When most people think about apartment living in Manchester, our minds will conjure up the obvious – a big converted mill building with beams and brick walls.
But those of us who’ve tried flat-hunting in the last decade will know that these beautiful old buildings are actually few and far between these days.
Enter Kampus, and specifically the Minshull Warehouse building, where the apartments are as classically Manchester as it gets.
This former Victorian textiles warehouse (told you it was very Manc) has been converted into a beautiful building of one-and-two bedroom flats, where historic brickwork sits alongside modern, modular fittings.
The building itself is woven into Manchester’s history, having been the birthplace of Baracuta’s iconic Harrington Jacket.
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Minshull Warehouse at Kampus is home to some of Manchester’s coolest apartments. Credit: The Manc Group
And now it’s making a modern-day name for itself too, as part of Kampus’s leafy, independent neighbourhood.
Kampus let us into one of the two-bedroom Minshull Warehouse apartments for a nosey, and the pictures really speak for themselves.
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As you walk into this top-floor apartment, the first thing that strikes you is the huge vaulted ceiling, with a skylight insert that is flooding the space with (admittedly rare) sunlight.
It’s a massive open-plan living space, fully furnished with a comfy couch and armchair.
These Kampus apartments come with a huge open-plan living space
The dining area is positioned by a large window that overlooks the carefully landscaped Kampus grounds (this neighbourhood is all about the greenery) and over to the historic university buildings on Sackville Street.
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There’s a well-equipped kitchen too, with an integrated fridge and dishwasher, plus a huge cupboard that’s home to a washing machine.
Another rarity in the Manchester rental market is that the two bedrooms are almost exactly the same size, so there’s no scrapping over who gets lumped with the box room.
The master bedroom in the Minshull Street apartment at KampusThe second bedroom in the Minshull Street apartment at Kampus
The ‘master’ bedroom has its own huge en suite, which is a plus, but the other bedroom can make use of the main bathroom which is also enormous.
And the second bedroom gets an extra built-in wardrobe – we know which one we’d pick.
Throughout the Minshull Street apartment you’ll find restored details amongst the modern makeover, in massive wooden ceiling beams and exposed brick walls.
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And of course, your rent at Kampus doesn’t just cover your beautiful new pad.
Amenities at Kampus include access to a private cinemaThere’s also a roof terrace for Kampus residents
It also includes all the amenities that have been built into the neighbourhood’s redevelopment, from the huge communal gym to the lush gardens.
There’s a roof terrace, a cinema, private dining room, co-working spaces, lounges and loads more facilities exclusively for Kampus residents.
A dedicated anime, movie and gaming concert with a live orchestra is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Calling all self-proclaimed otakus, cinephiles and gamers: a huge concert experience will see dozens of musicians bring classic anime, film and gaming soundtracks and scores to life later this year, right here in Manchester.
The city is no stranger to events celebrating these beloved kinds of media, but you’ll struggle to find another bringing all of them together in one place.
Brought to us Mancs by KIN Music Entertainment, a locally founded arts, events and music label, this celebration of all things pop culture – and specifically, the music tied to it.
Entitled ‘The Kin & Fushigi Anime, Film & Videogame Orchestra’, this passionate collective serves as not only a platform for rising artists but also to hear some iconic sonic moments like never before.
KIN have created a large-scale live concert experience which will bring together a 25-piece pop orchestra made up of emerging professional performers and conservatoire graduates.
Aside from the impressive total of people behind this production to begin with, they also form an immersive hybrid orchestral and live band capable of bringing.
Speaking on the upcoming date, KIN Entertainment said in a statement: “We wanted to create the kind of live experience that many anime and videogame fans in Manchester have been waiting for — something cinematic, emotional and community-driven that brings these sound worlds to life with the energy of both an orchestra and a live band.”
Kin was founded by bassist, composer and ensemble performer Alejandro Urbina Diaz, who first brought his talents and wider interests over from Mexico to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) here in the city centre at the age of 23.
Citing Manchester’s multiculturalism and cosmopolitan cultural fabric as a big part of his inspiration, he and his team have ended up carving out this niche for themselves, and now they’ll be playing this beloved music to Mancs at none other than the O2 Ritz.
Credit: KIN Music Entertainment (supplied via Academy Music Group Digital)
With new arrangements inspired by anime, cinematic and videogame culture, not to mention orchestral and even rock crossover twists – including both vocalist and rhythm sections, by the way – it’s set to be a highly unique experience that most will have never come across before.
This event itself is suitable for audiences aged 14+, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s taking place at the Ritz on Sunday, 26 July.
We’re not going to spoil any more details about the show for you, so which particular pieces of pop culture they reference will just have to be a surprise…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AMG Digital)
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You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Manchester’s Deansgate
Daisy Jackson
There’s a brand-new menu of smokehouse-style BBQ dishes being served up on a sunny terrace on Deansgate.
Motley, the neighbourhood bar and restaurant on the corner of John Dalton Street, has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen.
That means they’ve got a whole load of new dishes, slow-cooked over hickory wood, that are bringing a taste of a Deep South BBQ to Manchester city centre.
The smokehouse-style meats are all seasoned in-house and cooked for hours, for a perfect fall-off-the-bone experience.
It might be an authentic American smokehouse menu, but it’s firmly British too, with most products locally sourced.
You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Deansgate / Credit: The Manc Group
Motley are calling on local suppliers like Althams Butchers (established since 1856) for their meat, plus greengrocers R Noone and Son, and Cheshire Farm for their real dairy ice cream.
Signature dishes on the new menu at Motley include slow smoked brisket, seasoned in Motley’s signature rub before being slow-smoked for more than eight hours.
There’s also a beef short rib with a chimichurri sauce, and a pork belly strip that’s seasoned with sage and onion and finished with a panko breadcrumb crust.
And for the veggies, there’s a vegan smoked veg kebab with courgette, mushrooms, bell pepper, sweet corn and red onion drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce.
Motley has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen / Credit: The Manc Group
Prices across the board start from just £16, served with beef dripping fries, rainbow slaw, pickles and homemade beef gravy.
As for small plates, you can expect short rib bonbons, homemade corn bread, spicy chicken wings, bang bang cauliflower, mac and cheese, and frickles.
House favourites like steak, vegetable hash, salads, and burgers will remain on the Motley menu.
Victor Gonzalez, food and beverage manager at Motley, said: “Our new signature smoked dishes are all crafted and seasoned in-house then slow cooked for hours over hickory wood to create rich and smoky melt-in-your mouth flavours.
“From our slow-smoked brisket to our home-made sides, everything has been carefully crafted to bring an authentic taste of the deep south to Manchester and we can’t wait for guests to try it.”
Motley can be found at 2 John Dalton Street on the corner of Deansgate in the city centre.
Daisy Jackson -
8th February 2024 
