Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Manchester

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

United Kingdom : Manchester - September 2009

Country Code: Dial for United Kingdom

During September, the student population returns to Manchester, the leaves turn brown and there’s a crisp northern chill to the air. With a host of events, from fireworks to international concerts – Fleet Foxes on 11 September, Coldplay with Jay-Z on 12 September and Florence + the Machine on 25 September – it’s a vibrant autumn city. Hazel Davis lights a fire

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).

CANAL STREET

Loud and proud, Manchester’s Canal Street is legendary.

Sleep soundly – The New Union Hotel (111 Princess Street, tel. , newunionhotel.com, rooms from €41/£35) is in the heart of the gay village and has reasonably priced rooms. A great base for a party visit.

Must eat – Taurus (1 Canal Street, tel. ) isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an arts space, bar and award-winning gay venue, too. The vibe is friendly, the food cracking and the live music a bonus.

Must drink – Most visitors to Canal Street gravitate towards Queer (4 Canal Street). By day, it’s laid-back with ambient music and a welcoming atmosphere; by night, it’s a lively club.

NORTHERN QUARTER

The essence of Manchester’s indie spirit, the Northern Quarter is home to pretty much everything that’s cool about the city.

Sleep soundly – Hilton Chambers (15 Hilton Street, tel. , hattersgroup.com, rooms from €18/ £15) is a basic but good-value hotel with en-suite rooms.

Culture vultures – For the best of Manchester’s live music, head straight to the Night & Day Café (26 Oldham Street), which has a rolling line-up of local and international troubadours.

Must eat – For good healthy tucker with a social conscience, fill your plate at Earth Café (16-20 Turner Street, tel. ). It serves 100% vegan food and ethically sourced produce, plus a dizzying array of juices and smoothies. Go for the mushroom and cranberry roulade, wrapped in savoy cabbage and baked in pastry.

Must drink – Dry Bar (28 Oldham Street) has been going strong since the days of legendary nightclub The Hacienda. Opened by Manchester band New Order, it carries on the musical tradition with band nights and local DJs. Rumour has it Liam Gallagher and Shaun Ryder have been barred…

LEVENSHULME

The Northern Quarter might be where it’s at, but Levenshulme is where it’s going to be.

Culture vultures – For a slice of Greenwich Village-style chic, saunter down to Levenshulme Antiques Village (965 Stockport Road). A huge converted school with three floors of furniture and a basement tearoom, it’s full of Manchester history and a quirky slice of its present.

Must eat – For free Wi-Fi, decent coffee and homemade tucker, head to Isis Cafe (910 Stockport Road, tel. ), which is adorned with art from the owner’s native Thailand. Try the massaman curry: lamb spiced with cardamom, cinnamon and tamarind.

Must drink – Levenshulme’s young folk congregate at M19 (847 Stockport Road). With a comprehensive cocktail list, live music and occasional comedy, it’s a quieter alternative to the city centre trendsetters.

CHORLTON

Mancunians seeking a slower pace of life with just as trendy a vibe gravitate towards Chorlton.

Culture vultures – For a holistic experience head to Creative Recycling (40 Beech Road). A gallery and live music space, its stated aims are to inspire and create through sustainable art. With ongoing exhibitions, craft fairs and workshops, it’s the embodiment of Manchester’s most creative suburb.

Must eat – For fresh bread, quirky cheeses and continental meats, head to Barbakan Delicatessen (67-71 Manchester Road). This is the place to go for a real taste of the city’s eclectic communities – pick up spicy sausage, smoked ham, Polish cheesecake and stollen, the gorgeous German cake.

Must drink – Chorlton’s creative, brainy types head to The Bar (533 Wilbraham Road). A local institution, it’s a café-pub with a slew of home-workers, people in glasses and freshly ground coffee.

Compiled by Hazel Davis