Blog archives for February, 2012

Despite a lot of focus on London due to the Olympic Games, 2012 is also set to be a big year for Manchester culture – inspired by material both old and new (and somewhere between the two).

August’s annual music event V Festival will star reformed bands The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays, who rose to fame alongside the infamous Hacienda nightclub in the ‘Madchester’ era of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Also performing at the V Festival, which takes place in Staffordshire and Essex, will be Noel Gallagher’s post-Oasis outfit High Flying Birds. Other top names on the bill include Brits champion Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, Olly Murs, Tinie Tempah and Example – and further nods to earlier music scenes with The Human League, Madness, The Proclaimers, The Stranglers and even Sir Tom Jones. Rather a lot of work for PR agencies, there!

The Stone Roses formed in 1983, featuring singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani (Gary Mountfield) and drummer Reni (Alan Wren). All members will take part in a world tour this year, beginning in Manchester’s Heaton Park on 28 and 29 June and 1 July.

Salford-bred brothers Shaun Ryder and Paul Ryder, respectively singer and bass player, created The Happy Mondays in 1980, with guitarist Mark Day, keyboard player Paul Davis and drummer Gary Whelan. Singer Rowetta Satchell became involved in the early 1990s to sing backing vocals. All members are involved in the reunion, including dancer and percussionist Bez (Mark Berry) – who will act as DJ and compere. Though he recently confirmed he wouldn’t be dancing in the way he used to, due to his 47-year-old hip joints.

Though the 2012 Olympic Games are being held in London, they’ll be very popular in Manchester too, with events happening at Old Trafford football ground and hordes of sport lovers eagerly glued to televisions in their homes and local pubs.

Another viewing option will be provided in the city centre’s Exchange Square – which has previously proved immensely popular, especially during the 2002 Commonwealth Games and numerous international football events. A screen will show Olympic events to crowds gathered in the public space, which is bordered by landmark shopping venues Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Next and The Triangle.

For this to happen, however, there has to be a sacrifice – and it comes in the shape of the planned dismantling and removal of the 365-tonne Manchester Wheel, which currently dominates the square. Manchester City Council’s city centre spokesman, Pat Karney, has reportedly said that the local authority doesn’t wish to lose the wheel and it is hoped that it can be relocated in the future, with previous speculation citing Piccadilly Gardens as a possible location. In the meantime, the current wheel may be hosted by Edinburgh. It has been in Exchange Square since 2007 – the same year I began my blog! – preceded by an intermittent installment between 2004 and 2006.

Following the Olympics, Exchange Square will be the focus of redevelopment efforts,  with a tram stop attached to a new line extending from Cross Street and a plan to make the square itself more easily navigable. It was first redeveloped following the IRA Manchester bomb in 1996, which tore apart the area.

The Olympic Games are expected to bring a huge influx of tourists into the UK, as people take advantage of the opportunity to explore further upon visiting London. Demand is likely to be high for the hotels and serviced apartments Manchester has to offer.

In restaurant terms, Manchester has perhaps always been most famous for those inspired by the Indian subcontinent, thanks to the ‘Curry Mile’ in Rusholme. However, in recent years its Mediterranean offerings have become more and more prominent, particularly the Italian variety.

The latest is Jamie’s Italian – part of the national chain owned by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver – which has just launched on King Street. Meanwhile, other recent additions to the scene include Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar in Exchange Square and Pertutti in Castlefield.

Here is my lowdown on other prominent city centre options…

Famous Italian restaurants
Popular with footballers and the people who surround them, San Carlo on King Street West and Rosso on Spring Gardens are Manchester’s ‘big two’ Italian restaurants. The former has been established longer, but the latter’s ownership by Rio Ferdinand has given it quite a boost.

Reliable staples
Piccolino is now a selective chain, but the Clarence Street branch is the original – and many say best. Other stalwarts include Don Giovanni’s and Felicini on Oxford Street, Stock on Norfolk Street, San Rocco on South King Street, Cocotoo on Whitworth Street and Albert’s Shed (Italian in nature rather than name!) on Castle Street. Relative newcomers Don Marco in Campfield Arcade, Cicchetti within House Of Fraser and Destino’s on Pall Mall are also worth a trip.

And the rest
Manchester has no shortage of Italian chain restaurants either, with branches of Zizzi, Pizza Express, Bella Italia and Strada scattered far and wide throughout. These often feature deals and are popular with families.

At present, the most famous Italian restaurants Manchester has to offer are known more for their high-profile guests or owners than for their food – but many local foodies hope that their popularity will attract the attention of Italian restauranteurs with more lofty ambitions.

There’s a lot of fuss at the moment about two landmarks considered to be integral to Manchester’s modern history: The Twisted Wheel club, and the current set of television soap opera Coronation Street. Both are at risk of demolition in the name of progress, much to the chagrin of fans and Manchester enthusiasts.

The Twisted Wheel
The Twisted Wheel is regarded by many as the birthplace of music genre Northern Soul – a late 1960s rhythm and blues style which also gave rise to trends in dancing and fashion. The club originally opened in 1963 on Brazennose Street – but shortly afterwards moved to a converted warehouse building on Whitworth Street, near Piccadilly railway station. In recent years the building has housed contemporary club Legends, at which a popular Twisted Wheel tribute night is held twice monthly. There are now plans to knock down the Whitworth Street building and build a budget hotel in its place. Opposition is fierce, as many feel that Manchester already has plenty of accommodation options.

Coronation Street
The current set of ITV programme Coronation Street dates from 1982, making it 30 years old. It is one of the most famous sets in UK television history and has attracted many visitors over the years. Due to changes at ITV, there are plans to move and reconstruct it at MediaCityUK on Salford Quays – meaning it will no longer be in Manchester city centre. Coronation Street has been filmed in the centre since 1960 and many people are dismayed by the idea that there will be no lasting legacy of this. An application for listed status has therefore been submitted to English Heritage, who will refer it to the government’s Department For Culture, Media And Sport if they deem it suitable. It is thought that if the existing set was retained as a tourist attraction, it could raise significant funds each year.

Manchester has many landmarks and activity centres, making it a popular location for people to visit on day trips or longer breaks, as well as being a popular centre for academic study and professional work. Hotels and Manchester serviced apartments are often in high demand to cope with large numbers of visitors, so it is wise to book in advance to get the best rates.