And now, the city has been praised for the inspiration it has to offer.
We all know the UK is a melting pot of culture, and is a country brimming with creativity, arts, and innovation, but have you ever stopped to think about which UK cities would be considered as the most inspiring for creatives?
Well, the team over at printing experts Aura Print were pretty intrigued by it, and so decided to do a bit of research in a bid to come up with a top 10 list.
Manchester has been named the ‘most inspiring’ city in the UK / Credit: Marketing Manchester | Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
They considered a wide range of factors in the process that has seen Manchester come out on top – with some of the factors including the number and density of art galleries and museums, theatres, comedy clubs, right through to the street art scene, the availability of creative job opportunities, and the number of art and design universities.
Based on all of these factors, each city was given an ‘inspirational score’ out of 10 to help create the final rankings.
Top 10 Most Inspiring Cities in the UK
Manchester – 8.33/10
Brighton and Hove – 7.69/10
Bristol – 7/10
London – 6.94/10
Edinburgh – 6.60/10
Leeds – 6.55/10
Liverpool – 6.45/10
Glasgow – 5.71/10
Newcastle – 5.57/10
Belfast – 5.52/10
Manchester earned an impressive 8.33/10 for its inspirational score, thanks to having the highest number of comedy clubs outside London, a bustling street art scene, over 13 billion admiring the city on TikTok, and even being called a “must-visit for theatre aficionados” due to being home to the UK’s biggest theatre in the round in the Royal Exchange Theatre.
Brighton and Hove takes the second spot on the list just behind Manchester, with Bristol, London, and Edinburgh all following close behind to round out the top five.
Other fellow northern cities on the list include Leeds in sixth place, as well as Liverpool in seventh, and Newcastle in ninth.
Featured Image – Marketing Manchester
Manchester
Urban Outfitters is FINALLY opening at The Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
Shoppers’ prayers have been answered – The Trafford Centre is finally getting an Urban Outfitters.
Despite being a staple retailer on the high street, there’s never been an Urban Outfitters at the iconic shopping centre before.
Instead, fans have had to rely on the huge three-storey store on Market Street in the city centre.
The American brand is famed for its trend-led fashion pieces, vintage and retro items, and its homeware and lifestyle pieces.
Urban Outfitters typically have thrift-shop-inspired interiors too, with industrial fixtures and custom-made display units.
And now, all that looks set to open in The Trafford Centre soon, with huge hoardings now up for a unit on the first floor, right next to John Lewis.
It follows a busy summer of openings at the major shopping centre, which have included a supersized Zara concept store and neighbouring new openings for Pull & Bear and Bershka.
Viral toy retailer Pop Mart, home of the Labubus, has also recently opened its doors there.
There’s also a new-look section of the food court, home to a Hello Oriental, Chit n Chaat, Blanchflower and more.
And across the way at Trafford Palazzo is that massive new Primark Home, the first in Great Britain.
Shoppers have been begging for an Urban Outfitters to open at The Trafford Centre for more than a decade.
Tweets going back as far as 2010 say things like: “Do I need to start a petition for Urban Outfitters to open at the Trafford centre?”
Another person wrote: “trafford centre just needs to grow up and put an urban outfitters in it”
And someone else said: “Where in Trafford centre is urban fking outfitters?!”
An opening date hasn’t yet been announced, but watch this space.
Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs, Mr Thomas’s Chop House, is finally undergoing a major upgrade after admitting its building has become an ’embarrassment’.
The historic Cross Street boozer has shared a public apology for the ‘deteriorating’ state of its stunning building.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is now pleading for support from punters as it undergoes the weeks-long scheme of improvements.
Visitors will find a reduced menu while renovations are taking place.
The pub said that it’s aware that the Grade II-listed pub has been in need of improvement for a while, but explained these works have been hampered by leasing issues.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House explained that it’s been ‘existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord’.
It’s left them unable to invest into the building – until now.
The pub will be adding brand-new toilets downstairs (they said the old ones were ‘an embarrassment’), as well as improving the kitchens and adding a new beer cellar.
In their statement, Mr Thomas’s Chop House said: “First of all, we owe you, our loyal customers, an apology.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is undergoing a refurb
“Over the past few years bits of our stunning building have deteriorated. The toilets have become a bit of an embarrassment. We are sorry.
“The fact is, we (The Victorian Chop House Company) have been existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord.
“As a result of this uncertainty we haven’t been able to invest into the fabric of the building.
“But now the wait is finally over. And together with our landlords we are finally beginning a scheme of renovations which will return Tom’s to the state it should be in!”
Work began last week and is expected to last for around three weeks.
They also wrote: “Things will be slightly different but we are so excited. Please help us stay afloat while we work to restore Tom’s.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st September 2023 
