• Added: 8th of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Food and Drink

Manchester M13 9RN
020 8971 1100

liuzzif said
Lidl
Ok this place is absoloutely AMAZING!! If you aren't too snobby about where you shop and want some bargains - get on down. Located by blockbuster and tesco on oxford/wilmslow road its right on the main bus route so easy to stop off and grab something to eat!
Alcohol is particularly cheap - as are mixers making it a favourite haunt with students - try their version of apple sours - tastes exactly the same, for less than half the price!!
One of the best value things are their vegetables - if you go around 5 or 6pm they are all reduced - sometimes up to 70% off. In fairness you do have to pick and chose a little but its def worth it!
It is worth noting though that sometimes branded products are cheaper elsewhere - you want the foreign produce here to get the biggest discounts!!
Ive heard theyre pretty good to work for as well - £8 an hour I heard but they dont take on many staff so you have to work alot of hours.
Once I was walking along and they were giving out freebies- it doesnt get any better than that - I got a bag full of sweets, cereal bars, veg, etc - brilliant!
I would say a downside is you have to pay for bags but to be honest everywhere is starting to do that now so....
I think there is a minimum payment of £10 on cards - some people get caught out by that and red faced, but there is a cash point just outside!
If you go get the 89p 'milk and choco' chocolate fingers the are AMAZING!

• Added: 8th of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Nightlife

Manchester M13 9PR

liuzzif said
Academies
The Uni of Manchester academies are just brilliant - cheap drinks, friendly staff, cool funky vibe and intimate gigs!
I saw bedouin soundclash last year and there can't have been more than 100 people there - that may not be for some people, but for me it was amazing!
Located at the Manchester University Student Union means it is easy to get to and from on public transport and you can easily ask for directions if you get lost. HOWEVER getting there by car is hard - theres not really any parking and oxford road is so busy with buses that waiting outside in a car is tricky too.
In regard to disabled access, they have recently published the following statement on their website - "We are delighted to announce that the Academy 1 now has a purpose built first floor viewing gallery and bar which can be accessed by our disabled guests. If you are attending a future show at the Academy 1 please telephone 0161 275 2930 to pre register to access this facility." - pretty handy!
They have some great bands playing and tickets can be bought from the venue or online - and you dont have to be a student to get them!!
Great range of music as well - id recommend the place!!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Nightlife

Manchester M2 3HY
0161 228 1818

liuzzif said
Pure
Manchester’s biggest & finest super club hosts the best Saturday night party in Greater Manchester.

Every Saturday Pure present a spectacular event with 3 rooms, celebrity guests, Live PA's, 40k sound system, stage, Stage dancers and amazing laser & light shows.

Resident DJ's Kriss Knight, Carl Kennedy & Nicksy (Key 103) play dance, trance, Electro, old skool, chart, R’n’B and hip hop across its 3 rooms. Also look out for guest DJ appearances throughout the year. Some can be really good but others are a bit pants. Also worth noting if you are trying to organise a big party they can offer some quite competitive rates on hiring out the venue.

Kicking off at 10pm and running through till 4am at Pure nightclub within the Printworks leisure complex Manchester. 6 non stop hours is pretty intense even by student standards so you wont find it kicking off until around 12am.

Its easy to get back from as its in the printworks - all taxis will know where it is, but usually there are a line of them waiting outside! Normally they have drinks offers on if you're not fussed about what your drinking. Also, near the enterance is a lovely seating area with sofas etc to rest your legs!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Nightlife

Manchester M2 3NQ
0161 8391112

liuzzif said
M-Two
M-two is one of those places that in 3 years time I will be saying "oh god did I really go there", but for now (student life) its a cheap and cheerful night out with nice, easy going people.
Located near the central manchester library, it is easy to reach by bus/tram etc, slightly odd thats its right by some of manchesters more exclusive hotels - celeb spoters pay attention. The drinks are cheap, the staff are friendly enough and the music is easy for a dance. Houseparty on fridays is a bit tacky - glowsticks galore, but the only weekend student night in town!!
But if you like your cheesy pop and chart songs then you cant go wrong with M-Two, be warned though the dance floor is not for the faint hearted, normally packed wall to wall with bodies, sometimes does make it hard to move. But the packed dance floor adds to the atmosphere. They also offer different themed music nights and are fans of fancy dress! Id recommend M-Two to a friend, your guaranteed a good night at M-Two the tell tale sign being that your still singing "I aint 'fraid of no ghost" in the ...

M-twos Saturday night is brilliant, its a new night called fantasy, loved the music the DJ's were cool and had a really good night.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Restaurants

Manchester M3 2WY
0161 834 6226

liuzzif said
San Carlo Italian
When one of the country's most respected and leading critics says that a restaurant in this group is 'the best Italian Restaurant outside London' it is time to take them seriously. Britain's love affair with Italian food is a cause celebre of long standing and shows no signs of waning, so it is always welcome news when somewhere like San Carlo sets out to reach for the skies.

I have read many bad reviews about this place online but I have been 3 times now and always found it brilliant - the service is friendly and professional, the wine delicious and the food totally exquisite!

I even spotten Sven GE in there once!

The menu is quite extensive so there is a lot of choice,. If anyone is vegetarian, it can be a bit frustrating trawling through 2 lines of description only then to see the word 'chicken' just as you decided thats what you wanted.
Slightly off the main road makes it a little more difficult for taxis etc than its competitor Don Giovannis but overall a brilliant evening - thoroughly recommended!!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Restaurants

Manchester M17 8AA
0161 747 1600

liuzzif said
F and Bs
Firstly - dont try and book a table in December!! I tried booking a table for 7 for the 7th December around mid November for my birthday and not one of the 4 in greater Manchester could accommodate as they were full with bookings for office christmas parties!! Crazy!
They have a brilliant lunch menu - something like 3 courses for £7-8 - yummy too. Drinks aren't included though and that oiks the price up! Also, (nearly forgot, again!) it's not available at the weekend!!! They do sometimes have discount vouchers in the voucher books or at student beans though - definately worth looking before you go. The staff are nice enough but are so busy the service isnt very personal. Food is standard but seems a little overpriced when ordering from the main menu - especially for lunch. Obviously its quite branded / commercial as well so it depends if you like that sort of thing.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Newquay
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Newquay TR7 2NE

liuzzif said
Barracuda
Great place - had some wonderful nights out here. I have heard it has gone down hill recently though so make sure you ask around before paying to get in - especially in summer as with anywhere in Newquay you'll be paying upwards of £10!!! They do often hand out free entry / discount vouchers though! Bouncers are quite friendly which is a 1st in Newquay! Classic R and B, hip hop etc and the classic podiums where you can watch people make fools of themselves. Normally got some sort of drinks promo going so if you're not too fussy about what you drink you can normally do it on the cheap. If you are it could be an expensive night though - but in fairness its the same anywhere in Newquay!! In winter it can be dead - there are so many clubs that they just don't get full so that can be a realy dissapointment!!! The staff are friendly and attractive and chatty which is lovely. Dress down is the order of the day.

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Newquay
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Newquay TR7 2LZ

liuzzif said
Zoo
This is a fairly typica cornish attraction - small! The zoo is absoloutely fabulous, the keepers really know their stuff and are happy to talk to you and educate you if you ask. I was once going to have to hold tarantulas as part of an interview for a TV programme and a member of staff arranged to meet me at the zoo and introduce me to some of their creepy crawlies to make me less nervous - how kind is that? In terms of animals, they have all the usual suspects, zebras, meercats, lions etc, but still the zoo has a small feel to it - some might like that but I find it frustrating. They refund your parking charge when you go in which is good, but everything else eg food is over priced as with any zoo. On a sunny day you could have a really good time, but a downpour could put a dampner on things. A great day out though, especially if you have young kids!

• Added: 3rd of September 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Manchester

liuzzif said
Printworks
The printworks is the entertainment hub of Manchester; it has outlets such as Odeon and Chiquitos alongside various bars and clubs – very handy for getting taxis as they ALWAYS know where you mean! The atmosphere is great in the evenings, but if you’re after a quiet family meal towards the end of the night, you probably wouldn’t enjoy the hundreds / thousands of scantily clad students descending on the place for a night out! It is easy to get to by tram and certain busses but is only a short walk from Piccadilly gardens if you can’t get straight there. The security is good if a little unfriendly and there are cash machines available – always a bonus! Overall a good venue, especially if you cant agree where to go at the start of the night!!

• Added: 22nd of August 2008
• Area: Manchester
• Category: Restaurants

Manchester M1 1RG
0121 244 5522

liuzzif said
Kro Piccadilly
Kro Piccadilly is in a prime location in Manchester city centre, and particularly at Christmas has a superb view over the gardens onto the ice rink and tree - you can watch people coming and going and it is just lovely. Its one of those places where as a student you can easily feel out of place, all the staff are extremely attractive and the setting is very modern. Ive not tried the food, just coffees and drinks. The coffee/cake deal is brilliant and the cakes superb - just melt in the mouth deliciousness all round! The alcoholic drinks though, hmm; we paid over £14 for 2 single vodka orange juice - ok if you're a city high flyer but not as a student so depends on your situation and your crowd really. I think there are much nicer places with better atmospheres for a lot less cash - try temple or matt and phreds. Ideal for a morning coffee and a browse of the newspaper though!