We love a good bit of al fresco dining here in Manchester – come rain or shine, we’ll be sat out on that deck as if we’re watching the Ibizan sun go down. Now, a study on outdoor culture by technology company PowerEPOS has ranked Manchester second only to London in the number of restaurants and bars with outdoor seating category.
The study as a whole aimed to reveal the outdoor culture capitals of the UK for 2023, crunching the numbers of a variety of outdoor facilities and events in UK cities. It considered five core data factors including which places have the highest number of Google searches for outdoor events; the number of restaurants and pubs with outdoor seating; and the number of blue cultural heritage plaques in each area.
They also included stats for average rainfall, sunshine hours, and average temperatures, which probably explains why we didn’t top the overall table and ended up 24th…
The study concluded: “With a diverse range of restaurants and bars that offer outdoor seating, Manchester has something to offer for every taste and budget. From rooftop bars with stunning city views such as famous 20 Stories, to cosy cafes, there’s no shortage of places to enjoy a drink or meal whilst feasting on the sights.”
In a pleasant turn of events, Oldham came in third after Manchester, which has evidently become a hotspot for outdoor dining in recent years. The Greater Manchester town received this comment: “The town’s charming outdoor dining spots such as the Italian Sullago offer a unique atmosphere that will have you thinking you’re at a local in Italy!” What a compliment!
It’s no surprise that London came out on top of the overall study, mainly for its huge variety of restaurants, bars and cafes with outdoor seating, and with more historical and cultural places of significance compared to anywhere else in the UK, with a huge 3,621 historical blue plaques.
Picturesque coastal town Brighton and Hove not only marks the best city for sunshine but also comes in second in the overall ranking. It’s all feeling a bit lonely up north with all these Southerners topping the ranks, but the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool and York all came within the top 15 outdoor culture capitals, waving the flag for the Northerners – and for that, we thank them.
It’s not all doom and gloom for us Mancs, though, as quite specifically Stockport came in ninth in the ‘searches for outdoor activities’ category, putting at least some of Greater Manchester back on the map.
We’re working on our outdoor culture here in Manchester, just look at the wealth of festivals we have going on, but being the official rainiest place in the UK does take its toll from time to time!