"It can be hard to remember that Manchester ever sees the sun during the long winter months when you might as well be living underwater. But when the sun comes out, there’s no place more blessed than Ancoats’ New Islington Marina and nothing better to do than to drape yourself on the bank with a glass of fiercely natty wine from Flawd, the walk-in-only wine bar where the team behind renowned bistro Higher Ground worked out their restaurant aspirations. Go for their jazz nights on Thursdays and fight the fear that you don’t belong at the cool kids’ table: the staff are as friendly as their accessible by-the-glass list." - becky cooper