Even though I already knew Manchester – it was the first place I lived in the UK at 18 – I recently returned with my fiancé, Gianbruno, to spend a weekend with my friend Melanie and her partner, Simon. I met Melanie back in 2018 while doing internships in Manchester and we lived together during that time. Although we were in town for five days working remotely, the highlight was definitely the weekend. It felt so special to reconnect, laugh and spend time just being together.

On Saturday, we had lunch at Bruncho, a new Turkish spot that’s become quite popular. Afterwards, we wandered through the city, spotting filming locations from Peaky Blinders and reminiscing about places we used to go, like Revolución de Cuba and La Tasca – a reggeaton club which sadly isn’t there anymore. We didn’t stop talking. It was one of those weekends where everything feels easy and light. We tried Pizza Pilgrims, played a hilarious round of crazy golf and spent late nights chatting and chatting at their place.

Manchester will always have a piece of my heart. Maybe it’s the memories, but I truly love this city. It’s comfortable, walkable and has a unique charm, those industrial buildings now turned into cafés, hotels and creative spaces give it a personality I haven’t found elsewhere. If I had to point out a downside, it would be the weather – definitely chillier and rainier than the south – and the new skyscrapers popping up everywhere. They cast a bit of a shadow, quite literally, and risk taking away the character that makes Manchester special. I just hope the city finds a way to preserve its gritty personality while continuing to grow.