Having lived near Shoreditch all my life – it has always only been a few tube stops away – it came as quite a shock earlier this year when I moved to Manchester for an exciting new role with a PR company. The move has been fantastic and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of discovering Manchester one cobbled street at a time. And yet, upon landing amongst the red brick and gothic architecture of the city centre, I was at a puzzle as to where I would now find myself on Saturday nights when I wanted a bagel at 3am, where I could recover the next day curled up in my favourite café, and where I would sip beer at a street BBQ in the Summer.There is no doubt that Shoreditch is a unique area that cannot be duplicated or recycled. And yet I was determined to find its equivalent. Upon delving into the backstreets of Manchester city centre, I found it in the uniquely creative, stylish and cultural Northern Quarter.
Like Shoreditch, the Northern Quarter has a very different character during the day as it does when the city goes to sleep – a time when, for some of us, the day is only beginning. The area hosts some of the best tea houses and, during the weekend, you’ll find yourself more often than not queuing in anticipation of a rich slice of Red Velvet cake and warming cup of tea. Such you will find at Tea Cup on Thomas Street. With eclectic wooden furniture and chintzy teacups, it’s a haven for tea-lovers everywhere and serves mean posh beans on toast all week round – just one of its delicious breakfasts. Lunchtime offers fantastic pies and sandwiches but the real delight is scrawling through the endless tea menu. From David Shrigley’s ‘Anti-Psychotic Tea’ to organic pink rose buds and everything in-between, the atmosphere is casual and the service friendly.
Walk out of Tea Cup and you’ll find a myriad of vintage and second-hand stores nestled in-between old book and record shops with people rifling through stacks of old vinyl.It might feel like a bit of a maze when you first visit it but behind every corner is another independent café, restaurant or boutique art gallery to discover.
Walking through the Northern Quarter on any weekday afternoon and the area may feel a little sleepy. Revisit it after twilight however, and the bars and clubs that line the streets have woken up from their siesta and have flung back the doors. The Apotheca is one of the best bars around, with knowledgeable mixologists serving great cocktails (as well as pizzas and sharing platters) after work and at the weekend. The bar is kitted out with antique pharmacy cabinets and glass bottles that visitors can gaze up at while perched at the bar. Alternatively, recline into the classic Queen Anne chairs or black sofas dotted around the bar. The whole ambience is relaxed yet decadent – be sure to try the violet and white chocolate martini if you visit. Other bars to keep an eye out for are Trof, Walrus and Odd Bar.
Maybe it is the unequivocalfriendliness of Manchester, but the Northern Quarter remains largely unpretentious. Like Shoreditch, there is always something to see and do and is buzzing with creative types. Saying that, I’m still on the look-out for a 24-hour bagel shop.
