Diego_Sideburns Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 (edited) For those who are defecting from BP on Saturday to spend many hours in Mancland, soaking up the pre-Masters atmosphere, but wish to venture further afield than Sinclair’s, here are some suggestions gathered from personal knowledge and my extensive search of t’Internet and tourist literature. NOTE: Don’t blame me if the information is out of date. What’s on guides: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/...Date=25-07-2009 http://www.visitmanchester.com/WhatsOnResu...oDate=25/7/2009 Open-top bus tour: Operates from St Peter’s Square. Guided Walks: Various walks available - Tel: 0871 222 8223 for details. Big Wheel: Smaller than the London Eye, the 60m high Wheel in Exchange Square has a commentary providing information about the views. Museums & Art Galleries: NOTE: Most of Manchester’s 90 or so museums and galleries are free. Immerse yourself in the history of the area: See Industrial Powerhouse for a wealth of attractions, events, trails and tours, all celebrating the great heritage of Manchester and the Northwest. http://www.visitmanchester.com/Parts3.aspx...&PartId=106 Museum of Science and Industry (Liverpool Road): a large science museum on the site of the world's first railway station. Museum of Transport (Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill): http://www.visitmanchester.com/WhatToSeeDe...uctId=MAN-85691 The Pankhurst Centre (Nelson Street, off Oxford Road): is the former home of Emmeline Pankhurst, the campaigner for women's votes who founded the Suffragette movement, and her sister Christabel. For culture vultures: Manchester Art Gallery (Mosley Street) was created by Charles Barry, who was also the architect of the Houses of Parliament in London. It contains one of the most important UK art collections outside London. John Rylands Library (Deansgate): Victorian Gothic library containing an impressive collection of old books and manuscripts Bridgewater Hall (Lower Mosley Street): a concert hall opened in 1996. The home of the Hallé Orchestra. Whitworth Art Gallery (Oxford Road): art gallery owned by the University. Manchester Museum (Oxford Road): museum covering a wide range of topics, administered by the University of Manchester. Also worth a visit are the Chinese Arts Centre (Market buildings, Thomas Street), a showcase for oriental culture with a tea shop, and the Manchester Jewish Museum (190 Cheetham Hill Road). Architectural heritage: The neo-Gothic architecture of the Town Hall, which divides St Peter’s Square and Albert Square. Nearby is the elegantly designed circular Central Library, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, and the largest municipal library in the world. Opened in 1910, the grand Refuge Assurance Building, now the Palace Hotel, mixes red brick with terracotta decorations, and is capped by a 220-feet clock tower. St Ann’s Church, built in 1712, has an exquisite Renaissance interior. St. Mary’s R.C. Church is the aptly named ‘hidden gem’, Built in 1794 on Mulberry Street. It is tucked away at the back of Brazenose Street, and worth a visit to marvel at what lies behind the plain red brick exterior. It can also be approached via a pair of decorated alleyways leading from John Dalton Street. The oldest complete structure to visit in the city is Chetham’s School and Library, dating back to the early 1400s. The Royal Exchange in St. Ann’s Square has a craft shop and a dramatic interior, which was once the trading floor of the city’s Cotton Exchange and now houses the world’s largest theatre-in-the-round. Blending modern and historical architecture in the Millennium Quarter: The six-storey Urbis Centre for Urban Culture, in Manchester Cathedral Gardens, is a sparkling example of 21st-century architectural design. Dedicated to urban culture throughout the world, it is currently displaying contemporary art from the New York and a computer gaming exhibition http://www.visitmanchester.com/Parts2.aspx...&PartId=620 Within the 1897-built Corn Exchange, the Triangle is known for its fashion shopping. Sitting opposite in a vast former newspaper printing complex is Printworks with bars, restaurants and cinema complex. The Northern Quarter, once the city’s clothing district, is now home to cafes, quirky shops, design and fashion stores and individualistic bars including Odd & Trof, Walrus and Socio Rehab on Edge Street. Music Shops: Piccadilly Records on Oldham Street is more than just a record shop – it’s a lively monument to the city’s musical culture. Down the road are the hip Eastern Bloc and the city’s largest second-hand store, the Vinyl Exchange. Dawson Music store is on Portland Street, HMV is on Market Street and Virgin on King Street. Forsyth Brothers, classically orientated music department store on Deansgate, is something of a Manchester institution and a special place for shopping if you are a music lover. Music Tour: Book your own Rock and Rollercoaster tour to see the sites linked to the big names of Manchester’s music scene. Contact Jonathan Schofield on 07876 235638. Latest Music: Keep in touch with the city’s latest bands and sounds – sign up to Manchester Music’s podcasts, available at www.visitmanchester.com/podcast. Shopping: http://www.visitmanchester.com/shopping-in-manchester.aspx Quirky shopping: Afflecks (52 Church Street) marked by Tom Judd illustrations outside, is a rabbit warren of alterative shops and stalls, selling everything from skateboards and fettish gear to vintage clothing and records. Food: On a budget? Visit the corner of Whitworth Street and Princess Street for Indian and Chinese buffets. For a relaxed bite in trendy surroundings The Bay Horse in the Northern Quarter offers a range of tasty snacks - try the Bay Horse Cheesy Beef Burger or for something a little lighter hummus and toasted pitta. Visit the Northern Quarter’s trendy Canteen Soup Kitchen for a filling lunch at low prices or the family-run Market Restaurant for freshly made dishes in cosy surroundings. The picturesque Castlefield area is ideal if you want to sit outside café bars and watch passers-by. Just behind Piccadilly Plaza (near Portland Street). is the ornate Chinese arch which sits proudly in Chinatown, home to lots of predominantly Cantonese restaurants. Look out for exotic vegetables such as gai lan at Ikan and classics like Cantonese roast duck. The contemporary Pacific offers both Chinese and Thai food, but this is no compromised mish mash – there are two separate restaurants and two kitchens. Yang Sing is the City’s most famous Chinese and has excellent dim sum and unusual dishes including loin of pork with preserved Chinese olive leaves. Where to drink: (apart from Sinclair’s): I’ve selected a few pubs but there is a link to each area summarising the pubs at the end of this section. The Peveril of the Peak, 127 Great Bridgewater Street, is a gem of a pub with a tiled green exterior and great ales inside. The Briton’s Protection, 50 Great Bridgewater Street, is an historic pub with a great whisky selection . NoHo, Stevenson Square, ia quirky independent in a Grade II listed building with parquet floors, floor to ceiling windows and street art splashed walls. The CIrcus Tavern 86 Portland Street is a hidden gem, if you only have time to visit one real pub in Manchester, make this the one. The reasons? Well, firstly it is manchester’s smallest pub, secondly they serve real ale, from real pumps and put it in real pint pots, and thirdly, anyone who is anyone in manchester’s sporting and television history has been in here at some point or another – as the photographs on the wall prove. There are two tiny rooms inside, a front room with a bar which you actually walk into off the street, it’s that small, and a second room with some seating and tables. This bar is very friendly, not surprising when you consider that if you are drinking in there then you are probably sat on someone’s knee or stood on their toe. Well worth a visit For real ale aficionados the Lass O’ Gowrie off Oxford Road, brews its own beer and has so much to offer they do a “try four 1/3 pints” to help you through the huge variety. The Marble Arch Inn on Rochdale Road will tempt discerning taste buds with in-house brews like Manchester Bitter, Ginger Marble and Lagonda. Sam’s Chop House serves Sam’s Best Bitter. With both posh nosh and rag-rolled steak and kidney pudding.. Mr. Thomas’ Chop House round the corner is a little more relaxed. To see what can be done with a decommissioned Victorian public toilet visit Temple of Convenience on Great Bridgewater Street. This strange, tiny bar has one of the best jukeboxes in town – second only to long-standing hidden gem Corbiere’s Wine Cavern off St Anne's Square. For obscure foreign brews try the Cornerhouse on Oxford Road. Unleash the rock star in you at rock’n’roll themed Mojo Bar in Back Bridge Street. Specialising in Belgian and German tipples The Knott, Deansgate offers many quality pilsners and wheat beers. On the top of Urbis there is a contemporary bar and restaurant with spectacular views of the cityscape but even higher with the best view of the city in the Hilton Hotel’s 23rd floor bar in the ultra-modern Beetham Tower, the tallest building in the UK outside London, 171 metres high with 48 floors. Whether you fancy rich Italian furnishings at Loaf, the three-floor vodkafest of Revolution or the hectic Baa Bar, you can keep going well past midnight. Summary of bars: Around the Town Hall area: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-central.htm Deansgate area: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-deansgate.htm Deansgate Locks: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-deansgatelocks.htm Peter Street area: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-peterstreet.htm Bridgewater area: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-bridgewater.htm Piccadilly & Portland Street areas: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-piccadilly.htm Northern Quarter: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-northernquarter.htm The Printworks & Millennium Quarter: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-printworks.htm Canal Street & Gay Village: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-gayvillage.htm Castlefield area: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-castlefield.htm Oxford Road area: http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-oxfordroad.htm Near the MEN Arena: (including Sinclair's) http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-menarena.htm Music Gigs & Clubs: Spot the next big thing at one of the 30-plus small live music venues such as the Band on the Wall, Roadhouse, Night and Day Café, Jabez Clegg or Music Box. If clubs are your thing, you have over 150 to choose from, from indie nights at 42nd Street to retro Madchester at the Brickhouse. Or maybe you prefer large-scale disco at Tiger Tiger or innovative club nights at The Warehouse Project? http://www.visitmanchester.com/Parts1.aspx...5&PartId=64 Edited July 23, 2009 by Diego_Sideburns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Crikey. That's an extensive write up! Good work, Diego. Memories have come flooding back of my time working in the city centre. I remember many a good post-work drink in Corbiere's and the Pev. (PS. Anyone know what used to be Citrus Bar is now? It was on Mount Street, just off Albert Square.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafc_ok Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 It's also the Manchester Mod weekender at the weekend, taking place at The Deansgate pub. There's an afternoon do on Saturday from noon, with DJs playing 'Mod' classics from the past 50 years. I went last year before the Masters (obviously not whilst wearing the lime green away shirt!) - it was a good afternoon, with some great music - mainly 60s R&B and Soul. There were also stalls selling cds/dvds etc. Doubt I'll make it this year. I'm skint so I expect will be drinking on the train and in Sinclairs. Modchester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razza699 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I was in Oyster bar last Saturday day and suddenly couldnt wait for this Saturday ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Music Gigs & Clubs: Spot the next big thing at one of the 30-plus small live music venues such as the Band on the Wall, Roadhouse, Night and Day Café, Jabez Clegg or Music Box. If clubs are your thing, you have over 150 to choose from, from indie nights at 42nd Street to retro Madchester at the Brickhouse. Or maybe you prefer large-scale disco at Tiger Tiger or innovative club nights at The Warehouse Project? http://www.visitmanchester.com/Parts1.aspx...5&PartId=64 You could do worse than head to Underachievers Please Try Harder at Saki Bar in Rusholme. Great night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slurms mckenzie Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I was in Blue Oyster bar last Saturday day and suddenly couldnt wait for this Saturday ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 A few things I wouldn't go on the open top bus tour- one of the stops is OT, (for PLC) and one is the Trafford Centre- that sort of thing is for foreigners. The bar at the top of urbis is quite nice (expensive though), (pity as the restaurant that used to be there was very nice), its the same for the Cloud 23 bar (the one in the Hilton). Yang Sing is nice but personally Wings (Lincoln Square) does nicer Dim Sum and they have an off-shoot/takeaway on Cross St. You didn't mention Spinnignfields which may have something on its Big Screen- and has a few bars/restaurants round it. Possibly the best restaurant in Manchester (certainly you are guaranteed a very very good steak) is Gaucho opposite Kendals- but it is very pricey. I'm would wager anything on Mount St is now either an office or a branch of Aleefs' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razza699 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old chaddy ender Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 is there a certain time and place where all the TICS fans join up for satday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Ackey's done a little guide here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old chaddy ender Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 1 clock thats a bit late isnt it only joking see you there and thanks ZORRO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dish Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 jeez, its like your suggesting that Oldham folk have never been to Mcr before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 jeez, its like your suggesting that Oldham folk have never been to Mcr before. I've been to Manchester hundreds of times but you can't deny the good knowledge shown by Diego there... This page has been Bookmarked... Cheers Diego. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukka Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 is it ticket only or pay on the day? Thinking of going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted July 21, 2009 Author Share Posted July 21, 2009 jeez, its like your suggesting that Oldham folk have never been to Mcr before. Strange though it may seem, not all Latics fans are Oldham folk, and many who are steer clear of Mcr, except for special occasions such as this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpetlad Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Strange though it may seem, not all Latics fans are Oldham folk, and many who are steer clear of Mcr, except for special occasions such as this. whats everyone done for tickets, is it going to be ticketmaster and there superfluos extra charges or touts on the day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtimeblue Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 jeez, its like your suggesting that Oldham folk have never been to Mcr before. preperations for us simple folk on our big adventure to the bright lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Dog Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I predict much chanting of ' We're not part of Manchester ' on Saturday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 I predict much chanting of ' We're not part of Manchester ' on Saturday... That will be more meaningful than ever when playing near the Manc boundary - emphasising the point that, even after the move, we're still not part of you-know-where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdw76 Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 is it ticket only or pay on the day? Thinking of going. You will be able to pay on the day, you just need to purchase a ticket from the ticket desk to the left as you enter the arena foyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 The weather forecast for Saturday is sunshine, so don't forget the Factor 50. You know it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 NOTE: I've added to the information at the start of this thread a link to the bars near the MEN Arena (including Sinclair's): http://www.manchesterbars.com/location-menarena.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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