Manchester goes beach mad...again

As far as quotes go, ‘Manchester’s got everything except a beach’ is a pretty good one to sum up this settlement (although this one is pretty good too: "Mancestre....is the fairest, best buildied, quikkest and most populus Tounne of al Lancastreshire" – not written by an educationally challenged 14 year old, as you might imagine, rather some bloke called John Leland in 1538 – they talked a bit different back then). Ian Brown’s comment was not, I don’t think, intended to push or inspire anyone to actually give Manchester a beach – it was a sound bite from a plain speaking Mancunian and I am not convince Brown has ever actually wished that Manchester did have a beach. No matter – inevitably, someone was going to attempt to complete this city and provide a version of this absent beach.

A few years ago, Sankeys, one of the city’s biggest clubbing destinations, had the idea to do just that and piled a load of sand up in their courtyard. The reality of Manchester’s first beach perhaps wasn’t what people had in mind – rather than looking like this:

It was more like this:

Still, they tried. That initial attempt didn’t come to much and the council expressed an interest in reviving the Manchester Beach Project after that, with the area around the Urbis a target for the next large shipment of sand. Cocktails, hula skirts, relaxed, summery vibes and beach parties were all planned and promised and it looked like Manchester would finally get something close to a ‘beach’ a few years ago – then the council bottled out at the last minute. I think they realised that lots of sand in a public area plus Manchester’s notorious summer weather (i.e. rain) weren’t the best combination.

Last year, Sankeys got hold of the idea again and did actually install a beach – well, they put loads of sand in their courtyard again and sold some cocktails – and they are returning to the theme this year, determined that the start of summer and the World Cup are going to join forces and finally make this ‘Manchester now has a beach’ thing a success. They tell us that as well as a BBQ and a huge screen for all the England and Brazil World Cup matches, there will also be a shower and a Jacuzzi for that proper relaxed summer beach vibe. Let’s just hope the weather is suitably rain free to assist with this beachy pursuit but if the World Cup can’t make Manchester love a beach then next year it might be time for a rethink; maybe Manchester just doesn’t want a beach.