Ciara Leeming is used to telling stories. It’s what she’s done for years; talking to all kinds of people from right around the world.
But one of the most fascinating tales of her career actually materialised right on her doorstep just a few short weeks ago.
When COVID-19 struck Manchester in March and the region swiftly shuttered up, Ciara, a freelance journalist and photographer, was one of thousands left without any work on the table.
Craving a creative outlet, she opted to use her permitted hour of daily exercise a little differently.
Instead of simply going for a stroll around the block, Ciara decided she would scoop up her camera and snap the street during lockdown – curious to see how her fellow neighbours were coping.
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As spring turned unseasonably warm, Ciara boarded her bike – sometimes with her two young sons in tow – and headed out to record the residents of Levenshulme; all of whom stood behind glass away from the district’s sun-dappled streets.
It began as little more than a personal project; an anthology of photos that Ciara could look back on later down the line when life finally returned to normal.
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But within days of the first picture being taken, it snowballed into something much bigger.
Ciara ended up shooting more than 260 portraits of her neighbours over six weeks between April and May – capturing a collection of images that showed an entire community calibrating itself to a quarantine lifestyle.
Her ‘Levy Lockdown’ photos offer an illuminating snapshot of joyful defiance in truly testing times – and now the collection is set to feature in print.
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More than a hundred backers have already raised over £3,600 to cover publication costs – with Ciara’s book set to feature an introductory text followed by frame after frame of wide smiles beaming out from within windows.
“The photos were quite organic; I definitely didn’t set out to do 260 portraits!” Ciara tells The Manc.
“I just started on my street; it began just as a little project for me, really.
“But soon I saw that people liked it, and I branched out to tell others and shared it on the Facebook group.
“Then people started coming to me.
“It really grew after that. I was amazed it got so big.”
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Rainbows, flowers and heartwarming messages of hope have adorned the windows across Levenshulme throughout lockdown, and in order to make the project as representative of the local community as possible, Ciara attempted to reach further by doing some door-knocking.
This, she anticipated, might be tricky.
In Britain, we’re hardwired to shudder at the sound of an unknown visitor. Most of us will admit to feeling a mini jolt of panic in the seconds that follow the rat-tat-tat of the front door or jingle of the bell.
But when Ciara popped up to ask if her neighbours fancied taking part in the portraits, 90 per cent leapt at the chance.
Many didn’t even rush upstairs to fix their hair or makeup. They simply stood and smiled as Ciara clicked away.
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“I was taken aback by how people were so keen,” Ciara chuckles.
“That was really nice and refreshing. It was amazing to see how enthusiastic people were.
“Boredom might have played a part to be honest! Lockdown had been going on for a while by this point, and at least this was something a bit different and interesting.”
If the enthusiasm for the photos came as something of a surprise, the overall impact of the portraits – which exude positivity and togetherness – was not.
Levenshulme has changed a lot since Ciara settled in the region in 2004, experiencing the type of gentrification that has seen it dubbed “the new Chorlton”.
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Buildings have budged, streets have shifted and paths have parted. For better and for worse.
But the united spirit of Levenshulme hasn’t wavered an inch. And it’s there to see in every single one of these lockdown photos.
“It’s a very diverse community here in terms of class and ethnicity – it’s a super friendly and engaged community,” Ciara tells us.
“A lot of people here have a real passion for the area.
“We know all our neighbours, the kids play out on the street.
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“It’s really tight-knit here and I value that very much.”
Having lived in the area for more than a decade, Ciara already knew many of her neighbours before the shoot began.
But now it seems like she’s being recognised by half of Levenshulme.
“Lots of other people are saying hi to me now!” Ciara laughs.
There might be a few more greetings coming her way when the book is released later this year…
You can pre-order a copy of the amazing Levy Lockdown portraits book, learn more about the project, and/or make a donation by visiting Ciara’s kickstarter page here.
Feature
Stockport town centre’s first ramen spot sat above a coffee shop that we can’t get enough of
Danny Jones
If you’re a local Stockport resident or have even walked along the increasingly cultured cobbles of Underbank, chances are you’ve passed a place called Ōdiobā, but did you know that by night, its loft turns into a stylish listening bar that also serves some of the best ramen around?
Seriously: not only is it, to our knowledge, the only venue serving traditional ramen in Stockport town centre, but it’s some of the best we’ve had in years. Literally, YEARS.
Central Manchester has the benefit of being spoiled by numerous noodle masters – New Wave, Ramenshop (formerly known as Tokyo Ramen), Shogun, etc. – but we’d genuinely wager that this relative newcomer known simply as Uma is right up there with them.
In fact, it might currently be vying for the top spot itself.
We really try our best to shy away from the most ultimate of superlatives where we can, especially because we’re lucky enough to come across so many culinary gems and new restaurants all the time, but the more we’ve revisited this place, the more we’re convinced it’s utterly brilliant.
On a personal note, in a post-Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun world, we feel like we’ve come very close to finding a new go-to that’s on a par with the late, great CBRB; perhaps we’ll never quite get there, or maybe we’re falling victim to the rose-tinted lens of nostalgia, but Uma is at least in the conversation.
Something we can say for sure is that they’ve gone with the tried and tested method of doing just a few things extremely over trying to cater to everyone.
Offering a small but stunning menu, with just three small plates and three options when it comes to ramen, each one is well-balanced and portioned, guaranteeing a filling bowl of ramen finished with great quality toppings.
You’re not left needing a single noodle more, nor do they cut you a single spring onion shy – but let’s be honest, this cuisine also leaves you craving more broth.
This might be a small thing, but we even like how the deep bowls come with built-in grooves/utensil holders for you to rest your spoons and chopsticks in. It’s only a little extra, we know, but it’s a nice touch, nevertheless.
Having now done a couple laps of the menu over the course of just a handful of visits, there are few taste bud journeys as satisfying as those gently-seasoned edamame beans, with the vibrant, lightly-acidic pickled daikon radishes and cucumber cutting through, before the savoury bomb of those mains.
And above all else, it’s the broth. My word… that broth.
Most impressively of all, perhaps, is that while we were expecting to enjoy the shoyu or red miso option the most, it’s the vegan ramen that we found to be the most flavourful.
The white miso and vegetable soup base is about as rich as you could hope for from any broth, as are the surprisingly satisfying slices of sweet soy tofu.
The smell of this freshly-charred chashu. Wow. The ideal thickness – great, minimal chew, too.Is Stockport town centre’s first ramen spot also one of the best in Greater Manchester right now? It might just be. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Put simply, this particular bowl truly puts the Uma in umami.
It really is perfect as is, complemented by the shitake mushrooms, mustard greens, bamboo shoots and aromatic roasted sesame.
However, we honestly believe we have mastered a flawless order: choosing the vegan bowl and then adding pieces of chashu pork, a gooey ramen egg and maybe some chilli oil for good measure.
Try it for yourselves and tell us we’re anything other than absolutely bang on.
As for the space itself, you’ll struggle to find another spot as simultaneously casually aesthetic and atmospheric as the top floor of this building.
It’s well worth a visit to try the sophisticated selection of cocktails co-curated by founder Nam Tran – who first won over foodie fans with his conveniently self-titled Vietnamese venue in Ancoats, which sadly closed in 2024 – or sample his handmade hi-fi system alone, but the bonus of ramen takes the cake.
With DJ sets from the man himself as well as other selectors and artists, not to mention jazz nights and other live music during the week, it’s an effortlessly cool couple of floors that just so happens to serve some of our favourite food to the highest order.
Now, we will confess that we’ve only seen Ōdiobā in its ‘shadow self’ form, for lack of a better phrase, and are yet to sample the artisan café side of this business, but we assure you that it is a failure on our part and one we’ll be making up for as soon as possible.
Let’s just say, if the coffee is as good as the other liquids we’ve drunk here, be it the booze or the very last drop of broth from the bottom of the bowl, it’s probably some of the best in Stockport.
You can guarantee we’ll be coming back to this place time and time again whenever we visit the borough.
First look at Albert Square as Manchester Christmas Markets return to their spiritual home
Thomas Melia
Manchester Christmas Markets are back and all our Christmas wishes have come true, as its spiritual home Albert Square joins in on the festivities for the first time in six years.
Grab a mulled wine, toast yourself a marshmallow and take a seat, because we’re going to take you on a quick tour of this brand-new offering.
You’ll be able to tick off your Christmas Markets wish list in one place, as Manchester has got all your usual favourites and so much more taking place right here outside of its iconic Town Hall.
As soon as you walk in you’re greeted by a huge sign spelling out the city’s iconic abbreviation ‘MCR’, just in case you forgot where you were, that also doubles as a nice photo opportunity.
Albert Square in Manchester city centre is getting into the Christmas spirit for the first time in six years / Credit: The Manc Group
As you walk into Albert Square there’s a mix of nostalgic wooden huts and brightly coloured modern street food vendor stations waiting to tempt you with all their tasty treats.
There’s no messing around at this Christmas hotspot because not even 10 feet after you enter, you can warm up with a glühwein and bratwurst, yes please.
Think you’re done sampling some festive feasts? Think again as there’s a marshmallow toasting station, a roasted chestnut cart and lots of huts are offering their own hot chocolate creations.
Local street food vendor Rita’s Reign has made her mark in Albert Square too, serving up her foodie feasts with a seasonal spin such as the ‘Festive Feast’ and ‘Christmas Crunch’ combo boxes.
Rita’s Reign is just one of many food vendors at Manchester Christmas Markets / Credit: The Manc Group
As you keep making your way round there’s some lovely gifts and trinkets to browse including tree decorations, ornaments and some vibrant pieces of art.
There’s plenty of ways to keep the kids (and big kids) entertained with some carnival-themed games and stalls as well as a vintage carousel, if that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit what else will?
Of course, there’s even more food to mention like mini dutch pancakes, toasted sandwiches, French toast, the list is endless (Much like many of our Christmas lists).
And we couldn’t finish our visit without acknowledging the elephant in the room, also known as The Manchester Big Wheel, which is the perfect people-watching spot, but maybe hop on this ride before you try all the tasty treats mentioned above.
The Manc -
14th July 2020 
