One of Manchester‘s best-loved neighbourhoods has been named the second “coolest” in Britain by a renowned national media outlet.
And it’s not the first time it’s been given a similar honour to this before.
If you were taking guesses as to which area it would be, then you probably wouldn’t have got that far before, or really be shocked to hear, that Ancoats has made its way on to a round-up list of the 15 coolest neighbourhoods in Britain by The Telegraph – coming in second place, just behind Walthamstow in London.
Finnieston in Glasgow claims the third spot on the list, with the top five being rounded out by Kelham Island in Sheffield, and Cathedral Quarter in Belfast.
Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, Ouseburn in Newcastle, and Meanwood in Leeds are the fellow northern neighbourhoods to have also made it onto the exclusive list of 15, with Stockbridge in Edinburgh, Pontcanna in Cardiff, and North Laine in Brighton just a selection of the other places getting a mention.
🇬🇧From London’s hipster enclave to Glasgow’s ‘WeMo’ (West of Motorway), we reveal the trendy spots far from the tourist crowds https://t.co/hSeJtvLq7s
A part of town with a rich history that has undergone quite significant regeneration this side of the century, we all know by now that Ancoats is widely-considered to be one of Manchester’s, the UK’s (and the world’s) most sought-after neighbourhoods, so this most-recent nod from The Telegraph praising its coolness won’t come as a surprise to many.
Home to a hub of thriving independent eateries, bars and shops, it’s fair to say Ancoats has changed a hell of a lot over the years – from being the sort of place you’d be wary to wander around alone in at night, to an Instagram-friendly hipster’s paradise.
But just what exactly is it that’s made The Telegraph take note and praise it for being ‘cool’?
Well, the publication explains that Ancoats “has been here for an age”, and noted the fact that it was once an important textiles centre dubbed the world’s “first industrial suburb”, as well as also being known as ‘Little Italy’ in reference to a surge in Italian immigration at the turn of the 20th century, all before it became what we know it to be today.
Ancoats has been named one of the 15 coolest neighbourhoods in Britain / Credit: Rudy’s | General Store
“As rentals have become pricier closer to town, Ancoats has emerged as the next major gentrification area, with Cutting Room Square a popular meeting place and drinking hole,” The Telegraph writes.
Several of Ancoats’ most well-known and best-loved independent eateries and bars were named as places to head on down to if you’re looking to see the area “like a local” – including Elnecot, Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza, Canto and Little Vietnam.
The area has also been noted as being the place to hit up for a tattoo at Tooth and Talon, and somewhere to get your beard tidied at Jersey Street Social Club, while the mini-market reinvention that is Ancoats General Store also getting an expected worthy mention.
The Telegraph does advise that people “hop across Great Ancoats Street into the Northern Quarter for indie shopping heaven” though.
Ancoats has a rich past, and is home to a hub of thriving independent eateries, bars and shops / Credit: Visit Manchester
When it comes to somewhere to stay the night in Ancoats, the outlet has named the Copper and Blossom Boudoir as the place to go for, praising its “dimly lit, lavishly fixtured, and blinged-up suites” that sleep anywhere from two to 14 people.
Thoughts then? Is Ancoats as ‘cool’ as everyone always says? Would you stick anywhere else in Greater Manchester on the list?
Featured Image – Visit Manchester
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Pep Guardiola hints at when Manchester City fans can expect to see their latest arrival
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
Emily Sergeant -
14th December 2022 
