From the Editor: Tuesday 7th March

Chinese bakeries make me very happy. Their mesmerising range of sweet and meat treats are all the more thrilling for their scarcity in Brighton (to my knowledge anyway, please email me if I’m wrong). I went away to Manchester for a weekend break recently and it was fun comparing culinary and cultural options in two of England’s most enticing cities.

I’m lucky that my partner is a food enthusiast and introduced me to Chinese bakeries in the first place, and also led me to some great sushi, burgers, falafel and more all around Greater Manchester. I can’t claim to know a city from a three night visit but I really enjoyed my trip.

The Whitworth justified the hype: an impressive space that was elegantly curated. The wide range of exhibitions didn’t feel cluttered and there were some brilliant works. The 2015 remodelling which opened the gallery up to the park next to it also felt welcoming and natural, a refreshing change from austere or obtuse entrances.

We saw the Hallé at the beautiful Bridgwater Hall, which was filled with a beguiling performance from Heejae Kim in Mozart’s Piano Concerto. We went to the Royal Exchange Theatre too, and although the play was a bit melodramatic for my tastes, the venue was sweet and strange. Formerly a huge cotton exchange, there is now a range of bars, ticket office, a few displays and more in a ring around an incongruous spaceship in the middle, which is in fact the theatre. The seating is in the round with the audience on multiple levels, making for a different sort of immersive theatre viewing.

Much as I might babble about how much great stuff is going on in Brighton, it is useful to remember that we’re not the only cultural hive outside the big smoke. However, there is lots to be excited about here, so read on.