Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Previous issues for Manchester

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United Kingdom : Manchester - November 2008

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Manchester’s Year of World Sport comes to a close this month with a host of city-wide activities, including the fi rst ever major Taekwondo Open (1-2 November) held in Britain. For the less active, there are woollies to don and mulled wine to partake of at the city’s annual Christmas markets. Hazel Davis takes a sip

Getting around

Manchester Airport is 15km from the city centre.

Train: During the day there are seven direct trains an hour to Manchester Piccadilly, which take 20 minutes. The service operates less frequently at night. Many trains also stop at Deansgate and Oxford Road. Tickets cost about €4/£3.
Taxi: A taxi from to the city centre costs about €25/£20. The journey generally takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
Tourist information: The main office is in the Town Hall Extension Building, Lloyd Street (tel. , visit manchester.com).

DIDSBURY

Manchester’s trendiest village is an ever-evolving haven of restaurants, cafés and bars. It’s the place to live and dine outside the centre.

Sleep soundly – You’ll find a luxurious sanctuary away from the bustle of the city at Eleven Didsbury Park, a 26-room boutique hotel and spa located in a chic Victorian townhouse with its own walled garden.

Culture vultures – For a slice of visual culture, head to Wendy J Levy’s bijou gallery (17 Warburton Street), where you can see an ever-changing selection of fine art and sculpture from local and international artists.

Must eat – A recent addition to the Didsbury dining scene, from the owner of the city centre Café Istanbul, is the Istanbul Grill (786 Wilmslow Road, tel. ). Offering a fresh take on Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, it’s the place to go if you’re fond of a nice bit of lamb. Try Jem and I (1c School Lane, tel. ) for its New World tapas menu and Michelin Bib Gourmand award. You should try the sautéed Cornish squid with a casserole of merguez sausage and chickpeas, followed by beer-battered fish and chips with ‘Manchester caviar’ and fresh tartare sauce.

Must drink – Where better to celebrate this charming place than at its namesake The Didsbury (852 Wilmslow Road), a traditional pub in the heart of the village with log fires, table candles and cask ales?

DEANSGATE LOCKS

The converted arches of Deansgate Locks have quickly become one of the city’s hippest hang-outs. Known as ‘The Locks’, the area is dominated by local companies, giving it a very Mancunian flavour.

Sleep soundly – Manchester’s Hilton is situated within a modern landmark, the 47-storey Beetham Tower. From the Cloud 23 bar at the top you can see the whole of the city and beyond while kicking back with a Manchester cocktail.

Must eat – Loaf (3a-5 Whitworth Street West, tel. ) is the place to go if you want to mix the traditional with the stylish. The food is reassuringly old school and well within budget boundaries. Go for the bangers and mash made with Cumberland sausages, served with peas and gravy. If your wallet is a bit fuller, head to Gaucho Grill (2a St Marys Street, Manchester, tel. ) where you can spot the pretty people and feed your inner VIP on Argentine steak.

Must drink – Try the Knott Bar (374 Deansgate) for a quiet, relaxed sup of locally brewed beer and a Mancunianbiased jukebox.

NORTHERN QUARTER

Stretching between Piccadilly and Ancoats, the Northern Quarter has an identity of its own, with quirky shops, cheery cafés and crafty folk.

Sleep soundly – Housed in an old textile factory, ABode Manchester manages to retain much of the building’s original character. Rooms come with polished parquet floors and huge, soft beds, while Michael Caine’s restaurant downstairs does excellent fish and seafood.

Culture vultures – A new urban streetfashion market can be found every Saturday on Tib Street. Indulge your arty side and pick up one-off designer items, bespoke jewellery and shoes.

Must eat – Keep things easy with a laid-back Sunday lunch at Simple (20-21 Smithfield Buildings, tel. ). Living up to its name, the restaurant offers a pre-ordering service and unfussy English grub.

Must drink – Tucked away from the city, Lammars (Fourways House, Hilton Street) is an opulent gem housed in an old textile factory. Kick back during its ‘office happy hour’ every day from 5pm to 7pm.

Compiled by Hazel Davis