At the time there was a great deal of civil unrest. Walsh began his time with the co-op shooting some of the early ‘80s demos against Thatcher, the miners’ strikes, mass unemployment… with protests happening every week, the North along with the rest of the country was becoming increasingly politically charged.

Hooton thinks the fraternity between scenes and cities was genuine. “During that summer,” he says, “there was a feeling that it was the end of an era and a new dawn.” Out of acid house … Paul Oakenfold DJing in London. Photograph: PYMCA/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

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Russell T Davies’ 1999 drama about life on Manchester’s gay scene broke ground for LGBT depictions on UK television. It was also brilliant. And very explicit. The Doctor Who Revival Kevin Godley spoke of 10cc’s “all for one and one for all” attitude and “very northern work ethic” as the principles that enabled the band to develop as both top-tier producers and ultimately as internationally acclaimed songwriters and artists. Garrett had to take his invention to Wirral to find a bit of sea to test on it, which today would take you a bit longer than an hour to drive to from Manchester (sans submarine). The watercraft was dubbed “Resurgam”, which means “I shall rise again” in Latin. Ironically, follow-up vessel Resurgam II ended up sinking in Liverpool Bay. Vimto People’s History Museum: “ the national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future.“ John Rylands Library: Another place I always take my friends to if they are visiting! With architecture based on neo-gothic style, this beautiful library was officially opened to public on 1st January 1900! It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John Rylands.

A once-dominant source of entertainment in the Manchester area, Music Hall music and humor continued to linger on into the 20th century, morphing into new forms and arenas. Lancastrian George Formby emerged from this tradition. His ukulele-driven comedic songs brought him super-stardom on film screens and stages in Britain, while establishing musical aesthetics that the nation would inherit into its subsequent home-grown popular music. Kagoules, practical necessities in rain-drenched Manchester, became fashion accessories nationwide. David Burgess and I had a bit of an exchange of conversation about The Venue (The Olden days! ha) and he passed onto you a little hello from me on Saturday, Like the lists above, this list gives a glimpse of the several restaurants that Manchester offers. One of my favourite restaurants is Zouk Tea Bar and Grill. It is an Indian and Pakistani restaurant that is delightful and I cannot recommend it enough. Indian food is not cheap in the UK, at least in most Indian restaurants, so it may not be ideal if you are looking for somewhere casual and cheap to eat at. But I promise, the food in Zouk is amazing and totally worth the price. Another favourite authentic Indian restaurant is Indian Tiffin Room, which specialises in street food and serves both North Indian and South Indian food, a rare thing to see in the UK. I had my Maharashtrian cravings satisfied when I had a vada pav here! You can also get pani puri. Yummm. Mughli Charcoal Pit and Dishoom are two other fantastic Indian restaurants in the city.The reigning queen of all gentle observational humour. And Mrs Merton. Mrs Merton! Currently battling with cancer, we wish her and her firneds & family the best of wishes. Parliamentary reform The success of Queer As Folk in turn made RTD one of the most powerful writers in British television. When the BBC were courting him, the Manchester resident and lifelong fan used his bargaining power to broker a deal that would see Doctor Who return to TV screens. Chemistry The handiwork of one Danny Boyle, of Radcliffe, Bury, Greater Manchester. Visionary director. Caroline Aherne Originally sold as Vim Tonic, a health drink and alternative to drinking alcohol, Vimto was created at 19 Granby Row in Manchester’s city centre. Though both its name and the perception of fizzy drinks as good for you have changed over the years, it’s still a popular drink. So popular, in fact, that you can find a sculpture shaped like a giant bottle of Vimto at the University of Manchester. Vegetarianism An NME writer who covered the Madchester scene at the time and then later wrote And God Created Manchester.

Bootcut jeans and cords were essential. Clarks Wallabees in suede, Adidas Gazelles and shell-toed Superstars were go-to footwear. Yogi shoes with negative heels filtered through in the late 1990s. One particular drug is remembered as spoiling things. “1990 was the cocaine revival,” says Jane Bussman, “and it is the antithesis of ecstasy: go and buy another waistcoat and stand by the loo, you berk!” Gillespie recalls: “Later that year, when people moved to cocaine, things started to become more paranoid and edgy.” The city centre itself is wonderful stretching from Ancoats to Castlefield along a grubby street and canal network with architecture that marries modernity and history. It has the Northern Quarter awash with independent shops with Fred Aldous and Unitom at its epicentre in the surprisingly photogenic Stevenson Square. So that was it, I was on the stage and I was about six feet away from Shaun Ryder. I remember processing the pictures and one of them was Shaun with a joint in his hand looking straight at the camera, all I could think was “Wow these are actually alright.” So I sent the pictures down to the NME, and to my surprise, I got a call a few days later from the live editor Helen Mead: “Do you want to work for us up North?”There are several lists on the internet talking about the best pubs in the city. I’ll leave the research to you, if you are looking for pubs other than the ones I have already mentioned above. If you would prefer something of a more contemporary nature, then aluminium or acrylic panels can be a great alternative. Further information can be found here.

I just wanted to drop you a line and say you have saved my life. I will be attending the up and coming Stone Roses gig on the 1st July at Heaton Park whoop whoop!!... The idea of avoiding consuming meat came about thanks to sermons by Reverend William Cowherd held at the Beefsteak Chapel. The reverend was so into the vegetarian movement that he actually wrote vegetarian hymns to sing to his congregation. You really can’t make this stuff up.Nonetheless, while it lasted, the sense of creative possibility was real and intense. Oakenfold remembers Spike Island fondly, from his vantage point in a DJ booth up on a tower: “It was electric, a sea of people. It came right in the middle of something that was changing music - and we knew it. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m part of this!’”