Manchester - City of Cool

Manchester is a happening place where style and fashion rub shoulders with funky music, culture and great food. Check it out and delve into the cool place to be.

Who’s Who
Bernard Sumner founded Joy Division with Ian Curtis, who was also born in Manchester. Bernard then went on to lead New Order after Curtis' death. Morrissey found fame as the lead singer of The Smiths, and crafting a highly successful solo career for himself after they broke up in 1987.

Musical ‘A’ List
Oasis, with their brand of pub rock crossed with arrogant swagger, are perhaps the most famous Mancunian musical export. The debate still rages as to whether they are the best Britpop band ever. Blur would assert otherwise of course!

Badly Drawn Boy also hails from Manchester. Mercury prizewinner, he also penned the soundtrack to the film About a Boy. He also attempted to launch the skullcap fashion, although it is debatable as to whether he succeeded. Manchester can also claim the honour of having invented the modern boy (and girl) band. Take That need no introduction and today the band have gained a new lease of life!

Musical Venues Night & Day
For exciting up and coming bands, there's no venue better than this one, with a relaxed and friendly yet buzzing atmosphere all evening. No. 26 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, M1 1JN T: 0161 236 4597 www.nightnday.org

Manchester Apollo
The Apollo is one of several bigger music venue in Manchester. A wide variety of acts can be seen here, as they have boasted appearances from Blondie to newcomers like Kasabian. Ardwick Green, M12 T: 0161 273 6921 www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Jilly’s Underworld
If you are a fan of rock music, Jilly's on Oxford Road is fast becoming an institution. On Thursdays, £1.50 will get you in; if you have a bit more money and time, you can dance till dawn, as they are open until 7am on Fridays. Musical styles cover punk, ska, metal, goth and everything in between. 65 Oxford St, M1 T: 0161 236 9971 www.jillys-underworld.com

Wine, Dine & Dance Socio Rehab
You'll need to ask a cab driver to find this bar for you it's so trendy, it doesn't have a sign outside. They specialise in the very best of fresh-fruit concoctions. Inside it's sleek yet understated, with mellow tones and tunes to match your mellow Whiskey Sour. Find it if you can. Edge Street, City Centre

Sugar Lounge
The latest place to be seen if you ascribe to social climbing, you'll need a platinum card and a smart look to get past the bouncers at the door. However, once you're in, you'll be amongst Manchester's jet set and upcoming stars. Deansgate Locks T: 0161 834 6500 www.sugarloungebar.com

Mint Lounge
A slightly seedy, sometimes sexy and always funky underground club in the heart of the northern quarter. The best thing about Mint Lounge is you never know what you are going to get but you know it's going to be quality, with a good crowd who are on the same vibe as you. They house every type of music from Deep House, Prog/Kraut Rock and Disco Frenzied Soul to Nish Nash Nosh's Sweet Soul Musica and Blood & Fire's Reggae/Chilled Soul. The dress code is Ôoff-beat casual' (no caps or track suits). 46-50 Oldham Street, Northern Qtr T: 0161 228 1495

The Living Room
The Living Room is a classy up-market restaurant and bar situated on Deansgate this was the first in the now national chain and has been popular with celebs and wealthy Mancunians since 1999. Weekends are very busy and a strict door policy is often in place. Weekdays are a little more relaxed without losing any of the pretense. Drinks can be expensive but that's easy to forgive for an experience as good as this! 80 Deansgate,, M3 2E T: 0870 442 2537 www.thelivingroom.co.uk

Panacea Manchester
Panacea is an award winning restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Manchester. A basement bar below The Restaurant, Bar & Grill, the door policy is extremely selective and as a result, it's very popular with the rich and famous. This is a great hang out to do a little celeb spotting whilst sipping an amazing cocktail, admiring the beautiful interior and soaking up the rich atmosphere. Currently Manchester's number one hang out. 14 John Dalton, M2 6JR T: 0161 833 0000 www.panaceamanchester.co.uk

Shop till you Drop!
Skip past the Manchester United and City club shops, and have a wander around the Arndale Centre. It's the largest city-centre shopping centre in Europe, with 280 stores, which should keep even the most discerning of shoppers busy. If it's designer outlets you are after, the Triangle can be found in the beautiful old Corn Exchange, worth a visit for the building as well as the selection of shops. Afflecks Palace near the Arndale Centre is a shopping arcade in a five storey Victorian building and is the place to go for more independent and alternative fashion.

Culture Vulture Cube Gallery
The Cube Gallery has regular exhibitions featuring photography and architectural models (but also multimedia). It also contains a bookshop selling books on architecture, the built environment, planning, and other forms of design. 113 - 115 Portland Street, M1 6FB T: 0161 237 5525 www.cube.org.uk

Urbis Centre
Thanks to controversial funding of the million pound level, this museum chronicles urban life, and occasionally host's exhibitions, such as ÔCity Ôtill I Die' April to August 2007. Cathedral Gardens, M4 3BG T: 0161 605 8200 www.urbis.org.uk

So there you have it. Hot foot it over the Pennines and get yourself some real cool fun