Earlier this year, Ancoats was named as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world – described superlatively as a “damned magical” and “super-stylish” utopia of art, culture and greenery.
Of course, we’ve heard this all before. For the past five years, location guides and travel magazines have fallen over one another to heap praise on the regenerated eastern district of central Manchester – which has morphed into one of the busiest, buzziest, sought-after spaces in an incessantly evolving city.
Between the canalside balconies, independent art and critically-acclaimed restaurants (local eatery Mana won Manchester its first – and much-delayed – Michelin star in 2019), modern Ancoats has pretty much everything you could want in a neighbourhood. That’s often the headline. But it also has a fascinating history.
Before the skyscrapers, brunch plates and Michelin Stars, there were mill workers, ice cream carts and accordions.
Back in the 1800s, this part of Manchester was better known as “Little Italy“.
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This is wonderful. The Italian community in Manchester is a huge part of the city’s heritage and culture. This recognition is long overdue for the Italian immigrants who arrived in the city in the 1800s with nothing and helped shape the city’s history.
In December 2021, following a momentous effort by campaigners, a plaque was installed on George Leigh St to commemorate Ancoats’ heritage – in the same spot where the Manchester Italian Association was formed in 1888 (the Halle at St Michael’s building).
The plate has already delighted members of the Italian community in Manchester – several of whom have ancestors who grew up on the cobbled streets of Ancoats during its early years as an Italian quarter.
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People from areas such as Lazio and Campagna increasingly emigrated to the UK throughout the 19th Century and many settled in Ancoats – which turned into a bustling miniature version of the villages they knew back home.
Residing in the parish of St Michael’s – a Roman Catholic church – many of the immigrants went to work in the local mills, with the community described as bringing character to what was at the time a “grim part of Manchester”. Old family traditions were brought across to Ancoats – with the residents holding feasts, dances, Whit Walks, and parties throughout the year.
When Italian street musicians weren’t entertaining the neighbourhood with barrel organs and dancing bears, other residents spent the long summer evenings serenading their neighbours with the accordion.
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Ice cream vans queue up to be re-stocked on Dawn Street, Ancoats in 1966. Gerard's Ices was owned by Gerardo Scappaticci – the story of the many ice cream merchants in Ancoats ("Little Italy") is a fascinating part of Manchester history. pic.twitter.com/SYrH7v83XC
Some of the families who lived in the area also made their living in sweet treats – playing a trailblazing role in jump-starting the ice cream industry in Manchester.
Carts would bobble across the roads selling the dessert, although a ban was placed on the trade after the outbreak of the war due to rationing. Nonetheless, appetites for ice cream remained intact after 1945 – with manufacturers ramping up production and whizzing across town in new vehicles. An increase in competition even gave rise to turf disputes – a conflict which went down in history as “The Ice Cream Wars”.
Little Italy and its wider family also produced some of Manchester’s most famous personnel – including community leader and entrepreneur Domenico Antonelli (who was knighted by the Italian monarchy in 1932 for his business achievements).
Manchester’s own Sherlock Holmes, Jerome Caminada, also had links to the area. An “extraordinary” detective who prowled the streets of Victorian Manchester, Caminada’s intuition and talent for riddle-solving has written him into local legend – with the policeman best-known for donning a variety of disguises to catch the biggest crooks on Deansgate and beyond.
Manchester: Ancoats: Little Italy: 1963. Love the little guy leaning against the wall. pic.twitter.com/QuzKBPLVZe
The rich, vibrant legacy of Ancoats has long been championed by members of the contemporary Italian-Manchester community. And now, anyone who passes by St Michael’s can appreciate the true heritage of the area.
One resident described it as “wonderful”, claiming that “this recognition is long overdue for the Italian immigrants who arrived in the city in the 1800s with nothing and helped shape the city’s history.”
For a deeper, closer look at the history of central Manchester’s Italian past, head over to the wonderful website for Ancoats Little Italy.
Manchester
Olly Murs announces Manchester show on huge arena tour – with Blue as support
Daisy Jackson
Olly Murs has just announced details of a huge arena tour, including a stop here in Manchester.
He’ll be playing the city’s biggest arena, the Co-op Live, as part of his 2025 tour.
The news comes fresh off the back of his nationwide tour supporting Take That on their massive This Life on Tour tour.
He’s announced a massive support act for himself too, bringing along British boyband favourites Blue.
Olly Murs first rose to stardom when he placed as runner-up in 2009’s The X Factor competition (though his career has soared past winner Joe McElderry’s).
Since then, he’s released seven solo studio albums, including last year’s Marry Me.
His massive hits include Heart Skips a Beat, Dance With Me Tonight, and Troublemaker, and he’s worked with the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Snoop Dogg, Demi Lovato and Flo Rida.
Olly Murs is now heading back out on the road for an all-singing, all-dancing arena tour.
It will include dates in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and loads more.
Olly said: “Celebrating 15 unbelievable years doing what I love best will be truly special. But to top it off I’m taking a band with me who I was obsessed with in my college years, BLUE!
“No doubt the pranks and banter will be free-flowing but most importantly it’s going to be a great night for the fans to enjoy, I can’t wait.”
Blue said: “We were really delighted when Olly asked us to join him on his Arena tour next year and can’t wait to get on the road with him in the Spring!
“We are going to have a whole lot of fun and look forward to making him an honorary Blue boy! We’ll be singing the biggest hits and maybe the odd joke here and there – watch out Olly!”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 13 September at 10am – you can get yours here.
Olly Murs 2025 tour dates in full
24 April – Plymouth, Pavilions
26 April – Brighton, Centre
27 April – Hull, Connexin Live
29 April – Dublin, 3Arena
30 April – Belfast, SSE Arena
2 May – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
3 May – Aberdeen, P&J Live
4 May – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
6 May – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
8 May – Manchester, Co-op Live
9 May – Leeds, First Direct Arena
10 May – Sheffield, Utilita Arena
12 May – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
15 May – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
16 May – Birmingham, bp pulse LIVE
17 May – London, The O2
Featured image: Mark Hayman
Manchester
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Lina Stores is set to open its very first restaurant in Manchester early next year, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.
80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores is heading north to open a 150-cover restaurant.
Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space will be styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.
You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.
Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.
At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.
Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.
For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.
And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope
In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.
Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.
And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.
Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.
The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.
Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.
Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.
“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.
“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”