When it comes to talking about our bodies, it seems that more than half of Mancs get a little bit uncomfortableusing certain words.
When using anatomically correct language like clitoris, vulva, and labia majora, new research commissioned by Bodyform has found that a massive number of people in Manchester just don’t feel comfortable – whether they’re saying them out loud, or on social media.
The research found that a massive 63% of people in Manchester don’t feel comfortable using the word clitoris, while a surprisingly large 35% feel the same about the word period – despite the fact that billions of people around the world experience one every month.
Other censored words uncovered by the research include those describing common medical conditions, such as PCOS and UTIs – feeding an already existing taboo around women’s health.
Bodyform says that the result of this is almost three-quarters (73%) of people in Manchester feel uncomfortable having open conversations about their health.
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The research also revealed that 44% of people in Manchester feel there’s a stigma around using medical terminology to describe women’s anatomy, leaving just a quarter (25%) feeling comfortable speaking about the topic with their own children.
What’s more, research suggested that 40% of people in Manchester are unlikely to even have open conversations with their doctors about their bodies.
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Image: Bodyform
Image: Bodyform
The research also revealed that social media users in Manchester aren’t aware of the wider censorship issue, with a massive 92% not knowing that vagina is one of the most flagged words on Facebook.
A further three in four (77%) people in Manchester, didn’t know sharing an educational image of a vulva could get you banned on social media, and seven in ten didn’t know what shadowbanning was, or that it regularly happens on social media.
The top ten list of words people in Manchester feel most uncomfortable using:
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1. Adenomyosis (85%)
2. PMDD (83%)
3. Dysmenorrhea (79%)
4. Labia majora (79%)
5. Vaginal atrophy (79%)
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6. Labia minora (78%)
7. Vaginismus (77%)
8. Bacterial Vaginosis (73%)
9. HPV (71%)
10. PCOS (69%)
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Eight in ten (86%) respondents admitted to feeling uncomfortable using these words on social media, as well as in real life.
When it comes to women’s bodies being represented in the media, one in two people in Manchester felt the images they see aren’t representative of real life, with a third (34%) believing the media also has a difference in perceptions of women’s and men’s bodies.
Bodyform’s new campaign, Vaginas Uncensored, backed by TV presenter and vocal advocate for women’s health Cherry Healey, aims to empower women to reclaim the words they feel they can’t say.
Speaking of her support for the campaign, Cherry added: “I’m so pleased to support the Bodyform Vagina’s Uncensored campaign and play my part in normalising the language around women’s bodies. Speaking out is hugely important and will change the lives of so many people – especially the younger generation for whom this education piece is so important.
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“That’s why I’m working with Bodyform to highlight these issues and to attempt to stop social media platforms from censoring such vital messages.”
Cherry’s feelings are further reinforced by Bodyform’s survey findings, revealing that an alarming 90% of people don’t feel comfortable naked and 73% of people in Manchester don’t feel comfortable having open conversations about their bodies.
Over a third (71%) believe this stems from embarrassment, over half (60%) blame a lack of education and 48% think people simply don’t know what they mean.
Anna McCrory, Senior Brand Manager at Bodyform, added: “At Bodyform we don’t believe in taboos and are passionate about giving women+ a voice to open-up conversations that we, as a society, need to be having.
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“These Manchester survey results really go to show just how far we have to go as a society.
“Not speaking out, makes important subjects almost impossible to talk about which in turn is affecting our lives and our health. This is why our Vaginas Uncensored campaign is so important and why we are urging women+ to reclaim the language around their bodies.”
Featured image – Bodyform
Manchester
The Warehouse Project named one of the best nightclubs in the world
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester can add another big blue ribbon to its already richly adorned totem of music heritage, as The Warehouse Project has been named one of the best clubs in the entire world.
Not that we’re the least bit shocked, to be honest.
That’s right, our very own Warehouse Project – or WHP to use the more commonly thrown around shorthand – isn’t just the great successor to the likes of The Haçienda, Jilly’s Rockworld and many more Manc live music institutions, it’s become a raver’s rite of passage in its own right.
So it’s no surprise that it landed itself in the International NightLife Association’s best 100 clubs on the planet – but where exactly on the list did it land?
As you can see from the full NightLife International rankings for 2025, Warehouse Project didn’t just make it into the 100 club or even the top half; WHP broke into the best 30 clubs in the whole world.
Finishing in 27th position, specifically, Mayfield Depot‘s major tourist attraction was sandwiched between Ibiza’s Amnesia nightclub and the equally iconic Ministry of Sound in London.
Not bad company to keep, eh?
Writing in the caption, the organisation said: “From Ibiza to Singapore, Miami to Marrakech, and every nightlife capital in between, this year’s ranking showcases the venues that continue to elevate global nightlife with innovation, quality, and unforgettable experiences.”
“Cheers to all the clubs that made it onto the list”, they continued, thanking sponsors, artists and collaborators alike before adding, “Your commitment drives the industry forward.”
With the likes of Worried About Henry, Homobloc, Barry Can’t Swim, and the first-ever winter edition of Repercussion having already passed this year, the 2025 programme really has been electric.
But they’re not done yet; you can see the rest of what is on this year’s lineup down below.
One of the biggest dates on the current WHP calendar is, of course, their massive New Year’s Eve Party, which returns for 2025.
The team behind Warehouse is yet to respond to the prestigious international recognition, as they’re clearly still too busy putting on some of the best nights not just in town or the UK, but anywhere around the club.
You can get a closer look at the in-depth list of NightLife International’s top 100 clubs HERE.
Speaking of Manc nightlife, it’ll be interesting to see where a returning cult favourite will place itself on the leaderboard when it makes its full comeback very soon…
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press shots (supplied via WHP)
Manchester
20 amazing new restaurants and bars that opened in Manchester in 2025
Daisy Jackson
It’s been a really big year for new openings in Greater Manchester, with restaurants, bars, cafes and bakeries springing up all over the place.
What’s set this year apart is the sheer scale of the new restaurants that have opened – multi-storey Italian giants, multi-million-pound rooftop spots, gigantic food halls, and plenty more.
But look beyond all those incredibly flashy newcomers and you’ll find plenty of homegrown talent, like bakeries moving up from hatches to their own cafes, Manc favourite pubs expanding to new sites, and beloved names pitching up in new food courts.
From global giants like Soho House and Joe & The Juice to local favourites like The Flat Baker and The Thirsty Korean, these are the 20 biggest restaurant and bar openings in Manchester in 2025.
Chotto Matte
Chotto MatteA private dining space at Chotto Matte in Manchester
Another new head-turner – which happens to be just upstairs from Circolo Popolare – is Chotto Matte, which has joined the list of rooftop restaurants in Manchester city centre.
With truly unbeatable views across Albert Square, the Manchester Town Hall, and beyond, plus a whole host of dazzling restaurant and bars inside too, it’s easy to see why this is one of the new openings that had the city talking.
The 20,000 sq ft space splits into two concepts and cuisines – Nikkei cuisine (sushi, tempura, robata) and an exclusive new concept called Claude’s, a Mexican-inspired sky view bar with literally hundreds of mezcals and tequilas.
Circolo Popolare
Inside Circolo PopolareA giant lemon meringue pie
From the Big Mamma group, this extravagant restaurant opened back in June, where every inch of the space is a feast for the senses.
There are ceilings draped in jasmine, thousands of vintage booze bottles, hand-painted crockery and more, plus authentic Italian dishes and a graffiti-defying lemon meringue pie, too.
Circolo Popolare is a show-stopper of an addition to Manchester’s restaurant scene.
Tangerine
Tangerine is a brand-new, multi-purpose food, drink, entertainment and leisure destination that’s just opened opposite Salford Central.
From the same team behind Ramona and Diecast, Tangerine’s achingly cool space glows in a hundred different shades of orange beneath one of the city’s railway arches.
Inside, you’ll find resident kitchens, a live music hall, an arthouse stage, a speciality martini bar, a cosy cheese and wine lounge, and plenty more.
Treehouse Hotel
Pip has been added to the Michelin GuidePip has been added to the Michelin Guide
Standing proud at the foot of Deansgate is the Treehouse Hotel, which feels a little like stepping inside a bird house, but in a chic way.
This massive new hotel is also home to Mary-Ellen McTague’s Michelin-recommended Pip restaurant, which serves seasonal, comforting British food.
And there’s still more to come, with Sister Moon – a 14th-floor Southeast Asian dining destination by Sam Grainger – still to open in 2026.
Us Mancs waited a LONG time for Soho House, with the redevelopment of the Old Granada Studios hitting more than a few stumbling blocks along the way.
But now it’s (partly) opened, with lavish, beautifully-designed spaces open to members and their guests, plus an already-impressive roster of live events that’s included appearances from Loyle Carner and Mike Skinner.
There’s lots more to come yet, including that long-awaited rooftop pool.
Mollie’s Motel
Another one that took its time to get the doors open is Mollie’s Motel, which also stands within the Old Granada Studios building.
While not technically open for visitors until early 2026, the Mollie’s Diner element of the hotel has softly opened in the last few weeks of the year, and the spaces are beautiful.
From the American-style diner restaurant to the communal lounge spaces designed by the Soho House Design, plus the luxury bedrooms with the surprisingly affordable price tag (from £120), this is a fantastic addition to the city’s hotel scene.
Had you spotted that the UK’s largest Korean BBQ has opened, weirdly, in Piccadilly Gardens?
The 165-cover Bullgogi restaurant has taken over the old M&S site on the corner, promising premium cuts of meat, seafood, and veggies, cooked by yourself and your mates (or date) at the tabletop grill.
Alongside the BBQ offering, the menu features truly authentic Korean dishes including bibimbap, crispy Korean pancakes, and soju-based cocktails.
Lina Stores
An 80-year-old London icon finally landed in the North this year, with a huge restaurant, an Italian deli, and even a hidden, moody cocktail bar in Bar Lina.
There’s an array of starters at Lina Stores, including fried ricotta gnudi, burratta, and springy focaccia, plus handmade pasta dishes and secondi.
And who could resist a tiramisu or a giant cannoli before you head off?
Cut & Craft
The Cut & Craft in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
New openings don’t come much grander than this one – The Cut & Craft totally transformed a former banking hall on Mosley Street into a gilded, glittering restaurant space.
The setting is lavish, and the food matches – top-quality, locally-reared steaks, British seafood dishes, gorgeous sides and a champagne and wine list that’ll keep you busy all year.
You’ll find bank holiday brunches with bottomless Whispering Angel and Moet, a gossip room downstairs, and toilets so fancy they put a time limit on how long people were spending in there.
Flat Baker
The Flat Baker is not a new name for Mancs – this Brazilian-influence bakery has been selling its viral pistachio croissants and other bakes out of a hatch in Ancoats for years.
But this year, the couple behind it finally took the leap and opened their very own bakery just across the road from their original site.
It’s sunny and yellow, with counters full of their award-winning bakes which you can enjoy with a coffee – and next year, there’ll be brunch too.
The Thirsty Korean
The Thirsty Korean in Chorlton. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Thirsty Korean’s brunch spread
The Thirsty Korean shutting down was one of the worst things to ever happen to us (no, YOU’RE not being dramatic ENOUGH), so when owner Eunji Noh announced a new location it had us sprinting straight to Chorlton.
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This vibrant little Korean spot has always packed a punch, but now it packs in some brunch too.
On its brunch menu you’ll find cheesy tteokbokki (Korean rice cakes), dakgangjeong (sweet and sticky fried chicken), and pajeon (spring onion pancakes), as well as Eunji’s now-legendary batter-fried chicken wings, kimchi fried rice, and our new favourite dish, an egg-coated cod known as daegu-jeon.
It’s all super spicy, super moreish, and proper feeds the soul.
Polish bakehouse Sticky Fingers now has a new (second) home just around the corner from their original home in the Market Hall, which means even more chance of grabbing one of their insane bakes.
Run by partners Adrian and Klaudyna, the new cafe is serving up all of their usual best-sellers, with everything from savoury-filled brioche buns, banoffee pie, and cherry almond danishes on the lineup, alongside proper good coffee to pair with it. It’s no wonder they sell out the minute stuff hits the trays.
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It’s a welcome addition to the Underbank – be sure to pop by soon.
The Eastern Garden food court
The Trafford Centre added yet another string to its bow this year, launching The Eastern Garden within its food court, home to four locally-founded restaurants.
There’s Blanchflower, an independent coffee shop and bakery, plus a new site for Chit n Chaat serving Indo-Chinese street food.
Hello Oriental is here too, with a menu of their best-sellers from the city centre, plus a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant from Nichi.
House of Social
House of Social is opening in ManchesterA full House of Social spread
Yep, another food hall for Manchester – but this one is a little different to the others. Modern interiors, and brand-new names for the city centre have made this a big opening for 2025.
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Inside you’ll find FIVE kitchens, including a city centre outpost for Curry Mile legends Mughli, and the first Burger and Beyond outside London, all wrapped around a towering central bar.
You’ll also be able to tuck into dishes from Dough Religion, Ok Taqueria, and Choi Wan.
There’s even brunch on offer in here, like breakfast burritos, pancake stacks, and breakfast buns.
O’Connells
Guinness at O’Connell’sUpstairs in the new O’Connell’s bar
The Thirsty Scholar shutting down was a real blow to Manchester’s bar scene, but the site of the legendary student boozer wasn’t empty for long.
In swooped O’Connells, creating a surprisingly cosy spot for a new bar thanks to the owner’s commitment to sourcing antique furniture and trinkets.
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Spanning across two floors with loads of cosy corners, snugs and reclaimed furniture, O’Connell’s has live music, rivers of Guinness, and more than a few Teeling whiskeys too.
Wynwood Lanes
There’s been a bowling bar in this spot of Whitworth Street West for a while – but Dog Bowl is gone, and in its place is Wynwood Lanes, a Miami-themed venue with a food menu to match.
Along with five upgraded bowling lanes, there are pool tables, basketball hoops, darts boards, live sports, and of course, Guitar Hero, all in a venue that’s been decorated in palm trees and retro sunset colours.
There’s fresh new cocktails too, like a raspberry frozen marg or a creamy colada, plus the legendary Kong’s is back serving up their famous fried chicken burgers, tacos, and loads more.
Have you ever had a celebratory smoke machine go off over your head when you bowl a strike? Now’s your chance.
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Royal Nawaab
Jay Rayner has published a rave review of Royal Nawaab at Stockport PyramidJay Rayner has published a rave review of Royal Nawaab at Stockport Pyramid
It’s acually incredibly silly that the Stockport Pyramid – that landmark structure just off the M60 – is now an enormous all-you-can-eat Indian restaurant.
But here we are, and the refit carried out by the Royal Nawaab team is quite something to behold.
As well as the world-class buffet restaurant (unlimited trips for £30 per adult), there are banquet halls for up to 800 people.
Freemount
You might be squinting at these pictures and thinking: “That’s not a new pub?”
But it is, actually – The Freemount picked up and moved just across the road in the Northern Quarter, taking over the old Dry Bar site.
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It’s almost spooky how much they managed to transfer the character from one pub across to the other, but here we are.
Joe & The Juice
Juices at Joe & The JuiceJoe & The Juice at the Trafford Centre. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester got not one, but TWO new Joe & The Juice sites this year – one huge spot on Cross Street and another over in the Trafford Centre.
You might’ve thought we’d lost our appetite for Joe & The Juice given that it disappeared from the city when Debenhams folded, but you’d be wrong – these spots are busy ALL THE TIME.
Juices, smoothies, and those Scandi-style sandwiches have been keeping them with a roaring trade.
GRUB has teamed up with Campfield for a new sort of market place in Manchester city centre, with three buildings stuffed with independent retail, food and drink every Saturday.
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Beneath the building’s iconic glass roof, you’ll find up to 50 hand-selected traders that will change weekly.
You’ll also find Manchester’s first Euro-style food hall, with 12 stalls selling produce like charcuterie and oysters, plus the family-owned Spanish brewery Estrella Galicia.
And in Castlefield House, there’s always an array of street food favourites and farmers market classics.
Georgina Pellant -
28th June 2023 
