Presenter shares his top five favourite Manchester haunts
As part of the Manchester Day celebrations XS Manchester breakfast show presenter and lifelong Manchester resident Steve Berry has shared his love of the city.
He has given TheBusinessDesk.com his exclusive list of his five favourite spots in the city
He said: “I have lived in Greater Manchester all my life and spent my youth working in and around what is now the Northern Quarter, in that time I have seen it go from industrial warehouses to a hub of culture, art, bars, restaurants and music venues.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work all around the world over the past forty years, but I always come back to Manchester. The only consistency with this city is that it’s always changing, and that is what makes it so brilliant. It is exciting and vibrant, and never stays still.”
Here are Steve’s recommendations for the city’s top drinking establishments, hidden gems and things to see and do around Manchester.
1. Corbiers – despite Manchester always changing, this small underground bar hasn’t changed in the forty years since it opened, and long may it stay the same. Tucked down some stairs off St Ann’s Square this bar has always offered one of the best drinking experiences in the city. Some argue it has the best jukebox in the city, like XS it’s full of indie classics and Manchester anthems, it also has good beer, great staff and an atmosphere that encapsulates the Manchester spirit.
2. Bundobust – a fairly new edition to the city, but a great one none the less. This Indian by Piccadilly Gardens manages to cater for my vegetarian girlfriend, who hates vegetarian food, as well as myself; someone who is happy as long as I can get a great beer to go with my food. They keep it simple, but you can’t argue with great quality curry and a beer.
3. The Portico Library & Gallery – my absolute favourite way to escape the hustle and bustle is to visit this hidden gem right in the city centre. On the corner of Mosley Street and Charlotte Street this Greek style building houses an independent, subscription library, which has a huge range of books and quiet rooms where you can sit back and read. None members can also enjoy this tranquil escape by visiting the gallery area or café – I guarantee there is not a more relaxing place for a cup of tea in Manchester.
4. Peggy’s Cocktail Bar – technically in Salford, but I don’t want a river to get in the way of people finding this outstanding cocktail bar. After spending time in Palm Springs, California, I thought I had tried the best cocktails the world had to offer, but Peggy’s, which is luckily right on my doorstep, easily comes a close second. The cocktail menu combined to a fantastic soundtrack all played on vinyl makes it a perfect drinking spot.
5. The architecture – not technically hidden gems, but I guarantee that most people walk past Manchester’s most spectacular buildings day-to-day and don’t take in the beauty of it all. From the Town Hall and Cathedral to John Rylands and Central Library, we live in a city that looks like, and is often used as, a film set. My girlfriend is from Canada and the John Rylands Library is her favourite building in the world, she says it is everything she imagined an English library to be like. But many of us have become blind to our city’s grandeur, as it’s part and parcel of our daily commute.
