Last Thursday saw the Northern Soul/Canal St Meet-up and Northern Soul Awards preview – a top night at the splendid Manchester Cathedral as Northern Soul and Canal St welcomed our friends to get together in the stunning Regimental Chapel to chat, mingle and drink.

As usual, it was a brilliant night of networking and laughs but we also provided a sneak peek at plans for the 2018 Northern Soul Awards which will take place on November 15 at the cathedral. Tasty canapés were served by the team at Grape and Grain (which included Vimto watermelon and a cute take on a Manchester Tart) and Cuckoo gin whipped up the welcome drink – served by the people from Alston Bar & Beef. Our very own – super talented – Cathy Crabb read a couple of her fantastic poems which left guests in fits of giggles. We’re also making a short film for that there YouTube – so watch this space for the link. 

The Northern Soul Awards celebrate and reward cultural and entrepreneurial excellence in the North of England including theatres, music venues, museums, small and large businesses, restaurants, galleries, writers, bars, and festivals. We will award prizes in 18 categories, with a special award decided by the judges for the Northern Soul of the Year. The awards are open to all and are FREE to enter.

The awards will attract professionals from within the cultural and business worlds, as well as Northern entrepreneurs, and are an excellent networking opportunity. Last year’s event was a sell-out and attracted a substantial amount of entries. It was the must-attend event for creatives in the North of England.

Images by Drew Wilby