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Evening, my wife and me and going to see a concert in Manchester in April for our anniversary. We fancy spending a few nights away (from the kids) and wondered where (area) might be worth staying and visiting. The concert is Co-Op at Etihad but happy to get a taxi there. Looking for somewhere with walkable restaurants/bars/pubs and easily accessible to the city centre or anywhere else good in the area worth visiting for a wander about, shop/culture/eat cake.
Haven’t been to Manchester since I was a kid 30 years ago!
Cheers in advance. Chris
Use the metrolink tram to get to the venue from the city centre?
Can't help you with food/drink options but there are plenty more Greggs bakeries than there was 30 years ago!
https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/manva-manchester-marriott-victoria-and-albert-hotel/overview/
For food
https://www.thaikhun.co.uk/thai-restaurant/manchester
https://sancarlo.co.uk/restaurants/san-carlo-manchester/
https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/restaurants/manchester/
https://www.littleyangsing.co.uk/
Good budget hotel and location: Motel One
Eats: Bundabust, Happy Seasons
Drinks: Smithfield, Port Street beer house, Northern Quarter generally.
We stayed in the Midland a lot but it's not worth the money (we weren't paying)
I wouldn’t stay anywhere near the Etihad. It wasn’t known as Wastelands without good reason. Loads of good hotels in the City Centre, just jump on a tram out to the venue, then get away from that particular area as quickly as possible
You’ve so many great places to eat and drink in Manchester, you can’t really go wrong. Just set out for a wander round the city, places like the northern quarter are a good place to start
The David Hockney exhibition at Factory looks awesome, if that floats your boat. I need to get to that myself
Brilliant. Thanks for the recommendations.
Are you there on a Tuesday? Victoria baths is worth a look
https://victoriabaths.org.uk/welcomewednesdays/
Maybe an apartment in the NQ if you're there a few nights? There's so much food/drink/hipster coffee that you can't go wrong really.
The City Art Gallery is always worth a mosey around and from there you’re just down the road from the Britons Protection, which is a cracking pub
stay in the city centre, there loads of hotels to suit pretty all budgets and then an easy walk to Spinningfields, northern quarter and pretty much anywhere else for drinks and restaurants. the tram out to the co-op is really easy and iirc correctly is always running back after events at the co-op.
what are you looking for in terms of hotels (posh or budget) and restaurants (easy going informal street food type or sit down more pricey)?
what ever you do make sure you nip into schofields for a couple of pre-gig cocktails - great cocktails and service
Don't forget to visit This and That on Soap Street for a curry.
Good call! You can’t do Manchester without rice’n’three in the Northern Quarter. Yadgar is good too or Hunters for the best chicken tikka kebabs in the world
For various reasons i'm spending far much more time in my home town.
I've been out a few times and quite enjoyed Hawksmoor on Deansgate. Great food and drink.
Yesterday after going to the Aviva gallery i discovered this place and it was fantastic! A great atmosphere, good food and they were playing some funky tunes!
https://thetradingroute.co.uk/
Piccadilly Gardens for a unique cultural experience.
Thanks everyone, the local knowledge is great and much appreciated.
City centre sounds good, but don't mind a walk in...just depends where we're walking through though i guess.
Hotel wise: Boutique sort of place, but not mega pricey. Happy with small hotel/guesthouse a little way out too.
Food: aiming for one sit down nice dinner and then something more chilled pre-concert.
Fancy seeing a bit of arty stuff and some history of the city too.
NQ and Schofields sounds great too.
Thanks all, this is a happy distraction from work!
The Abel Haywood is a cracking hotel/pub in Northern Quarter - the rooms are lovely, and the pub is really nice. The Alan is good too, Motel One on St Peters Square, Hotel Gotham (expensive).
Loads of places to go/stuff to do. NQ is still very popular. You have Mayfield and Mayfield Park is you want a wander or food which is near Piccadilly Station. There is a small National Trust 'garden' on an old bridge off Deansgate.
Be prepared for a bit of a delay to get back from the Co Op as it's either a bit of a shitty walk, or you need to wait for a tram.
The David Hockney exhibition at Factory looks awesome, if that floats your boat. I need to get to that myself
Sorry @binners, but you've missed it as the last day was Saturday. Shame because it was an excellent show and I reckon you would have loved it.
the Britons Protection, which is a cracking pub
The BP is a must-visit if you like whisky.
Koffee pot on Oldham st just up from piccadilly records does a fab blow out brunch. Mancoco off Oxford Rd in the railway arches fab coffee. peverel pub is my go to place for post gig beer if you can make it in time.
Went to a gig at the new century last year, lovely venue, it has a food hall attached which had a great selection, could be a good shout for your relaxed meal ?
Mackie mayors is nice and there's one in spinningfields I forget the name of, and others I'm sure, but the new century one was great
@ThePinkster - thanks for letting me know. I’m gutted I missed that
Oh yeah… Mackie Mayor in Smithfield Market up by the Northern Quarter is fab! What a great building and the food was really good!
Mackie Mayor is always a good shout. Decent food and drinks and a nice eclectic mix of people. You can go in dressed up for a posh night out, or in your hiking gear and it doesn't really matter!
San Carlo, Hawksmoor etc really good for posher food. Cane and Grain in NQ is good if you like a hipster dive bar vibe. Matt and Phreds is great for good music and pizzas.
the Britons Protection, which is a cracking pub
The BP is a must-visit if you like whisky
Recently changed landlord and had a refit so the whiskey selection might not be the same when you next visit?
Haha, I think we're going to need to stay another week the way this list is going!
Recently changed landlord and had a refit so the whiskey selection might not be the same when you next visit?
Ah shite, that's disappointing if so.
What I like about Manchester city centre is the mix old of and new buildings. Walking along the streets it's all glass modern shops etc but just look up: old carved sandstone and beautiful brickwork everywhere. Many buildings are such a mix of styles. I usually like old stuff and not a big fan of modern but actually find myself really liking this contrast, old & new blend together in a good way. It's both keeping the history and moving with the times.
I once found myself on the roof level of the Arndale car park looking at the view and this contrast was really brought home sharply: look west(ish) over the roof of the shopping centre and it's all ultra modern. Go to the other side and look east and you'd think you were transported back to Dickensian times. (Could be it's not quite like that any longer, this was a good few years ago!)
@Cougar - It’s all been very controversial. It’s now owned by Heineken. To be honest though there’s been such a hoo ha that the ‘refurb’ seems to have amounted to a lick of paint and a tidy up and keeping it very much as is.
If it ain’t broke and all that…
Its one of those places we always seem to end up in the winter, but it’s actually got a great beer garden, which you don’t expect in the middle of the city
While we’re on the subject of both good pubs and old buildings with lovely interiors, the Marble Arch up in the Northern Quarter(ish) ticks both boxes
Hire a pair of ebikes and have ride along the many canals. You can ride along the river to media-city, you might also see some filming in the new Blue Peter garden. A few nice bars out there.
https://beryl.cc/scheme/greater-manchester
There are also a few decent museums in Manchester. plenty to do.
https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/museums-and-galleries/
Loads of good restaurants and bars.
I wish I'd gone on one of these tours when I was working there in 2023-2024.
The Strangeways one seems really interesting, it's in May though. https://www.jonathanschofieldtours.com/secrets-of-strangeways--cheetham-hill.html
The Velodrome is right next to the Etihad.
Ever fancied a shot?
@didnthurt - I’ve worked with Jonathan Scholfield a few times over the years, mostly at the Guardian/MEN/City Life. He’s an absolutely lovely and fascinating bloke and his encyclopaedic knowledge of absolutely everything about Manchester is truly staggering. His tours are fantastic!
If you're staying over the weekend, I can recommend The Refuge at Kimpton hotel. Sunday roasts are very good.
This & That is awesome - often go for lunch if I'm in the office. Also the Arndale food market bit for lunch is ace. Sarnies, curry, mexican, thai - you name it, its there. Nice little tap room kinda thing too.
Don't go anywhere near Piccadilly Gardens.
New Century is good - plenty of beer choice and decent pizza (think they do more than pizza but never tried it). Sadler's Cat opposite is decent too.
What I like about Manchester city centre is the mix old of and new buildings.
John Rylands library is worth a look (half way down Deansgate), beautiful old building with obviously a nice calm chilled ambience.
Also the Royal Exchange Theatre - opulent Victorian cotton money with a modern yellow steel Microsoft screensaver pipes theatre plonked in the middle.
Both free to marvel at.
https://tfgm.com/ways-to-travel/tram/network-map
Get the tram from Piccadilly gardens going towards Ashton , get off at Etihad Campus
In no particular order
* 20 Stories - food is great and has fantastic 360 degrees views of manchester. Not cheap, but worth it
* Exhibition - 3 kitchens in one location - Really good tapas and other small plate type food
* Higher Ground, Another Hand, Street Urchin, The Sparrows are all excellent restaurants
* Manchester Musuem, Whitworth Art Gallery - the Whitworth has a nice cafe & grounds as well as a good gallery. also close to Rusholme for curry.
You could also take a trip to Ramsbottom / Rawtenstall and combine a walk with a trip on the steam train. Beware STW's in the vicinity though
Direct trains from Manchester to Hebden, Tod , Halifax, Leeds , York etc so you could do day trips.
As above, the Alan is a good hotel and the Kimpton Clock tower is fab.. Guardian Escapes often have deals on the midland, lowry etc
Loads of good breakfast options in central manchester - Pollen, Companio, Federal, Moose Coffee etc ,etc
Thanks again everyone for the input. Has anyone stayed recently at the Alan? It looked ideal on the website and good price but tripadvisor reviews commonly say it's tired and the rooms are a bit budget with a bit of window dressing. Could just be disgruntled TA people though. Thanks
Thanks @slackboy the guardian escapes site had some great deals. Booked in to the Marriott Victoria and Albert and looking forward to exploring the city.
Cheers all
John Rylands library is worth a look (half way down Deansgate), beautiful old building with obviously a nice calm chilled ambience.
Great recommendation @RustyNissanPrairie, my dad has done a fair bit of work with them and is in the process of donating some of his books there (long story, not necessary for now). I’m just glad someone else has even heard of it!
The Velodrome is right next to the Etihad.
Ever fancied a shot?
I've ridden in there. They make it look easy on TV, it is sodding brutal.
It’s absolutely knackering! But If you want even more of a laugh and something that’s even more knackering then book on to one of the sessions at the indoor, world champs BMX track next door. Absolutely bloody great fun. 20” wheels are utterly terrifying!
here’s a picture of me and Lee, on a session with a good few other of the usual MNPR suspects on here, thinking ‘what the **** are we doing?!! …
Ancoats sits between NQ and the edge of the Etihad zone of Miles Platting. Plenty of bars (not been to them), cafes (not been to these either), and Mana if you fancy a splendid dinner.
I’d underscore @binners recommendation of the Marble Arch. Not NQ imo - it is a short trek beyond on the Rochdale road. But well worth it for the cheeseboard alone. Add in beer and it is a destination! Not so much the Briton’s which is a heritage site of sorts but best looked at and then walk up to Peveril of the Peak catching a glimpse of the Bridgewater Hall down the road as you go.
Many things already written I agree with. John Rylands is an often missed gem. The city art gallery too. The library building, next to the being-restored town hall is free and great to see the reading room.
You can get the tram out to Media City which is sort of interesting to walk around in Salford Quays. Walk over bridge over the canal/docks there and you can visit the imperial war museum north. Great permanent exhibits and usually good temporary ones.
You can get the tram out to Burton Road - West Didsnury’s closest stop. Takes ~30 minutes from the town centre. Plenty of small bars and restaurants there.
Was that the night a load of us went years and years ago Binners? Was a motley crew of your MNPR lot and a few of my ex-colleagues from HBOS and some mates from Halifax etc. Absolutely bonkers on this little kids bikes - a mountain bike I've no problem jumping but those little diddy bikes were something else. Scared my wrists were going to snap.
The velodrome is absolutely brilliant - I must do that again sometime.
Not so much the Briton’s which is a heritage site of sorts but best looked at and then walk up to Peveril of the Peak
Personally I prefer the BP to the Pev - but I've not been since the revamp (and change of landlords?).
Ancoats is certainly worth a look, the Edinburgh Castle is my favourite pub in town - and there's a Rudy's Pizza opposite.
@DaveyBoyWonder - it was indeed the same night.,A quick look at my archives of scribbles tells me it was 10 years ago, though we have been back and done it a few times since
