Description: One of the places I always remember to go to at Christmas is the Manchester Craft and Design Centre – it is the perfect spot to hunt down reasonably priced presents for a few of our artsy type friends.
The building itself was well worth preserving, a small mainly wooden Victorian food market. Today, you can still see some of the original stall names above the doorway. I wonder what the original inhabitants would make of the luxury items on sale in their spot today!
These small bespoke units make for perfect outlets for individual crafts folk, and you will spot some keeping an eye on their wares while producing the next batch to the rear of their shop. In total there are probably 20 or so little units to browse through, and I can truthfully say that there isn't a poor quality shop amongst them, although not all of them are to my taste. The stores are on two levels.
The Manchester Craft and Design Centre offers the chance to browse at hand crafted Jewellery, bags, ceramics, paintings, t-shirts, interior accessories, furniture, paintings and even baby wear. The web site also advertises any forthcoming workshops, where the stall holders hold classes for the public to start being creative themselves.
One of the units I always aim for is one selling wonderful tiles and pottery with brightly coloured birds on them (Lee Page Hanson); a small tile makes a perfect unique present, and will cost less than £20. We have forgotten who we have given these to as presents in the past so dare not buy any more (apart from for ourselves!). We have also bought inexpensive but nice looking earrings for people for under £20 in the past. My sewing mad sister was happy with a small cactus shaped pin cushion as stocking filler last year.
Although we are usually too tempted by the opportunity of a cheap and tasty curry on the nearby Thomas Street, or a huge plate of cheese at the Marble Bar, we have enjoyed a cake or two and a cuppa at the Oak Street Cafe on the ground floor – you quite often find seats in the cafe so it makes for a good alternative venue if everywhere else is busy.
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