Best Shopping Malls, Outlet and Places in Clough Bottom Reservoir Area

"This trendy foodie outlet sits under the flyover near Manchester Met and Manchester University. Strings of exposed light bulbs cast a hipster twinkle over the self-contained courtyard, and there’s a sun-soaked garden filled with long wooden tables where you can while away summer afternoons. Peruse the artisan beers on tap and by the bottle at Öl nanobrewery."

"Tiny nanobrewery Öl has its own brew kit on-site and makes some fabulous concoctions. But, as a result of the tiny set-up, their own beers usually sell out incredibly fast, so they stock a range of others too. Find them at Hatch on Oxford Road in one of the shipping containers."

"Hatch is a hip and trendy box park located on Oxford Road, close to the University of Manchester. You can head there for drinks or food or shopping. Moreover, you can take some nice photos there."

"A local institution, Affleck’s is a hub for Manchester’s alternative crowd, containing an impressive array of stalls selling everything from fetish gear to DIY jewellery. Pop inside to discover an eclectic array of clothing, jewellery, memorabilia and gifts before sneaking upstairs for a luxury ice cream at Ginger’s Comfort Emporium."

"I ended up at the massive building of ‘Afflecks’, which turned out to be “An Emporium of Eclecticism“, meaning it was full of shops selling random shit, basically. Afflecks is an indoor market with dozens of independent stalls, small shops and boutiques, some of them quite strange, but also a lot of them with awesome handmade goods."

"Affleck’s is a perfect spot for a stylish and unusual photo. It’s also a place, where you can buy a lot of unusual things for a photoshoot or just for yourself. There are some amazing dresses, jewellery and other items that I have never seen anywhere else!"

"Obstructions, Castlefield Gallery’s locked-down exhibition, will open for just five days from 19–23 May. Originally due to open on Saturday 21 November 2020, and only able to welcome visitors in the virtual realm since then, the exhibition was conceived during what now feels like the early days of the pandemic. 15 artists from the North West of England were invited to remake an existing piece of their work with one condition: they had to accept a bespoke ‘obstruction’ given to them by another artist in the exhibition."

"One of the city's hidden gems, Castlefield Gallery will be able to show its Obstructions exhibition in real life for the first time - for five days only. Obstructions brought together 15 artists from across Greater Manchester during lockdown. The gallery is open from May 19 and you can see more at castlefieldgallery.co.uk."

"Located in Manchester’s city centre, Castlefield Gallery is an art gallery and agency showcasing new and contemporary fine art while also running a scheme for career development for contemporary artists."

"Barton Arcade is a beautiful grade II listed Victorian shopping arcade which is a 5-minute walk from the Arndale Centre. Therefore, the transport links are the same as those to the Arndale Centre. This is one of the best places for shopping in Manchester if you prefer local independent businesses."

"Built in 1871, the Victorian-style shopping arcade is located between Deansgate and St. Ann’s Square. The idyllic structure of cast iron and glass is now home to luxurious shops and office buildings. Go here to take your pics against the backdrop of colourful tiles and impressive artwork."

"Barton Arcade is a Victorian-style shopping arcade built in 1871. While there are many cute arcades throughout the UK, come to Barton Arcade for its colorful tiles and ironwork!"

"Whether you’re in the mood for Chinese food, Italian food or a cheeky Nando’s, there’s really something for everyone at the Lowry Outlet, where you can grab a bite and pick up a bargain. Then why not head over to The Lowry Theatre and take advantage of their cheap ticket offers for 16-25 year olds. Whatever you do, you can always finish off the evening with a walk around the stunning Salford Quays."

"You can grab cheap drinks and food from the chatty staff and spend the evening chilling in the cosy interior. Sitting in the beer garden on a sunny evening is also nice. View this post on Instagram"

"Located right in the heart of the city centre, the beautiful Manchester Art Gallery will open most areas of the gallery on May 19. Visitors will be able to explore an exhibition of works selected by artist Grayson Perry during Grayson’s Art Club, the popular Channel 4 TV series, as well as see its collection of 25,000 objects from across the centuries. You can walk in to most of the gallery, but will need to pre-book for Grayson's Art Club at manchesterartgallery.org"

"If you’re visiting the main gallery, you won’t need to book a ticket—you can just walk in. There will be lots to see including a new display, What is Manchester Art Gallery?. , which introduces the gallery, its origins, how the collection was formed and how it relates to Manchester and its people."

"CFCCA is the UK leader in Chinese visual culture, with a reputation for debut solo exhibitions and a roster of internationally-renowned artists; impressive considering that, three decades ago, it was just a series of events in Manchester’s Chinatown. As Manchester’s Chinese population is second only to London’s, the centre’s heritage is particularly important; now represented in a new archive and library. Best feature: A vibrant events schedule, spanning film screenings to workshops and even Mandarin lessons"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"CFCCA reopens with a duo of exhibitions investigating and unpicking themes of belonging, identity and citizenship in a globalised and hyper-connected society. Housed in CFCCA’s Northern Quarter galleries, the exhibitions are just a few minutes’ walk from the Arndale Shopping Centre. Multiplicities in Flux brings together works by contemporary artists Grace Lau and Eelyn Lee in a dialogue around identity and belonging."

"Located near Preston Dock, the Ribble Steam Railway museum invites you to hop aboard a heritage train ride on one of their working steam trains. The museum makes a fantastic and interactive day out for all the family, delving into Preston's historical links to steam trains and Preston Dock. See their Diesel Locomotives, Steam Locomotives, miniature railway, and much more."

"This attraction features well-maintained locomotives that date back more than 100 years. A preserved railway, it is now also the home of the collection from the Southport Railway Museum and was opened to public access in 2005. It also operates passenger services from Preston Riverside to and from Strand Road Crossing."