New York writer finds ‘shiny’ Manchester under ‘layers of soot’
A JOURNALIST for The New York Times has applauded Manchester in an article, which rounds up the top things to see and do in the city.
Highlights include restaurants, attractions and hotels in the form of a 36-hour guide, which spans much of the city centre.
“A visit becomes an exercise in peeling back layers of sooty, hardworking history to arrive at a shinier, bustling and hopeful present,” author Susanne Fowler writes.
It comes after two glowing articles from the US daily. Last year The New York Times came to the Northern Quarter and Ancoats and loved it, claiming ‘young entrepreneurs’ have revived the city. Before that, Manchester was listed in the paper’s list of ‘places to visit in 2015’ with neither London or Birmingham featuring.
Here are the cultural highlights , according to The New York Times... The People’s History Museum, The Whitworth Art Gallery, and Elizabeth Gaskell’s House are all picked out as must-see attractions.
Manchester’s theatres get a mention too: Manchester Opera House, The Palace Theatre, ‘engaging new plays’ at Royal Exchange Theatre, and The Bridgewater Hall are all noted.
The article encourages visitors to get out and about, whether that’s by visiting the sculpture of computer science pioneer Alan Turing, or taking a tour with New Manchester Walks.
According to the article, Northern Quarter shopping emporium Afflecks is fondly reminiscent of a ‘1960s head shop’ (a store specialising in counterculture or cannabis culture), while Manchester Craft and Design Centre is the place to go for regional artists.
The ‘cathedral-esque’ John Rylands Library is also worth a visit, as some will ‘enjoy traipsing up the Gothic building’s stone staircase or down to its original Victorian toilets.’
Meanwhile, the Premier League clubs Manchester United or Manchester City would be the ‘highlight of the weekend’ for football fans, but a stop at the National Football Museum will still ‘score points’. The ‘rustic’ Oast House in Spinnigfields is noted as the place to mingle with Mancunians, and Mr Thomas’ Chop House a must-visit for ‘British classics’, while North Tea Power and Home Sweet Home are highlights from ‘Manchester’s hipster zone’ (aka the Northern Quarter).
For afternoon tea, the article favours The Sculpture Hall Cafe at the Town Hall, or Richmond Tea Rooms for the ‘Alice in Wonderland experience’.
Dinner highlights are the ‘conversation-friendly’ Adam Reid at The French, or the ‘swank’ Lowry Hotel’s River Restaurant. Visitors will find ‘contemporary comfort and boutique-hotel chic’ at the Principal Manchester on Oxford Road, says the article, praising its ‘lovely period faience’ and ‘soaring ceilings’.
Motel One on London Road gets a less enthusiastic mention for its ‘sleek design’ which makes up for the ‘dingy feel of the street outside’.