Northern Quarter
The Northern Quarter is the district of former textile warehouses north of Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre, now known for independent shops, bars, cafés and street art. Locals often shorten it to NQ, and the area roughly lies between Piccadilly, Shudehill and Great Ancoats Street.
In practice
The streets were built for the cotton and market trades, and by the late twentieth century many buildings were empty. Cheap rents brought in record shops, vintage clothing, studios and bars, with Afflecks, an indoor market of independent traders, as an anchor. Today the area is a mix of creative offices, flats, brunch cafés and nightlife, and its grid of Victorian streets is regularly dressed up as New York for film and television shoots.
Why it matters to newcomers
The Northern Quarter is where many people new to Manchester end up for their first nights out and weekend coffee, and where many small creative and tech companies have offices. It is busy and noisy at night, so think twice before renting a flat above a bar. For quieter streets with the same character, look east to Ancoats.
Related
- Ancoats - the neighbouring mill district
- Madchester - the music scene behind its record shops
- Cottonopolis - the trade that built its warehouses
Sources: Afflecks; Marketing Manchester.