There’s something exciting about this modest row of shops. Somehow it sums up Manchester today. We’re in Whalley Range, inner city Manchester on the up thanks to its proximity to Chorlton.

At one end is Booze & Food, a fairly ordinary off licence cum cornershop, that could just as easily be called Booze & Fags. At the other is Palmiro, universally recognised as one of the country’s best Italian restaurants (no pizza/pasta buffets here).

When Palmiro opened this was pure urban wilderness, some of these shops were closed. But people travel from far and wide to eat here.

Then came the Hilary Step, Whalley Range’s first pub (this place’s vice is prostitution; The Whalley is in Brook’s Bar) arrived, then the Jam Street Cafe. Fast food, laundry and car parts somehow add to what makes it all special.
This posted via mobile via Flickr and so not so closely proofread. Click the pic to see it large (there’s an ‘all-sizes’ tab for really large).

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