Where to go

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Red Chilli, Portland Street

Passionately adored by many Mancunian foodies (and the first Manchester restaurant in ages not to get a slating from notoriously picky Observer food critic Jay Rayner), this Szechuan restaurant rules the culinary roost from an unprepossessing basement on Portland Street.

Manchester
Shop
Vinyl Revival

Located on Manchester’s Hilton Street, in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Vinyl Revival is a piece of Mancunian music history.

The Salutation pub in Manchester
Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Salutation

This traditional boozer, surrounded by imposing flats and university buildings, was taken over by Trof (of the Deaf Institute fame). The Sally, as the regulars call it, hosts an energetic, arty crowd – and its recently expanded outside area is another good reason to visit.

Levenshulme
Restaurant
Trove Levenshulme

Levenshulme eatery Trove remains a firm favourite with weekend breakfast crowds and weekday café hawks alike, and with good reason.

Manchester
Shop
Vinyl Exchange

Vinyl Exchange is the largest seller and buyer of rare and second-hand records, CDs and DVDs in the North West.

Probe Records record shop in Liverpool
City Centre
Shop
Probe Records

For more than 40 years, Probe Records has stocked an immense selection of music and provided a hangout for vinyl addicts and musicians alike.

The Whiskey Jar
Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Whiskey Jar

Warehouse-chic bar and events venue in Manchester’s Piccadilly, on the edge of the Northern Quarter.