Even though the essence of the city, the heart of the people who inhabit it, and the unique buzz it possesses will always remain relatively unchanged at its core, we cannot exactly say the same for the landscape around us. Whether its a new high rise building added to the skyline, streets becoming pedestrianised one by one, or new green spaces cropping up, Manchester is not what it once was over 40 years ago.
Perhaps nothing illustrates this more than two photographs by a prominent Manchester photographer taken a total of 41 years apart.
Kevin Cummins – an award-winning and highly revered photographer born and raised in Manchester, who is best known for his work with the NME, on the Madchester and Cool Brittania music scenes, and for photographing famous musicians such as Joy Division, Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Mick Jagger, David Bowie and more in the 1970s onward – snapped a photo of the Manchester skyline whilst on a job last week and noticed it look remarkably different to a photo he took in the same place in 1979.
He posted the two comparison photos on his social media platforms this week and residents cannot believe their eyes.
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Kevin said: “When I was in Manchester last week to shoot [Manchester band Blossoms] for [Manchester City and Puma], I took a photo of the view from the Joy Division (Epping Walk) bridge to match my shot of it during the Joy Division shoot in 1979.
The two photos – which have thousands of likes, comments and shares across each of Kevin’s social platforms – have understandably got a lot of people talking about what has changed in the city over time, both the good ans the bad, and sharing their own personal anecdotes too.
A post showcasing the two photos on the r/manchester Reddit has also garnered attention this week as well, with one person saying: “Love this city. It’s constantly improving all the time. Okay we lost some gems, but I get a feeling more will be created.”
Another echoed Kevin’s comment saying: “I visited Manchester after 28 years away. I used to go by train every weekend, shop, play laser tag, generally hang out as a teenager. I was completely lost. I had to put my back to Manchester Piccadilly and walk for about 10 mins before I got my bearings.
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“Manchester has changed a lot.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEcRaR-g7eH/
The famous “Joy Division Bridge” mentioned in his post is also Kevin’s own bit of history in itself.
The Epping Walk Bridge – which is located over Princess Street in Hulme – is famously known for the iconic Joy Division image taken by Kevin in 1979 and is now branded as “a must visit [attraction] for music lovers” by the city’s tourism board to attempt to recreate the famous photograph.
It’s 40 years ago today since Joy Division graced the Epping Walk Bridge in Hulme, Manchester.
What Manchester will look like another 40 years then?
We’ll just have to wait and see.
You can find more of Kevin Cummins’ work via his photography portfolio website here, and you can find him on Twitter and Instagram too. You can also pre-order Kevin’s upcoming photography collection book titled ‘While We Were Getting High: Britpop and the ’90s’from the Rough Trade website here.
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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK – this is why
Emily Sergeant
A list of the top 10 most affordable cities in the UK has been revealed, and Manchester has made the cut for one very specific reason.
On a bit of a budget? Aren’t we all.
The cost of living crisis has been raging on for quite a few years now, and unfortunately, despite how much we all wish for it to, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down – with prices for everyday items, especially typical fridge and cupboard stables, shooting up by the day, even though supermarkets are showing efforts to prevent it.
And it’s the noticeable price increases in groceries that led delivery insurance provider, Street Cover, to uncover which UK cities don’t strain your food shopping budgets too much just yet.
As it was found that food and non-alcoholic drinks inflation reached 1.3% this past summer, a new study has revealed that Sheffield is officially the most affordable city in the UK, with several other northern locations on the list.
Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK / Credit: MCC | Aldi
The study compared the 2026 Grocery Index for the largest UK cities with the UK average, as well as available 2025 Grocery Indices, to track the changes in food affordability.
The cities are ranked by the index difference from the national average – which is 67.3 – but the report also uses direct monetary values for a grocery basket to provide some additional context too.
Manchester took sixth place on the list, with an average grocery basket price of £23.08, while some of the other northern cities in the top 10, besides Sheffield at number one, include Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle.
Top 10 Most Affordable UK Cities For Groceries
Sheffield
Milton Keynes
Liverpool
Reading
Newcastle
Manchester
Leeds
Bristol
Cardiff
Southampton
As the only other North West city in the top 10, Liverpool may have come in third place overall, but the study found that the grocery bill here is the smallest in terms of actual monetary numbers – with it setting shoppers back £22.08 for a regular supermarket basket, which is a whole £1 cheaper than in Manchester.
“Data shows households in the North East of England have the lowest average food spend in the country, around 11% below the UK average, while Yorkshire sits 6.6% below,” Al Taylor, who is the Head of Street Cover, commented on the study’s findings.
“Sheffield’s position at the top reflects lower property costs for retailers, less competition from premium chains, and a supermarket landscape dominated by value-led options.
“The practical implication for household budgets is significant – the difference between budget and premium shopping can easily be £1,000 or more per year for a family, which can be spent on other things or saved for future plans.”
Featured Image – Aldi
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Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
Emily Sergeant
Call yourself a clever clogs? The BBC is currently looking for contestants to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That’s right – Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show – which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is – knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed ‘vitally important’.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Greater Manchester encouraged to apply.
Mancs wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’ / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: “The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
“Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
“This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It’s all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all.”
Reckon you’ve got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2020 
