Northern Quarter Makers Market
Sun 13 Sep

Northern Quarter Makers Market

Presented by The Makers Market at Northern Quarter Makers Market, Manchester.

Northern Quarter Makers Market takes place on Oak Street in the heart of Manchester's most celebrated creative neighbourhood — the Northern Quarter, a dense grid of independent record shops, vintage stores, cafes, bars, tattoo studios and creative businesses that has been at the cultural heart of the city for decades. It's a market that fits the neighbourhood's character perfectly: independent, creative, quality-focused and always slightly surprising.

Expect handcrafted jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homeware, art and gifts alongside artisan food and drink — local bakers, street food traders, speciality drinks and small-batch produce from makers who bring the same independent spirit to their craft that the Northern Quarter brings to everything it touches. Live music completes the picture, making Oak Street on market day one of the most enjoyable corners of central Manchester.

Free to attend monthly in the Northern Quarter, the market is walkable from Manchester Piccadilly and served by Metrolink from across the city. Combine it with a morning in the NQ's independent shops and a long lunch in one of the neighbourhood's many excellent restaurants — there is no shortage of options.

Regular traders here

Some of the independent makers and producers you'll regularly find trading at this event.

Frenchies Fancies
Frenchies Fancies
Pet Food & Accessories

Small batch homemade dog treats & accessories. Eco-friendly & sustainably sourced products from other small UK businesses

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okaycokey
okaycokey
Jewellery

okaycokey is a one-woman jewellery studio based in the North West of England. Every piece is designed and handcrafted from recycled 925 sterling silver — sustainable and made to last. You'll find us at artisan markets in Manchester, Chester, Liverpool and Preston throughout the year. Can't make it to a market? Shop the collection on our website and we'll post it straight to you with 1 working day.

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Make a day of it, indie style

Independent businesses near Manchester worth knowing about before or after the event.

Mala Photo: Mala
Bar
Mala
4.6(3,603)
🕐 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

A vibrant bar, food hall and live music venue on Dale Street with a strong halal-friendly food offering and a consistently excellent atmosphere. The pasta, karaage chicken and nap buns have all drawn rave reviews, and the live band on weekends turns the venue into one of the most entertaining spots in the city. Open daily from 9am.

“There's plenty of seating and the live music is great👍 I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a quiet place to study. But the atmosphere is really comfortable. The pistachio tiramisu is delicious!”
Hodala
📍 8 Dale Street, Manchester
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Ezra & Gil Photo: Ezra & Gil
Coffee ££
Ezra & Gil
4.6(3,052)
🕐 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

A stylish all-day specialty coffee shop and brunch spot on Hilton Street in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Ezra & Gil serves excellent espresso-based coffee alongside a seasonal brunch menu that rewards exploration — the Eggs Benedict, roasts and breakfast bowls are all outstanding. Open daily from 7:30am.

“The Staff is friendly. The location is nice, but to noisy and every time the doors are open and is windy. I like the cappuccino, they have a good coffee quality. The French Toast is sweet but not enough berries..”
Rene Huber
📍 20 Hilton Street, Manchester
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Mackie Mayor Photo: Michael Binns
Food Hall ££
Mackie Mayor
4.5(5,970)
🕐 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

One of Manchester's finest food halls, housed in a spectacular Victorian market building on Eagle Street that has been beautifully restored. Independent vendors serve wood-fired pizza, smash burgers, fresh seafood, ramen and more — all orderable from one app to your communal table. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am, with a lively bar scene at weekends. An exceptional food destination.

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re in Manchester and love great food with a lively atmosphere, Mackie Mayor is an absolute must-visit. Housed inside a beautifully restored market hall on Eagle Street, it combines historic charm with a buzzing, modern food-hall vibe. What really makes it ...”
ahm albed
📍 1 Eagle Street, Manchester
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Night & Day Cafe Photo: Christopher Foster
Bar ££
Night & Day Cafe
4.5(1,735)
🕐 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

A Northern Quarter legend — a live music venue, bar and café on Oldham Street that has launched hundreds of Manchester bands since the 1990s. The décor is eclectic, the beer is cheap, the music is loud and the atmosphere is entirely its own. Open from noon daily, with gigs most evenings. A proper Manchester institution that still feels authentic.

“Lovely little funky place. I went there for some coffee during the day and I absolutely loved the vibes and the decor. Would definitely go back. They also have live performances later in the day.”
Sohini Dutta
📍 26 Oldham Street, Manchester
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Federal Cafe Bar Photo: Federal Cafe Bar
Café ££
Federal Cafe Bar
4.7(3,218)
🕐 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

A Manchester institution and consistently one of the most loved brunch cafés in the North West. Federal brings a New Zealand café sensibility to Nicholas Croft — exceptional poached eggs, avocado toast, Natas pastries and outstanding specialty coffee from 7:30am. Busy on Saturdays but worth the wait. Dog-friendly, open seven days.

“A lovely spot for brunch. I went in with high hopes having heard its one of the best cafes in the world, and honestly I can believe it. Went with mum (who is a Kiwi) and we both loved it. Felt like we were back in New Zealand again. The coffee was high quality, and I had the avocado/eggs/salmon ...”
Thomas Wallis
📍 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester
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About this area

The Northern Quarter is a neighbourhood in Manchester city centre, bounded roughly by Piccadilly Gardens to the south, Oldham Street to the west, Great Ancoats Street to the north and the Arndale to the east. It emerged as Manchester's creative quarter in the 1990s and early 2000s as artists, musicians and independent businesses were attracted by the area's warehouse spaces, and it has retained that independent creative character even as the city centre around it has become more expensive.

Today the Northern Quarter is one of the most visited neighbourhoods in Manchester, with an extraordinary concentration of independent record shops, vintage and second-hand clothing stores, independent coffee shops, street food traders, arts venues and bars. Stevenson Square and the streets around it form the social heart of the neighbourhood, and the area is home to Afflecks — the multi-storey independent market and alternative department store that has been a Manchester institution since 1982.

The Northern Quarter is within walking distance of both Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria railway stations and is served by Metrolink via Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street stops. The neighbourhood connects naturally to Ancoats to the east and the city centre retail core to the west, and can be easily combined with visits to the Arndale, Manchester Art Gallery and the civic grandeur of Albert Square.

Places to go, see and play

The Whitworth Photo: ___C___
Gallery
The Whitworth
4.5(2,865)
🕐 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

An outstanding free art gallery set within Whitworth Park on Oxford Road, part of the University of Manchester. The Whitworth holds an exceptional collection of textiles, watercolours, prints and modern art — including major holdings of Turner, Picasso and Hirst. The gallery café is genuinely excellent and the building is a pleasure to be in. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am.

“I visited today with my adult daughter. We saw the Turner exhibition, which was good, but we spent most of the time at the Santiago Yahuarcani display. This was beyond awesome. Hard to categorize or describe. But completely unique, inspiring and thought provoking. Amazing work. Went to the cafe t...”
Tad Baranski
📍 Oxford Road, Manchester
Museum of Illusions Manchester Photo: Museum of Illusions - Manchester
Museum
Museum of Illusions Manchester
4.7(2,552)
🕐 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM

An interactive attraction on Market Street that genuinely messes with your mind — tilted rooms, infinite mirror corridors, holograms and visual puzzles across multiple floors. Brilliant for groups, couples and families alike. Staff are enthusiastic and will take photos of you throughout. Booking online saves £2 per ticket. Open daily from 10am.

“On friday at 6:40pm , me and my dad both went to Museum of Illusions . We didnt even walk in the building yet and kindly got welcomed. We walk in and it was very clean with a strong and beautiful scent. Anyway, later on when we walk up the escalator, we are welcomed AGAIN by very kind staff . The...”
Salma
📍 58-66 Market Street, Manchester
Manchester Museum Photo: Abdalla Mudathir
Museum
Manchester Museum
4.7(10,485)
🕐 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

A major free museum on Oxford Road housing outstanding collections of natural history, Egyptology, archaeology and science. The Egyptian mummies, Triceratops skull and the South Asia gallery are consistent highlights — and the museum opens at 8am on Saturdays making it a perfect pre-market visit. Free entry, open Tuesday to Sunday. Run by the University of Manchester.

“Had a great time visiting here today. Was free but booked the triceratops exhibition in advance. I recommended leaving a donation if you can afford it though. Egyptian room was excellent, lots of dinosaurs as well. Lot of exhibits on multiple topics. The South Asia gallery was interesting and tho...”
Stephen
📍 Oxford Road, Manchester
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Places to Stay near Manchester

Make a weekend of it — find hotels, B&Bs and guest houses close to this market.