Lifestyle
We asked a few locals about their favourite spots from shopping to supper. This edition spotlights Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Manchester
Meet Eloise, Manchester’s girl in know. Eloise is the girl behind the camera at @EATMCR the go to page for all things food and drink in the city. She also has her own page @lifeinmanny. If you’re not following her yet, do so immediately, she’ll keep you posted on all in the best things happening in Manchester.
Now, here’s a little insight into some of Eloise’s favourite spots…
Where’s your favourite place to brunch?
Caravan
And your favourite dinner spot?
Hawksmoor
What’s the most underrated spot in the city?
Try Thai
What’s the best dish in the city - one meal you could eat again and again and everyone needs to try?
Great North Pie 14hr Braised Beef & Ale Pie (it’s so good).
Tell us your favourite independent shops?
The Norah Store, Suzy Loves Milo, Marbu Vintage Store, Gone Fishing.
If someone was visiting your city for the first time, where must they absolutely check out?
The Northern Quarter is a must visit as a first-timer, and on a sunny day definitely Ancoats/New Islington.
Where’s the best place to work out?
BLOK
How would you spend a wintery day in the city?
Hot chocolate at Michaels Coffee House, John Rylands Library is very cool/moody, and maybe head to a pub in the afternoon like the Wayfarer or Crown & Kettle.
What are you most looking forward to that’s coming up in the next few months?
There’s loads of new openings still to come to Manchester this year - Half Dozen Other, Doug’s Burgers, Ego Death, Amber’s - I can’t wait to check them all out! And I'll also be visiting the newly opened Blacklock - mainly for the cheesecake, and also the new Museum of Illusions!
Where’s the best viewpoint in Manchester?
This is a bit of a random one, but for really cool city views go to the top of Q-Park on First Street. If you want a nice nature view point, head to Hartshead Pike.
Where’s the best place to stay in the city?
Ducie Street or Whitworth Locke
Where’s the best live music venue?
Gullivers, Band on the Wall, YES Pink Room and Manchester Academy - it’s so hard to pick just one in Manchester!
And finally, what do you love most about your city?
How everyone is so friendly, and that the city is growing and getting more exciting every day.
Birmingham
Want to know what’s going on in Birmingham? @IChooseBirmingham is the account to follow. So who better to ask for an Insiders' guide to the city than the man behind the page. Here’s what Tom Cullen has to say about where to eat, drink and hang out in Brum.
Where’s your favourite place to brunch?
It’s got to be Caneat in Stirchley, hasn’t it? Their ‘Seven Minute eggs’ with gochujang mayo, sesame, coriander and toast is the stuff of Brum legend. Such a relaxing spot and everything on the menu is made with love. Worth travelling for, I promise, and their one-off events are always a total joy.
And your favourite dinner spot?
Hmmm, tough one as the city is blessed with top tier dinner options. The place I dine at most is probably the fried chicken den Bonehead. I spent 12 years living in London and none of the capital’s chicken spots comes close to Bonehead, in Brum. Order the Nashville hot burger with lattice fries and an ice cold pint of Bonehead Pilsner. This place is also ace just for a beer, if you’re not hungry. But you will be when you see the food flying out.
What’s the most underrated spot in the city?
The Balti Triangle. The city does almost nothing to champion what should be a global hotspot. If you’re looking for an authentic Balti then give Shababs a go. A massive table naan and a few lamb Baltis should do you and your pals. It’s BYOB and they make Brum’s iconic dish exactly the way it was made back in the 70s. Our Balti Triangle should be a significantly bigger tourist attraction than, say, Cadbury World. Plans are in place to have the term ‘balti’ receive a European Food Trademark of Authenticity, like Champagne, Melton Mowbray and Mozzarella. To be a true Balti it needs to be made the Birmingham way, in Birmingham.
What’s the best dish in the city - one meal you could eat again and again that everyone needs to try?
This is a toss-up between the three roast rice at Peach Garden in the Chinese Quarter or the beef bao at Tiger Bites Pig. The crispy pork belly on the three roast rice is insanely good and even better value. But Tiger Bites Pig don’t seem to have increased their prices for years and that beef bao with an egg yolk is always immaculate. Take your pick of these two or go to both!
Tell us your favourite independent shops:
The best independent shop is actually online. Visit Brumbox.co.uk for the 100% unofficial Birmingham merch store. The quality of material and their enviro-friendly ethos make this place Brummie gold. But if you’re looking for indie shops (physical shops, I mean) head in to The Red Brick Market in Digbeth or The Great Western Arcade in the heart of town. It’s also worth checking out Punks & Chancers too. Crikey there’s too much to choose from.
What's the best place in the city to work out?
Well, the little gym I visit in Cotteridge called Fitbox 25 is wonderful. I like it; it's very much a relaxed atmosphere and people just looking to feel a bit better about themselves rather than to get jacked up and stacked up. If your budget is a little north of mine check out the Priory Club in Edgbaston. Outdoor pool, indoor pool, excellent equipment and squash courts that were worthy of the Commonwealth Games.
How would you spend a wintery day in the city?
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. What a treasure trove of excellence. You can spend hours browsing the goodies in there and it’s always free to enter. Be sure to visit the statue of The Sultanganj Buddha and rub its finger for good luck. If you get bored, which is very unlikely, there’s a ‘press for Champagne’ button in their bee-yoo-ti-ful Edwardian Tearooms. Try the red velvet cake.
What are you most looking forward to that’s coming up this festive season?
The entire region focuses on the ever growing Frankfurt Market - and I will have a bratwurst and a beer in the freezing cold - but the real gem markets can be found at St Phillips Square (Pigeon Park to you and me) and at Brindleyplace Artisan Market, the latter of which reads like a who’s who of Brum’s best independent traders.
I’ll also be booking myself on for a Santa Shack burger at Meat Shack. The Santa Shack only makes a brief appearance at Christmas and is by-now so legendary that it sells out at speed. There’s Camembert, candy bacon crumb and beautiful dreams in it.
Where’s the best viewpoint in Birmingham?
Indoors, the answer is French restaurant Orelle on the 24th floor of 103 Colmore. Jaw-dropping panoramic views across the city and half decent food to boot. But for free, and al fresco, head up the Lickey Hills for nature’s own perfect vista.
Where’s the best place to stay in the city?
A Grand don’t come for free, as one of Birmingham’s most famous musical sons once wrote. Presumably Mike Skinner wasn’t talking about The Grand Hotel, on Colmore Row, but it can be applied. Immaculately refurbished to the tune of £45m, it’s with a pride that sinks deep into my marrow that I say it’s top-to bottom and front-to-back gawjus. Originally built in 1879 and Grade II listed, The Grand played host to Malcolm X, King George VI, Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill before closing in 2002 while looking somewhat unloved. Since then, 45,000 man-hours have gone into a pain-staking, 18 year planning and restoration project to revive this jewel in
Brum’s historical crown. Where’s the best live music venue?
Got to be the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath. Originally built in 1820 and remodelled to its current form in 1907, the Hare is Grade II listed, as it retains many original Art Nouveau internal fixtures. They’ve hosted countless up-and-coming artists early in their careers, including Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, and Basement Jaxx. The pub is best known for being the location of reggae band UB40’s first gig in 1979. The food is incredible, too. Try the Cubanos sandwiches.
If someone was visiting your city for the first time, where must they absolutely check out this festive season?
One word for you: Ikon. This Brindley place gallery constantly pushes the envelope, bringing the very coolest global artists to town. A cultural gem run by people who love to provoke, in all the right ways. Their shop is also an excellent place to pick up a unique Christmas gift. Free to visit.
And finally, what do you love most about your city?
I love that we’ve stopped caring what people think. The dated view of a grey and grim city continues to permeate UK opinion, but Birmingham is a secret that only 1.2 million people are in on. We spent decades trying to change everybody’s backward view but we’ve given up and cracked on regardless. That, dear reader, is the hallmark of a cool city. We don’t care what they think. We only care about what we know. That there is no more aspirational city in the UK, right now, than Birmingham. Get on board or back off, because we’re coming through.
Glasgow
A warning before you check out Jess Tedd’s page @justjessfood - it’s going to make you hungry! Featuring delicious recipes, Scotland’s foodie hotspots and restaurants all over the globe, Jess’ page is a foodie's haven. Here she tells us some of her favourite places to eat and drink in Glasgow along with a few other must-visit spots.
Where’s your favourite place to brunch?
There are so many, however, I’ve been loving the brunch menu at the new Casa on Great Western Road recently and I’ll never say no to brunch at Outlier.
And your favourite dinner spot?
This is a majorly tough one, but a stand-out spot for me this year, has to be Big Counter... but I’m never disappointed with a Ka Pao, Don Costanzo or a Sugo.
What’s the most underrated spot in the city?
I’m going to name some bars here, that are stunning and cater to an over-30 crowd, these are: Malo (city centre), Devils of Brooklyn (city Centre), Lunar (Southside) The Dam (Speakeasy) and The Gate. These are all cocktail bars that have exceptionally skilled mixologists behind them and I don’t feel like we appreciate/ visit them enough... myself included!
What’s the best dish in the city - one meal you could eat again and again that everyone needs to try?
The French onion soup from Maison by Glaschu, but I’d eat a custom poke bowl from Akiko for my lunch every day of the week if I could!
Tell us your favourite independent shops?
GodShot - not only is it my favourite place in the world for coffee, matcha and homemade pastries but the small concept store inside has some of the best fragrances and homeware.
If someone was visiting your city for the first time, where must they absolutely check out?
You must check out Kelvingrove Museum then take a stroll around Kelvingrove Park with a coffee from Eusebi Deli, check out Glasgow Uni, visit the Botanical Gardens, stop for some soup and a bagel from Naked Soup, then pop and see Ashton Lane and finish by hopping on the subway to the city centre and browse the shops on Buchanan Street, Royal Exchange Square & Ingram Street.
Loch Lomond is also only 45 minutes from the city and climbing the iconic hill is a great, easy enough hike to get in some beautiful views and fresh Scottish air!
Where’s the best place to work out?
There are a lot of beautiful independent gyms and studios in the city. Some stand out places for me must be @space.glasgow and @resetyoga.
How would you spend a wintery day in the city?
To be honest with you, that's most days in this city, but that doesn’t seem to stop us all getting out and about!
What are you most looking forward to that’s coming up this festive season?
Theres a new bar coming to Glasgow called Sebbs that I'm excited about, which is below the nearly opened Margo Restaurant on Millar Street. There are also some new and exciting retail stores coming to the city such as &Other Stories (Princes Sq), H Beauty (Silverburn) and Uniqlo (Argyle St). I also cannot wait for Lost Shore to open, the worlds first inland surf resort with some of my favourite restaurants lined up already for residency, including Five March & Rafas!
Where’s the best viewpoint in Glasgow?
The Radison Red has a rooftop bar that has a great view of some monuments of Glasgow.
Where’s the best place to stay in the city?
The New House Of Gods. Situated in Merchant City with some of the most luxurious and sultry rooms you’ll have ever stayed in, not to mention the glassed roofed rooftop bar, which also has a nice view of the city. Alternatively, the Blythswood hotel is always a hit with the best spa in the city centre.
Where’s the best live music venue?
SWG3 is a fantastic space for indoor and outdoor gigs and the Kelvingrove bandstand always looks so great in the summer months. If it's a bar you are after with some cheesy music with a man on a guitar, you can't go wrong with Maggie Mays or Wunderbar.
And finally, what do you love most about your city?
Everyone is so kind with the best sense of humour. The people make Glasgow!
The NBHD V4 has landed.
This edition arrives in time for the festive season where the twinkling lights are creeping in and everyone’s winding down (or winter arcing!) ahead of Christmas.
Check it out here.
