6 min read
Newly opened
HANGOUT: CULTUREPLEX
CULTUREPLEX (pictured above) is Manchester’s newest hang-out, located on the ground floor in the refurbished and newly opened Ducie St Warehouse - offering a space to work and meet, watch a film or listen to a talk, grab a coffee or sit down for a meal or drinks. The space incorporates: Bistrotheque restaurant, which offers an evolving seasonal menu by Blaine Duffy along with some Bistrotheque classics, serving dinner seven nights a week and brunch on the weekends; Klatch coffee counter; a communal lounge area and bar; private dining areas; a flower shop; and a cinema curated by HOME.
- See also: hangout spots – The Refuge; Hatch; Mackie Mayor; and Stretford Food Hall
WORKOUT: BLOK
BLOK gym can also be found within Ducie Street Warehouse, the brand’s first location outside of London. BLOK Manchester boasts a 5000 sqft space that encompasses fitness, fashion, art and design – with three studios, state of the art changing facilities and a large retail area. There are 25 different class concepts to choose from, with over 180 classes per week, bringing dance, cardio, boxing, yoga, strength and conditioning workouts under one roof to Manchester.
- See also: boutique workout spots – Barry’s Bootcamp; Gym & Juice; KOR; and Foodwell
STAY: Native
The final piece of the Ducie Street Warehouse puzzle is Native aparthotel, offering 166 luxury serviced apartments starting from a studio to a two-bedroom duplex penthouse. Housed alongside everything that CULTUREPLEX offers on the lower floors, and just around the corner from Piccadilly train station, Native is the perfect city-centre base camp for a weekend city break with prices starting from just £84.
- See also: aparthotels – Staybridge Suites; CitySuites; Whitworth Locke; and Supercity
EAT: Three Little Words
Last month we brought to you some news regarding Manchester’s newest gin making experience at The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, housed under 6 railway arches directly underneath former train station Manchester Central convention centre. Manchester Gin’s new premises is also home to a bar and restaurant; Three Little Words – where crafted cocktails take centre stage and the dishes are inspired by botanicals from around the world.
- See also: new resturants you may have missed – El Camino; Wilderness; and Street Urchin
DRINK: Sammy’s
Another new addition to the northern fringe of the city home to Mackie Mayor, Band on the Wall and the iconic Bar Fringe, Sammy’s is a new cocktail bar disguised as a retro 70s café. Step inside to find vintage styles, lots of yellow, and a Wes Anderson esque aesthetic – hidden with no signage on the site of an old chip shop.
- See also: hidden bars – Wood & Co; Dusk Til Pawn; Convenience Store; and Speak in Code
Coming soon
FESTIVAL: Indy Man Beer Con
Indy Man Beer Con returns this weekend, from 3-6 October with the main festival hub at the iconic Victoria Baths. A four-day celebration of beer and food, the hub itself has completely sold out, but off-site tap takeovers and intimate warehouse tastings will also be taking place across the four days.
- See also: taprooms – Track; Seven Bro7hers; Runaway; and Cloudwater
EVENT: Manchester Art Fair
Manchester Art Fair is back from 11-13 October at Manchester Central, selling modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography and editioned prints from a selection of UK and international galleries and artists. Now in its 11th year, this year sees a number of events and activities to get involved with, on top of the fair itself, artist-led spaces and The Manchester Contemporary.
- See also: galleries – Manchester Art Gallery; The Whitworth; and Castlefield Gallery
EVENT: Halloween in the City
Halloween is again in sight, and Halloween in the City is back for another year - this time with another giant rooftop monster invasion, Trick or Treat trail, skeleton parade, spooky screenings, a mad science castle, creepy carnival and poisonous maze. Hosted by Manchester BID, the city-wide event will also see a Halloween makeover across the city, with some of the buildings turning green and thousands of pumpkin lanterns being hung to celebrate the spookiest day of the year. For updates, follow @halloweenmcr.
- See also: creepy stories and gothic history - HAUNT Manchester
FESTIVAL: Lightopia
Europe’s biggest lantern and light festival comes to Manchester this year, from 21 November until 31 December. Giant lanterns, lights, lasers, water screen shows, acrobats and musicians will come to Heaton Park for Lightopia’s European debut, alongside family rides and street food.
- See also: Manchester Christmas Markets and Ice Village
FESTIVAL: Manchester Literature Festival
Presenting live literature and spoken word from across the globe, Manchester Literature Festival runs 4-20 October this year, including 80 events and new commissions. Tickets are available to book for a number of events, including a conversation with award-winning British novelist, David Nicholls, author of One Day, Us and Starter for Ten; a conversation with the author of critically acclaimed bestsellers Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng, Guy Garvey and Simon Armitage in conversation and a number of walking tours, among much more in a packed line-up.
- See also: literary hotspots - The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Elizabeth Gaskell's House, John Rylands Library, Chetham's Library
EVENT: Manchester Christmas Markets
The countdown is on for the Manchester Christmas Markets, returning on 8 November, seven days a week until 21 December. The main hub will again be at Albert Square, and this year the markets will be joined by a range of Christmas attractions, including the return of the Ice Village, a new ice rink, new festive lights across the city and a brand-new giant Santa, taking over from Manchester’s much loved and iconic Zippy.
- See also: What's on this Christmas
In case you missed it
University Academy 92
University Academy 92 is a new university located opposite Old Trafford Cricket Ground, offering a new approach to traditional higher education. Set up by the class of 92 – Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville, UA92 is the result of these former Manchester United players wanting to give young people a start in life that’s as exceptional as the character-defining experiences they shared at Manchester United and into their lives now in the world of media and business. The university offers six courses, with another three being developed for the 2020 intake of students, all awarded by Lancaster University. Also one of UA92’s partners, Lancaster University joins Trafford Council, Bruntwood, Microsoft, Trafford College, KPMG and Lancashire County Cricket Club in shaping the university’s co-developed curriculum, arming graduates with not just a degree, but valuable skills needed to enter the world of work.
