Manchester’s Northern Quarter has changed rapidly over the years, a sizemic shift from a gloomy and often forgotten part of the city to what is now a tourist destination in its own right. The ‘Northern Quarter’ as it was branded in the mid nineties has now evolved into a sprawling epicenter of counter culture, fashion and street art. A cultural hub for Manchester’s independent music scene, a new bar, restaurant or boutique seems to open its doors at least once a fortnight.
Back in the mid eighties however it was a different story. The majority of twenty somethings who now spend their weekends drinking craft beer and cocktails and expanding there vinyl collection at Piccadilly Records and Vinyl Exchange were yet to be born, even mobile phones were still in their infancy, only used by the likes of Alan Sugar and Mike Baldwin off Coronation Street.
Our gallery below transports us back these times, a time when pet shops, Ford Cortinas and curry houses were king, and these now fashionable streets and pavements were much seldom trodden.
Manchester’s (Pre) Northern Quarter, 1985.
Tib Street, facing towards High Street, 1985.
All pictures © Manchester Archives+
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Happily these streets were well trodden in the 80’s Tib Street a mad mix of pets, pubs and sex shops. Three Yates’s still on the go, I drank in The King and The Castle both busy town boozers. Odd little clubs like the Green Door tucked away, curry canteens on the go, mostly still there excepting the Cuckoo Chef. The presses were still active on Gt Ancoats St and Withy Grove, supplying the area with well paid thirsty printers, after hours in the Express Club. Affleck’s was a honey pot for the young, and quality vintage shops like Zip Code and Pop Café emerged. Manchester has changed for better or worse – things come and go – that’s life.
https://modernmooch.com/2016/01/25/oldham-street-manchester/