Manchester may have built its name on industry, but it’s the independents that really make the city shine today. From vintage threads and cult labels to vinyl records, artisan treats and locally made homewares, the shopping scene is packed with personality. If you’re after something one of a kind — and want to support local makers while you’re at it — head for the Northern Quarter or the up-and-coming Green Quarter, where eclectic boutiques sit alongside buzzing bars, galleries and cafés.
“Manchester has been a melting pot of cultures for decades,” says Greg Hull, co-director of Manchester Three Rivers Gin, a premium, small-batch gin company based in the city. “After the war, there was a large amount of immigration into the city, and it brought with it a range of new ideas, culture, food and drink. In conjunction, the city’s industries had been declining over a number of years, and this left many spaces such as warehouses, railway stations and historic buildings all vacant. The people’s drive to be creative had not been stymied; they just needed a new outlet.
“Add in the notorious wet weather and you have a city full of diverse culture, creativity, industriousness and epic vacant spaces, where we people can revel in being indoors. This became the breeding ground for the music scene explosion, and more recently the boom in the diverse food and drink and craft production.”
To help you track down some of Manchester’s best hidden retail gems, we spoke to locals in the know about these fascinating neighborhoods. We discovered what makes the city such a great hub for independent shops and businesses – then rounded up some recommendations.
