Quote: (07-07-2012 05:55 AM)Handsome Creepy Eel Wrote:
I've always wanted to visit the British "hinterlands" like Manchester, Liverpool and Edinrurgh, yet I always have this image of them being dreary places similar to those in the movie Fish Tank. Threads like this help to dispel it a bit.
Funnily enough, Fish Tank (like most gritty urban English dramas) is set in London. Plenty of London is sad and dreary, just like parts of any major city are. Northern towns just tend to be MORE dreary! Sad places like Salford in Manchester where loads of the houses are boarded up:
Anyway, going to do a bit of an add-on data sheet for Courage Reborn.
Courage, I went to the Northern Quarter the other night, and I thought about you and have reminded myself to give you a list of cool places.
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Blackdog Ballroom, a New York themed bar. Several locations around Manchester, although the only one I've been to is the Northern Quarter one. I actually only realized there's more than one when I looked on their website just now! That said, only two of those places are called the same name. I think the one called 'Dog Bowl' is more of a late night bowling alley type place! I don't know why I haven't heard of it before?! Anyway, I'm rambling, check the site out yourself!
http://www.blackdogballroom.co.uk/
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NoHo. NQ area again, bit hipsterish, but I went to a clothing line launch there a few months back and had a good time.
- If you're going to watch a game the
Tib Street Tavern is a cool place. You'll be able to see British footie fans in their element. That said, they'll be a more middle class crowd, if you want the 'hooligan' type of vibe, head to of of the shittier suburbs...although I wouldn't recommend it!
All the above are located within minutes of each other on foot. There are tons of other places in the area too, as you have probably gathered from the original data sheet and subsequent add-on posts. Like I said in the PM, if you let me know your hotel, I'll set you up a little itinerary!
- Just off Oxford Road (student area, not Northern Quarter), there's a club called the
Deaf Institute (it used to be an actual centre for deaf people), though I think it should be called the 'Def Institute'. Cooler right? I've only been there a few times, but my brother goes a lot. When I've been they've played like Swing music and stuff. Nice, studenty girls though. Mixed groups usually. Last time I was there, I was walking across the dancefloor from the smoking area, and one girl just grabbed me and started kissing me. She was OK looking so I won't attack 'rape culture'.
http://www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk/
- Head to
Deansgate Locks if you want a choice of a few bar/club venues. These places attract a mixed crowd, so you'll find rough lads and lasses from council estates rubbing alongside student hipsters and urban professionals.
Under each arch is a different venue.
- If you get good weather (unlikely), go to
The Oast House, lovely place in a very trendy and modern little section of the city called Spinningfields. It's got an old fashioned feel, although it's fairly new. As in, built in the last 10 years and opposed to some pubs that have been around for centuries, literally.
The weather is so shit in Manchester that even for promotional pictures they can't find a sunny day.
There are a few more places, such as
Font on Oxford Road, but since you're 35 I'd say you're a tad too old for the crowd there. I'm 27 and I'm starting to feel a little bit out of place. If you want young student girls though, Oxford Road is great. Also, you're coming in September...GREAT time to come. Freshers week starts on the 16th, so all the new and returning students for both Man Uni and Man Metropolitan will be arriving over the next week and while you're there. Shame you're not coming a week later when all the students will have definitely arrived. Or even just a few days later. I'd definitely be around then too, so we could go on the prowl for 18 year old freshers wanting to become acquainted with their new city...by shagging an American ha. I'm a local boy so not nearly as exotic, but I have the added advantage of being able to "show them around".
It's funny, when I write about Manchester, I realize what a cool place it actually is. [redacted]. I think as a foreigner though, especially an American, you'll absolutely love it and will want to relocate! It's a shame you're not here for longer. I think 2 weeks would be ideal to get everything done. I know what you Yanks are like, wanting to see Castles and all that, so if you had two weeks you could go and see some more Northern places, where people talk like Ned Stark from Game of Thrones.
If you do have time, I recommend taking the tram to Old Trafford (takes about 5 mins), and going to see Man U's stadium and having a guided tour. Don't bother with Man City's stadium, it's harder to get to and they aren't anywhere near as globally recognized or successful.
Hope this helps!