Ey up! Manchester
My first time up north.
In January, with no expectations, I took my first little trip to Manchester—not just to see the city, but also for an event during Independent Venue Week, the annual seven-day celebration of music and local venues. An early summary: I had loads of fun.
Iced coffee & other breaky treats
The Flat Baker
With a cinnamon swirl as their vegan option and the cutest-looking shop window, The Flat Baker was definitely high on my to-go list. It’s easy to get there using a tram, also within walking distance from the main city area. A sweet bun followed by an oat iced latte was a nice start to the day and something I enjoyed a lot.
Siop Shop
Located on Tib Street, this cafe offers sweet bakes as well as savory breakfast options. I decided to order a veggie sausage bun (the vegan option comes with focaccia). It was really nice and so worth recreating at home too—focaccia, three smaller veggie sausages, and a bit of ketchup. Served warm!
Further cafes you may consider visiting when in Manchester: Grapefruit Coffee &, GAIL's Bakery Kings Street, Night & Day Cafe, Idle Hands Coffee, Mancoco Coffee Bar, Foundation Coffee House.
Craving dinner?
Purezza
A wide range of pizzas, small plates, desserts, and more – all vegan. During the day, they offer a lunch deal too – including a small plate of choice, a 7" pizza, and a drink. My lunch order: Caesar salad, veggie pizza (artichokes, olives, wild mushrooms, beetroot), and a Diet Coke with extra ice.
More: Hinterland (alcohol-free bar), This & That, Wholesome Junkies, Otto Vegan Empire, Sips&Dips, Desert Island Dumplings, Herbivorous Vegan.
Non-food places but make it cool
“This is my clubbing.”
Is what I thought deep down when I entered Fred Aldous—a store full of art & craft supplies, and probably one of the coolest I’ve ever visited in this category. Some of the items may appear a bit pricey, not gonna lie, but you can get—I assume older collections—on sale too. Do recommend if you want to spend time wandering around cute and pretty things.
Piccadilly Records
One of the vinyl stores in Manchester: a nice selection of various genres, LPs, and singles. I was so lucky to find a Moreish Idols single released under the Speedy Wunderground label—that’s such a nice addition to my little collection. In Piccadilly Records, you can also grab a free Bag Thing—with all the latest event flyers from Manchester.
The Rat & Pigeon
According to my research, it’s a fairly new pub and independent live music venue. Check their page or Instagram account to see what’s on in terms of events—they’re really good. The venue is on the first floor, right above the pub, with a cool vibe and great design.
Alternative places: 21 Little Peter Street (Oasis first gig), Epping Walking Bridge (Joy Division cover), The Portico Library, Mr Smith’s Dreams, Ordsall Hall, Chetham’s Library, Gorilla, Vinyl Revival, Whitworth Park (+ meteor fall), John Rylands Research Institute and Library, The Deaf Institute.
