Manchester

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Off to Manchester to the theatre in a couple of weeks. Staying at the Lowry for 2 nights.

Any recommendations for good things to do or for restaurants! I’ve booked Maray already - been before and liked it.

So far I’ve got:
The Whitworth gallery
Maybe the Jewish museum
People’s History Museum
Art gallery in town
Salford Lads’ Club (if you know, you know)

No kids. Vegetarian. Like architecture, old pubs, walking, good coffee (Pollen already on the list), history, book shops, non wanky bars and restaurants.

A few places I enjoyed recently:
Northern Monk Refectory pub
Siop Shop cafe
Bundobust Indian street food

The Angel pub, Northern Quarter

The Emmeline Pankhurst Statue is very near the Manchester City Art Gallery and is worth a look. There's also The Pankhurst Centre which is not far from The Whitworth Art Gallery. I do get The Salford Lads Club reference 😀. The Britons Protection is a good old pub.

Independent book shops -
House of books and friends, beautiful new book shop on King Street (coffee inside too)
Chapter Eight books in the Northern Quarter

Pubs-
The Marble Arch
The Briton's Protection
Peveril of the Peak
The Old Nag's Head

Restaurants -
Indian Tiffin Room, Bundobust, Rudy's (Cutting Room Square) The Pasta Factory (despite the terrible name it's bloody amazing)

Don't be fooled by the queues for coffee in the Northern Quarter- there's loads of places that you don't need to queue for!

Do you want to disclose dates?

We love Matt and Phreads jazz club. Nice cocktails and pizzas. It’s in the northern quarter. Something on most nights so best to have a look at the calendar and see if there is something on you’d fancy. I’d call and try to book a table.

grand central and Salisbury are “alternative” pubs near the palace theatre
and our kind of scene.

I avoid deansgate locks, deansgate castlefield and printworks as it’s full of the sort of crowd that I don’t like.

Check your stay doesn’t clash with any football fixtures particularly at Old Trafford. If you will be using metrolink to travel in and out of town then it’s hammered when footballs on

Oh if you do find yourself in the northern quarter loads of great shopping. Afflecks is a must to have a mooch and Oldham street has lots of different kinds of shopping. Also if walking along tib street in particular look up! Spot the animals. Bar fringe is also close by which is quirky

There's a free walking tour every day which is supposed to be good. Keep meaning to do it but never get around to it.

Was literally coming on the recommend this.

www.freemanchesterwalkingtours.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw5dqgBhBNEiwA7PryaMvqclnWTPqbVLEGh--mjgPSIBqbNYDCdXL9oFssK80acyd5MNIVwRoCNQoQAvD_BwE

Thanks everyone. Will check all of these out when I get home today (out for lunch in Brum). Will be there Monday, Tues and Weds at beginning of April.

John Rylands library on Deansgate is a beautiful building to visit, handy for Spinngfields for a drink or food.

John Rylands is gorgeous. Will try to squeeze it in again on the Weds as not open earlier in the week iirc.

House of Books looks gorgeous.

It really is!

Recommend Bondobust, Mowgli and Indian tiffin room for good veggie Indian food.

I used to live in Manchester and this is making me miss it. Totally get the Salfords Lad club. I’d visit where the Hacienda was, havent they got all the bands inscribed on the wall?

Also walks along the canal are nice.

I rather like brunch at the ivy.

Hacienda site a good idea!

I must admit that I don't really rate Mowgli or Bundobust, sorry, although I love a good curry/Indian street food generally.

Love a good canal walk - any particular spots I should look for?

Dishoom does a great breakfast

If you like Pollen, you'll like Trove. There a branch tucked behind Primark if you're shopping in town - less of a walk than trekking to Pollen.

YY to Indian Tiffin Room. There's also a massively unglamourous Indian caff called This and That tucked away down an unpromising alley in the North Quarter. Three veg curries and rice for six quid. Viet Shack in Ancoats is fun as well, although more fusion than authentic. Schofield's or Blinker for cocktails.

Queer Lit is a great bookshop - lots of good fiction and very knowledgable staff.

Ordsall Hall is interesting and it's only a mile's walk from Salford Lads' Club so you could combine the two and then get the tram back. I also like Bury Art museum. It's also on the tram, and Bloom Coffee is worth a detour if you're in Bury.

Chethams Library right near Victoria Train station. Over 350 years old, it's wonderful if you like your history

The best coffee is at Fig and Sparrow on Oldham Street in the NQ.

The Pen and Pencil, also in the NQ, for delicious half-priced food on Monday's (you need to book a table in advance for this).

Agree on Indian Tiffin Room, Ziya on Wilmslow Road (curry mile) is also recommended.

Cocktails at 10 Tib Lane.

My favourite Waterstones branch is in Manchester, on Deansgate.

Enjoy😀

Chetham's Library looks amazing @Justturnitoffandonagain .

Thanks @Southeastdweller Have already booked Maray for Monday. Is Pen and Pencil better?

Checking out all of these other places now. Thanks, everyone!

I'm a bit over Dishoom. Think they need a bit of a menu shake up.

Has anybody eaten at The Sparrows?

Scene indian
street food in spinningfields. It’s amazing.

It’s amazing but gets booked up. If you can get in, wholly recommend.