It made its name as Cottonopolis, the city at heart of the Industrial Revolution, and these days Manchester is blazing a trail again, with a boom in tall buildings and a population expanding at three times the national average.
‘You’ve gone from a situation where only about 400 people were living city centre in the early 1990s, and now it’s heading towards 100,000,’ says Brian Groom, author of the new book, Made in Manchester, which tells the city’s story through its people, ranging from John Dalton, the founder of English chemistry, to Joy Division singer Ian Curtis and taking in inspirational residents such as the suffragettes and writer Elizabeth Gaskell along the way.
‘The book looks at the key figures, and they tell the story of this pioneering industrial city and its development.
‘If you go into the city now, you see this great clutch of skyscrapers, created almost daily, and in the past few years, older residents in particular have found it a bit disconcerting.
’Manchester has drawn in a lot of professionals and businesspeople along with the towers, and the question is, does all this benefit the city and all of all of its residents? Is there still significant inequality and poverty in Manchester can that circle be squared? So once again, it's in the spotlight as a test case for the future of cities.’
Unlike London, where the tallest buildings are mainly offices for bankers, lawyers and financial traders, Manchester’s skyscrapers are filled with apartments – homes for the young and ambitious, who are leading booms in science, technology and media.
‘Manchester is known as the premier city of the Industrial Revolution, and at that point, the whole world was flocking to see to see how it was developing,’ says Brian. ‘We are seeing that again today. It’s a city with a huge story arc. You have these periods of steep decline, in the late 20th century, particularly the 1970s and '80s, and then there’s remarkable recovery up to the present day.’
Brian has seen much of Manchester’s rise and fall firsthand, growing up in Stretford and then moving to Sale, south of the city – now part of Trafford – and currently living in Saddleworth, which is counted in the borough of Oldham.
‘I lived away for many years in between, first in Yorkshire and then in London,’ he explains. ‘My wife and I, when we left London, discussed being keen on living in the hills, and we wanted to be close to a city. That narrowed it down. If the city was going to be Manchester, we knew of about five or six places. I knew Saddleworth as a place with an interesting history and a handsome collection of villages, with a railway connection to central Manchester. I can be in the centre of town within 30-40 minutes.’
It’s been a regular rip while he’s been doing the research for his book.
‘I spend a lot of time at either the central library or Hope Arts Centre, and then I go into pubs like the Briton’s Protection. If I can, I go and see Manchester Art Gallery, which has a good collection.’
Made in Manchester by Brian Groom is out now, with an event at Waterstones in Manchester, and signings across the area through the summer.
THE INSIDERS
When it comes to choosing places to eat, drink and socialise, those who live in the city are spoilt for choice, as Sophie Gwilliam, director of the Manchester Hospitality Network, explains.
‘Having lived in Manchester for seven years I couldn’t feel more at home,’ she says.
Sophie is also group sales director for Dear Sailor, Firefly and Hessian, so keeps her finger on the pulse of the city’s latest bar and restaurant openings.
‘As a serial networker, I have built a huge network of friends and clients through attending and hosting events,’ she says. ‘I love how quickly friendships can be made and how we all help each other out – true Manc spirit.’
One of the main themes in the city at the moment is change as new buildings pop up, and new venues open.
‘For the better, we have loads of new restaurants, hotels and bar openings and diversity in the city, especially for the hospitality industry,’ she says. ‘Big events such as Chanel are choosing to host in Manchester instead of London and the city is thriving.
‘On the downside, we have more traffic and congestion, as more people are visiting the city.’
Sophie’s Manchester insider tip: Try new places
‘I love a mooch round the Northern Quarter, popping in coffee shops, or a gorgeous cocktail in Spinningfields’ top secret luxury bar Dear Sailor, followed by a more chilled vibe of Higher Ground or Another Hand for small plates, then a sing-along in 186 or Schloss.’
It’s fitting that as the city built on textiles and clothing, Manchester is now a destination for fashion-lovers, with many visitors booking breaks to take advantage of the excellent range of shops.
‘Manchester's fashion scene truly offers something for everyone, and whether you're into high street fashion, luxury labels, or alternative styles,’ says Tracy Harrison, who works at Stock Exchange Hotel on Norfolk Street, in the heart of the city’s shopping district, close to Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and King Street and St Ann's Square’s Burberry, Mulberry, and Vivienne Westwood.
‘In the Northern Quarter, independent boutiques offer unique and eclectic fashion finds, while mainstream high street stores in the city centre provide accessible options for shoppers,’ says Tracy. ‘Events such as the Chanel Métiers D'Art show last December heightened the excitement for fashion, showcasing the city on a global stage.’
Tracy is used to giving tips to visitors on the best places to see on a trip to the city. Having returned to Manchester after more than a decade away, she’s seen plenty of changes, with new attractions as well as some old favourites on her to-do list for any visitor.
‘Returning to Manchester after 12 years, I've noticed substantial positive changes, notably in the skyline and transportation,’ she says, before adding another of its huge selling points – heritage and culture: ‘The Cathedral, The Royal Exchange, The Halle, Manchester Art Gallery, and John Rylands Library, she says. ‘The Museum of Science and Industry provides a fascinating journey through the history of science, technology, and industry.’
Tracy’s Manchester insider tip: Jonathan Schofield’s Manchester walking tours
‘The Manchester tours led by Jonathan Schofield offer insight into the city's rich heritage and musical legacy,’ says Tracy.
Becci Thompson is head of premium experiences at Co-op Live, the new live entertainment arena on Manchester’s Etihad Campus.
‘I moved here three years ago for this role and was one of the first three full-time employees,’ she says. ‘I’m very excited for it to finally open and play host to some incredible artists and global events such as the MTV EMAs.
‘I’m now an adopted Manc and have met some brilliant people here over the past three years who are now friends for life.
‘If I’m out for the night I love Schofield's and Dear Sailor for a cocktail, the best service around. Dinner-wise I love Tast, owned by City Football Group CEO Ferran Soriano and his wife Sandra – or Fenix, the set up in there is fabulous. Of course, you can never go wrong at The Ivy as long as you’re in the capable hands of Mr Hollywood.’
Becci’s Manchester insider tip: The Northern Quarter
‘The Northern Quarter will always have a special place in my heart,’ she says. ‘I lived in Ducie Street Warehouse for six months when I first moved to Manchester and I love the rawness of it. I love that you can stumble into the Crown and Anchor for a G&T with the locals but just round the corner at Dakota you’ve got an array of Bentleys and Lamborghinis parked up outside – you can’t beat their terrace in the summer for a drink
‘In my opinion, Ancoats and the Northern Quarter have the best lunch spots in the city – we hit Evelyn's, Nell's Pizza and The Counter House most weeks, with Firehouse being the firm team favourite when we’re got something to celebrate – the best spicy margaritas in town.
‘There’s a cool speakeasy bar in the Northern Quarter called Behind Closed Doors, I won’t ruin it for you but if you can get in, don’t take your parents.’
WHERE TO STAY
CitySuites II
The contemporary home-from-home hotel opened in 2021 and is perfect for a short city break or family stay. It features studios, one-bed and two-bed apartments, an on-site restaurant – Embankment Kitchen, offering British cuisine mixed with Italian and French influences – plus a bar for drinks and cocktails. Guests can use the 18-metre swimming pool, spa pool, steam room and 24-hour gym.
CitySuites II offers the perfect blend of the homeliness of an apartment with the convenience of a hotel. Featuring mod-cons such as fully fitted Zanussi kitchen, Sky TV and ultrafast broadband, and a 24-hour reception and concierge.
The original CitySuites opened in 2017 and both properties are committed to sustainable initiatives; they are powered by renewable energy and have achieved carbon-neutral status since opening, they divert 100 per cent of waste from landfill and donate to local community projects.
A one-night stay at CitySuite II costs from £120 for two sharing a Studio Apartment. To book, visitcitysuites.com/en/citysuites-2/
