Our Manc of the Month series is back, and it’s time to give one honorary Mancunian the plaudits he truly deserves.
We all know that Manchester is home to some special people, some born here and others drawn here – and after a bumpy year that effectively amounted to one big lockdown, its these special people that have inspired and led us through the tough times.
So, we decided to start a series that shines a light on those who should be celebrated, following on from our ‘The Mancs of the Year’ feature towards the end of 2020.
In case you missed it, Manc of the Monthofficially kicked off in July with none other than Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford MBE, whose achievements both on and off the pitch have undoubtedly made him one of the most prolific Mancunians throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – but this month, we’ve chosen someone who’s had a hand in ensuring Rashford’s presence is always felt in the city.
It’s the rightful turn of Akse P19.
ADVERTISEMENT
A French-born street artist of Vietnemese heritage and a renowned member of the iconic P19 Crew, Akse has, in his own words, been “spraypainting walls since 1992” and has quite literally been leaving his mark on Manchester since he moved to the city and started calling it his home all the way back in 1997.
For the past 15 years in particular, Akse has made his name through a series of critically-acclaimed freehand high definition photo-realistic portraits of famous faces and figures that he hopes “bring inspiration to the local community”.
ADVERTISEMENT
These murals – which usually reflect the social, political, or cultural mood of the moment – are known to appear, and then often disappear, from prominent walls and holdings around the city centre and surrounding areas.
Choosing to keep a degree of anonymity and often preferring to let his creations do the talking, Akse is rarely seen in public without his ventilated mask – which is as much for his disguise as it is for his safety.
But even if you’re unfamiliar with his face, you’re sure to be familiar with his work.
ADVERTISEMENT
Akse has been “spraypainting walls since 1992” / Credit: Facebook (Akse P19)
He moved to Manchester, and started calling it his home all the way back in 1997 / Credit: Instagram (@akse_p19)Akse hopes his work “brings inspiration to the local community” / Credit: Facebook (Akse P19)
That now world-famous mural is the work of Akse P19.
There’s also a good chance you’ve clocked eyes on some of the murals he’s created for Northern Quarter public art project Outhouse MCR in Stevenson Square in recent years too, which have included the likes of David Bowie, Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, Eleven from Stranger Things, and of course, the highly-publicised George Floyd mural – also sadly defaced on a number of occasions last year too.
Other notable pieces created by Akse across Manchester include Captain Sir Tom Moore, Factory Records co-founder and manager of the Haçienda nightclub Tony Wilson, and late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis for World Mental Health Day in 2020 – all erected in the Northern Quarter.
There’s also the ‘Battle of the Birds’ depicting Martin Luther King and Donald Trump, Princess Leia from Star Wars at Projekts Stakepart MCR, Ariana Grande to mark her return to the city for Manchester Pride in 2019, drag queen Divina de Campo in the Gay Village, local Operating Department Practitioner Debra Williams on the site of Sweet Mandarin for International Women’s Day 2020, Liam Gallagher for the launch of his 2019 album ‘Why Me? Why Not’, and so many more.
ADVERTISEMENT
He’s created so many iconic and instantly-recognisable pieces that have meant so much Manchester over the years, that it can be hard to keep track.
But it’s true – Akse P19 really is the mural king of Manchester, and we can’t think of a person more deserving of being named Manc of the Month for August 2021.
You can get a mobile massage treatment in your office – just like us
Thomas Melia
We’d like to introduce you to the pioneering personalised service offering massage treatments on the move at practically any location including direct from your office– including to those of us here in Manchester.
In a world where you can get practically anything delivered straight to your door, it wasn’t going to be long until some genius invented a way to get a massage from the comfort of your own office.
Named ‘London’s first digital beauty concierge’, Ruuby have been pampering the nation’s capital for almost a decade before branching out to further locations.
The gorgeous set up provided by RuubyLook at that lovely branding on the towels.They did wonders with our otherwise plain downstairs office space. (Credit: The Manc Group)
In October 2024, the company expanded beyond its domestic reach in the likes of the capital, the Cotswolds and Surrey into Europe, making its first mark Switzerland: the perfect country for both luxury and essential beauty treatments with a tailored experience.
The month following saw the group moving up North and all the way to Manchester, where people can now book professional treatments best suited to them, right on their doorstep.
If you’re feeling scepticalstill, you can take it from us here at The Manc; we couldn’t tell you how relaxing and comforting these massages are.
There are a range of treatments available and we opted for two bespoke massages, a sports massage and a deep tissue massage.
Each experience is suited to your personal needs meaning each massage therapist will be able to fine-tune their relaxation abilities to what benefits you best.
After choosing the bespoke massage that I felt would work best for me, I went into this with no prior massage experience and I came out feeling taller, broader and more refreshed. Highly recommend.
Mid-day office massage? Yes, please.How relaxing. What a shame you have to go back to work after!Credit: The Manc Group
My masseuse guided me throughout the whole process and we soon discovered that I was able to tolerate much harder pressure than I thought which helped release tension I didn’t even know I had!
The same applies to how firm you’d like your session to be, as the masseuse can help with a brief overview of your time together, but the amount of pressure you like is down to personal preference.
It’s not just massages either: there’s everything from waxing, nails and hair to physio and IV drips; how about getting Marbella ready in less than an hour with a spray tan service set up wherever you are?
As Ruuby is a mobile and remote work environment, there are a number of at any time up and down the country, meaning your next beauty slot could be as little as an hour away, find out more HERE.
Farm shops are cool now – and Albion Farm Shop is the best of the best
Daisy Jackson
At some point in life, your idea of a great day out switches from drinking and clubbing to visiting a farm shop, or a garden centre, or something similarly wholesome.
And up in the hills above Manchester is surely one of the best in the UK – Albion Farm Shop.
This Saddleworth favourite is half-cafe, half-shop, with produce all either grown right outside, or sourced as locally as possible.
And while places like Hollies Farm Shop in Cheshire pull in seriously big, glamorous crowds (maybe it’s the Molly-Mae effect), there’s something much more charming and authentic about Albion Farm Shop.
Maybe it’s the tractors parked outside, the fact the produce section is in a drafty barn, the mismatched shelves and cabinets. It’s not curated like this – it just is.
The food in the cafe itself is up there with the best British grub in the North West, and I say that with my hand on my heart.
Whether it’s a full breakfast spilling over the edge of a plate, sandwiches served in a doorstop of bread, or a full menu of burgers made with British beef cap and smoked bone marrow patties, you can’t steer far wrong.
Rag pudding at Albion Farm ShopChips with a side of bone broth gravy Those huge burgers
There are chunky chips served with a full bowl of bone stock gravy on the side (hello, this is Oldham), onion rings so big you can wear them as a bangle, and big bowls of homemade soup.
And it would be remiss of me not to mention the rag pudding, a traditional dish from this neck of the woods. Famously, she’s not a pretty menu item, but this steamed suet pastry stuffed with braised beef shin is comforting and delicious.
If you want to stick northern fare but don’t fancy rag pudding, you can also grab a wedge of cheese and onion pie, lambs liver with mash, or any number of seasonal specials (for us, it was roast pork).
There are cracking views of the surrounding countryside, a resident cat who’s usually sleeping in the entranceway, and charm packed into every square foot.
Albion Farm Shop is at Oldham Road, Delph, Saddleworth OL3 5RQ.
The resident cat at Albion Farm ShopRoast pork in the cafeThe Albion Farm Shop cafeAlbion Farm ShopInside the shop itselfThe produce barn Local cheesesBakery itemsThe produce barn
Emily Sergeant -
31st August 2021 
