A Manchester thread for all things Manc

[farmerbarleymow]

John Rylands Library is worth visiting, and if they're open The Portico Library and of course Chethams Library.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Don't think Manchester Museum opens on Mondays either.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

the transport museum (not quite city centre, but fairly close to a metrolink station) isn't open mondays / tuesdays or i'd suggest that. likewise the heaton park tramway is now closed until next year.

there used to be a good radical / alternative bookshop not far from piccadilly - can't remember if it had a cafe space as well. anyone local know if it's still there? i can't remember what it was called or exactly where it was, and searches haven't come up with anything.

the national football museum seems to have moved to manchester. it wasn't there last time i went.

must be over 20 years since i last set a paw in manchester

 

[hitmouse]

So I'm going to be spending 24 hours in Manchester this Mon - Tues.

Can some kindly soul produce a must-see/visit list of interesting places?

I fancy the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester Museum and Manchester Art Gallery although I doubt if I'll be able to see all three without overloading on culture.

What else is worth checking out? How about cafes/alternative spaces etc?

Much obliged!

People's History Museum is definitely worth a look if you're interested in that stuff. Cafes/alternative spaces tend to be a bit far-flung cos city centre rents are ridiculous, but let me think... Old Abbey Taphouse in Hulme is a lovely establishment that you should definitely have a look at if you're round there, as is Kim's Kitchen, also in Hulme. P3 Annihilation Eve (formerly Peste) is a little bit (ok, more than a little bit) silly and hipster but I like it and it's worth seeing imo, maybe see if there's anything on at Islington Mill while you're there? The Carlton Club is a nice community venue in Whalley Range, maybe try and have a look at Niamos/Nia centre? Round Didsbury and Withington way, there's Fuel Cafe and Cafe Blah, both of those are worth a look for nice/interesting/alternative cafe places. You should try and have a pint in Gulliver's, Castle Hotel and the Peer Hat as well, I reckon. Will you be based in any particular area?

Also, Working Class Movement Library says "The archive reading room appointments from Tuesday – Friday from 10AM to 4PM. Our display spaces are are open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 1.00pm to 4.30pm and there is a tour of the library every Friday at 2pm." So not ideal but you might be able to make an appointment for the reading room if you're curious?

 

[The39thStep]

The Science and Industry Museum ( MOSI) is always a good shout. Whitworth art Gallery is/was always closed Monday but open Tuesday, The Northern Quarter is worth walk round for eats and beers , years since I have been but the Port Street Beer House always had a good selection., Oldham Road has the Castle where I once went to an Urban meet when I was still in the UK. The Marble Arch has its own brewery.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

You may like to peruse Eastern Bloc Records ed
Eastern Bloc Records Manchester opens at 7:30am

Or Afflecks Palace over the road

https://afflecks.com/pages/about-us

Plus lots of other stuff in the Northern Quarter

Arts & Culture - Northern Quarter Manchester

Find out about arts & culture in the Northern Quarter

northernquartermanchester.com

 

[Saul Goodman]

You may like to peruse Eastern Bloc Records ed
Eastern Bloc Records Manchester opens at 7:30am

Or Afflecks Palace over the road

https://afflecks.com/pages/about-us

Plus lots of other stuff in the Northern Quarter

Arts & Culture - Northern Quarter Manchester

Find out about arts & culture in the Northern Quarter

northernquartermanchester.com

Afflecks Palace used to be good in the late 80s/early 90s. Is it still good or has it been gentrified and shittified?
Eastern Bloc was excellent, too.

 

[stethoscope]

Been so long since I got across to Manchester, perhaps next year now. The two Urban meets I made some years ago now were great nights

 

[zahir]

Manchester Jewish Museum is quite modest really but at least it's open on a Monday. The cafe isn't bad.

Manchester Jewish Museum

Manchester Jewish Museum is a place to experience how we are different, together. Open seven days a week from 10am-5pm, sharing the stories of Jewish Manchester with the world.

www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com

eta: except that it's closed in the afternoon tomorrow

Please note that tomorrow, on Monday, 30 September, the museum will close at 12pm for a private event. You can still visit us in the morning – we open at 10am and last entry will be at 11am. We apologise for any inconvenience. We’ll reopen as usual from Tuesday, 1 October.​

 

[hitmouse]

Crowdfunder to help Hulme residents taking Manchester City Council to court:

Fight for Manchester’s land: Ensure our Council stand up to Developers

A campaign by residents of Hopton Court & Aquarius Estate, fighting plans to turn the Gamecock into student flats.

www.crowdjustice.com

Private developers, Curlew Alternatives Eighth Property LP, have been pushing for permission to build student accommodation on the site of the former Gamecock pub in Hulme for years.

Not only do these plans ignore the needs of the existing community in Hulme, but building a 9-storey block on this relatively tiny piece of land would completely overshadow the surrounding area. Development work would also create gridlock at this key public transport artery for the city.

These are just some of the reasons that the planning committee had previously refused the plans on four separate occasions.

But Manchester City Council allowed the developers to come back again and again. The planning office exploited the use of the Council’s own written constitution, telling the committee that they could only make a ‘minded to refuse’ verdict, effectively permanently deferring final refusal. This gave the developers an advantage.

Now, on the fifth attempt, the development has been given the green light.

We believe that this decision was made unlawfully, and we need your help to stop this development going ahead!

We need £10,000 to protect the campaign from adverse legal costs. Donate now and share our appeal with friends, family and colleagues.

Apparently all donations received this week will be matched.

 

[The39thStep]

Which reminds me of the book about him Never Counted Out -The Story of Len Johnson

​

 

[editor]

I visited the Museum of Illusions and can definitely recommend it!





I also checked out the National Football Museum which didn't impress me as much.

 

[hitmouse]

Quick crosspost from the housing crisis thread, story on disrepair in social housing focusing on Middleton:

'There's water running down the walls': Social housing complaints soar by 162% as council repairs costs quadruple

An investigation by LBC has found local councils are experiencing a surge in the number of complaints concerning the condition of social housing and, as a result, facing ever-increasing repair bills.

www.lbc.co.uk

For more on the Middleton tenants fighting for repairs and compensation, there's an indepth interview with them on Renters' Radio here:

 

[hitmouse]

There Is Pride In A Union

GMTU Presents: There is Pride in a Union!

On November 30th we will be running a screening of the 2014 Film, Pride, which focuses on the support shown to the Miner's strike by the LGBTQIA+ community in the 80s.

We are returning that solidarity, with an event run by Unions which will be providing support and solidarity to the Trans community when it is needed most.

We will also be hosting a gig after the film, with music from the incredible Third Kulture, and the DJ Sebastien Astbury.

Join us to raise some money for a great cause! All profits raised will go to Trans Mutual Aid Manchester and Rainbow Noir.

10 tickets are available for low income attendees - we expect all attendees to act in good faith when purchasing these tickets.

 

[Winot]

Anything cool happening in MCR this weekend? I'm up visiting my daughter. Ta.

 

[hitmouse]

Anything cool happening in MCR this weekend? I'm up visiting my daughter. Ta.

Is this of any interest to you and/or your daughter?

Blah! Blah!! Blah!!!

Writers For Café Blah: A #SaveCaféBlah Fundraiser. Poetry and prose for the people!

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Any idea what sort of things you're looking for? There's a free disco/house/techno night at the Overdraught in Levenshulme tonight which I reckon should be pretty good if that's what you're looking for, but not much help if you're not looking for disco or techno.

Oh, and a fabric/textiles workshop at the People's History Museum:

The Fabric of Protest, Sat 23 November 2024, 1.00pm – 3.00pm - People's History Museum

 

[Winot]

Is this of any interest to you and/or your daughter?

Blah! Blah!! Blah!!!

Writers For Café Blah: A #SaveCaféBlah Fundraiser. Poetry and prose for the people!

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Any idea what sort of things you're looking for? There's a free disco/house/techno night at the Overdraught in Levenshulme tonight which I reckon should be pretty good if that's what you're looking for, but not much help if you're not looking for disco or techno.

Oh, and a fabric/textiles workshop at the People's History Museum:

The Fabric of Protest, Sat 23 November 2024, 1.00pm – 3.00pm - People's History Museum

They all sound great thanks - I’ll see what she thinks. We both like techno but I’m not sure she’ll be prepared to go clubbing with her Dad

 

[Winot]

We've got tickets for the Blah! thing hitmouse - it's close to her student house. Thanks for the recommendation.

Going to Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats for dinner.

 

[hitmouse]

Ah, I'm hoping to make it to that, so may well see you there. I see Manchester is obliging you by providing some proper Manchester weather for your visit as well, the weather today is much like it was when Cloo and editor came up.

 

[Winot]

Ah, I'm hoping to make it to that, so may well see you there. I see Manchester is obliging you by providing some proper Manchester weather for your visit as well, the weather today is much like it was when Cloo and editor came up.

Cool. A 53 year-old bloke with a 19-year-old daughter shouldn't be hard to spot.

 

[Serge Forward]

Just saw this advertised in Salford Life (free council mag that came though my mam's letterbox).

 

[Serge Forward]

Salford International Brigade Crowdfunder link here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/salford-international-brigade-memorial

 

[hitmouse]

Various things happening over the next week or so:
Sunday:

End-of-Year Manchester Grassroots Community Gathering!

As the year comes to a close, we invite everyone across Greater Manchester doing awesome grassroots work in their communities (or interested) to gather - to reflect on the work we’ve all been up to this year, discuss what next year holds in stall, and hang out together as we look forward to a...

actionnetwork.org

As the year comes to a close, we invite everyone across Greater Manchester doing awesome grassroots work in their communities (or interested) to gather - to reflect on the work we’ve all been up to this year, discuss what next year holds in stall, and hang out together as we look forward to a massively deserved rest over the festive period.
We’ll be holding our very first community assembly - woo! - encouraging everyone to share what they’ve been up to, what we all need to further our work, and what a Greater Manchester wide solidarity network should look like moving forward together into the new year, continuing to build meaningful community resilience and collective power in our city.
We’ll also be showing a short film about one movement across the Atlantic that we’ve been particularly inspired by recently - Co-Operation Jackson in Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
There’ll also be a pay-as-you-feel roast dinner (the highlight really, let’s face it! ) courtesy of the mighty Food Justice Network and a good ol’ ramshackle of kitchen volunteers! Please bring CASH if you can ‘cause y’know, the banks….
All food will be vegan, and consist of locally-grown organic produce and re-purposed supermarket surplus, turning capitalist waste into community power.
There’ll be fun activities for children too, as part of our commitment to inclusivity, accessibility and diversity. Parents of youngsters should never be left out, and neither should the kids - this is their city and their world too, and they are the adults of the future.
Live music TBA very soon - keep an eye out on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Register for free, and let us know if you’re eating with us so we know how many to cook for.
Solidarity!
Co-Operation Manchester.

Wednesday:

Delivering Justice: Towards a History of Food Delivery Workers’ Organising - Working Class Movement Library

In the summer of 2016, Deliveroo workers in London openly took collective action for the first time – first in opposition to punitive immigration raids, and then against a severe pay cut. In the years since, food delivery in the so-called “gig economy” has emerged as a site of intense struggle...

wcml.org.uk

Delivering Justice: Towards a History of Food Delivery Workers’ Organising​

In the summer of 2016, Deliveroo workers in London openly took collective action for the first time – first in opposition to punitive immigration raids, and then against a severe pay cut. In the years since, food delivery in the so-called “gig economy” has emerged as a site of intense struggle between workers and “platform” companies. Strike waves regularly spread across multiple towns and cities, alongside local wildcat strikes and long-term efforts to organise this defiant workforce.

Join us to discuss the history and future of food delivery workers’ struggle in Britain. Morgan Rhys Powell, from the Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest, will present research on the major events and developments in workers’ organising efforts. Alex Marshall, President of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and a former courier of eight years, will discuss the successes and challenges of unionisation in the sector. And Celestino Santos Pereira, a Brazilian food delivery worker who joined the IWGB after a strike in February 2024, will discuss his experience of work and of fighting for better conditions.

This event is co-hosted by the Leeds Index of Platform Labour Protest and Digit: The Digital Futures At Work Research Centre.

As part of this event, we invite donations of materials from food delivery workers’ campaigns (such as leaflets, placards and banners) to the Library. Please bring any relevant materials that you would like to donate to the event.

Friday:

Join this night out to raise money for strikers at Transport for Greater Manchester, NHS mental health Early Intervention Service, Loreto and Xaverian 6th for colleges.
Entry is £10/£5 (pay on the door), and free for strikers and their families.
The party is upstairs (accessible via lift) in the English Lounge, near Shudehill Interchange.
Hosted by UNISON, Unite, the National Education Union and Manchester TUC.
Details of how to contribute to TfGM strike funds are at https://stopthedrop.uk/support.
Strike funds for the NHS Early Intervention Service are as follows:
UNISON strike fund via Unity Trust account “GMMH Branch”, account number 20383231 sort code 60-83-01. Please put "EIS STRIKE" in the description.
Unite strike fund "Unite Central Manchester Health NW63 Branch", Unity Trust Bank, Account 20295183, Sort Code 60-83-01, reference "GMMH strike".

 

[PR1Berske]

Fierce is to close:

Popular NQ bar owned by award-winning brewery to close after four years

'It’s going to be unsustainable to continue operating the venue'

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk