Monday, 23 February 2009
University of Manchester News
A group of 4 students from the University of Manchester made it to the University Challenge final, but were narrowly beaten by Corpus Christi Oxford at the last hurdle. The team from Manchester was leading for most of the final. The University of Manchester has made it into the semi-finals the last 5 times and were crowned champions in 2006, when they beat Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Things to do in Manchester
The city of Manchester has established itself as one of the most dynamic, progressive and vibrant cities in the whole of the UK. Buzzing with life all day and night, it has become an attractive, cosmopolitan city offering the widest range of activities for both locals and visitors. Shopping, music, culture, nightlife, sport – Manchester has become famous for every one of these and more. Situated in the heart of the north-west of England, the city is ideally located and easily accessible from every direction, especially since it has one of the country's biggest international airports. Manchester will always be internationally famous for its sporting achievements, from hosting the 2002 Commonwealth Games to being home to the world's most famous football club. Manchester United is one of the most successful teams in European football history, and a visit to their world-renowned Old Trafford stadium is a must for any sports fan. Fans can receive guided tours around the whole ground – even in the players' dressing rooms and this can be done relatively cheapily. The stadium also boasts a museum on the club's glorious past, containing trophies, kits and memorabilia. Speaking of museums, Manchester has a number of the top museums in the country, including the Urbis, which is in a funky glass building at the heart of the city, and the Museum of Science and Industry. There is also Manchester Museum, which contains many wonders of history and nature, such as Stan the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the second most complete T-Rex ever found.
Manchester also has a strong art heritage and the Lowry art gallery houses a collection of some of the most impressive works of LS Lowry, the painter who captured the essence of this city in its industrial heyday. There is even an art gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery which is owned by the University of Manchester. Shopaholics will also find plenty to entertain them in Manchester. Since the regeneration of the city during the 1990s it has become one of the best places to shop in Britain, with a huge selection of some of the world's top stores. The massive Arndale Centre contains many of these, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants for shoppers to enjoy a break. Of course, the city has also attained legendary status in the world of music, producing groups such as The Hollies, The Bee Gees, The Smiths, Oasis and Take That. And then there's Joy Division, New Order, 10cc, the Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, Morrissey…..Manchester's music heritage is unparalleled. And as such, anyone who is anyone will play Manchester on their European tour, at venues such as the world-class MEN Arena, Manchester Apollo and Manchester Academy near the uni.
If that wasn't enough, the city hosts other events, such as In the City, when hundreds of bands and artists play in every corner of the city centre. Meanwhile, legendary venues such as the Night and Day, the Roadhouse and Manchester Academy host thousands of unsigned bands and are a haven for music lovers from across the city. Manchester also has one of the biggest China towns in Europe, located just behind Piccadilly Plaza around George Street and Charlotte Street, off Mosley Street behind the City Art Gallery. There are many other ethnicities represented in Chinatown, including Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, Nepalese, Italian, French and Japanese shops and restaurants. The Chinese district is dominated by the Imperial Chinese Archway, a gift to the City from the Chinese people, (pictured), the only one in Europe, and even more decorative than that found in San Francisco.
Manchester also has a strong art heritage and the Lowry art gallery houses a collection of some of the most impressive works of LS Lowry, the painter who captured the essence of this city in its industrial heyday. There is even an art gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery which is owned by the University of Manchester. Shopaholics will also find plenty to entertain them in Manchester. Since the regeneration of the city during the 1990s it has become one of the best places to shop in Britain, with a huge selection of some of the world's top stores. The massive Arndale Centre contains many of these, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants for shoppers to enjoy a break. Of course, the city has also attained legendary status in the world of music, producing groups such as The Hollies, The Bee Gees, The Smiths, Oasis and Take That. And then there's Joy Division, New Order, 10cc, the Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, Morrissey…..Manchester's music heritage is unparalleled. And as such, anyone who is anyone will play Manchester on their European tour, at venues such as the world-class MEN Arena, Manchester Apollo and Manchester Academy near the uni.
If that wasn't enough, the city hosts other events, such as In the City, when hundreds of bands and artists play in every corner of the city centre. Meanwhile, legendary venues such as the Night and Day, the Roadhouse and Manchester Academy host thousands of unsigned bands and are a haven for music lovers from across the city. Manchester also has one of the biggest China towns in Europe, located just behind Piccadilly Plaza around George Street and Charlotte Street, off Mosley Street behind the City Art Gallery. There are many other ethnicities represented in Chinatown, including Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, Nepalese, Italian, French and Japanese shops and restaurants. The Chinese district is dominated by the Imperial Chinese Archway, a gift to the City from the Chinese people, (pictured), the only one in Europe, and even more decorative than that found in San Francisco.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The Ideal place for International Students
The Greater Manchester area is home to more international students than any other area, except for London. It’s a cosmopolitan place that really welcomes people from around the world.Over 2,200 international students attended MMU in 2008, The University of Manchester had 8345 students in 2007, which is the single largest number of international students at one university Salford University had over 2,500. There are particularly large numbers of students from China, India and the USA.
All three universities in Manchester have very active International societies that organise regular events for both international and native students to meet. For example the International Society at the University of Manchester regularly holds a night called the Erasmus party at the TigerTiger nightclub.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Transport in Manchester
BusesThe main mode of tranport for students in Manchester are buses. The need to buy a bus pass will depend on where you live and how much you intend to travel in Manchester. If you hardly ever venture away from the Oxford/Wilmslow Road area there is really no need to buy a pass. If you work in or go to the city centre a lot I would say its best to get a Finglands/Magic Bus/Stagecoach weekly pass as they tend to be cheap. As of 2009 the cost of a weekly bus pass is £6 for a week on Finglands and Magic Buses and its £7 a week for the Stagecoach buses because they tend to be enwer. However you will be limited to buses operated by that company - with the exception that Stagecoach passes are valid on Magic Buses (they are both owned by Stagecoach). If you need to travel across all of Manchester then a GMPTE System 1 pass is worth buying, but they cost about £10 a week, they do allow you to get on any bus in Greater Manchester regardless of the bus company though. You can also buy a Unirider which is around £135 for the year (september to June), this may sound expensive, but you tend to save a bit compared to buying the weekly passes.
Bus Companies
Heres some links to bus company sites which operate in the university areas. You should have an idea which areas they go to by the areas.
Stagecoach - South and East Manchester,- Wilsmlow Road, Stockport, Chorlton, Trafford Centre, Stretford, Old Trafford, Northenden, Wythenshawe etc
Bullocks - Oxford Road, Fallowfield, Withington, East Didsbury, Cheadle
Finglands - Oxford Road, Fallowfield, Withington, East Didsbury]
First group - Salford and North Manchester - University of Salford, Swinton, Bolton, Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale etc
arrivabus South Manchester – Stretford, Sale, Altrincham, Cheadle, Macclesfield, Wythenshawe
gmpte – This is the main government body which controls transport in Greater Manchester, this has a great route planner if you are unsure which bus to get. There is also information about GMPTE travel passes.
There are also some free buses that will take you around town and from Piccadilly train station, just outside, the run til about 7pm, they are ideal for lazy people who can't be bothered to walk around town.
Major Bus Routes
Manchester is a huge place so this guide will concentrate on some of the more major routes.
MMU and Manchester University from Piccadilly Bus Station (PBS) – 15, 42, 43,45, 85*, 86*, 142, 143, 145
Fallowfield, Withington, Didsbury, East Didsbury from PBS – 42, 142, 45
Fallowfield, Withington, Northenden from PSB – 43, 143
Chorlton Cum Hardy from PSB – 85 from the east of Chorlton, 86 from the North, the 86 covers more of the centre of Chorlton
Trafford Centre – 23, 23A Stagecoach) from Didsbury or Chorlton, 250 from Oxford Road or Booth Street West (not Rushulme, Fallowfield etc run by Stagecoach and UK North), 100 (Firstbus) from Cross Street (will be the new interexchange at Victoria station from Jan 2006)
Stockport – 23, 23A from Chorlton or Didsbury, 42 from Oxford/Wilmslow Road or 192 from Piccadilly.
*RNCM and MMU only
Free Bus Service
147 Oxford Road Link
FREE Travel for staff & students. The white 147 bus runs frequently (every 10 mins) from Piccadilly Rail Station to the Oxford Road area. The University of Manchester subsidies this in partnership with the Higher Education Precinct (HEP - Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, Central NHS Trust and Royal Northern College of Music). The University subsidises the service further to allow FREE travel for University staff and students between Sackville Street and the Students' Union - you just have to show your student ID to the driver. Journeys outside of this area are 50p which is probably the cheapest single fare in Manchester (or £1 for a day ticket). For route details visit: Oxford Rd Link Route Map
Trains
Most Manchester trains depart from Victoria or Piccadilly (both in the city centre) but if you're unsure Piccadilly is the safer option, Victoria tends to have trains going to Northern destinations such as Liverpool, Bradford and Blackpool etc. Some trains stop at the small Oxford Road train station, e.g the Liverpool, Southport and Blackpool ones. Some trains also stop at Salford Crescent but if you're going to Salford University from Manchester city centre its easier to get the bus. All London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Southern England services depart from Piccadilly. Take a look at this site for information on local trains and the trainline for intercity services.
Trams
Manchester has an extensive tram system, however it doesnt operate in the main university areas. This map shows where it currently operates, beware only the green lines currently exist, the rest is planned for the future.
Tram network
The trams are great if traveling from some where like Bury or Altrincham. The Tram is also ideal for Salford Quays. They can be expensive though.
National Express
There is a National Express station in the city centre just on Oldham Street in Manchester. National Express is a cheap alternative to using the trains to get home, but the journey times will tend to take a little longer. Most of the coaches are relatively new so the jorney should be comfortable and they have some rediculous offers on sometimes, including journeys for as little as £1.
Bringing Your Car
There's really no need to bring your car if your a student, because on top of running costs, parking costs and just finding a place to park can be a pain. Parking is especially difficult around the Universities because they are based close to the city centre. It will also be expensive to rent a parking space from your halls of residences, for example Wilmslow Park charges in excess of £600 for the year. If you will be living far from home and you want to visit home on the weekends then maybe it would be useful to bring your car, but its definitely cheaper to just travel by train or coach.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Nights Out in Manchester
Going out in town can be expensive but the bars and clubs are classier, more relaxed and there tends to be a better atmosphere. There is a number of student nights, mainly on a Monday.
Deansgate
The top end of Deansgate, nearest to Market St, is popular with the after-work crowds and is at its busiest during weekends. This collection of pubs and bars are very trendy and can be expensive. You can sometimes see footballers at The Living Room and it's not uncommon to see a pop star or soap star staggering drunkenly. If you feel like a night out in Deansgate, then it might seem hard to choose where exactly to go, so here's some of the best places. For a premier night out, you might want to try RSVP, a spacious venue with reasonable drink prices. Walking towards Deansgate Locks, you'll come across Prohibition, just off Deansgate on St Mary's Street. Prohibition is a dark and sexy bar, with lots of cosy corners and comfy seating. The drinks are priced at about £3 and it has a chilled out atmosphere so definitely give it a go. Moon under Water is a huge, chilled out venue. It's so huge that it has been called the largest public house in Britain by the Guinness Book of World Records. It's based in a good looking building and most importantly, the drinks are cheap. It is a part of the Lloyds No.1 chain so it doesn't exceed expectations but is a great place for pre-drinks. It has the usual kind of clientele that you'd expect in a chain bar but has plenty of space, well suited to big groups.
Deansgate Locks
Deansgate Locks is another very popular part of town, just opposite Deansgate train station and Castlefield. Located on Whitworth Street West, it lights up the canal with clubs and bars built into the arches. Probably the biggest bar on the Locks is Loaf. It's very sophisticated and stylish, occupying two floors of the now infamous railway arches and there is a great student night on a Monday. Entry and drinks are cheap, and the music is pretty modern. Revolution bars are everywhere, and Deansgate Locks is no exception. This particular one occupies three floors and serves lots of lovely flavoured vodkas and tasty cocktails. At the locks, there is also the Comedy Store, where the drinks are a bit over-priced but the stand up acts are definitely worth a visit. Then there's the Sugar Lounge, where you used to be able to go celebrity spotting but it's not that popular with them anymore, they probably prefer the nearby Hilton hotel with its trendy sky bar. However its still expensive and can be difficult to get past the bouncers! The clubbers at Sugar Lounge tend to be of the good looking nature.
The Printworks
Formerly the Withy Grove Printing and Publishing House, The Printworks is Europe's first urban leisure and entertainment complex, it cost over £150 million and covers 350,000 square feet.It contains a number of restaurants, bars and clubs and a huge multiplex cinema. The Hard Rock Café is one of the biggest spaces in there, seating over 200 people and offering a contemporary menu and live stage music. It might not be the cheapest place to eat or drink but it has a unique atmosphere and is somewhere great for birthdays. A popular venue with students in the Printworks is Tiger Tiger. A three-floor, sophisticated spot, it provides an ideal backdrop to any night out, whether you want to chill out and sit on the comfy sofas and watch the world go by, or dance the night away. Although not always cheap, Tiger Tiger host a student night on Mondays called Vodka Island so drink prices are cheaper. There are lots of places to eat in the Printworks, including Nando's, Henry J Beans and Old Orleans. There is also Paparazzi and Norwegian Blue, a large, two storey affair with fairly cheap drinks and a small dance floor. Norwegian Blue also hosts a student night on a Monday but but is not recommended on the weekend! Another nice club is Opus which has 2 floors, its very popular with students and can get extra crowded, especially on a Thursday when they host an Asian student night called Kamasutra. Kamasutra is the place to seen if your an Asian student in Manchester, having said that it also welcomes other fun-loving students, the drinks are cheap and there's plenty of good R&B music. Sometimes they play host to some of the best DJ's around, recently DJ EZ has played a set there and MC Luck has also done the same. Also in the Printworks there is a cinema, that is the really impressive part of the Printworks. Formerly known as the Filmworks, it has now been taken over by Odeon and boasts of a huge multiplex, with exceedingly comfy chairs - the kind where you can lean back and relax and enjoy the film as if in the comfort of your own home.
Deansgate
The top end of Deansgate, nearest to Market St, is popular with the after-work crowds and is at its busiest during weekends. This collection of pubs and bars are very trendy and can be expensive. You can sometimes see footballers at The Living Room and it's not uncommon to see a pop star or soap star staggering drunkenly. If you feel like a night out in Deansgate, then it might seem hard to choose where exactly to go, so here's some of the best places. For a premier night out, you might want to try RSVP, a spacious venue with reasonable drink prices. Walking towards Deansgate Locks, you'll come across Prohibition, just off Deansgate on St Mary's Street. Prohibition is a dark and sexy bar, with lots of cosy corners and comfy seating. The drinks are priced at about £3 and it has a chilled out atmosphere so definitely give it a go. Moon under Water is a huge, chilled out venue. It's so huge that it has been called the largest public house in Britain by the Guinness Book of World Records. It's based in a good looking building and most importantly, the drinks are cheap. It is a part of the Lloyds No.1 chain so it doesn't exceed expectations but is a great place for pre-drinks. It has the usual kind of clientele that you'd expect in a chain bar but has plenty of space, well suited to big groups. Deansgate Locks
Deansgate Locks is another very popular part of town, just opposite Deansgate train station and Castlefield. Located on Whitworth Street West, it lights up the canal with clubs and bars built into the arches. Probably the biggest bar on the Locks is Loaf. It's very sophisticated and stylish, occupying two floors of the now infamous railway arches and there is a great student night on a Monday. Entry and drinks are cheap, and the music is pretty modern. Revolution bars are everywhere, and Deansgate Locks is no exception. This particular one occupies three floors and serves lots of lovely flavoured vodkas and tasty cocktails. At the locks, there is also the Comedy Store, where the drinks are a bit over-priced but the stand up acts are definitely worth a visit. Then there's the Sugar Lounge, where you used to be able to go celebrity spotting but it's not that popular with them anymore, they probably prefer the nearby Hilton hotel with its trendy sky bar. However its still expensive and can be difficult to get past the bouncers! The clubbers at Sugar Lounge tend to be of the good looking nature.The Printworks
Formerly the Withy Grove Printing and Publishing House, The Printworks is Europe's first urban leisure and entertainment complex, it cost over £150 million and covers 350,000 square feet.It contains a number of restaurants, bars and clubs and a huge multiplex cinema. The Hard Rock Café is one of the biggest spaces in there, seating over 200 people and offering a contemporary menu and live stage music. It might not be the cheapest place to eat or drink but it has a unique atmosphere and is somewhere great for birthdays. A popular venue with students in the Printworks is Tiger Tiger. A three-floor, sophisticated spot, it provides an ideal backdrop to any night out, whether you want to chill out and sit on the comfy sofas and watch the world go by, or dance the night away. Although not always cheap, Tiger Tiger host a student night on Mondays called Vodka Island so drink prices are cheaper. There are lots of places to eat in the Printworks, including Nando's, Henry J Beans and Old Orleans. There is also Paparazzi and Norwegian Blue, a large, two storey affair with fairly cheap drinks and a small dance floor. Norwegian Blue also hosts a student night on a Monday but but is not recommended on the weekend! Another nice club is Opus which has 2 floors, its very popular with students and can get extra crowded, especially on a Thursday when they host an Asian student night called Kamasutra. Kamasutra is the place to seen if your an Asian student in Manchester, having said that it also welcomes other fun-loving students, the drinks are cheap and there's plenty of good R&B music. Sometimes they play host to some of the best DJ's around, recently DJ EZ has played a set there and MC Luck has also done the same. Also in the Printworks there is a cinema, that is the really impressive part of the Printworks. Formerly known as the Filmworks, it has now been taken over by Odeon and boasts of a huge multiplex, with exceedingly comfy chairs - the kind where you can lean back and relax and enjoy the film as if in the comfort of your own home. Rest of City Centre
Another popular haunt with students is the Mtwo club on Peter Street near the central library. The best night for student is Wednesday when it can get seriously crowded due to the AU Social, when it gets full of good looking athletic people. They also play a good selection of music. Then there is the 5th Avenue club which offers the No.1 Indie experience in Manchester, so if Indie is your scene this is where you will need to go. 5th Avenue is on Princess St, a short walk from the North campus of Manchester uni. Another club for indie lovers is 42nd Street on Bootle Street just off of Deansgate.
Where to Shop
Manchester is awesome for shopping, its a paradise for shopaholics. Be warned though if your a student try to make budget to spend on clothes each month and try not go over it. There's no point buying too many clothes as students don't really care what you look like. The must have item of clothing for Uni students in Manchester are the uni sweatshirts because you can just put them on when you can't be bothered. Although they may seem expensive at first they will definitely pay off as you will wear them a lot. The sweatshirts are available in a big selection of colours from the Student unions and University Place for the University of Manchester.
When it comes to shopping for clothes the City centre is amazing. The Arndale Centre is where most of the high street stores are based, H&M is particularly good for students as they offer cheap but fashionable clothes. Topshop, Topman, Burton, Dorothy Perkins are also good for student as they all give you 10% of with your student cards. Girls will love Primark, you cant miss there huge store on Market St as you enter town, but they don't do good clothes for guys, its a shame. Another good shop is Gap which is located about 5 minutes walk from the Arndale. Office do good shoes and they have 2 shops in town. For the more hip student a new American Apparel has recently opened, where you'll find some funky items, again its not so good for guys. TK-Maxx is also good for bargain hunters as they sell discounted brand clothing, but they don't always have your size so be prepared to be disappointed if they only have an extra small when you want an extra large. For the rich kids or to just treat yourself there's a massive Selfridges store where you'll find all the big designer names, Armani, Diesel, Hugo Boss etc. Zara is a nice place too for those spending mummy and daddy's cash, but the sizes can be a bit funny, generally you may find your a size bigger, strange we know.
Further a field from the city centre, theres Trafford centre which has a huge range of shops. To be honest though if you live near the city centre in Manchester theres not much point in trailing upto Trafford to do your clothes shopping, but it does make a good day out.
When it comes to shopping for clothes the City centre is amazing. The Arndale Centre is where most of the high street stores are based, H&M is particularly good for students as they offer cheap but fashionable clothes. Topshop, Topman, Burton, Dorothy Perkins are also good for student as they all give you 10% of with your student cards. Girls will love Primark, you cant miss there huge store on Market St as you enter town, but they don't do good clothes for guys, its a shame. Another good shop is Gap which is located about 5 minutes walk from the Arndale. Office do good shoes and they have 2 shops in town. For the more hip student a new American Apparel has recently opened, where you'll find some funky items, again its not so good for guys. TK-Maxx is also good for bargain hunters as they sell discounted brand clothing, but they don't always have your size so be prepared to be disappointed if they only have an extra small when you want an extra large. For the rich kids or to just treat yourself there's a massive Selfridges store where you'll find all the big designer names, Armani, Diesel, Hugo Boss etc. Zara is a nice place too for those spending mummy and daddy's cash, but the sizes can be a bit funny, generally you may find your a size bigger, strange we know.Further a field from the city centre, theres Trafford centre which has a huge range of shops. To be honest though if you live near the city centre in Manchester theres not much point in trailing upto Trafford to do your clothes shopping, but it does make a good day out.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Where to Eat
Without a doubt the greatest concentration of eateries is in the Rusholme area of the city (according to its official website it is the biggest concentration of Asian restaurants in the whole of the UK, attracting over 65,000 diners a week), which is a short walk from Oxford road, where the University of Manchester and MMU have their main campuses. Rusholme mainly has Asian restaurants, offering great offers on curries and kebabs etc. Most of these restaurants also have an English menu, so they will serve the usual fish and chips, pizzas etc. From my experience there is a big difference in quality depending on which restaurant you go to.
The first Indian takeaway on wilmslow road is Sangams, which is across the road from the Wilmslow Park halls of residence, although cheap the food lacks taste and is very oily. Apparently they do nice kebabs, but I have got this info from people who were very drunk, you'll probably eat anything when your drunk. I think its best avoided as there are far superior places on Wilmslow road, a short stone throw away.
The Darbar restaurant is a good restaurant offering dishes that taste authentic and the atmosphere is nice as it has been refurbished recently. It is also one of just a few restaurants that has bar, generally the Indian restaurants will be run by Muslims so they will not serve alcohol, so Darbar is a welcomed anomaly. The dishes are also reasonably priced and there is a friendly service.
The Royal Naz is another decent restaurant and has won many chef of the year awards, both local and national. They give you good sized portions and the service is very friendly.
The restaurant Al Bilal is definitely best avoided, as it has as recently as last year been closed for having a cockroach infection.
Outside of the curry mile, there is a good supply of big chain takeaways such as Mcdonalds, Pizza Hut and Subway. There are 2 subway's and Mcdonalds' branches on Oxford Road alone.
Within the University of Manchester itself, there is a large refectory in University Place, which is the large, circular, grey, building with the University of Manchester plastered across it. Although home to the School of Nursing, all students are allowed in. There is a good wide selection of foods to choose from, from Pizza and chips to stir fry, which is freshly made in front of you. Opening in 2008, the refectory is very modern and spacious, but the prices do let it down a bit, average meal will be approx. £2.50. There are also smaller cafe's in both the MMU union and the Steve Bilko Union building.
For vegetarians there is the Eighth Day Cafe, which is open from 9-7pm Mon-Fri and 10-4.30pm on Sat, it is quite a large place offering a huge range of vegitarian and organic foods. Be warned that it can get quite busy and it won't be light on your pockets.
If you can afford it, or as a treat once in a long while, there is a large Selfridges store in the city centre which has a large food area on the ground floor. There you will find a big selection of world foods, including a sushi bar, if that's what takes your fancy. There is also a Krispy Kremes here so if you've got a sweet tooth you'll feel right at home. A 15 minute walk into the Deansgate area, will take you to the Akbar's restaurant, which is one of the largest restaurants in the city. There is a great atmosphere here and the service is brilliant. It is also surprisingly cheap, as for under £15 you will be able to have a full three course meal. The naan breads are must eat as they are gigantic, but mouthwateringly tasty.
The first Indian takeaway on wilmslow road is Sangams, which is across the road from the Wilmslow Park halls of residence, although cheap the food lacks taste and is very oily. Apparently they do nice kebabs, but I have got this info from people who were very drunk, you'll probably eat anything when your drunk. I think its best avoided as there are far superior places on Wilmslow road, a short stone throw away.The Darbar restaurant is a good restaurant offering dishes that taste authentic and the atmosphere is nice as it has been refurbished recently. It is also one of just a few restaurants that has bar, generally the Indian restaurants will be run by Muslims so they will not serve alcohol, so Darbar is a welcomed anomaly. The dishes are also reasonably priced and there is a friendly service.
The Royal Naz is another decent restaurant and has won many chef of the year awards, both local and national. They give you good sized portions and the service is very friendly.The restaurant Al Bilal is definitely best avoided, as it has as recently as last year been closed for having a cockroach infection.
Outside of the curry mile, there is a good supply of big chain takeaways such as Mcdonalds, Pizza Hut and Subway. There are 2 subway's and Mcdonalds' branches on Oxford Road alone.
Within the University of Manchester itself, there is a large refectory in University Place, which is the large, circular, grey, building with the University of Manchester plastered across it. Although home to the School of Nursing, all students are allowed in. There is a good wide selection of foods to choose from, from Pizza and chips to stir fry, which is freshly made in front of you. Opening in 2008, the refectory is very modern and spacious, but the prices do let it down a bit, average meal will be approx. £2.50. There are also smaller cafe's in both the MMU union and the Steve Bilko Union building.
For vegetarians there is the Eighth Day Cafe, which is open from 9-7pm Mon-Fri and 10-4.30pm on Sat, it is quite a large place offering a huge range of vegitarian and organic foods. Be warned that it can get quite busy and it won't be light on your pockets.If you can afford it, or as a treat once in a long while, there is a large Selfridges store in the city centre which has a large food area on the ground floor. There you will find a big selection of world foods, including a sushi bar, if that's what takes your fancy. There is also a Krispy Kremes here so if you've got a sweet tooth you'll feel right at home. A 15 minute walk into the Deansgate area, will take you to the Akbar's restaurant, which is one of the largest restaurants in the city. There is a great atmosphere here and the service is brilliant. It is also surprisingly cheap, as for under £15 you will be able to have a full three course meal. The naan breads are must eat as they are gigantic, but mouthwateringly tasty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
