Latest news with #NorthernQuarter
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trombones and bucket hats in council chamber as motion passes to reinstate Northern Quarter landmark
City councillors were treated to a flamboyant trombone solo in the chamber yesterday (July 16) as they voted to approve the reinstatement of an icon of the Northern Quarter - the so-called 'Big Horn'. Last month, city centre campaigner Fiona Moinuddin launched a petition to bring back the sculpture, which stood on the corner of Tib Street and Church Street for more than 17 years. She described it as an 'iconic gateway' to the area which 'celebrated our city's industrial heritage and creative spirit'. READ MORE: LIVE Search teams recover body from River Irwell after city street cordoned off READ MORE: 'It's going to take 15 years, so at least we'll be dead by the time it's done' Yesterday, Piccadilly councillor Jon-Connor Lyons said he had been contacted by Moinuddin who said the Northern Quarter felt 'a bit flat'. "I told her I would make some enquires and that she should stir up a bit of interest online," he continued. "What I didn't expect was a full blown campaign that delivered hundreds of signatures within a few weeks. "Today I am very pleased to bring that grass roots energy to our chamber. Our motion asks the council and the church street developers we are working with to re-erect the ten-metre tall trombone. "Nothing says welcome like a big artistic statement. Artist David Kent's Big Horn stood proudly on the corner of Tib Street and Church Street since 1999. it celebrated our industrial heritage and creative flair. "It was unceremoniously removed in 2017 because of a development and stuck in storage, leaving our gateway to the Northern Quarter woefully underexposed. "Restoring it isn't just about a sculpture - it's about signalling that Manchester values public art, our culture and community spirit that makes our city so vibrant. "I ask you to support this motion by giving the Northern Quarter back its signature piece to ensure the Big Horn is re-erected, louder and prouder than ever." Seconded by fellow Piccadilly councillor Adele Douglas, she made reference to the ongoing Oasis gigs at Heaton Park which have drawn thousands of tourists to Manchester. "Once again, all eyes are on Manchester culture, as thousands of people travel to our city for the gig," she said. "Many of these fans will head to the Northern Quarter to experience some of the legendary Mancunian spirit. "For 18 years the Big Horn stood as a symbol not only of the best of our creativity but also our industrial heritage, and the unique amalgamation of these two things that makes up the Northern Quarter. "Bringing it back will enhance the public realm, support public art and honour our industrial past, all in one excellent move." Standing up to comment on the motion - and in a nod to the ongoing gigs - Harpurhey councillor Pat Kearney paused to don a black Oasis bucket hat. "The Big Horn was commissioned by the Northern Quarter Association, made up of residents, artists and people who worked in the area," he told the council. "I am so delighted that our hard-working councillors in Piccadilly have got behind this campaign. "We had it originally to sell the Northern Quarter to the rest of the country. It was a very dark and not very attractive place at that time. "In terms of breaking news, I can say exclusively that the council is going to ask Liam and Noel to open the Big Horn when we replace it. "We know that them Burnage boys went on Oldham Street to all the record shops and in Dry Bar. And they must have seen the horn as they entered the Northern Quarter. So I am 100 percent that Noel and Liam will reply to us." With a flourish, Cllr Kearney then introduced trombonist Doug Neil, who played at the original opening of the Horn 26 years ago, to 'activate the campaign. "Bring back the big horn!" he shouted. Lord Mayor Carmine Grimshaw then invited Neil to 'take it away' before putting the motion to a vote - it passed unanimously.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Never seen buzz like this': Oasis fever grips Manchester before reunion gigs
All around the world, you've gotta spread the word. And if the lyrics to the song are right, the word is well and truly out. Behind the bar at an Oasis-themed pub in Manchester's buzzy Northern Quarter, fans from across the world have planted their flags in a giant map of the globe to show the extraordinary international appeal of the city's most famous musical sons. They stretch from New Zealand to Kazakhstan, Greenland to Sudan, with a deluge from the US, South America and China. Most have descended on the bar this week before the band's first concert in the city in 16 years this Friday. 'We had our first Russians in the other day. The Americans are mad for it – they mither us to death for Wonderwall,' said Paul Gallagher, who owns Definitely Maybe bar with his brother Mark (Manchester's other Gallagher brothers). It is impossible to escape Oasis fever in the music-mad city before the five sold-out homecoming gigs. Every other pub is hosting an after party – and a pre-party. Bars blast out Supersonic at lunchtime, while signs outside advertise 'Beer Here Now'. Even Aldi has got in on the act, temporarily rebranding one of its stores 'Aldeh'. Luke Dolan, 24, was making the 8,600-mile round trip from their home in Baltimore, US, with his brother John-Bryant Dolan, 23, and their friend Zack Schutz, 28. Clutching an Oasis fanzine, Dolan was almost in tears as he described their transatlantic odyssey to Heaton Park for the band's first homecoming gig: 'I've definitely had a couple of moments where I've been almost crying tears of joy and we're not even at the show yet. I'll probably be crying. It's not going to feel real.' The three have been avid Oasis fans since they were little – marking them out as unusual in their tiny Maryland suburb of Perry Hall – and are visiting the UK for the first time. They have Schutz's father to thank for their Manchester music obsession: Stone Roses, New Order and the Smiths were constantly playing at home. 'Being here is just surreal because it's felt like a dream for a very long time,' said Schutz. The trio have spent almost £3,000 on flights and a hotel for their week-long trip, when they will visit Liverpool, London and the Cheshire town of Macclesfield – the home of the Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. 'I've never seen buzz for a band like this, ever,' said Dolan. 'It's absolutely incredible.' The Gallagher brothers are not the only ones profiting from the most lucrative tour in British music history. Hotel and tourism takings soared by nearly 300% in Cardiff during last weekend's two gigs at the Principality stadium, according to SumUp, a tech firm that tracks card transactions. At The Manchester Shop, an independent store dedicated to all things Mancunian, sales of Oasis-related products were up 129%, said its owner, Miki Christi. 'We've been in this game for 10 years and Manchester's been on such an up, but I've never seen anything on this scale,' she said. Christi is hosting a Liam Gallagher lookalike competition in Manchester on Saturday, while fans from across the world are trying out their broadest Manc accents. 'A Japanese guy came in recently and was like: 'All right, r kid?!',' she said. 'It's not just about Oasis. It's about Manchester being alive. By Saturday afternoon, this street will be like a champagne supernova. And for God's sake – it's not raining.' While Christi's shops sells everything from Oasis beermats to postcards, badges and wall art, some have purchased longer-lasting mementos. Ticket-holders from Australia to America have visited The Studio tattoo parlour, in Afflecks indie emporium, to be inked with their favourite lyrics in the run-up to the gigs. Colin Thompson, The Studio's manager, said the excitement in the city was comparable only to the Stone Roses reunion in 2012 but even then 'this is a different scale', he added. 'There's never been so many people in Manchester. It's going to be absolutely insane,' he said. Oasis will play five nights at Heaton Park, which neighbours the school attended by the band's guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, before moving on to London, Edinburgh, Dublin and then north America. Although the band kicked off their 41-date tour in Cardiff last week, for many the Manchester homecoming is the only show in town. 'Cardiff was seamless, it was faultless, honestly it was unbelievable – but it was just a dress rehearsal for Manchester,' said Dave Foran, a music promoter whose Lions Den pub has ordered double its usual quantity of beer for the occasion. 'Everyone you talk to is tingling. Look at that,' he said, showing goosebumps on his forearm. 'And that's just at the thought of it. It's a phenomenon. Years ago the buzz was amazing but obviously this is what everyone's been waiting 16 years for.'
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Never seen buzz like this': Oasis fever grips Manchester before reunion gigs
All around the world, you've gotta spread the word. And if the lyrics to the song are right, the word is well and truly out. Behind the bar at an Oasis-themed pub in Manchester's buzzy Northern Quarter, fans from across the world have planted their flags in a giant map of the globe to show the extraordinary international appeal of the city's most famous musical sons. They stretch from New Zealand to Kazakhstan, Greenland to Sudan, with a deluge from the US, South America and China. Most have descended on the bar this week before the band's first concert in the city in 16 years this Friday. 'We had our first Russians in the other day. The Americans are mad for it – they mither us to death for Wonderwall,' said Paul Gallagher, who owns Definitely Maybe bar with his brother Mark (Manchester's other Gallagher brothers). It is impossible to escape Oasis fever in the music-mad city before the five sold-out homecoming gigs. Every other pub is hosting an after party – and a pre-party. Bars blast out Supersonic at lunchtime, while signs outside advertise 'Beer Here Now'. Even Aldi has got in on the act, temporarily rebranding one of its stores 'Aldeh'. Luke Dolan, 24, was making the 8,600-mile round trip from their home in Baltimore, US, with his brother John-Bryant Dolan, 23, and their friend Zack Schutz, 28. Clutching an Oasis fanzine, Dolan was almost in tears as he described their transatlantic odyssey to Heaton Park for the band's first homecoming gig: 'I've definitely had a couple of moments where I've been almost crying tears of joy and we're not even at the show yet. I'll probably be crying. It's not going to feel real.' The three have been avid Oasis fans since they were little – marking them out as unusual in their tiny Maryland suburb of Perry Hall – and are visiting the UK for the first time. They have Schutz's father to thank for their Manchester music obsession: Stone Roses, New Order and the Smiths were constantly playing at home. 'Being here is just surreal because it's felt like a dream for a very long time,' said Schutz. The trio have spent almost £3,000 on flights and a hotel for their week-long trip, when they will visit Liverpool, London and the Cheshire town of Macclesfield – the home of the Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. 'I've never seen buzz for a band like this, ever,' said Dolan. 'It's absolutely incredible.' The Gallagher brothers are not the only ones profiting from the most lucrative tour in British music history. Hotel and tourism takings soared by nearly 300% in Cardiff during last weekend's two gigs at the Principality stadium, according to SumUp, a tech firm that tracks card transactions. At The Manchester Shop, an independent store dedicated to all things Mancunian, sales of Oasis-related products were up 129%, said its owner, Miki Christi. 'We've been in this game for 10 years and Manchester's been on such an up, but I've never seen anything on this scale,' she said. Christi is hosting a Liam Gallagher lookalike competition in Manchester on Saturday, while fans from across the world are trying out their broadest Manc accents. 'A Japanese guy came in recently and was like: 'All right, r kid?!',' she said. 'It's not just about Oasis. It's about Manchester being alive. By Saturday afternoon, this street will be like a champagne supernova. And for God's sake – it's not raining.' While Christi's shops sells everything from Oasis beermats to postcards, badges and wall art, some have purchased longer-lasting mementos. Ticket-holders from Australia to America have visited The Studio tattoo parlour, in Afflecks indie emporium, to be inked with their favourite lyrics in the run-up to the gigs. Colin Thompson, The Studio's manager, said the excitement in the city was comparable only to the Stone Roses reunion in 2012 but even then 'this is a different scale', he added. 'There's never been so many people in Manchester. It's going to be absolutely insane,' he said. Oasis will play five nights at Heaton Park, which neighbours the school attended by the band's guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, before moving on to London, Edinburgh, Dublin and then north America. Although the band kicked off their 41-date tour in Cardiff last week, for many the Manchester homecoming is the only show in town. 'Cardiff was seamless, it was faultless, honestly it was unbelievable – but it was just a dress rehearsal for Manchester,' said Dave Foran, a music promoter whose Lions Den pub has ordered double its usual quantity of beer for the occasion. 'Everyone you talk to is tingling. Look at that,' he said, showing goosebumps on his forearm. 'And that's just at the thought of it. It's a phenomenon. Years ago the buzz was amazing but obviously this is what everyone's been waiting 16 years for.'
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The 10 best cafés and coffee shops in Manchester
Manchester's restaurant scene is booming and so too is its collection of more casual coffee shops. In the city's laid-back cafés, you can start your day with the perfect flat white, enjoy a top-notch brunch with your cuppa, sample some of the city's best doughnuts with a cold brew, or drink coffee from the café's own roastery. If you're looking for a caffeine fix while exploring the city centre, here's our pick of the best coffee shops in Manchester – from bijou joints, where the focus is on delivering the perfect cup every time, and places where the décor is as good as the drinks, to a classy Mediterranean-inspired café that becomes a bar in the evening. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert. Find out more below or for further inspiration see our guides to the city's best hotels, bars and things to do. Fig & Sparrow A couple of minutes' walk away from the alternative shopping emporium Affleck's Palace, at the heart of the Northern Quarter, this small independent coffee shop has been a staple in the area since 2013. Along with excellent coffee by local roastery Heart & Graft, you can order good value brunch dishes, sandwiches, soups and cakes by Stockport's Silver Apples bakery. It's a laid-back space with wooden floorboards, sage green chairs, pillars and exposed beams. Nab one of the three seats in the window to watch life on Oldham Street while you sip. Fort In the Great Northern Warehouse, next to its rainbow staircase up to Deansgate Mews, this slick coffee shop has its own roastery and takes making the perfect flat white or pourover seriously. Its minimalist interiors with pale grey walls, black tables and a wooden counter are flooded with light from huge windows onto Deansgate and upbeat music plays while you sip. There are accompanying pastries available to buy from Sticky Fingers bakery in Stockport – but look out for food and location changes due to an imminent move. Siop Shop This small café, in a former weavers' cottage on Tib Street, has all of the ingredients to make you smile: some of the best doughnuts in Manchester in creative flavours and designs, cheerful décor with tangerine orange, tomato red and sunflower yellow seating; and excellent coffee that is roasted in-house. Order one of its classic doughnut favourites, such as lemon meringue, or go for a sandwich baked in house. Looking for more reasons to love it? Siop Shop runs a gardening club every other Wednesday evening, too. Area: Northern Quarter Nearest Metrolink: Shudehill Website: Price: £ ManCoCo You can smell the coffee roasting in ManCoCo in the morning, as you pass by this roastery and coffee house tucked away under some railway arches near Deansgate station. All of the coffee roasted here is ethically sourced from identifiable single origin farms, estates or small farm cooperatives and you can pop in to buy a bag or sit in its purple and turquoise walled space, sipping its own ManCoCo Manchester blend. If you're inspired to create the perfect cuppa at home, enrol with its coffee academy, where courses range from 'barista training for everyone' and an 'introduction to coffee brewing' to 'latte art'. Just Between Friends A top contender for the best coffee in Manchester, Just Between Friends, has three sites – one in the Northern Quarter, one in Ancoats and one in the Cheshire suburb of Wilmslow. In the Northern Quarter, head to Tib Street and look for a bijou, black café front with the word coffee painted above the windows and its menu on the glass. The focus here is on your perfect cup with a blackboard of specials on the wall and petite hexagonal wooden tables to sit at with your drink. There's a small menu of bagels and pastries if you're after more than a caffeine fix. Federal In its three central Manchester cafés, Federal aims to 'offer the city's sunniest welcome'. It does this through the combination of consistently warm and friendly service, a buzzy atmosphere, a tempting brunch menu and fantastic coffee by roasters Ozone. Peruse its coffee menu in its Oxford Road site, checking what the weekly batch brew is, and choose a seat next to its plant-lined windows or outside next to Circle Square. You can't book and there's often a queue – but these tend to go down quickly as the service is speedy. There are cakes and pastries by Stockport bakery Sticky Fingers for a sweet treat with your drink, too. Area: Oxford Road Corridor Nearest Metrolink: St Peter's Square Website: Price: £ Idle Hands Idle Hands first launched on Piccadilly Approach in 2015 before it moved to its current Northern Quarter base in 2018. There are rotating coffee choices from roasters around the world in its quirky high-ceilinged space with plant-lined windowsills, colourful prints on walls and turquoise pillars – think Swerl roasters in Sweden or Round Hill Roastery in Somerset – and a selection of tempting pies in its counter, including pecan and lemon meringue. Its brunch options, such as fry ups on a stack of homemade hash browns, are popular too. Pollen Pollen Bakery started out under railway arches near Piccadilly railway station in 2016, where it attracted queues of people after one of its legendary sourdough loaves and cruffin pastries. It now has two permanent sites in the city centre – its main bakery in Ancoats and a café serving cakes, pastries and brunch in the new micro neighbourhood Kampus, over the water from Canal Street. Head to its industrial chic, light-filled Kampus space, for a coffee by Old Trafford based roasters Blossom and watch its pastry team making all of the treats on the counter behind a glass screen. You'll find it hard to resist taking some home. Foundation Designed by Manchester studio NoChintz, Foundation has sleek monochrome interiors, exposed brick and pays attention to detail in everything from lighting to hanging plants. When it launched in 2015, the aim was to create a flexible space for those who appreciate quality, with the motto 'coffee is everything'. Foundation's formula has proved to be a winner with five sites now open in Manchester. Its Whitworth site is attached to the hip of Whitworth Locke Hotel and has an extensive drinks menu featuring coffee classics, as well as some more unusual options such as the Kevlar – an Americano with butter and coconut oil. Haunt On the corner of central Peter Street and Mount Street, with large windows to gaze out of, Haunt is a popular spot to work during the day while it slips into a place to sip an aperitivo in the evening. There are speciality coffees by Leeds-based North Star Coffee Roasters, its own homemade chai lattes, bagels and sandwiches, and a brunch menu that includes a tiramisu French toast. The classy space is inspired by all-day Mediterranean cafés and bars with a chequerboard floor, marble tables and metro tiled bar. Area: Petersfield Nearest Metrolink: St Peter's Square Contact: Price: £ How we choose Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants – to best suit every type of traveller's taste – and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Cathy has lived in Manchester all of her life and still feels spoilt by the culture and varied dining options on her doorstep. You'll find her chasing her children around the Whitworth or sipping G&Ts in The Refuge.
Sky News
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
'I don't understand why people go there': Renowned chef on the restaurant chain he dislikes
Every week, our Money blog team interviews chefs from around the UK, hearing about their cheap food hacks and more. Today, we chat to Steven Smith, chef patron of Japanese restaurant KAJI in Manchester. I don't think we should be looking at a minimum spend in restaurants... but maybe a deposit. No-shows have a much larger impact than someone ordering a small meal. The most overrated restaurant is... Hungry Horse Carvery. You can eat well on a budget, so I don't understand why people still choose to go there. My favourite restaurant chain is... Rudy's pizza - you know what you're gonna get, fantastic price, quick service. I'd probably order one of their specials, but you also can't go wrong with their classic margherita. It's fine to just order tap water... We have to cater for everyone. With the current economic climate, we don't want to exclude anyone. A guest who comes in for a small meal one day may love it and come back with their whole family the week after. You never know. A great cheap eat in Manchester is... Kabana in the Northern Quarter - amazing Pakistani food that's cheap and delicious. I'd go on a Sunday and get their special Lamb Nihari. The one thing I hate that some customers do is… say they have stringent dietary requirements, then change their mind when they want to try something. It makes a mockery of people who have real dietary requirements or allergies. One thing I never want to see in a restaurant again… silver service and white gloves. Influencers... There is certainly a place for them in the restaurant world - a lot of them are massive foodies, so really do appreciate the food we serve. However, if an influencer visits a different restaurant every week for free and praises everyone equally, then their content isn't very authentic. That's why we still need the press guides - they're a more veritable source. The best chefs in the UK are… Mark Birchall, chef patron at Moor Hall and Gareth Ward, chef patron at Ynyshir. I've known Mark since I was 17 and have immensely enjoyed watching his constant pursuit of excellence. And as for Gareth, I really admire his IDGAF attitude. They're at two ends of the spectrum, both cooking at the highest possible standard, but one has embraced the rule book, and one has ripped it up. The best city in the world to eat is... New York. I've kicked customers out... Once, it was two football hooligans having a scrap. Then we've had customers being rude to me or my staff. If you came for dinner at my house, you wouldn't be rude - so why do people think it's ok to be rude at a restaurant? You're coming for dinner at mine, so treat me and my staff with respect. My go-to cheap meal is... Gochujang butter stir-fried noodles. It's spicy, savoury, and seriously satisfying. This recipe serves two.... 200g dried egg noodles or instant ramen (no seasoning packets) 1 tbsp neutral oil 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 small onion, thinly sliced 100g white cabbage, finely shredded 1 carrot, peeled into ribbons or thinly sliced
