Everything But A Beach tells fascinating stories from Manchester’s past.

We discuss the heroes and villians, pioneers and visionaries who helped an anonymous Roman outpost become the world’s first modern city – a cradle for new ideas and technologies, as well as music, sport, and culture.

This is not a standard history.

It’s the tale of how this North of England city partied, dreamed and experimented its way through the centuries.

Meet the innovators, scientists and believers – whose bold ideas have changed the world. Explore the loves, lives and struggles of ordinary people who give the city its indomitable, rebellious character.

Whether you are a Manc or not, we hope to persuade you that a single city can – and has – influenced global history

Who we are

Dr Dean Kirby is a professional historian, genealogist, tour guide, journalist and author of best-selling book, Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum. You can read more here.

Chris Osuh is an award-winning journalist and editor who has written extensively about his hometown, Manchester, for more than 20 years.

Yakub Qureshi is a journalist and writer, based in Greater Manchester.

Acknowledgments

We’re extremely grateful for the support provided by Manchester Libraries and its Business & IP Centre team, particularly Joni Coyle and Tiernan Newell, and for the advice and guidance of Vic Elizabeth Turnbull; Alison Gow; Daniel McLaughlin; Sue Farrimond.

Our logo is the work of the talented Dale Hardman @hardmancreative.

Image of the Manchester cityscape is by kind permission of photographer Mark Waugh.