesto – In Search of Sunrise 6: Ibiza [2007] Maybe this isn’t something I should be admitting to, but aged 15 I was a huge trance fan. None of my friends were interested, but I remember constantly trying to introduce them to this album.

I was so into it. I remember when Tiesto played in Edinburgh in 2007, I was 16 and absolutely gutted as I was too young to go to the gig. Even my mum told me to get a fake ID as she knew how much I loved this album. Funnily enough, the likes of Matthew Dekay were releasing music on this series and his label, All Day I Dream with Lee Burridge, has become one of my current favourites.

Moby – Play [1999] Shout out to my aunt for this one. I always used to visit her in Scotland when I visited on summer holidays from Greece. She always had new CDs she would let me borrow. I was eight years old and I remember trying to breakdance to this. Moby made history with this album as it was the first of a kind to license out every single track to an ad, film or TV show. Marketing genius!

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Where Are They Now? Some of our favourite creative types of the Northern art scene tell us what they've been up to since graduation day

friends at design studio Mogul and this September are debuting our sister event, the Oxford Print Fair at Modern Art Oxford.

Manchester Print Fair poster

Alessandra Mostyn Alessandra moved to Manchester from London to study what was then Design & Art Direction (now Graphic Design) at Manchester School of Art in 2007, graduating in 2010.

What did you do immediately after graduating?

I had my first job interview at a design studio in Manchester the morning of my graduation ceremony! A very hectic, memorable day. I had a short stint there as a junior designer and went on to work at Manchester International Festival on a short contract. Both were extremely challenging, exciting and fast paced learning environments and were opportunities through recommendation of friends and uni tutors – networks after graduating are crucial.

What are you up to now?

After graduating I started attending zine fairs in Manchester and London and felt inspired to create my own event. In 2011 I launched the Manchester Print Fair with a handful of local designers. I wanted to create a chilled out experience with good music, beer and great design... and hoped that a few people would turn up! Five years later we welcome thousands of visitors, collaborate with creatives all over the UK, deliver creative workshops with our sponsor G.F Smith and have become part of a wider programme of events with festival Design Manchester. This year we teamed up with our 2017 – 2018

Is there anything in particular you want to do in the future?

I would love to expand the print fair’s portfolio and work with museums and galleries all over the world.

My wish list includes the V&A, Natural History Museum, Musée Hergé, Museu del Disseny de Barcelona, BALTIC... to name a few!

I’ve always wanted to work with the National Trust in some capacity. Their houses and gardens have created many memories for me growing up; learning about architecture, design through the ages, plants and wildlife.

What makes the North a good place for jobs in the arts?

Historically, industry and hard graft has been at the heart of the North and this still runs underneath it all. Many of the cities were built for industry yet knew the vital role design has to play; from its early cotton merchants hiring design students to create fabrics to newspapers hiring some of the first female art graduates in their print departments. The universities are well connected, giving graduates and professionals a networking platform which enables us to organise and promote new work and events comprehensively. With new events such as Print Stuff in York and Northern Craft Fair in Leeds creating a larger Northern creative network, the cities are communicating more, which is key.

Any advice for current art students?

As the great RuPaul once said: “If you’re waiting for an opportunity, be prepared. Know your craft.”

Always be one step ahead of where you need to be; you never know when your most up to date portfolio will be needed, that showreel ready to ping off to some studio director, your website looking fresh to impress a TV network. Grab hold of life, it is not a rehearsal. manchesterprintfair.co.uk

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Ant Hamlyn Ant studied Fine Art at Liverpool Hope University and graduated in August 2015.

What did you do immediately after graduating?

Immediately after graduating I won the very first HOPE + FACT production residency to develop a major project in the FACTLab. I worked alongside their technologists, technical and curatorial team for five months to develop The Boost Project, a giant 5 x 5m inflatable orb that inflates or deflates dependant on its social media popularity. The work was hung from the main atrium at FACT for the FOLLOW exhibition in December 2015 for three months.

What have been some of your favourite projects since graduating?

I represented the UK at Meditteranea18 Young Artists Biennale in Albania in May 2017 alongside five others with The Boost Project. Going to Albania was incredible, the festival was set across the capital city of Tirana in various locations.

There were around 230 artists from right across Europe and the Mediterranean all representing their countries. This was a real honour and an unforgettable experience.

Prior to this I showed my work at the Zabludowicz Collection in North London and the Victoria and Albert Museum. I created #TheStrobeGlobe for the V&A and #ShadowSoftware for the Zabludowicz Collection. I converted the Globe at the V&A into a ‘social media hotspot universe’, kitted out with giant pink beanbags and strobe lights. The idea was that if #TheStrobeGlobe was mentioned on Twitter, the globe would light up for a couple of seconds and create a disorientating strobe light starscape reminding the viewer of the looming presence of social media.

For the Zabludowicz, I appropriated the software to create a moment of instant fame. If #ShadowSoftware was mentioned on Twitter the viewer would be surrounded by strobe lights and bubbles in a paparazzi style performance.

What are you up to now?

I’ve just finished showing some video works in Moscow and Greece and currently have a smaller sculpture on show in Bermondsey in London. In 2016 I won the Cecil Lewis Sculpture Scholarship to 24

Ant Hamlyn, Stretch, 2017

study for my MA in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art, so I am now based in London and am due to complete the course this September.

Is there anything in particular you want to do in the future?

I want to push my practice further internationally.

I am particularly keen on putting on a solo show and will be developing a new body of work after my masters. I plan to get a studio in London and continue practising as a professional artist, working on commissions and establishing a practice within the contemporary art world.

Any advice to current art students?

Be flexible and take opportunities, usually one opportunity makes another, take it and work out how you will do it afterwards.

It’s all about consistently working very hard.

Make it. it seems obvious but procrastination can kill some of the best ideas you can have. That idea you have and you’re not sure about it. If you dwell on it long enough you will put yourself off it.

Make it because while you’re making it you’ll notice things you didn’t before. There is a knowledge that comes from making.

Always try and do something that feels slightly out of your comfort zone. I think David Bowie said this, and it’s true: if you feel nervous about it, or it feels difficult, it’s probably where you should be. anthamlyn.co.uk FICTIONPIXELS, The Library of The Live or What the Eyes See 2017 is on from 8-14 Sep at Chelsea College of Art in London

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Let’s Talk About Sex It’s no secret that sex education is sorely lacking in the UK, but for LGBTQIA+ people it’s practically nonexistent. It’s time for that to change

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very September, droves of freshly independent young people descend upon universities and colleges across the country. From there on, the potent mix of alcohol and an ongoing pressure to experiment create an atmosphere of sexual availability – and an expectation that you should be having as much sex as possible. Most freshers, however, don’t arrive at uni fully prepared for this sexual marathon; emotionally, practically or otherwise.

Though you might have been subject to ‘The Talk’ from a well-meaning relative, many families deem these topics too taboo for dinner table conversation. Consequently, it’s only really in school

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“ It’s hard to find your niche and feel sexually included within such an exclusionary sex education system”

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Words: Megan Wallace Illustration: Jacky Sheridan (from peers or in dedicated sex ed lessons) that you’re taught about sex. And, while the necessity of contraception is drilled into most by the time they reach Freshers’ week, the sexual education we’re teaching in schools is not up to scratch.

From the rising number of people testing positive for sexual infections, it’s evident that the current system is failing to teach young people about how to protect themselves from STIs. But the problem is much broader than this. When it comes to lessons on consent and LGBTQIA+-specific material, the sex ed curriculum is sorely lacking.

Generally speaking, if you’re successfully protecting yourself from STIs and/or pregnancy, you’re deemed to be within ‘safe sex’ territory.

But what if you (or other participants) are being subjected to unwanted aggressive or coercive behaviour? In terms of mental health, an experience with someone who makes you feel vulnerable or uncomfortable is profoundly unsafe sex. Our idea of what constitutes safe sex needs to move towards a perspective that accommodates emotional wellbeing. For that, we need to be taught about consent, and about how to respect the boundaries of prospective partners.

We could achieve this by restructuring the way sexual education is taught in schools; the fact that sex is still something of a taboo has led to a scarcity of user-friendly information – not just on STIs, contraception and abortions, but on issues surrounding consent, slut-shaming and abuse.

Covering such issues within the classroom would give new generations the tools to effectively navigate the maelstrom of emotions that sex can conjure.

What’s more, we need to give young LGBTQIA+ people the sexual education they deserve.

LGBTQIA+ representation and resources are so lacking that it can be a struggle to know how to act on your sexual impulses or to see yourself as desirable. It’s hard to find your niche and feel sexually included within such an exclusionary sex education system.

The move into the more LGBTQIA+ friendly environment of university can lead to more reckless sexual behaviour, particularly due to the 2017 – 2018

lack of sexual health information catering to individuals who are not heterosexual or cisgender. What’s more, asexual students often find that the pressure to be seen to be having sex can make expressing their own preferences difficult.The sexual experiences of LGBTQIA+ people are completely different to hetero and cis sex. Only covering the challenges, risks and emotional impacts of straight, cis sexual partners is a dangerous disservice to a large portion of young people.

“ Only covering the challenges, risks and emotional impacts of straight, cis sexual partners is a dangerous disservice to a large portion of young people” To help combat these problems, there must be an onus on educational authorities to come up with accessible, comprehensive resources for the LGBTQIA+ population. Including these materials in the curriculum would work to present sexuality and gender as a spectrum of different identities, removing the stigma and the need to explicitly ‘come out’.

After all, if sex education aren’t enabling all young people to have sex as safely and as responsibly as possible, then frankly, what’s the point?

Find more resources online at: sexpression.org.uk | shoutout.ie impactprogram.org | onlywithconsent.org/support

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There’s more online Get up to date news bulletins, video premieres, extra online listings and online only content on theskinny.co.uk Visit our mobile site to have an easy to use listings service at your fingertips @theskinnymag /TheSkinnyMag

Illustration: Stewart Armstrong

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Photo: Tom Joy

Dough Boys

Big Deals, Cheap Eats Words: Jess Hardiman

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ust ‘cause you’re skint waiting for the next student loan installment to come through, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a meal out every now and again... especially when every single fork in the flat has gone missing. You’re still skint, though, so best be clever about it, eh?

Monday In Manchester, Northern Quarter pizza parlour PLY offer 50% off pizzas for members (sign up at plymcr.co.uk) while just down the road at Trof you’ll find 2-4-1 on all mains including a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich and Spiced Lamb Khoubz Bread; simply order two mains and a drink and get the cheapest meal free. Shoryu will also let you snag a bowl of their Ganso Tonkotsu ramen for just a fiver (!) each Monday too.

Liverpudlians: if you’re out to impress and willing to splash out a little more, head to London Carriage Works for a free bottle of plonk with the prix fixe menu (two courses for £22 or three for £27.50).

Bilbao in Leeds offers 50% off their tapas dishes – from Spanish staples like Iberico ham and patatas bravas through to signature dishes such as blue cheese and almond salad with chicory, pickled shallot and micro cress. Both the Leeds city 2017 – 2018

centre and Chapel Allerton branches of The Pit also offer 50% off each Monday, available all day.

Tuesday £1 tacos, hombre! That’s right, every Tuesday Mancunian Latin American joint El Capo serves up £1 tacos (including the daily specials) from 4pm, with nothing but the limits of your appetite to stop you. If burgers are more your thing, head to Common for their classic BOGOF burger treatment every Tuesday for members – same applies to their sister site The Beagle in Chorlton.

In Liverpool, if you’re in the mood for some Spanish small plates, Tapas Tuesdays at Cosy Club mean you can get three tapas dishes and a glass of wine for £11.95. Meanwhile over in Leeds it’s 50% off every Tuesday at Arc, spanning everything from pizza planks to dirty burgers.

Wednesday You’ve no doubt earned yourself a hump-day treat!

Get yourself some 50p chicken wings at El Capo in Manchester every Wednesday from 4pm, or in Liverpool enjoy a pizza, a cocktail and live Latin jazz for just a tenner at Frederiks.

In Leeds? Treat yourself to 50% off tapas at District, where you can work your way through

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baby squid, spiced lamb chops, Shetland mussels, Mediterranean ragu and more, before coughing up just half the price.

Thursday Everything on the main menu at Manchester mainstay Odd is half price all day every Thursday, whether it’s a burger, sarnie or a portion of fish and chips.

Lunch and early evening Put down that Boots meal deal. Right now. Lunch doesn’t have to be this way! Some of our favourite midday options in Manchester include Zouk, with tiffin lunches for £7.95, or Dosa Xpress in Withington, with a dosa express meal or lunch meal special coming in at a penny under £5 or £6 respectively. Common’s sarnies are £6.50 with chips or salad until 5pm, and PLY’s pizzettas with rocket and hazelnut salad also carry the same lunchtime pricetag.

Out to impress? Capitalise on the early evening prices at the restaurants that you’d only have a shot of going to if your parents were in town (and paying). TNQ’s express menu is served MondaySaturday, 12-6.30pm, where you’ll get either two courses for £14.95 or three for £18.95, while Mr Cooper’s House and Garden at The Midland hotel has a strong pre-theatre menu available between

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5pm and 6.30pm, which lets you choose two courses for £20 or three for £24.

Head to Liverpool’s latest fried chicken favourite Yard and Coop at lunchtime and you can get a £5 lunch special, or you can pick and mix your way through lunch at Salt House Tapas, where you can get three small plates and bread for £12.95 – think salt cod croquettes with romesco sauce, aged Manchego cheese toastie, pan-fried padron peppers and much, much more. An express lunch for £9.95 sounds good in itself, but at Red’s True Barbecue the deal is sweetened by the promise of bottomless drinks, too.

One of our favourite spots in Leeds for a smart meal in a relaxed setting, you can enjoy Ox Club on the cheap if you head down between 5pm and 6.45pm for their prix fixe menu (two courses and one side for £16.50 or three courses and one side for £19.50 – and, crucially, they don’t even whack on a supplement for the flat iron steak), or for a quicker bite to eat try The Belgrave Music Hall’s in-house pizza slingers Dough Boys before 7pm on Sun-Thu or before 5pm on Fri-Sat, where you can get your first two slices of pizza for half price. If it’s a lunchtime hit you need to settle, Leeds institution Bundobust is without doubt your best bet, with two Gujurati-style vegetarian street food dishes for £7 between 12 and 4pm.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Do the Oké Poké Words: Jess Hardiman

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fter years of fixating on the dirty food revolution borrowed from the barbecue pits our Stateside sisters – shovelling stacked burgers and loaded fries into our mouths by the bucketload – these days Britain’s becoming more mindful of what it really wants from fast food. It’s now no longer about showing off the lengths your gluttony will go to (or the widths those arteries will have to stretch to) and more about actively seeking out the fresher flavours that will make you feel good.

And while America may not seem like the best place to look for inspiration, over in one of the often-forgotten archipelagic 50th state, there’s a healthy alternative to the greasy fodder of the American mainland. Poké (pronounced poh-kay) is a Hawaiian street food dish that combines diced raw fish, vegetables and other mix-ins, which is on the rise as a lighter, more nutritious replacement for the Western fast food favourites that Britain’s become so accustomed to.

Translating in Hawaiian as ‘chunk’, poké is a centuries-old tradition in Hawaii, which traditionally consisted of readily available ingredients including scraps of reef fish and seaweed. Its modern incarnation stays true to the simple, unprocessed principle of the dish’s revered past. Much like ramen, pho and other heartwarming, soulful styles of bowl food, poke is packed with hints of clean, Asian flavours – sort of like a deconstructed sushi bowl, if you will – to create a more substantial and exciting alternative to your everyday, bog-standard salad.

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At Manchester’s first poke café, Oké Poké, you can either go for one of their signature dishes or build your own, whether it’s a in the form of a classic poké bowl or a ‘pokérito’. Try Classic Ahi (sushi rice tuna, avocado, carrot, wakame, cucumber, spring onion, sesame seeds and classic sauce), Lomi Lomi (quinoa, salmon, cucumber, mango, celery, mixed leaves, spring onion, walnuts and pomegranate sauce), Tofu Tastic (black rice, tofu, avocado, carrot, celery, edamame, red cabbage, spring onion, chia seeds and Ikiki sauce), or construct your own creation from fresh ingredients including sushi rice, quinoa, free range chicken, prawn, avocado, radish, mango, tobiko, crushes walnuts, mint, chillies and ginger, before finishing it up with sauces like tamarind, teriyaki and Oké Poké’s classic blend of soy, ginger and garlic.

“We wanted to open a restaurant that people felt was a healthier option to the regular fast food restaurants in the city centre,” explains co-owner Sam. “We felt that there was a gap in the market for us to bring poké to Manchester as we are huge fans ourselves it felt like the right fit’.

Alongside poke, Oké Poké also serves fresh juices, smoothies, protein shakes and infused teas, completing a package that’s healthy, fresh and nutritious. And unlike more classic styles of fast food, with poke speed doesn’t compromise on colourful, unprocessed flavours either, leaving you feeling full, satisfied and energetic without the sluggish aftermath of greasy junk food.

Students get 15% discount with valid student ID 59 Church St, Manchester M4 1PD okepoke.co.uk | @MCRPoke | facebook.com/mcrpoke

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Five Ways with Gin Put down the paint-stripper vodka and value mixer! There is a better way...

Words: The Gin Journey

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aking cocktails at home doesn’t mean an extended spirit list or the trendiest shaker in town. Using kitchen utensils to balance flavours, jam jars to shake and knowing that ice moulds aren’t just for the back of your freezer (they are for life), could turn you into a top mixologist in no time!

We’ve asked Leon Dalloway (aka The Gin Boss) and Cocktail Kate of The Gin Journey – a sort of classy gin-centric bar crawl, if you will – for five of their best student-friendly alternatives.

First up: you’ll need a basic sugar syrup recipe, which is a ratio of 2:1 sugar and boiling water.

“Best to make a bottle and pop it in the fridge,” suggests Kate. “Grab a bag of sugar, a measuring jug and whack the kettle on. The rule to this is to always add double sugar to that of water. For example, measure 300g sugar and add 150ml boiling water to it. Stir it ‘til is goes clear, put it in the fridge, give it a shake before you want to use it and bingo: you’ve got sugar syrup for days.”

Jamble 1 tsp of blackcurrant jam (have a go with other jam flavours, too!)

25ml lemon juice (we go fresh here; none of that Jif shite) 10ml sugar syrup 50ml gin

The Cordial Collins 25ml lemon juice 12.5ml cordial of choice 50ml gin Shake and pour everything into a tall glass, and top with soda.

“You can grab whatever cordial takes your fancy in the shops – again, the better quality the cordial the better your cocktail will be,” Kate adds. “Bottle Green elderflower is the ultimate winner with this and the Belvoir ginger is outrageous! If you wanna make it a bit cheaper, just ▶ make a sugar syrup in a pan and add whatever you want to it – grate fresh ginger, orange zest or some blackberries, for instance. Just remember to sieve it before you stick it in the fridge.”

Southside 25ml lime 12.5ml sugar syrup 6-8 mint leaves 50ml gin

“Using jam in a cocktail instead of fresh fruit means it lasts longer, you can use less sugar, you can whack it on some toast when you need a carb fix the next day AND you can use the jar as your cocktail shaker for a hipster twist to your tool kit!” says Kate.

Fill shaker with ice and shake until it’s really, REALLY cold. Pour out into a tumbler or short glass and enjoy.

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“This is a fun twist on the 80s classic, The Bramble,” Kate explains. “The key with jam in a cocktail is to buy a decent jam; scrimping on this ingredient could leave your cocktail too sweet and lumpy. A good ‘Finest’ will do the trick.”

Shake and double strain, and serve up with no ice. Garnish with a mint leaf.

“Think a real classy gin Mojito for this one,” Kate says. “It’s my ultimate fave right now. For the double strain, just use a sieve or a tea strainer.

The idea is to prevent those little pieces of mint sticking to your teeth, which doesn’t look good when you’re holding the room with your newfound bartending skills!”

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Cocktail Kate

Bees Knees 20ml lemon juice 15ml honey water (mix one part honey with one part warm water) 50ml gin Grab that jam jar again, fill it with ice, pour the liquid in, give it a shake, double strain and serve with a lemon zest.

“Serve it in the poshest glass you’ve got, preferably a Martini glass or coupette,” Leon advises. “Make sure you chill the glass with ice first so it’s nice and cool, just like warming the plates but the other way round.”

Pimp My G&T “So a G&T can be anything you want it to be,” explains Leon. “It can be a late night blend of crap gin with chemical flavoured tonic in a murky glass with no ice. Does the job, I suppose. But it can be elevated to a whole new level.”

Here are Leon’s tips on how exactly you can do that – without breaking the bank, obvs.

Fill the glass with good ice “As Cocktail Kate mentioned before invest in a top notch ice mould ice tray and your drinks will keep their quality for longer than ever,” Leon says. “The more ice the colder your drink stays, therefore less dilution therefore a better drink for longer.

Use a decent glass “You know those posh wine glasses that look too fancy for the £3.99 Jacob’s Creek rosé you’ve just bought? Well whack a G&T in it and call it Spanish style. Bueno.”

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Use tasty gin “Not all delicious gin has to stitch up the student loan. My recommendations for gins that are a little cheaper but still brilliantly beautiful are: Plymouth Gin, Hayman’s London Dry, Beefeater London Dry, Portobello 171 or Tanqueray Export Strength (forget that Aldi nonsense, clickbait heaven that was.)”

The tonic is just as important as the gin “Fever-Tree are on point and you can grab it from most supermarkets too.”

Add bitters “A little dash of flavoured bitters perks the G&T right up. Peach bitters are my go to to make anything tastier. You can also use liqueurs, cordials, syrups. Anything that’s lying around that will up the game.”

Finally, garnish well “We don’t use straws on the Gin Journeys as we’re all about trying to cut down the size of our carbon footprint, but garnishes are a must. Top tip is to grab some rosemary from a garden close by. It grows everywhere throughout suburbs and cities.

Give it a slap and pop it in your drink sticking out so it smells insane.”

50ml of gin to 150ml of tonic (1:3 ratio) Drink with style and grace. instagram.com/ginjourney twitter.com/cocktailkate55 | instagram.com/cocktailkate55 twitter.com/TheGinBoss | instagram.com/theginboss

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Shitfaced & Interesting Using alcohol to relax in social situations is deemed normal in Britain, but as social anxiety plagues a generation of digital natives, drinking can quickly become a crutch. It’s time to talk about it

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chool discos were the highlight of my pre-teen years. I was an extrovert with a bedroom full of glittery platforms and a heart full of Avril Lavigne song lyrics; those Fridays spent necking Panda Pops and performing worryingly accurate Pussycat Dolls choreography were made for me.

There was only one problem – without fail, every time my parents dropped me off I’d be momentarily paralysed by a fizzy dread in the pit of my belly. What if that girl in the year above rolled her eyes at something I was wearing again? What if I was asked out and dumped in the space of a Scooter song again? Those trivial flickers of nervous energy were the start of a mild anxiousness that stuck with me for over a decade, through high school house parties and Freshers’ ice breakers; graduation balls and professional networking events. A tiny little voice that grew over a decade into a distracting bellow: “But what if you make a tit of yourself?” It was only recently that I learned this feeling has a title: social anxiety.

My anxiousness is comparatively mild, and when I’ve found a nice seat and a friendly pal it often dissipates – though it can be reactivated instantly by a side-eye or faux-pas. For those occasions there are remedies: escaping with the smokers into the night air, an unnecessary trip to the human-free environs of a toilet cubicle or deciding I urgently need to check my phone. But the best remedy I’ve found? Alcohol. The greatest, tastiest and most unsustainable of social lubricants.

There is no more bountiful a place for discussion of this matter, and the mental health of young people generally, than YouTube. It was Savannah Brown who posted one of the first vlogs discussing alcohol within the context of anxiety. An awkwardly charismatic poet and vlogger from Ohio, Brown released a video called ‘alcohol & anxiety’, charting her growing reliance on alcohol within social interactions since her first drink at the age of 16. “Drinking made me feel normal for the first time. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this how everyone feels in social situations?’... When I’m drunk it’s like, ‘talking to people is the most fun thing I could do right now’, which is so unlike me.”

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Words: Kate Pasola Illustration: Louise French

She goes on to explain a short period of time where she’d take a flask of alcohol when she had social plans, “because I was like, ‘I’m not gonna be able to talk to this person if I’m not a little bit tipsy,’ which is so messed up”.

Hearing Brown’s familiar tale of tipsiness transforming an intimidating social situation, I wondered whether my own use of alcohol as a social crutch could mutate into a bigger problem, especially as I progress through life; taking on bigger responsibilities, attending more nerve-racking events and parties, trying to impress hypothetical in-laws.

I’ve never talked or written about this before because doing so feels self-indulgent, like I’m exaggerating a minor issue. But really, it’s a problem.

We tend to view mental health and alcoholism as a binary; you suffer from mental health problems or you don’t, you’re an alcoholic or you’re not. While it’s important not to trivialise the struggles of those with severe mental health problems and substance dependencies, there’s an area between that we’re failing to discuss. This silence and absence of solutions is a problem for those with mild mental health challenges, for those developing unhealthy alcohol habits, and doubly so for those addressing their mental health problems with alcohol – perhaps without even realising.

If you need help with dependency or addiction, visit mind.org.uk for support and guidance.

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Photo: Chris Scott

Is Crowdfunding the Only Way to Fund a Theatre Show?

Words: Amy Taylor

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on other, often overstretched, alternatives.

Cabaret performer Anya Anastasia explains that crowdfunding formed just one part of her finances. “Crowdfunding is actually just one aspect of what I’m doing to raise funds for this tour. I have still applied for multiple grants, and held fundraising evenings.”

Asha Obsorne Grinter, the 18-year-old producer, director and founder of Mixtape Theatre believes that crowdfunding was the most accesWhy crowdfund?

For Kate Austen of London-based Doughnut Pro- sible option following previous funding rejections.

“We applied to a range of grants, but we didn’t ductions, crowdfunding was initially not something entirely fulfil the criteria of many grants due to that she wanted to do. “I’ll be the first to stick up my hand and say I’ve rolled my eyes at other people’s our age/lack of ‘adults’ and facilitators, and despite not being a registered company, we are not part campaigns in the past whether that be for their own shows or for fundraising to go to drama school. of a charity either,” she begins.

“Living in London, there is such great compeIt wasn’t an easy decision to make,” she explains. tition for grants in my area that my show was overDespite her initial reluctance, she readily admits that crowdfunding has allowed her to per- looked in terms of council grants because there form at the Fringe this year, something that wouldn’t is very little funding for the arts in my borough.

I attempted to apply for a grant from the Arts have been possible otherwise.

“We wouldn’t have been able to go. We would Council, but this too was very time consuming and geared towards more established companies have probably had to fund it out of our own than my own.” pockets and that’s not feasible for the team at Jemima Foxtrot is a performance poet and the this point in time.” writer of Unholy Mess’s Above the Mealy Mouthed Sea. The piece not only acquired funding, but was Are there other sources of also developed with Omnibus Theatre. Because of funding available? this, Foxtrot believes that collaboration between There are always options for funding available, theatre companies is vital. but arts funding is competitive and under huge “We were lucky enough to receive enough pressure from government cuts. Applications can Arts Council funding for the development of the take weeks, if not months, to be approved. In show as well as for a small national tour. We are addition, the amount of funding available and the also associate artists at Omnibus Theatre, who type of project that could be eligible varies according to location. This, coupled with budget support us with rehearsal space, marketing and cuts and strict rules, often leaves artists reliant PR, all of which are invaluable to us.” he cost of performing – especially at festivals like the Fringe – can be incredibly high, with venue hire, accommodation and travel all adding to the financial burden. Because of this, more and more acts are turning to crowdfunding to utilise their existing fan base and lessen the financial hit.

So, for the modern artist, why is crowdfunding becoming so popular?

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Win A Dinner For Two W

e don’t know about you, but we think it’s pretty hard to beat a slurp’licious ramen feast for two! To celebrate the start of the new university year (AKA the end of those delightfully lazy summer days), we’re offering the chance for you and a mate to enjoy a dinner for two at Shoryu Ramen Manchester.

Founded by Hakata natives, Tak Tokumine and Kanji Furukawa, Shoryu Ramen specialises in Hakata tonkotsu ramen, a style of ramen made with a thick, rich, white pork soup and thin, straight ramen noodles. The go to for scrumptiously authentic Japanese ramen and other tasty treats, Shoryu Ramen Manchester is also making student life that little bit easier with 20% off Monday to Thursday when you show a valid student card.

To be in with the chance of winning a dinner for two at Shoryu Ramen Manchester, simply correctly answer the following question:

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What does Shoryu Ramen specialise in? a) Pizza b) Hakata tonkotsu ramen c) Green curry You must be 18+ to enter this competition. Competition closes midnight Friday 29 September. Winners will be notified via email within two working days of closing and will be required to respond within 48 hours or the prize will be offered to another entrant. Our Ts&Cs can be found at theskinny.co.uk/about/terms For more great offers and the latest news about Shoryu Ramen head to shoryuramen.com

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Film School Daze

Some simple but stunning short films made by directors who’d go on to be famous, to give you inspiration as you embark on a career in film. Or maybe you’re just after something fun to watch while hungover. Either way, these shorts are for you Words: Jamie Dunn

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o you’ve landed a place at film school and you’re looking for inspiration. You’d do worse to learn from these seven early shorts by master filmmakers. There are no gimmicks, computer wizardry or flashy plotting here, just simple but vivid filmmaking where image and atmosphere is key.

Lick the Star (dir. Sofia Coppola) There’s no mistaking Lick the Star as anything but a Sofia Coppola movie, and from the very first frame it’s clear we’re in the hands of a born filmmaker.

Many of the Lost in Translation director’s later stylistic and thematic obsessions are here: teen alienation, a dreamy aesthetic, detached voiceover, a killer soundtrack. The ethereal film follows a group of high school girls who take inspiration from Virginia Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic and plan to feed rat poison to the less enlightened boys in their grade. Things go awry when a game of Chinese whispers drives a wedge between the clique, leaving its effortlessly cool leader isolated and doleful. In less than 14 minutes, Lick the Star is more perceptive about the cruelty of high-school mores than most 90s teen movies combined.

Small Deaths (dir. Lynne Ramsay) Few filmmakers can place you within the headspace of a character like Lynne Ramsey, and this evocative tryptic from the Scottish filmmaker suggests she’s had this canny knack from when she first picked up a camera. Like her brilliant feature debut, Ratcatcher, Small Deaths is a child’s eye view of working class Glasgow, set in and around its run down tenements and the wild patches of nature found on the city’s outskirts. The deaths here are mostly figurative but the emotions are palpably real, told through arresting imagery and Ramsey’s spellbinding use of texture, colour, sound and point of view that creates a rich, almost overpowering sensory experience.

Bottle Rocket (dir. Wes Anderson) Looking back at this 1999 short, it’s exciting to see what a zesty filmmaker Wes Anderson was before his style calcified towards the fastidious with pictures like The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel, where vitality was sacrificed for pedantic detail. Shot in grainy 16mm black and white, The French New Wave seems to be the chief

Peluca (dir. Jared Hess) The DNA for Jared Hess’ Napoleon Dynamite is all here in this offbeat eight minute short. Peluca takes place in the same setting (Hess’s hometown of Preston, Idaho); it features Jon Heder as Seth, who’s basically identical to the eponymous doofus he plays in the later feature; and it trades in the same gentle absurdity. After a quick introduction to Seth’s school life – eccentric behaviour, merciless bullying, tall tales, terrible meals – the action moves to a thrift store when Seth and his two friends play hooky to go fanny pack and wig shopping. Like in Napoleon Dynamite, Hess is both poking fun at his nerdy hero and paying tribute to his innate individuality and kindheartedness – the latter a quality all too rarely celebrated in cinema.

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Wasp

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Two Cars, One Night

influence for this loose-limbed heist caper about two best friends (played by brothers Luke and Owen Wilson – the latter also co-wrote) on a low-octane crime spree. For his debut feature, Anderson extended this short into a cheerful road movie with the same title, throwing in James Caan and a sweet romantic angle, and the result is just as delightfully idiosyncratic and breezy as this 12 minute effort.

Wasp (dir. Andrea Arnold) Social realism doesn’t get more vivid than in the cinema of Andrea Arnold. Her skill with actors, framing and expressive imagery – obvious in her extraordinary features like Red Road and Fish Tank – are all abundant here in the filmmaker’s breakthrough short Wasp. The film centres on a young, penniless single mother with four kids, who thinks she’s found a shaft of light in her life when an old flame asks her for a drink out of the blue. Shot hand-held by Robbie Ryan, who’s lensed all of Arnold’s films, it’s an unblinking but deeply humanistic look at modern life on a British council estate. Ryan’s roaming camera gets intimately close to the actors, and Arnold’s deeply humanistic eye keeps us invested in her characters, even when they act unconscionably. Remarkably, Arnold also coaxes a nuanced performance from Danny Dyer, who plays a raffish jack-the-lad who gets the young mum’s heart all aflutter.

The Letter (dir. Michel Gondry) By the time skew-whiff cinema genius Michel Gondry made The Letter, he had a few dozen wildly original music videos under his belt, including his iconic promo for Daft Punk’s Around The World.

His first stab at a narrative film is no less inventive.

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It begins simply enough with two brothers having a hushed late night chat about love, French kissing and the possibility of the end of the world as the millennium approaches. Gondry’s gift for loopy fantasy is showcased later when the younger brother – a budding photographer who’s keen on photographing one girl in particular – dreams of himself as a human camera attending a turn-ofthe-millennium party where the Y2K apocalypse is symbolised by a toppling Eiffel Tower made of card and sticky-backed plastic. For all its surreal flights of fancy, The Letter’s study of puppy love is as potent and heartfelt as in Gondry’s masterpiece, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Two Cars, One Night (dir. Taika Waititi) Taika Waititi is beloved for films like Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and hilarious vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, but this gorgeous 11 minute short is still the Kiwi filmmaker’s finest achievement thus far. The setup is simple: three kids – all played by local school children with no acting experience – are idling away the night in two cars parked outside a pub where they’ve been left while their parents are having a few drinks. In one of the cars are two adolescent brothers, in the other, a young girl.

Initially, there’s animosity between the parties (“Don’t look over here. Your ugly face might damage my paintwork,” says the older boy to the girl). But like kids do, they’re fast friends before the night is out. The film is funny and sweetly romantic, but what really marks it out is its balmy mood. It captures the atmosphere of those warm summer nights of childhood that seem to last forever.

You can watch all these shorts at theskinny.co.uk/film

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How to be socially involved at uni Here’s your how-to guide for getting involved at university Words: Toby Sharpe Illustration: Jacky Sheridan

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o, it’s freshers, and you’re a hopeful person.

Maybe you love the environment and want to bandage its wounds. Perhaps you’re aware that the world is a flaming pile of excrement right now, and you’re keen to try to change that. There’s a lot that needs doing: 2017’s a mess.

Work out what appeals You could join a political movement, volunteer locally, work in social justice groups, teach and learn skills in societies or fight to clean up our environment. Do your research, and remember that lots of these groups can overlap, and that you don’t have to devote yourself to a single cause wholeheartedly forever. It’s okay to ponder where you’ll be a good fit – or to not be great at world-saving in your first week.

When you’ve found out what needs doing, join in This sounds obvious, but many freshers panic and don’t rush in – or show up at university ready to start their own political revolution, not realising there are already societies doing the same work, but better. Don’t assume that you have the answers immediately. And hey, you’ll probably make some friends while you’re at it (I know I did).

If you’re not the loudest, that’s cool; hard work is what matters, not booming vocals.

Don’t be a terrible ally Treat people with respect. Guys: don’t yell at feminists, telling them what you think women should be up to on campus. Listen. Learn. When people respect that you’re not a monster, you might be able to help.

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Don’t lose heart when things are hard As many adults will tell you at the drop of a hat: life is hard. Change happens glacially – but it happens because people make it happen.

Don’t forget the small stuff While it’s cool to work on complex projects, make sure you’re being a good person in your local community. Give money to charity every so often, don’t treat homeless people like trash, read up on how to not offend minorities around you, and when you have a spare can of beans knocking around, work out where your nearest food bank is.

“ If you’re not the loudest, that’s cool; hard work is what matters, not booming vocals” On that note – keep yourself alive, kid Self-care is important, silly though it sometimes sounds. You can’t fix the world if you’re collapsing.

Take the occasional bath (if you can find one in Student-Land). Eat vegetables. Sleep. Don’t spend all your time studying and fighting crime.

Get involved in student politics Most universities have student unions, and there are elections all the damn time, just waiting for you. Some folk find student politics tedious,

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imagining that it’s just a breeding ground for future career politicians. Others consider it useless – a game of play-pretend for pretentious students. Think about it more simply: student unions have money that needs to be spent: decide where it goes! If you get involved, you have a say in whether there’s good, cheap food at uni venues, in union-wide charitable endeavours, or in pressuring local landlords to treat students like humans, not furniture. Some student unions have done amazing work recently, from redirecting

2017 – 2018

significant investments away from fossil fuels, to giving contraceptives and sanitary products away for free. That work wasn’t done by magic: it was done by students’ hard graft.

And hey, maybe you should ignore me. If you have a great idea you can start it yourself, but you gotta get people on board. Don’t be a lone wolf. If you want to shape the university, help the local community, and better the experience of students around you, you must first get involved with the people around you.

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Day trips Time to get up off your arse and out of the flat: there’s a whole world out there, even for you students

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t uni you’ll spend many a drunken evening hatching grand plans for the future, slurring at each other that, yes, a big walk in the countryside is exactly what you want to do! In fact, why not tomorrow? At 8am? Yes. Blow out the hangover cobwebs with a huge country walk. What a good idea.

But while you eventually realise the early start may have been a little ambitious, some of the ideas don’t have to be as far-fetched as they seem in your hungover haze... Let’s just be realistic about when’s best to seize the day, shall we?

for the rest of the year it’s also one of the most beautiful parks in the Northwest (who knew!?) – and the region’s biggest, no less. Open daily from 8am to dusk, one of its greatest features is a 12-acre boating lake, where you can hire a four-person boat for just a few quid each, though there’s also an animal centre, walking routes and endless picnic potential to enjoy.

It’ll definitely take you far too long to realise that everywhere on Manchester’s tram network really isn’t that far away, so along with Heaton Park don’t forget that there are days out to be had at The Lowry and Imperial War Museum in Salford Quays, top brunching in Altrincham at Alty Market, museums and galleries in Bury and countless cafes, pubs and suburban charm along the East Didsbury route, which takes in Chorlton and the Didsburys.

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Photo: Rachel Docherty

Manchester You’d be surprised how many Mancunians don’t take advantage of having the stunning Peak District national park right on their doorstep – so make sure you find time to at least once in a while for a stretch of the ol’ legs, safe in the knowledge that you can reward yourself with a pint or two in a traditional Derbyshire boozer afterwards. Pack your sarnies and hop on the Sheffield train (usually every hour, then every other hour later in the day) at Manchester Piccadilly and get off around an hour later at Edale – it’ll cost you about a tenner each way – and head for the Kinder Scout route.

Heaton Park may be the setting for your debauched end-of-year antics at Parklife, yes, but

Heaton Park

Words: Jess Hardiman

Liverpool Whatever you do, make the most of Liverpool’s close proximity to the seaside. About an hour away on the train is the popular resort of Southport, with its own beach and amusement park, with others dotted along the coast including the dramatic sand dunes and pinewoods of Formby (get off at Freshfield station) and, closer still, Crosby, which is home to the iconic Antony Gormley statues and is a 10-minute walk from Blundellsands and Crosby station.

Alternatively, you can head south along the coast to North Wales, where seaside town Rhyl is just an hour away – though if we’re honest, you’re probably better staying on the train for another hour and holding out for Conwy, a world heritage site with an imposing 13th-century castle and picturesque harbour.

The historic Roman walled city of Chester is just 45 minutes from Liverpool by train, and is a picturesque blend of medieval and Victorian buildings and quaint, two-storey lanes of shops known as The Rows. It now also boasts its very own multiarts centre, Storyhouse, where you can go and see a play, curl up with a book in the library or watch a film in its boutique, intimate 100-seat cinema space. In the summer you can also embrace the balmy evenings with cinema screenings and

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open-air theatre in Grosvenor Park. Either that, or you just be true to your inner big kid and make a beeline for Chester Zoo, which is accessible from Chester train station via the X8 bus.

Leeds By far the best thing about Leeds is that it’s surrounded by beautiful Yorkshire landscape – not least that of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is set in the rolling hills of the 18th-century Bretton Estate. The unique open air gallery has, for the last four decades, become a centre for international, national and regional modern and contemporary sculpture, with permanent pieces and regularly-changing exhibitions working together to explore the relationship between art and nature.

In short: it’s nice, you’ll like it.

After week upon week of partying, early morning lectures and disputes about the washing up, there will come a day when you find yourself hankering after something a little quainter and quieter. That’s when you should capitalise on the 20-minute train ride to York, where a twee world of narrow cobbled streets, olde worlde pubs and tea shops await you. Take a stroll along The Shambles, check out Jorvik Viking museum and, if it’s a special occasion, hold back a little cash for afternoon tea at local institution Betty’s (add champagne if you’re feeling especially fancy).

2017 – 2018

Photo: Jonty Wilde

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Similarly, you’ll find equally twee cobbled vibes in the market town of Hebden Bridge, a small town that’s celebrated for its bursting creativity.

You can either mooch around the streets, coffee shops and pubs, or go for an amble in the nearby countryside. Stick around for the evening for a gig at Hebden Bridge’s much-loved Trades Club, too, a socialist members’ club and music venue that over the coming months will play host to Maurice Fulton, Acid Mothers Temple, Matthew E. White, Yak, Jane Weaver and more.

And don’t forget about the market town of Huddersfield, which is worth venturing to for a trip to Magic Rock’s HQ alone. The brewery is a 10-minute walk from Huddersfield tain station, and has its very own tap room that is open every Tuesday through to Sunday. With 10 taps and five cask lines, you’ll also find food trucks parked up in the yard every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a whole host of other regular events including festivals and parties.

And, of course, don’t forget that the three cities also aren’t badly connected: Manchester and Liverpool are around 45 minutes apart on the train, with tickets sometimes as cheap as a few quid if you book in advance, while there’s just under two hours between Leeds and Manchester – though tickets are usually no less than £20 for a return. theskinny.co.uk/travel

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1 | Bundobust

3 | Trinity Kitchen

A joint venture between Bradford's Prashad and The Sparrow bier cafe, Bundobust bills itself as a bar serving Indian street food rather than a restaurant, though the vegetarian small plates prove to be far from an afterthought. Expect lashings of IPA to wash down highly praised dishes.

Providing a distinctively modern approach to the food court, you won’t find greasy multinationals in Trinity Kitchen. Instead you’ll find some of the best local food carts and companies from across the city, from pop-up vendors from across the North to the permanent Chicago Rib Shack.

2 | Laynes Espresso

4 | The Viaduct

After opening in 2011 and quickly gaining a reputation as one of Leeds’ finest coffee houses, Laynes has since broadened its horizons to take on the brunch game with favourite dishes like shakshuka and French toast, along with cakes and sweet treats from the award-winning Noisette Bakehouse.

The best show bar the city has to offer. With drag queens, cabaret and drinks deals, Viaduct is a great start to the night and the perfect way to get acquainted with Leeds’ thriving gay scene in an area known for its fun-loving and open atmosphere.

6 Mill Hill | @Bundobust

Trinity Leeds, 27 Albion St | @TrinityLeeds

16 New Station St | @LaynesEspresso

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11 Lower Briggate | @viaductshowbar

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5 | The Hedonist Project

156 Lower Briggate | @HedonistProject

An innovative concept bar that completely reinvents itself every quarter, The Hedonist Project takes one spirit at a time and kits the joint out accordingly – rethinking the decor, food and identity to create incarnations like a springtime gin kitchen and a rum-based summer beach shack.

6 | The HiFi Club

2 Central Rd | @HiFiClubLeeds

A diverse club, bar and live space, The HiFi Club’s basement venue is as naturally adept at hosting soul and funk nights as it is comedy sessions. It’s even just great at being open for a spot of jazz and a roast lunch on a Sunday. It’ll become a haunt.

7 | Travelling Man

Blue Rinse

10 | Blue Rinse

9-11 Call Ln | @BlueRinseUK

Graphic novels, comic books, memorabilia and board games: nowhere does it better in the city of Leeds than Travelling Man. They are also big on showcasing local talent, and hire staff who love what they sell.

Rummage through four floors of affordable vintage fashion at Leeds’ favourite spot for pre-loved and reworked fashion and accessories, which has not only been going strong since the late 90s but has also played a huge part in the eclectic street style of the city’s student population.

8 | Corn Exchange

11 | Water Lane Boathouse

The Victorian-era Corn Exchange houses a whole raft of shops selling everything from analogue cameras to art prints, yet still retains most of its original features. Much like in the city at large, there is a demand and respect for independents and local wares here.

The folk behind Belgrave Music Hall and Headrow House are at it again with Water Lane Boathouse, a new two-floor bar and restaurant housed in an old shipping warehouse, serving up sourdough pizzas (made from a custom-made pizza oven flown in from Italy, no less), craft beer, natural wines and a great outdoor area with incredible canal-side views.

32 Central Rd | @TravellingManUK

Call Ln | @leedscornex

Canal Wharf | @WaterLaneLeeds

12 | Whitelock's

4 Turk’s Head Yd | @WhitelocksLeeds

The Hedonist Project

A living piece of history, every part of this 300-yearold Northern institution tells a story. That’s not to say that Whitelock's is stuck in the past: with its lovingly restored interior, it’s one of the best pubs in the city, providing a great range of traditional ales and pub food for its contemporary crowds.

9 | Wire

13 | Global Tribe

Powered by its meaty Funktion-One soundsystem, Wire plays host to some of Leeds’ most respected club nights, and is a frequent stop-off for some of the world’s most renowned DJs and producers. Theo Parrish, Four Tet and Ben UFO are just a few of the names to have called in.

Head to the cobbles of Swan Street and you’ll find one of Leeds’ best vegan cafes. From a vegan full English brekkie to raw vegan salads, Global Tribe also has enough quality cooking to win over meat lovers, and there’s a generous variety of tea and coffee to wash it all down with.

2-8 Call Ln | @wireleeds

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18 Swan St | @GlobalTribeCafe

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18 | Howard Assembly Room 46 New Briggate | @Howard_Assembly

Housed in the Grand Theatre & Opera House, the small Victorian performance space of Howard Assembly Room presents some of the finest classical and world musicians. Both the Grand and Howard Assembly Room offer students and locals the opportunity to volunteer, giving you a chance to see acts for free.

19 | Belgrave Music Hall

1-1A Cross Belgrave St | @Belgrave_Leeds

Belgrave Music Hall

14 | Village

3 Thornton’s Arcade | @village_leeds

Leeds has a great deal of love for publishing, and Village is testament to this. A gallery and book store, it combines photography and art publishing exhibitions with self-published local and international ’zines – they also accept submissions from a wide variety of ’zine makers.

15 | Headrow House Bramleys Yd | @headrowhouse

The Belgrave has it all: a live gig and club venue, a bustling bar with an exhaustive selection of craft ales and permanent kiosks for local street food vendors, plus a huge roof garden with nooks and crannies (well, sheds) to hide away in when it's drizzly. Unsurprisingly, this vast multi-storey building hosts all manner of cool events, from art exhibitions to comedy nights to mini food festivals.

20 | Bar Soba

9a Merrion St | @sobaleeds

Serving up pan-Asian street food, Bar Soba channels the far-flung flavours of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and beyond into rice bowls, small plates, sharing platters and noodle bowls, along with exoticised British staples like burgers and fish and chips. Sunshine on a plate for when the Northern weather system ain’t playing ball.

Headrow House may be fairly new, but it’s already become an undeniable big hitter on the gigs and clubs scene thanks to the diversity of its multi-storeyed layout. Above the beer hall you’ll also find a restaurant championing Yorkshire pro- 21 | Verve 16 Merrion St | @VerveBarLeeds duce, a cocktail bar and – its crowning glory – a With its rock bar up top and mariachi tequila bar huge roof terrace. downstairs, Verve provides a cosy atmosphere 16 | Sela Bar tucked away from the city’s masses. Don’t miss 20 New Briggate | @selabar the free Comedy Cellar night (@ComedyCellarV): There’s a jazz sensibility to this often bustling taking place every Tuesday in the ‘dia de los bar, which has a hearty variety of beers to meet muertos’ themed basement area, it showcases a aficionados’ demands. As well as the live music mishmash of established and new acts. almost every night, there are also homemade pizzas until midnight – great for peckish types still hoping to keep that candle burning both ends.

17 | North Bar 24 New Briggate | @NorthBarDrinks

Waving the flag for beer way before the craft ale revolution began, this narrow bar is filled with great drinks and cheer, and has a warm atmosphere buzzing with energy. While it may press slightly heavy on the wallet, its huge range of bottled and cask ales from across the world makes its selection unbeatable.

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22 | The Brunswick

28 | The Tetley

The Brunswick is a multi-storey pub in the nowthriving Northern Quarter. Along with a particularly good rotation of beers from across the North and seasonal food using ingredients from local suppliers, the venue also boasts a dedicated art space for exhibitions and events.

When the Tetley Brewery closed down in 2011, there was a panic that the old Art Deco headquarters, dating back to 1822, would be torn down. Fortunately, The Tetley reopened as a gallery in 2013, hosting local and international talent, events and workshops, and a classy bar and kitchen.

82 North St | @brunswickleeds

Hunslet Rd | @The_Tetley

23 | Live Art Bistro 1-2 Regent St | @LiveArtBistro

After some time operating as a nomadic project, Live Art Bistro has now set down roots on Regent Street with its own independent artist-led venue.

A diverse programme of events, focusing on live and performance art, ensures that its founding DIY ethos is still going strong.

24 | Jumbo Records

1-3 Merrion Centre | @JumboRecords

29 | Northern Monk Marshall St | @NMBCo

Housed in a Grade II-listed former flax mill, the headquarters for Northern Monk Brewing Co feature their very own restaurant and taproom known as The Refectory, where the historic building is brought bang up to date by seasonal, modern British small plates. Great outdoor seating, regular markets, quizzes and more complete the package.

Since opening back in the early 70s, indie music shop Jumbo Records has seen Leeds through the punk era, twice upgraded to larger spaces, and over the decades established itself as one of the North’s most beloved music stores.

25 | Henry Moore Institute and Leeds Art Gallery 74 The Headrow | @HMILeeds | @LeedsArtGallery

Connected to one another, the Henry Moore Institute and Leeds Art Gallery may be neighbours but are completely different beasts; the former a shrine to sculptural art and the latter showing a broader collection of art forms, with clever and surprisingly candid curation.

The Tetley

QUARRY HILL 30 | Cafe 164 Duke St | @cafe164

26 | &Model

The curatorial project of Derek Horton, Chris Bloor and James Chinneck, free entry art space &Model has presented a huge number of international artists since its opening in 2012. It also has a new project space at North Brewing Co in Sheepscar.

Situated in the Munro House complex, which also contains a great gallery (simply called The Gallery at Munro House) and the fantastic Colours May Vary (a magazine, art books and gift shop), Cafe 164 is the place in the Quarry Hill area for a spot of lunch and a hot drink: great coffee, tasty focaccias and a nice bit of neon.

27 | Canal Mills

31 | The Wardrobe

When it comes to post-industrial charm, Canal Mills has it by the boatload. Housed in a renovated 18th-century textile mill, the multi-functional venue’s red brick aesthetic and independent vibe have become a trademark, hosting some astounding music bookings, club nights, independent markets and brewers’ fairs.

Providing a relaxed restaurant and stage for a variety of acts, The Wardrobe offers a laid-back music environment and a break from the frenzied gig holes elsewhere. It also hosts touring comedy shows from the likes of Joe Lycett and Katherine Ryan, courtesy of the city’s longest-running comedy club, House of Fun.

19 East Parade | @AndmodelLeeds

Brandon St | @CanalMills

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6 St Peters Sq | @wardrobeleeds

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33 | Leeds College of Music 3 Quarry Hill | @LeedsMusic

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The College of Music is one of the country's leading conservatoires, but it's not just a place of study: it has a vibrant and varied public events programme, where you can catch many stars of the future in intimate concerts and performances. Enjoy all manner of jazz, folk, classical and contemporary composition in some of the bestequipped spaces in the North.

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WAKEFIELD 34 | Unity Works Westgate | @Unity_Works

Unity Works is situated in Leeds’ underappreciated neighbour, Wakefield. Make the (short) trip: since its beginnings in 1867, the building has been an integral community venue and now hosts local acts such as Serious Sam Barrett, touring shows from stand-up comedians, theatre groups, summer markets, and more.

35 | Yorkshire Sculpture Park West Bretton | @YSPsculpture

In the county that brought us sculptural giants Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, it’s no surprise that there is such a strong art presence, and a short trip from Leeds/Wakefield finds the country’s leading outdoor gallery for modern sculpture – its vast park and several galleries forming one corner of the famed ‘Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle’.

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36 | Leeds Beckett University Student Union 1 Portland Way | @LeedsBeckettSU

By day, the Beckett Students’ Union is a hub for students to relax. By night, it offers some of the best touring bands in the world as well as solid rock club nights. Upcoming acts include Starsailor, The Horrors, Sleaford Mods and Newton Faulkner.

37 | University of Leeds Student Union Lifton Pl | @LeedsUniUnion

Following a very fresh facelift, Leeds Uni’s Student Union has re-opened to become a one-stop shop for gigs, club nights and theatre, along with simpler pastimes like drinking real ale and watching sports ’pon the big screen.

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Set just beyond the city bus station on a modernist-style estate, the West Yorkshire Playhouse looks like a brick monolith; inside, it houses one of the most fearless performance venues in the North. From scratch nights featuring fledgling plays and artists to internationally renowned touring productions, it smoothly combines mainstream theatre and Fringe shows.

Leeds Woodhouse Lane & Hyde Park

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Playhouse Sq | @WYPlayhouse

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32 | West Yorkshire Playhouse

38 | Dry Dock Woodhouse Ln | @DryDock_Leeds

Oh sure, it’s a chain pub, but Dry Dock has an ace up its sleeve. It’s in a boat. In fact, it is the boat. But it’s more than that: it’s also the official final pub on the Otley Run. After a 19-venue pub crawl, the boat’s aesthetic helps make the rocking feel natural.

39 | The Fenton 161-165 Woodhouse Ln | @FentonPub

43 | The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery Parkinson Building, Woodhouse Ln | @sabgallery

Part of Leeds University library, the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery offers an interesting programme of contemporary art alongside artefacts from the University's art collection and special collections. Make sure you visit during degree show season and over summer, when some of the most promising graduate talent is on display.

While the craft ale revolution and gentrification surge elsewhere, The Fenton stands in defiance of this trend. With its worn-in original features, this pub has long been a student institution, with cheap drinks, open jam nights and pub quizzes.

Its function room, meanwhile, is perfect for student fundraisers and unsigned band nights.

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40 | Opposite Cafe 26 Blenheim Terrace | @oppositecafe

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As a firm fixture of Blenheim Terrace, the folk at Opposite take their coffee seriously, providing a menu with a range of beans and styles to send any Starbucks or Costa packing. They also serve up homemade fresh food in their large cafe, the walls of which are lined with local art.

44 | Brudenell Social Club 33 Queen’s Rd | @Nath_Brudenell

41 | Bakery 164

No other place epitomises Leeds quite like the Brud.

Half old man’s drinking pub, half pioneering music There are sandwiches, and then there’s Bakery venue, the Brudenell has hosted acts from St. Vincent 164. Serving fresh baked breads with all manner of to Wild Beasts and local legends Hookworms. It’s a generous fillings, Bakery 164 elevates the humble proud example of locals and students sitting side sarnie into an art form. Grab a freshly made foby side in ever so slightly uneasy peace. caccia or ciabatta sandwich with Italian coffee as 45 | Left Bank Leeds redemption from the supermarket meal deal.

164 Woodhouse Ln | @bakery164

Cardigan Rd | @LeftBankLeeds

Leeds College of Art

46 | Hyde Park Picture House

42 | Leeds College of Art

73 Brudenell Rd | @HydeParkPH

Blenheim Walk | @LeedsCofArt

Leeds College of Art has been the major creative outlet for artists in Yorkshire for generations, with figures including Damien Hirst and Barbara Hepworth among its alumni. It is therefore unsurprising to discover that the college itself hosts a number of exhibitions, while the grand building alone is worth a visit.

2017 – 2018

Set in a Grade II-listed former church building, Left Bank is a beautiful, creative hub for music, art, food and drink, theatre and film events, ranging from intimate, atmospheric gigs and immersive movie screenings to huge beer conventions and sound art festivals.

A concentrated force of creative energy and experimentation right next door to your mate’s house (probably), Hyde Park Picture House is Leeds’ premier arthouse cinema. It also hosts experimental shows; past events have included instrumental folk music group A Hawk and a Hacksaw performing a soundtrack to a film, and Adam Buxton’s BUG show.

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47 | Hyde Park Book Club

49 | Love Rouge Bakery

27-29 Headingley Ln | @HPBCLeeds

51 Otley Rd | @LoveRougeBakery

Along with an events programme of everything from spoken word to regular ‘Open Turntable’ DJ nights, arts space Hyde Park Book Club is also a good spot to simply wind down, read, write or hang out with a coffee and veggie breakfast.

This Headingley venue with lavish pastel colours and boutique vintage decor serves up a range of hot drinks and treats, including its famous cupcakes. Whether you’re meeting friends for afternoon tea or looking for a gentle breakfast, Love Rouge provides the cosy surrounds straight out of a Wes Anderson movie.

48 | I Am Döner 23 Otley Rd | @iamdoneruk

While kebabs are more often thought of as fodder for the inebriated after completing the Otley Run, I Am Döner manages to bring a little class to the table (smart wooden fixtures, San Pellegrino in the fridges, that kinda thing). Beige, questionable meat is shunned in favour of vibrant, fresh ingredients.

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50 | Ecco Pizzeria 93 Otley Rd & 90 Street Ln | @Ecco_Pizzeria

These days it’s all about floppier, Neapolitan-style pizza, and at Ecco theirs is fired up in an oven that was hand-crafted in the hills of Tuscany for true authenticity points. They also specialise in wood-fired sticky chicken and gelato, too, which you can chow down on at branches in Roundhay and Headingley.

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THE SKINNY

COVENTRY CENTRAL LIBRARY 23 SEPT | TICKET £7

KENDAL LIBRARY

29 SEPT | TICKET £7

LANCASTER LIBRARY 14 OCT | TICKET £7

LOWLY LANCASTER LIBRARY 27 NOV | TICKET £7

getitloudinlibraries.com seetickets.com

2017 – 2018

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Liverpool - City Centre & Docks 4

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3 | The Slaughterhouse 13-15 Fenwick St | @Laughter_house

Home to regular live music and comedy nights, The Slaughterhouse hosts the Laughterhouse Comedy Club, one of Liverpool’s best clubs where you can expect to see some of comedy’s biggest names as well as promising up-and-coming talent – sometimes on their way up to, or back from, the Edinburgh Fringe.

4 | O2 Academy 11-13 Hotham St | @O2AcademyLpool

One of the major venues for gigs in Liverpool, the O2 Academy sees big and mid-sized touring names take the stage alongside unsigned talent, allowing gig-goers to get up close and personal with emerging acts on their way to the top.

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2 1 | Invisible Wind Factory 3 Regent Rd | @iwfactory

If you’re a newbie to Liverpool you’ll probably hear people talking in reverent tones about The Kazimier, a trailblazing venue that closed down to much sadness in 2015. But like a beautiful phoenix, rising from its ashes is Invisible Wind Factory – a huge multi-purpose arts space from the same team, where they let their technology and imagination run riot.

2 | Tate Liverpool Albert Dock | @tateliverpool

The Liverpool branch of the Tate family resides in a converted warehouse on the historic and iconic Albert Dock. The gallery displays works from the Tate Collection, which includes British art from 1500 to the present day, and also plays host to major international exhibitions and an active events programme.

5 | Open Eye Gallery 19 Mann Island | @OpenEyeGallery

An independent, not-for-profit gallery, Open Eye is one of the UK’s leading photography spaces.

It’s the only gallery dedicated to photography and related media in the Northwest and has a fascinating archive of photographs from the 1930s as well as an extensive collection of contemporary photography.

Invisible Wind Factory

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THE SKINNY

Liverpool Baltic Triangle

9 | 24 Kitchen Street 24 Kitchen St | @24KitchenStreet

Whatever your tastes, you’ll find a night that’s right up your, erm, street at 24 Kitchen Street.

With a glorious mishmash of house, hip-hop, electro and garage, there’s something for everyone, and the local scene has really made the venue its own with one-off parties, themed evenings and mini festivals.

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7 6 6 | Baltic Market The latest (and most ambitious) venture from the folk behind Independent Liverpool, the Baltic Market is a street food hall open Thursday through to Sunday, with eight local traders and a bar all housed in a historic, industrial warehouse space in the Baltic Triangle’s iconic Cains brewery.

7 | The Botanical Garden

Constellations

10 | District 61 Jordan St | @picketliverpool

A seasonal gin garden that’s open from spring through summer, The Botanical Garden is one of Liverpool’s favourite al fresco drinking dens when the sun’s shining, packed with street food, regular live music and a lorra, lorra gin.

The very friendly District has a packed events schedule full of gigs, club nights and even film screenings, and has the potential to be one of the best nights out in Liverpool. The type of music here varies – expect reggae, rave, and beats of all kinds.

8 | The Royal Standard

11 | Camp and Furnace

Northern Lights, Cains Brewery Village | @Royal_Standard

67 Greenland St | @CampandFurnace

This artist-led gallery is both a creative hub and exhibition space, with a strong innovative (and often pretty funny) streak. A new team of directors is appointed every few years to keep the organisation’s ideas and energy fresh, and they recently relocated to this larger space in the Cains Brewery complex.

This vast venue is one of Liverpool’s most magical spaces. Located in the atmospheric Baltic Triangle area, which is always buzzing with creativity, Camp and Furnace hosts music festivals (including Liverpool Psych Fest), art exhibitions, pop-up events, live gigs and club nights.

49 New Bird St | @Botanicalgardn

2017 – 2018

Photo: Andrew AB

107 Stanhope St | @BalticMarketLiv

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12 | The Baltic Social 27 Parliament St | @thebalticsocial

Well-loved for its laid-back vibe and quality live music schedule, The Baltic Social also has top food and great drinks. With comfy mismatched furniture and plenty of cosy corners, it’s a good spot to catch up on some work with a bev, or hold a society meeting.

13 | Constellations 35-39 Greenland St | @ConstellationsL

A warehouse space in the Baltic Triangle, Constellations hosts a wide range of art and live music events, from cool gigs to mini-festivals curated by local collectives, social meetups to backyard raves. Be sure to check out the urban garden when the weather warms up.

The Baltic Social

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14 | The Cow&Co Cafe

15 | Brooklyn Mixer

Known for its artisan coffee, locally supplied food and wide collection of independent arts magazines, Cow&Co is a little oasis. The food menu changes seasonally to make the most of the freshest ingredients available, but all year round you’re likely to find some kind of excellent soup, sandwich or bagel.

Known for eats’n’beats, Brooklyn Mixer can be found in a nice old Georgian gaff. You can choose from a wide selection of weird and wonderful beers from all over the world, including classic European lagers, strong stouts and dark ales – no wonder it’s one of the most popular bars in Liverpool.

15 Cleveland Sq | @CowandCoCafe

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78 Seel St | @BrklynMxr

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21 | The Shipping Forecast 15 Slater St | @ship_cast

Camel Club

16 | Arts Club

90 Seel St | @ArtsClubHQ

One of Liverpool’s most popular venues with a decent roster of club nights, comedy nights and gigs, the Arts Club is somewhere you’ll probably find yourself a lot. Be sure to catch as much of the local talent as you can, as well as the bigger acts.

17 | The Bluecoat School Ln | @theBluecoat

An art gallery and creative hub, The Bluecoat is also the oldest surviving building in Liverpool city centre. It has a jam-packed events schedule throughout the year, with anything and everything from concerts to poetry readings, and hosts some major exhibitions in its interesting spaces.

18 | Probe Records

Unit 1 School Ln | @ProbeRecords

Probe’s renaissance since moving to The Bluecoat came about at the same time as the resurgence in popularity of vinyl. Not that Probe really needed it – it’s always been Liverpool’s go-to shop for all things indie, punk, psych and underground. The knowledgeable heads here have got you covered.

19 | Cass Art

18 School Ln | @CASSART

This art supplies shop has got everything you could need, whether you’re a devoted artist, a hardworking art student or just trying out a new hobby. The impossibly neat shelves are stocked with a huge range of paint, brushes and all manner of other equipment at affordable prices – they even offer a student discount.

20 | Walkabout

26 Fleet St | @WalkieLiverpool

Aussie party bar Walkabout is an established student favourite, with everything from touring acts to foam parties planned throughout the academic year. A recently-revamped drinks menu promises their “best cocktails yet”, while food-wise it’s a case of pimped-out parmis and freakshakes (ice cream and milkshake with sweets, cake, cookie, candy floss and more).

2017 – 2018

The Shipping Forecast’s underground gig venue, The Hold, is one of Liverpool’s top spots for catching a DJ or band due to its intimate size, strippedback aesthetic and exposed brick walls (you gotta love ’em). The crowd is a genuine mixed bag, due to the varied and eclectic music programming.

22 | Jacaranda

21-23 Slater St | @jacarandalpool

Famously the site of the Beatles’ debut gig, the legendary Jac is a haven for music lovers and a key venue in Liverpool’s grassroots scene. Shaggy and unpretentious, the bar is the perfect spot for late-night drinks with friends. Oh, and it’s got its own vinyl shop!

23 | The Merchant 40 Slater St | @merchantpub

This multi-purpose venue has a minimalist Scandi feel, garden and all-round unpretentious vibe.

Outside you’ll find a ‘revolving kitchen’ hosting some of the region’s best street food vendors – and pizza lovers can grab a late-night slice at neighbouring Nightcrawler, the New York-style parlour that looks like something out of Saved by the Bell.

24 | Santa Chupitos 41 Slater St | @santachupitos

One for the cocktail lover, Santa Chupitos is the go-to place for adventurous drinks made with super fresh ingredients. With an ever-changing list, it’s worth revisiting to sample something you haven’t tried before.

They also own Santa Maluco (2 Castle St), a graffiti’d pizza place/bar that’s relaxed and student-friendly.

25 | Moloko

2 St Peter’s Sq | @molokoliverpool

When you’ve gone a bit too hard on a night out, Moloko has the indulgent answer. All-day brunches, boozy shakes and piled-up sundaes are the order of the day at this brand-new bar, furthering the region’s persistent obsession with all things American and calorific.

26 | Camel Club 18-22 Wood St

Camel Club is particularly popular with students for its club nights through the week (especially Bazaar Fridays), drinks promos and old skool vibes – largely R’n’B and hip-hop, but the DJs are prone to throw in some classic tunes as well as the latest trap and dancehall hits.

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27 | FACT

88 Wood St | @FACT_Liverpool

The Foundation for Art and Creative Technology is a multi-arts venue with a cafe, bar, three galleries and a multi-screen cinema. FACT focuses on the confluence of art and tech and hosts a unique programme of exhibitions, films and projects that aim to make arts and technology accessible to everyone.

28 | Bakchich

54 Bold St | @Bakchich_

The proliferation of Lebanese street food has been a boon to Liverpool’s boho Bold Street, and Bakchich provides a menu that tops the lot. On top of a great choice of small plates, mains and sweets, it serves up some of the city’s tastiest teas and freshly mixed juices.

33 | News from Nowhere 96 Bold St | @newsfromnowhere

This co-operative bookshop provides a literary sanctuary for the curious, radical readers of Liverpool. You’ll find books covering everything from feminism, LGBT and anarchism to socialism, sustainable living and so much more. Visitors are invited to make themselves at home with cosy armchairs and even a kettle!

34 | American Pizza Slice 122 Bold St | @a_pizzaslice

29 | Leaf

65-67 Bold St | @LEAFonBoldSt

Leaf is a true tea-lover’s haven, with a wide variety of unique flavours and blends on offer as well as a kitchen dishing up delicious hand-crafted food.

On the calendar you’ll find a variety of unique events – like pudding clubs! – as well as gigs in both the cafe and the events space upstairs.

This local ledge of a bar does exactly what it says on the tin: massive NYC-style pizzas (18 inches is standard) with tasty toppings for the grand price of cheap as hell. They’ve got three locations, they’re open late, and if you can’t haul ass out of your hangover den they also deliver.

35 | The Egg Cafe

Top Floor, 16-18 Newington | @TheEggCafe

30 | Mowgli Street Food 69 Bold St | @Mowglistfood

More than a few restaurants are jumping on board the street food trend nowadays, but Mowgli is easily one of the more authentic ones around. We love the flavour-packed menu (zingy blasts of tamarind and mint, anyone?) and the fact that dishes are served in metal tiffin boxes – just like the real thing.

A long-time fave of Liverpool’s bohemian crowd, The Egg Cafe has maintained its reputation for over 30 years for a reason. Dishing up fresh veggie and vegan food, with a bring-your-own-booze policy at no extra cost, it’s a real centre of the community (and stays open ’til 10.30pm every night!).

36 | 69A Renshaw

75 Renshaw St | @69aliverpool

31 | Bold Street Coffee This Bold Street institution is a lovely little place to go for lunch, or to catch up over coffee with a friend.

Caffeine lovers will enjoy the range of speciality coffees, and the featured filter coffee changes regularly – perfect if you want to discover something new.

Although Liverpool has a whole host of vintage and charity shops worth perusing, none are more individual than 69A. You’ll find absolutely anything here, whether you mean to look for it or not. From clothes and vinyl to intriguing collectibles and antiques, it’ll help you decorate your house with one-of-a-kind homeware.

32 | Maray

37 | Maguire’s Pizza Bar

A casual, friendly dining environment, Maray is super flexible, whether you just fancy a quick snack or a full-on meal with friends. The menu focuses on sharing plates, and you’ll find Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired dishes put together from fresh, high quality ingredients.

One of Liverpool’s most original venues, Maguire’s is where pizza meets punk rock! It also has a great vegan menu, with all manner of vegan-meat and dairy-free options. It’s cheap, cheerful and 100% our favourite place to tuck into some grub while watched over by a framed picture of David Hasselhoff. Great gigs, too.

89 Bold St | @boldstcoffee

91 Bold St | @MarayLiverpool

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77 Renshaw St | @MaguiresPizza

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THE SKINNY

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38 | 92 Degrees Coffee

41 | Williamson Tunnels

24 Hardman St | @92degreescoffee

Smithdown Ln | @WmsonTunnels

If you’re a caffeine fiend (or if that essay isn’t gonna write itself), you could do worse than head to Liverpool’s first micro-roastery and coffee shop, 92 Degrees. It’s a friendly spot with good pastries and bagels, and near the Philharmonic Hall/ Everyman if you’re waiting for a show.

Regularly hosting some of the best nights in Liverpool, this atmospheric underground labyrinth welcomes some seriously respected heads: think Robert Hood, Michael Mayer and Andrew Weatherall. The Tunnels are sure to provide some of your best clubbing experiences, but events sell quickly so keep an eye out.

39 | Buyers Club 24 Hardman St | @buyersclubbar

One of Liverpool’s newer live and club spaces, Buyers Club is a teensy bit tricky to locate, tucked away behind The Old Blind School, but once you’ve found it you’ll encounter a triplethreat venue for eating and drinking, dancing and discovering new music – with an impressive outdoor garden space to boot.

40 | The Magnet 45 Hardman St | @themagnet123

Hosting some of the best gigs and club nights in Liverpool, with plenty of up-and-coming artists from the local area as well as further afield, The Magnet has always been a melting pot for different musical genres – but you can expect a soundtrack of Northern Soul, disco and funk at its core.

2017 – 2018

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Buyers Club

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42 | Liverpool Guild of Students

46 | The Caledonia

160 Mount Pleasant | @LiverpoolGuild

22 Caledonia St | @thecaledonia

The Guild is at the centre of student life and puts Liverpool University on the national touring map, with its 2300-capacity Mountford Hall having hosted the likes of Ryan Adams and Jamie T alongside a host of student-friendly club nights.

A pub with a proper homely, traditional feel, The Caledonia has beermat-plastered walls and a cheery atmosphere – a welcome change for anyone tired of their local ’Spoons and other gastropubs. Here you’ll find an impressive selection of real ales and traditional homemade food.

47 | The Quarter 7 Falkner St | @TheQuarterLivpl

A short trip away from campus, The Quarter is a perfect setting to get to know your new mates over a tasty meal. The menu puts a contemporary twist on European food – you’ll find plenty of meze staples, sharing boards and pizzas with crispy Italian-style bases.

48 | Metal at Edge Hill Edge Hill Railway Stn | @MetalLiverpool

You’ll find Metal in a rather unusual location, between platforms one and two of the world’s oldest passenger railway station. An artists’ hub with studios and events space, Metal is super inclusive, hosting talks, workshops and participatory events throughout the year. Some of its resident artists have included Laurel Halo and Matthew Herbert.

43 | Everyman and Playhouse 5-11 Hope St / Williamson Sq | @LivEveryPlay

Having relaunched in 2014, the Everyman is a stalwart of the Liverpool theatre scene. In partnership with the Playhouse theatre (which can be found on Williamson Square), the Everyman hosts a full programme of groundbreaking productions throughout the year, with a balance between the experimental and crowdpleasing.

44 | Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 36 Hope St | @liverpoolphil

The Philharmonic Hall is one of the city’s most prestigious concert venues and home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, one of the world’s most famous orchestras. It also plays host to a broader range of comedy and music with John Grant, Absolutly Fabulous and Burt Bacharach among its recent visitors.

64 Rose Ln | @mamosliverpool

45 | Unity Theatre 1 Hope Pl | @unitytheatre

The Unity is a small-scale theatre hosting touring productions, in-house creations and upcoming standup comedy acts. This award-winning space is at the heart of the Liverpool community, supporting new budding dramatic talent and providing a space for radical and experimental productions.

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49 | Mamos Looking for something more wholesome than a kebab to top off your night of excess? “Simple, honest and delicious” is the Mamos motto and that’s exactly what you get from this brightly decorated takeaway. Expect charcoal-cooked peri-peri chicken, Neapolitan-style pizzas and homemade falafel freshly prepared and served ridiculously late.

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THE SKINNY

Manchester - Northern Quarter & Ancoats 16

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1 | Ezra & Gil

4 | Travelling Man

20 Hilton St | @ezra_gil

4 Dale St | @TravellingManUK

This cavernous but relaxed cafe on the corner of Hilton Street and Newton Street is light, green and airy, making it the perfect spot to chill with friends or to spread out with your laptop and notes for a caffeinated essay session.

This Northern Quarter shop is a gold mine for comic collectors. Travelling Man sells comic books, fantasy board games, role playing games, figurines and other collectibles. It’s not just a shop, either – the store also holds events including signings by comic book authors and illustrators, cosplay gatherings and free comic days.

2 | Fred Aldous 37 Lever St | @FredAldous

For nearly 130 years, this Manchester institution has been the city’s one stop shop for art and craft supplies. The independent store has a huge selection of paper, painting and design equipment and other materials, and also offers laser cutting and photography services.

3 | Soup Kitchen 31-33 Spear St | @SoupKitchen_Mcr

Soup Kitchen has quickly climbed the ranks to cement its place as one of the best bars in the Northern Quarter (and one of the best clubs in the UK!). It’s often been a starting point for bands who have taken off in recent years, with crowds of people squashing into the basement for a glimpse.

2017 – 2018

5 | Piccadilly Records 53 Oldham St | @PiccadillyRecs

Whether you’re a vinyl aficionado or just a casual music fan, everyone knows a trip to the Northern Quarter isn’t complete without a visit to Piccadilly Records. The store stocks the latest single and album releases on vinyl, CD and occasionally on cassette. It’s really not surprising that it’s been named Best Independent Record Shop by Music Week.

6 | The Castle 66 Oldham St | @thecastlehotel

A pub and live music venue with a richly impressive history and a cult status among the folk of Manchester, The Castle still manages to retain its ‘best kept secret’ vibe.

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11 | Ziferblat 23 Edge St | @ZiferblatEdgeSt

In Ziferblat, you can fill your boots with brews, cakes and wifi – it’s all free. What you pay for is time, and the going rate is 5p a minute. More common room than cafe, it’s a place where you can make yourself at home, serve up a few rounds of toast and break out the board games.

Credit: Man Alive!

12 | V Revolution

7 | Koffee Pot

20-26 Edge St | @vrevolutionyeah

The V stands for vegan but it also represents two fingers to the idea that vegan food has to be boring. The speciality at this colourful Americanstyle diner is ‘vegan junk food’ – we’re talking burgers, hotdogs, pizzas, milkshakes. Not a lentil in sight.

84-86 Oldham St | @thekoffeepot

Known for its liver-rejuvenating, shame-vanishing slap-up breakfasts, Koffee Pot is a proper caff with just the right amount of Northern Quarter cool. It’s a Mancunian institution, and anyone will tell you that it’s a favourite hangout of many big names on the Manchester music scene.

8 | Rudy’s Pizza 9 Cotton St | @RudysPizzaMcr

Aptly stationed in the so-called Little Italy area of Ancoats, Rudy’s is home to the best pizza in town.

It achieves this honour through its authentic Naples-style dough, so thin, light and floppy you need to use two hands to eat it. Sharing makes the pizzas super affordable.

9 | Mantra Warehouse Pollard St East | @MantraMcr

Located deep within the heart of an 18th-century cotton mill in Ancoats, this mint fresh underground venue plays host to parties by Manchesterbased promoters Covert. It has a beacon-like pull on clubbers looking for quality house and techno, though we think the open-air yard might also have something to do with it.

Ezra & Gil

13 | Common 39-41 Edge St | @common_bar

A lively bar and restaurant, Common attracts plenty of regulars and sociable locals. The decor has a distinct Scandi flavour, all clean lines, muted colours and lots and lots of wood. As well as the usual burgers, there’s a focus on small plates, with popcorn cockles the king of the bar snacks.

10 | Eastern Bloc

14 | Home Sweet Home

5a Stevenson Sq | @Easternbloc1985

49-51 Edge St | @HomeSweetHomeNQ

As one of the only shops in the UK to import dance records when it opened back in the mid 80s, Eastern Bloc has enviable credentials as Manchester's best techno, drum'n'bass, house and electronic vinyl stockist. It’s also got a great cafe and bar for drinks in the sun outside, too.

This Northern Quarter hotspot is always busy, but don’t let that put you off – that just proves that it’s good, and the restaurant’s mismatched furniture and unusual artwork makes it truly live up to its name.

Remember: save room for a slice of their huge cakes.

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15 | Manchester Craft and Design Centre

17 | Afflecks 52 Church St | @Afflecksfox

17 Oak St | @ManchesterCraft

Based in an old converted Victorian fish market, the Manchester Craft and Design Centre is home to 18 studios with more than 30 designers, artists and creatives making and selling their own work.

You can buy anything from handmade jewellery to bags, ceramics, interior accessories, furniture, paintings and much more.

16 | Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art

An iconic part of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Afflecks is a leading indoor market, with several floors of weird and wonderful shops and stalls selling everything from alternative and vintage clothing to records, retro sweets and handmade jewellery. You’ll find something new and unique with every trip to Afflecks and you almost certainly won’t leave empty handed.

18 | Northern Soul Grilled Cheese Church St Mkt | @NorthernSoulMcr

Market Buildings, Thomas St | @CFCCA_UK

The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art’s aim is to promote, showcase and support contemporary Chinese artists through its in-house exhibitions, community outreach work and educational creative workshops. The shop offers a variety of artwork inspired gifts, and the Tea House is worth a visit too.

The cliché might be that a student diet is made up of 90% cheese toasties, but that won’t sound so bad once you visit Northern Soul. Each of their grilled cheese beauties is a three-cheese blend on sourdough bread; then you can choose from an array of fillings, from pulled pork to mac’n’cheese.

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24 | South

4A South King St | @South_Club

Joshua Brooks

19 | Popup Bikes

Arch 5, Corporation St | @PopupBikes

A cycle cafe and bike maintenance shop, Popup Bikes aims to be ethical and fair to customers – the cafe serves locally sourced coffee, as well as cakes and sandwiches for hungry cyclists, and the bike repair shop uses cycle components sourced from nearby locations.

20 | Hidden

DownTex Mill, 16-18 Mary St | @HiddenClubMCR

Since opening in 2015, Hidden has been embraced by the city’s ravers. Situated in a former textile mill near Strangeways prison, it’s home to many of Manchester’s leading promoters, from Love Dose to Meat Free. We love the graffiti, disco balls and amazing soundsystem.

21 | People’s History Museum Left Bank, Spinningfields | @PHMMcr

The UK’s national museum of democracy, its mantra is “there have always been ideas worth fighting for.”

Over two floors, the story of 200 years of people power unfolds, from the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 to the present day. If you’ve any interest in politics or history, this should be your first port of call.

A basement club that guarantees a good night out, South gets a fair few guest DJs in and the odd live performance from local and touring rappers, but it’s the regular nights that are the best loved. They’ve played host to some big names, like Nightmares on Wax and A Guy Called Gerald.

25 | Royal Exchange Theatre St Ann’s Sq | @rxtheatre

The Royal Exchange’s gigantic glass-walled auditorium, suspended in mid-air, is an innovation in theatre design that completely alters the audience’s experience. The programme ranges from comedy to drama, from the most famous plays to brand new stories, and the odd conversation with popular writers, directors and actors.

26 | Manchester Art Gallery Mosley St | @mcrartgallery

One of the North’s most impressive collections of sculpture, historic costume and painting unfolds across 21 gallery spaces with art and craft of local and national importance alongside constantly rotating guest exhibitions. Get down for Thursday Lates (open ’til 9pm), where you’ll find special workshops, talks and performances.

22 | Bundobust

61 Piccadilly | @bundobustmcr

Manchester now has its own branch of Bundobust, Leeds’ lauded Indian street food joint peddling Gujarati-style small plates and craft beer.

Everything on the menu is vegetarian, and many dishes can also be made vegan, but whatever you do, be sure to save room for the okra fries, which are nothing short of legendary.

23 | Albert Hall

27 Peter St | @Alberthallmcr

Possibly the most impressive music venue to open in Manchester in recent years, Albert Hall has already welcomed an impressive roster of acts to its stage. Expect anything and everything from drum’n’bass to orchestras – and if music isn’t your thing, it’s worth a trip to gawp at the decorative ceilings and stained-glass windows.

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Popup Bikes

27 | Joshua Brooks

106 Princess St | @JoshuaBrooksMCR

Weeknights at Joshua Brooks are a permanent fixture on Manchester’s clubbing scene, with students flocking to the club on Wednesdays for hiphop, R’n’B and basement bangers. There are always plenty of offers on too, with two for one cocktail deals and cheaper drinks for members.

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THE SKINNY

33 | International Anthony Burgess Foundation Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St | @misterenderby

The Lowry

28 | Bridgewater Hall

Lower Mosley St | @BridgewaterHall

Housed in a beautifully angular building that juts out into the surrounding area, the Bridgewater Hall has a busy programme of more than 250 performances a year. It’s also home to three resident orchestras – The Hallé, Manchester Camerata, and the BBC Philharmonic, who perform there on a regular basis.

29 | Albert’s Schloss

Dedicated to encouraging public interest in the life and work of the writer Anthony Burgess, best known for his gnawing dystopia A Clockwork Orange, the Burgess Foundation is a literary performance and exhibition space housing a large archive of Burgess’s original manuscripts, space for new writers and spoken word performers, and a reading room.

SALFORD 34 | The King’s Arms 11 Bloom St | @kingssalford

Since opening, Bavarian-style beer hall Albert’s Schloss has fast become the city centre’s ultimate party palace, thanks to a unique combo of kitsch, flamboyant cabaret entertainment, tasty alpine food, a ‘Push for Prosecco’ button and a basement photo booth. Fun times.

The King’s Arms is more than your standard local.

Downstairs is a proper pub, with a beer garden, real ale from local breweries, and food served in the day. But it’s upstairs that makes it stand out: here you’ll find an array of artistic entertainment with regular events including local improv theatre and standup comedy.

30 | HOME

35 | Deli-Lama

Founded after the Library Theatre Company and the beloved Cornerhouse cinema merged, HOME holds two theatre spaces, five cinema screens, a huge gallery space and much more. The centre prides itself on being the place to visit to find engaging and innovative media. The comfy bars and roof terrace are great for a post-show discussion.

Serving up mainly vegetarian and vegan food, Deli-Lama’s menu is heavily Caribbean and Mediterranean inspired. With regular menu staples of wraps, sandwiches and curries, they also serve a number of specials, and plenty of cakes.

27 Peter St | @AlbertsSchloss

2 Tony Wilson Pl | @HOME_mcr

220 Chapel St | @DeliLamaCafeBar

1 James St | @islingtonmill

31 | Castlefield Gallery 2 Hewitt St | @CastlefieldGall

A visual art gallery and artist development agency, Castlefield Gallery hosts a number of exhibitions every year, showcasing work from both local contemporary artists and those from further afield. At the heart of its ethos is a determination to nurture talent, which gives the gallery a vital role in the North’s art scene.

32 | Gorilla

A former cotton spinning mill converted into a gallery space, venue and studios, Islington Mill is recognised as one of Greater Manchester’s most exciting creative spaces. Having played host to Grimes, Everything Everything and Sounds from the Other City festival, among much more, the building will soon be going under renovation, so keep a look out for updates.

37 | The Lowry

Pier 8, The Quays | @The_Lowry

54-56 Whitworth St | @thisisgorilla

Nestled beneath the arches of Oxford Road station, Gorilla is a multitasking venue encompassing a bar, restaurant, live music venue and club. The 550-capacity music room offers a packed programme of gigs, club and comedy nights to suit most tastes. It’ll become a regular hangout.

2017 – 2018

36 | Islington Mill

Located by Salford Quays, The Lowry houses several theatre spaces and a gallery – complete with a permanent collection of paintings by the building’s namesake, L.S. Lowry. As well as being the local stop for massive touring theatre shows, The Lowry also has a good selection of more intimate and experimental performances throughout the year.

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Manchester Oxford Road corridor

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38 | Flour and Flagan 126 Grosvenor St | @FlourandFlagan

Culture

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The Deaf Institute

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Combining two venues in one, The Flour an Flagan is both a bar and a venue for club and comedy events. Head around the side to The Bread Shed and you’ll find events most nights, the most popular being XS Malarkey, a multi-award-winning standup comedy night

135 Grosvenor St | @DeafInstitute

Bedecked in kitsch wallpaper and pleasingly odd decorations, The Deaf Institute has seen many big names in their early days play the upstairs music hall, and there’s almost always something on, be that frequent and often busy club nights or rising talent on tour.

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40 | Umami 147-153 Oxford Rd

If Japanese food is your thing then this Oxford Road restaurant is for you. The menu lists lots of noodle and rice dishes including ramen and stir fries, as well as curries and salads. Umami is student friendly, offering a student discount, meaning cheap lunch is available between lectures.

41 | RNCM 124 Oxford Rd | @RNCMvoice

In addition to being a world-renowned conservatoire, the Royal Northern College of Music also hosts student-led showcases and big-name artists. Manchester Camerata and big bands sit perfectly alongside FKA twigs and Tim Burgess in an incredibly varied programme that suits all tastes and supports brand new musical talent.

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Food & Drink

Music

39 | The Deaf Institute

42 | Manchester Museum

46 | Whitworth Art Gallery

The University of Manchester, Oxford Rd | @McrMuseum

The University of Manchester, Oxford Rd | @WhitworthArt

Boasting a large collection of wild amphibians and reptiles, Manchester Museum’s mission is to save some of the world’s most endangered species.

It’s also a hub of cultural activity; you’ll often find a live literature night in one of the atmospheric exhibition spaces, and the top floor has recently been turned into ‘The Study’, a space to work, make, research and share.

Located on part of the University of Manchester’s grounds in a historical Grade II-listed building, the Whitworth Art Gallery was recently transformed and doubled in size. Its large permanent collection includes works by world-renowned artists, and the programme of changing exhibitions presents some of contemporary art’s most forward-thinking names.

43 | Manchester Academy

47 | Mughli

Oxford Rd | @MancAcademy

30 Wilmslow Rd | @mughli

A few paces from the Student Union on Oxford Road, Manchester Academy hosts well known acts, while its smaller sister venues Academies 2, 3 and Club Academy offer upcoming and emerging bands. The complex has seen the likes of Best Coast, Deap Vally and Blossoms play to packed crowds before they got their big breaks.

While Mughli may be situated on the ever-busy ‘Curry Mile’, its food is, er, miles apart from many of the other offerings on this bustling strip of restaurants and shisha cafes. Taking inspiration from the roadside cafes and street food of Lahore, the menu offers a large selection of tried and tested curries, updated with a modern touch.

48 | Antwerp Mansion Rusholme Grove, Wilmslow Rd | @AntwerpMansion

It regularly plays host to band practices and live gigs, but Antwerp Mansion has become legendary throughout Manchester for its unique setting for raves and parties. It prides itself on being a world away from ‘fancy joints across town,’ and, with dirt cheap prices at the bar, it’s very student friendly.

Whitworth Art Gallery

44 | Contact Oxford Rd | @ContactMcr

This distinctive looking theatre offers a range of genre-defying projects and events, its vision being for all performances to inspire creativity and empower both the performers and the visitors. It’s the perfect place to go for a last minute evening out, as you never know what you’ll end up watching.

2A Landcross Rd | @fallowcafe

A small, ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ bar and live venue in central Fallowfield, Fallow Cafe is a popular student hangout thanks to its fab food and chaotic gigs. The cafe is home to a menu rammed with homemade food that won’t break the bank, breakfast served ’til late, and incredible roast dinners on Sundays.

50 | Fuel 448 Wilmslow Rd | @fuelcafebar

45 | Big Hands 296 Oxford Rd | @BigHandsBar

Sitting in prime position on Oxford Road, Big Hands is close enough to university to drown your sorrows after submitting your final essay a day late, and close enough to the Academies to continue the party once the music’s over. You’re sure to spot some musical types here, either hiding in the back or lounging on a 70s-style sofa.

2017 – 2018

49 | Fallow Cafe

You’re likely to have discovered Fuel around the same time you and your friends began discussing socialism/vegetarianism/feminism (delete as appropriate). Fuel offers a reasonably priced menu for lovers of hearty vegan cuisine. Here you’ll drink Belgian beers, smoke rollies in the impossibly small porch of the bar and most likely debate existentialism.

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