By Kingfisher Visitor Guides
Situated in the heart of Manchester and always ready to lay on a warm welcome, Spinningfields is an exciting destination with a remarkable community – a one-stop shop for culture, dining, shopping and leisure.
Spinningfields attracts millions of visitors every year across a spectacular £1.5 billion, 20-acre development.
There is so much to do and see by ambling around elegant Spinningfields, and you can start your day with a slice of culture…
Where culture comes to life
Fascinating places to visit at Spinningfields include the People’s History Museum – Manchester’s national museum of democracy, offering the chance to learn about equality and social justice.
The free-to-visit museum is also home to the world’s largest display of trade union and political banners. A highlight is the 1908 banner that often appeared alongside Emmeline Pankhurst, Manchester-born organiser of the Suffragette movement.
There’s also John Rylands Library, which is a memorial to one of Manchester’s most successful industrialists. A masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture, the library features a world-renowned collection.
Treasures include one of the oldest known pieces of the New Testament – the St John Fragment – along with magnificent illuminated medieval manuscripts, and a 1476 William Caxton edition of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
This iconic building stages events and free guided tours throughout the year.
Meanwhile, a place lived, is a permanent outdoor public art exhibition by artist Maddi Nicholson, comprising quirky birdbox-style sculptures.
Be on the lookout for sculptor Maddi Nicholson’s gorgeous ‘bird boxes’ at Spinningfields
The sculptures are on the site of terrace housing from the 1800s, with each telling the story of those who lived there. A fascinating link between the past and present.
Art-lovers are also strongly advised to visit ‘And The Bees Still Buzz’ – an outdoor, neon light art installation at Hardman Square. Inspired by a poem written by Ryan Williams after the Manchester bombing, it sends a message of hope and resilience that also captures the way the city has united during the pandemic.
A shoppers’ paradise
Then, having enjoyed our cultural gems, you can shop to your heart’s content.
Spinningfields has an abundance of choice for shoppers, with an eclectic mix of high-end international brands – including Mulberry, Flannels, Emporio Armani, and Phillip Stoner the Jeweller – alongside quality independents like boutique Manchester florist David Wayman Flowers.
For an extra treat, try Hey Little Cupcake! – a small, trendy boutique renowned for their signature collection of cupcakes, cakes and brownies.
These scrumptious-looking Cookie Monster cakes are just one of the tasty treats on offer at Hey Little Cupcake!
Dining with so much choice
You will surely have built up an appetite by now, and Spinningfields has more than 30 restaurants, bars and coffee shops, ensuring there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.
Perhaps you’ll choose 20 Stories – a glamorous rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace, offering a unique experience, with modern British menus and panoramic views of the city.
Or dine under a canopy of cherry blossom at Tattu, a restaurant and bar serving traditional Asian flavours and contemporary Chinese cuisine.
Another Spinningfields favourite is Australasia, hidden beneath the city, and capturing the essence of modern Australia. Try exciting flavours with a focus on Australia’s links with Japan and Southeast Asia.
Say “G’day” to innovational fusion cuisine at Australasia
Then, of course, there’s The Ivy Spinningfields, surrounded by greenery yet in the city centre. It is a real culinary attraction, featuring The Ivy Brasserie, The Ivy Asia, two private dining rooms, and The Roof Garden, with a retractable glass roof.
The Oast House, once used to roast hops in the 16th Century, is another popular escape for workers and tourists, offering live acoustic music in the courtyard, world-famous vintage craft beers and ales, and a host of outdoor events.
A commitment to health and safety
Whether its culture, shopping or dining, Spinningfields is laying on its warm welcome with a greater than ever commitment to health and safety.
To coincide with the easing of lockdown restrictions, the estate’s famous sense of community was seen at its best with the launch of their own estate-wide ‘Blue Tick’ scheme, with businesses adhering to robust safety recommendations, in addition to elevated cleaning and security measures across the public realm.
A Blue Tick sign is displayed at the entrance of businesses, giving visitors confidence that Covid-19 risks are being professionally managed.
“It is a combined message of reassurance to visitors that whether they’re eating, drinking, shopping, or just enjoying our wonderful open spaces, our commitment to safeguarding is unwavering,” says marketing manager Claudia Bloomfield.
“Our businesses have adapted brilliantly over the past year, and we have so much to offer.”
Spinningfields, at the heart of Manchester, is waiting to be discovered.
Find out more at www.spinningfieldsonline.com
