Survival Kit

All conference venues are fully accessible. You can find maps, guides and special links for each building under Conference Venues. The team at The Bridgewater Hall - the venue for the evening Plenaries - has set up a special e-mail address in case of specific queries, which you can also find in that section of the conference website.

Most banks will open from 9.00/9.30 am to 4.00/4.30 pm. Some branches in the city centre operate longer opening hours. You can find several of them on Market Street.

Cash points (ATM) close to conference venues:

Manchester Metropolitan University, Business School building:
Tesco Express ATM on Oxford road
Oxford House, Manchester M1 7ED

Manchester Metropolitan University, Geoffrey Manton building:
Co-op ATM on Oxford road
Booth Street West, Manchester, M15 6PB

University of Manchester, University Place building:
Co-op ATM on Oxford road
Booth Street West, Manchester, M15 6PB

Bridgewater Hall:
Cash Machine
Lloyd Street (St Peter’s square), Manchester, M2 5DB

Manchester has literally hundreds of pubs and dozens of micro breweries.

Here are a few pubs close to the conference venues worth trying:

The Salutation
12 Higher Chatham Street
M15 6ED

The Peveril of the Peak
127 Great Bridgewater Street
M1 5JQ

The Ducie Arms
52 Devas Street
M15 6HS

The Briton’s Protection
50 Great Bridgewater Street
M1 5LE

The following are interesting micro breweries. The first is close the the venues, just off Oxford Road, the other two are a little further away, but well worth a visit:

The Lass O’ Gowrie
36 Charles Street
M1 7DB

The Marble Arch (The original)
73 Rochdale Road
M4 4HY

And its new offshoot:

57 Thomas Street
M4 1NA

The Gas Works Brew Bar
5 Jack Rosenthal Street
M15 4RA

The average temperature in Manchester in August is 20°C during the day and 12°C at night. It is quite likely to rain during the conference, on average Manchester has 21 days of rain in August. This could possibly be exactly what you need if you are trying to escape heat waves in other parts of Europe! However, the weather is quite unpredictable at the moment and with some luck, we may be able to welcome you in a sunny Manchester.

Here, you can view a PDF with the map of Manchester's city centre.
The conference campus is in the red circle at the bottom labelled "Oxford Road Corridor".

Need to print or copy a document? There is a copy shop called "Ryman" right on the conference campus on 6 Oxford Road. Here is their website.

General visitor information: https://www.visitmanchester.com

Things to see and do in Manchester: https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do

Day trips from Manchester, for example to Liverpool (Beatles!) or the Lake District (the UK’s most popular national park): https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/gateway-to-the-north/day-trips-and-excursions

‘What’s on’ in Manchester (constantly updated): https://www.visitmanchester.com/whats-on

Visitor information from:

Pounds sterling = GBP

Here, you can find a currency converter.

+44

In England the power plugs and sockets are of type G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Here, you can find a list of the different embassies and consulates in the UK.

Here, you an find a list of the foreign consulates in Manchester.

Ambulance: 999 or 112

Fire: 999 or 112

Police:  999 or 112

Family space during the conference
During the conference, a family space will be made available on the conference campus (in the 'Business School' where the registration desks will be), with a selection of books and toys to keep the little ones busy, as well as a changing mat. The room will have easy access to a sink and microwave.

Baby changing facilities on the conference campus
Unfortunately, there are no baby changing facilities in the university buildings. However, a changing mat will be provided in the family space situated in one of the conference venues (the 'Business School') and baby changing facilities are available at the Manchester Museum (free entrance), which is located across the street from the conference venue at 'University Place'.
Also, the Bridgewater Hall has baby changing facilities on the ground floor.  

WhatsApp group for conference participants with children
Please send us an e-mail to esa2019[at] europeansociology.org if you are interested in being part of a WhatsApp group for ESA 2019 conference participants with children. We will put you in touch!

Family friendly activities in Manchester city and vicinities
Manchester is a family friendly city, with free museums that are well designed for children. You can find them through the links provided under "Cultural information about Manchester". Here, you can find a list of child-friendly activities to do in and around Manchester. An alternative site is Picniq's list of family attractions in Manchester.

Here, you can find a list of child friendly cafes in Greater Manchester. One of Manchester’s hidden gems in the city centre is the Chapter One café (Chatsworth House, 19 Lever St, Manchester M1 1BY), which serves lovely teas, coffee and cakes. This quirky place is sufficiently spacious for pushchairs and has a small soft area in the back where babies can crawl and look at books.

Parks and activities close to the conference venues
The closest park to the 'Business School' and 'Geoffrey Manton' buildings is the Hulme Park, on Stretford Road (Manchester, M15 5JD). It has a children's play area, Multi use games area (MUGA), football pitch, BMX and skate board park.

The closest park to the 'University Place' building is the Whitworth Park, on Oxford road, adjacent to the Whitworth Gallery (Manchester M14 4PW). It is a lovely place for a summer walk and has a play area for children under 12.

On the conference campus, on Oxford road, there is also the Aquatics Centre which provides great facilities including a children’s pool and café.

Breastfeeding
In England, your right to breastfeed in public is covered by the Equality Act 2010, which states “a business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.” Many cafes and restaurants in the city centre will feature a logo in support of breastfeeding.

Authors: Elisa Pieri and Alan Warde, University of Manchester

If you arrive in Manchester thinking British food is dull and uninspiring, you are in for a pleasant surprise!

Without the clout and queues of the eateries in world food capitals like Paris, Copenhagen or Osaka, nor the penchant for extreme taste combinations found in Sao Paulo street food or South African barbecues, the food scene in Manchester is nevertheless cosmopolitan, bubbly and exciting!

Cafes and restaurants on and around the conference campus provide good take away food and some modestly priced chains and independents. These will provide varied options for lunch, including Indian, Middle Eastern, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

The city centre is compact and walkable. It lies 10-15 minutes’ walk north of the conference campus and has hundreds of restaurants, cafes and food shops and serves most of the world’s cuisines. British residents eat out most frequently in casual dining restaurants and pubs, which are generally fairly economical, so there are plenty of those. About the same distance south of the universities is Rusholme, ‘the Curry Mile’, which has dozens of outlets (some halal and alcohol-free) where you can try the South Asian cuisine which is exceptional in its availability in the UK. The inner suburbs also have some good restaurants. The most popular cuisines in England at present are ‘traditional British’ (among Brits!), Indian, Italian and Chinese with all well represented in the city.

We list places which we find a bit special and consider good in their relevant price categories.

Here is a little taster to get you started:

If you are one for tasting the water before diving head in, start out in the Northern Quarter at Mackie Mayor http://www.mackiemayor.co.uk, a refurbished Victorian market now turned into a characterful trendy eatery. Get yourself a seat in one of the large shared tables with your friends and colleagues (more seating on the balconies), before making your way across the world, tasting treats from each corner of the room. Don’t forget the independent coffee makers, nor the brewery corner!

Japanese

Yuzu
yuzumanchester.co.uk
39 Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4EE
Authentic Japanese cuisine in a very cosy inn setting, for individuals or small groups only.

Samsi
https://www.samsi.co.uk
36-38 Whitworth St, Manchester, M1 3NR
Authentic Japanese cuisine, large groups welcome, Japanese food shop on site too and bento box to go.

Umezushi
http://www.umezushi.co.uk/
4, Mirabel St, Manchester M3 1PJ
Possibly the best sushi bar in Manchester, but booking is essential as Umezushi is cosy and small, and a little off the beaten track.

Lots of chains, large and small, but all inexpensive, specialise in South East Asian cuisine with fusion menus that include Japanese dishes, as well as Thai, Vietnamese and Malay. For example:

Wagamama*
wagamama.com in 3 locations:
2 St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 3LQ
1 The Printworks, Corporation St, Manchester M4 2BS
Spinningfields Square, 1 off Deansgate Manchester M3 3AP GB, Hardman St, Manchester M3 3EB
*these three Wagamama restaurants close at 11pm but you can order food up to 10.45pm

Tampopo
https://www.tampopo.co.uk in 2 locations:
16 Albert Square, Manchester M2 5PF
Corn Exchange, Manchester M4 3TR 

Shoryu Ramen
https://www.shoryuramen.com/stores/76
1 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1RG  

Interesting Fusion cuisine in

Cottonopolis
https://www.cottonopolis-nq.com
Newton Street, Manchester, M1 2AE
This little gem is well-placed between Piccadilly station and the Northern Quarter. Delicious and very experimental fusion food, but with loud music and often a dj, so it attracts a younger crowd in the evenings.

Gran Pacific
http://grandpacific.uk.com/
50 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1EN
Inspired by the age of exploration and on the site of the historic Manchester Reform Club this restaurant is full of character. Very British it is. But you could be excused for thinking you have landed at The Raffles!

Australasia
http://australasia.uk.com/
1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3AP
Underground and in one of the newer and glossier parts of the city centre, this is often home to a footballer or two and their large entourage. You have been warned! Prices to match!

Thai

There are many tasty Thai restaurants in Manchester city centre, including in Chinatown, as well as a number of Thai chains. However, for authentic cuisine try:

Chaophraya
https://chaophraya.co.uk/manchester/
19 Chapel Walks, Manchester M2 1HN
Housed in a city centre warehouse, this restaurant handles large parties and intimate dinners.

Chinese

Delicious Chinese cuisine is widely available in Manchester, thanks to the longstanding and well-established Chinese community. All you need to do is stroll around Chinatown and take your pick of Hong Kong bakeries, Chinese restaurants, supermarkets and banquet houses. However, the best Chinese cuisine is found at

The Rice Bowl*
http://www.the-rice-bowl.com/
33A Cross St, Manchester M2 1NL
Shredded crispy duck pancakes anyone?
*at The Rice Bowl you can order food till 11pm (closes at 12)

‘Traditional’ British

The Chop Houses are a Manchester staple, serving good quality pub fare in historic settings that have resonances of the industrial revolution: the original restaurants are:

Sam's Chop House
http://samschophouse.com/
Back Pool Fold, Manchester M2 1HN
Once frequented also by artist LS Lowry, whose statue is still at the pub.

Mr Thomas's Chop House
http://tomschophouse.com/
52 Cross St, Manchester M2 7AR
The most characterful restaurant and bar of the three and is also serving classic comfort food with a modern twist. This Chop House has just been temporarily renamed Mrs Sarah’s Chop House (for 6 weeks from 8th March 2019, to celebrate international women’s day) after the mother and daughter team who run it over 100 years ago.

The Albert Square Chop House
albertsquarechophouse.com
The Memorial Hall, Albert Square, Manchester M2
This is the newest of the three and what it lacks in character it makes up in location, sitting as it does in the Townhall square.

Another two traditional pubs offering real ales and a menu of hearty pub grub in historic settings are the following (but in this case you are choosing to prioritise your drinks over the food):

The Old Wellington Inn
https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/northwest/theoldwellingtonmanchester
A half-timbered traditional pub which is just next to the Cathedral on
4 Cathedral Gates, Manchester M3 1SW

Its neighbouring pub,

Sinclair’s Oyster Bar
offers a comparable experience, a timbered historic setting and plenty of beer and cider.

For those in search of quirkiness, try
The Masons Restaurant and Bar
https://www.masonsrestaurantbar.co.uk/
Ground floor of Manchester Hall, on 36 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT
This restaurant offers great food and a very ‘anthropologically’ interesting setting... try using their bathroom and you’ll find yourself looking at photos of masonry and men in aprons... take the wrong turn and you may end up wearing one yourself!

Ordinary British dishes like pies, fish and chips, grilled meat and roast meat dinners can be found in most chains and pubs, whose menus usually a curry and a pasta dish in addition. There are a remarkable number of micro-breweries in the area producing a wide variety of styles of beer and many pubs serve a selection. Not all city centre pubs serve food, and those which do are of variable quality. Incidentally, the best English white wine is surprisingly good, sparkling white wine sometimes exceptional – but don’t expect to find them in a pub.

The Refuge by Volta
refugemcr.co.uk
Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA
This is a very atmospheric hotel and restaurant on the site of what was once an insurance company. It is a stone’s thrown from our conference site so might be worth stopping at for a drink, to ponder over the ideas you just listened to in your last conference session. The restaurant also caters for small and large groups.

And this is only the beginning, and if you crave more variety, you might check out the following:

French

Randall & Aubin Manchester
https://www.randallandaubin.com/manchester/
64 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BN
Mainly Fish but not exclusively.

German

Alberts Schloss
https://www.albertsschloss.co.uk/
27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR
So very après-ski... or as they like to call it, a ‘Wunderbar’!

Italian

Plenty to choose from, but we would recommend:

Cicchetti
http://www.sancarlocicchetti.co.uk
98-116 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GQ
For small Venetian dishes, think tapas size.

Fumo
http://www.sancarlofumo.co.uk/
One St Peter's Square, Oxford St, Manchester M1 5AN

Ply
https://www.plymcr.co.uk
26 Lever St, Manchester M1 1DW
For trendy, yet uncomplicated pizza

Spanish

El Gato Negro Tapas
https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/
52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY

Indian or Pakistani

Unleash yourself onto the ‘Curry Mile’, a long succession of restaurants, bakeries and takeaway eateries south of the universities on Oxford Road. Or, if you fancy something closer to the city centre, try any of the following:

Zouk*
zoukteabar.co.uk
5, The Quadrangle, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5QS
Close to the conference campus and authentic cuisine.
*at Zouk you can order food till 11pm (closes at 12)

Akbar's
https://www.akbars.co.uk/
73-83 Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4NQ
A classic in Manchester.

Asha's
https://ashasmanchester.co.uk
47 Peter St, Manchester M2 3NG
A more sophisticated affair than any of the other curry houses.

Bundobust
bundobust.com
61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AG
This is inexpensive street food in a trendy and youthful setting, very centrally located, but closes at 9.30pm.

Also think galleries, theatres and art centres which tend to have nice cafes and restaurants, for example:

The Whitworth Art Gallery
http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/visit/
The University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
For a snack or coffee break amongst the trees.

HOME Art Centre (and Cinema and Theatre)
https://homemcr.org/
2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
Try the first floor restaurant, or sit for drinks and snacks in the ground floor bar or on the outdoors deck chairs (on the ground floor and on the second floor terrace).

Vegetarian and vegan

Almost every menu includes some vegetarian options and, in the last couple of years, sometimes vegan ones too. Indian and Thai restaurants provide an extensive range of vegetarian dishes; the Italian-influenced menus also offer choice. Among specialised vegetarian and vegan restaurants the best in the city is perhaps:

1847-Manchester
https://1847manchester.com/
Chapel Walks, Manchester M2 1HN
Check out its monthly live Jazz nights!

‘Fine dining’

If you are interested in restaurant rankings, the most highly regarded restaurant in Manchester is ‘Adam Reid at The French’ at the Midland Hotel which the Good Food Guide puts in the top twenty restaurants in the UK. Price of an average three course meal without drinks is £50. Of other ranked restaurants mentioned above, Refuge and Australasia are similar in price, Umezushi is £40, Albert Square Chop House costs about £30, and Yuzu £20.

Some Practicalities

A modestly price meal in a casual dining restaurant, or in a South Asian restaurant will cost about £15 for a main course and a glass of wine. There are special deals in mid-week which can be a little cheaper. A two course meal in a more distinctive but not highly distinguished place, including a drink, will probably cost between £20-30. Current fashions have produced tasting menus and tapas bars, which are often enjoyable but expensive if you are hungry. Many restaurants are open all day, seven days a week, with the same menu all day. Some have lunch menus (usually 12.00 – 14.00) which may be good value. Those serving only in the evening tend to open about 17.30 and serve until 22.00.

The pharmacy closest to the conference campus is
"Faith Pharmacy" on 59 Booth Street West
which is more or less just behind the Business School building.

A medical practice can be found on the same street:
"Cornbrook Medical Practice" on 63 Booth Street West
Tel: 0161 227 9785. Here is their website.

Keep you and your belongings safe – but should a wallet or laptop be stolen, this is where you can go 24/7:

Manchester City Centre Public Enquiry Counter
Ground Floor, Lloyd Street, Town Hall Extension
Manchester M2 5DB

It is in the city centre, at walking distance to The Bridgewater Hall. Here is their website.

Non emergency call: 101
Emergency call: 999

Manchester Spring Gardens Post Office (City Centre)

Address: 26 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1BB

Opening times during the week: 9:00am – 6:00pm

Transport to and from Manchester airport:
https://www.visitmanchester.com/visitor-information/travel-information/manchester-airport

Getting around Manchester:
https://www.visitmanchester.com/visitor-information/travel-information/getting-around

All conference buildings are within walking distance from each other. If you would like to use the bus, the cheapest way to go up and down Oxford road (where the main three buildings are) is to use Magic Buses (single ticket £1.50. Return tickets, daily and weekly passes are also available to buy on the bus).

There is a 50m swimming pool on the conference campus, in the Aquatics Centre.

Here, you can find further sports facilities on the conference campus.

UTC + 1 = British Summer Time (BST)

The conference registration platform ConfTool is also set on BST.

Free Wi-fi for all conference participants will be available throughout the conference venues.

At Manchester Metropolitan University (buildings: BS and GM), no login details are required to get online (select _BTWi-fi_ManMet from the list of networks and click 'Get online' on your browser).

At University of Manchester (building: UP), select The Cloud from the available WiFi list, open your browser and follow the on-screen instructions to register or log in. Once you have created your own The Cloud account, the access is available throughout the conference. Click here for further instructions (e.g. adding devices).

At the Bridgewater Hall, a free guest wi-fi will also be available.

Eduroam will be available at both universities.

Free Wi-fi is available on the tramway (Metrolink).

Here, you can find a list of fantastic cafes providing free Wi-fi in the city centre.

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