Since these are next to each other and are bopth about to open, thought I'd start a thread for the photos.
Wednesday is the day for the major construction to start on the wheel and the first phase of the arndale is set to open mid Oct.

This site will give you all the pictures you want to know what the wheel looks like in Exhange SQ.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/image_galleries/manchester_wheel_gallery.shtml

For reasons that are obvious I won't be going on it..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/images/2004/10/26/wheel_shadow_470x350.jpg

:runaway:

Wheel! :banana:
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/214ExchangeSquareFerrisWheel_pic4.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/214ExchangeSquareFerrisWheel_pic14.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/214ExchangeSquareFerrisWheel_pic18.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/214ExchangeSquareFerrisWheel_pic19.jpg

But yeah, it does make Exchange Square feel cramped. We need a permanent place for something like this.

how tall is that wheel? :?

It should help you with your skyline renders, guys ;)

I thought that this was a return of the same wheel we had last year, straight from Paris, but according to the MEN, it's a specially built one for Manchester, it's staying put until at least Easter, if not indefinitely.

So, are we all agreed that Exchange Sq is the wrong place for it?

In which case, where should it go if it's to be permanent?

(Edit - I ain't got a clue!)

So is the wheel actualy their now???

In which case, where should it go if it's to be permanent?


Top of Sunley Tower. :nuts:

No Ozzy, the wheel is being constructed now.

Top of Sunley would be cool (bloody freezing!), but I'd prefer to see it at a scrap metal merchants meself.

I'm going to have a ride on it, but I hate the thought of the thing as a permanent feature. Too similar to the L-word Eye, and I think M/cr should come up with something unique, like a big inter-galactic catapult for all the scallies.

It needs to be somewhere central so there's a vista on all sides as your on it, but thats difficult as there ain't many open spaces in the centre of town, Piccadilly Gardens is out as it would ruin the grass, Albert Sq's out as on a permanent basis.. which is what im on about.. it would block off views of the Town Hall :(

Where else? Cathederal Gardens or whatever its called wouldn't accomodate it I don't think, there's nowhere around Oxford St,too crowded, there's Sackville Park but again would they want to ruin the grass? coz they won't concrete over it to put something there permanent, and quite rightly..I can't think of anywhere really suitable, I love the idea of it becoming permanent but it's really got to be in the right place and Exchange Square is definitely NOT the right place.

You're right Roly, there's nowhere. The thought of it in Albert Sq makes me shudder. That'd be sacriligeous in one of Europe's most beautiful squares (in my non-biased opinion....lol)

How about somewhere just south of Castlefield, between the city and Salford Quays/Old Trafford.....? Now that would be an interesting view.....but of course, it's maybe not the right location to attract the punters.

..edited

location location location..lol

:rofl:

If the demolished Elizabeth House it would be cool there,

Well thats it Jongy..I do think its important that its somewhere central, if you start thinking about the edge of town then yeah there's quite a few places but the views on all sides could be less than flattering in certain parts, I thought maybe the space in front of Teazers at GN Sq but I'm not sure if its big enough, maybe not. If not, then where else..location location location..lol
Do dont think the residents in GN tower would be happy about that Roly, them paying a fucking fortune only for half of Manchester to gorp into there living rooms :laugh:

If the demolished Elizabeth House it would be cool there,

Yes! That's the one!

It's going up next to the Urbis now?? That must place it in Cathy Gardens.

..edited

Yeah, how big's the area infront of the GMEX?

Despite some shocking reporting as usual in the MEN the wheel is currently being erected in the same place as last year (Exchange Sq). The wheel is NOT the same year and is brand new, it is similar in design to the London Eye with bubble pods with full heating, just on a smaller scale.

You can watch this being built on the BBC Manchester Exchange Sq webcam.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/webcams/live/manchestersq.jpg

The only place large enough in the city centre for a permanent wheel has to be Piccadilly gardens surely.I dont see a problem with having it there. It would just look out of place in most other squares... as it does in Exchange Sq., with Picc.G. being central there would be good views across the city.As for the grass being a problem just pave over it where the wheel is to be situated as it looks like threadbare carpet anyway, infact pave over the lot! Theres nothing really to spoil Picc. Gardens by having it here IMO...hell it may even improve it.

oscar, what about nasty big wall in Picc gardens that could potentially be blown up and levelled for the wheel...

nah nah nah the car park next to Canal St.

I think it should go on the Chester road round about as you are coming into deangate. O.k. the area will have to be redesigned, but it will start to spread the city centre southwards. I mean when you go to London the London eye is nowhere near say Trafalger square or Buckingham palace. I know we don't want to be London, but that does not mean we can't grow like London. Plus there be will loads of development in that area soon with Southern gateway Tower and what ever else. Just an idea.

Wheel mast has gone up.

For those who want to be the first to photograph inside the new arndale, the nike store says opening day is the 20th Oct.

Manchester's Big Wheel is on its way up ...from today this one

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/rolybling/IMAG0039.jpg

not again

lol

At Manchester Arndale, PruPIM, the property asset management division of our partners, Prudential, are making good progress with the Northern Extension which will add 550,000 sq.ft. of retail space and provide some 83 retail units. The first phase which includes a major 150,000 sq.ft. Next store will open in October this year; the second phase is due to open in Spring 2006 and the third and fourth phases are due to complete in Autumn 2006. Whilst Prudential retains the financial obligation to complete the Northern Extension, letting risk is shared equally between the joint owners. Retailer interest is strong and total lettings have been completed or solicitors instructed for 72 per cent of the space, representing over 50 per cent of the anticipated income.

Size:
850,000 sq ft (550,000 sq ft when development is
completed in 2006)

No of shops:
146

Anchor stores:
Next, Argos, Boots, Bhs, Littlewoods, WHSmith, TopShop

Catchment:
1.7m within core catchment area

Footfall:
25 million in 2004

Public Transport:
Railway, bus and Metrolink stops close by

Parking:
1,450 car parking spaces in adjacent multi-storey

Customer Facilities:
Toilets with baby changing facilities
Customer Information Desks
9am-8pm Monday to Saturday
11am-5pm Sunday

Leisure:
Food court (FoodChain)

Location:
Manchester City Centre

Ownership:
95% owned jointly by CSC and Prudential


http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/1.jpg

http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/1.jpg

http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/5.jpg
http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/7.jpg
http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/6.jpg
http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/2.jpg
http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/4.jpg
http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/3.jpg

Out of the Manchester Evening News Today

IT'S HIGHLY ROMANTIC

FORGET anything Venice has to offer... Manchester will have the most romantic gondolas this winter.
The Big Wheel rising in Exchange Square will feature an all new, VIP pod in which couples can cuddle up on leather sofas, 60 metres above the city streets, and sip freshly chilled champagne from the gondolas fridge.
There's even a plasma screen TV, telephone and DVD player.
The 30-minute trip in the VIP gondola will cost around £65 with champagne and a spokesman for operators World Tourist Attractions said: "This really is going to be the pinnacle of comfort on a cold Manchester night, and a chance for lovers to really impress.
"We did have a VIP gondola last year, but not nearly as good as this one, and mostly used by corporate types. This year we will market it to the general public as the only way to really impress.":hug:

The wheel this saturday

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/graphicsalpha057.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/graphicsalpha078.jpg

construction

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/graphicsalpha081.jpg

You got the shitty one again? why did Manchester take it down in the first place, you should've kept it up all through the year like Birminghams ... this is the crappy old one we had, the new one which was erected last year is 10 times better. Infact I think this is the one you guys got for last winter. Ours is in Centenary Square inbetween ther Hyatt and Alpha Tower

http://gallery.virtualbrum.co.uk/albums/VBWheel/wheel_005.jpg

Where the red crane is will be Orion today

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/wheel/alpha1.jpg

This is looking towards the BT Tower and the under-renovation Baskerville House which is having a 2 storey glass atrium added.

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/wheel/baskerville.jpg

And this is the view of the old wheel in the daytime from Centenary Square

http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/wheel/wheel3.jpg

no this onw we've got is brand new and was built for manchester, it has pods and leather seats ;)

What sort of view will we get from the top of the wheel?

London eye style pods not 'sheds on hooks' (as Accy put it!)
:baeh3:

London eye style pods not 'sheds on hooks' (as Accy put it!)
:baeh3:


Dont know why you're saying that to me, Manchester are way behind the time, weve had pods for the last 18 months :baeh3: :righton: :baeh3:

http://tinypic.com/c51l0

http://gallery.bilstone.co.uk/albums/album06/DSCN0198.jpg

http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walks/walkss/images/s009b.jpg

What sort of view will we get from the top of the wheel?
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/118CISTower_pic16.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/179ArndaleHouse_pic18.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/150GreatNorthernTower_pic11.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/656No.1Deansgate_pic4.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/4255ExchangeQuay_pic9.jpg
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/182ManchesterTownHall_pic5.jpg http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/181Urbis_pic10.jpg

Dont know why you're saying that to me, Manchester are way behind the time, weve had pods for the last 18 months :baeh3: :righton: :baeh3:


Because you thought we were getting a crappy one with sheds on hooks that shake around. I don't appreciate you posting Birmingham photos and telling us about the view in our thread, if I want to look at Birmingham I'll go to the relevant subforum thank you very much. :nono:

Great stuff - when's the wheel opening to the public? How much will a ride cost? :D

I never said you were getting the crappy one? I asked if you were getting the crappy one, thats why there was a question mark! Caw chill out, should be more objective about all cities not have your arse in your head about Manchester all the time. Just showing the views from Birminghams Wheel, comparing them to Manchesters, I think its great we both have wheels, I went up the Manchester one when I visited someone up at uni the views were nice, but it was a bit dull on the day.

Stop being a uptight northerner and lighten up.

Yeah, stop teasing em Brum culture! Although I will add that they were going to build a big ferris wheel in Birminghams Eastside, but have cooled on the idea, as everyone got one now!

Interesting shots from last years. Everyone of those photos will have changed since 12 months ago.
Wheel is finished now but not open. Also, the Manchester Arndale sign is on the new entrance in readiness for opening.

Because you thought we were getting a crappy one with sheds on hooks that shake around. I don't appreciate you posting Birmingham photos and telling us about the view in our thread, if I want to look at Birmingham I'll go to the relevant subforum thank you very much. :nono:

I'm disappointed in you Caw - BC didn't say Manc had the crappy one this time (it did last time) he asked if it was the same one. The article says that the one in Manc is a new one.

It looks like the one in Manchester is the same as the Birmingham one so we don't have to go on the whole "mine's bigger/better/faster than yours".

Stephen - I think the "Spaghetti Hoop" has been abandoned and the developer is looking at something different - mainly because he is sticking a wheel in all the major cities! However Walsall are looking at sticking the largest piece of art in the UK hooping over the M6 - check out the threads in the Brum forum.

And as for posting - we have had a few Manchester pics posted on the Brum forums, some of them by Mancunians, and they're welcome.

Maybe we should not bother venturing into each others forums at all.

And as for posting - we have had a few Manchester pics posted on the Brum forums, some of them by Mancunians, and they're welcome.

Maybe we should not bother venturing into each others forums at all.

Oh, posting photos of the Brum wheel is fine, but are the views from it necessary? EB once posted a load of Manc photos in a Brum thread and was rightly beaten down for it. :dunno:

The wheel is looking pretty good, the dark pods are very nice. What are they like inside though? (ie. Whats the brum one like inside :) )

It's just BC being enthusiastic, and I would hardly compare that with what EB did - EB poisoned an entire thread with his offerings.

EB should have been more than beaten down for that - that was appalling behaviour.

The dark pods are good - the neon lighting at night is cool and the pods are air conditioned - very useful on a winter's night :)

They don't swing as much either so no seasickness...

think it was £5 for 3 rotations... weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

So Manchester just got the same wheel that Birmingham had?

So Manchester just got the same wheel that Birmingham had?
No we have a brand new one. First time its been put up.

Walked past the wheel today. It looks much better than the one last year. Looks much bigger and has really modern looking pods to sit in.

It still has hoardings around the base but the new Nike shop opens 17th October and the new Next opens 21st October. Both of these are part of the new bit of the Arndale.

I would imagine the wheel will be open in time for the 'grand' opening of the new Arndale, so I guess Friday.

No we have a brand new one. First time its been put up.

The pods look like the Brum one though. :dunno:

Same design. Identical. But they're two different wheels.

Just thinking, when you are looking down on Manchester from the wheel, you realize that there are many roofs that are not attractive at all.... Think we need to do some roof regeneration before we get a permanent observation point/platform/wheel..

Here's a few views from last year. November 24th 04

1 off the Wheel, and the other 2 of the developing Arndale.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/wheelcath.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/arndale2241104.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/arndale1241104.jpg

Does anyone know when the wheel and the new next will be open?

the wheels open now? i went on it today. I got photos but they're very blurred.

it's fucking amazing tell you! you can see for miles, the views are breathtaking. Someone needs to get up there with a steady camera.

Going up

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/DSCF2240.jpg

The printworks

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/DSCF2246.jpg

The arndale & city

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/DSCF2248.jpg

The cathedral

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/DSCF2264.jpg

The roof of the arndale

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/DSCF2265.jpg

Looking into the city (yeh, i know, very blurred)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/DSCF2272.jpg

And here's the wheel earlier on in the day, looking slightly steadier.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/richardjamesbrowning/wheel.jpg

Very arty there KITR. How much does it cost now?

Yeah an arty quality to them KITR. Clear night photos will be near impossible from a moving wheel. What's happened to the Arndale's night lights?
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/PA130095copy.jpg

From this morning

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/pookey1967/wheel1610.jpg

Great shot! - very atmospheric, although I suspect they weren't too busy with customers at that time of a Sunday morning ;) Went down yesterday afternoon and it was really busy around the wheel.

..edited

Yeh,

well basically what happens is you have 3 complete turns in total. With the last third one stoping a number of times to let people on/off. I was lucky enough to stop at the top.

I highly recomend doing this at night, it's an amazing experience.

I now know what Bill bryson was talking about when he said:

"My room was on the 11th floor, but it seemed like about the 85th such were the views....Manchester seemed enormous - a boundless sprawl of sim yellow lights and streets filled with slow-moving traffic"

Nike Manchester, a brand new multi sports store, is set to open its doors in Manchester Arndale on the 20th October.

Aiming to become the destination of choice for every type of sports lover, Nike Manchester has the latest range of products for sports including football, tennis, running and rugby on offer. The new 350 square metre store will showcase innovative designs and high performance products which Nike has become famous for, offering consumers the widest choice of footwear, apparel and equipment available.

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand will be on hand to officially welcome customers to the new store, and for a Q&A session from 2.30pm.

I just hope he's not supposed to be back at the training ground, having a dope-test......

I just hope he's not supposed to be back at the training ground, having a dope-test......

:hilarious

I just hope he's not supposed to be back at the training ground, having a dope-test......
:hilarious

£5.50 weeeeeeeee

Nike Manchester, a brand new multi sports store, is set to open its doors in Manchester Arndale on the 20th October.

Aiming to become the destination of choice for every type of sports lover, Nike Manchester has the latest range of products for sports including football, tennis, running and rugby on offer. The new 350 square metre store will showcase innovative designs and high performance products which Nike has become famous for, offering consumers the widest choice of footwear, apparel and equipment available.

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand will be on hand to officially welcome customers to the new store, and for a Q&A session from 2.30pm.

So one will be able to buy a Brisbane Broncos or Canterbury Bulldogs shirt then?

So one will be able to buy a Brisbane Broncos or Canterbury Bulldogs shirt then?

You can buy them in "Soccer Scene" on Carnaby Street, plus Rabittohs, Sharks, Panthers, Knights, Cowboys, and State of Origin plus Super 12 shirts.

The Australian National Team League shirt is the greatest design in any rugby code

The new Arndale: architectural dross down Shudehill once again.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/PA170351copy.jpg

awesome!! How did you get that shot?? Spill the beans.

Top of the Arndale car park. Try it.

Top of the Arndale car park. Try it.

Oh right, never been up there. It just seemed like it was from the roof of the new Arndale Extension. What about that CIS one? From the Printworks??

Nike Manchester, a brand new multi sports store, is set to open its doors in Manchester Arndale on the 20th October.

Aiming to become the destination of choice for every type of sports lover, Nike Manchester has the latest range of products for sports including football, tennis, running and rugby on offer. The new 350 square metre store will showcase innovative designs and high performance products which Nike has become famous for, offering consumers the widest choice of footwear, apparel and equipment available.



It would be nice if someone decided to mark the occasion by ceremonially setting fire to the shop's entire stock for the occasion. ;)





Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand will be on hand to officially welcome customers to the new store, and for a Q&A session from 2.30pm.



Can just see the questions coning thick and fast from all the scallies gathered there:

ScallyManc 1: "Rio, what sort of drugs were you taking mate?"

Rio: "Er.....um.....next question....!"

ScallyManc 2: "Rio, I've got some speed here, would you like some....?"

Rio: "Er....um....next question....!"

ScallyManc 3 (a female): "Rio....what sports brand do you prefer? Rockport, Reebok, Adidas or Ellesse?"

Rio: "Er....um....er.....next question....!"

ScallyManc 4: "Why the fuck did your parents call you Rio? Isn't that a girl's name anyway?"

Rio: "Er....um....ahhhh......um......next question....!"

ScallyManc 5: "Hey Rio, you're like, licking the dogs bollocks man, yeah?"

Rio: "Er....um....ahhhh......urhhhh.......next question....!"

Balding Bulldogfaced Bruiser Of A Manc Dad: "Rio, is Wayne Rooney really an overweight hot tempered spoilt Scouse bastard?"

Rio: "Er....um....next question....!"

Scally Manc 7 (another female): "Hey Rio, we luvs ya! We luvs ya loads! Wuz yer mam a Duran Duran fan?"

simultaneously with:

Posh Girlie Beckham Fan: "Rio - have you ever met your brother Franz?"

Rio: (under his breath) "Someone please...get me out of here..."

The CIS one is from the same place Pookey! As was the CJC shot, Skyline Central etc

Multi storey car parks offer some good vantage points of the city. Car parks I recommend include: Salford Quays, London Road, Oxford Road, Great Northern, Whitworth Street, MEN Arena. :yes:

The CIS one is from the same place Pookey! As was the CJC shot, Skyline Central etc

Multi storey car parks offer some good vantage points of the city. Car parks I recommend include: Salford Quays, London Road, Oxford Road, Great Northern, Whitworth Street, MEN Arena. :yes:

Cheers for that Chris. Let's hope they're all open on Sunday Mornings!!! ;)

barriers are down inside arndale. You can see into the extension phase one from the current building. I have to say it looks very high quality so far.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture082.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture083.jpg

..edited

Jrb, in that first pic, was that guy about to mow you down? Looks like he was flashing his lights at you for standing in the road! :runaway:
Glad you're still with us.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture082.jpg

Now that^ is nice.

City's new Wheel in a spin

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/527.$plit/C_17_Articles_178263_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg


BRANDED: The M.E.N. Wheel of Manchester.IT'S BACK, it's better than ever - and the bright new big wheel is now brought to you courtesy of the Manchester Evening News.

The £3.5 million attraction was specially commissioned to form the centrepiece of this year's Christmas celebrations in Manchester.

But it will now remain in position in Exchange Square until April, giving people ample time to sample the fun of the biggest ride around.



It carries the M.E.N's branding on the main structure as well as on each capsule, along with the logo of our Channel M television station.

Manchester Evening News readers can book "Fast Track" tickets for the ride on the wheel.

A similar giant wheel was erected last Christmas, drawing 345,000 visitors during the months it was in operation.

The M.E.N Wheel of Manchester, which opened on Saturday, is expected to attract far more visitors during its six-month run.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/418.$plit/C_17_Articles_178263_BodyWeb_Detail_1_Image.jpg


VIEW: You can see for miles!Improved

A spokesman for the wheel's owners, World Tourist Attractions, said: "It is a new and improved model especially for Manchester. It has 42 large glass capsules which can seat up to eight people, all with wheelchair access, tinted glass, air conditioning and heating so people won't get cold on those winter nights."

The capsules also provide sound commentary on the sights of Manchester.

And for those who want to do things in style there is a luxury VIP capsule equipped with plasma screen TV, DVD, leather interior, glass floor - and a fridge.

That gondola will carry four and the price of an unforgettable experience is £65 with a bottle of champagne and £50 without.

The wheel was brought to Manchester in 25 shipping containers, and teams of engineers worked round the clock for 10 days to construct the frame and attach the London Eye-style bubble capsules.

At a maximum height of 200 feet, the M.E.N. wheel will give a birds-eye view of Manchester city centre and far beyond.

* Take a cyber-spin on the huge ride in our new Wheel of Manchester gallery.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/photogalleries/photos/335.html?3

Question all: is the MEN a proper 'local rag' - you know, tabloid, biased, easy-reading (a bit like our Birmingham Mail) or is it vaguely respectable (same bias, but posh bias) like the Evening Standard?

Do you have a local broadsheet?

Ta :)

Revealed: The new Arndale

PLANTS: The greenery arrives.ONCE it was branded a blot on the landscape because of its design.

Now the Arndale Centre is proudly showing off its glossy new shoppers' paradise look, hailed as "very hard, very edgy - very Manchester".

Today it moved firmly into the 21st century with the opening of the first phase of a spectacular £150 million redevelopment.


http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/88.$plit/C_17_Articles_178622_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg


It's been seven years in the design, more than two years in the making and taken over a million man-hours to construct.

Arndale bosses are confident it is the first significant milestone in transforming the complex into a shopping paradise which will be complete this time next year - close to the 10th anniversary of the IRA bomb which devastated Manchester city centre.

For the first time since work began on the redevelopment, shoppers can now get into the centre from Exchange Square, via a dramatic new glass entrance which looks out on to the M.E.N. Wheel of Manchester.

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/365.$plit/C_17_Articles_178622_BodyWeb_Detail_1_Image.jpg


WELCOME: The huge glass frontage.Almond-shaped

Once through the doors, shoppers and visitors will find themselves in Exchange Court, an airy, bright public space featuring an impressive almond-shaped roof light.

The court includes a flagship new clothing store, coffee shops and snack bars with a double-storey restaurant above.

A number of other retailers will begin trading in the newly opened extension in time for Christmas. Glenn Barkworth, general manager of the Arndale, said: "It's a far cry from the old blot on the landscape. It will become an absolute must for fashion-conscious men and women shoppers and it will be a stunning place to come into.

"Cladding varies from Bavarian granite to red brick. The look is very hard, very edgy - very Manchester. It really will be a retail paradise when it's completed."

The name Arndale comes from the combination of the names of Arnold Hagenbach and Sam Chippindale who set up the Arndale Property Trust Ltd in 1960 and built a chain of centres.

Construction of the Manchester Arndale began in 1972. It was opened by Princess Anne in 1976 and was competed in 1979 at a cost of £100 million.

Do you like the look of the new Arndale? Have your say.

PLUS: Click here to view our gallery of the new Arndale

Looks good! More attractive lighting!

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/photogalleries/photos/338.html?1

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/877.$plit/C_17_photogallery_338_list_photo_list_photo_item_4_photo.jpg

Question all: is the MEN a proper 'local rag' - you know, tabloid, biased, easy-reading (a bit like our Birmingham Mail) or is it vaguely respectable (same bias, but posh bias) like the Evening Standard?

Do you have a local broadsheet?

Ta :)
It's a proper local rag, imo.

It's a proper local rag, imo.


Would'nt call it a rag! The reporting can be a bit hit and miss at times, and it does get a lot of stick on here, but its got a decent track record for featureing current and future developments in and around Manchester!

Good business section on Tuesdays, plus planning apps and the Homes section on Wednesdays!

Its not that bad as regional papers go!

Would'nt call it a rag! The reporting can be a bit hit and miss at times, and it does get a lot of stick on here, but its got a decent track record for featureing current and future developments in and around Manchester!

Good business section on Tuesdays, plus planning apps and the Homes section on Wednesdays!

Its not that bad as regional papers go!

Yeah, that's pretty fair, it's on the good side of regional reporting. Don't be going looking for especially balanced debate about the positives and negatives of Manchester though.

It was alright not too long ago. The past few years have seen it turn into the Sun though. Full of sensation.

A few more images of the arndale

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/575.$plit/C_17_photogallery_338_list_photo_list_photo_item_5_photo.jpg

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/340.$plit/C_17_photogallery_338_list_photo_list_photo_item_2_photo.jpg

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/768.$plit/C_17_photogallery_338_list_photo_list_photo_item_3_photo.jpg

Has anyone been on the wheel yet, if so what do you think of it?

fucking awesome, feels about twice as high as it is. well worth the money.

Good to hear, my family are coming up tommorrow and I was thinking of taking them up there to get a look at my new city.

I went on it on Sunday night, preferred last years actually... Cant put my finger on why. There was hardly anyone on it and it went round a tad too quickly for my liking.

Went in the new arndale today, not much of it is opened up yet, but from what I saw it looks great, checked out the NEXT and Nike stores... very Trafford Centre-esque.

The way developement is going, the Arndale will probably join up with the Trafford Centre sometime in the not too distant future lol

I passed through on the way back from Rochdale earlier this evening and just took a couple of pics of the new entrance on the corner - it's pretty impressive all told.


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/MartianGray/PA200004s.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/MartianGray/PA200005s.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/MartianGray/PA200002s.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/MartianGray/PA200003s.jpg

^^ Shame about that turd of a building looming over everything and spoiling it though. :evil:

Those photos are really impressive MG. The Arndale tower looks ok in them photos but I know its looking shabby now in the flesh espeicially with all the new build around it and a reclads not going to happen soon. You would have thought that they would give a good hosing down at least.

Martin: If you don't like some building or other people will listen to you more if you try to give some details of what in particular you don't like, and why you don't like it. You might try contrasting it with a building you do like.

Yep, Arndale Tower could do with a clean all right. But it's tidy, with a neat solid shape and surface relief that gives it a look of strength. I really like the yellow actually. Especially with a blue sky. I never have understood why many people only seem to find grey/black/brown acceptable on a building. Anyhow. I reckon that the yellow is about fifty years ahead of its time, and we ain't there yet.

Nice pics there MG, you wouldn't think this was the same part of town that only a few years ago was depressing and dead to say the least.

As for the Arndale tower, I've never truly liked it, a re-clad wouldn't go amiss, but we know thats not gonna happen, not soon anyway.

Never really worried about the Arndale tower; as Farsight has said, it has a look of strength. If anything I'd like it to have a new name.

There were plans to add a kind of glass roof to it post-bomb, but this seems to have been scrapped.

Maybe something might be done to improve it now that the re-furb of the retail bit is (nearly) complete.

Martin: If you don't like some building or other people will listen to you more if you try to give some details of what in particular you don't like, and why you don't like it. You might try contrasting it with a building you do like.

Yep, Arndale Tower could do with a clean all right. But it's tidy, with a neat solid shape and surface relief that gives it a look of strength. I really like the yellow actually. Especially with a blue sky. I never have understood why many people only seem to find grey/black/brown acceptable on a building. Anyhow. I reckon that the yellow is about fifty years ahead of its time, and we ain't there yet.


So speaketh the voice of reason eh? :| I thought it was patently obvious to MANY people what it is about the Arndale Tower that makes some of us dislike it so much. So why do I need to repeat myself?

It is not a problem of ours if you happen to like buildings puce-coloured and brutalist in the extreme. I suppose you got pissed off when the Tricorn Shopping Centre in Portsmouth had to come down. Well, Gateshead still has its infamous carbuncle of a multi-storeyed car park still standing (and now listed even!) for you to jazz up in fluorescent colours if you so wish.

Put it like this - as a comparison, both Arndale Tower and the Post and Mail Tower in Birmingham divide opinions alike. I happen to dislike the Arndale Tower for its appearance (and yet the building is not earmarked for demolition is it?) but I happen to not mind the curtain-wall style of the P&M in the slightest (but THIS building is, like the Maths Tower, is being dismantled). And yet BOTH buildings looked grotty and in dire need of a spruce up.

Well the extension look reasonably smart on the inside and rather bog standard on the outside with some obvious value engineering on some of the exterior cladding. The next store has a nice presence on the corner of Shudehill and Corporation St though.

However, this is not to say that the whole concept of having a massive barrier-like shopping centre slap bang in the centre of town, carving up the street network like it does was not a monumental mistake and the decision to rebuild half of it a monumental missed opportunity. I would vote for individual buildings, streets and square every day over this bloody extension. I suppose we're stuck with it and as far as it goes it is a vast improvement over the original - very airy, open and light. The Next store is enormous and really quite impressive.

What I hope happens is that stores are gradually located to the extension and a better rebuild that introduces a street-style facade to Market Street which would also result in that fucking 'Foodchain' bridge biting the dust too. Well I can live in hope can't I?

I hope the foodchain and the Arndale stays where they are - they’re scally magnets that keep the undesirables firmly in place instead of polluting the better areas.

The Arndale and Market Street serve their purpose very well in this regard.

Deleted....pissed up comment

^^ Shame about that turd of a building looming over everything and spoiling it though. :evil:

You may say that, but that second pic you posted is probably the first time I've seen the Arndale Tower either in real life or in a photo and thought "actually that doesn't look too bad".

"You can't polish a turd", they say, but that's a pretty good effort.

Martin G: So speaketh the voice of reason eh? I thought it was patently obvious to MANY people what it is about the Arndale Tower that makes some of us dislike it so much. So why do I need to repeat myself?

It is not a problem of ours if you happen to like buildings puce-coloured and brutalist in the extreme. I suppose you got pissed off when the Tricorn Shopping Centre in Portsmouth had to come down. Well, Gateshead still has its infamous carbuncle of a multi-storeyed car park still standing (and now listed even!) for you to jazz up in fluorescent colours if you so wish.

Put it like this - as a comparison, both Arndale Tower and the Post and Mail Tower in Birmingham divide opinions alike. I happen to dislike the Arndale Tower for its appearance (and yet the building is not earmarked for demolition is it?) but I happen to not mind the curtain-wall style of the P&M in the slightest (but THIS building is, like the Maths Tower, is being dismantled). And yet BOTH buildings looked grotty and in dire need of a spruce up. Repeat yourself? Have you ever said why you dislike it? And all you say above is that you dislike it for its appearance, which says nothing. What is it about its appearance that makes you dislike it? Is it just the colour? Is it the shape? The windows? The surface relief? The size? What?

I've just answered your question Farsight! :no: :baaa:

If disliking a building simply for its appearance doesn't constitute a good enough reason "why" for most people then what the fuck do you want them to say? After all, haven't you also voiced your dislike of buildings purely for their [aesthetic] appearance too no?? Zut alors, tu est très impossible!!!

You may say that, but that second pic you posted is probably the first time I've seen the Arndale Tower either in real life or in a photo and thought "actually that doesn't look too bad".

"You can't polish a turd", they say, but that's a pretty good effort.


Mmmm...maybe, perhaps,....but don't tell Farsight I just said that..... :lol:

Martin: appearance doesn't cut it. Ain't enough.

^^ Yes it does. So there. END OF.


Now quit your pissy pedantry cos it's frankly getting on not just my tits, but everybody else's. You really could try the patience of a saint sometimes.

END OF? No chance. Because you say you've explained when you haven't. Because you post up far too many "ha ha demolish the heap of shit" comments. Let's see now, you've said it about Arndale, City Tower, Jarvis, North Tower, Lowry House, Maths Tower, M&SS. Any more for any more? And let's not forget that ha ha funny picture of a dog having a shit on the Manchester skyline. So: if you think you can get away with all your ha ha shitting on highrise Manchester you better think again. And you really ought to think again about calling Arndale puce and brutalist. Hey brainiac, puce is purple, and brutalist is chunky exposed concrete.

It's ugly. Always has been.

Would look great in your neck of the woods though, Farsight.

3 days running, I've come home from work or uni to be greeted by the same crap again.

Grow. The. Fuck. Up.

END OF? No chance. Because you say you've explained when you haven't. Because you post up far too many "ha ha demolish the heap of shit" comments. Let's see now, you've said it about Arndale, City Tower, Jarvis, North Tower, Lowry House, Maths Tower, M&SS. Any more for any more? And let's not forget that ha ha funny picture of a dog having a shit on the Manchester skyline. So: if you think you can get away with all your ha ha shitting on highrise Manchester you better think again. And you really ought to think again about calling Arndale puce and brutalist. Hey brainiac, puce is purple, and brutalist is chunky exposed concrete.



Oh shut the fuck up you flapping old fanny!!! DO YOU EVER KNOW WHEN TO GIVE IT A REST????. You just excel yourself don't you? You have really overstepped the mark now. You just don't know when to take the hint. You just don't know where to let it lie. You are a total imbecile. You just flap on and on and on and whinge and bicker and pick fault with the smallest of things that are of ABSOLUTELY NO consequence to other people and just persist in getting up people's backs with your pissy poncey pedantry. Do you have an incontinence problem matey? Just cock off and suck on a little plasticine effigy of the Maths Tower and do us a favour will ya?

Seriously....FUCKING WELL DO ONE will ya?!!! :bash: :evil: :bash: :bash: :rant: :rant:

Jesus fucking H. Corbett. THIS GUY IS A REAL CASE OF THE WIBBLING SHITS.

i heard this mentiond before but who came up with painting arndale black? i think that would be sexy!!! omg omg omg!!! or mirror walls! get that dixons woman and carol in to use the silver leaf effect! trez chic!!! xxx

So what I can gather from all the arguments is this:

MG in general is in favour of demolishing buildings that IN HIS OPINION are out dated and ugly, and he's in favour building something more modern and more fitting in it's place?

Nothing wrong with that


Farsight in general is in favour of salvageing buildings that IN HIS OPINION can be salvaged and trying to see if something can be done to keep them and bring them back to life?

Nothing wrong with that either


It's all a matter of opinion, no ones right, no ones wrong. IMO

I don't see how a difference of opinion on a BUILDING(remember) can cause so much ill feeling and mud slinging.

Never really worried about the Arndale tower; as Farsight has said, it has a look of strength. If anything I'd like it to have a new name.

There were plans to add a kind of glass roof to it post-bomb, but this seems to have been scrapped.

Maybe something might be done to improve it now that the re-furb of the retail bit is (nearly) complete.

Nothing against the tower being there jongster, just can't stand the colour of it. I certainly wouldn't say tear it down

rolybling the SSC Peacekeeper ;) At last sanity prevails lol There's a fine line between a constructive discussion of differering views, to an all out full scale war lol

My personal view is something does need to be done with the Arndale Tower, because no matter how many people try and turn the tables, and says it become more famous and iconic because of it's infamous feedback it's generated over the years. To me and possibly new visitors to the city, it stands out for all the wrong reasons. It needs a clean at least, and possibly a reclad.

Oh shut the fuck up you flapping old fanny!!! DO YOU EVER KNOW WHEN TO GIVE IT A REST????. You just excel yourself don't you? You have really overstepped the mark now. You just don't know when to take the hint. You just don't know where to let it lie. You are a total imbecile. You just flap on and on and on and whinge and bicker and pick fault with the smallest of things that are of ABSOLUTELY NO consequence to other people and just persist in getting up people's backs with your pissy poncey pedantry. Do you have an incontinence problem matey? Just cock off and suck on a little plasticine effigy of the Maths Tower and do us a favour will ya?

Seriously....FUCKING WELL DO ONE will ya?!!! :bash: :evil: :bash: :bash: :rant: :rant:

Jesus fucking H. Corbett. THIS GUY IS A REAL CASE OF THE WIBBLING SHITS.


You in a bad mood? :lol:

rolybling the SSC Peacekeeper ;) At last sanity prevails lol There's a fine line between a constructive discussion of differering views, to an all out full scale war lol

IMO people do in general make way too many fleeting comments about things, especially on the Internet. Anyone can call a building ugly, nice, great, whatever, but Farsight does sometimes have a point in asking people to explain their fleeting comments. Why is CIS good but the Arndale tower isn't? Saying "It's pig ugly" doesn't come out in the wash, some people might find Cindy Crawford ugly, but they couldn't explain why they think that, maybe except for the beauty (or ugly spot depending on your viewpoint) spot on her upper lip. Personally I'd roger her arse off for a week non stop (can't explain why though - except for the fact that she's Cindy Crawford and not Arndale House).

IMO people do in general make way too many fleeting comments about things, especially on the Internet. Anyone can call a building ugly, nice, great, whatever, but Farsight does sometimes have a point in asking people to explain their fleeting comments. Why is CIS good but the Arndale tower isn't? Saying "It's pig ugly" doesn't come out in the wash, some people might find Cindy Crawford ugly, but they couldn't explain why they think that, maybe except for the beauty (or ugly spot depending on your viewpoint) spot on her upper lip. Personally I'd roger her arse off for a week non stop (can't explain why though - except for the fact that she's Cindy Crawford and not Arndale House).

He's got no point at all.

Somethings are ugly. The Arndale Tower has always been the Jo Brand of Mancunian buildings, as has the whole of the Arndale Centre. Now, if Mr Farsight, asks me why Jo Brand is ugly. . . I would hope that he'd shagged hard by Jo Brand in bondage gear. But why do we find Jo Brand ugly? because she's fat for starters. But why is her size a put off. . . er because we find it repulsive and non sexual, I guess it's the way we've evolved, the media doesn't help either. But why. . . See you can ask silly pedantic questions of just about everything. But the fact remains, if someone doesn't like something, that's his/her opinion. And in the case of the Ardale Tower. It's horrible. Nasty biege tiles that wouldn't look out of place in a public toilet, stooopid little windows. What's worse is that it looks totally out of place around the new surroundings.

And the CIS is good but is a tad overrated. I like the way it resembles Van de Rohe's towers in Chicago. Forget the shaft, but the straight sick lines do look great. Then again I love minimalism. However, I'm a big fan of our Lowry and that's the opposite.

Arndale Tower indeed. Shocking.

Some people have a fetish for fat birds! That's the whole point, beauty is a subjective thing, it can't be measured, it's in the mind, and if I was Jo Brand's husband I'd give you a smack in the mouth. ;)

Some people have a fetish for fat birds! That's the whole point, beauty is a subjective thing, it can't be measured, it's in the mind, and if I was Jo Brand's husband I'd give you a smack in the mouth. ;)


Yes it's subjective. Which is why you have to go with someone's opinion. And not ask pedantic questions, of. . . why? all the fucking time.

I also think some people have a better/trained eye than others. Especially artists.

Yes I have a degree in art. ;)

And about Jo Brand, I was being flippant. She looks like a hound. Oh but what do you mean by she looks like a hound. Er I wouldn't shag her with yours. That's what I fucking mean.

Fools.

And if you and your mate Farsight, have got thing for Jo Brand.

I'd say you've got terrible taste.

And I'd be right.

And I'd be right.

In your opinion. If Farsight likes something right, such as the Maths Tower, he gets slagged off for it by everyone, yes everyone. Yet if he slightly questions a comment from someone else, he gets slagged off again. Anyone can make fleeting comments such as "Arndale House is Horrid", but very few of them can actually say why they think that it's horrid. Artists I don't trust, especially art critics who waffle on about this that or the other, basically talking crap. People that come from a scientific background like myself try to avoid fleeting comments, because they are basically pointless bags of hot air, and we can't get away with them. I don't particularly like the Arndale Tower either, and it isn't for the reasons you mentioned. I actually like the windows, I like the colour, I like the shape, I don't like it's relationship with the street, it's like Sunley, the tower its detached from the streetscape, I wouldn't even have a clue how to get into it. It looks like an afterthought stuck on top of a huge concrete turd. But that's only my opinion, and is as subjective as you can get.

In your opinion. .


Was taking the fucking piss.

But wouldn't trust your taste though.

Mate you can argue that A1 and all manufactured groups make fantastic music for all I care. . .


As for Farsight. He keeps on harping on about the same fucking thing, usually attacks the likes of Sleepy One for no reason. Plenty of people on here like the Maths Tower, but they've never got slated. It's nowt to do with what he likes or not. Personally I think he's a troll.

I never trust scientists, when it comes to form. Stick to computers mate. ;)

Nerds.

No Weasty. The reason Farsight is so unpopular on here is because he relentlessly and agressively persues anybody that dares express a negative opinion of any of these highrise structures he likes. Not that it makes a difference because forumers on here arn't so easily bullied, thankfully.

Not only that but if you try to engage Farsight, breaking down your opinion and try to explain the reasoning behind it he largely ignores what you say, preferring instead to misrepresent the opinion and childishly resorting to some base character distortion. Waste of time.

At the end of the day, opinions are opinions and certain people on here should learn a little respect.

I agreed with farsight up to a point and can understand peoples frustration when he won't accept their opinions that they would rather see towers like Arndale come down.My opinion is I would rather see towers like Arndale have a makeover but I respect the opinion of people who would rather see fresh air there instead.Just opinions after all.We cant all be the same.

ok...do we have an argument in every topic window? SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!! :(

Oscar: if some "skyscraper fan" says demolish the heap of shit, I suggest you say nothing. If you have the cheek to explain why you like the building and have the temerity to say Please explain why you don't like it, pretty soon you'll be told to "Fucking well do one will ya". And then you'll have somebody saying you ignore what people say, you're a bully, you misrepresent opinion, you're aggressive, and you childishly resort to base character distortion.

As an outsider who has visited on a couple of occasions I have to say that while I don't think the Arndale Tower is a nice building, I don't see why there is so much hatred toward it. It's just a box, ok a box with ugly cladding but a box nonetheless, there's nothing inherantly wrong with it other than the cladding. Personally I don't think it's that bad, there are way more ugly buidings in Manchester then Arndale Tower such as Jarvis hotel. This has a much more negative impact on visitors to the city than the Arndale Tower has. With the refurbishment of the shopping centre at ground level it's not that obvious. Coming into the city from Piccadilly station and having to pass through Piccadilly "gardens" with all their natural concrete glory, the visitor is just overwhealmed by the beauty of them and with Jarvis hotel and Sunley Tower (I visited long before the reclad began) contributing.... well lets just say Arndale tower is the least of your worries. That area put me into a bad mood before I even had the chance to see the Arndale Tower! Luckily the quality of the new developments in Manchester soon put me in a good mood again. Exchange Square is one of the best public squares I've been in and the quality of the area at street level in that area meant that I didn't really notice the Arndale Tower. It could do with a reclad but not as urgently as some buildings.
Well, that's my opinion anyway.

Thanks for that Andrew. Yep, Exchange Square is a nice little place to be. There's glitz, stone, water, history, no traffic cutting you off from the buildings. Lots to take note of.

oh are we still argueing then?

Oscar: if some "skyscraper fan" says demolish the heap of shit, I suggest you say nothing. If you have the cheek to explain why you like the building and have the temerity to say Please explain why you don't like it, pretty soon you'll be told to "Fucking well do one will ya". And then you'll have somebody saying you ignore what people say, you're a bully, you misrepresent opinion, you're aggressive, and you childishly resort to base character distortion.
But farsight I dont really need to say anything,if someone says they don't like Arndale tower because its a heap of shit and an ugly carbunkle thats good enough for me of course its not my opinion. Or I could always take them to a dark room,strap them to a chair,shine a light in their face and say(in German accent) Now you vill tell me vhy you do not like Arndale tower if you do not ve have vays of making you speak :)

No probs oscar.

I think Martin G should stop beating round the bush and say what he really thinks..... :runaway:

LOL!

Oh shut the fuck up you flapping old fanny!!! DO YOU EVER KNOW WHEN TO GIVE IT A REST????. You just excel yourself don't you? You have really overstepped the mark now. You just don't know when to take the hint. You just don't know where to let it lie. You are a total imbecile. You just flap on and on and on and whinge and bicker and pick fault with the smallest of things that are of ABSOLUTELY NO consequence to other people and just persist in getting up people's backs with your pissy poncey pedantry. Do you have an incontinence problem matey? Just cock off and suck on a little plasticine effigy of the Maths Tower and do us a favour will ya?

Seriously....FUCKING WELL DO ONE will ya?!!! :bash: :evil: :bash: :bash: :rant: :rant:

Jesus fucking H. Corbett. THIS GUY IS A REAL CASE OF THE WIBBLING SHITS.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Absolutly hilarious,,,just pissed myself :)

Right for fucking crying out loud, it's high time EVERYONE of you here was put in the picture as to exactly why Fartshight has - in my opinion - become the biggest fucking pain in the arse in the entire history of SSC UK Forums. :evil:

Here are a few quotes from the past two pages and what I have to say in affirmative / defence.



So what I can gather from all the arguments is this:

MG in general is in favour of demolishing buildings that IN HIS OPINION are out dated and ugly, and he's in favour building something more modern and more fitting in it's place?
Farsight in general is in favour of salvageing buildings that IN HIS OPINION can be salvaged and trying to see if something can be done to keep them and bring them back to life?
It's all a matter of opinion, no ones right, no ones wrong. IMO

I don't see how a difference of opinion on a BUILDING(remember) can cause so much ill feeling and mud slinging.

You have completely missed the point here. I am not blowing my top cos of THIS ^^ issue, I'm blowing my top cos Fartshight DOES NOT GET THE FUCKING MESSAGE INTO HIS THICK SKULL. To understand why I am so fucked off with him you need to read the utter drivel that he has been spouting on this thread and other threads (Sunley Tower Recladding, Manchester Maths Tower..) where he keeps accusing me of posting up pictures that show - in his eyes - Manchester in a derogatory light (ie. he's got it into his thick head that I deliberately put up a pic of a dog shitting on Manchester when it was just an innocuous coincidence the mutt was getting up to run off when the pic was taken. No matter how many times I have explained to him that he is completely misinformed - even when I sent two private messages to him doing the same - he steadfastly refused to accept this and continued taunting me like some fucking insistent bratty spotty schoolkid cruising for a bruising - which he fucking will be if I ever saw him face to face at this rate). I have never known ANYONE on this forum that is as insistent and stubborn as he is in this respect. It's almost as if he knows what he is doing and saying is guaranteed to elicit a hostile response, and then he pretends to be surprised and outraged that we should react in this way. He is a conniving manipulating shit. No more no less.

Farsight keeps on harping on about the same fucking thing, usually attacks the likes of Sleepy One for no reason. Plenty of people on here like the Maths Tower, but they've never got slated. It's nowt to do with what he likes or not. Personally I think he's a troll.

No Weasty. The reason Farsight is so unpopular on here is because he relentlessly and agressively persues anybody that dares express a negative opinion of any of these highrise structures he likes. Not that it makes a difference because forumers on here arn't so easily bullied, thankfully.
Not only that but if you try to engage Farsight, breaking down your opinion and try to explain the reasoning behind it he largely ignores what you say, preferring instead to misrepresent the opinion and childishly resorting to some base character distortion. Waste of time.



Too fucking right mate - so perfectly put..... :yes: Fartshight is an extreme case of what we in the business call a wasp in the ointment. He has a way of getting right under the skin - and staying there. And once he gets the slightest (misguided and indeed completely INACCURATE) assumption into his thick stubborn head, he then continues to use THAT as ammunition to cajole, taunt and basically harangue the fuck out of others to such an extent that the person he is falsely accusing finally loses his rag and all "intelligent reasonable debate" is thrown out of the window. Hence my outburst the other night when FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME, the stupid cretinous thick-skinned fuck kept bringing up the issue of that picture (as part of some panoramic shots myself and Smileyface took from Hartshead Pike) I posted up weeks ago featuring a dog getting up to run off as (in his state of petty pathetic paranoid myopia) me deliberately sticking a pic of a dog shitting over Manchester. Just cos one forumer mentioned lightheartedly the serendipity of this particular shot and drew people's attention to it, Fartshight has latched onto it and used it as - in his own eyes - good enough reason to repeatedly accuse me of hating all tall buildings in Manchester and thus continue to level this fucking RIDICULOUSLY UNFOUNDED accusation at me. I have explained to him how wrong he was to assume this and he still wouldn't have it. He just will not listen or accept that we too have points of view. He is completely blind to that, nothing we will say will change his opinion. Thus he effectively functions just like a troll. And I reckon you should just re-read the pathetic petty immature diatribe he put up that prompted my huge backlash just to reaffirm yourselves with the fact that he is nothing but a despicable little shit hell bent on winding people up.




Oscar: if some "skyscraper fan" says demolish the heap of shit, I suggest you say nothing. If you have the cheek to explain why you like the building and have the temerity to say Please explain why you don't like it, pretty soon you'll be told to "Fucking well do one will ya". And then you'll have somebody saying you ignore what people say, you're a bully, you misrepresent opinion, you're aggressive, and you childishly resort to base character distortion.

You wonder why people get REALLY pissed off with you - fuck me. Whole civilisations will have come and gone by the time you wise up to yourself and just pause for a moment to ask youself why it is that you inspire such seething animosity in certain people. Answer me this question Fartshight: Do you derive great pleasure picking your own scabs very slowly and methodically. And when they come loose and fall off, you only then stick them back on again with glue only to indulge in the whole process over again...and again...and again...? Cos that is the impression I get of you. You deserve all the shit you get thrown at you from my direction frankly.

Base character distortion? Pot. Kettle. Black. Fucking hell. So what's that shit you keep spouting accusing me of hating Manchester and tall buildings and taking a pic of a dog supposedly shitting over the skyline? Yes, so I did this just to spite you then huh? Of course I fucking did. Is that what you want to hear, you snivelling paranoid little fuckcreep? Fucking grow up you stupid cretin. You are pathetic.



I think Martin G should stop beating round the bush and say what he really thinks..... :runaway:


But then PilesPlattingfuckhead, what exactly do YOU contribute to this forum? Apart from turning up like a bad penny at the right opportunity, gloat for a moment and then leave a pathetically ambiguous and oh-so-witty one-liner before fucking right off out of it as suddenly as you arrived? I presently can't decide who is the biggest cretin on this forum, you or Fartshight.


LOL!

^^
:eek: Fuck me - man those barricades Norman - I believe Fartshight's mouth has just turned upwards to let out a laugh. You feeling all right there cock? Need the men in white coats that bad do you? Or has that shitting dog finally gone to your head?



In your opinion. If Farsight likes something right, such as the Maths Tower, he gets slagged off for it by everyone, yes everyone. Yet if he slightly questions a comment from someone else, he gets slagged off again.

You will find that - with a few of us - he doesn't in so much as "slightly question a comment from someone else" as to continually AND RELENTLESSLY pursue said person from thread to thread positively haranguing and taunting them with indignant accusations and misguided non-judgements about them that have no grounding in truth or fact, whilst at the same time refusing wholeheartedly to accept the answers and explanations they have already given him and instead continue to harrass them with the same mis-informed drivel based on his own fabricated assumptions until people just lose their rag with him.


I really did not ask for this shit to go on for any longer than it already fucking has. But then I haven't been left with much of a choice really have I? I find it fucking incredible that all this started cos I simply started a thread posting up pictures of The Mathematics Tower being dismantled....(I MEAN, WHAT IS SO WRONG ABOUT THAT? AT LEAST I AM CONTRIBUTING TO THIS FORUM IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY BY SHARING PICTURES OF A DEMOLITION SCHEME IN PROGRESS WHILST EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE POSTING PICS OF BUILDINGS BEING CONSTRUCTED - FOR FUCKS SAKES!!!!!) and evidently it was far too unsettling a sight for the likes of one particular lily-livered malignant anal wart of a pedantic forumer to take, thus this was the cue for his relentless whingeing, cajoling and harrassing which ultimately escalated into this pathetic ongoing charade of difference of opinion we now see being played out in front of us. Shakespeare has positively nothing on this debacle even if he was penning his existentialist drivel whilst high on crack. :evil:

:( can we not ignore stupid comments, and pretend they are not here so people with a passion for Manchester and it's buildings don't have to listen to this day after day and having to scroll page after page to what they are looking for! make a new link 'LETS ALL BITCH!' OR SOMETHING...............PLEASE STOP!

:( can we not ignore stupid comments, and pretend they are not here so people with a passion for Manchester and it's buildings don't have to listen to this day after day and having to scroll page after page to what they are looking for! make a new link 'LETS ALL BITCH!' OR SOMETHING...............PLEASE STOP!


Hey I'm sorry that this is happening and your suggestion would have been the ideal way to settle disagreements, but the problem is I have already been trying to make that guy "understand" the error of HIS [mis]judgement by private messaging him - I've done so three times already but, as he isn't replying that way, I am only assuming he is perfectly content to have all the dirty washing hung out to dry for everyone else to see on the main forum as it were. That's how devious I think he is. I'm just as pissed off with it as you are. I too want him to just accept it and move on, but he won't. But I am thinking of just ignoring him the next time he makes the same dumb-ass remarks cos I too have had more than enough of this crap.

"But then PilesPlattingfuckhead, what exactly do YOU contribute to this forum? Apart from turning up like a bad penny at the right opportunity, gloat for a moment and then leave a pathetically ambiguous and oh-so-witty one-liner before fucking right off out of it as suddenly as you arrived? I presently can't decide who is the biggest cretin on this forum, you or Fartshight."

You smooth talker Martin. ;)

Sorry Martin, I really didn't notice those private messages you sent me. I've now read them, and notice one ends People like you really do piss me off and the other one ends You cretin.

Ho hum.

and on it will go...

It's obvious you two will never see eye to eye on this so why bother?

I'll make a concerted effort roly.

Guys, what's the point to all this bickering? Give it a rest.

I can't see why the Maths Tower being demolished should create such arguments. It wasn't a particularly important or impressive tower. Anyway, it's gone now. For good.

How's the Arndale looking anybody? It looks pretty good to me in the pictures.

One thing I'm a little curious about, is when the extension was first mooted they said they were going to glaze over Cannon Street and put in an atrium with trees and things. Has it turned out like that?

http://www.capital-shopping-centres.co.uk/images/shoppingcentres/arndale/3.jpg

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/photogalleries/photos/338.html?2

la la la la la la la i can't hear you! shhhhhh! whats that.... building work ! why don't we talk about that. yaaaaaaaaaaaay !!! i live in an anal and hermetically sealed world.

That was supposed to be some winter garden thing, Farsight. If I remember, it was supposed to be a 24 hour street that ran from High Street to Exchange Square with the bus station area being the winter garden. Now the street looks to have been made (looking at aerials, you can see the glazed roof through the centre), but bugger knows if they've bothered with the garden.

*sifts throguh the bitch slaps*
lol some people have far too much time on their hands....

Arndale
Looking good, will be better when more shops have moved in.
lol some people have far too much time on their hands
The winter garden bit doesn't seem to be finished yet, just the exchange square side which I have to say is pretty impressive.I remember several of the Arndale's 'refurbishments' throughout the 80's and 90's when my mum used to take me shopping as a kid, and this is by far the highlight of the Arndale's lifespan so far, even close to Trafford Centre standards (minus the tat!) and better than the bullring - brighter and cleaner looking.

Thanks dgnr8. Winter Garden, yep, I remember it now. I like gardens and planting and stuff. Mind you I've got a big glassy hall at home and I haven't got any plants in it because me and the Mrs reckoned they'd end up smelling jungly fetid and making a mess. So if the Arndale guys have changed their mind, fair enough.

If anybody sees the inside and/or can give any feedback I'd be interested.

The Arndale is very impressive but I don't think it is quite as good as the Bullring yet (the Bullring has the Rotunda so that gives it a head start :) ). However I think the extension is well done and the area around the wheel is looking really nice now. I heard there was to be a showing of the Rocky Horror Show on the BBC screen soon, I'm certainly looking forward to that!

Thanks dgnr8. Winter Garden, yep, I remember it now. I like gardens and planting and stuff. Mind you I've got a big glassy hall at home and I haven't got any plants in it because me and the Mrs reckoned they'd end up smelling jungly fetid and making a mess. So if the Arndale guys have changed their mind, fair enough.

If anybody sees the inside and/or can give any feedback I'd be interested.

Arndale website states:
"Opening in Autumn 2006, the third and final phase of the redevelopment will signal a high point in the Coming Together of Manchester. It will include a rejuvenated single level market hall, but the piece de resistance will be the impressive glass-roofed Winter Garden, housing a number of themed restaurants and coffee shops. Together they will cement Manchester Arndale's status as one of Europe's finest shopping and leisure destinations"

Where's that Legin? Did I miss it or am I looking at the wrong website?

http://www.manchesterarndale.com/news_latest-50.htm

Guys, what's the point to all this bickering? Give it a rest.

I can't see why the Maths Tower being demolished should create such arguments. It wasn't a particularly important or impressive tower. Anyway, it's gone now. For good.



No. It HASN'T gone for good yet - it's STILL BEING DISMANTLED. And I, being the ever faithful pictorial chronicler of its untimely demise, will continue to post up regular progress updates of this demolition until it is finally a levelled site. THAT is a positive contribution to this forum wouldn't you agree? It's certainly not what Farsight has been bleating about (his silly immature notion that I was doing this purely to taunt him). If that is what he assumes, then he obviously has a problem and not me.

Watch this space.

Martin: Let's all try to be a bit nicer and a little less confrontational. I'm trying.

The Arndale is very impressive but I don't think it is quite as good as the Bullring yet (the Bullring has the Rotunda so that gives it a head start :) ). However I think the extension is well done and the area around the wheel is looking really nice now. I heard there was to be a showing of the Rocky Horror Show on the BBC screen soon, I'm certainly looking forward to that!


Actually, I beg to differ. I was impressed with the new Bullring/Selfridges on my first re-visit there in November 2003 (god - already 2 years ago!!) but I felt some of the architectural details (especially the brickwork) on part of the southern-facing facades seemed a little low-quality and lacking real substance. Too many new shopping centre projects suffer from this same problem and sadly even the new Bullring was not immune from this. The interior of course was very impressive and spacious regardless.

Now the new Shudehill corner entrance (Next) to the latest Arndale phase is a VAST improvement and I have to admit that I find it very impressive in its sheer size and curved profile. For once I can say that this is probably the best-looking of all the piecemeal redevelopments they have done to the former ugly Arndale colossus since 1998. It is aesthetically pleasing in a way that the other sections (like the whole WHSmith facade opposite M&S) aren't. I just wish the redevelopment was carried out in a more cohesive way cos it's true that when you walk around this complex it's now a real hotchpotch of styles - reflecting the various periods in which each phase was opened - and sometimes that can be a bad thing.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a257/MartianGray/PA200004s.jpg

^^ It looks fantastic - I'm really pleased with this. (I never thought I'd find myself saying this about the Arndale!!) :)

The owners of the Triangle must be pleased! It will attract more shoppers to that part of town!

For those of us who view the website at work, can you please refrain from posting swear words in huge font size in future? Not what this forum is for.

Where's that Legin? Did I miss it or am I looking at the wrong website?

http://www.manchesterarndale.com/news_latest-50.htm


Farsight, Go to.

http://www.manchesterarndale.com/about_us.htm
Shame No picies.

For those of us who view the website at work, can you please refrain from posting swear words in huge font size in future? Not what this forum is for.


^^

Oooops - really sorry mate. Heat of the moment and all that. Hope you forgive us.

The owners of the Triangle must be pleased! It will attract more shoppers to that part of town!


You have a point about the Triangle....cos it seems to have really lost a huge chunk of its (anticipated) clientelle for a while now. I never shop there (cos I haven't forgotten or forgiven them really for destroying the atmospheric old Corn Exchange as it was) but whenever I pass through the inside of it there's only ever about 10 people milling around the court. Maybe that's symptomatic of just TOO MANY exclusive designer shop[ping mall]s in the area now, and Manchester is stretching itself a little thin on this front...?

Whilst we're on the subject of the Triangle!

http://www.fountains.co.uk/index_files/Page1810.htm

Tarrrrr Legin. Doh. Under me nose.

That thing in the triangle looks like it could be pretty cool. I'll definately venture inside there when this thing goes up.

That thing in the triangle looks like it could be pretty cool. I'll definately venture inside there when this thing goes up.

Its been up for a while, Inquisitor. And they've let it to.... Cafe bloody Nero. Thats the trouble with the Triangle. They've failed in the past to get the right tenant mix to give it an idetifiable image. They seem to have made progress though and got more youth and fashion brands in there now and it is a better than it was but I heartily dislike all these stupid metal sculptures the've littered exchange sq and cathedral gardens with. On the same theme, this new 'opening-flower' metal-clad bar structure just looks alien and doesn't really tie in aesthetically with the rest of the centre for me. To top it all off they've let it to an anonymous national coffee chain rather than an independent bar operator which would have suited it, and the Triangle, much better.




Agree with comments about the new Next. It really feels like we've got a whole new, substantial department store in Manchester now (as opposed to a large shop). Big, airey, clean, modern and really plesant to walk around. Do we know if they have any plans to utilise the top floor (the bit with the balcony at the front?).

Yes I agree this latest Arndale rebuild is by far and away the best. (Still no substitute for real buildings, streets and squares tho) but not at all bad.

Its been up for a while, Inquisitor. And they've let it to.... Cafe bloody Nero. Thats the trouble with the Triangle. They've failed in the past to get the right tenant mix to give it an idetifiable image. They seem to have made progress though and got more youth and fashion brands in there now and it is a better than it was but I heartily dislike all these stupid metal sculptures the've littered exchange sq and cathedral gardens with. On the same theme, this new 'opening-flower' metal-clad bar structure just looks alien and doesn't really tie in aesthetically with the rest of the centre for me. To top it all off they've let it to an anonymous national coffee chain rather than an independent bar operator which would have suited it, and the Triangle, much better.


I agree completely.

I'd love to see the Triangle divided into layers - basement floor independent clothes shops (a la Northern Quarter Craft Centre), ground floor independent music and art stores and first floor independent restaurants.

With council support and investment it could be a huge winner (my idea would be to charge a 'chain tax' on the chains in Manchester city centre that would be hypothecated to fund such a venture).

Will anything like it ever happen? Will it bollocks.

http://www.midastech.co.uk/PDF/Sky%20Cafe.pdf

jrb: for what its worth and it ain't worth much... I'm not keen on that Skybar in The Triangle. Now I know I'm only seeing a picture rather than the real thing. But I don't like the imposition in the void, I don't like the shape, and I don't like the detail. It kinda reminds me of something Will Allsop would design. Thank goodness its a cafe and not a building. And as such it doesn't matter so much, so I'm cool. But I liked the funky lighting. Middle picture second row. Oh. Oh. A vision. I see dancing girls. The Triangle sure would make a great disco!

http://www.fountains.co.uk/index_files/Page1810.htm

:)

The Arndale is very impressive but I don't think it is quite as good as the Bullring yet (the Bullring has the Rotunda so that gives it a head start :) ).

And more importantly, St. Martins Church.

Its a shame they've let it out to just another chain. I know what you mean about the 'littering' of metal structures. However there are some which I really like and, if done well do add character to the area. I can't say I ever saw the triangle before its modernisation so I don't know to what extent they've ruined it.

Inside the new arndale, the wheel and a few arti snaps! The wheel was packed today!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture034.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture038.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture035.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture036.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/Picture037.jpg

very nice pics today jrb, cheers for all of them

Its nice to know the wheels busy, every time I've been passed it recently its been empty. It would be a shame if it couldn't attract visitors. The extensions looking really nice, its good to see they've put some plants in aswell, you never can have too much greenery in shopping centres.

The combination of an Indian Summer's day, and Half Term school holiday, if it was every going to be busy it would be today.

Wedding proposal in the sky

HE wasn't sure whether it was the emotion of the moment or his fear of heights which made him shake. As Michael Rogers, 31, went down on bended knee to propose to his girlfriend Gemma Darcy, he had to make a conscious effort not to look down.

He was kneeling on the glass floor of the VIP gondola of the Wheel of Manchester, 60 metres in the air.

And all his planning paid off when the 23-year-old credit controller from Middleton said a jubilant "Yes" to his marriage proposal.


ENGAGED: Michael and Gemma at the

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/630.$plit/C_17_Articles_179859_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg

Michael, a drayman, had been psyching himself up for weeks after coming up with the idea when he passed the big wheel, which is sponsored by the Manchester Evening News, in Exchange Square in the city centre. He said: "I would have liked to have taken Gemma away somewhere romantic, but we have just bought a house and are a little bit skint, so I couldn't afford it.

"I still wanted to do something different, so I decided to take her up in the big wheel. It was really difficult keeping it a secret. Everyone knew except Gemma because I told both families beforehand."

The gondola has leather seats, a plasma screen TV, bottle of champagne in the chiller and a glass floor.

"It was a bit scary when I went down on bended knee on the glass floor. I had to stop myself from looking down, but Gemma loved it," said Michael.

"She said `Yes' straight away. She told me later she was surprised because she didn't think I had a romantic bone in my body."

The pair have not set a date but hope to marry in the next year or two.

For bookings and further information on the Wheel of Manchester call 0845 055 6080 or log on to www.worldtouristattractions.co.uk.

I like that little advertisement at the bottom of that story ;)

Might as well chuck these in here
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/PB010041copy.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b292/caw1234/PB010042copy.jpg

LOL yeah might as well, couple of beauties there Caw

what camera do you use btw?

This one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008WD90/qid%3D1131014775/202-0144665-0327810

WOW! Amazin pics caw. The lighting is almost surreal. Good to see you back!

The Arndale towers had a white reclad, lol.

^^^

OMG OMG OMG bruntwood snatched it from the pru...

This one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008WD90/qid%3D1131014775/202-0144665-0327810

thanks for that, Ive just bought 1 on ebay £99 brand new boxed hurrah :)
thats about £200 OFF :)

thanks for that, Ive just bought 1 on ebay £99 brand new boxed hurrah :)
thats about £200 OFF :)

Lucky bastard!

Mine cost £280! :bash:

Though that was about 18 months ago. Still... :rant:

£280 is nowt for camera. My mate has just brought one for £1000. Its a digital slr 8.0mp and with couple of different lenses.

It's alot when you're buying it at the age of 15 though. :rant:

My mate is 17. Dont you think a grand is lot for 17.

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/ManArndlNext5Y03.jpg

That next store has got to be one of the best frontage to a high street shop, especially at night. ;) I like the way they have the light panels at the side.

And that's the best Arndale shot I've seen, ever, in Caw's pic lol - the sun diguises it's yellow tiles nicely ;)

Lucky bastard!

Mine cost £280! :bash:

Though that was about 18 months ago. Still... :rant:

Well I just think your camera reproduces colours nicely and the images are always nice and clear, I got a camera bought for me not long ago but as anyone whose seen my pics on here will notice the quality isn't great, plus I really wanted Optical zoom..it arrives tomorrow :)

You'll be very happy with it roly. It's small and easy to use. Good quality photos and the zoom is brilliant. My only complaints are that the shutter speed can only be set to a max of 1 second manually, and when using it on high zoom though photos can come out a little blurry unless you've got a super steady hand, especially in low light. Quality camera though, £99 is a total steal! :eek:

Mine's a Sony DSC-H1, cost a daft amount with the 1GB card inside it. Very hapy with it though, only gripe is that when shooting MPEG movies you can't change the zoom once you have started shooting. Also, the auto focus lock can sometimes be a little on the hit and miss side at full telephoto length.

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/ManArndlCtrNthInt5X22.jpg

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/ManExchSq5Y16.jpg
http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/ManArnd2xRefl5X16.jpg

http://www.aidan.co.uk/lg/ManBigWheel5Y16.jpg

Sorry couldn't find the proper wheel thread. If we have to have a second wheel Mediacity would be a good location. (do we need another wheel?) Imagine the view of the city centre from there.

Ferris wheel owner looking for site
By Simon Binns


A Bolton-based fairground operator is trying to sell the idea of a giant ferris wheel to two Greater Manchester councils.

Henry Hill, owner of North West Funfairs, is looking to buy a 65-metre high ferris wheel, and has approached both Bolton and Salford councils with offers to site it.

Hill has suggested Victoria Square in Bolton and Salford Quays as possible sites where he believes the £2m wheel would become a tourist attraction and rival the ferris wheel in Manchester city centre which is 60 metres tall.

Hill said: “North West Funfairs will be getting a ferris wheel and we are currently in negotiations with a number of organisations regarding where it could be sited, but things are at a very early stage.

"Salford is one option but we are talking to other people - it will definitely be in the North West - the town hall square at Bolton would be good too.”

However, some council representatives in Salford are less enthusiastic about the project. Salford City Council said that no formal approaches had been made, and Councillor Karen Garrido, Tory group leader, said: "We need to get the basics right in Salford —such as filling in the potholes on our roads."

That'll be 3 wheels then, don't forget the upcoming one at the Trafford Centre, taller that the City Centre one.

That'll be 3 wheels then, don't forget the upcoming one at the Trafford Centre, taller that the City Centre one.

Correct Chogs.

One at the Quays would be very nice.

yeah the IWMN observation tower is good but you can only see about 180 degrees, at a push. a wheel would certainly be nicer :)

A wheel at the quays would be dead.

Get rid of all wheels, wheels are shit.

One of those i360's would be nice at the Quays!

Until Media city has got going has jump started life in the quays there wont be enough demand for a wheel/observation tower. Once its moving ahead though it has the potential to reawaken the Outlet mall and the area around to make the whole place more active and lively. At that point (i.e. not for another couple of years) looking into a wheel in the quays could be worthwhile.

Wheel stays for another month
David Ottewell
28/ 5/2008


MANCHESTER'S big wheel has been given a one-month stay of execution.

The hugely-popular attraction had been due to close down on Sunday after a marathon stint in the city centre.

Now the council has agreed to give it another month in its current site in Exchange Square.

And negotiations are continuing to replace it with an 300ft "monster" wheel later in the year.

The current 200ft wheel was brought back into Manchester last summer after a five-month break.

That was to allow nearly £750,000 worth of improvements to the square - including new trees and LCD lights.

John Lowery, of wheel operators World Tourist Attractions , said the extra month was "fantastic news".

"It's brilliant," he said. "We have always maintained that Manchester is a great city and we have a great relationship with people here.

"Demand has stayed very high. Manchester is a city where new people are coming or visiting all the time.

"We did very well when the Rangers fans came down for the Uefa cup final and had no problems with them.

Prominent

"Manchester is still one of our most prominent wheels and people from cities all over the world come to see it."

Mr Lowery said negotiations were still ongoing for the "monster" wheel to arrive in mid-November.

That wheel - which will be two thirds the height of the London Eye - will be in constant rotation and operate on a 'walk on, walk off' system.

The most likely site is Piccadilly Gardens - which is bigger than Exchange Square - and tests on the site are already underway.

"The council has been very positive towards us," said Mr Lowery.

"Negotiations slowed down a bit with the Uefa cup and then Manchester United winning the Champions League, but we are very hopeful."

Manchester's first big wheel started turning in Exchange Square in 2004 and proved a huge hit.

Celebrities spotted taking a ride on the wheel included United stars Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.

In 2006, the M.E.N. campaigned for a permanent home for the wheel in the city Centre after 90 per cent of people who took part in our phone poll and 62 per cent of people who responded to our online poll said it was 'very important' to keep the wheel here.


http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1051376_wheel_stays_for_another_month

A wheel back in the gardens? Hmm...

I thought BONY had objected to that?

are MCC hellbent on making the gardens unusable?

There is nowhere suitable for the wheel in the city centre, get rid. it looks tacky and is a novelty at best.

Things like this, and the rangers incident, show the council prioritise the city's outward image over the quality of life of the people who live and work in the city

So they spent £750k on 'improvements' only to stick a dirty great wheel on top of it all?

what the fuck? won't it ever just fuck off?

piss off wheel.

I actually really like the wheel.

If it could stay in its current location (and not be replaced by a larger wheel), I think that'd be very positive.

I think it'd look shite in Piccadilly Gardens though.

I actually really like the wheel.

If it could stay in its current location (and not be replaced by a larger wheel), I think that'd be very positive.

I think it'd look shite in Piccadilly Gardens though.

Piccadilly Gardens looks shite anyway, so it wouldn't make a difference. I'm not convinced we would really need a larger wheel.

God I hate piccadilly gardens, but this is perfect for the area, unless they just build on it and get rid of it for good which would be preferable

What about Greengate. There's a big ditch that needs filling and won't be going anywhere for a longtime. You could even dive off the pods into the Irwell.

on the rare occasions fences aren't up, and the grass is green, I think piccadilly gardens is rather pleasant, particularly in summer. I think since they raised parts of it and piccadilly tower was painted white, the atmosphere noticeably improved.

I'd just like the council to give it any length of time at all for it to develop naturally rather than having something ugly eg. ice rink, wheel, pissed up glaswegians frequently dropped on top of it, resulting in months of re-turfing and fences.

what the fuck? won't it ever just fuck off?

piss off wheel.

:rofl:

Well said. I can't wait to see the back of this thing and give Exchange Square back to the public.

I hope that at the very least World Tourist Attractions are paying a hefty rent to the council for the privilege of depriving so many people of a significant chunk of precious of open space.

Piccadilly Gardens looks shite anyway, so it wouldn't make a difference.

Yes true, good point! The new Berlin wall is especially nice isn't it!

Piss off wheel, i agree.

I'm pretty sick of seeing it and its poxy conifers every week. I rode the wheel in its first incarnation with German chancellors carriage, the view is roof tops and air vents etc, great.

Does Liverpool not want a turn? pardon the pun. Think everyone who lives here is sick of it thats for sure!

Yes true, good point! The new Berlin wall is especially nice isn't it!

I know it's so handsome...not!!

No.1 Piccadilly was the beginning of the end of Piccadilly Gardens for me. After losing space to the tram for which i can happily understand, this was the final nail in the coffin. At least, to make the remaining space handsome and not backed by block concrete would have been nice.

The wall is great. Love it.

I actually dont mind the wheel , there is a market for it , its very popular so definatly keep it .
I just think it should be on a city fringe site , possibly around Greengate where there is a fantastic veiw of the city , and this would pull footfall to another area of the city

someone mentioned martha schwartz recently. here's her university profile.

http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/people/faculty/schwartz/projects.html

exchange square at the bottom of the page.

Bid to save big wheel

David Ottewell

23/ 6/2008

MANCHESTER's big wheel could turn for the last time on Sunday.

Operators of the 200ft attraction say it will be dismantled and moved to another part of the country after its marathon stint in the city.

They claimed the council had told them they needed to clear space in Exchange Square for summer events.

But town hall chiefs offered a glimmer of hope to wheel fans saying negotiations would continue right up to the weekend deadline.

John Lowery, spokesman for wheel operators World Tourist Attractions, said the company had wanted to keep the current wheel in Manchester until the end of the summer.

That offer was turned down and the last ride is now due to take place at 6pm on Sunday.

Mr Lowery said: "We had hoped for the wheel to stay until at least the end of the school summer holidays but the council has plans for some events in the square throughout the summer and need the room where the observation wheel currently stands."

Meanwhile, negotiations to bring a 300ft `monster' wheel to the city are still ongoing, with Piccadilly Gardens the most likely venue.

Organisers say they are hopeful the wheel - which would be in continual motion and operate on a walk-on, walk-off system - could be in place next year.

Manchester's first big wheel started turning in Exchange Square in 2004.

Pat Karney, the council's city centre spokesman, said he remained a `big fan' of the wheel. He said he intended to hold talks with Mr Lowery immediately and said `nothing was written in stone'.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1055218_bid_to_save_big_wheel

Whats the thing anyway with fucking wheels,I hate them.

Big wheel wins one more reprieve

Manchester's big wheel is to stay in the city centre for a further two weeks, while talks to replace it with an even bigger attraction take place.

The 60m (196ft) wheel in Exchange Square was set to be dismantled on Sunday but council bosses have given it a last minute reprieve.

Separate negotiations to bring a 91m (300ft) "monster" wheel to Piccadilly Gardens will continue on Monday.

Tests are currently being carried out to see whether the site is suitable.

The new wheel, which like the London Eye would be in continual motion, could be in place next year.

A big wheel first arrived in Manchester in 2004, and although it was never meant to be a permanent attraction, has since become an icon on the city's skyline.

The gondolas offer views for miles with each providing commentary on the surrounding landscape.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7479830.stm

Fireworks deal as Wheel stays

Exclusive David Ottewell

30/ 6/2008

MANCHESTER is to get a New Year's Eve firework display as part of a deal that will keep the big wheel in the city until January.

World Tourist Attractions , operators of the 200ft wheel, have agreed to sponsor the pyrotechnic show in return for keeping their pitch in Exchange Square. The wheel had originally been due to shut for good yesterday until the last-minute deal emerged.

The fireworks display will be the biggest in Britain outside London and Edinburgh. It will be the first time in more than a decade that Manchester has had a proper New Year's Eve celebration.

John Lowery, senior operations manager for WTA, said: "We are absolutely over the moon.

"We never wanted to leave and Manchester has been a great city for us."

The council has come under huge pressure in recent years to arrange a full-blown New Year's Eve party.

The MEN revealed earlier this year that officers were considering a £10-a-head ticket-only event for up to 10,000 in Albert Square.

That option has been ditched after it was calculated it would cost £350,000 - meaning the taxpayer would have had to contribute £250,000.

Instead the council will organise a major firework display, with no tickets, at an as-yet-undisclosed city-centre location.

Pat Karney, the council's city centre spokesman, said: "We are delighted to have done this deal.

"This will mean we have the biggest New Year's Eve fireworks display anywhere outside of London and Edinburgh."

Recommend

John Flanagan, chairman of the council's communities and neighbourhoods scrutiny committee, is to recommend the display after leading a town hall delegation to Edinburgh.

The Scottish capital spends more than £1m a year on its Hogmanay celebrations, which last year featured three stages, live bands and DJs, and screens relaying a ticket-only concert with top bands like Kasabian and Idlewild.

By contrast, New Year in Albert Square was marked with nothing more than a couple of rockets - leaving the hundreds of revellers who had gathered feeling flat.

Council consultation carried out earlier this year found 91 per cent of people wanted an official celebration, with 300 saying it should be in Albert Square, three quarters saying it should be at night and more than half saying fireworks were the top priority.Coun Flanagan said: "It is clear that Manchester residents want to see in the new year in style.

"We had a very mixed response from the public to an all-singing, all-dancing, all-drinking event.

"I will be recommending to council that we go with the firework spectacular instead."Separate negotiations to bring a 300ft "monster" wheel to the city are still ongoing, with Piccadilly Gardens the most likely venue. Tests are being carried out to see whether the site is suitable.

Organisers say they are hopeful that wheel - which would be in continual motion and operate on a walk-on, walk-off system - could be in place next year.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1055968_fireworks_deal_as_wheel_stays

Hmm...

won't we ever be shot of this thing?

Call me a kill joy but I'd rather have no firework display if it means we finally get rid of the wheel.

right, something's gotta be done about this. this wheel shit has gone far enough.

who'll help me start a campaign to end all wheel activity in manchester once-and-for-all!

Facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24541818355

:lol: nice one kids.

Facebook group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24541818355

I've yet to launch my campaign, but I already have strong support for saving the Manchester Wheel. :colgate:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/jrb041067/manchesterone.jpg

:lol: - ah they don't look to scary.

bring it onnnn. :guns1:

which one are you jrb? or are you the typical football fan sat in his armchair shouting go on lads? maybe you are there just cant see you thats all! power to the people!!!

join my group people!

Seems there will be a lot of happy people on here.....! :ohno:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11459081

Manchester 'monster' wheel plans confirmed

The even bigger wheel could be installed in Piccadilly Gardens
Plans to replace Manchester's big wheel with a larger version have been confirmed by the city council.

The new "monster" wheel will be twice the size of the one in Exchange Square, which stands at 60m (196ft).

Manchester councillor Pat Karney said the new wheel would be too large for its current home, so could be installed in Piccadilly Gardens.

He said logistical investigations were taking place but it was expected to be in place in time for Christmas 2011.

'So popular'
"We're checking out the Piccadilly area, we haven't made a final decision yet because the new wheel would be twice the size of the old wheel," he said.

"These wheels have become really popular in European cities.

"We've had this wheel now for four years, they have become so popular with the public."

A big wheel first arrived in Manchester in 2004.

It was never meant to be a permanent attraction, but has since become a feature of the city's skyline.

The gondolas offer views for miles with each providing commentary on the surrounding landscape.

The monster wheel would be run by current operators World Tourist Attractions and just like the London Eye, would be in perpetual motion.

at least we'll get to see exchange square for a while. the square has been violated by that wheel for so long i can barely remember what it's like.

So MCC are going to plonk this thing right in the middle of an important bit of public green space in the middle of the city. Brilliant.

Why a wheel? :ohno:

Why can't we have an observation tower like the one in Seattle or something?

Wheels are tacky, unoriginal, and actually rather filthy ...

I suppose it depends on what part of the gardens they'd plonk it, but surely for the biggest part the view will be City tower slap bang next to you!

A better location no doubt, being that all you see from the current wheel is the vents and plant of Selfridges etc (though no.1 Deansgate looks nice from it, as does Beetham and GNT). From the gardens you could see the Northern quarter better, along with Spinningfields and the CBD within a single skyline (I'd imagine), you'd certainly get a more exciting glimpse of the city.

And at 120m, it'll be taller than city tower, and only 15m less than the London Eye!

Maybe they could plonk it on top of the Berlin Wall?!

From the gardens you could see the Northern quarter better, along with Spinningfields and the CBD within a single skyline (I'd imagine), you'd certainly get a more exciting glimpse of the city.

I agree. Can't really get my head around all the anti-ism here - the gardens are hardly an area of outstanding beauty. A better placed wheel would be a good attraction.

Hopefully they'll choose the London Eye type design with the outer rim rotating capsules, it'll give the best view from the top.

Are they just exaggerating describing it as twice the size of the current wheel? Surely not?

do they mean twice the diameter, twice the circumfrance, twice the area?

Pomona Island would be a great location for a wheel offering fantastic views of Salford Quays, The 2 Old Traffords, IWM and the City Centre. I suppose the catch is that Peel & Trafford Council would rake in the revenue instead of MCC.

Pomona Island would be a great location for a wheel offering fantastic views of Salford Quays, The 2 Old Traffords, IWM and the City Centre. I suppose the catch is that Peel & Trafford Council would rake in the revenue instead of MCC.

I think that is a great location for the wheel!!!!

I agree. Can't really get my head around all the anti-ism here - the gardens are hardly an area of outstanding beauty. A better placed wheel would be a good attraction.

The gardens themselves are dull (and could easily become much better) but the built landscape around the square gives some of the best urban vistas in the city centre (some specific buildings not withstanding) which a big stupid wheel would totally screw with.