Regular haunts
List · 4 items

Regular haunts

Graham PicklesGraham Pickles · 0 likes
4 items
ListArt Galleries · Places/Travel

Regular haunts

Graham Pickles
@pickles_on_vinyl
4Items
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Spend all week in boiler cupboards, you start craving white walls and something that isn’t a flue. These are the places I slope off to when the tools are back in the van, the mud’s off the allotment boots and there’s still daylight to spare. A bit of everything here: big civic temples, artist-run corners above dodgy stairwells, and the odd trip over the river when I’m feeling adventurous. Nothing fancy, just the spots that keep my brain ticking over between gas safeties.

The list

Rank
Regular haunts — 4 items
NameAddressCityNeighbourhood / AreaFocusVibeTypical visit lengthEntry costGood forMy take
1Manchester Art GalleryMosley Street, Manchester M2 3JLManchesterCity CentreHistoric and contemporary art, big civic collectionSchool trips, quiet corners, occasional chaos1.5–2 hoursFree, paid specials sometimesRainy Saturdays, Lowry fix without going to the QuaysIf Manchester had a living room, this would be it. Always end up in the Pre-Raphaelites even when I say I won’t.
2The WhitworthThe Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ERManchesterOxford Road / Whitworth ParkTextiles, works on paper, contemporary showsStudents, trees, prams, a bit worthy in a nice way2 hours including park wanderFreeWalking off a hangover, pretending you’re cultured on a dateArt inside, trees outside, café in between. Hard to argue, even for a professional moaner.
3HOME2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FNManchesterFirst Street / Deansgate-CastlefieldContemporary art, film, theatre under one roofArt kids, laptops, pre-cinema wine45 minutes for gallery, longer if filmGallery free, films and shows extraQuick hit of weird art before a pintGallery’s small but usually odd enough to wake you up. Handy when the Metrolink’s packed and you need a breather.
4Esea contemporary13 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1EUManchesterNorthern QuarterEast and Southeast Asian contemporary artCalm box of light in the middle of the chaos45–60 minutesFreeA quiet reset after getting dragged round the vintage shopsFeels like someone’s actually thinking about the world, not just painting another sad clown. Bonus points for being near decent coffee.