This week's Manchester hero is Cityco BID Manager and man about town, Simon Binns.
Name: Simon Binns
Age: 36
Occupation: BID Manager at Cityco/writer of blog/consumer of stuff
What’s the best thing about living in Manchester?
The people, mostly. The ambition to be different, be better. The sheer breadth of the number of places you can eat, drink and shop. Cultural attractions galore. Sports facilities. A massive canal.
Favourite bar in Manchester:
I really, really like Gorilla. Great range of ales and the food is really good in there too. The lamb burger is a winner. I’ve also got a soft spot for Taps, Hula and Black Dog Ballroom, although the latter is like some sort of time vortex that robs about three hours from you without you knowing it, then suddenly it’s 4am.
Favourite pub in Manchester (and why):
The City Arms is cosy and full of people putting the world to rights over pints of hand-pulled ale, which is what a proper pub should be. The Briton’s Protection is an obvious one. Liverpool Road has a great little run of boozers too – The Ox Noble, Cask and The White Lion.
Favourite club or club night in Manchester:
I’m a Funkademia kind of chap, although I don’t really dance. I shuffle. I’ve had more than a few good nights at The Warehouse Project too. Backstage in the VIP bar with Ian Brown was a decent night.
Secret tip:
Corridor in Salford (near The Lowry) is worth seeking out for late night cocktails, and when the sun is shining, avoid the masses outside Duke’s and go to The Deansgate’s roof terrace beer garden instead (now 3TwentyOne). Mother Mac’s in the Northern Quarter is a pub preserved in time, and I’m not telling you where it is, only that it’s worth finding. On the food front, Gaucho has got a great private dining room for 12 that a lot of people probably don’t know about.
Twitter handle:
@simonbinns/@eatdrinkmcr
