Dining Alfresco...

Manchester is having a summer! People are out in their shorts and their sunnies (or is that just me then?) and are out in the pavement cafes and beer gardens enjoying the sun and some good company.

Our Victorian ancestors who built this city with commerce and money in mind didn't waste any space that could be creating wealth on foreign frivolities like wide pavements for alfresco dining. Space in Manchester was at a premium and every square foot was expected to earn it's keep.

21st century Manchester has an altogether different vibe and we factor space for outdoor dining into our designs. But space is still at a premium in the uber cool, trendy streets of the N4 where the hippest of the hipsters like to meet to drink artisan beers and the coolest of cocktails.

Pop up beer gardens and terraces have been popping up like this one on the corner of Tib Street and Thomas Street. In spite of its position by the ugly multi storey car park, next to the little electrical sub station that is covered in street art, it's become a popular place with local bars taking turns to run it.

On the other side of the ugly car park, on Turner Street, SOLITA has built its own terrace as well across the street from that popular restaurant....