CURRENT POPULATION: 441,000
% POP GROWTH: 2.5 %
CITY AREA: 115.65 KM2

CITY DENSITY: 3,815 INH/KM2
GDP PER CAPITA: €18,800
DIALLING CODE: +44

WITH FRIENDS
OLIVE PRESS
4 LLOYD STREET
TEL. 0161 832 9090
Part of a local chain, the rustic Olive Press serves handmade pizzas, pasta and salads, such as prosciutto, pear, pecorino and truffle honey, as well as fish dishes. An unusual range of wines makes for a lovely urban escape.

ENTERTAINING A CLIENT
NUMERO
MANCHESTER 235, 2 WATSON STREET
TEL. 0161 828 0344
Housed just inside the glass-bound Manchester 235 casino, this lively and stylish Italian restaurant has authentic dishes on its menu. Go for carpaccio of beef to start followed by braised pork belly with a glass of rare grappa for dessert. And if you need to send an urgent email, there’s free Wi-Fi for customers.  

CLOSING THE DEAL
LOUNGE TEN
10 TIB LANE
TEL. 0161 834 1331
A favourite of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, the modern British menu at Lounge Ten includes potted confit of duck, fillet steak with crayfish and an ambitious wine list. The glamorous décor behind the facade of the listed building includes velvet, oil paintings and a bathroom designed by Vivienne Westwood.

RELAX
BAR FRINGE
8 SWAN STREET
TEL. 0161 835 3815
A local favourite, Bar Fringe specialises in real ales, good bar food and friendly staff. Visitors won’t be short of conversation either, as the tables are surrounded by eclectic decoration including a real motorbike. And a jukebox pumps out everything from metal to indie classics.

STYLE
CINNABAR
LORD NORTH STREET, OFF HULME HALL LANE
TEL. 0161 202 0055
The bubble seats and lanterns of this contemporary bar were designed by the team behind Paris’ Buddha Bar. In such opulent surrounds Cristal or Bollinger are the obvious drinks, and there’s an excellent Thai restaurant in the same building too.

BUSINESS
PARK INN
4 CHEETHAM HILL ROAD
TEL. 0161 436 1931
Just completed in July, this new hotel is set to be a favourite with music fans thanks to its location next to Europe’s largest indoor stadium, the MEN Arena. The 252 spacious rooms come decked in a neutral colour scheme with enough primary colour to keep them interesting. In the basement, a black glass-lined pool takes pride of place, alongside steam rooms, sauna and a gym. With a contemporary British restaurant and bar on offer, this four-star is perfect for the traveller who doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.

VALUE
TRAVELODGE
22 GREAT ANCOATS STREET
TEL. 0871 984 6282
This central outlet of the Travelodge chain is in Manchester’s fashionable Northern Quarter. Parking is nearby and the hotel is a mere five minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Station. The city’s best comedy, jazz and underground clubs are just a short walk away too.

BESPOKE
RADISSON EDWARDIAN HOTEL
FREE TRADE HALL, PETER STREET
TEL. 0161 835 9929
The five-star Radisson Edwardian hotel is partly housed in the former Free Trade Hall. It comes with nearly 200 years of history along with all the mod cons you’d expect from this brand. Balconies, connecting rooms, a luxurious spa and 263 rooms with Wi-Fi are highlights.

Located over two sites in the Northern Quarter, Manchester’s two Richard Goodall galleries (www.richardgoodallgallery.com) are worth seeking out. The 59 Thomas Street branch has a changing programme of cult, comic and graphic artwork, while the venue at 103 High Street focuses on photography.

Rusholme is home to Manchester’s Curry Mile, a stretch of the city housing independent restaurants and takeaways as well as shops selling food, clothes and music from south Asia. Shere Khan is a highlight for spice-loving diners and Punjab is best known for its masala dosai.

Lyme Park (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) is a rambling and beautiful park. Home to deer that provide venison to Manchester’s finest restaurants, there are signposted walks in the grounds, as well as a house to explore and a restaurant serving up takes on local dishes.

Manchester is home to two rival football teams – United and City. Beside City’s ground in East Manchester is a red plaque that explains this is the exact site on which United’s original ground was located. Of course, Manchester United’s grounds have been on the other side of the city in Old Trafford since 1910.

WORDS BY RUTH ALLAN