This year's most read, shared and talked about stories

What will 2018 be remembered for? (Well, aside from Brexit and Gordo's Christmas Markets rant - which now has something like eight hundred million views.) Cranes... tall buildings... demolitions... new openings... closures... the collapse of the Northern Powerhouse... begging... homelessness... lawlessness... 'affordable' housing... Jose?

There's been plenty to chew over this year (not least our monthly best restaurant dishes). But just in case you've missed anything, below we've listed 25 of the most read, shared and talked about stories from these pages in 2018.


This is Manchester: 90 photos from the 1960s99 photos from the 1970s70 photos from the 1980s60 photos from the 1990s (Feb-Mar)

Lawless Manchester: why are the police not arresting people? (16th Oct)

‘They deducted tips and charged us for mistakes’ – disgruntled server blasts Didsbury restaurant (13th Jun)

Sleuth's guide to how to behave on Market Street (6th Apr)

180613 Piccadilly Gardens 5
The dire state of the situation in Piccadilly Gardens worsened

Disappearing Manchester: the city's most at-risk old buildings (14th Feb)

‘Accountant-inspired and portion-controlled’ - The Ivy, Spinningfields, reviewed (4th Dec)

Kendals to close: 'the flair was lost years ago' (19th Oct)

Burnley pub bags surprise Michelin star (1st Oct)

White Swan Fence 2
The White Swan at Fence scooped a surprise Michelin star in October

'Does the food match the view?' - 20 Stories, Spinningfields, reviewed (9th Mar)

Turn Moss saved - but what has it been saved from? (18th May)

The Ultimate Manchester Christmas Pub Crawl (6th Dec)

How much? Green Quarter residents told to pay £3m to replace Grenfell-style cladding (22nd Jun)

Green Quarter Cladding
There was outrage as Green Quarter leaseholders were asked to stump up costs to replace Grenfell-style cladding

"There was more to it, my guys were attacked" - security boss responds to Factory fight sacking (3rd Dec)

If we’ve said it once… Piccadilly Gardens MUST be paved (9th May)

'Cook-your-own Chinese hot pot... it's messy and we love it' - One Plus, City Centre, reviewed (26th Feb)

Deansgate Square - the spectacular view from the top of Manchester's new tallest building (14th Nov)

2018 11 14 Deansgate Square 2018 11 14 Deansgate Square Dsc 0055
Deansgate Square became Manchester's new tallest building

Why are so many of Manchester's new buildings so drab? (7th Mar)

Take a first look inside Dishoom - Manchester's most anticipated new restaurant opening (20th Nov)

Sleuth's guide to how to behave in Northern Quarter (19th May)

The problem with 'affordable' housing in Manchester (23rd Oct)

2018 11 20 Dishoom Elenor Photos Dsc03427
Dishoom was perhaps this year's most anticipated new restaurant opening

A greater problem: seven hours in Piccadilly Gardens with Operation Mandera (14th Jun)

Manchester's most unusual structures (20th Mar)

A high line for Manchester? The Northern Gateway could make it happen (31st Jul)

22 years on: the myth of the 1996 Manchester Bomb (15th Jun)

2018 07 31 Northern Gateway High Line Irk From The Bridge
Plans emerged for Manchester's own high line