The place informally known as 'The Gay Centre' should not be confused with the LGF in the City…read moreCentre. The 'Gay Centre' has loads of different groups, for young men, young women, trans people, older lesbians, disabled LGBT people and many more. The centre has offices, leaflets, organised social/support meetings, and has it's own full kitchen. If you want something 'gay' to do without heading down Canal Street, try your luck here. You're best off having a look online for what groups run at what times, and contact details should be available online or you can message me and I'll get back to you with relevant contact details.

The Gay Centre is a very welcoming space which has a very community feel to it. There's a…read morecafe/kitchen area and also rooms available for local LGBT community groups to use for meetings and events. Most of the groups that meet here tend to be aimed at specific groups such as young people, transgender people, older people and women however recently lots more projects and social events (open to everyone) have made the centre their home as an alternative to canal street and the gay village such as the monthly Queer Cafe, KaffeeQueeria and a number of arts/media and cultural projects. You can also get copies of most free community gay magazines here such as OutNorthWest (if the centre door is open call in) as well as information about other groups and services from the huge leaflet rack. Free Condoms and Lube are also available from the centre.

I've never been to a regular service at Emmanuel Church, Didsbury; but I did once take part in…read moreRadio 4's Daily Service, which is often recorded at this church. (It was about 7 years ago and -- draw your own conclusions -- I've never been asked back since). The church facilities were fantastic -- it seemed more like a recording studio than a church, but then I suppose that's what it was when I was there I understand that the regular services are informal and family-orientated, and if that's your cup of tea I'd recommend a visit -- if only so that next time you hear a Radio 4 service you know where it's coming from!

St James and Emmanuel church as an entry on Yelp is slightly misleading because it's a church with…read moretwo buildings. St James is an ancient traditional CofE church to the south of Didsbury and is popular for weddings. Emmanuel is a flexible Victorian church in the centre of Didsbury and has the BBC studio. Both buildings have separate entries on Yelp, but both church buildings constitute the parish of St James and Emmanuel, Didsbury. St James & Emmanuel is a lively but thoughtful church where people of strong faith can be challenged and supported, but people who are exploring and uncertain about their beliefs can explore issues without feeling pressurised or excluded.

My Mum and Dad had their engagement party at Hough End Hall back in 1981 (the night ended with my…read moreMum getting drunk and dropping my Dad's meat pie supper outside the chippy on the way home - quite frankly, on the strength of that anecdote, I'm surprised that I'm even alive) so it's quite nice to see that the old place has been spruced up and reopened to the public after being closed for a number of years. Hough End Hall is a really beautiful old building, with a rather long and illustrious history behind it. It was built in 1596 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Nicholas Mosley (ca. 1527-1612), when he became Lord of the Manor of Manchester and of the dependent Manor of Withington. The Mosleys were an influential Mancunian family from the 16th century onwards, and prominent in the affairs of the Manchester district for two and a half centuries. (Anthony Mosley of Manchester and his brother Nicholas in London were wealthy drapers.) At the time Manchester was incorporated as a borough (1838) the manorial and market rights were still the property of the Mosleys (in 1845 Sir Oswald sold these to the corporation). Mosley Street in Manchester is named after them, and yes - you are thinking correctly - they did produce 'that' Oswald Mosley. But enough of the history lesson, what's it actually like inside now it's been reopened to the public? Well, it certainly looks a lot more modern - the main bar area is filled with brand new leather sofas and in some places, you can still smell the paint. However, to me, the ambience felt like that you'd get in a 1980s style bar. The range of wine and beer wasn't that great, and I can't help but laugh at the thought that any bar thinks that someone would realistically pay £45 for a bottle of bog standard Smirnoff vodka. But still. I've yet to dine there, so perhaps I should reserve judgement until I've actually had a meal in their restaurant which is promising great culinary things for the people of South Manchester and beyond. Perhaps the venue just needs to settle down a bit and create an atmosphere which is distinctly 'different' and unique to everything else currently being offered. I look forward to paying it a second visit in the near future and seeing if the new owners of this wonderful building will really do justice to its magnificent history.

Wondering around what was once, back in the day, it's very own borough Pudsey has some lovely and…read morenot so lovely features. One of the most striking buildings is - unsurprisingly - the Town Hall. Home to many a government administrator as well as the One Stop Centre where you can pay council tax, visit social services and the housing department and get help for welfare. The walls that surround this activity are stunning and shows the money that went into its facelift. Built in 1880 as a Mechanics Institute it was handed over to the arms of local government in 1912 until the borough was encapsulated by Leeds City Council in 1974.

Great little church. Friendly and lots of children. A true parish church. Part of a parish of…read moretwo churches that together make up St James & Emmanuel, Didsbury. Lots of weddings take place here for obvious reasons. See website www.stjamesandemmanuel.org for more information.