Manchester famously has everything except a beach, Stone Roses singer Ian Brown once quipped.
And it’s certainly true to say our fair city has a lot going for it. Bars, restaurants, shops, cafes, and gig venues are aplenty. But is there something Manchester city centre is missing?
To find out what those living, visiting, and working in town think the area needs, the Manchester Evening News spent an afternoon speaking to members of the public for their thoughts. Despite only having a small sample size, their answers were varied.
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James Gill, a 25-year-old aerospace engineer, perhaps had the most predictable answer. He said: “More greenery in the city centre. We need more plants and trees and general greenery.” That was also a complaint of Alex, the first person interviewed for our new ‘I work in town’ feature.
David Stephens, owner of the Leica shop on Police Street, had a more practical way of looking at things. “A DIY shop to go and buy a packet of screws, some bulbs, or something you need for a store,” he replied.
“We get everything online now. There used to be one on Chapel Street and it had everything. Now we have to go to B&Q in Cheetham Hill.”
Outside his store was Colin Geary. He started out as the ‘window-cleaning punk’ when he in 1978, wearing outlandish spiky hairstyles. He added: “People do not chat like they used to. There’s only so many shops where people can have a chat. People are more aloof.
“It’s turning into London. It is too sterile, another city. Manchester’s famous for its community.”
However, 74-year-old Linda Jawando, who lives in Fallowfield, said she loves the city as is. She explained: “It’s got everything. I think there’s plenty going on with clubs, pubs and eating places.
“I love it. I have been [living in Fallowfield] for 20 years. The Commonwealth Games were fantastic.”
There was a lot of love for Manchester from outside the city-region, too. Christine Pickup was visiting the city from Rossendale when the MEN spoke to her.
She said: “It has got everything at the minute, for children and adults. There’s bars for adults and shops and play areas for the kids.”
Matthew Gifford was another visitor from outside the city. The 17-year-old lives in Morley in Leeds, and had his say: “It is good for shopping. It seems quite open so I would add more shops and artwork.
“I have been to the Gallery today and that was good but it's concentrated in one area. There should be canvases with prints and sculptures, stuff like that and give more to visit rather than just the galleries.”
Read today's top stories here.
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