GRUB is a home from home for anyone looking to escape the cookie-cutter capitalist vibe of the modern city, wonderfully laid-back, with a great selection of craft beers, food vendors and vegan-themed happenings. But upstairs is where the magic happens. This wildly-decorated room is one of the city’s best event spaces, perfect for live gigs, theatre productions, stand-up comedy and anything else that requires a dash of creativity and a big well-designed room.

Billing itself as Manchester’s home of cult films, video games and cool nerd stuff, Cultplex is a small cinema offshoot of indie street food destination the above GRUB. Expect movie marathons and big screen games nights alongside comedy and quizzes. There’s popcorn and ice cream, but more substantial refreshments are available from the on-site street food vendors. The listings are excellent and the vibe is super relaxed.

This is a historic gem of a museum, made even more special by the recent redevelopment. Moving around exhibits housed in the former ladies’ gallery mezzanine, you learn about the community established by Jews came to this part of Manchester from all over the world to make a life for themselves . It’s a great way to experience living history, and learn about one of the many crisscrossing stories that make our city the rich, diverse and colourful place it is.

A magnificent gin distillery, the Three Rivers’ tours are super interesting, providing unique insight into the science and history behind the creation of various gins, which complements all the excellent drinks you’ll sup while taking them in. If you’re looking for a mates night out, a treat for colleagues or an impressive something for a special someone, or indeed if none of these apply, we recommend this one muchly.

Manchester Ukrainian Cultural Centre or ‘Dnipro’ has been at the heart of the Ukrainian Community in Manchester and the surrounding areas for over 60 years. A valuable asset in the development of Ukrainian culture, education and traditions, the centre has a long record of service to all communities across Manchester.

The Yard is a unique working environment where music and art thrive. In addition to its meeting spaces and office facilities, it’s home to a great little music venue, which tends to attract future-leaning electronic artists.

Osaka Local specialises in Japanese savoury pancakes but, of course, it’s not just about savoury pancakes, you’ll find a small but mouth-watering range of dishes on offer, from katsu curry to moreish noodles. The noodles are a high-quality treat too, thick and coated with dark and umami-rich sauce, but whatever you go for, go for it early – these dishes almost always sell out, and fast.

Lauded by food critics including Jay Rayner, The Sparrows serves up a spread of food from European nations, courtesy of owners Kasia Hitchcock, and Franco Concli, who hail from Poland and Italy respectively. Expect pasta dishes piled high, along with sauerkraut and dumplings.

Cheetham Hill locals flock to Istanbul for great-tasting fresh Turkish dishes — everything from classic plates like pide and lamb kebabs to more modern vegetarian options.