Great spot for shopping. Lots of treasures. We loved all of the different businesses in building across 4 floors.

Back in the days of Madchester, Afflecks Palace was the place to go to get cool flares, psychadelic shirts, sunhats and all the right threads. Rumour has it Urban Splash founder Tom Bloxham even had a stall here selling bootleg Inspiral Carpets and Happy Mondays tees. These days, Afflecks is a bit of a ghost town. There are still dozens of stalls selling everything from vintage and secondhand clothes to military wear, drugs paraphanelia, henna tattoos, wind-chimes and furniture. Sadly, there aren't as many old goths, rockers, emo teens and ageing punks as there used to be and you can sometimes walk round the whole building without seeing anyone other than the staff! read more

Afflecks - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Great place, lots of shops to browse around. My first time going a was a good experience. Been looking for places to find Goth clothes and accessories . Lots of different styles to choose from, Goth and Rock for me. Will certainly be visiting again many times. read more

Do you wear black? Do you hate your mum and dad? Do you actually secretly love them because they feed you and keep you in pocket money? Do you think looking sullen is a lifestyle? Do you rawk? Do you have like, totally political opinions and stuff? Then try Afflecks Palace? For all your middle class gothic needs yah? read more

Afflecks - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Afflecks Palace is a whirlwind for me. I always get lost and I have been there quite a few times! What ceases to amaze me is the amount of attention it attracts. Sure, people say it is weird and unusual. Yes, it is but with that comes originality. I must admit I do love my chain store shops in Manchester and when I first visited Afflecks, back in the day I was like 'eeuughh' But when I came out I was shocked. Not by the X rated bondage shops but the fact that I loved it! I have been back since many times, and bought many things such as tutus, UV paint, Cd's and posters. There is a large array of things to choose from and if you do visit Manchester then please go to this place. It is wonderfully weird! read more

Afflecks - taken from: pride of manchester website - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Afleck palace in Manchester is sooo funky. Great deco, really quirky and vibrant. Sells clothes, jewellery, piercings, tattoos, hairdressers and a couple of cafés. Absolutely must see if your ever in Manchester. read more

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Afflecks palace is a super block of all things alternative and slightly out there, it despises all things that the main highstreet perpetuates. Sadly though recently a series of council cut backs have meant that the amount of market stalls and shops within afflecks have fallen through the roof, nowadays when you go in the shops can be far and few between. In what time there has been though, afflecks has fought to find its feet again and hopefully will go on for many more years. The stalls are interesting and stock everything from extreme piercings and boots through to ghetto blasters and hte most vintage gear you've ever set eyes on. At the top floor is an elusive cafe that does fantastic classics and cups of tea its tables are always full of the alternative crowd. If you like to stand out in a group afflecks hosts every bit of eccentric wear any punk, mod, goth or emo could ever want. If you've got a fancy dress part coming up afflecks has the best selection of cooky items to piece together that pirate costume or whatever. read more

Afflecks - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Manchester, XGM

What a place. We went here to get a Manchester Bee shirt as we were visiting from Florida, and my daughter wanted one to represent being 1/2 a Manc. :) I couldn't believe how many different stores were within this one store. There was a lot of neat stuff, and I would have been in heaven here 20 years ago. We left with the shirt and some candy she spotted, as well as many pictures and memories of a good time! It's definitely worth walking around if you want to re-live being in the 90s! read more

A bit quirky, off the road, with surprises around every corner, Afflecks is a true "hidden gem." Stumbled upon Afflecks while trying to find some ice cream (Ginger's); in addition to great ice cream, we also found a conglomerate of unique stores ranging from dainty/girly to punk/goth. There's also a creative space, where you can just relax and create art via music, drawing, painting etc. Recommend checking the place out, even if you aren't planning to buy anything! Best case, you finally find that one thing you've been looking for, worst case, you see some really interesting products. read more

I haven't been here for Years, I used to come down every weekend for my Duran Duran stuff, it used to be a big hangout for Mods x

So, what was I saying about Afflecks when I was talking about The Cocoa Emporium? "First of all, I'm so chuffed with what's happened to Afflecks. To think it was so close to closing down, and now that it's expanded its repertoire you don't have to be an autonomy-seeking, identity-forming teen who likes kohl eyeliner and Kerrang! magazine (or indeed the parent of one) to find a reason to come here. Now, Afflecks is more representative of the Northern Quarter as a whole. Wait, I'd better stop and save this for my Afflecks update." Well, I did. And I stand by what I said. Afflecks to the Northern Quarter is what the Trafford Centre is to the Manchester high street, when it's raining. Everything you could need from the area in question under one roof, concentrated, within a smaller space. And what do we associate with the Northern Quarter? Quirky decor, well, it's got that in spades. Delicious home-cooked food, that's here too. Unique indie local businesses, at every turn indeed. Interesting characters, everywhere, both running the businesses themselves and partaking in custom. I never leave Afflecks empty-handed, and this time my booty included a selection of delights from The Cocoa Emporium as well as a tiny, plain sterling silver nose stud which I'd been after for ages (my nostril's been twinkling for quite some time now, it needs a rest). The prices vary wildly here depending on which stall you stop at, but at least you know you can always get something unique. What will you walk away with? A tarot reading? A classic vintage piece? Some cybergoth boots? A bag full of retro pick n' mix? An eco-friendly T-shirt? A comic? A vinyl record? A raspberry-flavoured condom? Afflecks is your oyster, Mancunians. Go forth, purchase and be proud, for establishments like this prove we are an indie city at heart. And continue to shop local this Christmas! read more

Afflecks is a Manchester institution, and it's easy to see why. Where else can you find a shopping mall for the alternative crowd! You can buy a cupcake, take a tea break, get yer hair did, be a pagan, and of course shop for clothes. The building has a wonky, almost non-Euclidean layout and is great fun to wander through. Having said that, I felt way too old for most of the clothing. It's mainly casual, young stuff: tshirts, hoodies, big clunky shoes, vinyl bags, and miniskirts. (There was a very confusing section of tacky, shiny, 90's style gowns in one shop) Also your standard rockabilly dresses and billions of black jackets with silver and lace accents for the beginner goth. There's also plenty of thin, blousy, nouveau-boho styles and 70's/80's influenced stuff. All the older shop clerks were very friendly, but most of the younger ones didn't smile back or acknowledge my presence, even when I was obviously really interested in buying their merchandise. A final hilarious note: one very gothy clothing shop was blasting Top 40 hiphop all the while I shopped there. When irony crosses the line, it hurts us all. If you're a budget-minded young person looking for basic rock, punk, or goth fare, Affleck's will have anything you need or want. If you're looking for unusual, high end alternative clothing, not so much. But hey, drop in anyway! read more

Ah,Afflecks,along with the Corn exchange and the old underground Market just off Market St,nothing says Northern Monkey cool like Afflecks Palace. The Colosseum tried but didn't quite make it,although it was a great place to shop until the pesky developers got their greedy hands on it. My history with Afflecks goes back some 23 years to 1988. 1988 was the year a dope fiend won the mens 100 m gold, Marco Van Basten taught people how to volley a football and the IRA were still six years away from trying to blow me up in Odyssey 7 in The Corn Exchange. An older friend of mine told me about this new band that were about to make it big,Happy Mondays they were called (i've never heard of them either). And he wanted to know if I fancied a trip into Mani,do a bit of shopping and then go and watch the band. Ok said I. Now Afflecks has changed a lot in the last 23 years,but at the same time it is exactly the same. I still get a sense of COOL when I go in even though I ceased to be cool in 1989 : ) . It is one of the few places left that harks back to the days of The Mondays and The Roses,even though you are more likely to bump into Ian Brown in London than you are in Eastern Bloc. In the late 90's I think it tried to pander a bit too much to the Nu-Metal crowd (still does a little bit). But it still stayed very much Afflecks,just as it does today. I don't think it would be possible for me to go into the center without a wander around Afflecks,it"s just not the done thing,and if it ever goes the same way as The Corn Exchange and The Colosseum then Manchester would be a poorer place for it. As a footnote i bought a t-shirt on that first trip in Afflecks it said "My England has a Rose wherein my Heart it grows,Manchester,my heartland".. How cool is that??!! And yes,i've still got it : ) read more

The first time I went to Affleck's, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. It reminded me of what the Corn Exchange in Leeds used to be like in the 90s - goth shops, vintage shops, a bead shop, tattoo and piercing shops, fancy dress and even the 'Three Minute Theatre'... amazing. Kuhl Vintage is currently my favourite of all the shops in this 'alternative' emporium. I went there last weekend to try on some of their vintage 1940s and 50s wedding dresses and thoroughly enjoyed it (I am actually getting getting hitched, I'm not some weirdo that goes around trying on dresses in the hope that one day someone will marry my ugly ass). The lady that runs the shop was incredibly helpful and didn't push me into buying anything, which was refreshing. In fact, she encouraged me to look elsewhere and only come back for the dress I liked best if I don't find The One elsewhere. I recommend Affleck's to anyone with a taste for the quirky things in life and if you haven't been before, go there right now! That's an order! read more

So... Afflecks. I began my expiditions here when I was 13 and this place was "so cool". No, it really was. Forget the mainstream, forget pop musc, this was the place to come to be alternative, to buy alternative additions to your life. Clothing, accessories, bags, posters, piercings, tattoos, badges, shoes, boards, wheels, condoms, dvds, dress up, beads, arts and crafts, you name it! This place had it all. I loved it. A few years ago, there was a scare that Afflecks was going to close, which presented problems for businesses and clients. The place was saved and everyone was overjoyed! 9 years after my frequent adventures to Afflecks and I'm a little disheartened when I return. Vintage clothing, maintsream fashion and a lot of the shops have gone or changed their direction in marketing. I understand Vintage can be seen as an alternative way but I see it as a mainstream form of fashion. You can't find the variety of alternative clothing that used to be there. The types of clothing/accessories you would expect to be there. If the direction Afflecks chose to go in was to introduce some mainstream Vintage shops to boost their economy, then I am a little saddened. I'm getting older and times are changing - I just didn't expect this. I still frequently go to visit The Studio for Tattoos and Piercings but many other shops I now avoid. It's the same "bllllaaaahhhhhh" Vintage stuff. read more

Cant believe I haven't written a review about afflecks yet? Strange.... Anyway been coming here to buy ill advised clothing items since I was 14 massive baggie jeans and hoodies back in the mosher days then my skinnies and stray cats tshirts in the punk/skater days. The sheer amount of little tiny independent stores in here is mind boggling I'm sure theres probably even a few stores I don't know about in there and I have been going 10 plus years! Along with the stores theres a tattoo shop or two, piercers, barber shop, gallery and even photo studio and a cafe! If you into anything slightly alternative to the norm you need to visit afflecks and probably find some gem you've been looking for , for years. I mostly come here to get tattooed by the lovely Billie at The Studio in Afflecks (2nd floor) go visit there awesome! so don't really do much browsing in the shops but it seems bustling as ever and that makes me smile a lot inside that this place is still around if not for nostalgia but to feed that alternative youth I was once a part of. read more

Looooove this place!!!! Pricey but soooo worth it!!!! Amazing if you like to be a little different! Lots of quirky trinkets for all and alternative clothing that is second to none read more

Afflecks - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Afflecks. Where I got my first piercing, bought my first pair of baggy jeans, dreamed about getting a tattoo, kissed, hugged, danced, slept. I bought hundreds of tacky bracelets and neon fish nets. I bought band tees and slogan tees, retro landline phones, solid silver snake rings, spiky cuffs, belt buckles and ear expanders. It's because of Afflecks that I once died my face purple instead of my hair, because of Afflecks that I had a nose piercing that got ripped out once when I was drunk. It's where I hung out, listened to music, made friends, made enemies. When I was 14 it was a dreamworld of awesome stuff I've always wanted and a place to hang with my friends. Now, well over a decade later, I just shop there. It's not the same, yet it kind of is. And I'm not quite the same either... thank goodness. (I kind of am) read more

Wow, I'm a fan already! Me and my dad went to Manchester for 4 days and as we asked around the local people, the top thing on their minds was Afflecks palace, what a place :) It has multiple little shops and places where you don't expect people would sell strange punk and goth things, it was really an expedition. You would come out of Afflecks 5 hours later and think," wow, I've only been in there for half an hour" There is such a wide variety of products to choose from, ranging from gothic jewellery, cupcake decorating, military surplus, satanic symbols and bongs! My only qualm however, was that there was a limited amount of space for movement (in certain popular parts of the store) and this may not be good for claustrophobic sufferers, (and thats not even a real big problem) other than than the store was amazing and if you ever decide to visit the Manchester just remember: http://www.afflecks.com/ 52 Church Street Manchester England M4 1 read more

Manchester answer to Camden Market. Afflecks is a weird little place. Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic...but very very weird. It's sort of the "Alternative Arndale" centre. "Shops" are spread out over several floors and take the form of tiny little stalls or huge self-contained shops...and anything in-between. There are no rules to Afflecks, you can go there and come out with a bunch of CDs and a couple of cool band t-shirts from one floor and a tattoo and body piercing from another. It's the place to go when you can't find something anywhere else! I recommend are the amazing fancy dress shop up near the top and the bead shop which has now moved down to the first floor. The only downside to the little haven of all things weird and wonderful is that you may get very lost if you're not with someone who knows the way around! There are three entrances and several staircases! And also, just a warning, if you go in the wrong way, you may end up getting the wrong impression, Afflecks does also house some pretty X-Rated shops...! Enjoy! read more

A rickety, funhouse tardis of independent stall stores dedicated to keeping one part of Manchester unique from it's commercial enterprise. Everyone I know who is familiar with Manchester loves Afflecks, it is a legend in it's own right. And not so long ago, that legend nearly became a true legend, a dead legend, Afflecks nearly came to an end, lucky for us it's still ploughing on. Even my parents love Afflecks, how cool is that. They love it so much, that when I went off to university, on the other side of the pennines, sorry folks, they sent me off with a Manchester Tee from Identity in Afflecks. Love It. There's a complete and total mixed bag of stores/stalls to enjoy in Afflecks, and the further you allow yourself to fall down the rabbit hole...well walk up and around the stair cases and floors, the more you find yourself enjoying how different one store is from the other. Many die hard Afflecks fans will tell you it is in no way now as good as it used to be, but it's still pretty damn good. With art, accessories, clothing, hair cuts, food, home stuff, and probably things I've forgotten to mention all on display and to purchase, it's a winner. read more

My friend, Andrea, wanted to go to have a look around in this really weird place. It was the first time when I actually went in. Mhm...I liked it. A lot!!! I mean, lots of clothes that I wanted to buy. Weird dresses that I thought might look alright with few more accessorizes. Lots of ear rings and pierces and funny belts or boots?! If you want to go to a fancy dress party, you might as well go to Afflecks and buy few stuff from them. They have everything you need and don't need for this type of stuff. Which in my opinion is really good. At the end of the day we need a variety of things to keep us going. Last time, I say a couple of t-shirts, really funny ones as well. They were both for a tenner, which I thought is a good deal as well. I like this weird place, I will definitely go there again. read more

Teeny Greebo me would have adored this place! Ventured in here, pulled in by my Wirral born, Manchester based friends on shock-received comments that I'd never been in. Immediately to me, reminiscent of oasis market in Birmingham, but even harder to navigate! Absolutely wonderful range of geekery, gothery, jewellery, tattoos, piercers, clothes, uniforms, repro, 'vintage' (you aren't fooling me with your 90s grunge, pale wash denim and plastic zips, a-thank-you, matey), weird soaps that look like cakes (sorry, the novelty here is entirely lost on me, I'd rather have actual cake and some lush shower gel), fancy dress **A ROWFERS, yessssss I thought these had all ended, hooray the sextys!** and even a cafe and adorable ice cream parlour, the list is absolutely endless. This Aladdin's cave for the alternative is near impossible to navigate, and so filled with good things, utter tat and teen nostalgia. As to expect of this kind of stuff, the price varies enormously, and all the stuff you'd have spent the wage from your first part time job on if like me you listened to the bands appearing in metal hammer and kerrang. Awesome place, but too bloody hot in the summer. Also, no one buy the nice military jacket, I have dibs once my expensive holidays are out of the way ;) thanks! read more

Well I'm sure this ain't no secret, but this is kinda the best place to browse and shop in Manchester. Tons of little tiny stands with independent owners. A lot of them kinda go the kitschy SF headshop way, but the small record stands and vintage clothing stops are the best. This is where I finally became friends with the video games and music section editor of Student Direct over at the university, as he was showing me his favorite click house records. I watched a webcast of his radio show on Fuse FM years later, from Santa Barbara. He spoke of moving out to New York. Floors upon floors, flyers for shows strewn about, one can feel comfortable and lost but OK wandering about to find strange little items to pass the time. read more

Afflecks Palace is just one of those places - a Manchester staple, I'll always point visitors in its direction to make sure they take in the 'quirkier' side of the city. I know that, ultimately, many of the shops inside are becoming on the more mainstream side, with labels one could recognise from a number of other shops, but Afflecks still remains above the general standard. The interior and exterior are equally important when considering the appeal of the building; the vast number of posters, flyers and adverts plastering every wall and staircase inside, and the murals and signage outside are all worth paying attention to. We most recently visited for a trip to Ginger's Comfort Emporium, a fairly new opening, but couldn't help having a wander around beforehand - especially when the other half spotted the vintage Nintendo games and record players in one of the shops. Whatever your interest in life, you're likely to find something here. Tattoos, piercings, rave gear, fancy dress, vintage, beads, badges and buttons...the list could go on. I hope Manchester keeps its love for Afflecks as it would really be a blow to the independent vendors inside for it to ever shut down. I'll return with people in tow to keep showing off this highlight of the city! read more

I love this place it is a treasure trove of the quirky and the unusual. Fab place if you are wanting something that the masses wouldn't go for. I love it for their selection of vintage style dresses, bead, fancy dress (the guys that run Attic are really helpful) and bespoke corsets - it's not all about the goths you know in here! The bead shop that I think is on the 4th floor does classes where you can make your own necklaces and bracelets they have a web page so check out dates on line. I wouldn't recommend going on a hot day as it is quite compact and gets very warm, there are a couple of cafes inside so you can relax and refresh. Also worth having cash on you as not all of the shops take card and be prepared to wonder round and get lost! I have a shop in here I like visiting and i don't think I've found it the same way twice! read more

Everyone raves about Affleck's Palace as though they haven't noticed that its glory days are clearly over and is mostly rammed with stalls selling PVC goth corsetry and emo tutus. The building is really cool, although it's looking rather shabby from the outside, and it has tons of potential but I just feel as though all the best shops became really popular and moved out and into their own premises. I can imagine it does most business when its raining and people meander into its warren of independent shops to escape the drizzle. Otherwise, explain to me how a shop entirely dedicated to the sale of condoms, or more bizarrely beads, can be a lucrative venture? However, when it comes to fancy dress, Affleck's palace is probably your best place to head although I would suggest avoiding like the plague during the run up to Hallowe'en. There are some good little vintage and trinket shops scattered around but the greater good is marred by the overwhelming number of tacky emo and goth outfitters. read more

Affleck's Palace is one of Manchester's great success stories. Standing proud in the midst of the Northern Quarter, Affleck's is a microcosm of the entire area under one roof. Whether it be vintage clothing, jewellery, furnishings or random retro paraphernalia you are after, you need look no further than Affleck's. Whenever I go to Affleck's, I find myself torn between exasperation, excitement and an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. Yes! I want a MegaDrive again. I want a typewriter and posters of GhostBusters and The Magic Roundabout. Affleck's has that effect on people, I think. It is a place to rediscover the past and thrust it joyfully into your day to day life. My flatmates and I find ourselves amused and bemused by the fancy dress shop in Affleck's - as much as we love being nostalgic, none of us really fancy dressing up as the Bananas in Pajamas, but, for those who do want to do it - again, Affleck's is the place. Affleck's is not for the faint-hearted, however. It is busy, and crammed to the ceilings with sellable goods. The chances are, the chair on which you sit in the top floor café will be sold from under you. If you are willing to wade in and brave the masses, then Affleck's is definitely up your street. For those who aren't - stick to the Arndale. read more

Afflecks is a huge, alternative, shopping centre with a bit of something for everybody - especially if you like things a little different. There is a huge array of clothing shops for all kinds - punk, goth, vintage... even old military clothes. Those listed doesn't even begin to cover the full variety, however - you'd have to check it out yourself to take it all in. There's lots of stores with hand-made, original, clothing and accessories also. It's not just for getting new outfits though - there's great cafes and even shops selling old video games and consoles, old toys, etc. Quirky, different, alternative. A shopping centre how they SHOULD be! read more

Firstly --- Thank You Afflecks for making my flat look super funky and cool! If you are a sucker for quirky things ( books, posters, clothes, shoes, records) like me then you will LOVE this place! Afflecks truly captures the real essence of Manchester like nobody does. I have pretty much decorated my whole apartment with things i have bought from here to a point that my flat now pretty much looks like Afflecks ( I wish, it's not easy to compete with the coolness of this place :p). I love the clothing stores on the ground floor, they have the best dungarees and tank tops ever besides awesome hats and scarves. Ohh and the same floor also has my favorite theater venue 3MT (3 Minute Theater). The first floor has all things vintage and retro - old movie posters, ohh so sexy rock star posters besides record players, old records, home decoration's and more. But you can either be an Afflecks lover or not, because if you need to have a certain kind of mind set to like this place I guess (basically have a funny and bohemian element in you). There is also a tattoo parlor inside for all the ink lovers and I have heard really good things about that too (I am too scared of needles and permanent marks on my body -- such a shame). I got 3 MASSIVE posters for 10 pounds and boy they look sooo good on my walls, every one who comes in has complimented them! I feel I have made optimum utilization of that 10 pounds I spend! So as you can see this place is not super expensive but has some awesome things! Verdict : Love it, will keep going in again and again! I am more than a Fan! :D read more

Affleck's, what a royal presence you do grace Manchester with. You can't miss the palace. Floors and floors of mystery if you weave your through stalls of random things amongst your clothes, garments and jewellery if you're adverse to the High Street. Affleck's is one of those places you could peruse around for aaages as it delights the eye, the purse and makes the shopping experience worthwhile for those shopping phobes. I'm not sure what else to say what other people haven't praised this place for. I'd quite like to know who is Affleck? read more

If you're looking for a vintage or one of a kind item, Afflecks is one of the best alternative and vintage boutiques in the the UK. This multi-storey bazaar homes a weird and wonderful mix of kitsch, fetish, vintage and alternative items. With everything from cool presents to cute shoes, there's something for everyone. There's even a little cafe on the top floor to rest the wearied feet after all that shopping. read more

Afflecks Palace really came into it's element and prime when it took over from the previous alternative hot spot of the corn exchange that was unfortunately destroyed in the 1990's ( and is now the 'triangle' shopping precinct) For many years after that it became a kind of 'home' to the alternative kids from the hippies to the goths to the punks to the metal heads. Unfortunately as times and trends have changed it's navigated away from it's original 'different' vibe and now feels more cliched and far too commercial. You can still buy your stripy tights and your baggy pants but it's lost that sense of belonging that feeling of home to the wraiths and strays that don't fit in. It's got more of a pretentious feel towards it now and is overpopulated by the current trends, it's sad when being different has now become the popular way to be. It's still eclectic and worth a look for the treasures you may find but it;s more a spoof of what it used to be, the feeling has 'gone' as have a lot of original traders. read more

Affleck's Palace is a Mancunian institution. Naturally, it's something of a mecca for teenagers - unsurprising really as that's squarely what it is aimed at. Of course, there's much talk of 'it's not as good as it used to be' and I'm as guilty as anyone for saying it. However, this should come with the caveat of '...but then again, I'm not supposed to like it because I'm over 23 years old and thereby, completely puzzled by youth movements'. Basically, it's as great as it's ever been, provided you're the target age. So, over loads of floors you'll find (the famous) bead shop, mental vintage clothes, new quirky fashions, latex bondage gear, somewhere to get a haircut, somewhere to get a piercing, somewhere to have a spot of lunch and a brew, record shops, ornaments and... just about everything is served for those who want to buy alternative. Essentially, Affleck's is a market for drop-outs spread across the floors of a building as opposed to the traditional marketplace. Manchester is being overhauled by property developers and with progress comes casualties. I'd say it's near vital that Affleck's doesn't become one of them because, in it's own weird little way, Affleck's is the heartbeat of Manchester City Centre... even if I no longer understand the value of things being sold there. A wonderful place and a real landmark. read more

Afflecks palace makes shopping fun! Based on 3 floors they have a range of shops and boutiques giving local entrepreneurs a chance to sell there ideas. There is everything from body piercing shops, clothing ranges for fancy dress, vintage styles, clubbing and more. It really does make shopping enjoyable and if you want something different then this is really the place to go. Also fantastic for gift ideas. read more

I haven't been in this place for years. Someone tells me it is changing under the new ownership and many original traders have left. Was and probably still is the main indie shopping place in the city. Keep it there, use it and don't lose it. Unique shopping palace. read more

This is great place to visit, it's not your usual run of the mill shopping centre. There's lots of shops selling everything you could imagine (well within reason). There are lots of independent shops and some well known brands too, the like of which you don't find on the high street everyday. Well located right in the middle of the city centre right opposite the Arndale Centre so it's so easy to get to, pop in and have a look around, you'll be surprised. I have to mention the building too, again another fantastic piece of Manchester architecture. read more

You've probably heard of Afflecks palace, either from the fact that its constantly in the papers as being close to closure or due to a younger cousin raving about the shops there. However if you have any disernable taste then Afflecks palace is one to avoid. Perhaps the best thing its for is for purchasing items for fancy dress parties - if you want to dress as an emo kid or a hippy. Most of the people in here will be wearing makeup and sulking, the vast quantity of them will be depressed and looking for a new skull and crossbones pendant. Maybe Im a bit cynical, maybe Im just not the right type of person for here, but the only reason I want Afflecks to stay open is so the people who shop here dont get in my way in other parts of town. read more

After hearing many fantastic reports about this place I finally got to visit here a few years ago. After searching for ages we eventually found it tucked away down a side street. The outside is very Gothic looking with fantastic metal lights on the building wall. The building is made up of lots of different floors containing loads of little stalls and they sell all things Gothic and Punk with a little bit of Retro thrown in for good measure. It is possible to pick up a great bargain and when I went I purchased three pairs of flared cord trousers for £20. They also sell great costume jewellery and handbags and it is fab for getting something a little bit different that you can guarentee no-one else will have. When I went we also decided to eat in the cafe which at the time was done out like a fifties diner, and had cake and coffee, which was very nice indeed. On the very top floor there were smaller stalls selling beads and other items for jewellery making and badges of everything under the sun. It is a fantastic little place and well worth a look if you like clothes that are that bit different but still full of loads of style. read more

Affleck's Palace completely embodies everything that is wonderful about Manchester. It is unique, embraces different "scenes," is centrally-located and is quite literally a Manchester institution. I'd go as far as to say that you really haven't experienced Manchester if you haven't got lost in the myriad of stalls at Affleck's. Whatever your tastes are, you can be sure that one of the many obscure stalls will cater for your needs. You can buy anything from music to tattoos and you can easily get kitted out in the latest fashions and vintage-wear! Unlike in Liverpool where similar venue Quiggins' had to make way for major development, Affleck's has survived and is a traditional oasis in the middle of all the city's redevelopment. Affleck's is located just off Piccadilly Gardens in a beautiful old building and is a MUST for any Mancunian or visitor to the city! read more