We are Manchester: ten reasons why you should bring your hospitality business to Manchester

24th July 2025

Claire Morris, Associate

The Madchester era, driven by bands like The Stone Roses and venues like the Haçienda, gave the city global music status. As a result, since the 1980s, Manchester has evolved from being a fading and neglected industrial centre, home of the traditional pub, into an internationally recognised hospitality and cultural powerhouse that draws in domestic and international visitors year-round.

You just have to look around to see that Manchester is growing, open and full of possibility. If you’ve got a bold idea, a strong concept, and the ambition to build something meaningful—there’s no better place to be. If you need a bit more convincing, here are ten reasons why you should start or bring your business to Manchester, plus a play list to get you in the mood:

1.  Authentic cultural identity (“Manchester” – The Beautiful South)

Manchester’s hospitality scene is steeped in authenticity. The city’s cultural fabric is undeniably built on creativity, music, and community. Innovation and individuality are favoured over image. Manchester’s hyperlocal hubs – such as Ancoats, Northern Quarter, Chorlton – all have their own character and operators quickly develop supportive and loyal followings. The characters hyperlocal areas are also recognised within the Manchester City Council licensing policy.

2. Grassroots, Community-Led Hospitality (“Stand by Me” – Oasis)

The history of Manchester’s hospitality industry reflects the successful bottom-up growth of independent local businesses.  The scene thrives on partnerships and mutual support.  Manchester has also produced a number of successful hospitality exports in the past decade – think Rudy’s Pizza, The Alchemist and Junkyard Golf. All started small in Manchester and now have a national footprint. As a result, the city is increasingly seen as a launchpad for scalable hospitality concepts, not just a testing ground. Manchester sets trends; it doesn’t follow them.

3. Major Events and Cultural Pull (“Made of Stone” – The Stone Roses)

Manchester’s calendar is packed with events that merge hospitality with entertainment and culture. This brings in diverse audiences and boosts hospitality footfall. Big cultural moments create real commercial opportunities here. Think Co-Op Live; Factory International (Aviva Studios); Brit Awards (coming in 2026); Manchester Arena (plus the United and City stadiums); Manchester Central Convention Complex; and Parklife, now a staple in Manchester’s summer calendar.

4. Post industrial place-making centred around hospitality (I Am the Resurrection” – The Stone Roses)

Manchester has turned its industrial heritage into an impressive commercial opportunity that puts hospitality at the very centre of place-making. Manchester has embraced regeneration, adaptive reuse of historic buildings (such as old mills and factory buildings). Islington Mill, Freight Island, Mayfield Depot provide great individual examples. But Manchester’s adaptiveness has introduced many high-quality public realm improvements, such as the redevelopment of Spinningfields, Ancoats, the Northern Quarter, Circle Square. Mixed-used schemes also place hospitality and leisure at their centre – have a look at St John’s, Kampus, NOMA, and the Oxford Road Corridor. These areas are now key hospitality zones, with real character and dwell times, proving Manchester’s ability to evolve and support innovative food, drink, and leisure concepts.

5. Creative Freedom Without Crushing Costs (“Roll With It” – Oasis)

To be blunt – it’s cheaper to set up in Manchester than in other possibly more ‘obvious’ cities. Manchester offers lower rents, lower staffing costs, and a more accessible customer base. All supported by City Co, a network of BID teams, and other business initiatives. Lower risk and lower costs allows for greater ‘test and grow’, whether you’re launching a microbrewery, a fusion café or a high-concept bar.

6. Investment (“Money Changes Everything” – The Smiths”)

Manchester has attracted substantial public and private investment, including from international sovereign wealth funds, UK developers and investors, and the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. Investment in hospitality-related assets reflects confidence in the sector’s long-term viability in the city.

7. Safe and Well-Managed Nightlife (“There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” – The Smiths)

Manchester invests in schemes that support a safe, welcoming, and accessible city centre for late night operators and customers. CityCo supports the city centre BID, the accommodation BID (representing hoteliers), Business Crime Reduction Partnership, and the Manchester Pub and Club Network. Other schemes provide direct front line support to businesses and customers, and real-time communication networks. These include PubWatch; the WalkSafe Manchester app and support team; Street Pastors, Street Angels and Village Angels are a regular and welcome presence; Ask for Angela is growing. All foster a secure environment for late-night operators and give hospitality businesses confidence in city management

8. Transport links – excellent connectivity (“All Around the World” – Lisa Stansfield)

Manchester is one of the best best-connected cities outside London. And that means a greater opportunity to access both leisure and business tourists. Manchester boasts one of the UK’s best transport networks and with local links to Cheshire, Liverpool, the Lake District, Yorkshire and North Wales. Manchester boasts the enviable Metrolink tram service (the largest in the UK, and still expanding), an extensive bus and train network. The Bee Network will only improve this, and the enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure will boost footfall and access to venue. Great accessibility means a great opportunity to   Don’t forget – we also have an international airport with direct links to Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia.

9. Your people want to be here (target market) (“24 Hour Party People” – Happy Mondays)

Manchester has a large and still growing population. It also has one of the UK’s youngest and culturally diverse urban population, consisting of the ideal age cohort that also wants a variety of hospitality and cultural offerings. Urban densification – so apparent in Manchester – means increased footfall and spending power, vital for neighbourhood hospitality.

10. Manchester wants you here (“Come Home” – James)

Manchester is a city that believes in hospitality. Importantly, Manchester has a supportive licensing regime and proactive city council policies aimed at growing the night-time economy. The licensing policies are generally designed to encourage safe, innovative, and community-based hospitality businesses. Unlike cities that are reactive or restrictive, Manchester City Council takes a pragmatic and partnership-based approach to licensing. It supports responsible operators and encourages innovation. If you’ve got a good concept and a clear plan for managing safety, they want to work with you—not against you.

And at Kuits, we have a dedicated Leisure Team that can assist and advise you on every aspect of your hospitality business.

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