A corner of Failsworth is quietly ticking away as one of the best shopping locations in Greater Manchester – and now its status as the city’s Antique Quarter has been cemented with an official brown tourist sign.
While many hear ‘second-hand shopping’ and immediately think of the Northern Quarter’s trendy vintage shops, when it comes to homeware, nowhere comes close.
Out here on the edges of Manchester and Oldham, there are enormous warehouses filled to the brim with antique furniture and second-hand decor.
This cluster of specialists sell just about everything you can think of – sofas, paintings, crockery, clothing, chairs, vinyls, lighting, art, ornaments, trinkets, merry-go-round horses and giant Santas driving miniature cars.
Whatever you’re shopping for, you’re almost guaranteed to find it – even if you do have to navigate teetering towers of furniture and crooked aisles of cabinets to get to it.
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There are several antiques shops to explore here, just a few tram stops out of Manchester city centre.
Each one is an Aladdin’s cave for pre-loved and collectible items, whether you’re after props for a one-off event or a keepsake to carry with you for the rest of your life.
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The largest of all these treasure troves is Empire House Antiques, a building so big and so full of delights that we genuinely got lost in the labyrinth and couldn’t get out.
Empire House Antiques in Failsworth, Greater ManchesterThe stacks of Chesterfield sofas in Greater Manchester’s antiques quarterYou can browse furniture and even cars inside
After you cross the small work yard and pass the wall of safes at the entrance (this sounds like the start of a really crap fairy tale) you’ll find yourself in an enormous room packed to the ceiling with wonders.
There are leather Chesterfield sofas carefully mounted one on top of the other, towers of beautiful wooden cabinets, and even cars – yes, cars – on display to buy.
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Upstairs is a clumsy person’s nightmare, with aisle after aisle of delicate glassware and ornaments.
There’s a secret corridor lined with books that takes you through to a second set of staircases, and a few small workshops specialising in everything from vintage fashion to grandfather clocks.
The giant Carex soap bottleHow many treasures can you spot in the Failsworth Antiques Quarter in Greater Manchester?
You can even find an eight-foot-tall Carex soap prop…
We stayed for ages and still kept finding new rooms – clear the afternoon before you come browsing here.
Immediately across the road is Antique World Manchester, which looks fairly innocuous from street level – just a navy blue sign above a warehouse door.
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Go past the vending machine and the field of Santas (some so old their suits have faded to pink), head up the stairs, and brace yourself for a tardis full of antiques.
There are several traders operating out of here with loads of stands to explore, and you’ll usually find plenty of characters who can assist you with your rummaging.
Casual vinyl record spotted at Antique World ManchesterStacks of antique trunks in Greater Manchester’s antique quarterA retro tomato soup mug
What are you after? Is it a Rugby Songs vinyl where the men are totally naked on the cover? A traditional copper kettle? A vintage pink trunk? A set of crystal jars? A fur coat? A framed football shirt? They’ve got it!
All that along with beautiful wooden furniture, delicate glassware, and taxidermy animals of varying quality…
Next door is Cornerhouse Antiques, a smaller but significantly less jumbled shop, which also rents items out as props for film and TV.
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A sign officially marks the Failsworth Antiques Quarter. Credit: The Manc GroupChairs on chairsAn Aladdin’s cave of treasures just outside Manchester city centreWhat an eclectic mix
And just down the road is Second Time Around Antiques, a showroom so full its items spill out onto the street outside.
These businesses attract all sorts of shoppers – collectors rummaging through cabinets looking for coins, young couples buying a matching set of Ercol chairs for their new home, set dressers trying to create a scene from yesteryear.
Just recently, a brown road sign – used to direct people to tourist attractions in the UK – has been placed on Oldham Road.
So that’s it, it’s official… Failsworth Antiques Quarter is on the map as Greater Manchester’s second-hand heaven.
Seven men from Rochdale grooming gang jailed for more than 170 years collectively
Emily Sergeant
Seven men from the Rochdale grooming gang, including the ringleader, have all been jailed for more than 170 years collectively.
The group has been sentenced following a high-profile investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) into the non-recent grooming of two vulnerable girls in Rochdale between 2001 and 2006.
They have been formally named as Mohammed Zahid, Kasir Bashir, Mushtaq Ahmed, Roheez Khan, Mohammed Shahzad, Nisar Hussain, and Naheem Akram, who are all from either Rochdale or Oldham, with the exception of one residing in Crumpsall.
A jury convicted the seven men of a total of 50 child sexual offences back in June, including several counts of rape, indecency with a child, and assault by penetration.
Most notably, the ringleader of the gang, 64-year-old Mohammed Zahid, received the largest sentence of 35 years imprisonment.
Zahid was sentenced after being found guilty of 20 offences including rape, indecency with a child, and attempting to procure a girl into having unlawful sexual intercourse.
“My voice matters because I was believed.”
Two survivors of child sexual exploitation have received long-awaited justice after a GMP investigation led to 7 men jailed for 174 years.
Investigators from GMP’s specialist Child Sexual Exploitation Major Investigations Team (CSE MIT) have led a ‘complex’ and ‘meticulous’ investigation to bring about the sentences, working with partners to ensure the victims remained at the heart throughout.
A total of 32 offenders have now been brought to justice and jailed for a collective 474 years as part of two major investigations in the past decade into non-recent child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.
12 of the men have been convicted of 72 offences as part of Operation Lytton, and a further 20 men are due on trial – including six men on trial from 6 October.
Speaking following the sentencing this week, Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, who is senior investigating officer on the case, commented: “I must start by paying tribute to the two survivors in this case, as they have been pivotal in bringing these abusers to long-awaited justice… and without them this would not be possible and today is about them.
“These seven men preyed on vulnerability for their own depraved sexual gain.
“They had a callous disregard for these women when they were girls and continue to show no remorse for their unforgivable actions all these years later.
“The team of dedicated investigators on this case have put thousands of hours into securing this outcome.
“Bringing child abusers to justice is why we work so tirelessly day-in day-out, and I am so pleased for the victims that we have been able to help deliver this justice for them.”
Featured Image – GMP
Oldham
Oldham Athletic sign manager Micky Mellon’s son, Michael, on loan for the season
Danny Jones
Oldham Athletic FC have signed boss Micky Mellon’s son, Michael Mellon, on loan just in time for deadline day.
The legendary Scottish manager has been with Oldham since October 2023 (the first Greater Manchester club on his impressive pyramid-spanning CV), and helped them return to the football league after 34 years.
He’s already a bit of an EFL legend, boasting a staggering nine promotions with seven different teams, so there are few decisions he could make that would displease most supporters, even if there may or may not be a slight whiff of nepotism in the eyes of some.
Once again, the majority couldn’t care less, especially in a sport where the romantics amongst us imagine even the slightest hint of talent dripping down the bloodline; either way, fan favourite Micky’s son, Michael, has joined the Latics on loan for 2025/26.
Officially announced on Monday, 1 September, with just hours left of deadline day, 21-year-old Michael Mellon joins Oldham Athletic on a temporary deal as the Greater Manchester side looks to inject more goals into their recently promoted squad.
Confirmed as the 14th signing so far this summer – many of those coming in the form of free agents picked up on their way out of the National League – the young centre-forward began his career as part of the Manchester United academy.
Going on to join Burnley at 16, Mellon has gone on to be considered one of the brightest prospects among the Clarets’ academy, and will be hoping to get more even minutes this term.
They also teased his signing in one of the most silly but satisfying transfer reveal videos we’ve seen during this transfer window.
Mellon Jr has enjoyed loan spells at Morecambe, Dundee United, fellow local outfit Stockport County and Bradford City since joining his parent club back in 2019 – having spent the most time with the Shrimps, where he scored his first professional hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Wimbledon in 23/24.
Scoring 15 times in 27 appearances for them, he was recalled by Burnley back in January 2024, but is now set to be given the nod in his father’s senior team. Commenting on Oldham signing his son, Micky Mellon’s reponse was this: “We believe we’ve brought in a striker who is different to the ones we’ve got.
“Michael has always been a goalscorer – yes, he’s my son, but we’ve brought him in to help us win games of football and that’s the sole reason. He’s physical, technically very good and has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
“He’s had a bit of a tough time with injury lately, but he looks like he’s grown through that, and we can get the best version of Michael. He had a lot of interest, but he believes Oldham [Athletic] is the best place for him to play his football this season.
“He’s seen what Boundary Park is like when it’s full and roaring, the decision has been his to make, and he’s picked Oldham.” Excited by this one, Owls?
🗣️ Michael always knew where he wanted to play his football this season. #oafc
Daisy Jackson -
2nd March 2024 
