London’s biggest newspaper discovers why you should visit Manchester’s Northern Quarter

It’s no longer grim up north according to the London Evening Standard.

If you notice a big increase in Londoners wandering round the Northern Quarter in the next few weeks, don’t be surprised. The Evening Standard – the capital’s equivalent to the Manchester Evening News – has discovered the Northern Quarter and is recommending it for a city break.

According to the article by Liz Connor published in the paper last week, ‘Manchester’s most unique, alternative district is a tangle of streets right in the heart of the city’s urban sprawl.’

‘Welcome to new Manchester – at least one part of it – where you can go in search of good food, craft beer and vintage finds,’ says Liz.

It’s a ‘relatively under-the-radar neighbourhood where you can make the most of its bohemian bars, vintage shops, independent galleries and decently priced pints.’

She recommends it for ‘any Londoner who wants an alternative night out without the banker-pseudo-hipsters of Shoreditch.’

According to Ms Connor, the Northern Quarter is located ‘just to the right of Piccadilly Gardens.’ (Or just to the left, depending on which way you’re facing).

It shouldn’t be difficult to spot our metropolitan visitors if they take Ms Connor’s advice. They’ll be dragging round half-packed suitcases so they can go thrift shopping for one-of-a-kind vintage clothing at Junk Shop, Pop Boutique and Retro Rehab. They’ll be looking for collectible comic books at Magma but not, surprisingly, at Travelling Man round the corner.

They’ll be buying vinyl from Piccadilly Records, Eastern Bloc and Vinyl Exchange and hanging out at Apotheca, El Capo and Cane and Grain before moving on to Black Dog Ballroom, Night and Day and Soup Kitchen.

They’ll be staying at Hotel Gotham to take advantage of the emergency hangover kit.

So please be nice to them. But not too nice. We don’t want them buying all our one-of-a-kind vintage clothing and drinking all our decently priced beer, now do we?