CottonmouthManchester

And finally...we spend a long time discussing the most influential restaurants in Manchester history. After a big twitter call-out with literally TENS of replies, Thom Hetherington (http://www.landinglight.co.uk ) , Ruth Allan (https://manchesterwire.co.uk ) and host Vaughan Allen try to pick out the difference between 'enjoyable' and 'influential', thereby immediately dealing with the Dutch Pancake House. Hayley Flinn (http://www.theskyliner.org) guides us through the pre-history of Manchester eateries, including the astonishing Tripe restaurants, which you can find out more about at http://www.unitedcattleproducts.co.uk/buildings_manchester.php. A few guests nominate their preferred choices. And then Ruth, Thom and Vaughan pick through top threes and pick OUT their favourites. They don't come to a final 'there can only be one', but see if you agree with their choices. There are a LOT of restaurants mentioned in this.

Moving into June, we have some in depth conversations with movers, shakers and generally good people. First up is the amazing Keisha Thompson, CEO and Artistic Director at Contact (previously Contact Theatre) talking about creative production, managing an iconic building, working with young people, letting young people run the place and their 50th anniversary. https://contactmcr.com Then the brilliant Rose Marley, a woman you can't say 'no' to, on the Co-Op movement, the relevance of Co-Ops to the current age, managing something of such historic importance, working in a heritage building and what comes next..(oh and Beyond the Music again) https://www.uk.coop And finally the wonder that is writer and broadcaster David Scott, on his superb book 'Mancunians', talking about the untold stories of Manchester, how he knitted hundreds of narratives together, what the city centre was like pre-1996 bomb, why we don't talk enough about the post-Hacienda period, how you get drug dealers on the record, and a whole lot of music... https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526161505/ It's a long one, and hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed interviewing these three. Talk to us on twitter @cottonmouthmcr or visit us at cityco.com

Welcome to the May edition of CottonmouthMCR, the podcast for the Manchester city centre business community. This month we're looking at ESG and greening, talking about CityCo's own ESG audit of city centre businesses with Steve Connor and Martha Gilmartin of Creative Concern. https://cityco.com/2022-23-bid-esg-review/ Then looking at some of the city centre's recent performance, before talking to Howard Bristol of the National Trust and Kieron McGlasson of Sow the City about greening the city centre, the Castlefield Viaduct and how companies in the city centre can help make a difference. https://www.sowthecity.org/ https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/castlefield-viaduct And finally we talk to CityCo's own Gary Williams about the upcoming Manchester Flower Festival, how its grown (!), flowered (!!) and blossomed (!!!) https://www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/the-manchester-flower-festival

Announcing the massive new Manchester music festival, Beyond the Music. Launched in SXSW, we have the (near) EXCLUSIVE details of the October 2023 city centre conference and festival taking over Manchester. Talking to founders Oli Wilson and Sarah Pearson, CottonmouthMCR is back with a BANG! (also with a few notes on what's coming up in season six...)

As we come to the end of this little season, talking again to Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester city centre about the last twelve months, what we need to do to re-build confidence and help city centres thrive once more.

Talking to Annie Brown of Macdonald Hotels, Takis Melitsiotis of Native and Stewart Davies of GG Hospitality (Hotel Football and Stock) about how hotels have got through the last year, what they're looking forward to in re-opening, the issues they're going to face and prospects looking forward.

Talking about how leisure has been affected by the covid emergency. What's happened to film and to tabletop gaming; experiences where you're MEANT to be with other people. And what's happened with video gaming, which already was designed to be experienced at home? Has leisure creation got more democratic? Can cinemas survive at all? How do we keep online communities positive? What happens next? Talking to Jason Wood of HOME Manchester, Chris Hart who hosts The Grognard Files podcast and Martin Bryant of Big Revolution

The restaurant sector has both been heavily hit by the covid epidemic and has seen some of the greatest innovation as venues try and maintain revenue streams and marketing reputation. Chatting here with old friends of the pod Ruth Allan of Manchester Wire and Thom Hetherington of Northern Restaurant and Bar about how the sector has tried to survive, what changes will result and what openings in Manchester they're looking forward to over the next few months.

Talking about museums and theatres in the post-covid age. How has culture adapted during the lockdowns, what will visitors see as they re-open and what lockdown-period processes might continue? Delighted to be chatting to three cultural leaders in Manchester: Julia Fawcett of the Lowry Theatre and Gallery, Esme Ward of Manchester Museum and Sally MacDonald of the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester.

So is the city centre office dead? is Working from Home the way, the truth and the light for the post-covid era? Not according to our guests today. John Ogden, MD of CBRE, Sam Booth, the Chief Exec of pro-Manchester and Andrew Cooke, Strategic Director of Bruntwood, discuss what's happening in office-land. How many people are coming back, what's changing in office design, and what's still holding the sector back.

As we (hopefully) come out of the covid emergency, this series is dedicated to looking at how business has survived, and changed, during the period of the virus. Firstly, and coinciding with re-opening of non-essential retail, we're talking to three General and Area Managers within retail and hospitality--from Selfridges, Primark and Costa Coffee.

Talking to Manchester chef Mary Ellen McTague about closing Chorlton's The Creameries in the face of the virus, mobilising friends and colleagues to cook for Wythenshawe Hospital and how the EatWell group that resulted is now cooking 2,000 meals a week.

Talking to Jemma Hynes of FoodSync and the Manchester Food Network about what they've been doing to connect producers and suppliers with those in need during the crisis. With associated discussion of implications for the food system, post-virus and post-brexit.

Talking to Shaun Hinds of Manchester Central about the immediate effect of the virus on their business, the astonishing transformation of the building into a Nightingale Hospital and what might happen next.

Talking to the leader of Manchester City Council about how the council's continuing to operate, how they're delivering services, what support there is for business (and what businesses need to do), and what more help is needed.

Talking to Simon Binns, editor of Ladbible about the impact of the virus on the site, how they got involved in the government's question time, the changing of the guard in media political coverage and what the site's planning next.

Talking to Rob Masterson of Mustard Media about the Events 4 Covid 19 project, bringing together events companies and their equipment and skills with those needing help in a time of virus.

Talking to Dave Moutrey of HOME, about their reaction to the virus, how they're keeping in touch with customers, their future funding, and what happens to the venue 'after'.

Talking to Esme Ward of Manchester Museum about the impact of the virus on them, how they're keeping in contact with their audience and what they're learning

Talking to Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell about the impact of the virus, what more is needed from government and the concept of viral load.

Talking to Stephen Rhodes of TfGM about the first ten days under the coronavirus, maintaining services, what's happening to traffic and plans for the days ahead.

Kicking off a new series on life in the city centre under the coronavirus, CityCo's own Gareth Worthington talks about what's been happening in the night-time economy, what help is available and what businesses need from the government and council.

Joined by Eve and Michael again, we’re concentrating on the city and the environment. Firstly, there’s some chat about inclusion, social value, the Preston model of local wealth-building and how corporates can contribute to the local economy and eco-system, before Michael goes on a little rant about businesses behaving badly and why awards are basically rubbish, and Vaughan goes on a rant about who really benefits from the move to lean working (clue—it’s not the employee). Then we dip into the travails of the local high street, looking at a few successes along the way, including Eve’s Chorlton. We’ll return to the latter in the next podcast. The main section is devoted to the Mayor’s recent Green Summit. Eve makes the case for what more the city can be doing, Vaughan talks about the need to build resilience to the inevitable, and a little tiff breaks out about how much the government is doing in all this and whether climate change activism is based on facts or not. We manage to reach some sort of agreement and then Eve gets the last word. In the final bit, all three reveal the one thing they would change about Manchester if they could, and then they each select one (though it turns out to be two) great book about or set in Manchester. Eve goes all nostalgic, Vaughan tries to be up to date and Michael avoids selecting one of his own books.

In the first of a new format, Vaughan Allen is joined by Eve Holt and Michael Taylor to discuss all (well, many) things Manchester place, politics and future. In the first bit (1:50 in) they run through the Mayor’s clean air proposals, and whether they can ever satisfy everyone, before moving on to recent reports suggesting local people are being priced out of the city centre housing market, with a brief aside into Manchester’s use of soft power. Vaughan then drops out (26:00) for a updated interview with Dave Moutrey, Chief Exec of HOME and Director of Culture for Manchester city council, to review what’s happening in the cultural world and what excites Dave about the future. Back with Eve and Michael (42:00), they launch into their main conversation—around cycling and walking in the city centre. Eve introduces the ‘Bee Network’ proposed by Chris Boardman, and the three debate the need for more education (on all sides), better infrastructure and how this all ties back into clean air. In the final bit (01:04:00), inspired by the planned changes to Piccadilly Gardens, each nominates their favourite bit of public realm in the city, and then has one minute to talk about their favourite northern/city-based podcast, during which Vaughan gets the chance to demonstrate his lack of intellectual rigour. All wrapped up in just over an hour. Now available on itunes, Spotify and Soundcloud. And back next month. Thanks to Blueprint Studios in Salford for editing.

Talking to Cate Allison, the outgoing CEO of MASH about the charity's history and growth, how their services have altered to support female sex workers, what's happening now on the streets, what the future holds, and what businesses can do to support them.

Talking to Neil MacInnes, MCC lead for libraries about the re-development of Central Library, how to make libraries relevant to the 21st Century, its place in Manchester and lots more.

Talking to Tomas Maunier, co-founder of Fazenda, about the passion that drove him to start the restaurant, how the chain organically grows, how staff are at the centre of everything and the future of F&B in Manchester.

Back again with Ms Ruth Allan and MR Thom Hetherington, restaurant and bar experts of this parish. Delving into the recent spate of closures, what will happen in the long run, why Ancoats (and Stockport!) is booming, what's exciting coming up, and why lists do (sometimes) matter. With mention of lots of places your host hasn't been or heard of, which just goes to show how out of touch he is.

Talking to Alistair Hudson, Director of both Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth about the history of the two institutions, their role in the city, how they will evolve in the future, collecting in the 21st century, and connecting with the people of Manchester. With some diversions into museology and comments on collecting.

Talking to Esme Ward, (relatively) new director of the Manchester Museum about the plans for expansion of the museum, refreshing the galleries and displays, and how they intend to connect to local communities. With byways into Manchester's strengths and weaknesses as a city for the more mature person.

Talking to Julia Fawcett, the Chief Exec of The Lowry about the history of the venue, balancing theatre and gallery space (and how they're starting to merge), the evolution of the Quays, the Lowry's place in the Manchester scheme of things and what's happening next. We also get in to some nerdy stuff about governance and some less nerdy stuff about LS Lowry himself.

Talking to Sheena Wrigley, Director of Manhester's Palace Theatre and Opera House. We dive into the history of the venues, their place in the city's cultural offer, the differences between the subsidised and non-subsidised sectors and plans for the future. I try (and fail) to get inside information on the future schedule.

Talking to John McGrath, Director of the Festival about his two years in charge, following on from Alex Poots, what he's planning for 2019, how the festival is expanding and its place in the city.

Talking to Esther Maylor of The Eagle and Steffi Price of Gullivers about being a landlady, the role of pubs in communities, running venues, working with brewers, and why a pub is not just about drinking.

Talking to Ian Stewart and Tim Thomas about the evolution of Salfod’s world-renowned Blueprint studios--how it all started, the parties upstairs, how 50 Cent gave them a boost, how things have changed in the industry and what it sounds like when a Dalek needs a loo break.

How did gin get from Mother's Ruin to the shelves of Harvey Nicks? Why has every railway arch got a distillery opening in it? What' World Gin Day. Many of these (and more) questions answered in conversation with Charlie Hooon-Sykes, Lucy McAvoy from Four Sis4ers Gin and Seb Heeley from Manchester Gin

Talking to Dave Haslam about his memoir 'Sonic Youth slept on my floor' about DJing, writing, the Hacienda, Manchester, the growth of superclubs and superstar DJs, mid-life crises and the power of music.

Katy Ashton, Director of the People's History Museum, picks her favourite object from the collection

Talking to Andrew Brooks, Manchester's finest photographer of city landscapes about urban exploring, using technology in his work and how the city is evolving.

In this extra long episode we talk to Paul Martin of the LGBT Foundation, John from BarPop and Tony from OnBar about the history of the Village, what's happening now and the likely future. We discuss drag shows, memories of FooFoo Lamar, the original Section 28 march and get into whether there's any need for a 'gay' Village in the 21st century. There's also more than a little bit of gossip.

Talking to Tony Martin, General Manager of Afflecks about the history of the market, how people get involved and the range of sellers currently in situ, And then on to Hatch, the Afflecks offshoot on Oxford Road, and plans for the future.

Talking to the Royal Exchange's Mark Dobson and Sarah Frankcom about the history of the theatre, its radical past, its youth programmes, the wonderful building and its place in the city

Chatting to Clare Devaney, founder of citizen-i and ex-Research Fellow with the RSA about citizen engagement, inclusive growth, how communiites can be involved in change and the 'fourth way' for economics.

Chatting to Karen Shannon, CEO of the Manchester Histories Festival about what's in store this year---Suffragettes, Peterloo, the end of WW1 and more. Karen talks about the mission of the Festival and how it works with local communities to tell their stories.

Talking to Richard Tucker, the European MD of Leesa Mattresses about the company, its growth in Manchester and the UK and why a social mission is at its core.

Talking to Ruth Ibegbuna, founder and outgoing Chief Exec of the Reclaim Project about working class teenagers, young people in the city centre, funding charities and lots more.

Talking to journalist Ruth Allan and expert Thom Hetherington about new openings, closings, the growth in Ancoats, MIchelin Stars (and lack of), and everything Manchester foodie.

Talking to Katy Ashton, Director of the PHM about the history of the museum, its social mission, work with kids, and the difficulties of collecting leaflets and badges.

Talking to Sally McDonald, Director of the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry about her favourite object. It's probably not one you might expect.

In the first of a series of brief interviews, Nick Merriman tells us about his favourite object in Manchester Museum and why it matters. With digressions into taxidermy and the role of toilet capacity in visitor numbers.

Talking to Jess Thompson of the City of Trees project about plans to plant a tree for every individual in the city, what trees do for us and what you can do to help.