Jonathan Schofield picks out some recent stories from across the city
Showing off both its mettle and its metal
It’s a most welcome re-addition to the city. The opening of most of Albert Square has lifted a weight from the city centre. The value of a well-designed square can never be undervalued. Albert Square’s design comes from Planit, the Altrincham-based company and hero of many a public space, particularly in this region.
One detail of the rejuvenation of the square seems to have largely been missed. Shortly after WW2 something vanished for reasons unknown, probably corrosion. The magnificent railings and lamps around the Albert Memorial that were part of the original design from Thomas Worthington appear to have been scrapped.
As the city says: ‘The (railings and lamps) are what the project heritage architect Purcell call an ‘informed reinstatement’ based on photographs, illustrations and some fragmentary original drawings from the Thomas Worthington Collection held by Manchester Metropolitan University. The railings were made by Lost Art Limited, working closely with Purcell on the design.’
The strength of the elements and the little touches such as the acorn details and the brightly coloured shields of Prince Albert in the centre of the four sides (see main picture) combine to form something which is beautiful, elegant and potent. The ‘Narnia’ lamps on each corner are lovely too. They come from Middleton firm, Metcalf, who have restored all the heritage light fittings on the Town Hall project.
It’s stupid to compare but…
I was in Switzerland on a break when I got the news the horrible Heras fencing was biting the dust around Albert Square. We were in the handsome cities of Basel and Zurich, all very neat, but on my return it was obvious this latest incarnation of Albert Square is easily the equal of any square in that city and country.
Thomas W missed out on the big one
Thomas Worthington was one of Manchester’s most prolific nineteenth century architects. Albert Square bears his stamp and then some. In the south west corner there’s the lovely Venetian Gothic style Memorial Hall (now the Fountain House pub). This dates from 1866 and is a fine work.
Then there’s the Albert Memorial from 1867 and at the northern end of the square the Jubilee Fountain (1897) which is another of his.
It could have been even better for him. Thomas entered the competition to build Manchester Town Hall but his great rival Alfred Waterhouse trumped him. This means that the latter got the ‘honour’ of having a Wetherspoons named after him not TW.
What must have been very annoying for Worthington was Waterhouse’s design came fourth in terms of ‘external and contextual issues’ in the competition held in 1867 but won overall for his clever maximisation of space across the awkward triangular site. In other words the judges thought Thomas Worthington’s fanciful concoction was better looking. Poor Tommy.
By the way the exquisite metalwork on the fountain, especially those bat-like beasts, comes from John Cassidy, the Manchester-based sculptor. He’s more famous for a statue he was commissioned to produce in Bristol. Yes, that one.
Water Street park – last chance to have you say
Another park in the central areas of Manchester is not to be sneezed at especially as it promises to be of a similar vein to Mayfield Park. This addition would follow the banks of the same river as that in Mayfield, the River Medlock, but on the western side of the city centre, in Castlefield. The park will have to share space with four tall towers. The park fits with the CyanLines project, the idea of linking the blue and green areas of the city, and ultimately the city region, with accessible walking routes. Here’s the masterplan for the Water Street project. You have until 25 May to give your input.
Consistency please dear City Council
The press release from the Council about the scheme above reads: ‘The updated proposals for the Water Street area, bound by Trinity Way and the River Medlock, look to deliver hundreds of new homes, a new city centre park, and plans to celebrate the existing heritage arch ways that characterise the area.’
The big question is while the new proposals are welcome why can’t we look after the assets we already have? How come the promises received when I wrote this article in 2022 have never been honoured. The article was called ‘Castlefield: Manchester's battered and tarnished jewel in the crown’.
Castlefield Estates do a marvellous job and Castlefield Forum is an indefatigable residents association but the City Council’s seeming abandonment of the Roman fort reconstructions and particularly of Grocer’s Warehouse is poor.
They are not alone in failing at their jobs. Peel Group own the rusty and dirty Bridgewater Canal infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) essentially do nothing to look after their assets including the potentially lovely Pioneer Quay which is presently a sump of human waste from the homeless encampment. If nothing else the City could bang heads together with Peel and TfGM.
Can’t we have the new stuff and the maintenance of the old stuff as well? As a British resident in Switzerland on our recent visit said to us: “What this country does is really look after things. If something gets built or even if it’s just an existing park bench it’s maintained to the highest standards.” In Britain, well, not so much.
A case in point: neither TfGM, the City Council nor Peel but another bigwig company
One of the three lifts to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station is months old. This is adjacent to Salboy’s Viadux development on Great Bridgewater Street. It’s a really useful addition and is operated by the developer Salboy. It’s grubby with litter and smells. It needs a thorough scrubbing. I don’t believe the windows have been washed for six months. Come on Salboy fellas, the reception to the Viadux tower is literally next door.
Get sett with The Badger
A Georgian townhouse on Dale Street has had various incarnations as a pub most recently as a pub/games combo called Calcio. I have a memory of it being called Nickleby’s in the eighties or nineties and it being a proper spit, sawdust and fighting fleapit on a Saturday night. The good news is that the team behind the excellent Rat & Pigeon pub round the corner on Back Piccadilly and also of the Crown and Kettle on Great Ancoats Street have taken over and delivered a traditional British pub. They say: ‘With The Badger we’ve set out to create the kind of place we love most, warm, welcoming, full of character; with all the charm of a great countryside pub in the heart of the city. Expect cosy corners, traditional pub foods, fine ales and the warmest of welcomes.’ It seems they are delivering on that promise. Scroll down for the menu here. There’s a review here on Manchester Confidential.
Topkapi Palace closes – the restaurant that is, not that big place in Istanbul
There’s been much chatter and nostalgia about the closure of the Topkapi Palace restaurant that opened in 1979 on Peter Street before relocating to Deansgate. The restaurant has been repossessed by the landlord. This is a shame especially for the staff yet for a hospitality business forty-six years constitutes a good innings. I used to edit for several years the City Life Food and Drink Guidebook to Greater Manchester. On my shelf is the 2007 edition featuring 130 restaurants. Surprisingly nineteen years later 39 survive. The average life span of a restaurant is 4-5 years so a 30% survival rate seems pretty good over 19 years. Now, if you’ve been familiar with the GM restaurant scene over the years you can play a game of guessing which ones have survived.
Future inventor: a sweet story
There was a young lad, thirteen but small for his age, on one of my school tours recently. This was a Peterloo Massacre tour. He was from Openshaw on a bursary to a private school. He was shy but he stayed up front with me the whole time.
Early on the tour he said: "If we see any washers, can I pick them up?" I laughed and said, "Be my guest." He said, "I collect metal, small pieces of metal." I said, "I'm very happy for you. I collect rotten bits of wood." He said, "Do you?" "No," I said, "So why do you collect small pieces of metal?" He said, "I want to make something with them." I said, "A sculpture?" He said, "Oh no, something technological, like a machine. I don't know what yet, but I know I'm going to be an inventor."
He paused at that point and very seriously added, "I went to Trinity in Stalybridge before this school and they've lost teachers through cuts so when I get older I'm going to be an inventor for four days and on Fridays volunteer at the school to help out."
In that case, I thought, you’re going to be a noble inventor."
Good news with building more houses in Manchester
This comes from Manchester City Council. ‘Another record year for building affordable homes, four years into the ambitious 10-year housing strategy. Almost 1,000 of the 4,766 new home completed across the city in 2025/26 were affordable with 439 of these affordable homes available for social rent.’ The council wants to have delivered 10,000 new homes by 2032.
Pint? Give me three days
Manchester City Council has had many successes but like any large bureaucracy there are moments of sheer nonsense. The Town Hall sends out tips to staff and last Friday there was a ‘Well-being tip’. This was ‘On the fence about a purchase? Wait 72 hours before you buy it?’ So true, when I go to the pub I often order a pint and then say, hold on, I’ll come back in three days after I’ve decided whether or not to knock it back.
The nothing to do with Manchester snippet
On the way down to London from Manchester for a wedding I overheard an intriguing moment of dissension on the train from two garden enthusiasts. They were visiting the capital for the Chelsea Flower Show. The debate was over allowing gnomes at the show for the first time. One person said: “I really don’t know about the gnomes being present.” This reminded me, absurdly, of Donald Rumsfeld’s press conference during the second Iraq War and his known knowns and unknown knowns statement. My mind rephrased it to: ‘There are gnome gnomes and there are also gnome ungnomes and then there are ungnome ungnomes’. Apparently it’s the last lot we have to worry about.
Upcoming Jonathan Schofield tours
Saturday 23 May 10.30am Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel Tour (Refuge Assurance); Sunday 24 May 1.30pm Trees, Flowers and Manchester City Centre Green Spaces; Saturday 30 May 10am The secrets of Rochdale with a visit to the magnificent Town Hall; Sunday 31 May 10.30am; 1.30pm & 3pm Exclusive: Ruined St Luke’s Church, Cheetham Hill, a very special tour for 2026. Every Saturday at 1pm the Manchester Music Tour.
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