Destination: Manchester

Hello 2014! Leaving 2013 behind me I embarked on my first trip of the year to Manchester. This trip was planned in November to aid my Dissertation as I'm investigating Manchester as a successful Gay tourism destination. Booking my train and hotel I waited for the first week of January 2014 to travel up north to Manchester, the Mancunian city! 

I did not know where to begin, I consulted the Metrolink map and decided to see the Salford Quays and MediaCityUK to get my Manchester trip going. Taking the Manchester Metrolink is a piece of cake and it doesn't cost the earth to discover this Mancunian wonder! Departing from Manchester Piccadilly Station I took the Metrolink bound for the cobbles of Coronation Street. Passing through Deansgate was great I saw lots of Manchester and I had only just stepped off my train from Wolverhampton. I would like to say that I'm the type that says 'No' to tourist maps at all costs for I like to make my own mistakes. I loved Manchester from the very first moment I stepped onto the Metrolink platform at Piccadilly Station for the staff answered my question with a smile and even engaged in conversation for a second, I think other cities need to take some training from the Mancunians!

In hot pursuit of the Rovers Return pub I chose to get off at the Salford Quays stop to find MediaCityUK, but by surprise I saw the home of Manchester United Football Club, Old Trafford which stood before me so that was a nice addition to the day. Reaching MediaCityUK didn't take too long for I could see the ITV and Coronation Street logo's standing before me across the quay, I wouldn't be permitted entry to the studios but it was good enough to see the studios anyway. As I walked around the quay I saw the Lowry Theatre and other amenities before seeing the main MediaCityUK headquarters, the new home of the BBC. I noticed that everything looked so new, I guess this new out-of-town facility is the future of television production? One thing I did love about the BBC side was that The Voice logo could be seen so I can only surmise that Kylie Minogue will be appearing at MediaCityUK for the filming of the upcoming series of that talent show!? My time in Manchester was shaping up pretty well, no rain had showed up yet so I was thankful for that!

Manchester is known for being the first city of the Industrial Revolution so I wanted to see a former Cotton Mill. I weighted up my options by choosing to visit Ancoats, a part of Manchester that's bouncing back from its Industrial past by renovation the listed mills into high-end apartments. I looked past the new beginning to visualise what things would of been like for Manchester during its cotton making days. Established in 1798, New Old Mill was originally built as part of the former McConnell and Kennedy Mills. Dating back to its beginnings from 1912 the New Old Mill pushed Manchester forward as one of the many Cotton Mills within the Manchester area. After a royal visit in 1942 by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth this mill was renamed to be called Royal Mill. 

Let's just say that being located beside the Rochdale Canal had its benefits for Manchester acted as a trailblazer for cotton production in England during the Industrial period. I do love history, well when its incorporated in seeing a new place and discovering something new. Moving into today's modern era the area captured to the right is part of the upcoming residential area known as New Islington, now who really wants a new build house when you could live in a former Cotton Mill? Manchester kept on showing me sights that I didn't expect to see, I know that reviving a previous project for my Dissertation subject was the correct decision to prompt a visit to Manchester. Now, the weather had been damn awful after the Christmas period so I was expecting the worse for my Mancunian weekend, but I have to say that first half of my Manchester discovery stayed dry but overcast, I preferred that rather than rain! The weather really does make a difference!  

I'm not one for shopping so I chose The Printworks over the Arndale Centre. I had heard a lot of things about The Printworks from my friend Lucy, so I had high hopes for my visit to The Printworks. Once the Withy Grove Printing House, this former Printworks produced publications from its 1873 opening where such newspapers ranged from the Manchester Evening Chronicle to the Daily Mirror until its closure in 1985. I wasn't there to buy a newspaper, I actually watched new release Last Vegas, it was a really good film that complemented my day in Manchester and my time spent at The Printworks. Boasting several restaurants, a nightclub and a Virgin Active Health Club I guess The Printworks has a lot to offer to visitors and Mancunians alike. I loved The Printworks, If I choose to visit Manchester again in the future I would definitely have a meal at one of the restaurants, enjoy a few drinks and watch another film at The Printworks! 

Now I've been to some places across the world, but I have to say that Manchester has such a warm feeling, well I mean the people were much nicer than in the West Midlands just in the simplest of ways. If I accidentally bumped into some one in the street, like I did as I was walking through Piccadilly Gardens on the way to The Printworks the Mancunian in-question even said sorry to me, now I hate to say this but that wouldn't of happening if I was walking down New Street in Birmingham. I have to say that Piccadilly Gardens looked great in the early evening sky, I had just finished watching Last Vegas at the Odeon at The Printworks and I have to say that I loved the golden lights that sat in the trees that I walked past, considering I don't care for Christmas lights I was quite impressed! Manchester, you're doing very well! 

Canal Street, the heart of Manchester's Gay Village was the main motivator for my trip to Manchester. After all, I had branded this excursion a Observational Educational Trip! Captured to the right side is Canal Street, I decided to take all my photos of this part of town during the day for I decided against taking my camera out with me that night. I had seen the television programme Queer As Folk so I had visualised what the Village would of looked like, I suppose that show was filmed a few years ago so things change but I wasn't put of by what I saw. My main focus of my visit to Manchester happened to build a picture for my current Dissertation project, my main theme is centred around Canal Street so it was only right I took a trip up to Manchester to experience what I'm studying. I wouldn't mind visiting again in the future but in the summer months for it was exceedingly cold that afternoon, so the vision of community was still visible but ever so slightly marred by the cold weather. 

Dressed to impress I made my way down to the Village to partake in some research, I chose to sample Rembrandt's where I saw Belinda Scandal perform her cabaret show. It was nice not to have my phone with me so I didn't have a clue what the time was, as the clock struck 1 am in the morning I left Rembrandt's for AXM. I must say that AXM was slightly quieter than Rembrandt's but it was all an experience! I wasn't satisfied with my night until I had thrown some shapes on the dancefloor so I traded AXM for the New Union on Princess Street. I had a great time at the New Union for I enjoyed a few drinks and danced to my hearts content, I must say that I'm pleased I chose to party at the New Union for it was a down-to-earth venue that didn't take itself to seriously unlike some of the other super-clubs! Canal Street, Manchester! You haven't seen the last of me! 

It's Got To Be Manchester! Joseph Harrison