How often do you stop and take a moment to truly appreciate the beauty of our region?
Whether it be the ever-changing skyline of city centre buildings, the rolling hills within our borders, the lakes, rivers and reservoirs spanning for miles, or the wealth of untouched nature right on our doorsteps, Greater Manchester has a lot to offer.
And if there’s one thing that can really shine a light on that, it’s photography.
The power of photography has the ability to capture a moment in time that may otherwise have passed us by, and allow us to remember that moment forever.
So, in an attempt to not only showcase the beauty around us, but to also give a well-deserved platform to some of the region’s most talented amateur and professional photographers, for the past 10 weeks over on our Instagram – @the.manc – we have scoured the internet to find and feature 10 of the best photographs taken in each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs – and it’s proven to be an extremely popular series with our 142,000+ audience.
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That popular, in fact, that we have decided to round-up each of the 10 posts in one place to really bring home why Greater Manchester is so great.
Don’t forget to go over and follow @the.manc on Instagram if you’re keen to see more.
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Manchester
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The borough of Manchester itself may not boast some of sights that its neighbours do, but it’s not one to be overlooked.
Manchester is overflowing with culture, character and charm.
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This was undoubtedly one of the hardest boroughs to whittle down 10 photos for, as there are plenty of talented photographers teeming our streets and an endless list of moments to capture, but with everything from sunkissed skylines and skyscrapers, to rainy days, blue skies and more, we’ve picked the best of a brilliant bunch.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Manchester round-up.
Salford
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There’s nowhere quite like Salford.
Besides being home to Greater Manchester’s second city, a wealth of cultural sites that are worth visiting, the ever-developing and expanding MediaCity UK, and some of the most close-knit communities around, Salford is also spoilt with green space and weekend walks thanks to Kersal Wetlands, Worsley Woods and Drinkwater Park.
It’s also hard to ignore the spectacular scenery on offer at the Quays, too.
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The 10 pictures featured as part of the Salford round-up showcase all the borough has on offer.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Salford round-up.
Oldham
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How brilliant is that view of the Manchester skyline?
Thanks to its location neighbouring the Pennines and between the rivers Irk and Medlock, the eastern Greater Manchester borough of Oldham not only offers one of the best looks at the city centre from afar, but it also boasts gorgeous hill views and breathtaking reservoir scenery, with places like Tandle Hill and Dovestones all within its borders.
We were truly spoilt for choice when narrowing down 10 photographs to showcase here.
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Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Oldham round-up.
Bury
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Despite the pronunciation of ‘Bury’ being up for debate amongst us Mancunians, we can at least all agree that the borough has some great views, right?
Not only is it home to several popular town centres, alongside Holcombe Hill, Peel Tower and Heaton Park, but Bury is also known nationally for its black pudding, as well as being steeped in history as the regimental town of the Lancashire Fusiliers, and the start of the East Lancashire Railway.
Have a gander at 10 of the best snapshots captured by local photographers.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Bury round-up.
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Wigan
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Can you believe that the vast range of sights and scenery showcased in this selection of 10 photos are all nestled in the same borough?
Wigan really has a lot to shout about.
Not only is the borough home to the famous Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, and is known the world-over for its iconic pier and pies, there’s also a wealth of beautiful nature reserves, great public parks, monuments and some rich heritage to explore too.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Wigan round-up.
Rochdale
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We can’t get enough of the views on offer in Rochdale.
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This is one of Greater Manchester’s most underrated gems, so when it comes to experiencing all that nature and culture can bring, you need look no further than Rochdale with its bustling town centre, multiple reservoirs, the beautiful Hollingworth Lake, Healey Dell Nature Reserve and so much more.
It was hard to narrow it down, but we’ve picked a selection of photos that truly show what Rochdale is made of.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Rochdale round-up.
Bolton
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There’s so much hidden beauty in Bolton.
The northwestern borough doesn’t always get the level of recognition that the rest of the region does, but with its popular country parks, reservoir walks, picturesque views over the city, and a historic town centre with streets that have been used as filming locations for a number of films and well-known TV shows, don’t count Bolton out.
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Here’s 10 of the best snapshots Bolton has to show for itself.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Bolton round-up.
Stockport
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Stockport has plenty of show-stopping sights.
The region’s most-southern borough is known by the rest of Greater Manchester for its iconic viaduct, M60 pyramid and Plaza, but with the wonders of Lyme Park, Reddish Vale and Etherow Country Park all within its borders too, Stockport has so much more to offer than initially meets the eye.
We’ve selected 10 of the best snapshots by local photographers to show Stockport off.
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Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Stockport round-up.
Tameside
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Looking for some of the best views in Greater Manchester?
Head to Tameside.
With are large chunk of the eastern borough neighbouring Derbyshire and the unrivalled sights of the Peak District National Park, Tameside is home to some of the best views the region has to offer, whatever the weather, so we’ve done our best to highlight its beauty through the lens of local photographers.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Tameside round-up.
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Trafford
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Trafford’s got it all.
The sought-after borough in the southwestern part of Greater Manchester is known for bringing a little bit of everything to the table, so from cultured high streets and grand shopping centres, to public parks, nature reserves, National Trust sites and everything in between, we’ve picked 10 of our favourite snapshots to best represent the area.
The beautiful scenes from the recent winter months are definitely the star of the show.
Don’t forget to head on over to Instagram to show some love and check out more from the photographers featured in our Trafford round-up.
Inside Soho House Manchester as rooftop pool finally opens
Daisy Jackson
Soho House Manchester finally opened its doors to members late last year – but there’s still more to come.
The exclusive members’ club, which costs from £2,400 per year to access, faced several years’ worth of unavoidable delays as it transformed the old Granada Studios.
And even now that members can finally visit the space for networking, dinner and drinks, events, and working, Soho House isn’t actually finished.
Instead, the hotly-anticipated venue is opening in phases – the latest of which is that beautiful rooftop pool, with views overlooking the city from the top of the former television studio.
New images taken inside Soho House Manchester show several of the completed spaces, from lounges with beautiful natural light flooding through skylights, to stylish candlelit dining rooms, to gorgeous bedrooms.
In keeping with the building’s history, the Soho House design team have stuck with a premium mid-century interior, including terrazzo flooring and warm wood details, muted green and orange colour palettes, and chrome furniture.
Have a look inside Soho House Manchester:
Soho House Manchester is now open. Credit: SuppliedBeautiful interiors. Credit: SuppliedA bar space. Credit: Edvina BruzasRestaurant spaces. Credit: Edvina BruzasDetails of Soho House Manchester. Credit: Edvina BruzasMid-century details at Soho House Manchester. Credit: Edvina BruzasInside Soho House in Manchester. Credit: Edvinas BruzasNew spaces are still opening. Credit: Edvinas BruzasThere are 22 bedrooms inside. Credit: Harry Crowder
There are now 22 beautiful bedrooms up on the sixth floor, exclusively available to Soho House Members, which carry on the 1950s heritage design.
As the build continues, members will soon have access to a Soho Health Club with a gym, reformer Pilates studio, smoothie bar, and infrared sauna and steam room.
Every Soho House has a strict no-photos policy to protect to privacy of members – which means unless you fancy forking out £333.33 a month, you might never see inside it beyond the club’s official photography.
The 13 best bakeries in Greater Manchester, for bread, pastries, cakes and more
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester has one of the best food scenes on the planet, and when it comes to bakeries, our corner of the UK really shines.
From traditional British bakeries selling old-school northern favourites, to artisans who have put Manchester on the global map, we’re not short of options here.
There are tiny little award-winners, family-run favourites, viral sensations, and plenty more besides.
We came up with a list of 10… then kept remembering more places, so you can have a baker’s dozen of 13 great bakeries instead. Here we go!
Pollen, Ancoats and Kampus
PollenPollen at Kampus
Pollen is perhaps the name on this list that just about everyone in the nation will have heard of.
The brilliant, artisan bakery started life in a railway arch behind Manchester Piccadilly and quickly had queues down the street for its towering, flaky cruffins.
Since then, it’s opened its own waterside cafe and bakery in Ancoats, as well as a gorgeous modern space in the leafy Kampus, and is widely accepted to be one of the best bakeries in the North – if not the entire country.
Order a cruffin, and take a loaf of sourdough home with you for later.
Long Boi’s Bakehouse, Levenshulme
Long Boi’s Bakehouse in Levenshulme has been named one of Britain’s Best Bakeries in the Good Food Guide
Long Boi’s Bakehouse is a neighbourhood, women-owned bakery, which was recently named in the Good Food Guide’s list of Britain’s Best Bakeries (alongside Pollen for Greater Manchester).
The colourful bakery operates from a former off-license in a residential corner of Levenshulme, first finding fame with its homemade Pop Tarts, but it’s done A LOT of amazing baking since then.
Fans will travel great distances for their savoury pain au pickle (pictured above), as well as fluffy Lamington cakes and other sweet pastries.
Half Dozen Other, Red Bank and Oxford Road
Halloween specials at Half Dozen OtherPistachio cookie at Half Dozen Other, Manchester
From its all-pink warehouse in Red Bank, Half Dozen Other is one of the Manchester bakeries that everyone is talking about.
You’ve got a few options to visit, either popping in to pick up a treat from the main bakery, or visiting their cafe on Oxford Road (or indeed, grabbing a croissant from Pot Kettle Black).
Head baker Mark is a fountain of baking knowledge and inspiration, somehow coming up with brand-new creations every single week.
From Halloween specials in the shape of brains and fingers, to ever-changing flavour variations on pain suisse and pain au chocolat, there’s a reason people have made this a staple in their weekend plans.
La Chouquette, Didsbury
Bread at La Chouquette
La Chouquette is widely accepted to be one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries, famed for its traditional French pastries, desserts and cakes.
The queues out the door every weekend speak for themselves – these are almond croissants worth travelling for.
Founded by Mairead Deignan and Florent Verove, La Chouquette has grown in size and gone on to open a second site, Piqniq, serving sandwiches on proper baguettes.
Hive Bakehouse, Westhoughton
Pistachio cruffins, fresh focaccia, and sticky toffee Danishes – have we caught your attention yet?
What started as a lockdown hobby in the owner’s garden has flourished into a beautiful cafe set inside an old stables, and we definitely recommend giving Hive Bakehouse a visit.
Whether you want to visit their cafe to try their delicious bakes, or you’re a business looking for bread suppliers, Hive Bakehouse has got it all – and by visiting them, you’re also supporting a lovely family-run business, too.
The Flat Baker, Ancoats
Viral Manchester bakery The Flat Baker
If you haven’t seen The Flat Baker on social media, you must not be on social media at all, because this place is an online sensation.
And the bakes really live up to the hype, too. Owned by Debs and Matt, who started the business out of their flat in lockdown, they’ve gone from a tiny hatch in Ancoats to their own sunny cafe just next door.
There’s a counter packed with their phenomenal Brazilian and French bakes, including traditional brigadeiros, their famed pistachio range, and delicate savoury pastries. There’s not a bad order to be had, truthfully.
Companio, Ancoats and Northern Quarter
There’s something about Companio that feels more honest-to-goodness than most of the other bakeries in Greater Manchester – maybe it’s the way you can see the bakers pummelling dough just behind the counter.
Now with two sites in the city centre, there’s even more chance to pick up giant sourdough loaves, freshly-made Danishes, or maritozzi bursting at the seams with cream.
There’s something VERY satisfying about sitting eating a freshly-baked pastry while you watch a baker roll out the next batch right in front of you.
Polish bakehouse Sticky Fingers now has a new (second) home, which means even more chance of grabbing one of their insane bakes.
Run by partners Adrian and Klaudyna, the new Underbank cafe is serving up all of their usual best-sellers, alongside proper good coffee to pair with it.
The new spot is stacked with all their cult classics – think blackcurrant Bakewell brioche, rich banoffee danishes, and cherry-topped pastries. It’s no wonder they sell out the minute stuff hits the trays.
This family-run bakery was set up by teacher-turned-baker Matt Townley, whose bread delivery business went pretty busy during lockdown (look, not all of us got into baking our own sourdough).
They’ve always got loads of specials worth popping in for, whether it’s a tear-and-share brioche heart for Valentine’s Day, or a supersized Easter hot cross bun loaf.
It’s a real class act, and you can see the talented team of bakers at work inside the cafe too.
Lottie’s Bakehouse, Chinatown
There’s a fabulous Chinese bakery right in the heart of Chinatown, serving up traditional Chinese treats and Japanese fusion baked goods.
There’s everything from pandon coconut buns and maple syrup toast, to seaweed rolls, pineapple buns, coffee rotis, and LOADS more.
You can even customise your own cakes, as well as enjoy matcha, coffee, and traditional Chinese drinks on the side too. Don’t miss their bow-shaped croissants.
Loafi, Ramsbottom
A cross-section of the custard tartInside Loafi in Ramsbottom
Forget your fancy-pants artisan bakes or viennoiseries – this bakery up in Ramsbottom is all about old-fashioned and traditional northern bakes. And it’s absolutely brilliant.
Whether it’s a sticky-bottomed Eccles cake, a corned beef sandwich on a soft milk roll, or a primary school reminiscent cornflake tart, Loafi is really celebrating the North West in all its eras.
And then the star of the show – their custard tart. These fly off the counter within minutes of landing, but we’ll go to great lengths to get our hands on that Manchester Tart again in this lifetime.
Hidden on an industrial estate in Salford, Mayya is dishing out some of the best baked goods around – and yes, that includes cinnamon rolls so good they might ruin all others for you.
What started as a homegrown hobby has flourished into a cosy spot for proper Turkish comfort food, from freshly made gözleme (or gozzies for short) to bigger dishes if you fancy sitting in.
Grab yourself a fresh juice or one of their silky coffees to sip on and you’ve got the ultimate little treat.
As with all good neighbourhood venues, All Things Nice wears a few different hats.
By day, it’s a cafe and bakery where you can tuck in to fresh pasties, homemade bagels, and brunch dishes perched atop their in-house loaves; by night, it’s all about homemade sourdough pizzas, great wine, and premium meats from local butchers.
Their bakes and cakes are absolutely beautiful – they really do hit the nail on the head with everything they pop on the menu.
Emily Sergeant -
8th April 2021 
