Having lived in Withington during my second year and deciding to stick around for my third, I have to say that it has a lot more to offer than what first meets the eye. A modest high street with a library at one end and Sainsbury’s local at the other doesn’t seem all that exciting, but stop to notice the Withington Walls murals and you might start to get a sense of the area’s charm. The suburb is equipped with everything you need: corner shops, post office, library, pharmacy, discount stores, and plenty of buses to take you up to the university and town centre.
Study cafés and essential eateries
As a student, something you might be searching for is study spaces. Aside from the library there are several cosy cafés that provide the ideal environment. Something More Productive, set up early last year, is an intimate spot offering delicious coffee, cakes, and lunches. The interior is very small so I recommend arriving before lunch time, but they have a comfortable outside area too. The staff are always smiling, the playlist never disappoints, and they have a loyalty card scheme. Another café I would recommend as a study space is Toast. Although they don’t allow laptop-users on the weekends, the hot drinks cost only £2.50 Monday-Friday and with their loyalty card you only need to buy six to earn a free one. Upstairs you will find a quieter scene with charging points, and if you get peckish it is worth checking out their menu.
Parents visiting, date night needs planning, or simply don’t want to cook? Not to worry – Withington has a lovely selection of restaurants to keep you from going hungry. Moon serves all the traditional Indian favourites: bhaji, pakora, biryani, and a wide selection of curries. Kyotoya is a tiny but atmospheric Japanese restaurant that has flavourful noodles, rice dishes, and sushi (that can come in a boat!). Note that it is cash only and worth booking ahead. Japan Deli (also cash only) offers reasonably priced sushi and bento boxes. They are made fresh to order and are well worth the wait. For a classic pub lunch the best spot is the Red Lion, which also serves roasts on Sundays. If none of those take your fancy then Didsbury, just down the road, has more options.
Withington also has plenty of grab-and-go options. Chicken shops Pepe’s, Nabzy’s, and Finger Licking Chicken sit practically side by side close to the bus stop. A little further down you will find burger spots The Grubfellas and Loaded. Beyond them; Caprinos Pizza and Mike’s Fish and Chips. All of these are perfect for lining your stomach before or after a night out.
Marvellous nights out
I haven’t forgotten about Café Blah and Fuel, which are so much more than just comfortable study spots. Since reopening in May, the trendy café-bar-venue Café Blah has retained its popularity. Warm decor and a cosy basement section make it ideal for pleasant conversation, or you could visit for one of the many events they put on: art exhibitions, film nights, parties, live music, and so much more. Fuel also puts on some brilliant music, hosting all sorts of bands, singers, and open mic nights to keep you entertained. You won’t want to miss the artsy atmosphere or the affordable vegetarian and vegan menu. Additionally, if clubbing is your ideal night out but you don’t fancy trekking all the way to the centre of Manchester, look no further than Withington’s XLR. Recently transformed into Manchester’s first bring-your-own-booze music venue, visitors can enjoy a DJ set without the additional bar price tag. There is still a bar if you prefer to use it, but otherwise store your drinks in the club’s lockers and dance away.
Withington also has several pubs that are popular with students, the best of which are The Victoria and The Orion. Chatty ambience and classic British pub interiors make them the go-to drinking spots for student groups. There is Southside Tequila Joint too: a vibrant cocktail bar that gets rammed on the weekends. Loud and busy with a 9-11pm happy hour, the beers, cocktails, and tortilla chips never miss. With one of the best tequila selections in the country, they know how to mix the nightlife spirit.
Budget-friendly shopping
An enjoyable way to shop without exceeding your weekly budget is through charity shops. Withington is home to seven of them, and they are all within 200 metres of each other! They boast a broad selection of clothing, jewellery, homeware, books, and bric-a-brac. RSPCA and St Vincent de Paul always have fashionable outfits in the window, and Age UK and Francis House sell some furniture alongside the usual items.
Beg, Steal & Borrow is worth a browse too. Recognisable from Affleck’s Palace, this trendy second-hand clothing store opened up a second shop in Withington at the end of last year. If you’re after funky fashion or want to exchange pieces that you don’t wear for store credit, check this place out. Another shop with stylish pieces is Mockingbirds, although most of the clothing is likely to be out of a student’s price range. Nevertheless it is a great place for window shopping, and some of the homeware, socks, and cards make nice gifts.
The newly pedestrianised zones (completed last year) make Withington all the more enjoyable to stroll around. The colourful benches and pretty flowerbeds are sweet additions for the community, and the open space allows events to be held where cars had driven before. On the 25th October a pop up market appeared and locals came down to peruse the local art, jewellery, snacks and sweet treats for sale. The atmosphere was convivial and it demonstrated the value of pedestrianised streets within the city. I expect these new corners of Withington will be used for all sorts of delightful events in the future.
