(Reposted from my old blog). If there is something I simply adore about Manchester, it’s the diverse range of personalities it caters for. You have your usual high-street stores, but there’s also the smaller, more unique ones. If you have any more suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.
Here, I’ll be listing my top 11 favourite design and quirky shops:
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Afflecks Palace 
Located in Manchester’s Northern Quarter with entrances on Oldham Street and Church Street, this establishment set up in 1982, contains over 50 shops across 4 different floors. It’s ideal if you’re looking for something unique, something not really found on the high-street. I briefly had prints for sell up on the third floor in a little shop called Tokyo 15.
magma books 
Located more or less opposite one of the entrances to Afflecks Palace on Oldham Street, this is the only branch out of four that’s located outside London. The shop sells an assortment of design related merchandise ranging from books to cards, figurines and novelty gift items like the sun jar, t-shirts and totoro plushies. The books themselves also vary in content; you have the usual compilation of graphic-designers, logos, templates etc. but there are also fashion magazines, design magazines, picture books etc. I rarely buy anything from here, but I browse when I can. Of note, I’ve bought the following from magma:
Graphic 08 – Bought this for £15.99, reckon the price was good considering most design books cost about £30.
Tres Logos – Bought for £21 on sale 
Cheapest online is about £28, bargain!
Thunder egg 
They have two branches, one inside Afflecks Palace, and the other right next door to magma books (as above). Mix match of Japanese and American related clothes, accessories and vinyl toys. Always a pleasure to browse through~ Been tempted a few times to buy things but haven’t actually parted with my cash…. yet.
FanBoy3 
Part shop and part organised play space, FanBoy3 attracts a variety of customers who play games ranging from role playing to card and board games (sometimes a combination of everything). Normally busy on a weekend, I tend to prefer popping in on weekdays. I’m not a regular by any means, my other half however is a loyal customer. They have a vast number of games and of note, I’ve had access to two very good games through there:
Fluxx – A card game with changing rules and changing goals. Think Uno, but slightly more complicated and potentially more fun if you play with the Zombie or Monty Python versions. Bought the basic version for a friend and she’s now got herself the Zombie version.
Dominion – Slightly more complicated than Fluxx but quite easy to grasp after a few rounds. Typically you play cards to build up your kingdom and purchase the most Victory points before the game ends. More geeky than Fluxx.
Nexus Art Cafe 
Located in a basement on Dale Street, you would be forgiven for thinking that it’d be a dark dingy place, but the art café is very spacious and a nice alternative to high-street coffee shops. Furnished with a mismatch of furniture donated by the local community, the café is very cosy, much like your own living room. The lovely people serving you offer a range of food and drinks such as sandwiches, baked potatoes, pastries, teas, coffee and smoothies. With the recent instalment of free wi-fi, one could potentially sit there for a few hours with the trusty laptop (or a good book for those of you who are non geeks). Also on offer are weekly and monthly events such as needlework gatherings, life-drawing classes and band nights. Charming in every way and a must for all.
Travelling Man 
Travelling Man is a small chain with four branches of which one is located in Manchester on Dale street, one shop down from Nexus Art Cafe. Selling a mixture of comics, artbooks, games and merchandise, there’s plenty to look at and the staff are quite friendly too. Every year they participate in Free Comic Book Day too.
Fred Aldous 
Located on Lever Street, I first discovered Fred Aldous about 3 years ago and since then it’s expanded its premises to include a ground floor area making it more noticeable. The shop sells a wide variety of arts and craft material for about every hobby you could possibly have. I have spend ages looking through everything they have to offer, pondering whether to buy that one good quality sketchpad, or try out something new in my spare time. They also offer 10% student discount, how I miss it!
Abakhan Fabrics 
Abakhan is a treasure haven for making your own clothes with every type of fabric imaginable under one roof. Good for fashion students and those who make their on cosplays. Also sells a wide variety of ribbons, buttons, dyes etc. A crafter’s heaven.
Paperchase 
OK, so not really a “treasure” since it is on the high-street, but I felt I had to include Paperchase since it was one of my favourite design-related stores before I discovered Fred Aldous. I still browse in there and occasionally purchase the odd item, especially in the secret sale section on the third floor. I have been tempted to buy paper but failed to actually carry it out as I will probably never use it for anything other than scanning it in and possibly using in future pieces….. why haven’t I bought any again?
Octopus 
Octopus is a quirky store selling very colourful household items, bags and jewellery. Such items include recycled juice carton bags, colourful flasks and interesting shaped utensils. Quite pricey but an interesting place to look at to gather inspiration.
Forbidden Planet 
Forbidden Planet is very much like Travelling Man, so I always do a price-compare between the two places. Much larger than Travelling Man so there’s more to look through. More high-street than treasure yet again, but I might as well include it as it’s not located on Manchester’s Market Street.
