There are many factors that determine whether a city is a good place for an overseas person to come and live.
There are some that apply to all, such as personal safety and how welcoming it is; while other factors, such as the cultural scene and the travel opportunities, will appeal to some more than others. Researchers regularly speak to expats living in destinations across the world to determine which hit the right vibe and which do not.
How does Manchester fare?
Really well, according to Expat Explorer, who chat to expats globally. The food scene is one of the city’s biggest pluses. The Curry Mile and its huge Chinatown are just two of the areas that give Manchester a better rating than London when it comes to cuisine. Culturally, it rates higher than the likes of Prague and Barcelona, and internationally it ranks sixth for affordability when overseas residents are quizzed on the cost of living.
How about the UK’s other major cities?
Those who live in London really appreciate its thriving job market, and it also scores highly for culture and sightseeing. Likewise, Birmingham does very well for career opportunities and is more affordable than London. North of the border, Edinburgh rates highly for culture and things to see, while Glasgow is regarded as a very friendly and hospitable place.
International hotspots
When it comes to food, you can’t beat Bangkok apparently, although Sao Paolo and Tokyo run it close. Culturally, Berlin came out top, with Buenos Aires in second place and London third. Istanbul and Paris are inseparable when it comes to sightseeing, each sharing top spot, while San Francisco is the only city to beat London when it comes to job opportunities.
According to an Expat Insider survey, the best countries for expats are Taiwan, Mexico and Costa Rica.
The worst country in the world for expats
This wooden spoon goes to Kuwait, which performed abysmally in leisure options, career prospects, personal happiness, ease of settling in and transport. Perhaps surprisingly, Italy is next on the list with expats saying their financial situation is poor, as finding a job can be hard for those from overseas. Then third from bottom is South Africa, where personal safety is a real issue (only one in four actually feel safe there), as is job security, and many overseas residents find personal income doesn’t cover their expenses.
Wherever you’re planning to move to, there’s lots to consider – not just whether the place will provide you with a good quality of life, but also the legal issues. How easy will it be to get a work visa? Will you be allowed to live there permanently? Are there lots of hidden hoops you’ll need to jump through? Professional advice removes much of the strain from a life-changing move such as this, so make sure you’re careful with your decisions.
Manchester
Inside Soots, the tiny new pasta restaurant in the Northern Quarter
Daisy Jackson
There’s another success story coming out of Altrincham Market – pasta kitchen Soots has gone and opened its very own restaurant in the Northern Quarter.
Owners and co-founders Ellie Proudfoot and Ruth Duarte have taken the leap to their very own bricks and mortar site on Tib Street, where they can serve up their handmade fresh pasta in their own restaurant space.
Named after their cocker spaniel Soots, the restaurant opens officially tomorrow.
The pair had hoped that Altrincham Market would be a launchpad to them eventually opening their first restaurant – and it’s worked brilliantly.
Inside Soots, it’s a cosy space with amazing green arches along the walls and a huge window that opens out onto this iconic Northern Quarter street.
Soots will again have a fully plant-based menu, broken down into snacks, small plates, pasta and puddings.
Everything is plant-basedEverything is plant-basedThe menu at SootsFresh, handmade pastaSmall plates
Expect heritage tomatoes with stracciatella and basil oil, butternut squash and chilli arancini, and a beautiful dish of marinated beetroot.
As for the pasta, there’ll be rigatoni with browned butter and confit tomatoes, sundried tomato-filled girella, and a lovely basil pesto spaghetti (a firm favourite from their Altrincham Market days).
And it wouldn’t be a pasta kitchen without a tiramisu on the dessert menu, along with lemon and olive oil ice cream, and white chocolate mousse.
Soots Pasta has been the first solo venture for Ellie, who used to work as a private chef as well as at restaurants around the region.
She’s taken her background – which includes culinary school in France – to create this modern European menu that takes inspiration from Italy.
What’s not immediately obvious, on reading the menu or eating it, is that everything on the Soots Pasta menu is entirely vegan – and they have gluten-free pasta available on request.
Soots Pasta is on Tib Street and officially opens on Saturday 9 Augst.
A mobile Manc cocktail bar is rolling into a thriving new Greater Mancheser neighbourhood
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester has plenty of up-and-coming areas both here in the city centre and out in the boroughs, and one of those – Middlewood Locks over in Salford – is about to be treated to its own mobile cocktail bar.
You’ve got to love a Manc-born and bred independent business.
The canalside New Makers Yards apartments on Middlewood Locks are some of the most desirable new homes and flats you’ll find on the outskirts of the city, but with their on-site Seven Brothers pub sadly closing earlier this year, it is lacking one key thing: somewhere to drink.
However, with Cocktail Cartel MCR rolling into town for National Rum Day, residents can get a taste of, hopefully, what’s more to come.
Cocktail Cartel is a brand new, completely independent mobile bar that’s already starting to take the events industry by storm.
Serving unique and innovative creations (including plenty involving Captain Jack’s go-to tipple), they’ll be slinging cocktails to the New Makers Yards natives along the stunning and ever-thriving Middlewood Locks this month.
Created by Katie and Erik, who have been working in Manchester’s hospitality scene for nearly 20 years combined, these two have a passion for supporting fellow local indies and bringing amazing drinks to the table wherever the opportunity presents itself.
From their ‘Grown Up Coke Float’, which has all the punch of a classic Long Island Iced Tea only with a scoop of toffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles thrown in there, to a Pedro Pascal-inspired tequila numbers (yes, really), they have a lot of fun behind that bar.
Better still, most of their spirits are coming from local legends, Spirit of Manchester, and for this particular upcoming event, it wouldn’t be right to host National Rum Day in 0161’s second city without a gorgeous bit of Salford Rum.
But it doesn’t stop at just cocktails; the Cartel will also be pouring pints from nearby Track Brewery among various other regional favourites.
Once again, they’ll be popping up at New Makers Yard on Saturday, 16 August from noon onwards, promising rum, cocktails, beer, wine, cider and softies – so let’s just hope we get plenty of sun for it.
Keep an eye on their socials for how you might be able to grab some freebies also…
If you visited the most recent edition of Middlewood Locks Fest, you know this place is buzzing when the weather hits just right and the drinks are flowing. See you there.
The Manc -
30th January 2021 
