Manchester - the London of the North

My youngest child, 23,  has a Christmas job in Harvey Nichols. He's not front of shop but behind the scenes, delivering goods to different departments and loading vans to deliver goods to the homes of the Cheshire set. I received a text from him on his first day - I pad cover, £395! Say What? Yesterday, my niece aged 16 and I (aged much older) went to Manchester for the day and hoped to meet him. It is stunning. The crowds, the decorations, the restaurants, the market, the street entertainment - just as good as any you would find in Covent Garden- are all (almost) up to London standards.

We shopped for a few hours and then decided to try to have lunch, or whatever name you can give to a meal at 3.30 in the afternoon, and went down to The Print-works area, where the high end shops are, including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. We tried to eat at the Hard Rock cafe, but it would be a 50 minute wait.A real shame as she has a bit of a thing about the Hard Rock cafe. Still, I was able to by her a charm to add to her bracelet of Hard Rock cafe charms of those she has    previously visited.  I had been told 2 days previously that bookings were not taken at the Hard Rock cafe.So we were given a bleeper which would bleep when there was a table ready. We gave it 7 minutes, wandered round and looked at the photos, used the toilets with the almost impossible to use taps until someone, accustomed to a Hard Rock tap, pressed gently where it said Press, and out came the water. The bleeper was handed in and we then headed off to Prezzo - quieter, though still busy, more spacious and probably better food. Lovely it was. Pizza Vesuvius for me and Spaghetti Carbonara for her. My son couldn't meet us; out on a delivery, which was a shame for several reasons, but the one reason that I was particularly concerned about was that my boy is chatty, always has been and he's witty and excellent company. Fond of my niece as I am, she doesn't talk all that much.

Manchester is thriving - 2 very successful universities add to the hoards of young people crowded round the city centre, along with 2 highly successful football teams, which add significant economic benefits to the region.  But it's not just this and the other aspects mentioned. There is an atmosphere, no doubt assisted by the time of year, created by a city centre at the zenith of its success. In the main area of shops there are  no boarded up places as there are on so many high streets, no charity shops, plenty of high-end shops such as Hobbs, Russell and Bromley, Diesel,  and Jigsaw. Confidence abounds, exuded by the many shoppers carrying several smart bags, their purchases within.

Moving towards the station, things get a little more down market. There is a distinct aroma of cannabis in the air, strongly suggesting that the police are turning a blind eye to minor law-breaking. The ubiquitous Pound shop is there and a leather shop, hard leather, biker leather, not the leather of Selfridges coats and bags, which seems to be so processed that ironically it barely looks like leather at all. There's a Gregg's, a Barnado's charity shop and a greasy spoon. There are a few beggars - oh the agony they bring to the middle classes - to give or not to give? - and several drunk people who are tolerated as long as they do not become abusive or unruly.

 But, once inside the station we go upmarket again. Monsoon, an expensive greeting card shop, Thornton's chocolates and enough baristas to form an orchestra. On the upper floor there is a Marks and Spencer's food shop - Simply M+S as it bills itself. The station is well-organised, clean, controlled and generally feels safe.

Manchester has a magnificent town hall and a stunning library too. Compared to  London though, these are very modest boasts as the capital has such a wealth of showstopping sights. Borough Market in Southwark has no competitor from the provinces though and Trafalgar Square, the museums and the galleries, the theatres are world class of course.

That said, Manchester is a good place to be, especially for a young person, especially if the young person is from Yorkshire because Leeds and Sheffield simply cannot compete. Manchester's Primark is huge and packed. We did 40 minutes inside which was far too much for me but, I suspect, not enough for my niece. Again, not as big as the one on Oxford Street in London.

So Manchester wins for the North, is the London of the North, but has a long, long way to go to beat London as so many places have.
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