Category: Qype

Manchester – Arts & Entertainment – Landmarks

The history of Greater Manchester Police is consecrated to Newton Street where the police headquarters used to be located in the Victorian era. The entrance decor is a fine testament to that time. However, today the museum sits rather unassumingly amidst the bustling wholesale fashion shops and a Newton Street post office.

You will be taken back to the years when Manchester was lit by gas lamps, inhabited by immigrants, and plagued by street crime. On display in the museum are the police uniform and paraphernalia, while the fans of forensic science will delight in several blood-chilling stories. As befits any museum of this type, there is an example of a prison cell, complete with a wooden pillow. Truly, it was hard to be a criminal in the 19th century.

Admission is free, and the museum site states that photography for non-commercial purposes is permitted.

 

Manchester

The native of Bury, and the son of a rich calico manufacturer, Sir Robert Peel was the 19th c. Prime Minister whose long-lasting mark on the British history was in the form of a nickname for policemen. Peel was the driving force behind the Metropolitan Police, and for a long time policemen were affectionately called “bobbies” or “peelers”. He also repealed the Corn Laws, to the great delight of common people, and despite the opposition of his party.

Peel tragically died in 1850 because of a horse-riding incident in Hyde Park in London. The Peel Memorial Committee of Manchester promptly collected over £3,000 in 4 days from the public, thus making the Robert Peel monument the first ever outdoor statue in Manchester raised by public subscription. The composition by William Calder Marshall was unveiled on October 12, 1853. Sir Robert stands on a high pedestal, flanked by two female figures. The right figure in a crown represents Manchester; the woman holds a spindle of yarn, and the Manchester coats of arms. The left figure represents Arts and Sciences.

The monument to Robert Peel stands in Piccadilly Gardens, practically opposite the entrance into Oldham Street.

 

Manchester

Even back in the 18th c. King Street was about fashion, being developed as a hub of fashionable residence. Fastforward a couple of centuries, and King Street today is planted with diverse and sundry boutiques of the fashion names of different caliber, from Tommy Hilfiger, Mulberry, Hugo Boss, and Hermes, to the more high-street Jones the Bootmaker, Phase Eight, Monsoon, and All Saints. This stupendous list is occasionally intercepted with Boots pharmacy, Eat food store, Boodles the jewellers, and a passage to St Ann’s Square.

The frontage of the former Virgin store (closer to Cross St) conceals the 1736 Dr Peter Waring’s building, which was converted into a bank in 1788. This part of King St also boasts lovely cobbled pavement, and is particularly picturesque during Christmas season.

Another part that leads from Cross St up to Spring Gardens is marked by the grand buildings of the Lloyds Bank, the Ship Canal Building, and Pall Mall Court, among others. Apart from Whistles, this is a more haute-couture focused area, with Diesel, DKNY, and two Armani boutiques, as well as the signatures of the Westwood family: Agent Provocateur and the Vivienne Westwood boutique. In addition to being a mixture of “serious” business places and fashion, this part of King St provides an easy access to Market St and Arndale Centre, and to Albert Square and Town Hall.

King Street ends in a passage that runs between the office buildings, one of which is Pall Mall Court. On the ground level of one of them at different times were located a MaxMara boutique and a Patisserie Blanc restaurant of the Raymond Blanc family. Sadly, both are now extinct, although Bang & Olufsen are still ploughing through.

Last but not least, the part of King St between Cross St and Deansgate is pedestrian; the upper part is not, and is a stopping point on the route of a free shuttle bus #1. From this part, as well, it is easy to access the post office in Spring Gardens, the largest and most central post office in Manchester.

 

Manchester

When the statue of Abraham Lincoln by the American sculptor George Barnard was finally unveiled in Platt Fields park in Rusholme, a Manchester Guardian critic observed that, while London had received Lincoln the president, Manchester had got Lincoln the man. Conceived as a token of friendship between the United States and Great Britain, the monument provoked a huge outcry in the US due to its “naturalism”. The president who fearlessly fought against slavery was depicted in shabby clothes, with stooped shoulders and disheveled hair, and huge hands and feet. As much as this could be true to life, the public opinion both in America and in England objected to it with passion. The Guardian once again observed that this statue had set out the blind connoisseurs from the sighted better than any other work of art in the recent years.

Because the statue was primarily destined for London, the American side eventually sent to Britain a more conventional statue of Lincoln by Saint-Gauden. The statue by G. Barnard could land in Manchester, or Liverpool, or Norwich, and this is where the Manchester pride spoke up aloud. A visit from Woodrow Wilson helped, too, and the statue was transported to Manchester and was for several months kept in the fire station by Piccadilly.

The statue was first unveiled in August 1919 in Platt Fields Park, and the plan was to move it to Piccadilly later on. This never happened. Instead in 1980s the statue was moved to the newly redeveloped Queen St, between Deansgate and Albert Square, as a part of the plan to encourage and promote the public art. Whereas in Platt Fields it stood on the ground, here it was put on a higher pedestal, to avoid vandalism. And the redeveloped area was appropriately renamed into Lincoln Square.

Lincoln Square can be accessed from Deansgate, or from Albert Square via Brazenose Street.

 

Manchester

The role of Robert Owen (1771-1858) in the history of Manchester and The Co-operative Group is impossible to underestimate. A native of Wales, he worked extensively in Lancashire and Scotland, with a short stint in the United States. Owen’s biggest enterprises, both in business and philosophy, owe a great deal to his living in Manchester. Such central areas as St Ann’s Square and London Road (by Piccadilly train station), as well as Ancoats, Chorlton, and Rochdale, are all marked by the work and thought of this great social reformer of the 19th c.

Owen’s ideas and work were the foundation for the Rochdale Co-operative Society, which in its turn brought about the co-operative movement. It is therefore no wonder that Owen’s statue is to be found exactly between the old and new headquarters of The Co-operative Group, on the corner of Balloon St. Renowned for his concern for child labour, Owen is seen protecting an orphaned girl.

Balloon St can be accessed from Corporation St, Victoria Train Station, or Shudehill Interchange.

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Pubs

Want to imagine what life was like in England in the 18-19th cc.? Go no further than Sam’s Chop House. Somehow it still conveys the feel of William Hogarth’s paintings or Daniel Defoe’s novels. As you go down the wooden stairs to the pub area and into the restaurant, you can almost see the scenes commemorated by the English genre painters. A romantic chat over a cup of tea with apple pie and custard, a political debate over a pint, or even a friendly brawl and TLC from an easy girl – all this could certainly happen at Sam’s Chop House.

The fact that it is so central and traditional explains why the place is so often crowded. And the food is indeed amazing. Mushroom soup served in a bulky china pot with a crusty bread roll was only the beginning of my gastronomic escapade. It was followed by a delicious pork chop that was helped by a glass of red wine. At the table nearby a group of seven were enjoying their Sunday lunch. As my stomach was getting full with this wonderful traditional English cuisine, I felt more and more like one of those Hogarth’s gentlemen, sitting and lazily observing others. I could compose a short treatise on the beauty of the English pub in the style of Laurence Sterne at that moment. I didn’t because tea and custard pie arrived, and after that I went home and didn’t feel hungry for the rest of the day. And in the meantime my creative spirit was fully subdued by the happiness of my stomach.

Seriously, this is one of the places in Manchester that must be visited. The fact that it is located in the basement only adds to its beauty, mystery, and popularity. And even though you have to march through the restaurant area to reach the toilets, it still doesn’t distract from the overall experience. The good news is that Sam’s Chop House is close to Exchange Square, St Ann’s Square, and Albert Square. Which means that you can easily go for a pleasant sentimental journey in the Manchester city centre after one of the best traditional dining experiences.

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Bars

The first ever time I went to Odd Bad was in 2006 during Futuresonic Festival, and I owe to it one of the oddest experiences in my life. The now regular in-house project, Pukka, was debuting, and the DJ was planning on playing the soundtracks from Italian police movies and thrillers. To complement the set and make it a bit more special, they were going to screen extracts from some of those films on the screen downstairs. All excited, I headed there and found myself in a cozy room with several sofas. The screen was just above one of them, the extracts were already showing, and on the sofa right beneath a guy and a gal were sitting, embracing each other and kissing. They knew I wasn’t watching them, and I knew I wasn’t watching them, but it didn’t make the situation any less awkward. Or odder, for that matter.

Pukka has become an in-house project, and in the years since I’ve visited the bar many times. To me, the place has always been unique mainly because of its location. There is something special about sitting with your feet up on those cozy sofas on the left, under a kind of canopy, drinking a cocktail or beer, and watching people in the street. Its atmosphere is peculiar, for it almost epitomises the word “atmosphere”: it’s many things at once, and the impression is always too fleeting to capture. And because I’ve got this strange interest in 1970s-1980s, Odd somehow evokes the spirit of these decades. The dim lighting, cheesy music, laid-back style, and the suspicion that there is more than meets the eye. Pukka must be a resident project for a reason.

It’s not all about Pukka, though. There is a regular quiz, as well as a few other regular DJ sets. Beers and wines are good, and although I didn’t eat there often I wasn’t disappointed when I did order food. Last year Odd Bar hosted one of the stages of the launch of Havana Cultura website, in association with Havana Rum. It is frequented for a reason, and its popularity naturally puts off those who shun the crowds. But whether you are new to Manchester or have lived and breathed Northern Quarter for a number of years, then Odd is not so odd a choice. It’s weird, strange, peculiar, different, original, quirky, and possibly even at odds with itself.

And I shall make no apologies for all the puns…

 

Manchester

There could hardly be an odder location and design for a court of law. Across the road from Manchester Crown Court is the (in)famous Essential, one of the loudest clubs in the city’s Gay Village. As for its architecture and outside decor, the building was erected in 1867-73 by Thomas Worthington who was guided by John Ruskin’s principles for architecture and design. Heavily influenced by European Gothic, this would rather be a museum, yet instead it is not uncommon to see journalists filming reports and judges in wigs smoking outside of the building.

The old building can be contemplated from Richmond St, Minshull St, and Bloom St. It is a sight for a photographer, art historian, or a fan of architecture and design. Those familiar with Italian architecture will quickly spot its influence in the design of the towers. The decor of the entrance, particularly the sculptures, are a lovely nod to Gothic style.

Like the Manchester Town Hall, the Crown Court was extended, and it is the modern brick-and-glass extension that greets visitors who arrive to Manchester Piccadilly. It is also surrounded by hotels like CityInn and Malmaison, and for those who have to stay in Manchester and to attend the court the location could not be any more convenient. And, in spite of its actual purpose, the building is a pleasant view to cast your eye on, while drinking coffee at Caffe Nero.

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Pubs

In case you didn’t know, Woodstock is not only a favourite meeting&drinking venue, but is a place to hold inspired academic discussions. So, if you are looking for a cosy space where to debate the future of capitalism or the latest discoveries in nuclear science over a pint of beer, head to West Didsbury.

Woodstock is located just off Barlow Moor Road and is all but hidden from the view in summer. In these warm summery evenings it is like the proverbial secret garden, and indeed Woodstock’s beer garden is very lovely. But the real discoveries still await you inside. The interior offers a peculiar mix of old architecture and furniture and some modern decorations. The comfy sofas, ottomans, and armchairs are just the order for a romantic evening in candlelight or a friendly get-together by the chimney.

The selection of beverages is good, and the food is delicious. The menu ranges from traditional English burgers to more sophisticated fish and meat dishes, and deserts are lip-smacking! The place is certainly one of the must-visits in Manchester, and, unless you are a resident, is a good reason to take a bus to West Didsbury.

 

Manchester – Shopping – Books – Shopping – Gifts & Cards

Now, you’re all about Art, Design, Fashion, Advertising, and Cinema. You are after cool magazines, unique comic strips, and clever useful books. As you walk in the busy Oldham St in the iconic Northern Quarter, you are ready to take a plunge into the depths of this small and funky bookstore, to emerge imbued with all sorts of creative ideas.

This may sound very personal, but this is exactly how I feel every time I visit MAGMA. The first few times I was literally glued to the shelves with Fashion magazines, browsing through the Italian Vogue. During my next visits I flicked through the Gaiman&McKean’s Sandman comic strips and contemplated buying a book of film-making. I bought presents for my friends there, but my life-changing buys at MAGMA were Paul Arden’s best-sellers. And they also sell great postcards and gifts.

Enough to say, this is the place to go if you are after new food for thought and eye. The fact that it is located in a short walk from the quaint Nexus Art Cafe or the trendy Teacup makes MAGMA all the more appealing. You bought your books or magazines, why wait till you get home, to have a read? The very thought seems very bohemian to me..