Ancoats General Store

Sitting in the heart of Time Out’s ‘11^th coolest neighbourhood in the world’, Ancoats General Store serves the local community as a (largely) sustainability-focussed convenience store stocking craft products, locally-sourced wares and top tier vegan produce.

As more people become environmentally conscious in their day-to-day lives, more shops are stepping up to the mark. General Store is one of Manchester’s firm favourites, with branches in and around the city, from Deansgate to MediaCityUK.

While they’re not 100% zero waste (like some others you can read about in our guide to Zero Waste Shops in Manchester), it’s fair to say they’re doing their bit. Think a good range of refillables including store cupboard essentials and cleaning products, plus shelves stacked with locally and ethically sourced products, including some mock meat items you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere else in the vicinity. But General Stores are also about balance, and so alongside more esoteric products you’ll find the familiar, mass produced brands, handing the choice over to you.

Making use of the spacious unit they occupy on Great Ancoats Street, the shop also houses a bar, pouring local craft beer, a mini café, run in collaboration with Ancoats Coffee Co, and a post office. They also play host to rotating street food venders, creative workshops run by makers or local brands, events, plant stalls and more.

Ancoats General Store stocks everything from the basics to the swankiest on the shelves, but generally speaking you’re probably looking at the more expensive side of the spectrum. Then again, we are in Ancoats here, and the range and price point at General Store absolutely works for the local audience.