Skateboarding and Skateboarders,you either love them or you think they wear too much baggy clothing…read moreand ride around on planks... I'm pretty much somewhere in the middle,I can't skate,and I wouldn't say that i'm that much of a fan of any particular famous Boarder (Although Rodney Mullen has got some serious skills!). What I do like however is the whole (Sub)culture of boarding,and because of this I find it very hard to pass by a Skate shop without popping in to see their wares.As was the case a couple of weeks ago when myself and Mrs Z had been for a Simple lunch. It's odd that I had walked past Note several times in the past without ever really noticing that it was there. Anyway,on this particular day I did notice it and thus I went in,and other than the fact that it was a skate shop,there was another reason why I was eager to pop in,from the outside I espied a hooded top,no ordinary hooded top mind you,this was a "Thrasher" hooded top. For those that don't know,or for that matter don't care, Thrasher is a skateboarding magazine from San Francisco,and it is also the name of the single greatest genre of Heavy Metal that there has ever been,also arguably founded in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Now the hooded top in question was dark grey with the word THRASHER emblazoned accross the front in bio-hazzardous green.Now I ask you,what self respecting Thrash loving Zombi could resist this top? Not this one is the answer,so after a couple of seconds of Zombi doeyedness (Real word) towards Mrs Z it was bought for me as an early birthday present. In addition to the greatest top ever made Note also stocked some seriously good looking skating equipment,the type of stuff that makes you wish you'd learnt to skate in your younger years (when falls didn't hurt as much). I was especially taken by the collection on decks,some of which had some cool designs on them. Every time i'm on Tibb Street from now on I will pop into Note in the off chance that they can somehow top the top that was bought for me....THRASH!!!!!!

Another rad skateboard shop in the Northern Quarter is NOTE…read more A few doors down from Vans, this is a cracking little store that's been going for about ten years now. As well as a great range of decks, wheels and accesories, they sell a terrific range of sneakers and threads from US, UK and European labels like Etnies, DC, Converse, Emerica, Supra, Fallen, Matrix, Rebel 8, Skate Mental, Nike SB, Royal and Zoo York. The reason they get 5 stars however, is for their attention to detail and the fact they sell specific sneakers that have been designed and tested for better grip, flick and durability. They also sponsor a whole team of skaters including Ben Grove, Kevin Eley and Tony DaSilva.

So friendly and the best skate range at the best prices in Manchester for sure. Very Helpful and…read morebeen back a bunch of times now my new favourite Manchester Skateboard shop.

From the owner: Manchester Finest Skateboard Shop with a host of your favourite skate related brands such as…read moreStussy, Vans Shoes, Nike Sb, Adidas, Thrasher, Dickies, Palace and much more.

Ridelow is the perfect place to get a really good range of kitsch, weird and wonderful bikes that…read morefrankly you won't find anywhere else in Manchester. It's awesome inside, with bikes and all kinds of things hanging off the ceiling, and a sofa to have a sit down on if you want. But it also has a line in doing loads of other stuff. Be that watches, gothic jewellery, skater t-shirts, rucksacks and even a desk offering canvas printing services! The limited clothing stock out on view is apparently for display purposes - they have more sizes and if you ask they'll go find the one you need in the storeroom. The staff in here are dead friendly and willing to give you a hand or even just have a chat. I always like it when a shop has that kind of vibe.

Ridelow, as the name suggests, is for the cool kids. If you know your bikes then you'll know that…read morethis store doesn't just stock any old brand. This store stocks the crème de la crème of lowriders, cruisers, bmx's and choppers. Since this is the store where the likes of Kate Moss and the Beckhams come to get their rides, you can imagine that it isn't all that cheap. In fact, you're looking at around £500 for an Amsterdam or from £200 for a chopper, but you won't find anything else like them on the street. You won't want to leave them unattended on the street either, even if you have 3 locks, and for a city dweller like me that poses a huge problem. I guess the people who can afford these bikes also have a private place to store them?

a fantastic skating shop that has absolutely everything there from BMXing to rollerblading. all the…read morestaff are really nice and will help you for any reason. the place is clean and well maintained. they is a large variety of items you can buy like cloths and skate gear. it is reasonably priced. it is a really good skate shop and i would definately recomend it

a really good place to get gear and clothing. they sell all your skateing and BMXing equipment. the…read moreguys there are really nice and it is very clean, a bit pricey but recomended to all you skaters out there.

Amazing store, in the center of the city, with a lot of varities of roller skates and accessories…read more Staffs very friendly and helpful. The first roller skate shop I visited that offers a "wheels test day" every week, when you can visit the shop and try a variety of available wheels on your own skates, before choose what is the perfect one for your expectations. Definetely I'll come back soon!

Best shop ive been and has the best owner 10/10 defo go if you need out and you a good ammount of…read morestickers when u buy stuff so thats a plus

Unless you are a skating enthusiast this indie store will probably remain lost to you - no pun…read moreintended, but it will probably remain that way unless the bridge between bold st and renshaw is re-opened - but then that's generally the way people dedicated to a scene like to keep it. The guys here, situated underneath a tattoo parlour, are clearly dedicated as you will more then likely come across them testing out and mucking about with the latest boards they have in stock and they have a good range to choose from. To go with the boards are the obligatory threads and trabs including the names such as Etnies, Vans and Emerica as well as plenty of hi-top Nikes familiar to those in on this scene. Their dedication to the style and art of this scene is shown clearly in the shop boardings which even when the shop is closed displays a striking grafitti mural.

Lost Art which is situated just below doctor feelgood tattoos and just off Bold street was a great…read morelittle find for someone who used to be a skating enthusiast. The shop reminds me of a similar establishment in Birmingham, both run independently by people who love what they do. This is the sense you get from the staff in Lost Art that they really adore skating and want to encourage you to feel the same way as them it is a kind of skate or die attitude. As well as this the value in the shop is fantastic I bought a limited edition pair of Nike SB's for a fraction of their retail price and there are often other such gems to be found within. There are numerous jumpers , tees, trainers and boards all within the small shop area and all at great prices. Local skaters are often inside just chatting away or skating just outside the shop and this is the spirit of the place people together with a shared love. If you enjoy skating and want a good bargain then check it out I guarantee you'll find something that you like, I did.

Everywhere you look in Jones Bootmaker, you can see leather. That's what they do, you see…read more Aside from stocking famous brands like Cat and Ted Baker, this serious shoe shop stocks a massive selection of leather shoes and boots. In fact, it's so much about the leather that they only carry four or five trainers for boys. Jones Bootmaker also has a great range of shoe care products behind the counter. If you want to tenderly care for your shoes then they have brushes, polishes and shoe horns. Who would ever want to buy a wooden thing shaped like a foot that you put in a shoe to help it keep its shape? Is this the kind of thing a boy will never understand?