Peter Wheelers’

Guide to Manchester
(Conference 2010)
Welcome to Manchester. NEC election results
As I am putting this guide
Since Conference was last here we have had a busy two years. together we don't know the
results of the NEC elections.
Despite our best efforts we were beaten at the last election. As a result we face a All I can do at this stage is
Conservative Government determined to roll back all the gains made by post-war thank all the members for
Labour Governments. their support and
friendship over the last
Conference is where we decide how to respond. Having elected a new Leader it's up six years. It really is an honour
to all of us to unite behind him. to be elected to represent
your fellow members. If I am
We need to defend the legacy of our Labour Government-the massive investment in re-elected I will continue to
schools and hospitals, record levels of international development aid, a minimum put Labour values at the heart
wage and steering Britain through the worst economic crisis for 70 years. We need to of Labour's campaigning and
be proud of what we achieved and not let the Tories trash our legacy. work to get rid of this
conservative Government as
We need to reach out to those voters we lost at previous elections AND to new soon as possible. If I am not
supporters who have never voted Labour before. It's not a case of core voters OR re-elected I will do the same.
swing voters-we need the support of both.
Many Thanks. PETER
Crucially we need to prepare our organisation and policies for an election which might
come sooner than many think-selecting our candidates in marginal seats, reviewing Contact Me....
and up-dating our policies and leading the opposition to this governments’ slash and
burn economics. Phone: 07880 790182

Enjoy yourself in Manchester-This Conference is the first step back to Government! Email:
wheelerpeter@hotmail.co.uk
Peter Wheeler

For more info contact:
Greatledge printers in Manchester was set up by Sadiq Gawad in 1998 and has
worked closely with the Labour Party ever since. Sadiq is a member of the
print union and Greatledge work with Councillors, MPs, MEPs Ministers and
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they are always the best on price, quality, service and delivery. They do Litho
printing, large Format digital printing allowing big banners and posters and
offer free design for your leaflets.
Better than that, they understand how the party works-we all want our
leaflets at the same time, we miss dead-lines and want delivery 10 minutes
after we have put the copy in.
They are a proper part of the Manchester Labour scene and don't do Tories or
Lib Dems! I am proud that Greatledge are sponsoring this Conference guide
and have no hesitation recommending them for your printing
.
Ben on 0161 2307527 or E-Mail greatledge@btopenworld.com
 "Beer – proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy", Dr Johnson

Manchester is blessed with more than its fair share of good pubs & good beer. As your NEC member I
felt it was my duty to visit (most of) them to check they were up to scratch for you. It’s a tough job
but…..
Anyway, as they say…enjoy yourself sensibly. The best beers in town are the local ones – Holts,
Hyde’s, Robinsons & John Willie Lees, all reasonably priced. I’ve grouped the pubs in reasonable little
groups around the conference centre, feel free to go off piste and let me have your comments –
07880790182 or email wheelerpeter@hotmail.co.uk if you need any help.

Oxford Road / Piccadilly Albert Square / Deansgate

From the conference centre walk past the Bridgewater
Hall and in front of you, you will see “The Britons
Protection” – Great Bridgewater Street. Good range of
beer including excellent Jennings and apparently 200
different Whiskies. Deceptive in size, if you walk
around the bar there are some very comfortable rooms
and there is a big outside seating area.
Just up the street on the right is the “Rain Bar” a
younger pub/bar with good outside seating over-
looking the canal. Further up on the left is “The Peveril
Of The Peak” Lots of good beers and a genuine
Manchester Pub. Best table football machine in Town.
Slightly further up is “The Temple Of Convenience” a
converted gents urinal. It‟s actually a lot better than it
sounds, reminds me of some 60‟s bohemian bar I saw
on the telly once – give it a try.
Cross Oxford Road and walk up Portland Street you
come to “The Old Monkey” a lively Holts's house. Ten
yards further on are “The Circus” and “The Grey Horse”
Manchester‟s smallest pubs. Excellent beer, good
atmosphere and „must visits‟ when you‟re in town.
To the left down is China Town the only pub is “The
Seven Oaks” but the Chinese karaoke bars are very
good.
The area in front of the conference entrance, between
Albert Square and Deansgate is a rabbit warren of
offices, pubs and restaurants. This area is the site of the
Peterloo Massacre in 1819 and is well worth roaming
round! “Live Bait,” the best fish, restaurant is in this
area.
Peter Street is one long series of bars and clubs, take
your pick. More interesting is the area behind Peter
Street, walk through the little passage by the RAF
recruiting office and the "Sir Ralph Abercromby" is on
your left on Bootle Street. Probably the nearest pub to
conference it's next door to the police station so there‟s
unlikely to be any trouble in there. It also has a big beer
garden for enjoy the sun shine. Turn right outside the
pub and across the car park and in front of you is the
“Nags Head” Manchester pub of the year 2007. The
karaoke is good on a Friday, and it‟s a lively city centre
pub.
Carry on through the Nag‟s head, i.e out the back door,
and in front of you is the "Sun Inn" – another good pub
with interesting snacks. If you go out the back door
again and turn right you‟re in Albert Square. This is a
good route to know on a rainy night! Plenty of pubs just
off Albert Square. Walk across it and on the left down
John Dalton Street is “The Ape and Apple” a big, down to
earth Holts‟ House.

To the right up Chorlton Street is The Gay Village- a big
strip of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants along Canal
Street. A key part of Manchester‟s cultural vitality its
also an excellent place for late drinking “Paddy‟s
Goose” is in many ways, the village pub.
Down Cross Street is “Mr.Thomas‟s Chop House”, good
Victorian pub, good beer. The chops are also very good.
Just opposite over Cross Street, 20 yards up, Chapel
Walks is “Sam‟s Chop House.” Beer, excellent, British
food, not for the calorie conscious! Not sure if Tom &
Sam were related!

If you wonder back to Albert Square via Mosley Street,

you will come across the “City Arms” excellent range of
beers including Black Sheep and the watering place of
the Manchester City Labour Party.

"Without question, the greatest invention in the

history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that
the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel
does not go nearly as well with pizza."
-Dave Barry
"Everybody has to believe in something.....I believe I'll have
another drink." -W.C. Fields

Castlefield
This is the site of the original Roman Settlement of Mamucium, it was actually a castle in a field (we’re very literal
people in Manchester) Nearly 200 years ago this was the most important industrial area in the world. Site of the worlds
first railway station (now the museum of industry on Liverpool Road) and the Manchester end of Bridgewater Canal
what brought cheap coal to fuel the worlds first industrial city, and became a canal spaghetti junction. The area fell into
neglect but has been massively regenerated over the last decade. It’s one of the liveliest parts of town and well worth a
visit.

Walk down past Peter Street from the conference centre, turn left into Deansgate and you come to the Hilton Hotel, in
the Beetham Tower, if you can get in. The Sky bar is well worth a visit. It’s pricey but the view over Manchester here is
worth it and there is a glass floor in the bar which you can stand on and look down to Deansgate 150 foot below. Its
like floating!

Just a bit further down is the "Deansgate", good traditional pub with excellent Sunday Roasts. Just a bit further down to
the left is Deansgate locks, an area of bars and comedy clubs. Near the station itself are two excellent bars, The Atlas
bar and the Knott bar. The Atlas bar is a good place to hang out with a big open area at the back.

The Knott Mill is my favourite round here with good real ales from the Marble Arch brewery and a large open balcony
on the 1st floor. If you carry on by the canal, you come to "Dukes 92" and "Barca", big modern bars in a canal side
setting. The other pub of note is the “Ox" on Liverpool Road, excellent food and beer and handy for the conference
centre. It used to be called the Oxnoble, the only pub in Britain to be named after a potato. Unfortunately corporate
management decided it needed a trendy name, one day they’ll come to their senses!

"Beer: So much more

than just a breakfast
drink."
-Whitstran Brewery sign

Salford
If you fancy getting away from the conference hustle and bustle, just a short walk (or taxi) away is Manchester’s twin
city, Salford. Separated from Manchester by the mighty river Irwell, Salford has a style of its own. Originally built on the
docks and engineering, the city experienced the devastation brought by Thatcher and her accompanies. We’re getting
over that now thanks to a Labour council and a Labour Government - but fearful of what this lot have in store.

On Bridge Street, just on the border with Manchester is “The Mark Addy” named after a famous local life saver. Here
you can sit by the river and watch the swans.

Just a bit further down past the newly re- furnished Salford Central station, is the" Egerton Arms", a Holt’s house and as
typical as a Salford pub as your likely to get. Carry on down, cross over Chapel Street and 50 yards down on the left is
the "Kings Arms", this pub has its own theatre and regularly holds gigs with local bands – and a wide range of real
beers.

Toddle back up Bloom Street, turn right on Chapel Street and about 150 yards on your right hand side is and you’re in
Bexley Square, the home of “The New Oxford” An excellent free house ran by Tim from Ireland. On a sunny evening this
is one of the best places to sit outside and take it all in. They do an excellent Sunday Roast. Bexley Square saw a
political battle in the 1930’s between the police and unemployed demonstrators outside the local town hall, described
graphically in “Love on the Dole”

Walk a little bit further down Chapel Street and just over the lights on the on the left is "The Crescent", make sure
you’re in by 11 and its open until 1am. It’s a well Known fact in Salford that Marx and Engels who had a factory near -
by, used to come in here at the weekend and get hammered.
 In Manchester you can eat pretty much any type of food but at Conference you’ll probably want
instant gratification, so most of the ones listed below are within stumbling distance of
conference. Don’t forget the chip shop, one of Manchester’s unique contributions to world cuisine,
gravy a speciality.
A tip well worth knowing is that lots of these restaurants have websites with lots of two for one
offers etc-So, google before you go!

Greek
Castlefield – Dimitri’s – Campfield Arcade – Junction of
Deansgate and Campfield. Tel: 0161 839 3319. Great
Greek restaurant & bar, smashing for sitting out when
the weathers nice.
Spanish
El Rincon, 244 Deansgate. 0161 8398819 – Excellent
Spanish restaurant downstairs and very relaxed. Can be
a little hard to find as its on a backstreet just off
Deansgate but well worth the effort.
Evuna, 277 Deansgate-0161 230 5337. Another
excellent Spanish restaurant.
English
Sams Chop House – 8 Back Pool Fold, off Cross street –
Tel: 0161 834 3210. Proper British cookery at its best.
Corned Beef hash or Steak and Kidney pudding
recommended. It’s a pub and a restaurant and personally
recommended.
China Town
It would be impossible to list all the restaurants and
cafes in Manchester’s China town. Its good day or night,
with plenty of restaurants’ and bakeries. But the one not
to miss is the Yang Sing on Princess Street, Tel: 0161
236 2200, try the banquet, it’s the best!

Turkish Others worth visiting in town

Café Istanbul 79 Bridge street – Tel: 0161 833 9942. Pizza – Matt & Phreds, 64 Tib St. 0161 831 7002 – long
just off Deansgate, an excellent Turkish Restaurant, established jazz club with the best pizza’s in town.

Topkapi, 205 Deansgate -0161 832 9803. Another Mongolian

excellent Turkish retaurant and very near the
Conference centre. Afiyet Olsun-enjoy your meal!
Portuguese
Luso – Bridge Street, Tel: 0161 839 5550. If your
missing the Algarve, this is the place for you. Just past
the café Istanbul, food and service is excellent.
Argentinean
Gaucho bar and grill 2A St.Mary’s street (behind
kendall’s) -0161833 4333 if you fancy a 2lb steak try
the gaucho – not one for the faint hearted.
Fish
Live Bait – Fish Restaurant, 22 Lloyds Street – Tel:
0161 817 4110. This is it. Proper fish, chips and peas
with a white wine, how good does it get? About 1 minute
walk from the conference centre, make sure you get
bread and butter with your meal.
Armenian
Armenian Tavern – Albert Square, Tel: 0161 834 9025.
A Manchester institution, you step off Albert Square and
it’s like stepping in to Armenia (imagine). Excellent
service, but I don’t think it’s open Mondays.
Genghis Khan – 16 Chorlton Street - 0161228 1631,
bring your appetite because it’s as much as you can eat.
All the ingredients are fresh, you make up your own dish,
meat, veg, fish sauces and they griddle it for you. Bet you
cant do more than 5 dishes!
French
Café Rouge - 82-84 Deansgate – Tel: 0161 839 0414.
Felicity says “its nice in there” - cosy little place, candle
lit, and extra seating outside. Always friendly service, and
would recommend the fish cakes.
Curry
Don’t miss the curry mile, jump a cab from town and take
your pick. The Lal Qila is recommended. The cab
shouldn’t cost too much more than a fiver and there’s no
where in Britain like it.
For a curry near the Conference Centre try the following:
Akbar-73-83 Liverpool Rd. Off Deansgate 0161 834
8444
eastzeast- Blackfriars. -0161 834 3500-Valet parking
available!
Both are recommended by Afsal Khan -There is no higher
recommendation.

Italian Russian
Piccolino – 8 Clarence Street, Tel: 0161 835 9861. A The St. Petersburg Restaurant. 68 Sackville St. 0161
very good Italian restaurant just off Albert Square. 236 6333. This is a new one to me but seems very lively
with plenty of Caviar, Not open on Mondays but Russian
Mexican singing and Karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays
El Macho – 103 Portland Street, Tel:0845 205 1195
Just off Oxford road on the way to Picadilly, nice
downstairs Mexican. Call:
08705
900200