The four trendy districts breathing new life into Manchester

The Herald Scotland

12-07-2025

Today, the city is buzzing with culture, cuisine and cracking places to stay. Here's four of the best districts to try out on a visit to this close-knit North of England community.
First Street
Just a short walk from the main street of Deansgate, this lively district was home to Gaythorn Gas Works for more than 100 years.
Production stopped in 1929 and in 2007 the area was part of a masterplan by the city council to provide a safe neighbourhood to work, live and play in.
Today it is alive with homes, hotels, offices, bars and restaurants, creating a culture of togetherness. At the heart of it is INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester, a classic example, bringing continental life into the heart of a once industrial city. And it works fantastically.
INNSiDE by Meliá Manchester (Image: unknown)
Walk through the revolving doors and the reception is colourful and eye-catching with fun and happiness the main theme in the four star hotel which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Pillars holding up the 208-room hotel have been turned into pieces of art, with local architect Ian Simpson making good use of the city's time as a hub for the steel industry for the funky and rusty weathered appearance of the reception and bar. There's lots of colourful pieces, mixed in with a huge deckchair and table football, making a great first impression.
The reception area runs neatly alongside the restaurant and bar which has an Italian theme thanks to input from television chef Gino D'Acampo.
Gino restaurant (Image: unknown)
The Townhouse at the top of the hotel mixes memorable views with serious sleeping. Large beds in trendy neutral decorated rooms and big bathrooms brilliantly interwoven into the rooms without the need for walls are given extra luxury with sweet smelling toiletries.
There's also a spa hideaway in the hotel's wellness space, with treatments from Escape Spa professional therapists on offer and combined with a relaxing Finnish sauna and steam room.
Check out: www.melia.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/manchester/innside-manchester
Deansgate
This mile long stretch of road connects pretty much every part of the city and has been the main point for many celebrations from Jenson Button roaring up in a Formula One car to Usain Bolt breaking smashing records with a world best of 14.35 seconds for the 150 metres at the Great City Games.
It's come a long way since the dark days of the 1800s when it was a hot bed of vice and crime. Today it is home to the city's best shops, swanky apartments, flats and restaurants.
One up and coming place to be is the award-winning San Carlo restaurant on King Street. Popular with celebrities and footballers, this lively eatery is the place to be seen. Its elegant décor matched with friendly staff and real Italian food makes it a winner.
San Carlo restaurant (Image: unknown)
Waiters dressed in traditional white tuxedos and dickie bows are exemplary as they glide along serving fine dining in the ever busy restaurant.
With its sophisticated bar and lounge serving a selection of Italian regional wines, it's a fun spot and usually packed to the rafters, giving it a real fun ambience.
Food wise, the menu is bursting with traditional dishes, with the orzo risotto with pumpkin cream, fresh sausage and pecorino, finished with truffle oil, lobster Thermidor with English mustard, tarragon, Grana Padano cheese and cream finished under the grill and Trofie pasta with pesto, pine nuts and stracciatella cheese, among the tastiest of dishes.
Check out: www.sancarlo.co.uk
Mayfield
Manchester's historic former railway station goes back to 1910 and its freight yard was converted into a Royal Mail distribution centre, before being transformed in 2019 into a multi-use space for arts, music, industry and culture in the heart of the city.
The original raw concrete floors and exposed brick and metalwork are now home to all weather retreat, Freight Island, bringing a rich variety of food, bars and Northern culture under one roof.
With a huge main bar, craft beer tap room, neighbourhood cocktail bar and intimate wine bar, all organised around a visionary food market.
There's everything from open-fire cooking to fresh and healthy plates and tacos for the soul and the restaurants and pop-ups are connected by their commitment to the very highest quality, across differing cultures and cuisines.
Open seven days a week, there's live music, unmissable DJ sets, comedy and film screenings. Highlights include the Wednesday residency from Manchester's Comedy Store, weekly music on Thursdays and friends, and family-friendly Sunday festivals.
Check out: www.escapetofreightisland.com
Ringway
Manchester Airport's terminal two is undergoing a £1.3 billion transformation project to replace terminal one and make the city more accessible via air.
The terminal is close to transport links into the main city and to cater for the new wave of passengers, TRIBE, part of the Accor group has opened a trendy new hotel close to the new area and with a huge car park...
Check in is swift and access to the 412 stylish rooms, easy. With floor-to-floor ceiling windows, fabulously comfy big beds and all decorated in trendy colours, it's what you want, no frills, but stylish, with hanging space for clothes, up to date television and tea and coffee making facilities. Downstairs is where the action is and the Social Hub, which again is light and airy and full of super comfortable chairs, with space for work or play. And there's a state of the art fitness studio is kitted out with equipment to keep you lean.
Bedroom in TRIBE Hotel (Image: Darren Lenon) There's a Grab and Go counter with Barista drinks and home-made snacks and dishes, with everything from wild berry smoothies to a panuozzo of parma ham, burrata and rocket or simple salad of egg, avocado, spinach and tahini. Airport workers can pop in to, with a 15 % discount . The Tribe bar serves up delicious signature cocktails from mojitos to spritz with an Italian twist.
And in the Tribe Restaurant, it's all Italian too, with a funky menu including Stuzzichini's from meatballs in tomato sauce and ricotta to calamari, Amalfi lemon and verde mayonnaise. There's a great range of anti-pasti too from pumpkin soup to beef carpaccio, rocket, black olive and mustard. Mains range from traditional pasta dishes of beef lasagne or paccheri, black truffle and parmaesan or margherita, four formaggi pizzas to grilled seabass with wild broccoli salsa verde and veal alla Milanese and Amalfi lemon.
Desserts will wet the appetite with Venetian tiramisu, mixed berry panna cotta and ice cream sorbets a real draw. A substantial breakfast is on offer too, with good choices to get the day off to a good start.
Once inside the terminal, a great way to relax before the flight is in the new upmarket escape lounge which is swish and has plenty of room to chill out and enjoy the complimentary refreshments, newspapers and Wi Fi.
Check out: www.tribehotels.com/en/united-kingdom/manchester-airport and www.manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/airport-lounges/escape-lounges