The Beatles, a lost studio… and a brilliant bit of 1960s film

Did you know the Beatles made their first television studio appearance here in Manchester…?!

On 17th October 1962, they appeared on Granada’s People and Places, performing “Some Other Guy” and their new single, “Love Me Do”. The setting was Studio 4 at Granada’s Quay Street studios.

The studio was actually a remaining part of the Brunswick Potato Market buildings…!! It has since disappeared, but on my Granadaland walking tour we stop beside the spot where it once stood. It’s quite something to imagine those four young musicians performing there, before anyone knew just how big they would become.

I’ve put together the story on my website, with photographs and a video clip that is absolutely ace. It includes a glimpse of the studio in 1962, followed by footage of the Beatles returning in 1964, performing and having fun with the props. Well worth a watch!

Read the Studio 4 story and watch the video here: https://www.here-then-now.tours/stories/studio-4 

Explore Granadaland this Saturday…

The Beatles are just one part of the story. This corner of Manchester brings together canals, warehouses, the 1830 Liverpool Road Station, Coronation Street, the Granada Studios Tour and today’s Aviva Studios.

Using old photographs and maps along the way, we’ll piece together what was here and see how much has changed. There’s an extraordinary amount of history packed into these few streets.

Join me this Saturday, 3rd October, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. We meet near the orange ticket office at Aviva Studios, at the junction of Grape Street and Water Street. Tickets are £20 per person.

I’d love to see you there… and if you know someone who remembers Granada’s heyday, please pass this on.

Click here for details and to book your place on Saturday’s Granadaland tour.

Look up. Slow down. Discover Manchester.

You can walk the same street a hundred times and still find something new.

When we visit a new city, we want to see everything. Yet we rarely play tourist in the place we live. Walking tours can be just as rewarding for Manchester residents as they are for visitors.

Knowing the stories behind the streets can help you feel more connected to a place. On my tours, we explore what’s been lost, what survives and how Manchester is changing today.

It’s also a chance to slow down, look up and notice the details we miss travelling from A to B: old signs, unusual doorways and clues beneath our feet. Once you’ve spotted them, you’ll probably notice them every time you pass by.

And along the way? Some gentle movement, time outside, a breather from everyday worries and the chance to meet people. Come with a friend or on your own… join the conversation or simply enjoy taking it all in.

And did I mention the number of steps you’ll get…?!

Find your next Manchester walk: https://www.here-then-now.tours/walking-tours-schedule 

October already…?!
Time for the Halloween Special

Somehow, it’s October, which means my Medieval Quarter Halloween Special is coming up at the end of the month.

For two evenings only, we’ll explore Manchester’s oldest neighbourhood as daylight fades, weaving its history together with ghost stories, strange sightings and old superstitions.

There’s the Grey Lady of Chetham’s, tales of Dr John Dee and the Devil, and a rather extraordinary discovery hidden in a roof…

Friday 30th October and Saturday 31st October

4pm–6.30pm | Limited to 15 people per tour

Standard tickets are £25, with £19.50 early-bird tickets for the first five bookings on each tour.

Book Friday’s Halloween Special: https://www.here-then-now.tours/walking-tours-schedule/halloween-special-30th

Book Saturday’s Halloween Special: https://www.here-then-now.tours/walking-tours-schedule/halloween-special-31st

Hope to see you soon on the streets of Manchester…!

Ric