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The 9th episode of the Death of the High Street – Manchester
We are closer to home this time, but since London shocked me, I thought it was only right to head to my nearest big city, and see how the high street is looking there.
It is christmas time, so the markets are out, which always gives a sense that a place is doing well. But behind that, the retail seemed in the same state as everywhere else.
Also, by amazing coincidence, there was a talk going on in the evening in Manchester. The topic – the declining high streets. It was really interesting to finish the video there and get an in depth look at a serious study on what is going on. Hopefully I will be able to do more with there findings at some point.
I do love Manchester, it is a great city. It has fallen victim to the problem that everywhere has, which is…we just don’t need that much retail space any more. How to reimagine it is the key question now.
Debenhams Exploration video by @Urbandoned
Thank you as always for watching.
W.T
#london #abandoned #capital #urban #decay #towns #buildings #fail #city #levellingup
19 Comments
Westminster Uniparty imported thr Third World we have become. I curse them for destroying the legacy from my ancestors.
I've watched some of your videos and very good.
I like the big message you're showing- "what's really going on?"
I think Some sort of weird new world order, mega communism but with a rainbow lol.
21:13 There's a Marks and Spencer at the bottom of Market St and you can get food and drink from there. Obviously this location selling food and drink by M&S must of not been profitable hence it closed down.
Metro centres fucked turnip, empty units all over, this was a place 20 years ago you couldn't move at Xmas, now it's terrible, theyre on about putting football pitches on the roof to try and move with the times, absolutely fucked, should come up here and have a look
Blame greedy councillors taking backhanders to allow out of town shopping centers and an inept government blind to the dangers of online shopping.
I was born there and I'm glad my parents moved us to Canada in 1970.
I'm still laughing at, " It smelled like every girlfriend I've ever had all put together." Killed me.
My granny Catherine Burke was from Manchester, married Hoffman, but l guess as she had 21 siblings ,l have loads of relos.
Get in touch with a lad called Scottie, based in Fleetwood, his brand is Northern Tide which is a clothing brand, top lad and I’m sure he’d be open for a chat 👍, great episode and content again, keep it all up pal
Smells like every GF had me in stitches 😂
WT, your enthusiasm for what you are doing is infectious (in a good way). Your made-in-britain theme sounds like the perfect antidote to the stories of declining high streets. I wonder if you are on the tipping-point of exploring the potential upsides to decline, especially where there is innovative non-corporate use of retail and public spaces. There does need to be a serious push from 'The-People' about how their spaces, towns, and cities are re-imagined. I am thinking how the decline and demolition period of the 'Bull-Ring' Crescents in Hulme – Manchester, briefly (for a few years), led to a completely new vibe in the city – and the key is the people and how their diverse values and cultures created this. For a feel about this, the 'british culture archive co uk' has a great picture gallery and the archive-galleries link here, has pictures of the people who inhabited these spaces. Also 'Freetown Christiania' in Denmark, is another example of alternative use of space and it's become a massive tourist attraction. I have now subscribed, and would chip-in your go-fund–me expeditions to people-spaces throughout europe, and exploring what could potentially work here in the uk. Really hope you take off with your evolving initiatives, and that you keep going with the same spark and zeal.
No its a kip full of depressed mancs
Great videos, Wandering Turnip, & you are marking history for us all, for me that is why you are making the videos: posterity's sake. Let's hope that we all see an improvement over the next few years but I honestly don't think that it will come from retail. The reason that the units are empty, as opposed to the markets, is something that you have touched upon, scandalously high business rates!
As a mancunian who hasnt really properly been back home since around 2019 it is really shocking to see how many shops I took for granted are just gone. After moving to Bangor in North Wales however I have had a real eyeopener as to how much the death of the high street can effect an area. All of the locals talk about how theres literally nothing to do around here, theres barely any shopping, theres barely any resteraunts. The only thing thats keeping the town afloat is the University providing opportunites such as a theatre. We have massive spaces that could be used by a vast amount of businesses, however since the A55 Bypass theres been 0 reasons to come to Bangor, most vistors will just go to the out of town retail centre, which is completley inacessible to most people in the town, as there is no bus services whatsoever to it and its a good 45 minutes both ways from student and regular accomodation. Best i can think of new buisnesses recently has been barber shops, vape shops, phone shops.
My mate has just opened a record shop this week in the Manchester area.
Looking forward to the Makers series. 👍
Vote Nick Buckley MBE for mayor if you want some positive change in Manchester.
I am endlessly fascinated with your term "high street"…in the States we call it "main street." And in many, many towns and cities over here, it's not much better, for many of the same reasons you've described in this video and the others I've been watching. Great work!!
In contrast, even 3rd tier cities in China is better than Manchester today.
Nice to see mums old city…one day I ll be a citzen in bury its my aim