Back Piccadilly.
An ongoing project featuring scenes and characters in Back Piccadilly, Manchester. Not just a scruffy back alleyway, but in fact, Manchester’s premier urban cut-through. Running from Tib Street in the Northern Quarter, through to Lena Street, near Piccadilly Station, it’s essentially a service street for loading and refuse collection. The aroma is a blend of hospitality air conditioning outlet with a hint of overflowing giant wheelie bin. Only two active businesses face onto the street.
The background cast is usually delivery drivers, waste collection crews, people on a smoking break, troubled souls or interesting individuals.
The people I meet walking through here fall mainly into two categories:
Locals and commuters who know the city and realise it’s the no-nonsense way to cut through from Northern Quarter to Piccadilly, whilst avoiding the drama and footfall of Piccadilly Gardens.
Nervous and confused visitors (business people, tourists, friends/couples on a city break) that have been shafted by Google Maps and are now dragging their designer wheelie cases through discarded takeaway packaging and broken glass. Trying not to inhale too often.
Beth seemed like a warm, friendly welcoming person. Her hair and coat reassured me further. A restaurant manager who was busy with a beer delivery, but still generous enough to give me a few seconds and set me up for a good day.
Alessandro and his bloody beautiful coat. A Ghanaian-Sicilian, who's swapped Palermo for freezing cold Manchester in November to visit a friend.
Holly's first visit to Manchester and loving it. Just been to Afflecks. Holly declared she should travel more to UK cities rather than overseas. I can't disagree.
Roy was in town to sort his City ticket out in person rather than online. Roy was a blue badge tour guide in Manchester for years and was fascinating to talk to.
Habiba. From Southampton but studying Advertising and Brand Communications at MMU and loving it.
Chris from Salford. A Part II architectural student, currently on placement at a practice in town.
Gifty is Nigerian-Italian, who's relocated to Manchester from Siciliy to pursue her commercial modelling career and train as a mental health nurse.
Joshua. A former Manchester resident, now living in Lincoln but back for a visit. 'To me, Manchester has always been hate free and judgement free. Wear what you want, do what you want, be who you want to be'.
Gloria. Recently graduated from University of Westminster and back in Manchester to build her photography career.
Gary. Upbeat and jovial following a 'rice and three' at Café Marhaba with his mate. Always a good move.
First pram on the project. Harriet and baby Tommy braving the cold. He looked quite toasty though.
Bayal from Go Falafel. Just about tolerating my nonsense at the start of her shift.
Wouldn't give his name. I think that made the image cooler.
OB. Filmmaker, Photographer, Visual artist.
Kiddo. I heard his voice booming as he walked down Newton street on a call. Proper old school Manc swagger about him. Loud, friendly, bemused. Wouldn't give me his name at first. 'People round here know who I am'.
Chelsie and sausage dog, Dasher from Ancoats. Chelsie was in a rush but generous enough to stop for picture. Dasher saw it as perfect opportunity for a massive wee.
Cariad. Welsh but London based. In Manchester with partner for a birthday weekend away.
Alex. Looking to return to Manchester from London, to open a vintage clothing store.
Sam. Landlord of the newly launched Rat & Parrot pub on Back Piccadilly.
Priscilla heading home. We chatted film cameras.
Naina. Having a breather on her way to catch the Bristol train for the weekend.
The very cool Tuscany. A Sheffield native, works in finance, the Northern Quarter is now home.
Finn. Bar team member at The Rat & Pigeon pub, Back Piccadilly.
Sarah. Traveller, Photographer, Creator.
John. Looked like a dude. Surprisingly reluctant for a picture though. Just camera shy. John's a fine art illustrator with an exhibition in the Northern Quarter.
Neil, owner of Clampdown Records and has been since 2008. Neil's always worked in record trade, has been through the CD era, survived downloads and streaming. He works closely with local labels and venues. It's all about the community.
Clampdown Records. Corner of Paton Street and Back Piccadilly. Established in the 80s, Clampdown finally found it's home here in 2010. In my opinion, one of Manchester's coolest shop fronts
Omar from Gorton. We made eye contact from a distance. I gestured with my camera and he bounded over for a portrait. A refreshing level of enthusiasm.
Beesan. Perched on a kerb for a smoke break. Beesan is Palestinian, studying Journalism in Manchester. A writer, photographer and activist. She looked tired so I was hesitant to approach her, but glad I did.
Franki. A quietly understated tattoo artist. Just been to inspect her new studio located round the corner.
Nision Sherpa. Adobe Hotel Chef on a break.
Shadrach. On his way to a shift in Nando's.
Alisha. A baker from Birmingham. In town to visit her boyfriend.
Catherine and Niraj. Powering through Back Piccadilly to the station, suitcase rolling. Heading to Brussels for a break, but happy to stop as Niraj liked my old camera.
Jade. In town from Cleethorpes to see Nickelback. I struggled to hide my shock that Nickelback were still a thing, but what do I know?
JP. Scottish, stylish, now an adopted Manc. Just 'in town for a few bits'. No further info really.
@mcandthat humouring me late in the day.
Eloise. Yes, as in The Damned song. Her Dad was a fan. I think she gets that question a lot from people my age.
Jody. Out with a friend.
Bella. Looked like she was in a band and she is. Skin Knees. Heading out after work with her mate.
Esther. Just finished her long shift in Housekeeping at The Dakota Hotel. She was shattered but generous enough to stop.
Dean. Manchester lad but originally from Kenya. He speaks in a calm gentle voice with perfect RP. Dean is a manager on a nearby construction site. I'm still convinced he's been through RADA.
Rosie. Killing time waiting for her partner Jim. They are about to buy a narrowboat. Seriously. I had to get this confirmed later as it sounds like a windup to people of a certain age.
DJ from Ardwick, powering his way towards Lever Street. Happy to pause his mission for a few seconds though.
Cathy beaming back at the sun on her lunch break. Back in Manchester to do her PhD in Refugee Law. Busy times.
Adam. On a smoke break welcoming the first sunny day of the year.
Davide from Lisbon. No further info due to language barrier. I think he thought he was being mugged.
Alex. The only person that actually requested a portrait. He'd clearly had a great day with his friends.
Mo, in town to sort his permit and paperwork for a new construction job.
Jen. A teacher in a nearby school. Originally from Spain, she walked with pace and purpose. I don't normally approach people who look in a rush but her hat and hair combo overruled any such etiquette.
Bernard. A London based classical musician and photographer. Currently in town to work with the Manchester Hallé Orchestra.
Back Piccadilly and China Lane. A couple of fashion houses have their HQ here. Three times a day this becomes the busiest cross section full of the young and stylish.
Dad and son, Sennen and Nick. In town for Sennen's 16th birthday. Nick has a history with this street, pointing out a doorway where he was nearly stabbed after a DJ set in the 90s.
Niki. A calm and friendly encounter amongst the louder 'characters' at the junction with Oldham Street.
Shayan. Manchester born and bred. Happy to stop for a picture but not feeling the small talk today. I get that.
Craig and Kerry. Just in town for the day from Sheffield, so Craig can meet his new employers.
Sachas. Have you ever? Years ago. Maybe.
Betsy. Lifted my morning and set me on a roll.
Ghada. On a break from language school. She asked me to guess her nationality. I failed. Badly.
Tony and Tilly on an evening walk after one of the hottest days of the year.
Lunch break.
Marlene is from Dundee but has lived in Manchester for years, her amazing accent is unaffected.
Exodus.
Tito. Beats. Coffee. Commute.
Nick. Getting organised ahead of his daughter's graduation later that day.
Margaret. Wears her voice controlled smart phone in her headscarf because of arthritis. Genius.
Rose. On her way to work in a bookshop. Rose doesn't do social media. Be like Rose.
Walking and reading. Life skill.
Abdul. His family have run Café Marhaba for over 30 years. Still got a loyal weekday crowd.
Mia. A student on her way to a bar for a job interview. Loved the way she was still happy to stop.
Andy. Extremely apologetic for pulling his van into my shot for a delivery of building supplies. He was only doing his job but I clearly played on his guilt and got a picture. What a gent.