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High Street, MANCHESTER, M4 1HP

When coronavirus restrictions were in place the street was closed to traffic and filled with tables and chairs. Although the restrictions have now been lifted the appeal of al fresco dining in the street appears to be undiminished.

This Northern Quarter street has quite a number of bars and cafes. In the first easing of coronavirus pandemic lockdown restrictions indoor eating was banned but outside catering was permissible. As a result the street was closed to traffic allowing seating areas for diners to be created. Limited inside dining is now permitted but there remains a demand for al fresco dining.

This mural showing nurse Melanie Senior has been painted onto a wall on High Street by Manchester artist Pete Barber during October. It is adapted from Johannah Churchill’s photograph which shows her colleague Melanie wearing PPE at the south west London clinic where they both work. Melanie had been prepping for the opening of the local Respiratory Symptom’s Clinic at the time (https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/12102020-south-west-london-photographers-national-portrait-gallery-exhibition/ SW Londoner). The photograph featured in “Hold Still”, the National Portrait Gallery’s digital exhibition in May; this project was a photographic contest inviting people to capture life in Britain during the coronavirus pandemic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom .

This mural showing nurse Melanie Senior has been painted onto a wall on High Street by Manchester artist Pete Barber during October. It is adapted from Johannah Churchill’s photograph which shows her colleague Melanie wearing PPE at the south west London clinic where they both work. Melanie had been prepping for the opening of the local Respiratory Symptom’s Clinic at the time (https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/12102020-south-west-london-photographers-national-portrait-gallery-exhibition/ SW Londoner). The photograph featured in “Hold Still”, the National Portrait Gallery’s digital exhibition in May; this project was a photographic contest inviting people to capture life in Britain during the coronavirus pandemic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom . See Image] for a closer look at the mural.

Passing through Manchester, I was somewhat surprised (and a little disappointed) to see that the mural of coronavirus nurse Melanie Senior (Image]) which was painted here in October has already been painted over after little-more than a month on display. The two adjacent walls at the corner of High Street and Thomas Street have been used for this football-themed work which is part of an advertising campaign for EA Sports™ FIFA 21 game for the Sony Playstation. The new mural campaign has been chosen to promote the launch of the game because murals are often seen as street art and, because of that, are one of the few advertising formats that consumers are likely to actively photograph and share on social media so they are likely to be seen more widely than just in their individual locations. This campaign includes five murals across England, designed by graphic designer and illustrator Scott McRoy. The murals feature players from local football clubs at each of the locations; Greater London (Tottenham - Steven Bergwijn and Fulham Broadway - Mason Mount), Liverpool (Trent Alexander-Arnold) and this one (or is it two?) in Manchester’s Northern Quarter which feature(s) Georgia Stanway from the Manchester City Women’s team and Phil Foden from City’s men’s team.

Detail from the mural on High Street Image

The latest mural on this High Street gable end appears to be advertising Chester Zoo.

The murals on the corner of High Street Image and Thomas Street Image are now being overpainted. The new mural advertises Keith HaringTM X Pandora an online artistic jewellery store.

I don't pass through Manchester that often, but there seem to be more impressive murals to see on each visit. ( I now regret not taking a picture of the corny but nevertheless still childishly amusing 'And on the sixth day God created manCHESTER' one!) I have observed that these murals - even the commercial ones like this - never get graffitied themselves. Is this because of a mutual respect I wonder, or are the big commissioned murals done with some special paint which enables them to stay in place when the graffiti on top is removed? It's funny which things never go out of fashion. The mural is advertising a new ghost train ride at the Alton Towers theme park, probably the UK's biggest funfair. If the ride is as good as their blurb it will be scary whatever your age, and it includes all the usual tropes - the main one being the spirit of a neglected and therefore resentful child feeding off the energy of an already evil house. The shop board to the left of the mural also has both feet in the past.

The latest mural on this High Street gable end is advertising an attraction at Alton Towers https://www.attractionsnearme.co.uk/news/the-curse-of-alton-manor-mural/ theme park.