Manchester

Being a Yorkshireman it can be uneasy reconciling working in Manchester, we're a little past the War of the Roses, but there is always that sliver of tension. If you live down South, you might not understand -  it's just 'Oop North', but to us, well, we don't get along.

Truth be told though, I love Manchester. It has so much that my beloved Leeds doesn't. More grandeur, more heritage, more history...more.

Despite developing into a thoroughly modern city, a lifetime away from the place represented in 'Life on Mars', it's beating heart remains the same. A fiery pride that borders on arrogance, balanced by an upbeat, irreverent, almost cheeky spirit - unflappable in the face if whatever life wants to throw at it.

There's an amazing brew that marries all the history and heritage with a very progressive, modern and, forgive me me for the overused word, 'cool'.

Here we're looking at the Northern Quarter, a vast, sprawling collection of independent bars, places to eat, shops and flats you won't find anywhere except for Shoreditch or Camden or bits of Soho. Bit this is Manchester, so there's non of the self awareness or trying too hard. It just is. It's also wonderfully seedy.

And here's the thing I don't understand about Manchester. It has so much to be proud of, yet mostly what we hear is the football and the all the bands (most who are now a little like Oasis The Stone Roses or the Charlatans). Don't misunderstand me,  New Order and Joy Division are as good as it gets, while no one has a deeper or more abiding passion for The Smiths than I, but there's so much more to be proud of.

There's the birth of the feminism, the cradle of The Co-operative movement, the inspiration for Marxism, Shelagh Delaney, The Guardian and that's just for starters.

I'd like Manchester to show a face to the outside world that a little more than Corrie, the football teams and bands with floppy haircuts and funny walks (much as I'd like Yorkshire to revel in its 'Ayup, like what we say, say what we bloody like' character a little less).

Comments

[Rob Mortimer]

Absolutely.
I've been working here for almost 18 months, and living here for about 8; and I love the place.

Having grown up mostly down south in a place where people seemed to hate where they lived; it's so nice to be where people are proud of their city and its achievements. (Sheffield included there)

The centre (and also where you are) has such a great mix of cosmopolitan working buzz and real people. A mix of everything that somehow works.