About Us
Hidden Manchester is a curated guide to the city’s underground culture – the places you won’t find on Google Maps or in tourist brochures.
We shine a light on the backstreets, basements, rooftops and alleyways where the real energy lives – from DIY music venues and pop-up food joints, to zine fairs, art shows, and late-night parties you only hear about through word of mouth.
This site was built by locals, for locals and explorers alike – people who want more than bottomless brunches and big-chain nightlife. We believe the magic of Manchester lies in its independent spirit, its weirdness, its rawness – and we’re here to document it before it disappears.
Think of Hidden Manchester as your unofficial city compass – built on curiosity, community, and a love for everything offbeat.
What's our mission?
1. Champion the Underdogs
We spotlight the venues, artists, and collectives that don’t have PR teams or marketing budgets - just passion. Hidden Manchester exists to amplify the voices and places that often go unseen but form the real backbone of the city’s creative culture.
2. Curate With Care
Every spot featured on the site is selected intentionally - no paid ads, no generic lists. Whether it’s a rooftop rave or a zine library tucked in a pub, we’re here to connect people with genuine, grassroots experiences.
3. Build Community
This isn’t just a blog - it’s a platform for shared discovery. We invite locals to submit hidden gems, tell their stories, and contribute to a growing, living map of Manchester that reflects the energy of those who live it daily.
Preserve the Culture
In a city that’s rapidly changing, we document what might not be here tomorrow. By archiving spaces and experiences, we’re creating a digital time capsule - a reminder that Manchester’s underground will always have a voice, even if the venue disappears.
Our Success Stories
Behind every feature is a ripple. These are the moments where visibility made a difference — a DJ’s first booking, a zine collective revived, a local food spot saved from closing.
Hidden Manchester doesn’t just document the underground — we help it grow.
This section highlights real stories from people and places we’ve featured, showing how a little exposure can spark something bigger.
Have your own story?
Let us know — we’d love to share it.
The DJ Who Got Booked
“After Hidden Manchester featured our BYOB basement party in Hulme, we saw a wave of new heads come through — including a promoter who booked me for my first paid gig. The article gave us legitimacy we didn’t expect, and helped keep our night alive.”
— Dre Wave, Co-founder, Gold Teeth Social
A Gallery’s First Full House
“We’d been quietly running a community art show out of an old shipping unit in Salford — barely getting foot traffic. Once Hidden Manchester ran a spotlight on us, we had a packed opening night for the first time ever. People came from all over the city.”
— Nina D., Curator, Sinkspace Collective
Saved from Shutdown
“We were days from closing. Hidden Manchester dropped a short feature on us with a photo of our vegan pho, and within a week we had new regulars, DMs from foodies, and even a local journalist show up. That post kept our doors open.”
— Lan, Owner, Pho 7AM
Zine Community Revived
“We thought no one was reading zines anymore — until a write-up in Hidden Manchester sent loads of new faces to our stall. We sold out of our latest issue for the first time in years and got invited to table at three other fairs. That spotlight hit different.”
— Jules & Amir, Creators of Paper Teeth
Our Team
A short introduction to your team members and why their background should inspire potential clients’ confidence.
Maya Rowe
Editor-in-Chief
Tariq Knox
Visual Director
Nell Whitmore
Digital Producer
Omar Denzil
Community Curator
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