Manchester City and Accommodation Guide 2021/22 bimm.ac.uk Contents Welcome Welcome 3 As the College Principal for BIMM Institute Manchester, I Manchester is an incredible, multifaceted city with many know how important it is to choose the right place to study subtleties and scenes and our college reflects this in About Manchester 4 and start your education and career off on the right path. the student cohort and the great range of talent and My Manchester 10 experience represented in our teaching team. The music About BIMM Institute Manchester 14 Like many of you, I knew I wanted to my life to be in music scene here is one of the most renowned in the world and but it was only when my Mum suggested I think about for many of our staff – those of us who moved here from BIMM Institute Manchester Lecturers 16 studying it formally that this dream started to become a other parts of the UK or the world, or those that have been BIMM Institute Manchester Courses 18 reality. As I look back on this time, all of my friends were settled here for years – the city continues to enthral and Your City 22 going to college and university and I had my mind set on captivate us. doing English – because I was good at it. What I realised Music Resources 24 was that when choosing what you wanted to do for the rest Just like all the lecturers here at BIMM Institute Accommodation Guide 28 of your life, choosing something because you were good Manchester, I am industry active and continue to write, at it wasn’t necessarily the best option. Music has always record, produce and perform music. All of this feeds Join Us in Manchester 32 been my passion and I decided to take a chance and directly into your education in a relevant, timely and audition for a place at university to study it. Eight years practical way. later, I have a first-class degree, a Master’s degree with distinction and a PhD – all of which are based in music. If you’re looking for a creative, successful and sustainable career in the music industry then I look forward to Passion is the heart of the music industry, and if you are welcoming you and being a part of your journey. passionate about a life in music, I can think of nowhere more suitable for you than BIMM – the UK and Europe’s Nick Donovan leading provider of contemporary music education. College Principal BIMM Institute Manchester 3 About Manchester Manchester is the music capital of the north. Just the right Oxford Road size to explore on foot, there’s a hell of a lot going on for a Our Great Marlborough Street college is not-so-quietly relatively small city that was voted by the New York Times nestled just off Oxford Road (one of the busiest bus routes as one of the top 50 places in the world to visit. in Europe!), right by the train station. It’s a great place to start exploring. The O2 Ritz Manchester and Gorilla are Manchester is internationally recognised as being a city two of Oxford Road’s most well-known establishments and with a great musical history thanks to the impressive list are some of the larger-scale live music venues in town. of bands that have called the city home, such as Oasis, Happy Mondays, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, There’s also a good mix of bars and clubs in the area. Elbow and Everything Everything. New talent keeps Check out The Font for bargain cocktails, Grand Central for emerging. The scene continues to flourish with The 1975, Metal fans, and HOME cinema and gallery for independent Pale Waves, Blossoms and rapper Aitch (who’s signed to films and consistently impressive free exhibitions. the homegrown Northern Quarterz label). The Northern Quarter Live music is still very much a part of any night out in Located a few minutes from our second Manchester Manchester, with several streets dedicated to live music. college (Bank Chambers), The Northern Quarter is Manchester Academy 1, 2 and 3 are just a short walk from regarded as hipster central. Here’s where you’ll find all the the City Centre, as are the O2 Apollo Manchester and record stores, vintage clothes boutiques and indie coffee Manchester Arena. Venues such as Gullivers, YES and shops you’ll ever need. Gorilla are the perfect places to catch the best new bands. The nightlife here includes quirky pop-up bars and great Mancunians also love a festival. And in Manchester, big local gigs in pub basements. Make sure you visit Affleck’s names flock to play at the likes of Parklife and Dot to Palace, a cornerstone of Manchester’s alternative Dot. It’s also home to Neighbourhood, where some of history and a mecca for retro clothing, furniture, jewellery Manchester’s most prestigious music venues join and oddities. together to host a one-day event. Over 100 artists and bands from all over the world perform at this friendly Nightlife and diverse event. With four universities, Manchester has a huge student population – and there are plenty of student club nights This is Manchester: exciting, independent and and events going on to suit all music tastes. For metal and always innovative. rock, gigs tend to be at the Academy venues up Oxford Road, and you can try Satan’s Hollow for a late one. Manchester Life The best part about Manchester is discovering its For Jazz fans, try Matt & Phreds. Classic Indie lovers backstreet secrets for yourself. You can get free maps will love 42nd Street and 5th Ave. South has a good from the Visitor Information Centre at Piccadilly Gardens. variety of nights too and 2022NQ is a basement venue It’s also really well located for trips to the surrounding attracting famous names. You’ll normally find out cities of Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield – all of which boast what’s going on thanks to enthusiastic promoters a solid live music scene. handing you lots of flyers. 4 5 Eating Out Festivals Make sure to visit ‘The Curry Mile’ in Rusholme (past the Manchester is home to several festivals and events over universities up Oxford Road) for cheap but good quality the year. The biggest are Manchester International Festival Indian food. China Town, just off Portland Street, has a (hosting big names in theatre, music and art), Park Life and wide choice of Chinese, Thai and Japanese places to suit The Warehouse Project – an amazing live music/clubbing any budget. Close by there’s a really good fish and chip experiment running for several months from September. shop called Portland Plaice. There’s also a strong underground music scene. This In the Northern Quarter, check out Sugar Junction for a includes big events like A Carefully Planned Festival – held quaint vintage tea-room. Almost Famous, Luck Lust Liquor over several venues in the city centre – and Sounds from and Burn are amazing for deliciously dirty burgers and the Other City in Salford. There’s also Manchester Pride in quirky Mexican street food. August, the Christmas markets, and a mix of food, drink and arts festivals. Things to See and Do Manchester has a great art scene, and most of the galleries Shopping offer free entry. Manchester Art Gallery in town has a late- Manchester Arndale in the middle of town is the main night opening on Thursdays and the Whitworth Gallery up shopping centre with all the big names. For top-end Oxford Road lies in a huge park. Trust us – it’s well worth brands, try King Street, and for more vintage tastes try the a visit. Northern Quarter. The Trafford Centre, a short bus ride away in Old Trafford, opens until 10 pm and has a huge For history and architecture, check out the amazing Neo- range of shops and restaurants. For food shopping, there’s Gothic John Rylands Library on Deansgate, Manchester a medium-sized Aldi supermarket on Bridge Street in the Town Hall and Manchester Cathedral, which is occasionally centre and a range of small Spar and Sainsbury’s shops home to live music. All the museums in Manchester are along Oxford Road. Larger supermarkets are all around the free and include The Museum of Science and Industry, outskirts of the city. Manchester Natural History Museum and the Imperial War Museum. 6 7 Culture • MOSI (Liverpool Road): An interactive museum where Manchester is a highly creative city with a diverse cultural you can journey through Manchester’s heritage using scene and a wealth of theatres, galleries, live music and sights, sounds and smells. The aircraft building is well cinemas. Some of the most popular places exhibiting the worth a visit! best of culture in the North are: • The Imperial War Museum (Quay West, Trafford Wharf Road): Explore the impact of modern conflict on people • Manchester Academy (Oxford Road): A great gig venue and society hosting gigs most nights • The Lowry (Salford Quays): Hosts three theatre spaces • Ritz (Whitworth Street West): Right near the Great with a diverse programme and two gallery spaces with a Marlborough Street building and a brilliant venue. It’s a focus on the work of L.S Lowry Grade 2 listed building that was built in 1927. It still has its • Palace Theatre and Manchester Opera House (Oxford original sprung dance floor! Street): Home to both major and up and coming West • Manchester O2 Apollo (Stockport Road): A bit further out End shows of the city centre, this venue hosts some huge acts • Royal Exchange Theatre (Cross Street/St Ann’s Square): • Manchester Arena (Trinity Way): Attached to The Royal Exchange houses plays, workshops, a craft Victoria Station shop, cafe and costume hire • Ruby Lounge (High Street): This is a small venue that • Manchester Craft Centre (Oak Street): This hidden hosts both new and established acts, and a variety of great Northern Quarter gem houses 30 resident artists and club nights.