retiredmartin

September 2024. Manchester.

Wasn’t Big Hands a character in Peep Show ? BRAPA is your culture expert.

Back in Manchester before my gig. Enough of curry, time for art.

And education. Let’s head to the University quarter.

The University museum kindly stays open till 8pm on Wednesday, a bit of a shock when everything else is kicking you out by 4.

Oxford Road looks a little forlorn with the return of students a week away, and this colossal museum of stuffed animals and stolen pottery and exhibitions on the influence of immigration on this great city is a little too far out for the average tourist, so I had it virtually to myself.

I was mildly devastated to find the animals asleep despite my visit. Do they know who I am ?

Thank goodness for the frogs.

And the dead animals. The dead don’t sleep.

A good way to waste an hour, but like Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam, a bit too worthy for a 59 year old child who likes to press buttons in museums.

Oooh, is that a pub in a book not five minutes away ?

Yes, it’s Big Hands, favoured pre-gig venue of Manc students heading to the Academy,

renowned for its upstairs smoking garden,

classy vinyl collection (1st Bros album),

and classic bench seating.

I ask for a half of Dortmunder (cold, it’s cold), the crafties choice, and get poured a pint. It’s not a place for halves, and as it’s well under a fiver I can’t complain as I’m the wuss.

Upstairs, I suddenly feel old,

and text Matt, who tells me “Big Hands is where the middle class hipster students go“.

I think he’s jealous.