The heavens had opened directly above the city centre – sending raindrops bouncing off the Deansgate tarmac and turning roads into jet-black rivers of sloshing water.
A typical Mancunian afternoon, for most people.
But for Adam Pester, this was the date that changed everything.
He was ploughing his way through the torrential downpour when he reached the corner of Great Northern and spotted sunshine sweeping in from the west – casting the shower in an entrancing light as it descended onto the pavement.
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Quickly, Adam juggled his umbrella, pulled out his phone, snapped a photo, and uploaded it onto Twitter.
“I began to realise just how much the city means to people,” Adam says.
“[The photo] captured people’s imagination so much, [and] ended up going viral as it spread far and wide across Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.
“It got picked up by all of the Manchester media, got featured on large social media accounts and it even inspired someone to paint it on canvas after seeing it online.
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“I obviously had to buy it off him!”
The image – referred to simply as ‘Rainy Manchester’ – proved so popular, in fact, that it kept getting recycled through Reddit forums; with other internet users even attempting to claim it as their own.
“In one case I had to actually prove to a guy that I actually took the photo by showing me in a photo holding a print of it!” Adam reveals.
With demand high, Adam began printing the image for friends, family, and people who managed to find him online.
He thought it was just his five minutes of fame, but after posting more images of the city online, Adam realise he had a whole bank of imagery that resonated with people in the city.
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During lockdown, he decided to set up his very own print store – where he could create all kinds of Manc Merch for a city that’s famous for its chest-puffing civic pride.
“On the 29th June, after spending months in lockdown, I decided to launch my Etsy Shop which featured some of my best Manchester captures,” Adam explains.
“Since launching the shop, I’ve sold countless prints to people both locally and overseas for people wanting to have Manchester closer to home.
“In the run-up to Christmas, people also started buying them as gifts for the Manchester lover in their lives.”
Moving ahead, Adam is planning to expand the shop with more Manchester-centric gifts and accessories that ‘encourage people to keep sharing their love for the city’ – including bespoke 2021 calendars.
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“As an adopted Manc, I couldn’t be happier to have people support my work on this scale,” Adam says.
“It’s my way of giving back by showing my passion for Manchester through beautiful landscapes and street photography.”
Visit the store and see Adam’s Manc images in all their glory here.
Feature
Review | PinkPantheress turns O2 Victoria Warehouse into one huge party on first night in Manchester
Emily Johnson
There was a point during Pinkpantheress’ set at O2’s Victoria Warehouse where you almost forgot you were watching someone perform an album that barely stretches past the 20-minute mark.
Instead, night one of two Manchester shows felt like one huge club night curated by one of the most exciting British artists around right now.
From the second you walked into the venue, greeted by an army of plaid, the world of PinkPantheress (real name Victoria Beverley Walker, for those who didn’t know) completely took over.
The stage itself mirrored that energy too, with a two-tier setup that allowed her to constantly move around the space, appearing and disappearing throughout the night alongside outfit changes, dramatic lighting and eventually, a pair of angel wings.
Backed by her dancers and DJ Joe, the entire show felt slick, immersive and miles away from the early days of PinkPantheress nervously clutching onto her handbag on stage like a comfort blanket. Ironically, the handbag did make a brief appearance during the evening.
It’s a reminder of just how much her performances have evolved – and evolve they have.
What could have easily been a short and simple set instead became a fully realised live show, complete with extended dance sections, rave-inspired moments, drum solos and seamless transitions that made the whole thing feel bigger than the music alone.
There’s also something undeniably British about a PinkPantheress show: the UK garage influences, the fashion, the awkward humour, and the understated confidence all combined into something that felt distinctly hers.
At one point, she paused to laugh: “It’s hot in this venue, f*** me,” which summed up the sweaty chaos of the night perfectly.
At one point, she joked that the last time she was in Manchester, she made it all the way to the final stage of Pointless, before being told she was now “too famous” to go on the show – a perfectly PinkPantheress anecdote that had the crowd laughing immediately.
By the end of the set, O2 Victoria Warehouse felt less like a gig venue and more like the best house party you’ve ever accidentally ended up at.
And with another Manchester show still to come, it’s safe to say the party isn’t over just yet.
Starting off life as a little coffee trike back in 2021, and now based inside a bright-yellow shipping container in Levenshulme‘s Cringle Park, Grounded MCR CIC is a social enterprise that does more than just make you a brew.
Set up with the idea of creating a welcoming space for the whole community to gather, with a key focus on sustainability, Grounded serves up specialty coffee, lots of other hot and cold drinks, and yummy homemade food – much of which is grown by hand, on and around the container.
This is Grounded MCR / Credit: The Manc Group
Coffee beans sourced from a local roaster that pays farmers properly, tasty bakes on offer from a handful of local makers – including bread from the incredible Stockport-based charity, Pure Innovations – and dozens of free community events organised throughout the year are just a few of the reasons why Grounded goes above and beyond your typical cafe.
Sustainability – and affordability, especially amid the ongoing cost of living crisis – are two huge driving factors for Grounded, especially through their partnership with FareShare Greater Manchester and utilising the ‘Too Good To Go’ scheme.
By delivering and using surplus food that would’ve otherwise gone to waste, Grounded is able to keep their prices low whilst still creating some delicious scran.
The Levenshulme community cafe crafting coffee for a great cause / Credit: The Manc Group
Their ‘FareShare Fridays’ are hosted each week, where that morning’s delivery is dedicated to one specific dish and served up for just £1.
To top it all off, Grounded also works with vulnerable adults in honing their barista and hospitality skills, and is also in partnership with ‘Women in Probation’ too to ensure their impact goes further than just what comes in a cup or on a plate.
”We’ve worked hard to create a space that feels safe and welcoming for all,” Grounded declares in a statement on it’s website – and we think they’ve succeeded.
The Manc -
6th January 2021 
