About me
My name is Denise - I love the buzz of cities, exploring galleries and street art, soaking up the energy of gigs and of course, writing about my days in my adopted city of Manchester. As long as each one starts with coffee, I’m happy.

My curiosity and boredom with the mundane has led me live in Japan for over a year and taken me on some epic traipses, such as the Trans-Siberian Express (backwards), backpacking through the Balkans, (almost) shooting cans in Texas, accidentally seeing an Emperor penguin in Patagonia and chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland, knee-deep in snow at 1am.

As well as travel writing, I’ve contributed to local, national and global publications about culture, music, literature and lifestyle. These include Boots n’ All, Virtual Festivals, Angry Ape, Huffpost, Le Cool, Silent Radio, xojane, Manchester Evening News’ City Life, High Voltage, Itchy Guides and Simonseeks.

My own blog Travel.Art.Coffee allows me to examine my favourite things in life.

I’m proud to be part of the Spotted by Locals team and to share Manchester’s secret pockets with you.

Why Manchester?
Welcome to Manchester, my adopted hometown. I was raised in Liverpool and moved in 2003 to study English for three years. However, 16 years later and I’m still here. Manchester is my kind of place and I know it will be yours too.

Here you’ll find people of every nationality and culture, not a single night passes without a gig, innovative theatre, street performance, community event, food festival or secret warehouse party.

Even on a lazy day, it’s great to make a date with Manchester and wander its old cobbled streets, canal paths, quirky parks or shiny new quarters.

Manchester has pioneered in science, literature, music and politics. Yet for its trailblazing ways, it retains an inviting modesty.

Old buildings bristle with experience and the history of industry, while new glass and steel high-rises catch the sun.

Whatever it is you need, this is the city that has it.

Where can you find me online?

• Travel.Art.Coffee
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  Instagram