The Royal Exchange building in Manchester has been a cornerstone of the city centre for hundreds of years.
Once a hub for trading cotton and textiles, the Grade II-listed building is now home to restaurants, cafes, independent retailers and big brands.
The Royal Exchange’s beautiful arcade is lined with everything from jewellers to menswear boutiques, while other operators face out onto the famous St Ann’s Square, Market Street, Old Bank Street, or Cross Street.
It’s a place to eat, drink and shop, for everything from a quick lunch to a leisurely afternoon tea with friends.
Here’s a guide to some of the places to check out at The Royal Exchange in Manchester.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: The Royal Exchange Manchester
Sostrene Grene
Often dubbed ‘little Ikea’, Sostrene Grene is a popular Danish home and lifestyle store.
This is the perfect place to pick up affordable things for your home and garden, selling everything from furniture to party supplies to gardening gear to candles.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Whisky Shop
This decadent shop facing out onto Exchange Street is a haven for all things whisky.
The Whisky Shop is a specialist whisky retailer selling popular brands as well as rare bottles, plus glasses, decanters, and cocktail recipe books.
Image: Annie’s Manchester
Annie’s
This is one of Manchester’s cosiest and most traditional tearooms, serving finger sandwiches, scones, sponges and tarts and popular Afternoon Teas.
ADVERTISEMENT
It also happens to be owned by Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine and her husband.
Arthur Kay Jewellers
Arthur Kay Jewellers has been in the Royal Exchange for more than 125 years, making it the oldest shop in the building.
Standing on the corner of Market Street and St Ann’s Square, the family-run business sells new and pre-owned jewellery and watches at affordable prices.
BBC Podcast host Adeola Patronne pictured at Jenny Jones Jewellery. The retailers helped get her glammed up for a shoot with @hoodrichuk and @footasylum. / Image: Jenny Jones Jewellery
Jenny Jones Jewellery
This jewellers is also one of The Royal Exchange’s staple stores, with more than 40 years of trade in the building, and is the longest standing shop in the building.
Jenny Jones Jewellery started life as an antiques stall, back when the basement of the building was a popular shopping centre for stalls and cafes.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Butcher’s Chop Shop
One of Manchester’s coolest barbers has taken up a unit in the arcade, creating a modern space with white tiled walls and a pink neon pig artwork.
Matt Bambroffe and Steve Ward, the pair behind the Butcher’s Chop Shop, also own Jersey Street Social Club in Ancoats.
Just because you might have dietary requirements, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the simple pleasures of cake.
The Remedy Kitchen is a free-from cafe specialising in a dairy-free, gluten-free and refined sugar-free menu.
To find out more and to start planning your day out at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, visit https://www.theroyalexchangemanchester.com/stores/
Feature image – The Royal Exchange Manchester
City Centre
New Greater Manchester travel warnings issued as Christmas Markets get underway
Emily Sergeant
New travel warnings and advice have been issued across Greater Manchester as the city’s annual Christmas Markets get underway.
Manchester Christmas Markets officially kicked off for 2026 last Friday (6 November), and that means the city region is gearing up to welcome millions of extra visitors over the next couple of months – no matter whether they’re heading to the Markets, shopping for Christmas gifts, or enjoying a festive night out with friends and family.
Around 3.4 million additional visitors are expected in the city centre during just the Christmas Markets period alone.
It’s predicted that almost 40% of that extra footfall will be concentrated into just nine days – including Black Friday weekend at the end of this month, and the first two weekends of December.
With all these extra visitors expected, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has issued travel warnings and advice – encouraging people to choose their travel method, route, and time wisely when planning their journeys.
Millions of journeys are set to be made on the region’s tram and rail networks, whilst walking and cycling are also touted as a ‘great option’ for shorter journeys.
🎅 The Manchester Christmas Markets are back in full force ready for your festive cheer until 22 December.
🚌 Shudehill Interchange and Piccadilly Gardens bus station are both a short walk away from all market locations.
🎄More info: https://t.co/rP2ltFTnUJ https://t.co/hOjmaUHBdS
More buses than ever will also be running across the city region this festive season, as this year is the first Christmas with 24-hour night buses serving every borough.
More double trams will be running on some of the busiest parts of the Metrolink network, including on the Altrincham-Bury line, and on the Trafford Park line during the Christmas period, while additional/enhanced tram services laid on for major events such as football fixtures and others expected to generate higher passenger numbers
Elsewhere, as part of efforts to encourage people to leave the car and give public transport a try, overnight parking restrictions are being lifted on existing Park & Ride locations, and some new pop-up Park & Rides will be opening soon.
“The growing popularity of Manchester and the massive programme of events means it will definitely be busy,” warned Danny Vaughn, who is the Chief Network Officer at TfGM.
“That’s why we’re encouraging people to try public transport if they usually drive, and urging everyone to give extra thought to how and when the travel as they plan their journeys.”
Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council, added: “As always, public transport remains the best option if you’re looking to enjoy Christmas in Manchester and we’d urge people to use the bus, tram or train rather than using their own car.
If there is one thing us Brits have got down to a tee, it is how to spend a Sunday properly.
Go on, try and name a better way to spend the end of your weekend than heading out for some seriously hearty food and a pint with loved ones – I’ll wait.
There truly is nothing more comforting than a proper roast, especially as we head into the depths of winter and one thing is for certain – the UK is absolutely spoilt for choice on where to get a fix of this absolutely timeless meal. The question is where is serving the best?
While everyone argues over whose local is better, global travel site Big 7 Travel, decided to put it to the test.
Every year, they thoroughly investigate this pressing issue for us and release their list of The 25 Best Sunday Roasts in the UK, judging everything from quaint countryside pubs to inventive city-centre restaurants.
Their strict marking criteria covers everything from how the meat and trimmings are cooked, to how much care goes into sourcing ingredients.
They’ll also take into account what other diners say about the Sunday lunch, the atmosphere, and value for money.
This year our beloved Elnecot, nestled in the heart of Ancoats, did us proud being named the sixth best Sunday roast in the UK.
Elnecot in Ancoats is a neighbourhood favouriteThe Sunday roast at Elnecot has been named one of the best in the UK
It is clear to see why – with their killer Sunday roast serving a delicious selection of starters, followed by a choice of dry aged native topside; slow-roasted shoulder of Yorkshire lamb; lemon, thyme and butter roasted confit chicken leg; crispy, slow-roasted Yorkshire pork belly; or a nut and squash roast.
All accompanied by the crispiest roast potatoes, giant Yorkshire puddings, pork/vegan stuffing, roasted carrots, parsnips, sautéed greens, broccoli cheese and gravy.
Not to mention their mouth-watering extras such as truffle broccoli cheese, buttered greens in confit garlic or a beef shin stuffed Yorkshire pudding.
Oh – and only the best desserts selection you can imagine to follow, consisting of a burnt Basque cheesecake with mixed berries, sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, butterscotch tiramisu, an affogato or even an ice cream sundae – by this point we we’re drooling too don’t worry.
This year, the top 10 included some pretty big names making this even more of an achievement for Elnecot:
The Hawthorn – Haworth
Kyloe – Edinburgh
The Camberwell Arms – Southwark, London
Coorie Inn – Crieff
Impossible Restaurant & Wonderbar – York
Elnecot – Manchester
The Horse & Groom – Bourton-on-the-Hill
Blacklock – Soho, London
The Abbey Inn – Byland
Skein – Nottingham
Now all that’s left to do is go and try them all out for ourselves – what a shame.
Daisy Jackson -
20th May 2022 
