We will be hitting the streets of Manchester and seeing what it has to show us since we last visited a number of years ago.
It has the fifth largest population in the UK and was the world’s first industrialised city, now notable for its culture, musical exports, architecture, sports clubs, transport connections and media links as well as its scientific and engineering output.
The city’s thriving hospitality scene now features new bars, cafés, gastropubs, restaurants and microbreweries opening on weekly basis.
City development
Want to join the club?
The MA Leaders Club is open to multi-site pub operators and meets three times a year around the country for a day of business-focused presentations from top experts and owner/operators. The day is followed by an evening study tour of new and exciting venues.
If you’re interested in joining, register here.
A plethora of multiple operators have businesses in the city including Albert Schloss, Revolution Bars Group, Arc Inspirations, Loungers, The New World Trading Company, Slug & Lettuce and JW Lees.
A number of developments have been underway in the area over the past few years including former footballer turned pundit Gary Neville’s plans to build a nine-story office off Deansgate.
Work has also started on a new arena in the east of the city – Co-Op Live, which is set to be a 23,500-capacity indoor music and sports arena next to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.
There are also development projects to regenerate the city centre, in areas including Piccadilly, First Street, Noma, Mayfield, St John’s and Great Jackson Street.
Area demographic
On the football note, of course Manchester is home to two huge clubs – Manchester City at the Etihad and Manchester United at Old Trafford, meaning thousands of visitors flock to the area to watch games in the stadiums and in the pubs and bars surrounding them.
In addition, more than 100,000 students are enrolled across the city region’s five universities – The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford, University of Bolton and University Academy 92.
According to Invest in Manchester, almost two thirds (60%) of those who study in the north west stay in the area to work with about half (51%) specifically in Manchester meaning businesses have a skilled and sustainable talent pool.
Further details about the agenda and study tour are being kept under wraps for now but we will reveal more in due course.