MCR7 Magazine I

MCR7 MANCHESTER CITY REGION

Creative city Manchester International Festival listings

‘Anything that celebrates adventure, newness, intellectualism, radicalism has to be in Manchester. The whole city is about that and this - the Festival - is the kind of thing that suits it’ Paul Morley, BBC2 Newsnight Review

Manchester Magazine 2011

The app Manchester has been waiting for…

‘Time Out raises the city app bar’–The Guardian

Compiled by resident experts apps and maps work offline with no roaming charges Also available: London, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires and Zagreb timeout.com/iphonecityguides Built by

FIRST WORDS Welcome to MCR7 – the destination magazine for Manchester.

As I write this, the sky above Carver’s Warehouse in the city's Northern Quarter is treating us to what I hope is a glimpse of the summer that lies ahead - sunshine and not a cloud in sight. Let's hope so, as Manchester has a lot to look forward too in 2011!

The Manchester International Festival (MIF) returns for its third outing of world premiers and special events. In its relatively short life, MIF has established itself on the international cultural calendar and this year looks set to be more spectacular and ground breaking than ever.

Exciting times too for the city's flagship lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival, Manchester Pride, which celebrates its 21st this summer - and if their 18th was anything to go by, it will be an unforgettable party.

I'm pleased to inform you that the Time Out Manchester app is now available to download from the App Store. We're huge fans of Time Out here at Marketing Manchester and we think you'll be as impressed as we were with the work they have done to promote Manchester to the world.

If you're reading MCR as a delegate at a conference or event taking place in Manchester, I hope you have found time between work to get out and explore the city. If you like what you see and are thinking about holding your own conference or event here, check out our dedicated conference website for more information: visitmanchester.com/conference All that leaves me to say is that I hope that MCR has provided you with an insight into what Manchester has to offer. For more information about what there is to see and do, check out visitmanchester.com and follow us on Twitter: @visit_mcr And when, of course, you actually arrive in the city, make sure the Manchester Visitor Information Centre in Piccadilly Gardens is your first point of call. Our visitor centre staff will be happy to help with any further questions that you might have.

See you soon!

Andrew Stokes Chief Executive, Marketing Manchester May 2011

On the subject of smart phones, you'll also notice that throughout the magazine we have included QR codes alongside a number of articles - an example of which can be seen at the end of this welcome. These are there to help direct you to the additional content relating to these stories on the Internet. If you haven't got a QR reader on your phone, don't worry, there are lots of free ones available to download.

CONTRIBUTORS

Sarah Hiscock Sarah Hiscock is a travel and lifestyle journalist writing for magazines, newspapers and websites on everything from the TV phenomenon Lost, to Punchdrunk performances in abandoned office blocks. She recently moved to Manchester from London where she worked as Deputy Editor on travel titles, Britain (the official magazine of VisitBritain) and Cruise International. She edited the lifestyle magazine So British and regularly contributes to the News, Business and Careers sections of The Times.

Marketing Manchester Carver’s Warehouse, 77 Dale St, Manchester, M1 2HG T. +44 (0)161 237 1010 F. +44 (0)161 228 2960 marketingmanchester.com visitmanchester.com Designed & Published: Marketing Manchester, May 2011 Contributors: In addition to the authors of our features and Manchester Voices, Marketing Manchester would like to thank everyone that has provided editorial for this issue of MCR.

Percy Dean

Helen Tither

Percy Dean has worked as professional photographer for over 18 years. In that time he has worked around the world and in turn his work is highly respected globally.

He was the founding editor and senior photographer for Document Magazine, which ran for over a decade. He has specialises in action sports, lifestyle and social documentary photography and lives and works in Manchester.

Freelance journalist and film-maker Helen Tither has interviewed everyone from Victoria Beckham to the Prime Minister in her ten years as a Manchester-based reporter.

As former women's editor at the Manchester Evening News she was responsible for keeping track of all the latest fashion news and admits to spending rather too long in the city's most stylish shops.

Nick Johnson

Mike Todd

Nick Johnson is the deputy chief executive of urban regeneration company, Urban Splash. A chartered surveyor for over 13 years, he was the Edward P. Bass Distinguished Visiting Architecture fellow at Yale University in the USA in 2007 and is commissioner for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Mike Todd is a filmmaker, journalist and consultant with over ten years experience in digital media production. Born in Bolton, he worked on promoting the image of Manchester during the 2002 Commonwealth Games and chaired the communication group for the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final.

Cover Photography: MIF cover: The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic © Manchester International Festival Summer cover: Screenfields, Spinningfields © Ben Page

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

Marketing Manchester is the agency charged with promoting the city-region on a national and international stage.

Photography: Visit Manchester is the Tourist Board for Greater Manchester and Ian Howarth, Percy Dean, Paul Jones, David Lake, Jonty is a division of Marketing Manchester. They are funded by 360 Wilde, Jan Chlebik, Photolink, Northwest Regional commercial members and the organisations below.

Development Agency, William Ellis, The Mersey Partnership, CityCo, Ben Page, Spinningfields, Craig Easton Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy in this publication, Marketing Manchester cannot accept liability for any loss or damage arising from its use. As changes often occur after publication date, it is advisable to confirm the information given.

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Contents 04 – 08

Manchester International Festival 2011 The city’s flagship cultural festival returns in summer 2011 for its third outing of world premiers and special events. We’ve a quick re-cap of MIF ’07 and ’09 and full programme listings for ’11 to help you plan your own MIF experience.

09 – 09

12 – 13

Manchester Voice: CP Lee & Susan Williams Two of Manchester’s film aficionados tell us how Manchester is making a name for itself on the big screen.

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30 – 30

31 – 31

Modern History Top 5 Modern History is a project that unearths the stories from across the North West that have shaped the modern world. Here is their top five things to do this summer to keep the kids entertained.

What’s On: Exhibitions

Manchester Voice: Howard Jacobson

38 – 44

The MAN Booker Prize-winning novelist tells us of his passion for Manchester’s Jewish community and how the city is always with him – wherever he is.

Manchester's secret shopping trail Fashion journalist Helen Tither reveals her secret shopping haunts to bring you an insider's guide to spending in the city. Retail listings included.

21 Voices

Manchester Voice: Sir Alex Ferguson

Over the course of 21 years, Manchester Pride has become one of the largest gay pride events in Europe.

Here, 21 members of the city’s LGBT community give their thoughts on what the festival has achieved.

The National Football Museum will open in Manchester this autumn in the Urbis building. Here, the Manchester United manager and vice-president of the NFM tells us what he hopes the move will mean for the collection.

46 – 47 26 – 29

Snapshot: Armani Shopping has never looked so sleek.

Check out the new Armani store on The Avenue in Spinningfields.

A guide to this year’s must see exhibitions.

24 – 25

Manchester Voice: Jackie Crozier The festival director of Manchester Pride takes time out of her busy schedule to tell us what’s in store for the 21st anniversary of the city’s leading LGBT event.

36 – 37 22 – 22

What’s On: LGBT The essential gay guide to 2011.

32 – 33 20 – 20

Bard of Manchester In 2010, the poet laureate of the United Kingdom, Carol Ann Duffy, penned the poem Vigil in memory of those people who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS. It is reproduced here with thanks to George House Trust.

Manchester Voice: Pete Waterman OBE The legendary 80’s music man and former Pop Idol judge talks to us about his other passion – steam railways.

Snapshot: MediaCityUK Check out how things are looking over at MediaCityUK – the multi-million pound development that will see The Quays export creative content to the world from Manchester’s former docklands.

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18 – 19

Manchester Voice: Jen Cleary The woman behind MIF Creative the Manchester International Festival commissioning scheme that brings together leading artists with local people of all ages and backgrounds – tells us about what it has brought to MIF ’11.

Revolution MOSI Professor Brian Cox comments on the latest development at the Museum of Science & Industry – the new Revolution Manchester gallery.

What’s On: Festivals A round-up of the city’s other festivals taking place in 2011.

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16 – 17

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What’s On: Sport

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This year’s sporting fixtures 50 – 51

52 – 57

74 – 74

Snapshot: Piccadilly Gardens

75 – 75

The biggest open space in the city centre and the beating heart of the Piccadilly district.

Nightlife

78 – 83

Snapshot: Haigh Hall Previously the home of the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, Haigh Hall in Wigan is a listed building dating back to 1850 and is one of the finest stately homes in the country.

68 – 71

All you need to know about how to get around the city on public transport.

91 – 91

City centre map All you need to know about how to get around the city on public transport.

92 – 92

The last word

Manchester Voice: Sam Youd The head gardener at Tatton Park - one of the UK’s most complete historic estates – tells us about his dream job.

Our emergency guide to where to go for a great night out - whatever day of the week you arrive in the city.

66 – 67

Transport information

Nick Johnson wraps things up.

76 – 77

60 – 65

90 – 90

What’s On: Out of town A selection of the best things to see and do this year outside of the city.

Manchester Airport Manchester’s award-winning airport prides itself on being one of the world’s busiest and friendliest. Full national and international flight listings for 2011 for your reference.

City Status Bolton and Stockport have entered the race to be awarded city status as part of HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Make your own mind up here.

Manchester’s food exports Have you ever heard of the Manchester Egg? You soon will!

Restaurant listings included.

58 – 59

88 – 89

Our guide to some of the smaller visitor attractions hidden across Greater Manchester.

Snapshot: Room Restaurant A glimpse inside Room Restaurant one of the coolest places to see and be seen – and to eat, of course.

Greater Manchester’s hidden gems

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Gateway: Liverpool & Blackpool As the gateway to England’s Northwest, the options for day trips from the city are plentiful. The neighbouring city of Liverpool and the coastal resort of Blackpool are two such options. Here’s a quick guide of what to expect.

Bolton: Land of Palindromes and Pasties Mike Todd defends his home town of Bolton from the words of Freidrich Engels.

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Manchester International Festival The launch event to unveil the Manchester International Festival (MIF) programme has, in just three outings of the festival, become the hottest ticket in the city’s cultural calendar – save for its world premieres themselves, of course.

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In March, the great and the good of Manchester gathered at MOSI – itself a ‘first’ in that it is the home of the world’s first passenger railway station – to hear what the 2011 line-up had to offer.

To recap, for those unfamiliar with MIF, it is as an artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture.

It is the only international festival in the world to be compiled entirely of original, new work and special events and takes place once every two years.

MIF already has some internationally acclaimed shows under its belt, including the Chinese opera Monkey: Journey to the West and the pioneering group show Il Tempo del Postino.

The second outing in 2009 saw events such as It Felt Like A Kiss, an immersive theatre production by Adam Curtis and Felix Barrett with Punchdrunk; JS Bach / Zaha Hadid Architects, a temporary concert hall structure built for the music of Bach; Rufus Wainwright’s debut opera Prima Donna and Marina Abramović Presents, a long durational show curated by the grandmother of performance art.

Concerts have included a stirring collaboration between Elbow and the Hallé and an exclusive show from Kraftwerk with special guest Steve Reich.

MIF 2011 will bring a further 20 world premieres and special events take place across the city. Several contemplate and challenge established ways of thinking and being, which may well be a response to the uncertain times in which we live. Some are also over three years in the making.

Alongside newcomers to the event, MIF 2011 welcomes back a handful of artists from previous festivals with ambitious and exciting new projects.

The festival, meanwhile, remains committed to working with local talent through its MIF Creative programme, which is explained in more detail in our interview with Jen Cleary on page 11.

Over the page is a comprehensive listing of MIF 2011 events. Take a look and plan your very own cultural experience of the summer.

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What’s On: Manchester International Festival

Björk – Biophilia 30 June - 16 July, Campfield Market Hall Björk will be at MIF for a three-week residency and will perform six intimate shows in the striking space of Campfield Market Hall for audiences of 1800. They will be her first UK dates in over three years.

Sinead O'Connor

Alina Ibragimova / The Quay Brothers – Bach, Berio, Biber and Bartók, Béla 1 - 17 July, Chetham's School of Music Within the atmospheric spaces of Chetham’s School of Music, violinist Alina Ibragimova will perform a programme of musically connected works given a beguiling new visual context by legendary filmmakers and stage designers the Quay brothers.

1 - 3 July, Pavilion Theatre Sinéad O’Connor has been making music, rejecting stereotypes and defying expectations for more than a quarter of a century. These three shows will feature the world premiere of new material from her forthcoming record Home.

Rufus Norris, Damon Albarn Doctor Dee

Punchdrunk – The Crash of the Elysium 1 - 17 July, MediaCityUK From Punchdrunk, the creators of MIF’s 2009 smash hit It Felt Like A Kiss, comes their first show specially made for children.

The Crash of the Elysium will take place at Salford Quays and will be an unforgettable theatrical event.

1 - 9 July, The Palace Theatre Doctor Dee is a new work composed by Damon Albarn and directed by Rufus Norris.

It explores ritual and symbolism in this country, past and present, using John Dee – one of England’s greatest but largely forgotten men – as a catalyst.

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Music Boxes FREE 2 - 17 July, MediaCityUK Music Boxes is a musical playground specially designed for children aged 6 months to 7 years. From jamming with fantastical new musical instruments, to opera for the under-twos; from making your own pop video to learning how to play the ukulele, Music Boxes will be 14 days of musical magic.

Lavinia Greenlaw – Audio Obscura FREE 2 - 17 July, Piccadilly Station Located in Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, a place where everyday dramas are constantly acted out, Audio Obscura is an aural version of the camera obscura: a framed and heightened reflection of the passing world.

True Faith 4 - 13 July, Pavilion Theatre

1395 Days without Red + Projections FREE 2 - 17 July, Whitworth Art Gallery This compelling 60 minute film is the first cinematic collaboration by two acclaimed artists from the Balkans, Šejla Kamerić and Anri Sala, with music from Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique arranged and conducted by Ari Benjamin Meyers. It tells the story of ‘Sniper Alley’ in Sarajevo during the siege of the city endured by its citizens for 1,395 days between 1992 and 1996.

True Faith celebrates the work of Manchester’s established and emerging talent. The showcase is comprised of two strands: Close Up interviews and Live gigs.

What’s On: Manchester International Festival

John Gerrard – Infinite Freedom Paul Heaton – The 8th Exercise (near Abadan, Iran) FREE 7 - 9 July 2011 Pavilion Theatre 5 - 17 July, Lincoln Square Sited outdoors in the city centre, John Gerrard’s new piece Infinite Freedom Exercise (near Abadan, Iran) is an infinitely evolving hyper realistic virtual world, played out 24 hours a day.

Sacred Sites FREE

11 Rooms @ MAG FREE 9 - 17 July, Manchester Art Gallery

Paul Heaton has written one of the longest pop songs ever, The 8th, to be premiered at MIF11. It’s a song in eight chapters, a look at the seven deadly sins through a series of scenes taking place in a single neighbourhood, a poor neighbourhood, one where a new, thoroughly modern, sin The 8th is able to insinuate itself into every person’s life.

Curators Klaus Biesenbach and Hans Ulrich Obrist bring together 11 of the most interesting artists creating durational encounters to make new work for MIF. Each will explore the ephemeral aspects of art, focusing on an idea or situation that both establishes and erases itself in the same instance, shaping an unmediated experience for the audience.

The Life & Death of Marina Abramovi

Rickie Lee Jones – Pirates and more

9 - 16 July, The Lowry

10 July, The Bridgewater Hall

The Life and Death of Marina Abramović is a biography of the godmother of performance art, re-imagined by visionary director Robert Wilson. The show features scenes from Abramović’s life and career, from her Serbian childhood to her work as a performance artist.

Rickie Lee Jones, one of popular music’s most compelling storytellers, comes to MIF for a UK exclusive show at the Bridgewater Hall. For this very special evening Rickie Lee Jones will be performing her criticallyacclaimed album Pirates in its entirety, exactly 20 years since its 1981 release, plus songs from across her career.

6 - 10 July, Various Venues Sacred Sites brings together five of the foremost international performers of sacred song and recital for a week of extraordinary events in Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh sites of worship across the city.

Victoria Wood – That Day We Sang 6 - 17 July, Opera House Victoria Wood has written and will direct this new production, inspired by one of Manchester’s most iconic music events - the Manchester School Children’s Choir recording of Nymphs and Shepherds.

Together with a leading cast, That Day We Sang will feature a new Manchester Children’s Choir, formed especially by MIF Creative, for this major new production.

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What’s On: Manchester International Festival

Mark Andre

Snoop Dog – Doggystyle

Vertical Farm FREE

10 July, Martin Harris Centre for Music & Drama

15 July, 02 Apollo

17 July, Albert Square

Snoop Dogg’s debut album Doggystyle is a record that, for many, defines a genre and a decade. This very special show is a unique multimedia experience that brings together the original featured artists to play Doggystyle in its entirety.

With rising global populations putting ever more pressure on farm land, the race is on to find new ways of feeding the world.

Dickson Despommier, originator of the vertical farm concept, kicks off a long term project for MIF.

Andre’s music is complex and thought provoking, bringing together harmonious and discordant sounds to create something new and vital. A protégé of Helmut Lachenmann, Andre is the recipient of numerous awards and this is the first UK performances of work by this remarkable French composer.

Johnny Vegas 11 - 17 July, Pavilion Theatre

Die Walküre + The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan: Hallé/Elder/Bartlett/McBurney 15 - 16 July, The Bridgewater Hall

Johnny Vegas returns to MIF with a new theatre show in the Festival’s own performance space, the Pavilion Theatre.

Johnny’s versatility as a writer/performer means that stand up’s loss is theatre’s gain, and makes for a very exciting addition to the MIF11 line-up.

The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan is a new, dramatic prologue to Die Walküre.

Sir Mark Elder leads the Hallé and three actors in a guide to Richard Wagner’s revolutionary reinvention of the musical language of opera. This will be an illuminating experience for Wagner afficionados and newcomers alike.

Amadou & Mariam – Eclipse

WU LYF

14 - 16 July, New Century Hall

16 July, The Tunnel

Malian musical superstars Amadou & Mariam return to Manchester for five totally unique performances; their first concerts staged entirely in the dark. Eclipse will tell the story of Amadou & Mariam’s life and work together, featuring songs from across their career including the premiere of tracks from their forthcoming album.

Manchester’s own WU LYF play their only UK festival date this summer. For one night only, WU LYF will be stopping traffic on Great Bridgewater Street with their distinct sound of heavy pop.

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What’s On: Festivals

Manchester Day Parade

Manchester Literature Festival

19 June 2011

13 – 23 October 2011

An event to celebrate all things Mancunian, the Manchester Day Parade will this year take the theme of ‘A Voyage of Discovery’.

Over 1,800 people from 90 community and social groups will stage a display of incredible diversity in culture. themanchesterdayparade.co.uk

A celebration of the written word, including discussions, interviews, readings and sneak peaks into the creative process of our favourite authors and poets. Workshops are held to help aspiring young writers, as well as awards to help launch careers of up and comers in the literary world. manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

Manchester Food & Drink Festival October 2011 This festival brings with it a plethora of activities and turns Manchester into a culinary metropolis. With something to suite all tastes and spanning across many venues in the city, it’s an exciting time with many different events and activities to take part in. foodanddrinkfestival.com

24:7 Theatre Festival 21 – 29 July 2011 Showcasing new theatre throughout Manchester, 24:7 aims to bring the freshest talent to the masses and to help launch newcomers into the limelight. It’s a chance to see truly original pieces of theatre and is a sign of the cultural diversity of Manchester.

247theatrefestival.co.uk

Manchester Comedy Festival 17 – 30 October 2011 A week of pure unadulterated comedy, the Manchester Comedy Festival boasts humour by the boatload. With comedy nights galore, including some of Manchester’s finest and more original comedic acts, the festival is sheer hilarity at its finest. manchestercomedyfestival.co.uk

Manchester Jazz Festival 22 – 30 July 2011 Jazz is coming to Manchester once again, spreading across the whole city in many different venues. The festival gives you an opportunity to listen to some of the most original and expressive jazz in the Northwest. manchesterjazz.com

Manchester Science Festival 22 – 30 October 2011 A festival that takes pride in showing the glory of scientific knowledge, with over 200 events, it’s an exciting day out learning about the wonders of science for the whole family.

Events range from interesting talks, comedy routines and exhibitions to workshops where you can get involved. manchestersciencefestival.com

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How did MIF Creative engage the local community at the 2009 festival?

And what can we expect from MIF Creative in 2011?

In 2009 we had four MIF Creative commissions that worked with different community groups and local musicians.

We’ve got four very unique MIF Creative commissions this year. One of them is Sacred Sites, a project we have been working on with five local faith communities across the city to identify some of the world leading exponents of sacred song and recital. These will come to Manchester for some very special performances in sites of worship across the city.

Jeremy Deller’s Procession – one of the headline acts in 2009 - was one of them.

Jeremy worked with 87 different community groups from across Greater Manchester. This included everyone from school children and Big Issue sellers to modified car enthusiasts and carnival queens. It was a real celebration of all the different people who make up life in Greater Manchester.

Another was a project that saw Amadou & Mariam working with the Beating Wing Orchestra - a group of musicians from Manchester, including those from the refugee and asylum seeking communities in the city.

They were given an opportunity to train with, develop and ultimately perform with Amadou & Mariam in the festival in 2009.

Manchester Voices

Jen Cleary Manchester International Festival (MIF) is proud of the opportunities it provides for local people to get involved with the event. One element of this public activity is MIF Creative, which launched in 2009. Here, Jen Cleary, MIF’s head of creative learning, talks to us about the programme and what we can expect from it in 2011.

What is MIF Creative and how does it contribute the festival’s principles of providing world premiere events?

MIF Creative is the Festival’s creative learning programme. It’s a series of commissions that are created by leading UK and international artists in collaboration with local communities.

It is designed to help develop a legacy for the Festival and to give opportunities for local people to work alongside international artists and producers in developing some of the Festival’s commissions.

There was a commission called Something In The Air by the theatre production company, Oily Cart. They worked with young people with complex learning disabilities and special needs to develop a new, beautiful aerial adventure; a collaboration with three local schools.

And finally, there was The Difference Engine

by Walk the Plank and Thingumajig Theatre who worked together to create a new piece for the great indoors which was based on some of the history of maths and science in Manchester.

And can you tell us a little more about the mentoring scheme?

Yes. Alongside those four commissions there were two professional skills development programmes.

The first was giving an opportunity for five emerging producers to be trained and mentored by MIF producers over a period of six months. The second was an international exchange with 20 producers; ten from the North West and ten from other countries, such as Korea, Thailand, Brazil and India.

They all came together during the festival to share knowledge and skills and make new international contacts for people who were working in the city.

In total, across the region, over 2,500 local people engaged with the Festival through MIF Creative projects in 2009.

For example, we’re working with Candi Staton on a very special gospel performance in the New Testament Church of God in Brooks Bar. Other artists include: Anuradha Paudwal, one of the foremost singers of Hindi Bhajans; Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali Ali, one of the leading reciters of the Qur'an from Pakistan; Dya Singh, who will be coming from Australia to perform some brilliant Sikh music; and we also have Mor Karbasi who will be singing Sephardic Jewish hymns in the Manchester Reform Synagogue. Sacred Sites has involved us working closely with the city’s faith communities to find out who they think are the leading exponents of this type of music across the world. I think it will be something that many of our festival-goers won’t have experienced before.

Another MIF Creative commission that we’re absolutely delighted with is one that will see Victoria Wood create a new stage production based on the original Manchester Children’s Choir, which existed in Manchester in 1929.

As part of Victoria’s stage production, she’ll be inviting a choir of about 120 local children from north Manchester to come and perform live on stage in front of a huge audience. It will really give these young people a chance to shine and showcase what they can do.

They’ve been working together since September 2010 on developing their vocal talent, confidence, and getting very excited about their opportunity to come and perform on stage.

What has been your personal highlight from the two previous outings of MIF in 2007 and 2009?

One of the commissions that I will remember forever was Elbow playing with the Hallé at The Bridgewater Hall. The live link to Castlefield Arena gave a real sense of excitement on the night. The audiences in The Bridgewater Hall were interacting with the audience in the arena and it was really exciting and really fun and just beautiful, beautiful music.

For more information about the Manchester International Festival: mif.co.uk

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Snapshot - MediaCityUK

Manchester Voices

CP Lee & Susan Williams From Granada Television to MediaCityUK, Manchester has for many years, supported a vibrant film and TV production base.

Susan Williams works as a location manager for productions filming in Manchester. CP Lee teaches cultural studies at the University of Salford. He is a film historian and well known as a musician, author and broadcaster.

How popular are the older and lesser known films that have been shot in the city?

CP Lee

We’ve started doing coach trips, where we take around 50 people on a tour around classic film sites in Manchester and we also visit the homes of the stars! It’s a great afternoon out which we end with the screening of an old Manchester movie. The last time we did it, it was for ‘Hell is a City’ (1960). We’ve done ‘The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue’ (1974) and we’ve also done ‘Charlie Bubbles’ (1967) which is a fantastic film shot in Old Trafford, Piccadilly and Denton. One film I’ve been trying really hard to get a copy of is ‘The Lovers’ (1971) which has got great stuff of the area that is now the Arndale (shopping centre) and Cross Street before it was all demolished all the little alleyways (which are in Hell is City too). Then of course, there’s the great neglected ‘Mrs Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter’ (1968) with the famous Manchester band Herman’s Hermit’s which has got fantastic panoramas of Manchester from the late sixties.

Manchester used to be known as ‘Jollywood’. What is that?

It’s a giant sign written on the hills overlooking Manchester! It was the name that the locals in Rusholme (South Manchester) gave to the studio they used to have down there. ‘Jollywood’ because they made comedies. They also used to call it the Corn Exchange because the jokes were so bad. It reflected an idea that Manchester created Northern comedies. They used stars like Frank Lanford, Norman Evans, and

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Tessie O ‘Shea. They represented these ideas of ‘Northernness’. John E Blakeley said he was making Northern films for Northern people and they regularly outdrew Hollywood at the box office. They were big, big successes. In a modern area, the idea of Jollywood is still there with successful comedians like Peter Kay and Jason Manford.

They’re still iterating that idea of ‘Eeee, we’re up for a laugh here.’ In terms of filmmaking, Jollywood represents the vision here; we’ve got a solid idea about where we want to go with the moving image.

Do you think the developments at MediaCityUK could see a resurgence of the Jollywood phenomenon. Is it history repeating?

Jollywood on Dickenson Road and MediaCityUK, were and are, both epicentres for the creation of an infrastructure. The infrastructure that emerged in the 1950’s when the Mancunian film studios became the BBC Television studios (the first UK regional studios outside London) was there until 1972 and the people who worked at the studio provided the camera operators, lighting technicians, make-up, wardrobe and continuity... everything from Granada and the BBC came from Dickenson Road. Now we’ve got MediaCityUK which is going to create another infrastructure and it’s for training – not just the people who appear in front of the camera. It creates, enables and enhances the people who make the programs, who make the films and the back room people who we never think about. They’re all drawn into these epicentres. Stuff was being done in Rusholme; stuff’s now being done in Salford. Go there and be part of it.

Which are the most popular locations for filming in Manchester and what have they been used for?

You’re looking at Manchester Town Hall as our jewel in the crown. It’s [interior is] a dead ringer for the Houses of Parliament.

Also the courtyard at the back hasn’t changed since the day that they built it – I don’t think they’ve cleaned it, so that’s often doubled up as Victorian Streets. A lot of the streets around the Northern Quarter: Dale Street, Back Piccadilly and all those areas, have an ability to look like something else.

They either look like old Victorian London or they look like New York.

Susan Williams

Tell us about some of the recent feature films that you’ve worked on...

‘Alfie’ (2004) with Jude Law, when that filmed in the Northern Quarter. That was the film that really started to get big production companies thinking about Manchester as a location. ‘Sherlock Holmes’ (2009) filmed here in the Town Hall and the Northern Quarter. They used 400 extras so that was another boom time for filming in Manchester. In the same year, we also had

‘Looking for Eric’ (2009) with the Eric Cantona. I remember the initial phone call saying that they were coming. We were on hand to help them find the locations and sort out all the permissions with the police and council. It was really interesting the way they went about everything. Ken Loach worked in a very different way from most other directors. He doesn’t want the big Winnebago and hundreds of crew and everything. It was very low key. He came and went and you wouldn’t even know he was there.

Which is your favourite movie that you’ve worked on?

That will probably be Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) which filmed in Manchester in September 2010 - just because of the sheer scale. It was massive and the fact that the city could accommodate it so easily was really impressive. They equated it like having a studio backlot in the middle of a city. It’s a real feather in our cap that we managed to pull it off; all the road closures, getting lots of support from residents and businesses, police, the council... it was all hands on deck.

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Revolution MOSI Manchester’s £9 million science revolution.

“Nine million sounds like a lot and it looks like a lot... the thing is, if you think about it, it’s virtually nothing in the scheme of things”. These are the passionately spoken words of Professor Brian Cox, who opened the Revolution Manchester Gallery at the city’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI).

The famous Manchester scientist, lecturer and TV personality opened the new gallery in January 2011 - the final part of a £9 million redevelopment that has seen a complete transformation of the museum’s Great Western Warehouse.

When Professor Cox says these words, he doesn’t say them lightly. He refers to the fact that Britain generates half of its gross domestic product by something which the government calls ‘knowledge intensive services’.

“That’s half the money in hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of billions of pounds,” says Cox.

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“About 100,000 kids every year come through this museum. Now, how many of those are going to be inspired to become scientists and engineers?”

“If just one of those kids invented something with even a thousandth of the impact of that [Baby: the worlds first computer to have a stored program, invented in Manchester], they will pay off your nine million and they will multiply it; they will put another three noughts on it. At least.”

If there was ever a good reason to visit a museum with your children, surely this is it.

MOSI is a seven-acre, free entry attraction which explores the history of science, industry and innovation, with a particular focus on Manchester’s contribution to the modern world. It has been an integral part of Manchester for over four decades and has been located at its current site since 1983. Its location is apt; the museum is based on the site of the world’s first passenger railway

station, which opened between Manchester and Liverpool in 1830.

Revolution Manchester is the centrepiece of the £9 million redevelopment which also includes a fresh digital presence for the museum, an improved Experiment! gallery an interactive exhibition for children, a new restaurant and catering facilities, coffee and gift shop, learning and conference centres, and a new museum entrance.

“It has been designed with absolutely everybody in mind to get people to interact with science, technology, engineering and maths”, says Tony Hill, director of MOSI. “Even if you’re only slightly curious about those subjects, you must be interested in stories about people, or how planes get off the ground or how the engineering industry changed the world. You can find that all out in the museum”, he adds.

One of the museum’s new focal points is the Revolution gallery’s 50 screen video wall, the largest indoor video wall in the UK. “The video wall is so absolutely stunning and tells some fantastic stories of the connections between all of the innovations that have been conducted through the history of Manchester’s brilliant, innovative past”, says Tony.

He adds, “The key to it is using modern technology to bring to life some really interesting artefacts and items that normally, it would be quite difficult to comprehend what’s going on.”

Visitors to MOSI can interact with exhibits including a binary code game linked to ‘Baby’, and a game based around a model of the 1957 ZETA experiment which demonstrates nuclear fusion.

Other objects and exhibits include the AVRO F aeroplane, built in 1912 by AV Roe and Company in Manchester, one of the world’s first aircraft manufacturers. There is also an opportunity to physically lift a MINI Cooper vehicle and blast a bullet of air at a foil drum.

MOSI champions the history of Manchester and scientific innovation with pride but it is also very proactive in representing the present and questioning the future.

As Professor Cox says, “...we are at the cutting edge here in Manchester. You see that here. One of the exhibits is about CERN [the European Organization for Nuclear Research] in Geneva which is a place where I work. It’s the biggest scientific experiment ever attempted, to recreate the conditions that were present a billionth of second after the Universe began. Who knows what their discoveries are going to mean for everybody’s lives in the future. You never can tell.”

The ambition and curiosity of the scientific community is at the heart of the museum. It explains why 100,000 kids pile through the doors every year and is exactly why you should join them to. You never know what you might find out.

For videos of the Experiment gallery and of Brian Cox launching Revolution Manchester: visitmanchester.com

ORLD 0REMIERE 15 A P R I L – 11 S E P T E M B E R 2 011 Marvel at a magnificent display of historic Harley-Davidson® motorcycles as well as spectacular world-class creations from leading international customisers. A must-see exhibition!

Buy your tickets online* at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or from MOSI on the day of your visit Open daily 10am–5pm (last admission to Customising, Culture & Harley-Davidson is 4pm) MOSI, Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester M3 4FP ©Polar Cycles/Massow

Customising, Culture & Harley-Davidson is a Claridon Group Exhibition at MOSI and is supported by Harley-Davidson UK. MOSI is a Registered Charity No. 518412 | MOSI Enterprises Ltd Company No. 2965671 *order processing fee applies to all tickets bought online.

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Manchester Voices

Pete Waterman OBE Then I remember opening at Heywood – for most people, it didn’t mean anything. For me, I knew that when we sat in that cabin 25 years ago and talked about it, we might as well have talked about going to the moon because it was just about as impossible. So to stand that day on Heywood station and open it, I knew how much work had gone in from the volunteers and also how much the local community had worked at it and local councils. Without them it wouldn’t have worked. Every other railway that we told what we were going to do never believed us.

They just did not believe we could achieve what we have achieved.

You used to work as a volunteer for ELR? How was that experience?

Whilst best known for his success in the music industry, record producer Pete Waterman has another passion – railways. He is the owner of a significant collection of historic and commercial locomotives and rolling stock and is the president of the East Lancashire Railway in Bury, Greater Manchester. Here, Pete tells us about life at the ‘East Lancs’.

What makes the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) unique compared to the other heritage railways that you have visited?

Very early on we realised we had to involve the community. Where other railways just plodded on, in the middle of nowhere, we brought in the local councils, first Bury, then Rossendale, then Rochdale. That enabled us to move quicker and move within the community. I remember opening the first section from Bury to Ramsbottom and then we opened further up the line to Rawtenstall.

I go back to the very beginning here at the East Lancs, when I was a volunteer. I live just outside Warrington so it was easy for me to get to. They were a very small group in those days, they needed somebody to come with a little bit of cash and put some money into buying the first coaches and locomotives.

It was a small band then and we only had a little bit of track but we were ambitious and it was the first railway that I joined that didn’t have a structure or hierarchy.

Everybody had a say and it worked.

The East Lancashire Railway has been used as a filming location, by productions such as Coronation Street and the BBC’s time-travel drama, Life on Mars. Does it please you when it’s used in this way?

Let’s be honest. It’s television, commercials and film that make us our real money. If you get a major film made here or a major TV commercial, they give us good money and that’s much appreciated. It’s cheaper for them because they can’t do it on the national (rail) network. We can do whatever we want; we can lock the railway off and they can take it over and we can cover the safety of it. You walk in here and it’s 1940 if you want it to be 1940. You want it to be 1950?

It’s 1950. We are HG Wells’ time machine.

You used to have a studio in Castlefield, Manchester - did that area also help to encourage your passion for trains?

I understood the significance of being in Castlefield and I understood the historic importance of it. I just loved the church we were based in. It was one of LS Lowry’s favourite places. It had been an auction room. It was lying there and I was in the right place at the right time. It was actually sold to me by the late Tony Wilson (Factory Records, Hacienda). I bought it blind. There was no such thing as the internet in those days, you couldn’t Google it. I remember walking in for the first time and thinking, wow this is just an amazing building. We did love it. Circumstances come up where you have to move on but we had a lot of fun in that church.

As a legend of the UK pop music scene, have you got any anecdotes or lesser known facts about Manchester’s pop music legacy that you can share with us?

Everybody forgets that all the Steps records were mixed in Manchester. They were recorded in London but we all did them down at the church in Deansgate. I moved my pop studios to Manchester because there was an enormous amount of talent up here.

We tapped into it, it was smashing for us. It gave us a different approach, it broadened our base. I only wish I could have stayed doing it but life changes. Manchester’s a city with confidence. I don’t know any other city like that. Go to London, go to Birmingham; they don’t have it. Manchester has this amazing self belief and self confidence. I think it’s awesome. I went out for my birthday into Manchester in January and I walked around as if I’d never been away.

This was like it was a village. It was incredible to walk into a city the size of Manchester and literally between parking and going into the pub, I must have said hello to 70 people!

For more information: eastlancsrailway.org.uk

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Modern History’s Manchester Top 5 With summer very much upon us, the quest to keep the kids entertained is back. Here’s our selection of the top five places to visit in Manchester to enjoy a great family day out.

Experiment is back at MOSI!

People’s History Museum

Stare into the mirror of infinity, spin the turbulence zone, or watch your own skeleton ride a bike. Some of the most amazing facts about science in everyday life are explained in this fascinating interactive science gallery, where you are encouraged to see, hear, feel and smell science in action.

A national museum charting the history of the struggle for equality and democracy in the UK, it's perfectly suited to the radical city of Manchester. With hands-on stuff in every gallery and regular activities for children, the museum is more family friendly than ever.

Portland Basin Museum East Lancashire Railway The beautifully restored steam railway takes you on a captivating journey to discover the region's rich transport heritage, taking in viaducts, historic towns and picturesque villages. There are great places to take the kids to, hop on and off the train to explore the Chocolate Café in Ramsbottom and Fudge Village in Rawtenstall.

Bolton Museum, Aquarium and Archive Put yourself in the picture and get involved in the story of Bolton in the new Bolton Lives Gallery. Highlights include a new interactive computer to show how the spinning mule worked and a 3D film of a meeting between two of the greatest inventors of the industrial revolution; Samuel Crompton and Richard Arkwright.

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Housed within a restored 19th century warehouse, this is a fun and lively place to visit in a peaceful canal side setting with something for all the family! Experience the sights and sounds of a 1920s street, try your hand at steering a canal boat, find out what a donkey stone is and much more! Younger children can play and have fun in the Nuts and Bolts play area.

Show your Discovery Pass at each of these venues to take advantage of money saving offers, plus collect your stamps and you can send off for your free gift of Modern History Greats Top Trumps playing cards.

For more ideas on places to visit and Discovery Pass offers: modernhistory.co.uk/toptrumps

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What’s on: Exhibitions

Family Allowance 26 February - 21 August 2011 The Whitworth Art Gallery Wicked wives, violent sons, monstrous mothers and feeble fathers came together from within the Whitworth's collection to reveal the darker side of family life.

In contrast to our notion of the idyllic family unit, the display presents characters from throughout history, mythology, fairytales and religion, who reflect collective fears about the breakdown of society and the loss of traditional family values. whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

Customising, Culture & Harley-Davidson 15 April - 11 September 2011 MOSI Marvel at a magnificent display of historic Harley-Davidson® motorcycles - including one from every decade of the last century as well as spectacular world-class creations from leading international customisers. With over 30 motorcycles on display, many on show for the first time, Customising, Culture & Harley-Davidson is a must-see exhibition. mosi.org.uk

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War Correspondent: reporting under fire since 1914

Ford Madox Brown: Pre-Raphaelite Pioneer

28 May 2011 - 2 January 2012 Imperial War Museum North

24 September 2011 - 29 January 2012 Manchester Art Gallery

An exhibition dedicated to the people who bring stories from the front lines right into our living rooms. It explores the danger of the trade, as well as their picture, voices and words and how these journalists have helped us understand the true nature of war. This will be the UK’s largest exhibition concerning the coverage of war, making it a monumental experience. north.iwm.org.uk

This show of Ford Madox Brown’s work, 140 pieces, are coming to Manchester, the only place the exhibition will come to in the UK. Brown was integral to the Pre-Raphaelite movement and this collection explores his rejection of the traditional conventions and methods of the time. This is the first major exhibition of Ford Madox Brown’s art since 1964 and it’s not to be missed. manchestergalleries.org

Andy Warhol – Divas 25 June – 25 September 2011 The Lowry A collection of Warhol’s original silk-screens, photography and film are coming to the Lowry. Warhol changed the term diva and influenced the current age of celebrity and this exhibition celebrates his work and the people whom he immortalised through his art. It includes divas such as Marilyn Monroe, Grace Jones and Mick Jagger. thelowry.com

Pretty Baa Lambs, Ford Madox Brown © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Manchester Art Gallery Exhibition highlights

11 Rooms – Group Show 9 July–17 July Leading international artists creating durational encounters have been commissioned by Manchester International Festival to create new work. A world premiere for the city.

Free entry.

11 Rooms is supported by The Granada Foundation.

Commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Manchester Art Gallery and the International Arts Festival RUHRTRIENNALE 2012–1014.

Ford Madox Brown: Pre-Raphaelite Pioneer 24 September 2011–29 January 2012 Tickets £8 /6 concessions/under 18s and Gallery Friends free entry

www.manchestergalleries.org Manchester Art Gallery Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL Tel: 0161 235 8888

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Manchester Voices

Howard Jacobson

Best known for his comedic take on the dilemmas facing Britain’s Jewish community, Manchesterborn novelist Howard Jacobson has described himself as the ‘Jewish Jane Austen’. For his latest work, The Finkler Question, he received the most prestigious award for literature in the English language – the Man Booker Prize.

Tell us about how Manchester has influenced your work?

I’ve written about Manchester with great zest because I was very lucky. I had a very good upbringing for a novelist.

The whole business of living in a Jewish community that wasn’t really a particularly tight Jewish community in a lively part of Manchester – which is itself an extremely lively city gave me, loads.

Even when I don’t write about Manchester, I carry Manchester around with me. I have a Manchester sense of humour. I have a Manchester accent. I have a Manchester way of looking at things. I am very Manchester and my books are permeated with Manchester.

So it provides a great base for a writer?

Yes. There has always been, in Manchester, a feeling that we’re not going to be talked down to by anybody and we’re going to be told how to do it. We are the intellectual

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equals of anybody. We are the artistic, musical and literary equals of anybody. And the city has a strong tradition in all those things. We did it for ourselves.

I was aiming to be in the tradition of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Dickens and George Elliot.

What’s good about Manchester is that it doesn’t make you feel it’s preposterous to think that. It makes you feel ‘don’t be fancy about yourself’, ‘don’t have too grand an idea about your abilities’, but aim as high as you like.

How did it feel to win the Man Booker Prize?

It wasn’t as though I said to myself ‘at last, I’ve got what I deserve’ because I don’t know what I deserve. It’s not for me to say that I should have won it before. But it’s very nice to get that acknowledgement and very nice to be read. I’m now being read all over the world.

And what’s nice is that Manchester people have taken it as a prize for them, as a prize for the Manchester sense of humour. And

Jewish people have done the same. It’s almost as if I’ve done it for my two peoples – the Jews of Manchester and the Mancunians of Manchester. My gift to them. That’s silly in a way and fantastical but it’s also accurate because that’s what’s in my voice. That’s what anyone reading my novels will feel immediately – the place, where it is, the north.

Were there any areas of the city that you are particularly fond of?

There’s a particular part of Manchester I love. It’s that bit around the Central Library and the art gallery. There were one or two book shops which are still there. There’s a little walk around there that hasn’t changed very much – and I always liked it.

Everything came to you in Manchester. You missed out on nothing. It was that little walk off from the library - you could read your books, look at a painting, go to the Free Trade Hall, hear a Bertrand Russell. What else could you want?

What do you think of Manchester as a home to culture?

It’s extraordinary how welcoming Manchester has always been to culture. We had the Hallé orchestra – which was brought to Manchester – as was the whole classical musical scene in the 19th century – by Germans. Manchester said fine, we have a German community here for all sorts of reasons – we will welcome them. They gave us all sorts of debating societies, an appreciation of music.

Fine – we were receptive to that.

Lowry himself, the great Northern, Manchester painter was taught by a French man so you’ve got French influences, you’ve got German influences. I was born in a Jewish community which was absolutely welcomed by Manchester. Jewish people liked being in Manchester. When I go back to Manchester now I find Manchester Jews are very different form Jews elsewhere in the country. They’re at home. Jewishness and Manchester go very well together. I am lucky.

I can reach for either - and each complements the other.

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Years of Manchester Pride In celebration of their 21st anniversary, Manchester Pride asked 21 members of the city’s LGBT community what Manchester Pride meant to them.

Here, we share them with you.

Carl Austin

Andrew Stokes I first attended Manchester Pride fifteen years ago and I’m proud to say that I was involved with the running and delivery of the event from 2002 to 2010. I’m proud of the fact that the event is taken to the heart of the people of Manchester.

I’m also proud of the fact that at its heart, as well as being about celebration, it’s also about fundraising. We live in a society that has come so far in the last two decades, where some significant legislative change has brought about major improvements in our community, but our work is not all done and I hope that Pride’s 21st this year will raise even more significant funds to continue that work.

To me, Pride is all about being able to be true to yourself – you can be who you really are and accepted by everyone around you without having to hide behind any pretence. Funnily enough it’s the one time of the year that all my family gets together. We don’t even manage that at Christmas so what better way to celebrate all diversities within our community as a whole.

Dawn Bradbury Pride for me is that spine-tingling anticipation on the Friday afternoon knowing that the Big Weekend is here and it’s our time to shine on the world stage – for those four days we show how it is possible to live in a totally inclusive community every single day of our lives and still throw the best street party outside of the Rio Carnival!

Adam Zane I have been lucky enough to visit a few Pride events around the world – from London to Los Angeles – and I think Manchester Pride is totally unique. I'm incredibly honored to be a patron of Manchester Pride and I will be there this year, dancing in the streets with my husband and being outrageous and fabulous - just like Pride!

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Jez Dolan The day of the Manchester Pride Parade is absolutely one of the best in the year!

Having been involved with Pride since about 1995, it’s still a complete joy to participate in an incredible celebration of the diversity, visibility and creativity of the LGBT communities of Manchester, and sharing this with the whole of our city. The fact that Pride still continues to raise massive amounts of money for HIV/AIDS and LGBT causes gives us all the more reason to celebrate. Happy 21st Manchester Pride!

Iain Scott As a gay man who has 'travelled' with Pride on its 21-year journey from a small trestle table outside the Rembrandt to its current massive international status, I like to focus on the many positive aspects of what has been achieved. Good luck to us all for Pride 2011!

Laura Hamilton Manchester Pride means celebrating the key role Manchester's LGBT community played in responding to the UK's HIV epidemic, whilst also raising awareness and challenging the stigma that still affects many people living with HIV today.

John Barry The cause behind this world famous event is as important today as it was back in 1991. I am so proud to still be a part of it in this, my 21st year. Happy 21st Manchester Pride!

Jackie Crozier I can't believe that Manchester Pride is 21 years old. It’s amazing how far we’ve come over the years and I'm just so proud to be a part of it. Each year I’m absolutely blown away from the dedicated team of volunteers, the passionate crowd and all the businesses that get involved, everyone loves it. What makes it even more fantastic is that we have raised almost £900,000 since 2003 for local HIV charities and LGBT groups – long may it continue.

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Jonathon Mayor There’s a wonderful moment at the Vigil when I look out on a star-scape of candles thousands of lights in the darkness. You can suddenly see hands and faces where before there was only the night. Faces wet with tears, maybe, faces pained with loss, yes but faces that love, people that accept, care, remember. A family. I love Manchester then.

Jon Atkin Manchester Pride represents the best of what the city has to offer; diversity, community, celebration, fun, inspiration, social responsibility and of course, pride itself.

I have many wonderful memories of the event over the years, some quite emotional (such as the first time the police marched in the parade and the many HIV Vigils) and so I wish Pride a very happy 21st birthday.

Jon Hamilton For me 21 years ago, Pride was a demonstration for our equality - today Manchester Pride is a celebration of our equality! 21 years ago people died of HIV today people live with HIV. Pride in Manchester does make a difference in our community.

Paul Martin Manchester Pride shows the world that LGBT people are proud of who we are, and enables us to celebrate the important contributions we make to society.

Tracey Walsh Manchester Pride is a coming together of a community of like minded people, one big street party, a reunion with open arms to newcomers where fun and atmosphere is always guaranteed; and at the heart of it all, a most worthwhile fundraising cause.

Terry Longden In my opinion, Manchester Pride is the only event of this kind where you feel welcome and part of, no matter where in the world you come from, or what sexuality floats your boat; and the best thing about it is it only gets bigger and better each year! It's no wonder big 'names' gather to be part of this very special annual occasion.

Sarah Bland Manchester Pride is about celebrating how far our gay community has come over the past 21 years and allowing us to be who we are with pride and without prejudice.

Rosie Lugosi Thank you for trying to douse our pride.

For giving us crumbs, for making us grateful.

Thank you for our history. We are writing our own future. Thank you for keeping us on our toes.

Steph Kay Seeing Manchester become one of the most tolerant, welcoming and cohesive city’s in the UK since my first Gay Pride has been a privilege. It has always been the highlight of the year for anyone, like me, who values equality.

Trevor Burchick MBE To me, Manchester Pride is an important annual anchor event, a pillar of community strength and one that sends out a powerful beacon of hope to millions LGBT people all over the world. It’s success helps support the work of many other LGBT groups, makes a valuable difference to our society and it's delivered with pride!

Roberta Jane Upton Manchester Pride means so much to me, as it’s the celebration of the tolerance and acceptance of diversity that this great city has, holds, and cherishes.

That tolerance and warmth allowed me, as an outsider to find and live the life I had been holding back for so long.

Thank you Manchester celebrate with Pride!

Sally Carr Pride is a celebration of years of struggle and oppression of LGBT people and an opportunity to assemble so we can address future struggles as they arise.

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The Bard of Manchester Carol Ann Duffy CBE is the professor of contemporary poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University and also the current poet laureate of the United Kingdom. As part of the Manchester Pride festival in 2010, she penned the poem Vigil in memory of those people who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDS.

VIGIL When you lived, no-one could hold a candle to you.

Tonight, small flames of memory which scald the hands with wax tears yearn to be tongues uttering your name in light.

You burned bright, illuminated right – the vigilance of science, the grace of tolerance; this silence now a deep, warm gathering of breath to blow out guttering words: stigma, ignorance, fear.

Let them know death.

One lit taper touches another, contagious with fire, and darkness glitters; brief flowers each with its own smoke ghost they could be dancing, that close; the living holding candles for the lost.

Carol Ann Duffy, August 2010 Vigil was gifted to GHT by Carol Ann Duffy to mark their 25th anniversary year Š George House Trust

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What’s on: LGBT

Pride Games

Sparkle

World Aids Day

4 – 12 June 2011

8 – 10 July 2011

1 December 2011

This week-long sporting extravaganza includes everything from courses and competitions to events that are just a bit of fun. Professionals and newcomers alike in athletics, dancing, mountain biking, squash, football, running, rugby, swimming, water polo and even sailing come together to compete in a diverse environment. pridegames.org

Sparkle celebrates transgender life and is the biggest event of its kind in the UK. It provides a unique environment where it’s easy to socialise, have a bit of fun and gain support concerning gender issues. The festival is also home ‘Sparkle in the Park’, a small music festival in Sackville Gardens. sparkle.org.uk

Supported by the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, Manchester marks World Aids Day with fundraising efforts and a commemoration in Sackville Gardens at the Beacon of Hope - the only HIV memorial in the UK. worldaidsday.org

Manchester Pride Queer to Stay: 21 Years of Manchester Pride 4 June – 16 October 2011 The Lowry The Lowry presents an exhibition documenting the literal rags to riches story of Manchester Pride, from bring-and-buy stalls outside the Rembrandt Pub to its mammoth modern incarnation that has inspired the LGBT community and changed Manchester. It forefronts the story of how Manchester Pride turned into one of Europe’s largest events of its kind, using film, photography, memorabilia. thelowry.com

19 – 29 August 2011 Manchester Pride will celebrate its 21st anniversary in 2011. Renowned for its Pride Parade, it also delivers a healthy ten day programme of events, including films and exhibitions. This vibrant and colourful festival culminates with its Big Weekend, which is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. manchesterpride.com

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What’s the secret to Manchester Pride’s success?

I think the secret to our success has got to be the fact that the event is held in the heart of the city’s Gay Village. That gives the community a real sense of ownership and is why they support it year in, year out.

The fact that we’re also one of the only pride events in the UK that has consistently raised money for LGBT and HIV groups and projects across the North West £895,000 since 2003 - is another strength in that people know that in attending and buying a ticket they are supporting the community itself.

What can visitors expect from Manchester Pride’s 21st this August?

Manchester Voices

Jackie Crozier In 2010, Attitude magazine named her as one of the UK’s top 40 people to be inspired by. Since joining the team at Manchester Pride in 2005 she has seen the figure the festival has raised for charity etch ever closer to the £1m mark and has collected the UK’s ‘Best Pride Event’ award on no fewer than five occasions. Here, festival director, Jackie Crozier, tells us about the city’s flagship LGBT event.

Yes, this year is our 21st. What started off as a bring and buy sale outside the Rembrandt Pub in 1991 has turned into one of the biggest and best Pride events in Europe.

In terms of what to expect, I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, but I will give you just a couple of examples. We’re working in conjunction with The Lowry to produce Queer to Stay, an exhibition documenting the 21 years of Manchester Pride.

We’ve got one of our patrons, Heather Peace and Bruno Langley (Todd Grimshaw from Coronation Street) doing a musical event on the Sunday before the Big Weekend – which is the same day as the Pink Dog Show. There really is something for everyone.

It’s a chance for us to show not just Manchester and the North West but the whole of the country what the city’s LGBT scene has to offer throughout the year.

If you could choose just one, what would be your personal highlight of all the Pride events and activities that you have overseen?

That’s a really difficult one. There are so many things that I enjoy about Manchester Pride. I’ve been attending as a ‘festival goer’ since 1995 and working as part of the Pride team since 2005.

If you really forced me, I’d have to say the highlight for me has got to be the parade.

You get to go through the streets of the city centre and see the people of Manchester come together to show their support for the gay community.

It’s a fabulous feeling. Whether it’s raining or bright sunshine everyone really gets into the spirit of it. It’s a great way to start the Big Weekend.

Tell us about the charity aspect of the festival. What sort of projects does Manchester Pride support?

Well, last year we raised over £115,000.

That money gets split in different ways. For example, we donate 25% of that money to George House Trust for their Welfare Fund for people who are living with HIV and AIDS. Another 25% goes to the Lesbian & Gay Foundation for their free condom and lube scheme. That ensures that anyone going into Manchester’s gay village can pick up a pack of condom or lube completely free of charge.

The rest of the money is split up between development and community grants. That allows members of the community to apply for individual grants for their own particular group or project. These include organisations from Age Concern to our very own Village Spartans – the city’s gay rugby team. Loads of different community organisations apply for money in what is quite a simple application. It’s great to see the money going back into the community.

How is Manchester Pride supported by the local community?

We’re fortunate to have so many people that want to be involved in Manchester Pride. We have the support of organisations such as Manchester City Council, the Village Business Association and our wonderful event management teams. Every year we recruit a whole host of volunteers that help us out throughout the weekend and it’s great that everyone comes together to support the event and help us to raise as much money as possible for charity.

What next for Manchester Pride?

We want Manchester Pride to continue to be the biggest and best pride event in the UK and to continue raising money for local LGBT and HIV charities. There are so many things that we can continue to move forward.

It’s also important to us that we’re giving people value for money when they buy a Big Weekend ticket. That means we want to have great entertainment and the biggest and best parade event but also that money goes to the groups and projects that need it most.

We’re lucky to have such a fabulous Gay Village in the heart of the city and Manchester in general is such a great place to come. These all contribute to a great Manchester Pride event.

For more information about Manchester Pride, visit: manchesterpride.com

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Find us on facebook 240 STORES 30 EATERIES OVER 60 FASHION RETAILERS 16 HEALTH & BEAUTY BOUTIQUES

manchesterarndale.com

Whatever you’ve got in mind we’ve got inside

iPad: Apple, Shoes: Dune, Jacket: New Look, Bag: Accessorize, Bangles: Monsoon, Top: Jane Norman, Scarf: Next

Right at the city’s heart, Manchester Arndale is the perfect Mancunian mix of popular and cool. It’s where high street favourites Topshop and Next rub shoulders with edgy brands like Superdry, Urban Outfitters and Guess.

Techies will love exploring the Apple and Sony stores, Bose and the quirky gadgets on show at Clas Ohlson.

Eating out is temptingly eclectic too, ranging from leisurely dining at Bella Italia to something spicy at Nando’s and a host of perfect spots for a well-earned coffee. Whatever you’ve got in mind, we’ve got inside at Manchester Arndale.

Telephone: 0161 833 9851 manchesterarndale.com

Snapshot - Armani, The Avenue

Step on Manchester’s secret shopping trail A browse around Manchester’s unique boutiques and designer shops uncovers a hidden treasure trove of gorgeous gifts and stunning souvenirs. Fashion journalist Helen Tither reveals her secret shopping haunts to bring you an insider's guide to spending in the city.

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BOOKS

CERAMICS

Magma

Craft and Design Centre

22 Oldham St, M1 1JN T: +44 (0)161 236 8777

17 Oak Street, M4 5JD T: +44 (0)161 832 4274 craftanddesign.com

So cool you’ll need your thermal undies on to venture inside – Magma is one of those cult stores that has made Manchester’s Northern Quarter the shopping Mecca it is today. Whether you’re browsing the book shelves or peeping at the effortlessly chic types who shop there, it’s more of a style experience than a shopping trip as it’s one of those places that just seems to attract trendsetters and go-getters.

Specialising in beautiful books, with an art and design theme, you could spend hours just flicking through the pages of a particularly trendy tome. Plus, it’s packed with quirky gift ideas for all those people you can never decide what to buy for. And, of course, a few quirky art treasures to take home for yourself.

Don’t be put off by the name of this uber funky craftwear collective. Yes, it sounds a little bit hippy – but it’s actually packed full of some of the city’s hippest young design talent.

The launchpad for many an artistic entrepreneur, it’s brimming with eager young artistic minds, producing handmade and bespoke gifts.

Set in a rather splendid Victorian market building, this centre stocks everything from jewellery, bags and accessories to beautiful paintings and babywear. Check out Lee Page Hanson’s crazily collectible ceramics, or Lily Greenwood’s divine paintings in particular.

Good bookstores are few and far between – this is one you will find yourself making a special trip across town for every time a birthday comes calling.

But it’s not just about shopping – it’s a whole creative experience, with special events and exhibitions galore. And you can get in on the action by attending their Saturday workshops, learning how to make everything from cocktail rings to button jewellery.

Cornerhouse

Teacup

70 Oxford Street, M1 5NH T: +44 (0)161 200 1500 cornerhouse.org

53-55 Thomas Street, M4 1NA T: +44 (0)161 832 3233 teacupandcakes.com

It’s a wonder I ever make a train out of Oxford Road station on time, so distracting is this little slice of book-buying bliss. Culture vultures will already be making a beeline to the Cornerhouse cinema for its world-class schedule of art-house and international films. Just don’t overlook the super little shop on the ground floor while you are there.

If you’re as addicted to afternoon tea as me – bear in mind I once wrote an afternoon tea lover’s guide to Manchester – then this little gem will be at the end of every shopping trip.

Much more than just a souvenir store, this media maniac’s heaven has a constantly updated selection of books on film, music, art – and everything else that makes Manchester great.

Covering everything from critical contemporary art tomes to Manchesterfocused music tales, it’s a cornucopia of creative inspiration. Plus, it’s got some rather cool cards and gifts – handy to know when you’re dashing to see someone on that train.

Slap bang in the middle of the Northern Quarter, it’s an indie chick’s take on a traditional tea room. Featuring all the style and service of years gone by – with added funk factor in the form of super trendy staff and a laid-back vintage vibe. Part café part vintage shop, you can while away the hours of a cup of speciality tea, before browsing their range of retro teaware. With full teasets, teapots and other old-worldy wonders lovingly collected and restored.

I’m not sure you can beat their ‘dippy’ boiled eggs and soldiers followed by a happy few minutes making up your mind what new teacups to buy for a slice of shopping bliss.

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ART Generation Pop Unit E3, City Tower, New York Street, M1 4BD T: +44 (0)161 247 7870 If there’s more fun to be had in an art shop, then I haven’t found it. Doing exactly what its name suggests, this gallery is a hoard of pop art treasures guaranteed to have your hands wandering towards your wallet.

Apparently, the owners specialise in art works that will make your guests stop in their tracks – so there’ll be none of those mass-produced high street prints here.

In fact, the focus is on amazing animation and film-related art, with the gallery authorised by all the major Hollywood studios. And an almost inhumanly dedicated staff who will venture to track down any screen-related treasure you’re seeking – from original Simpsons production cells to limited edition Star Wars memorabilia.

Not to forget their regular silver screen inspired events – from Superhero weekends to special screenings of great cartoonists’ work.

Richard Goodall Gallery High Street and Thomas Street, Manchester T: +44 (0)161 834 3330 richardgoodallgallery.com Spread across two sites, the Richard Goodall galleries are the place Manchester pop royalty has been spotted picking up works to adorn the walls of their mansions.

So, you’re in good company if you snap up one of these contemporary pieces of popular culture inspired artworks.

Specialising in photography, painting, sculpture and prints, there’s a definite rock n roll vibe to these celeb haunt shops.

With uber cool visiting exhibitions and guest appearances by sought-after artists.

The Thomas Street store has a particularly fine range of rock poster art, with amazingly detailed limited prints from a whole A-Z of artists. Guaranteed to please even the pickiest birthday boy on their big day with exhibitions covering the likes of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. While girls will absolutely fall in love with some of the gorgeous gifts, including designer handmade cushions. Even rock stars like a comfy couch you know.

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FOOD Hey Little Cup Cake Little Quay Street, Spinningfields M3 3HF T: +44 (0)161 832 0260 heylittlecupcake.co.uk A little slice of confectionary heaven, this new cupcake shop on the block bakes fresh every morning to cater to the sweet-toothed city types flocking round Spinningfields.

The brainchild of Sarah Wilson, who has made a career break from advertising to baking to set up her dream shop, this little cafe is chocolate box cute. Scour the shelves for your favourite flavours - with nine yummy creations to choose from, plus an ever-more inventive daily special and seasonal collections.

Catering for weddings, parties and other special events, you can even get a batch of specially branded cupcakes as an alternative way to make your company look tasty.

Or you could just indulge yourself by tucking straight into one or two of the buttercream laden confections on the little chair and table outside, for a continental flavour.

And, if you really can't get enough, you can always book in for one of Sarah's must-try baking masterclasses, where she even spills the secret of her special blend of buttercream.

DRINKS

Real Food Market Sam’s Chop House

The Alchemist

Back Pool Fold, M2 1HN T: +44 (0)161 834 3210

3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, M3 3HF T: +44 (0)161 817 2950 thealchemist.uk.com

Clambering down the winding staircase into the cosy basement level bar of Sam's Chop House is like stepping back in time to an era of fine home-cooked cuisine.

A real Victorian gem, with its period detail tiling and polished bar, this place is a snug secret haunt for media types and other wheelers and dealers who have been sneaking in for a post work pint of the inhouse brew for decades.

Soak up the atmosphere in the bar - where a statue of one of their old regulars, LS Lowry has recently been propped up as though enjoying a post painting drink. Or take a table in the restaurant to sample some of their truly delicious takes on local delicacies.

Really, it would be rude not to try the corned beef hash, renowned as one of Manchester's top culinary treats.

It was obvious at the packed launch party that The Alchemist would fast become the hottest new celeb-spotting place to see and be seen in town.

A golden gem of a cocktail bar, it brings a touch of Sex and the City sparkle to the former financial district of Spinningfields.

With both restaurant and bar brimming with after-work socialites every day of the week.

No wonder, as their intriguingly inventive cocktail menu is one of the sharpest in the city. It's not called the Alchemist for nothing as their bar wizards work wonder, combining the strangest sounding ingredients to make mouth-watering signature tipples. Kick the evening off in style with a Lavender and Coconut Daiquiri and work your way up to a Serious Zombie. Just be warned - the clue to that one's strength is in its name.

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester manchestermarkets.com Even city slickers love picking up some fresh farm produce - and it doesn't come any fresher than the gorgeous gourmet offerings at Manchester's Real Food market.

Pitching up every couple of weeks at Piccadilly Gardens, this collection of local producers offers all kinds of home cooked and hand made treats. Many derived from family recipes passed down the generations making a scrumptious alternative to prepackaged supermarket staples.

Browse the stalls of hand-reared pork sausages, fabulous fudges and spicy special family curries. All produce is guaranteed to be seasonally spot on, and brought into the city bang fresh that morning.

Before you spend up, make sure you save some pennies to sample the beautiful home made burgers as you soak up the city atmosphere. Just the refuel you need before getting back to the shops.

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CLOTHES

JEWELLERY

Junk Shop

Pretty Green

Royal Exchange Craft Shop

2 Dale St, M1 1JW T: +44 (0)161 238 8517 junkshopuk.com

81 King Street, M2 4ST. T: +44 (0)845 5392109 prettygreen.com

Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann's Square, M2 7DH. T: +44 (0)161 833 9833 royalexchangetheatre.org.uk

Who knew sustainable living could be so stylish? Spend an hour or so lost in the Narnia-like jungle that is Junk Shop and you're sure to be converted to the Eco chic cause.

Manchester's menfolk have been working the Madchester look for years - so it seems only right that one of their style icons should set up shop back in the city.

This renegade band of recycling fashionistas were winners of the Independent Retailer prize at the Best of Manchester Awards 2010 and it's easy to see why. Even the shop itself is a cunning creation, made from old bits and bobs and bottle tops. The clothes themselves are all made in Manchester, reinvented into couture-like creations from vintage finds by local designers.

The really rather fine fashion offering from Oasis legend Liam Gallagher, Pretty Green is the ultimate label for indie-loving gents looking to grow old a bit disgracefully.

Founded as a temporary boutique at the top of Manchester's premier shopping sector, King Street - where else for rock royalty? - it's already become a must-visit stop for the city's top spenders.

Priding themselves on 'eco-logical' fashion made from 'pre-loved' pieces this collective showcase the best in up and coming design talent. With classes and other crazily cool schemes galore. Plus, they are pioneering a Green Pound, which can be used at other ethical boutiques across town, with proceeds going towards local charitable projects.

Being in fashion has never felt so good.

Take inspiration from the gloweringly cool black and white shots of the stylish singer himself as you try in smartly tailored t-shirts and jackets. Or, take the chance for a spot of people spotting as a never-ending stream of Gallagher lookalikes breeze in. Who knows, you might even see the man himself doing a bit of stock taking.

The world famous Royal Exchange Theatre has always been renowned as a cultural gem, for its ground-breaking productions and vast array of acting talent. Even if you don't book in to see one of their stylish shows, it's well worth a look around the vast former financial exchange - particularly for the stunning selection of gifts in their shop.

Carefully sourced from the finest up and coming design talent, the art and crafts on display make amazing alternative souvenirs for visitors to Manchester. But it's their jewellery, hand-made and individually designed by local artists, that will persuade you into a purchase or two. Take your pick from delicate flower inspired floaty necklaces or edgy contemporary cuffs and bracelets.

Well, you are in a theatre darling - think of it as costume jewellery.

Jenny Jones Royal Exchange Arcade, M2 7EA T: +44 (0)161 839 0102 This treasure trove of all things glittering and gold is one of my favourite fool-proof shopping haunts in the city. Quite simply the first place I dash to for any gift-buying conundrums.

From their really fine range of beautiful vintage gold and diamond pieces, to modern silver pieces, they've literally got something to suit every jewellery taste. The knowledgable sales team have saved my bacon on many an important occasion - from weddings to christenings.

Pandora charm enthusiasts will love their dedicated range - while retro accessory hunters will fall in love with their old fashioned charm bracelets and lockets. Just don't tell too many people - it is my secret present-buying weapon after all.

Image this page: Junk Shop right page: Ran

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SHOES Edwards of Manchester 61 Deansgate, M3 2BW T: +44 (0)161 834 1339 edwardsofmanchester.co.uk When Manchester’s Premier League players kick off their boots for something more stylish, this is where they bring those hardworking tootsies. Follow in their millionaire footsteps to find a timelessly elegant shoe shop – one of the oldest original stores in the city, founded back in 1830.

Set in Manchester’s most stunning shopping precinct, the Victorian steel and glass marvel known as Barton Arcade, this little piece of shoe heaven oozes quality as soon as you walk in. From the expertly trained fitters to the made-to-measure service (beloved of blue and red fashion conscious footballers alike) that will let you pick your own colours, patterns, linings and soles. The emphasis here is on keeping things classic, so expect simple but chic designs. And don’t let the guys have all the fun – many a lunch hour I’ve drifted in off Deansgate to bag a new pair of timeless leather boots. Well, if it’s good enough for those United boys…

Ran 7-8 St. Annes Arcade, M2 7HQ T: +44 (0)161 832 9650 ranshop.co.uk/manchester-store Just as spotless on the style front as Edwards – but catering for a totally different kind of footwear fanatic, Ran is well worth a slow stroll around. Tucked away in a little arcade off St Ann’s Square, this is a shoe lover’s secret treasure.

It might be kitted out like an old boy’s club – with its squishy leather sofas and tiled floors – but its vibe is very much modern day Madchester. With shoe brands such as Fred Perry, Clarks Originals and Converse making it the place to come to get that old Oasis vibe in your shoe closet. Girls, meanwhile, will find it hard to resist, as it stocks a constant stream of every fashionista’s guilty pleasure – the Ugg boot. Priding itself on the pace of its stock turnaround, the best bit about this from a shoe-aholics point of view is there’s always something new to make your feet look fabulous.

ACCESSORIES A Few Fine Things

Vivienne Westwood

7 Oak Street, M4 5JD T: +44 (0)161 832 8400 afewfinethings.co.uk

47 Spring Gardens, King Street, M2 2BG T: +44 (0)161 835 2121 hervia.com

I almost don't want to spill the beans on this amazing little fashion house, hidden away in the Northern Quarter, because then everyone will be sporting their unique range of awesome accessories.

It's only right that the The Queen of British fashion's flagship boutique should be the crowning glory of King Street. Step into the sumptuous surroundings of this decadent designer cocoon and you'll want to try on every finely tailored frock. But spare some time to glance over the right royal range of accessories too. From Queen Viv's trademark tartan bags and purses to cute little patterned scarves and handkerchiefs.

Founded by partners Francesca Salvini and Stuart Randle, A Few Fine Things pride themselves on being a unique kind of modern British bag-makers. With every one of their lovingly crafted bags made in their in-store workshop.

Bag yourself something bespoke by booking in for an appointment to see their gorgeous range of tweeds, leathers and other fine materials. Or pop along to pick up one of their ready made pieces of arm candy. As for the look, it's country chic meets city slicker.

So, you can't go wrong really.

Of course, it you're going to treat yourself to one of her cool couture creations, you really should invest in one of her charming pearl chokers to match. They might be at the more expensive end of the accessories market - but timeless style such as this never fades. And she is Manchester's most famous fashion export, so what souvenir could be more fitting?

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Shopping Listings Afflecks 52 Church St, M4 1PW +44 (0)161 839 0718 afflecks.com

Manchester Arndale Market St, M4 3AQ +44 (0161) 833 9851 manchesterarndale.com

Spa in the City 12a St Anns Sq, M2 7HW +44 (0)161 834 9271 spa-inthecity.co.uk

Bolton Market Ashburner St, Bolton, BL1 1TJ +44 (0)1204 336825 bolton.gov.uk

Manchester Craft and Design Centre 17 Oak St, M4 5JD +44 (0)161 832 4274 craftanddesign.com

The Rock 1 Goodall St, Bury, BL9 0JY +44 (0)161 763 7010 therockbury.com

Harvey Nichols 21 New Cathedral St, M1 1AD +44 (0)161 828 8888 harveynichols.com

Manchester Markets Various locations +44 (0)161 234 1338 manchestermarkets.com

The Trafford Centre Manchester, M17 8AA +44 (0)161 746 777 traffordcentre.co.uk

Hotel Chocolat Manchester Arndale, M4 3AJ +44 (0)161 839 5765 hotelchocolat.co.uk

Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6JA +44 (0)1204 673100 middlebrook-bolton.co.uk

Triangle Shopping Centre Exchange Sq, M4 3TR +44 (0)161 834 8961 trianglemanchester.co.uk

House of Fraser Kendals 60 Deansgate, M60 3AU +44 (0)161 832 3414 houseoffraser.co.uk

Oswaldtwistle Mills Colliers St, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3DE +44 (0)1254 871025 o-mills.co.uk

Nicole Fahri Concessions in Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser and Selfridges nicolefarhi.com

Inner Sanctuary Retreat Ltd 112 High St, M4 1HQ innersanctuaryretreat.com

Selfridges 1 Exchange Sq, M3 1BD +44 (0)800 123 400 selfridges.co.uk

Craft Shop Royal Exchange, St Anns Sq, M2 7DH +44 (0)161 615 6767 royalexchange.org.uk

Lowry Outlet Mall The Quays, M50 3AH +44 (0)161 848 1832 lowryoutletmall.com

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Manchester Voices

Sir Alex Ferguson Football is part of Manchester’s DNA. The passion for which Mancunians embrace the sport is such that it is said there are over 900 teams playing in 74 different leagues across the city.

So when the National Football Museum (NFM) started looking for a new home for the world’s finest collection of football artefacts and archives – Manchester was the natural choice.

Here, football legend Sir Alex Ferguson, vice-president of the NFM, tells us about what the museum will have to offer when it re-opens at Urbis building in Autumn 2011.

The NFM houses a truly international collection. It could be said that it is, in fact, a ‘Global Football Museum’.

How did the museum come about?

The UK is the home of football and the natural place to host the museum of the world’s most popular sport. The passion for football and football history in this country is massive. A great case was made for building the museum at Preston North End given Lancashire’s unique place in the history of the game and to secure the FIFA Collection.

I was honoured to be selected to join the NFM’s initial Hall of Fame in 2002, the year after the museum opened. Going round the galleries with the likes of Sir Bobby, Sir Tom Finney, Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish and the much missed Nat Lofthouse and John Charles was a very special experience.

And what do you think having a Manchester location will add to the museum’s visitor appeal?

I am obviously sad to see the galleries in Preston close, but it is fantastic that NFM is ready to move up to the next level, bringing its fantastic collections to a new and bigger audience. Manchester’s passion for football is known all over the world and the Urbis building will be a wonderful setting.

What would you like to see in the new museum?

I am looking forward to seeing some of the great things previously displayed in Preston, such as the surviving Jules Rimet trophy won

by England in 1966 and Maradona’s shirt from the ‘Hand of God’ game. I understand that there will also be a fantastic new ‘hands on’ gallery that will really bring the game to life for kids.

Do you have a personal favourite item from NFM’s collection?

It would have to be the Spitting Image puppet of Eric Cantona - a magnificent player for Manchester United. The puppet captures his wonderful, unique personality and is also very funny.

Are you looking forward to the museum opening?

I can’t wait to see it and I am proud to be NFM’s vice-president.

For more information about the NFM: nationalfootballmuseum.com

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What’s on: Sport

Two Cities Boat Race

WNBA European Debut

Masters Cup 2011

The Quays May 2011

29 May 2011 MEN Arena

MEN Arena 4 September 2011

Enjoy the magnificent display as the universities of Salford and Manchester battle it out on The Quays in their annual regatta.

Quayside entertainment completes the experience, with face painters, drummers, cheerleaders, a corporate dragon boat race and refreshments throughout the day. twocitiesboatrace.co.uk

As part of the Manchester Basketball Series 2011 – 2013, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) will make its European debut at the MEN Arena this spring. The event will feature the 2010 WNBA finalists the Atlanta Dream v Team GB. men-arena.com

Following the six regional qualifying events that form the Masters Football season taking place earlier in 2011, the Grand Final of the Masters Cup comes to the MEN Arena in September. mastersfootball.com

Barclays Premier League Bupa Great Manchester Run

International cricket Lancashire County Cricket Club

15 May 2011

July & August 2011

The Bupa Great Manchester Run is Britain’s premier 10k and was first staged in 2003.

As thousands of runners take to the course, spectators can enjoy the action on a number of large screens located around the city centre. greatrun.org

Old Trafford plays host to further international fixtures this summer with England v Sri Lanka on 9 July in the 5th NatWest Series One-Day International and England v India on 31 August in the NatWest International Twenty20. lccc.co.uk

BT Paralympic World Cup

IRONMAN UK

23 – 28 May Various locations

Bolton 31 July 2011

The BT Paralympic World Cup was created to provide an annual World Class Multi-Sport Disability Event for elite international athletes, bridging the gap between the four yearly Paralympic Games. btparalympicworldcup.com

IRONMAN UK offers a world class event in the heart of the North West. With a two lap swim in a reservoir, a vigorous bike race and a gruelling run to the finish line, is the ultimate endurance challenge for professionals and people who just like to see how far they can push themselves. ironmanuk.com

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2011 – 2012 season Football is very much part of Manchester’s DNA. The city’s association with ‘the beautiful game’ stretches over 100 years and today there are over 903 teams competing in 74 different leagues across the city. Top flight representation includes Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Manchester United who battle it out each week with their peers in the Barclays Premier League. premierleague.com

THE GREATEST FOOTBALL STORY EVER TOLD Step behind the scenes and experience the legend like never before at the Manchester United Museum & Tour Centre.

For more details, or to book; Call: 0161 868 8000 (option 3) email: toursenquiry@manutd.co.uk or visit: www.manutd.com/museum

Snapshot - Room Restaurant

Manchester’s food exports Centuries old secret recipes, sausages brought over by the Romans, a traditional tart for school dinner and a new twist on a scotch egg. Manchester, and the North West, has a long tradition of local delicacies. Here’s what and where to try...

Black Pudding Black Pudding is a bit like marmite; you either love it or hate it. “At least people talk about it,” says Andrew Holt of the awardwinning Real Lancashire Black Pudding Company. He’s got a point. Everyone knows of its one infamous ingredient – pig’s blood – but did you know that it tastes great with apple or cranberry sauce, and is now being used in recipes such as Black Pudding Lasagne and Mediterranean Black Pudding Burgers. Andrew, with the help of certain celebrity chefs and the resurgence in interest in local produce, might have brought Black Pudding back into vogue but his recipe and methods are traditional. “We’re true to the original 1879 recipe,” he says. “Of course, its

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origins go way back. In Homer’s Odyssey, Greek General Agamemnon was said to have fed his army on blood and onions to keep them strong. This makes sense as blood contains iron, protein and the onions contain a large amount of carbohydrates and sugars. The Romans then took the recipe, placed it into skins and brought the Black to Britain – they were great sausage makers.

Different regions developed their own versions but it was the Bury Black Pudding that took off. In fact during the mid 1800s there was a real upsurge of Puddings being made in Bury, not necessarily by butchers but by people in their front rooms or in tin baths who then went off to market.” To be a true Bury Black Pudding it’s all about the

herbs and spices – a special mix that Andrew keeps secret – combined with the pig’s blood, barley, pork fat, oatmeal and rusk.

Not only is it popular with the more traditional audience, who boil it, slice it down the middle and serve it with mustard, it’s now attracting a younger audience too.

“The other day at Burnley Market – where we sell our Puddings – I overheard a mother asking her young children what they wanted to eat. McDonalds, or Black Pudding. They chose Black Pudding.”

Boddingtons

Eccles Cakes

Hydes

Think of a Manchester beer and chances are you’ll think of Boddingtons, dubbed “Boddies” or “The Cream of Manchester”.

Renowned for its golden colour, full-bodied flavour and smooth texture, Boddingtons Bitter started life at Strangeways Brewery – just north of Manchester city centre – in 1778 and went on to be sold in over 30 countries worldwide. Thomas Caister and Thomas Fry, two grain merchants, founded the brewery at a time when the growth in population and industry (this was the eve of the Industrial Revolution) meant a ready market for locally brewed beer. In 1832 they were joined by Henry Boddington who rose through the ranks, became a partner, and in 1853 bought out the entire business. However it was to be a bitter end for Boddingtons. After being sold in 1989, production was stopped in 2005 and two years later the brewery demolished amid much controversy and opposition.

Don’t let the fact it’s dubbed a ‘squashed fly cake’ put you off. There’s nothing repellent about this puff pastry parcel filled with currents, sugar and spices, and with three distinctive slashes on its top. Locals from Eccles assembled – quite aptly as the town is believed to take its name from the Greek word ecclesia (meaning ‘assembly’) – annually at ‘Wakes’ which combined a service in celebration of the town church with currantcake eating afterwards. Despite both being banned by the Puritans, due to the belief that they had Pagan connections, locals continued to make and eat them in secret. In 1793 the first Eccles Cakes were sold by James Birch at his shop in Eccles town centre – although it is thought that these were based on Mrs Elizabeth Raffald’s recipe published in her cookery book of 1769. Birch’s shop, which once stood on the corner of Vicarage Road and St Mary’s Road (now known as Church Street) is long gone but the popularity of these “sweet patties” remains.

“If it don’t stock Hydes ales, it’s not a proper Manchester pub” so the saying goes. The Manchester-based brewing dynasty began in 1863 when Alfred and Ralph Hyde acquired a small brewing business from their grandfather Thomas Shaw. Passed down to William Hyde, the business moved in 1899 to the Queens Brewery site in Brooks Bar. Williams was also responsible for acquiring a number of pubs, through which he sold his beers, bringing Hydes to the attention of the public and placing them firmly on the map. Today there are more than 80 Hydes pubs across the North West and a whole host of ownbrewed beers and lagers to try, which regularly appear in the Good Beer Guide.

Those with a fondness for the odd pint should take a brewery tour (available Monday-Thursday at 7.30pm, costing £7.50) and taste beers direct from the brewer, or simply head to pubs such as The Jolly Angler (Ducie Street)

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Joseph Holt’s A quality pint at an inexpensive price is the mantra that has meant Joseph Holt’s name is still synonymous with beer over 150 years after he started his Manchester-based brewery. Holt, from Unsworth, worked as a carter at Strangeways Brewery before opening his own small brewery with his wife behind a pub in the city centre. Joseph lent money to new publicans and in return they paid him five per cent interest and sold his beer. In 1860 he bought the current site – just off Cheetham Hill Road – and built a brand new brewery. By the time he handed over the reins of the company to his son Edward, Joseph had established a chain of 20 pubs.

Today there are 127 Holt’s pubs in Greater Manchester. Raise a glass to the great man at 145-year-old The Woodthorpe (Bury Old Road), or The Ape and Apple ( John Dalton Street) where Joseph Holt's Bitter, Joseph Holt's Crystal Cold and Maple Moon are some of the draught and bottled beers on offer. Oh and keep on the lookout for Hogsheads – the largest barrel size, containing 432 pints – Holt’s is one of the only breweries that still supplies its beer this way.

Manchester Egg When it comes to their recipes, most local producers remain tight lipped. Not Ben Holden, creator of the Manchester Egg, the newest addition to Manchester’s foodie map.

“I'm planning on ‘open sourcing’ the recipe,” he says. “I would like it to be a Manchester food that anyone can make and I will be actively encouraging people to do so. It's a 50/50 blend of premium sausage meat and real Lancashire Black Pudding wrapped around a free range pickled egg. Japanese Panko crumb is used for the extra crunch on the outside seasoned with celery salt, black pepper and paprika. There are a few other secret ingredients which I won’t give away just now.” Inspiration struck while in the Castle Hotel on Oldham Street where pickled eggs and scotch eggs were on the menu. “I wondered what would happen if you put a pickled egg inside a scotch egg,” explains Ben. “That evening I went home and produced the first batch of Manchester Eggs.

It's not been made by a big company with commercial aspirations so people have really taken it to heart. Everyone loves a scotch egg, and having a variation in the name of Manchester has really caught the imagination of the city.” If you want one you’ll need to be quick as batches of the eggs sell out fast from retailers The Castle Hotel (Oldham Street), Elecktrik (Wilbraham Road, Chorlton) and The Parlour (Beech Road, Chorlton).

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Manchester Tart First featured in Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, Manchester Tart is thought to be a development of the Manchester Pudding (breadcrumbs, milk, sugar, eggs, damson jam and lemon juice).

Many remember the set custard slices on a pastry base with a hidden layer of jam as a school dinner staple of the 1940s and 50s.

“The custard was made with Birds Custard powder sprinkled with desiccated coconut,” says John Slattery, master baker at renowned Patissier and Chocolatier, Slattery’s in Whitefield. “What makes our Manchester Tart special is that we make a real custard with fresh eggs and full cream milk.” And has its school dinner status put people off? Not according to John. “I think it’s a link with years gone by, you know the smell of home baking and mum’s favourite puds.”

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls Wednesday 16 February 2011 was a big day for William Santus & Co who produce Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls. At 1.21pm the two billionth mint ball rolled off the production line at the original Wigan factory founded by William

Santus 110 years ago. “The story goes William Santus and his wife Ellen had some great friends known as the Attys,” explains Anita Taulty at William Santus & Co. “They were a family of established confectioners and it was most likely they who taught Ellen Seddon the skilful art of making toffee. There was a member of the Atty family named Joe and this is possibly where the name Uncle Joe comes from. Also, Joe was a very friendly, familiar name that gave comfort.”

Certainly they once brought comfort to miners, not only because they couldn’t smoke but also because the combined action of sucking and the peppermint flavour would keep their lungs free of dust. The sweets are still sold at Wigan Market, as they once were on William Santus’ market stall, but are also sold in top stores such as Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Bloomingdales in New York.

Despite this, only 25 people currently work in the factory and each sweet is made by hand. Cane sugar, oil of peppermint and cream of tartar are all key ingredients but good luck trying to get the rest of secret recipe. “It has been passed down through the generations and is now known only by John and Antony Winnard, the great, great nephews of William Santus.”

cause anyone any trouble’.” This ‘little Bolton bakery’ started life in 1870 as a small grocery shop (which you can still see on Blackburn Road) owned by Thomas Warburton and his wife Ellen. Six years after opening, during a slump in the grocery trade, Ellen decided to concentrate on baking bread, business boomed and the shop was renamed ‘Warburtons the Bakers’.

Today, this family-owned business – which has bakeries throughout the UK, although its headquarters remains opposite the original shop – is the UK’s third biggest bread manufacturer and produces one million bakery products per day. Get your hands on top products including the Milk Roll, which hit shelves in 1965, and the Toastie, which saw off 32 rivals to win the Bread World Cup in 2006.

Best of the Rest

Vimto Did you know there are 20 Facebook sites dedicated to Vimto? It would seem that we just can’t get enough of this seriously mixed up fruit (a blend of grape, blackcurrant and raspberry juice with a mysterious mix of 23 fruit essences, herbs and spices). The formula of Vimto hasn’t changed in over a century and like most national treasures the full recipe is a long kept and closely guarded family secret. Invented by ( John) Noel Nichols – born and bred in Blackburn – Vimto’s unique taste was created in a wooden barrel in his warehouse in 1908.

Business opened at 49 Granby Row in Manchester (an oak sculpture now marks this historic spot) and Nichols’ original

intention was for the drink to be a tonic, giving those that chose to “shlurple the purple” vim and vigour. Known as vim-tonic, it was shortened to Vimto in 1912 and today, still, dilute and carbonated versions are sold in over 40 countries worldwide.

Warburtons Just how has Warburtons gone from a local Lancashire outlet to a brand that now outsells rivals such as Hovis and Kingsmill?

According to Jonathan Warburton (the fifth and current generation of the Warburton family) it’s all about "a sort of flat-cap and whippet routine”. “We've gone out and said, ‘Ooh, don't worry about us, we're just a little Bolton bakery – we’re really not going to

Barm Cakes: Bread rolls, or baps. The word barm refers to the froth that forms on top of liquid that contains yeast which was used to leaven the bread. Breakfast Barms and Chips Barms are popular.

Hollands Pies: Originating in a shop in Haslingden, a small town in Rossendale, Lancashire, Holland’s Pies have been sold since 1851. Meat and potato pie (stewed shin beef with onions, gravy and potato in shortcrust pastry) is one of the most popular varieties.

JW Lees: Independent brewery brewing in Manchester since 1828. Core brands are bitter, lager and cask ales, including the Coronation Street ale which is as “smooth, full bodied and full of twists and turns as in the UK's original soap”.

Lancashire Hot Pot: A simple meat stew slow cooked and named after the straight-sided brown dish in which it was cooked – the ‘hotpot’. Best served with pickled cabbage.

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Restaurant Listings From award-winning restaurants to cosmopolitan cafes, there’s no shortage of good food and drink in Manchester. Here’s a selection of the best places to eat and drink in the city.

Linen – Manchester235 The Great Northern, Watson St, M3 4LP +44 (0) 161 832 3927 manchester235.com

Second Floor Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie 21 New Cathedral St, M1 1AD +44 (0) 161 828 8898 harveynichols.com

Mark Addy Stanley Street, M3 5EJ +44 (0) 161 832 4080 markaddy.co.uk

Slattery Patissier & Chocolatier 197 Bury New Rd, Whitefield +44 (0) 161 767 7761 slattery.co.uk

Market Restaurant 104 High Street, M4 1HQ +44 (0) 161 834 3743 market-restaurant.com

Mr Thomas's Chop House 52 Cross St, M2 7AR +44 (0) 161 832 2245 tomschophouse.com

British

Ramsons Restaurant 18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, BL0 9HT +44 (0) 1706 825070 ramsons-restaurant.com

Tiger Tiger The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, M4 2BS +44 (0) 161 385 8086 tigertiger-manch.co.uk

The Alderley Restaurant & Bar Alderley Edge, SK9 7BJ +44 (0) 1625 583033 alderleyedgehotel.com

Redhouse Farmshop & Tea Rooms Red House Farm, Dunham Massey, WA14 5RL +44 (0) 161 941 3480 redhousefarm.co.uk

Velvet 2 Canal St, Manchester, M1 3HE +44 (0) 161 236 9003 velvetmanchester.com

Baa Bar Deansgate Locks, M1 5LH +44 (0) 161 832 4446 barrbar.co.uk

Restaurant Bar & Grill 14 John Dalton St, M2 6JR +44 (0) 161 839 1999 therestaurantbarandgrill.co.uk

Waxy O’Connors The Printworks 27 Withy Grove, M4 2BS +44 (0) 161 835 1210 waxyoconnors.co.uk

Brodsky Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Rd, M13 9RD +44 (0) 161 907 5200

Room Manchester 81 King Street, M2 4AH +44 (0) 161 839 2005 roomrestaurants.com

Grill on the Alley 5 Ridgefield, Deansgate, M2 6EG +44 (0) 161 833 3465 blackhousegrills.com

The Round The Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, M2 7DH +44 (0) 161 615 6666

Left Bank Cafe Bar Bridge Street, M3 3ER +44 (0) 161 834 4876

Sam's Chop House Chapel Walks, M2 1HN +44 (0) 161 834 3210 samschophouse.com

American Hard Rock Café Exchange Sq, M4 2BS +44 (0) 161 831 6700 hardrock.com Old Orleans The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, M4 2BS +44 (0) 161 839 4430 oldorleans.com Simple Bar & Restaurant G20 – 21 Smithfield Buildings, M4 1LA +44 (0) 870 757 1996 simplebar.co.uk

Zest Fine Food 877 - 879 Moss Ban Way, Bolton +44 (0) 1204 492600 zestfinefood.co.uk

Brazilian Bem Brasil Deansgate King Street West, M3 2GQ +44 (0) 161 839 2525 bembrasilrestaurants.com Bem Brasil Northern Quarter 58 Lever St +44 (0) 161 923 6888 bembrasilrestaurants.com

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Cantonese

Italian

Japanese

Yang Sing 34 Princess St, M1 4JY +44 (0) 161 236 2200 yang-sing.com

The Olive Press 4 Lloyd St, M2 5AB +44 (0) 161 832 9090 heathcotes.co.uk/olivepress

Sapporo Teppanyaki 91 - 93 Liverpool Rd, M3 4JN +44 (0) 161 831 9888 sapporo.co.uk

Chinese Oceans Tr235ure The Great Northern, Watson St, M3 4LP +44 (0) 161 832 3927 manchester235.com

East Asian Tampopo 16 Albert Sq, M2 3PF +44 (0) 161 861 8862 tampopo.co.uk

European Northern Quarter Restaurant and Bar 108 High St, M4 1HQ +44 (0) 161 832 7115 tnq.co.uk Taurus 1 Canal St, M1 3HE +44 (0) 161 236 4593 taurus-bar.co.uk

PizzaExpress South King St, Old Colony House, M2 6DQ +44 (0)161 834 0145 pizzaexpress.co.uk PizzaExpress Peter St, M2 3NQ +44 (0)161 839 9300 pizzaexpress.co.uk PizzaExpress The Triangle, Exchange Sq, M4 3TR +44 (0)161 834 6130 pizzaexpress.co.uk PizzaExpress Piccadilly Gardens, M1 1RG +44 (0)161 237 1811 pizzaexpress.co.uk PizzaExpress Oxford St, St James Building, M1 6FQ +44 (0)161 228 6665 pizzaexpress.co.uk Stock The Stock Exchange, 4 Norfolk St, M2 1DW +44 (0) 161 839 6644 stockrestaurant.co.uk

South American Las Iguanas The Trafford Centre, Trafford, M17 8AA +44 (0) 161 747 6119 iguanas.co.uk

Thai Chaophraya Chapel Walks, M2 1HN +44 (0) 161 832 8342 chaophraya.co.uk Ning 92-94 Oldham St, M4 1LJ +44 (0) 161 238 9088 ningcatering.com

Turkish CafĂŠ Istanbul 79 - 81 Bridge St, M3 2RH +44 (0) 161 833 9942 cafeistanbul.co.uk

Indian Zaika 2 Watson St, Great Northern Tower, Manchester, M3 4EE +44 (0) 161 839 5111 zaika-manchester.com

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Snapshot Victorian Fair, Piccadilly Gardens

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Get the party started We’ve all been there - even the most seasoned traveller of us.

The euphoria of securing that near impossible low cost fare – be it by coach, rail or air – is dampened somewhat when you realise you arrive at your destination at the most unsociable of hours.

If it’s of the very early morning variety - and by that we mean your arrival coincides with the milkman - accept defeat and try to catch a couple of hours sleep at the hotel.

If, however, you touchdown in the city on the more respectable side of midnight – ditch your bags at the hotel and hit the ground running.

But where’s the best place to go on a Tuesday at 9pm, or, even trickier, a Sunday night at 11pm? Fear not, on the following pages we’ve pulled together a guide of what’s on across the city every single night of the week, every week. Job done!

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Monday

Popsicle @ Queer

Trannyoke Tuesday @ Queer

4 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE +44 (0)161 228 1360 queer-manchester.com

4 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HE +44 (0)161 228 1360 queer-manchester.com

HIT&RUN @ Mint Lounge

Promising pop music, amazing drink deal and delicious cocktails, what else do you need for a great Monday night out in the village!

If you want transgender cabaret, karaoke and pop anthems with the added bonus of cheap drinks on a Tuesday, look no further!

46-50 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE +44 (0)161 228 1495 hitandrunuk.com mintlounge.com HIT&RUN makes Monday feel like a Friday. It’s all about variety, all forms of drum and bass, hiphop and dubstep are celebrated. Pair this with a thriving community of punters and it’s truly a one of a kind night out.

Tuesday

Quiz night @ Cornerhouse

+44 (0)843 208 0500 manchesterghostwalk.co.uk

70 Oxford St, Manchester, M1 5NH +44 (0)161 228 7621 cornerhouse.org The Cornerhouse brings us a quiz we can all enjoy, where every team wins a prize! Free entry, drink promotions and cheap pizza. A chilled out quiz for everything film related.

Beat the Frog @ Frog and Bucket 102 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LJ +44 (0)161 236 9805 frogandbucket.com A comedy night at the Frog and Bucket, anyone can join in and have their five minutes of fame or shame.

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Flecky Bennett’s Ghost Walking Tour

Come and experience one of Manchester’s most chilling spectacles. Every week Flecky takes groups on a weird and wonderful tour brimming with character, thrilling stories and terrifying moments.

Popstatic @ Club Alter Ego 105-107 Princess St, Manchester, M1 6DD +44 (0)161 236 9266 poptastic.co.uk One of the gay villages most popular nights, drop in for cheap drinks and the one and only Mr Poptastic himself, John Hamilton!

Missionary @ FAC251 112-118 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7EN +44 (0)161 272 7251 factorymanchester.com Three floors each delivering a massive mix of genres to make it a night for just about anybody.

Wednesday

Now Wave @ Deaf Institute

Toss the Boss @ Odder bar

135 Grosvenor St, Manchester, M1 7HE +44 (0)161 276 9350 thedeafinstitute.co.uk

14 Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 5QA +44 (0)161 238 9132 oddbar.co.uk

Stand up Wednesday @ Comedy Store

Dedicated to playing strictly the newest tunes, Now Wave is one of the biggest alternative nights in Manchester.

With drink offers starting at £1 and a varied mix of music, ranging from indie, to electro, 80’s and 60’s tunes. It’s a night not to be missed!

Thursday

The Murkage Club @ South Nightclub

4 Whitworth St West, Manchester, M1 5LH +44 (0)161 839 9595 thecomedystore.co.uk Experience hilarious comedy every Wednesday!

With a forever changing roster of comedians it’s sure to tickle everyone’s funny bone.

Quizimodo @ Oddbar 30-32 Thomas St, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1ER +44 (0)161 833 0070 oddbar.co.uk A zany weekly quiz at Oddbar, promising a prize for everyone!

Cool As Folk @ Odder bar 14 Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 5QA +44 (0)161 238 9132 odderbar.co.uk A night that will surely satisfy all your nu-folk, indie-folk & folkronica needs!

4A South King St, Manchester, M2 6DQ

Screenfields spinningfieldsonline.net Catch a huge variety of different films, all for free at Spinningfields incredible outdoor cinema!

Murkage combines an amazing amount of electronic genres into one out of this world night. Including dubstep, house, hip-hop, electro, drum and bass, punk, jungle, garage and grime!

Salsa de Cuba @ Matt & Phreds 85 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LW +44 (0)161 831 7002 mattandphreds.com Come experience the joys of salsa in a relaxed environment! You can just drop in and learn at your own pace as it’s not a structured course.

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Friday Special FX @ The Royal Exchange Theatre St Anns Square, Manchester, M2 7DH +44 (0)161 833 9333 royalexchangetheatre.org.uk Special FX is a night of fantastic entertainment, from free running to Indo-jazz music, from comedy to world dance.

Northern funk @ One Central Street 1 Central Street, Manchester, M2 5WR +44 (0)161 211 9000 onecentralstreet.co.uk The best in funk at one of Manchester’s most glamorous venues.

Spoti-Fridays @ Deaf Institute 135 Grosvenor St, Manchester, M1 7HE +44 (0)161 276 9350 thedeafinstitute.co.uk/ Be in control of what you listen, Spoti-Fridays put you in control of the music they spin. An excellent music-taste is rewarded with free sambuca shots if you pick an amazing song.

The Big Night Out @ Birdcage Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 3AQ +44 (0)845 603 6950 birdcagelive.com Vegas style drag cabaret shows every 40 minutes, with tunes from the latest hits to 80’s and 90’s classics. Birdcage is home to glamorous, flamboyant drag acts that will make it a Friday night to remember.

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Saturday

Sunday

Smile @ Star and Garter

Stonelove @ Fac251

Rapture @ The Purple Pussycat

18-20 Fairfield St, Manchester M1 2QF +44 (0)161 273 6726 starandgarter.co.uk

112-118 Princess St, Manchester, M1 7EN +44 (0)161 272 7251

194 Backbridge St, Manchester, M3 2PB +44 (0)161 834 5111 purplepussycat.co.uk

Smile is one of Manchester’s longest running indie nights, and held in the historic Star and Garter it’s a true classic Manchester experience.

Stonelove bring three rooms of indie, funk and electronica to the table creating a definitive Manchester night.

Check out Manchester’s cheeky electro orientated disco.

Funkademia @ Mint Lounge

One Big Night Out @ Pure

46-50 Oldham St, Manchester, M4 1LE +44 (0)161 228 1495 mintlounge.com

The Printworks, 27 Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS +44 (0)161 819 7770 pure.co.uk/manchester

Prepare yourself for a night of soul-funk, good people and an amazing atmosphere at Manchester’s longest running club night.

Pure is one of Manchester’s biggest and most famous clubs. Known for playing dance, chart and club classics.

SundayNight SCREAMERS @ Cruz 101 101 Princess St, Manchester, M1 6DD +44 (0)161 950 0101 With “Scream as much as you like” as a motto and an edgy pop and funky house mash-up of tunes, it’s one of the best ways to spend the day of rest!

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Snapshot - Haigh Hall, Wigan

Bolton: Land of Palindromes and Pasties Bolton. The name is almost comedic shorthand for a certain vision of the industrial North. The town has often suffered from the type of lazy stereotypes that Stuart Maconie deconstructs in his brilliant Pies and Prejudice book.

Going back to the days of Monty Python, it was always a favourite fallback reference, with its most iconic appearance being in the Dead Parrot sketch: “The palindrome of "Bolton" would be "Notlob"! It don't work!!”...

That’s not to say that Bolton’s history is all village fetes and ginger beer. Far from it.

Freidrich Engels, who wrote the Communist Manifesto with Marx, spent a lot of time being nosey and documenting the condition of the working classes in England in the 1800s. There’s a quote of his that always stuck with me when describing my home town: “Bolton is a dilapidated hole, unfit for human habitation.”

Oh yeah? Well screw you buddy! I’d never even heard of Wuppertal until I looked up where you were from on Wikipedia...

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You say you want a revolution...

For those unfamiliar with the area, Bolton is an industrial town. There’s no getting round it. It was as much a part of the revolution that swept through 18th and 19th Century England as neighbouring Manchester. It’s economic and social history is intertwined with the surrounding conurbations that once formed the workshop of the world. But Bolton has always retained and asserted its own distinct identity.

The central part of the town is a place that oozes civic pride. The area plays host to an Annual Victorian Fair, which evokes the period of Bolton’s industrial hey day that gave birth to its grandest buildings. In fact the Town Hall was officially opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

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Bolton’s industrial heritage credentials need little introduction. It’s the birthplace of inventor Samuel Crompton and you can still visit his home at Hall i’ th’ Wood (that’s Hall in the Wood) and see a working model of his famous spinning mule. Richard Arkwright began his professional career in the town and William Hesketh Lever, founder of Lever Brothers, now Unilever, was a Boltonian who also served as the town’s mayor. All left an incredible mark on the nations’ economic history.

public. In another trans-atlantic connection you can also find out about the town’s link with iconic American poet Walt Whitman.

Despite the impression Bolton left on Engels during the era of its booming textile mills, and the undoubted social problems of the time, the town is very proud of its industrial heritage. No-one better personifies this than the late, great Bolton legend Fred Dibnah, who now has his own statue near Victoria Square.

The one and only Wanderers...

You only need to walk through the town centre, with its impressive architecture and the mock-Regency sweep of Le Mans Crescent, to see the town’s bullish industrial confidence – and understand why Bolton has caught the eye of more than a few film and television producers.

It’s here where you’ll find the recently revamped Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, which is well worth the trip. Not just to get a better idea of the place and its people but also to discover a few hidden gems. The museum has an excellent Egyptology section and the paintings of Thomas Moran, which the gallery owns, are of particular interest.

Moran was himself a Boltonian who later emigrated to the United States. His epic landscape paintings are credited with selling the idea of the American West to the US

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However, while it may have been industry that put the market town of Bolton le moors, as it was known in Norman times, on the map, the story doesn’t end there. It is in other endeavours that the town has influenced the world in the 20th century.

We could start with sport.

The town has a sporting pedigree to be proud of. As any Wanderers fan will tell you, unlike its more illustrious Manchester neighbours, BWFC have the unique historical distinction of being one of the twelve founders of the football league. And the recent funeral of the great Nat Lofthouse was a poignant reminder of the way in which football is an essential part of the fabric of the town.

One of L.S. Lowry’s most celebrated paintings ‘Going to the Match’, which was bought for £2m by the Professional Footballer’s Association in the late 90s, is of Bolton’s original ground Burnden Park.

And if visitors to the region wanted to sample a real Premiership football match, they could do a lot worse than attend a game at the club’s new Reebok Stadium. Among the first of the ‘new age’ football stadiums the Reebok is so-named because of sponsorship by the international sporting brand. Why, you might ask? Well, Reebok was actually begun by a certain J.W. Foster in 1895 in, you guessed it, Bolton.

The much vaunted Spirit of Sport sculpture just outside the Reebok is a reminder of the town’s affection for all things sporting. On the sculpture, household names share the limelight with community legends.

In terms of contemporary icons, there are few sporting ambassadors who are so closely associated with their hometown as Amir Khan is with Bolton. And the boxing champion owns and operates his own gym there. Khan’s affection for the town of his birth says a lot about the connection a lot of Boltonians feel to where they’re from and their relationship to its culture.

And t’Oscar goes to...

Certainly in terms of cultural expression and output, given its relative size and its industrial past, Bolton, to use a boxing metaphor, definitely punches above its weight. Bolton’s continuing evolution is part of a story of a more enigmatic post-industrial North of independent thought, of distinctive creativity, with its own authentic cultural voice.

Many people are familiar with the wellestablished crop of mainstream Bolton personalities such as Peter Kay, Paddy Mcguiness, Sarah Cox and others but the likes of Oscar nominated Sir Ian Mckellen and Oscar winning Danny Boyle both were schooled there.

You may think that for a place like Bolton that would be enough Oscar connections but no...the legendary Robert Shaw, who is best remembered for his grizzled portrayal of the Shark hunter Quint in Jaws, was also Oscar nominated for his role as Henry VIII in a Man for All Seasons. He’s from the town. And acclaimed Bolton novelist and screenwriter Bill Naughton was Oscar nominated for his screenplay adaptation of his own stage play – Alfie.

In fact for those who really want to understand Bolton’s industrial past, Naughton’s work, particularly his children’s stories, are some of the most evocative portrayals of Bolton’s industrial heyday.

Naughton’s archive is held at the Bolton Museum and Gallery and the writer is also honoured with a theatre named after him at Bolton’s Octagon.

The Bolton Octagon is still a producing theatre and is widely recognised as one of the top regional theatres in the country.

Its current director David Thacker has won extensive critical acclaim for his productions and the Guardian recently highlighted its ‘excellent’ work. Other notable Bolton dramatists include the playwright Jim Cartwright who is best known for ‘Little Voice’.

In terms of influential creatives from other disciplines to have emerged in recent decades there’s writer Monica Ali, author of Brick Lane and contemporary musicians such as Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy) and Cherry Ghost (Simon Aldred). And should you be so inclined, if you ignore the boundary changes of 1972, Bolton can also claim the Happy Mondays!

Pasties and prejudice...

Stuart Maconie, although a Wiganer (the best thing to come out of Wigan since the A58 to Bolton according to Peter Kay), might have named his book on the North of England

Image this page Bolton Town Hall, left page Smithill’s Hall

And finally...

‘Pies and Prejudice’ but in Bolton, pies are not really the thing – it’s pasties. And not Cornish pasties either.

Then you must visit Smithill’s Hall, one of the best preserved Manor Houses in the North, set in more than 2,000 acres of grounds and a previous winner of Small Visitor Attraction of the year in the Manchester Tourism Awards.

I could go on but I’m starting to run out of space...did I mention Sir Harry Kroto Bolton’s Nobel Prize winning scientist...the breathtaking scenery around Winter Hill...

Ye Olde Man and Scythe one of the country’s oldest pubs...just visit for crying out loud!

If you happen to be in town during lunchtime, join the queue for Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe on Churchgate. It’s easy to spot as it always extends well into the street. Or, for a more ‘branded’ pastie experience, check out the on-site shop at Carr’s. Carr’s are definitely the heavyweight pastie producers in the town – and a firm local favourite.

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Greater Manchester’s Hidden Gems Manchester has some of the UK’s finest museums and art galleries. These include the national collections of the Imperial War Museum North and the People’s History Museum, which will be joined by the end of 2011 with the National Football Museum at Urbis. Less known, however, are the hidden gems across Greater Manchester that are equally impressive. Here’s our pick of the best.

Bury Transport Museum

Ordsall Hall

Red House Farm

Bury Transport Museum offers interactive exhibits that explain the development of transport in the North West. It also outlines how the Goods Warehouse in which it is housed was used and the types of materials that would have been handled here.

Ordsall Hall dates back over 820 years.

Throughout history it has been put to many uses - a family home, working men's club and church hall. The most important period of its life is undoubtedly as the family seat of the Radclyffe family who resided here for over 300 of those years.

Set in the heart of the rural Cheshire village of Dunham Massey, Red House Farm has been under the direction of the Clare family for over 100 years. Though the farm has taken on many guises through the years, it has steadily developed into the thriving farm shop, tea rooms and tourist attraction.

Legend has evolved that Ordsall Hall was the location for Guy Fawkes and Robert Catesby to plot the overthrow of King James in what was to become the famous Gunpowder Plot.

Such has this legend gained credibility that the street directly adjacent to the hall has been named 'Guy Fawkes Street'. Ordsall Hall re-opens on 15 May after a £6.5m Heritage Lottery Fund restoration project. visitsalford.info/ordsallhall

A variety of activities take place throughout the year, the bedrock of which is the annual Maize Maze. Running from mid-July to early September, the event attracts thousands of visitors every year ready to take on the challenge of the maze, as well as enjoying the plethora of courtyard activities. Other events include periodic farmers markets, and seasonal activities at Easter, Halloween and Christmas. redhousefarm.co.uk

The museum is geared towards a family audience and there are various events that take place throughout the year. The area in front of the museum building is used as an exhibition space for vehicles of the collection and visitors can get up close to see them in action. eastlancsrailway.org.uk/ bury-transport-museum

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Hartshead Pike Hartshead Pike is Tameside's most prominent landmark from where, on a clear day, four counties can be seen as well as landmarks such as Jodrell Bank, the Welsh hills and the Holme Moss transmitter mast.

Although the name "Hartshead Pike" is generally used to mean the tower, it was originally the name of the hill itself. A "time capsule" was buried in a space below the foundation stone. This was a sealed bottle containing local newspapers, Victorian coins, poetry and documents. Inside the tower was a shop selling refreshments.

Visitors could pay a small charge to climb stairs to enjoy the view from windows high up in the building. tameside.gov.uk

Astley Green Colliery Museum

Greater Manchester Fire Service Museum The museum opened in September 1983 after three years work in converting a former fire engine workshop building at Rochdale fire station.

The collections and displays in the museum portray the proud record of achievement and development of fire brigades, firefighters, personalities and manufacturers associated with fire heritage in Greater Manchester. The many and varied exhibits include several full-size fire appliances, along with a large collection of equipment, photographs, uniforms, medals, insignia, models and other memorabilia. Inside the station stands a horse-drawn steam pump surrounded by various contemporary items and fittings. There is also a 1940s Blitz scene featuring a trailer fire pump with uniformed personnel and equipment. manchesterfire.gov.uk

Images this page: top Red House Farm, below Ordsall Hall Left Page: Bury Transport Museum

Located in the picturesque village of Astley Green, the Astley Green Colliery Museum occupies some fifteen acres of the Astley Green Colliery site. To the south lies the Bridgewater Canal and Astley Moss, an important mossland site. The low-lying landscape ensures that the museum's 98ft high lattice steel headgear can be seen for many miles, a fitting memorial to days now past.

Apart from the steam winding engine and headgear the museum houses many exhibits, not least of which is the collection of 28 colliery locomotives, the largest collection of its type in the UK. agcm.org.uk

Oldham Coliseum Oldham Coliseum Theatre is one of the most established and well-attended venues in the North West, producing eight in-house shows each year.

The Coliseum is also a receiving house for a variety of visiting companies and artists.

Widely considered as the true home of the pantomime, the coliseum commissions and produces a new production each year attracting delighted audiences of over 35,000. Early performers included Charlie Chaplin and Stand Laurel. The theatre has recently been granted a new lease of life, following a pledge of capital investment. coliseum.org.uk

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City Status Part of the celebrations to mark HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 includes a rare competition between UK towns to be awarded city status.

The Queen’s decision, made on Ministerial advice, is final and competition is fierce. At the time of going to press, two of the towns in Greater Manchester – Bolton and Stockport – have put themselves forward for consideration. Here’s a brief history of them both to bring you up to speed.

Bolton Bolton is one of the biggest towns in the country and has a long and proud history dating back more than a thousand years.

From Wanderers to Peter Kay, the town has much to be proud of. The town has held successful international events such as the badminton and cycling competitions during the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and the UK Ironman Triathlon; and developed economic links with China and India. Local and civic pride is very important and city status would be a huge boost locally.

Exceptional connectivity sets Stockport apart, with close proximity to major rail links, Manchester airport and M60 Junction One. Its strategic location, rich historical legacy and entrepreneurial spirit give Stockport a distinct identity and opportunity for growth. Major new businesses like BSkyB and Primark are recent additions to the town, Stockport College is seen as an example of excellence in further education and a strong base of small and medium sized enterprises are raising Stockport’s profile nationally and across the globe.

For more information: stockport.gov.uk

For more information: bolton.gov.uk

Stockport Enterprising and confident. Forward looking, welcoming and dynamic. A place of contrasts and opportunity. Stockport already thinks and acts like a city. Stockport is a high energy metropolitan borough with a vibrant and diverse economy, supported by a skilled population, attractive neighbourhoods and quality of life.

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The Government plans to announce the results of the City Status competition in the early months of the Diamond Jubilee year, 2012.

What’s on: Out of Town

The Saddleworth Festival

Chadkirk Festival

Saddleworth, Oldham 4 – 12 June 2011

Stockport 30 – 31 July 2011

The Saddleworth Festival takes place once every four years and brings world-famous artists, rising young stars and award winners to Saddleworth in the borough town of Oldham. The roll-call of past performers includes such names as Helen Shapiro, Julian Lloyd Webber and the Hallé Orchestra and 2011 looks set to see an impressive range of local acts take centre stage, from choirs and orchestras to jazz bands. saddleworthfestival.org.uk

A summer celebration of music and entertainment, Chadkirk Festival is set in the idyllic surroundings of Chadkirk Country Estate. The programme includes music, singing and dancing, craft stalls and lots of fun and games appealing to all ages. chadkirkchapel.org.uk

Wigan Jazz Festival

Rochdale’s Feel Good Festival is host to an impressive list of musicians and is served up with a range of delicious food prepared by celebrity chefs. Previous acts have included The Lightning Seeds and The Herbaliser so keep an eye out for some rising stars of stage and cuisine. rochdale.gov.uk

Wigan 14 – 17 July 2011 Now in its 26th year, the Wigan Jazz Festival aims to be the friendliest jazz festival in the world, encouraging participation and always striving to support younger musicians. The Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra has always been a staple of the festival, for those looking for some local talent. wlct.org

Feel Good Festival

Altrincham Bottle and Cask Beer Festival Trafford 27 – 29 August 2011 Held in association with CAMRA, the Altrincham Bottle and Cask Beer Festival will be the first beer festival ever to be held in Altrincham's historic Market. It will feature cask beers ('Real Ale') from small micro/caft breweries within a 50 mile radius of Manchester along with an extensive range of over 100 superb Belgian Beers. letrappiste.com/abcfestival

Rochdale 2 – 3 September 2011

Bolton Food and Drink Festival Bolton 26 – 29 August 2011

The World Black Pudding Throwing Championship 2011 Ramsbottom, Bury September 2011 This rather unique event commemorates the brave men and women who fell during War of the Roses. The aim of the game is to throw three black puddings and see how many Yorkshire puddings you can topple from their stack. It’s an incredibly popular event and one not to be missed. bury.gov.uk

This four-day August Bank Holiday spectacular serves up a series of live cooking demonstrations from top-flight celebrity chefs such as The Hairy Bikers, Gino D’Acampo and James Martin. There’s also a speciality market with over 60 stalls – a must for all cooking enthusiasts. boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com

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The gardens have evolved over two centuries to reflect the trends and fashions of the time. Are there any aspects of the garden that have remained a constant throughout this period?

Things like the topiary go back over a couple of hundred years. The tower, which was built back in 1700 to watch out for sheep stealers, was once right on the edge of the gardens.

Now, it’s incorporated into the garden itself.

The thing that has remained truly constant is the actual procedures in horticulture. You might have new tools and everything else, but the basics are still the same. Nothing really much changes.

What are your favourite parts of the garden?

The Japanese Garden - simply because the concept is completely different to the way we garden here [in the UK].

When we think about a garden, we think about a space in the garden and how we can perfect the garden by adding to it. We go to the garden centre, we buy a plant and we fill the space. A Japanese Garden is different in that it is only complete when you can’t take anything else out, in other words, perfection is arrived at by achieving balance through removing items. From that point of view, it’s a bit obscure.

Another favourite would be the arboretum because a lot of those trees are rare in the wild - and certainly very rare in captivity.

It’s an untapped area that people don’t really appreciate and should do so more.

Manchester Voices

Sam Youd Tatton Park is one of the UK’s most complete historic estates. Located close to the town of Knutsford, a 30-minute drive from Manchester city centre, it welcomes over 750,000 visitors a year.

The Park’s 50-acre gardens, which have been developed by successive owners of the estate over a period of 200 years, are perhaps its biggest attraction.

Responsible for their upkeep and ongoing development is head gardener, Sam Youd.

And if I could choose just one more, it would be the vegetable garden and the fruit garden - simply because that’s where we conserve a lot of old skills. You can see all manner of vegetables growing there and it’s good that people, particularly our visitors’ children and grandchildren, can see things growing and enjoy perhaps partaking of the peas in the pods and all the rest of it.

I think those parts of the garden are the things that make it live for me.

Is it true that your predecessors sold pineapples grown in the garden’s glasshouse for today’s equivalent of £5,000 a fruit?

From about 1740, pineapples were in fashion. They were really unique and because of that they were something to be prized. It was one-upmanship.

When the family that lived at Tatton went

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to their London house for the season, the servants would take the pineapples with them as they would be put on show.

There are records of servants being murdered for the pineapples they were carrying. They were, indeed, worth about £5,000 in those days and if people could get the top off the pineapple, they could grow another, which was the important thing.

They were a real status symbol and that’s why you’ll sometimes see them on the gateposts of older houses. They were a welcome sign and that’s how they were looked upon.

What reasons do people come to Tatton Park for and how can visitors make the most of their time in the gardens?

People come looking for ideas for their own garden. Believe it or not, even in a big garden like this, you can find little corners where you think ‘I could do that at home’.

The important thing that people need to do when they come along to visit a garden, if they’re serious about it, is to bring a notebook and pencil – not a pen. Pens don’t write in the rain!

Most of the plants are labelled, so people can see what it is and make a note of it. That way they can go home and look it up.

Oh, and of course, don’t forget your camera.

What do you feel has been the greatest contribution to the gardens in your tenure?

Conserving old skills has been one of the things that I’ve really tried to concentrate on while I’ve been here. We’ve done a lot of restoration work – particularly of the Italian Garden, the Japanese Garden and the Glasshouses.

I’ve also tried to keep the plant collection up.

At the end of the day, plants are living and they do sometimes move on and die, but the family at Tatton were something of a collector and we really should try and show people the sort of plants that they grew.

Therefore, one of the major things in my time has been to continue the conservation of the collection and of the old skills that they would have used. That is really important to me.

For more information about Tatton Park: tattonpark.org.uk

During Sam’s time at Tattton Park he has been heavily involved with the annual RHS Flower Show which has taken place at Tatton for the past 13 years. He has enjoyed the show from ‘both sides’ as an exhibitor, regularly winning medals for his gardens, as a judge and as a panel member during question time. The show attracts around 100,000 visitors each July who enjoy one of the best days out in the region and this year takes place Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th July.

For more information: rhs.org.uk/tattonpark

Explore England’s North West: Liverpool & Blackpool Manchester is the gateway to England’s North West. To the south is the Roman city of Chester; and to the north, Cumbria – the home of the Lake District. West of the city, along the coast of the Irish Sea, are the counties of Merseyside and Lancashire – both of which have cause for celebration in 2011.

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Images: top The Walker Gallery, below The Liverpool Museum

The building footprint occupies an area 110 metres long by 60 metres wide and at its tallest point is 26 metres high – making it longer than the football pitches at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium or Everton’s Goodison Park.

The museum’s main galleries will focus on the themes of port, creative and sporting history, people and global significance with galleries called The Great Port, Wondrous Place, People’s Republic and Global City.

It will open in two phases, the second being towards the end of the year.

Phase one will see two floors open. A major highlight will be the unbeatable panoramic views of the city and River Mersey through two picture windows at each end of the building, measuring a staggering eight metres high by 28 metres wide. It will also include a special children’s gallery called Little Liverpool for youngsters aged six and under.

Phase two will feature the galleries of The Great Port, Liverpool Overhead Railway and City Soldiers, a 38-metre History Detectives timeline and 192-seater theatre.

A National Museums Liverpool venue, the Museum of Liverpool is estimated to attract more than 750,000 visitors per year.

The opening of the new Museum will form part of an exciting range of ‘On The Waterfront’ events running from Spring to Autumn.

Seeing is believing in Liverpool City Region.

Spring ‘On The Waterfront’ runs from 29 April to 8 May, and the programme includes Tall Ship cruises, 10th Liverpool Comedy Festival, Liverpool Shanty Festival and Liverpool Kindred Clubs Regatta, featuring up to 50 yachts.

When you think about the Liverpool Waterfront, all manner of wonderful images spring to mind. The city’s rich maritime history with ocean liners bringing their wares from across the world; locals departing for the long trip across the Atlantic to discover America; the famous Mersey Ferry immortalised in music during the Merseybeat era. The list goes on.

Liverpool was awarded the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004 and these days, the River Mersey and its spectacular Waterfront acts as a catalyst for attracting the city’s residents, visitors from home and overseas, and not forgetting investors, all wanting to experience it for themselves. Seeing really is believing.

Throughout 2011, the Waterfront will become a hive of activity as part of an exciting programme of diverse and creative events, which includes the opening of the city’s new landmark attraction.

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The £72million Museum of Liverpool opens on 19 July 2011 and is the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for over a century – and the world’s first national museum devoted to the history of a regional city.

A stunning staircase sweeps up from the Atrium and through the centre of the building, creating a major focal point.

Three floors will showcase more than 6,000 objects, many of which have never been on public display before.

This will be followed by the opening of the Museum of Liverpool and the summer On The Waterfront event in July to also mark the Centenary of the Liver Building. The 3D Son et Lumiere Spectacular on 22 - 24 July, is a visual feast of 3D architectural digital projects celebrating these two momentous occassions.

The final piece of the One The Waterfront jigsaw sees the return of the Mersey River Festival after six years. The event runs from 8 - 15 September and will feature a Royal Naval visit, street theatre, Big Band stage, farmers’ market and a bistro village. There will also be visits from Cunard cruise liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2.

Queen Elizabeth is Cunard’s newest liner and makes its maiden call to the city on 8 September, where the shipping line was first established 170 years ago. This will be followed a week later by Cunard’s flagship liner, the Queen Mary 2, which attracted thousands of spectators when it visited in 2010.

home to the second site of The Beatles Story and roof-top contemporary Pan Asian restaurant Matou.

While enjoying the Waterfront events, take time to discover Albert Dock and the Pier Head. The magnificent Albert Dock, a former 19th century dock now converted to one of Britain's top heritage attractions, is the UK's largest group of Grade I listed buildings.

Albert Dock was officially opened in 1988 with a restoration figure of £25million. It is home to many attractions, including the Echo Arena, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story, Yellow Boat Cruises, Yellow Duckmarine, and the Echo Wheel of Liverpool.

Images: The Liver Building, below Tate Liverpool

At the nearby Pier Head is the new £22million canal link which runs past the Three Graces. This is the first time narrowboats have passed across the Pier Head for over 100 years. Add to this, the ultra modern £10.5million Mersey Ferries Terminal, an attraction in itself. Not only is this the link to take the famous ‘Ferry ’Cross the Mersey’ to Seacombe for Spaceport and The U-boat Story at Woodside, it is also

In addition to the Waterfront events, there are plenty more reasons to visit Liverpool in 2011. Here are just a few more:

• A new event for 2011 is Brazilica. Brought to you by The Liverpool Carnival Company, Brazilica fuses Brazilian dance, music, food and culture to create a vibrant festival weekend from 15 to 17 July.

• Following the success of the very first Liverpool Pride Festival in 2010 which attracted 21,000 visitors, the event returns on 6 and 7 August. Saturday is the main day of the event with live music and street entertainment, with Sunday being chill-out day.

• In February, Liverpool’s world-famous Cavern Club celebrated the 50th Anniversary since The Beatles made their first appearance, and where they made 292 appearances.

• The Mathew Street Music Festival and Fringe Festival 2011 takes place on 28 - 29 August.

• Those who want experience Liverpool and Wirral with a difference, sign-up for the Liverpool Marathon. The event returns after almost 20 years and takes place on 9 October. Up to 12,000 runners are expected to take part, and the route takes in key landmarks along the 26.2 miles.

For more information: visitliverpool.com

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Winter Gardens transformed in Blackpool, Lancashire Whilst the Museum of Liverpool was taking shape, down the coast, one of Blackpool’s most famous landmarks, The Winter Gardens, underwent a £1.25 million transformation.

Famous for hosting political conferences, concerts, exhibitions and even a Royal Variety Performance, The Winter Gardens is a Grade II listed building and is located in the heart of Blackpool town centre.

Built on the six-acre Bank Hey Estate and officially opened on 11th July 1878, the original intention of the Winter Gardens was “to place on the land a concert room, promenades, conservatories and other accessories calculated to convert the estate into a pleasant lounge, especially desirous during inclement days”.

Empress Ballroom With its spectacular barrel-vaulted ceiling, sparkling chandeliers, pristine parquet flooring and ornate balconies, the Empress Ballroom is without doubt the star of the Winter Gardens. It was completed during the summer of 1896 and was one of the largest ballrooms in the world.

Ronan Keating, Jim Davidson and Peter Kay have performed to sell-out audiences here.

Shows have included top west end productions such as ‘Joseph’, ‘Grease’ and ‘Cats’.

During the Great War, the entire Winter Gardens site was thrown open to the naval and military forces stationed nearby. Early in 1918, the Admiralty requisitioned the Empress Ballroom to assemble gas envelopes for the R.33 airship. The building was handed back a year later and some restoration was undertaken. The original three large chandeliers, which were taken down when the building was commandeered, were not put back, but in their place 13 new chandeliers were suspended, each possessing 2,700 candle power.

Within 12 months, the magnificent Empress Ballroom staged the first Blackpool Dance Festival. Apart from a period of five years during World War II, dancing in the Empress Ballroom has continued ever since.

At the end of 1934, the Empress Ballroom was re-florred with 10,000 pieces of oak, mahogany, walnut and greenwood, laid over 1,320 four-inch springs and covering 12,000 sq ft.

By the end of the 1970’s to reduce the venue’s over-capacity, its size was effectively reduced by temporary carpeting, seating and much trellis work. It was renamed ‘The Stardust Garden’ and was intended to function as a nightclub.

Restoration One of the most exciting discoveries during the works was the uncovering of the plasterwork designed by renowned film set designer Andrew Mazzei in the former Floral Hall Bar. The plaster had been covered up when the space was converted to an amusement arcade but remarkably survived along with its original mirrors almost completely intact. It has now been completely restored and re-painted to form the new Café area serving the Floral Hall and the core of the complex.

Opera House Another element of the Winter Gardens is the Blackpool Opera House - the country’s largest theatre with a seating capacity of almost 3000. It has seen performances from the world’s greatest entertainers and shows ever since it opened in 1939.

Hollywood stars such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Bob Hope have all graced the Blackpool Opera House stage. More recently, stars including Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones,

The new café is to be operated by the award winning catering company Heathcotes Outside as a coffee shop. This new café area will utilise Mazzei’s unique interior to create a fantastically quirky ambience and a high quality facility to encourage the public back in to the complex. The new Café is to be called Mazzei’s, in recognition of the fantastic legacy left by this internationally important designer.

For more information: visitblackpool.com

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Book your accommodation online at

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Manchester VISIT

WITH BRITANNIA HOTELS

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Britannia Hotels

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Value for Money

Manchester is bursting with events for everyone. From live music and sports through to art and theatre, you'll find it all here.

Britannia has 8 Hotels in the Greater Manchester area with over 1500 Bedrooms on offer at value for money...

The Britannia Manchester Hotel

The Britannia Stockport Hotel

The Britannia Sachas Hotel

The Britannia Ashley Hotel

Offers good value accommodation in a fantastic city centre location.

All 363 bedrooms are comfortable and tastefully furnished with modern facilities. Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LA. Tel: 0871 222 0017 Email: res704@britanniahotels.com

A warm and friendly atmosphere awaits at Sachas Hotel, Manchester.

Its superb city centre location makes it the perfect base for exploring Manchester. Tib Street , Piccadilly, Manchester, M4 1SH. Tel: 0871 222 0018 Email: res705@britanniahotels.com

The Britannia Country House Hotel

The Hotel is located in the Didsbury area of South Manchester, next to a superb 18 hole golf course. Palatine Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2WG Tel: 0871 222 0016 Email: res703@britanniahotels.com

The Britannia Airport Hotel

This modern hotel has easy access to the motorway systems North, South, East and West. Manchester Airport is only 3 miles away and a shuttle bus operates 24 hours a day. Palatine Road, Northenden, Manchester, M22 4FH. Tel: 0871 222 0019 Email: res720@britanniahotels.com Calls to our 0871 numbers cost 10p per minute from BT landlines, other carriers and mobile networks may vary.

The hotel situated in a quiet residential district close to Stockport's bustling town centre with its wide range of shops and entertainment.

Dialstone Lane, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 6AG. Tel: 0871 222 0014 Email: res702@britanniahotels.com

The Britannia Ashley Hotel is located in the peaceful village of Hale, Cheshire overlooking the local Bowling Green. Ashley Road, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 9SF. Tel: 0871 222 0013 Email: res701@britanniahotels.com

The Britannia Bolton Hotel

The Hotel is situated close to the M61 motorway, yet far enough away to ensure a peaceful nights' sleep. This Bolton Hotel offers fantastic countryside views over the Rivington Pike.

Beaumont Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL3 4TA. Tel: 0871 222 0024 Email: res731@britanniahotels.com

The Britannia Wigan Hotel

The attractive Britannia Wigan is a modern hotel surrounded by lush greenery, located just off the M6 between Liverpool and Manchester.

Almond Brook Road, Standish, Wigan,Greater Manchester, WN6 0SR. Tel: 0871 222 0026 Email: res723@britanniahotels.com

Visit our website for fantastic value for money offers throughout the year at: www.britanniahotels.com

In the land of the red devils you're about to turn Moulin Rouge. A short trundle for wheel-based

Red devils turn Moulin Rouge.

luggage from Piccadilly Station and you're at the Mal - somewhere in the mists between Paris and the 24 hour party city.You cross the chessboard reception and suddenly you're a king for the knight. It's your move.

To book call in or call

0161 278 1000

or email: manchester@malmaison.com

hotels that dare to be different

For the best rates GUARANTEED visit malmaison.com

Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 1LZ

The leading 5 star hotel in the north west

At The Lowry Hotel chic, cutting-edge design blends seamlessly with an attention to detail and a level of personalised service that ensures hotel guests enjoy the high standards. The River Bar and Restaurant offers a Modern British menu whilst the Lowry Spa offers a full range of treatments.

We pride ourselves on providing luxury and attention to detail where it matters.

The Lowry Hotel

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

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Manchester Airport Situated in the heart of the UK, Manchester’s award-winning airport prides itself on being one of the world’s busiest and friendliest.

As the largest airport outside of London, Manchester Airport currently handles over 18 million passengers per year. Its facilities are world class with three terminals, two runways, over 250 check-in desks and 60 airline operators.

Over 190 destinations worldwide are served from this international hub and a comprehensive European and domestic air network enables visitors to use the city as a convenient base for transfers to the rest of the UK and Europe. The long haul network continues to be strong with multiple routes to the USA and strong growth from the Middle East with Qatar, Emirates and Etihad operating from Manchester.

Manchester’s recent £80million terminal redevelopments were undertaken to improve the customer experience, ensuring that the start to every journey was as smooth as possible. The airport is a business destination in its own right and all three terminals are WiFi enabled. The new Manchester Airport smart application from the App Store is a one-stop guide to the whole airport with live flight information, terminal guides, maps and more – and it’s completely free.

For those who are looking for somewhere to work in peace and quiet, or simply just relax, the Escape Lounges in Terminals 1 and 2 are ideal. With an on-site chef you can enjoy freshly made food, book a private meeting room or you and the children can play on the Wii or a the giant Scalextric racetrack. There are also a number of new services that are designed to save you time at the airport, including VIP Valet parking which enables you to drop your car off next to the terminal doors and have it waiting for you upon your return. The new Express check-in kiosks also help to eliminate the issue of queuing, allowing you to check-in and print your own boarding card so you can head straight to security. The brightly coloured kiosks are in all three terminals and at the airport’s own rail station.

Another service introduced predominantly for the business travellers is a FastTrack lane at security that enables you to jump to the front of any queue or if you book Valet Parking, it is included for free as part of the package. Executive transfers and chauffeur services have also recently been added to the airport’s offering.

Manchester Airport also boasts a multimillion ground transport interchange that brings rail, coach, bus and taxis under one roof, offering frequent and direct transport services to Manchester city centre, York, Leeds, Windermere, Blackpool and Newcastle to name but a few. A train service from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly railway station operates every 10 minutes, with a journey time of approximately 15 minutes to the centre.

So whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, Manchester Airport has everything to ensure your journey is made easy. For further details of the many airlines that fly into Manchester, visit: manchesterairport.co.uk

Manchester Airport Scheduled Flights DOMESTIC SCHEDULED FLIGHTS Aberdeen Belfast (City) Bristol Cork Derry Dublin Edinburgh Exeter Galway Glasgow Guernsey Isle of Man Inverness Jersey Kerry Knock London Gatwick London Heathrow Newquay Norwich Plymouth Shannon Southampton Waterford

bmi, Flybe Flybe, bmibaby Air Southwest Aer Lingus Flybe Aer Lingus, Ryanair bmi, Flybe Flybe Aer Arann Flybe Aurigny Flybe Flybe bmibaby, Flybe Aer Arran bmibaby British Airways bmi, British Airways bmibaby Flybe Air Southwest Aer Lingus Flybe Aer Arann

INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULED FLIGHTS Abu Dhabi Agadir Alicante Almeria Amsterdam Antwerp Antalya Athens Atlanta Barbados Barcelona Basel Bastia Bergerac Billund Bodrum Bordeaux Brest Brieve Brussels Budapest Calgary Cape Verde Chambery Chicago Cologne Copenhagen Corfu Dalaman Doha Dubai Dubrovnik Dusseldorf Enfida Faro Frankfurt Fuertaventura Funchal Geneva

Etihad Airways Thomson Airways Monarch Scheduled, Jet2.com, easyJet, Ryanair Monarch Scheduled KLM, easyJet Air France Pegasus, Monarch Scheduled easyjet, Viking Delta Air Lines Virgin Atlantic Monarch Scheduled, bmi easyJet Flybe British Airways Jet2.com, Monarch Scheduled bmibaby Flybe Jet2.com Flybe, Brussels Airlines, Jet2.com Thomas Cook Thomson Airways Jet2.com American Airlines Germanwings SAS, easyJet easyJet easyJet, Jet2.com Qatar Airways Emirates Jet2.com Flybe, Lufthansa Tunis Air Monarch Scheduled, Jet2.com, Ryanair Flybe, Lufthansa Monarch Scheduled Jet2.com bmibaby, Jet2.com, easyJet,

Gibralter Gothenburg Gran Canaria Hamburg Hanover Helsinki Heraklion Hurgada Ibiza Islamabad Istanbul Kos La Rochelle Lahore Lanzarote Larnaca Las Vegas Lisbon Ljublijana Lourdes Lyon Madrid Mahon Malaga Malta Marrakech Milan Minsk Montpellier Munich Murcia New York (Newark) New York (JFK) Nantes Nice Orlando Oslo Paderborn Palma Paphos Paris Perpignan Philadelphia Pisa Ponta Delgada Azores Prague Renes Reus Rhodes Rome Reykjavik Salzburg Sharm El Sheik Singapore Sofia Split Stockholm Stuttgart Tel Aviv Tenerife Tolouse Toronto Tripoli Vancouver Venice Zurich

Monarch Scheduled City Airline, easyJet Las Palmas – Monarch Scheduled, Jet2.com Lufthansa, Easyjet Flybe Finnair, easyJet easyJet, Jet2.com Thomson Airways, Jet2.com Jet2.com, Monarch Scheduled Air Blue, Pakistan International Airlines Turkish Airlines Jet2.com Flybe Pakistan International Airlines Monarch Scheduled, Jet2.com Cyprus Airways, Monarch Scheduled, Jet2.com Virgin Atlantic bmibaby, TAP Portugal Adria bmibaby bmi Ryanair easyJet, Monarch Scheduled Jet2.com, easyJet, Monarch Scheduled, Air Malta, easyJet Thomson, easyJet Flybe Belavia bmibaby Lufthansa, easyJet Jet2.com, Continental Airlines Delta Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, American Airlines Flybe Jet2.com Virgin Atlantic SAS Air Berlin Mallorca bmibaby, Jet2.com, Monarch Scheduled, easyJet, Ryanair Cyprus Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com Air France, Flybe bmibaby US Airways Jet2.com SATA International bmibaby, Jet2.com Flybe Jet2.com Jet2.com Jet2.com Icelandair Jet2.com Thomson Airways, easyJet Singapore Airlines easyJet Jet2.com SAS Lufthansa Jet2.com Monarch Scheduled, Jet2.com, easyJet, Ryanair bmibaby Air Transat Libyan Arab Thomas Cook Airlines Jet2.com Swiss International Air Lines, easyJet

*Flight schedule correct at time of going to print

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Transport Information Manchester is one of the most accessible cities in the UK thanks to its location and connection to the nationwide transport network. Once you arrive in the city, you will have no problems getting around thanks to a fleet of buses, trains and trams.

Buses

Trains

Buses are a great way to see both the city centre and the wider city-region. A comprehensive network of buses offer frequent services to many destinations. In the city centre you can make use of the free Metroshuttle buses which link to all the main rail stations, shopping districts and businesses in the city centre. tfgm.com

There are four main stations in the city centre: Deansgate, Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria. Piccadilly welcomes the majority of visitors and is the main arrival point in the city for those flying into Manchester Airport or travelling up from London. nationalrail.co.uk

Trams Manchester’s tram network – the Metrolink is one of the most successful light rail systems in the UK, carrying nearly 20 million passengers every year. With services roughly every five minutes, Metrolink is the perfect mode of transport for those who don’t require a strict timetable. Don’t forget to purchase your ticket from the machine at the platform before you board. metrolink.co.uk

Travelling further afield?

If your travels take you to another UK city, National Express operates from the modern Chorlton Street Coach Station. nationalexpress.com Virgin Trains run a maximum of three trains per hour to London Euston from Manchester Piccadilly, whilst Cross Country Trains and TransPennine Express offer frequent rail services to a number of major UK cities. virgintrains.co.uk crosscountrytrains.co.uk tpexpress.co.uk

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visitmanchester.com

City Centre Map approx. 20 & 10 minutes by Metrolink from Victoria

Manchester City Centre Welcome! Manchester’s compact city centre contains lots to do in a small space. To help, we’ve colour coded the city. Explore and enjoy!

Central Retail District Featuring the biggest names in fashion, including high street favourites.

Chinatown Made up of oriental businesses including Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Korean restaurants.

Piccadilly The main gateway into Manchester, with Piccadilly train station and Piccadilly Gardens.

The Gay Village Unique atmosphere with restaurants, bars and clubs around vibrant Canal Street.

Petersfield Manchester Central Convention Complex, The Bridgewater Hall and Great Northern.

Northern Quarter Manchester’s creative, urban heart with independent fashion stores, record shops and cafés.

Castlefield The place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life with waterside pubs and bars.

Spinningfields A newly developed quarter combining retail, leisure, business and public spaces.

Oxford Road Home to the city’s two universities and a host of cultural attractions.

visitmanchester.com

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The Last Word This summer is going to be an interesting one for Manchester. Correction, it’s actually going to be an amazing one. Whether the weather is kind to us or whether the weather is not, there are three matters of acute significance that are ‘game changers’ that will affect the fabric of our cultural and business economy forever.

No less bold, nor brave, than building an inland canal for ships, the festival is all about commissioning work rather than receiving work, making it unique. It pledges public and private sector money in return for risk and artistic endeavour and in so doing meets the city’s stated objectives of being both original and modern.

The first is that part of the BBC will take up their new home in Salford Quays in what was Manchester’s port. That the BBC chose this as their home is potent in its symbolism.

Disadvantaged by its geography, and the high cost of rail transport in the late 18th century (150 years on and what’s new?) the city was losing trade to its nautical neighbour, Liverpool. It decided, in truly remarkable visionary endeavour, to bring the water to it and so revolutionised trade and its relationship with the rest of the world.

So this summer we’ll have Bjork rubbing shoulders with Bach, Bartok, Berio and Bela; Marina Abramovic, Robert Wilson, Willem Defoe and Antony of the Johnsons back-toback with Victoria Wood and the children of Manchester in a specially formed choir; Snoop Dogg on stage at the Apollo with Wagner’s Die Walküre at The Bridgewater Hall.

Fast forward a century or more and the face of public service broadcasting, perhaps one of the last great British brands that happens to still be in British hands, known and renown throughout the world, is about to take up residency and transform the landscape of business, media and culture in way that will be no less profound than when the first ship tied its ropes to the shore in a city that’s over 40 miles from the sea.

The second event is actually a third - the third instalment of the biennial Manchester International Festival; an increasingly confident and significant event on the world’s visual art calendar.

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The final one – and this may or may not happen - we may actually see the City United at the top of the Premier League, which would be nice. Irrespective of the colour of your sporting allegiance, the fact that this city, indeed this region, excels in the world’s most popular sport is significant.

All we need now is to find the next nascent movement in popular music and the city will once again find its self confident swagger and redeem its rightful claim to be ‘Britains other City’.

Nick Johnson Chairman of Marketing Manchester and regional representative of CABE the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Manchester Visitor Information Centre

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

The city’s most famous façade is also its finest hotel

In Manchester’s most celebrated building, the historic Free Trade Hall, stylish spaces create a mood of understated luxury.

England’s Nor th West Tourist Awards 2010 - Winner for Best Large Nor th West Hotel

Radisson Edwardian Manchester +++++ Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GP t: +44 (0) 161 835 9929 e: resmanc@radisson.com

radissonedwardian.com/manchester Best online rate guaranteed