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Manchester Innsider

Matthew Pike is a Blogger, Freelance Writer and Editor of Men’s fashion, design and lifestyle blog Buckets & Spades. Based in Lancashire, England but frequently travelling to work on brand projects, he loves exploring new towns and cities to discover the best independent coffee shops, design stores, brands and creatives the UK has to offer. Pike used his background in Fashion Marketing and E-Commerce to build up his blog, and nine years on Buckets & Spades collaborate regularly on large-scale and targeted projects.

Check out the blog at www.bucketsandspadesblog.com, or to hear more from Matthew you can find him at @mat_buckets on Twitter and Instagram.

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Check out our Manchester Innsider

Manchester is a city bursting with things to see and do. Take a look at our Innsider tips to make sure you don't miss out.

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In the Know - Top Hotspots

Tea
North Tea Power - One of the best independents in the UK serving a large selection of classic and niche teas.

Cocktails
Cloud 23 – Enjoy a 23rd floor skyline view of the city as you sip on your favourite flavour of Daiquiri.
Breakfast
Federal Café - Stop by Federal cafe, for their legendary smashed avocado and eggs, piled-high bagels and locally-made sandwiches.

Dinner
El Gato Negro – Tapas is mastered to perfection at this thriving up-and-coming independent.
Browse
Oi Polloi - One of the finest menswear stores in the world, let alone Manchester. Expect hard-to-find labels and sports casual favourites.

See
Royal Exchange Theatre – Catch a show at this intimate and unique performance space.
Lunch
Common – A chilled out pub meets a stylish restaurant. There’s craft beers and tasty small plates to try out.

Visit
Whitworth Art Gallery – Newly refurbished, this renowned and award winning gallery exhibits some of the finest contemporary collections around.
Discover
Magma - Your go-to for independent printed magazines, art supplies, design books and gifts.

Beer
Beermoth Café - A micro-pub concept kitted out with a simple 1-to-20 cask system. Craft beer at its finest, right in the centre.
JURYS REWARDS More great reasons to stay