Ok man no problem. I’m busy next weekend or else I would meet up with you.

Best way to visit Manchester and soak up the city is to walk. Walk everywhere. Although there are good tram and bus links that can take you all over the city as well as two main train stations (Piccadily & Victoria) and smaller sub stations.

During the day check out ‘Oldham Street’ which is located just off Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre. Oldham Street was the main hub in the late 80’s and early 90’s for music and fashion. It’s still going strong to this day. Half way down is the Dry Bar. This is a cool bar where you could spot the likes of Shaun Ryder, Bez, Badly Drawn Boy and many other Mancunian artists from past and present. Liam Gallagher was barred from here in 1995. It was once owned by Factory Records, but today I think it’s owned by the guys out of New Order.

Across from the Dry Bar, on the road junction is Affleck’s Palace. Affleck’s Palace is a 4 or 5 storey indoor markets comprising of rare shops and cool record stores. You can find some cool items in here!!

Also on Oldham Street you have Piccadilly Records where you can find rare imports and rare 2nd hand records. And across from Afflecks Palace is Eastern Bloc records. Keep on Oldham Street and work you way around to the Arndale Centre.

Arndale Centre is a big indoor shopping arcade. Huge high street stores are based here. It will be busy next weekend, but it’s worth a look around. Some nice clothes shops to find here.

Printworks – is a huge indoor complex of bars and IMAX cinema. The Printworks is located just round the corner from the Arndale Centre and before Victoria Station and the MEN Arena. You really need to visit this place. Here you will find a new Hard Rock Café bar (with Noels white suit from the All Around The World video framed on the wall), many other bars plus a new IMAX cinema. Be careful though! The bars inside the Printworks complex can be expensive. Best to visit this place at night when it is all lit up from the outside.

NEXT and M&S, these are huge department stores. Probably have the same in Germany. The reason I point these two out is that this area of Manchester was severely destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1996. Today it is a different world. It’s quite nice to sit on the steps near the waterfall and look at the Printworks from across the road. Nice part of Manchester is this area.

URBIS is a huge modern glass building that houses modern art and Mancunian artefacts. One floor has a project that was dedicated to the 50 top Mancunian songs of all time. The IBIS is across the road from the Printworks.

G-MEX , is at the bottom of Deansgate about 1 mile from the Printworks. Once a railway station, it was transformed into a modern concert venue. Since the MEN Arena was built, not many bands play here. The G-MEX is still a smart building and quite nice to look at. Morrissey is playing two nights here at Christmas. At the side of the G-MEX is the old Hacienda nightclub. Today the Hacienda is purpose built apartments for the wealthy. They are aptly called ‘Hacienda Towers’ (I think??).



If you like art then visit the link below.

visitmanchester.com/index.aspx


There are plenty of museums and the Lowry centre is the place to be. Oasis are playing there this Sunday.

Finally if you get chance, why not take in a show at the MEN Arena, Apollo or Academy? There is something always going on. The Academy is a small venue that has new acts. It is down the student part of town on Oxford Road. I like it down here and it’s pretty cool.

Also why not try to watch at football match at either Old Trafford or the City of Manchester Stadium? Although tickets may be hard to come by? You may get a stadium tour if you book in advance?

If you have any questions or want to look for something that I have not included, then please let me know and I will gladly point you in the right direction.

Oh and finally wrap up warm!!! Manchester will be quite cold!

It's not too cold right now but it's constantly pissing it down, bring a waterproof!

B of the Bang. It's a lot bigger in person than it looks in a picture. It still looks better than the shitty stadium.