The man behind the Underground & Friends and Limbo parties gives us the low down on why his home of Manchester is so special
Jimmy Coultas
Date published: 11th Sep 2013
Image: Underground & Friends @ Gorilla Credit - C m Taylor Photography (captureyournite)
Born and bred Manc Kal Jhugroo is the next to deliver his Insider’s Guide, and for a man who knows his way around a rave in the city it’s crammed packed with advice on how to make the most of your dancing feet in the city. Not sure we agree on the football team shouts mind…
Where do you live and why do you live there?
In Manchester, I was born here and just love the city so much, it’s got everything you need apart from the sun, but as I am a fan of cold weather I don’t really need it!
What makes the city so special?
Obviously Manchester United! Apart from that there is so much to do here, great clubs with great history, amazing places to eat, great shopping and all my friends are here so I would never really want to leave! We also have the Museum of Science and Industry which is an amazing place I have visited many times, unfortunately at the moment is threatened with closure, so please sign the petition to keep it open here.
Where’s your favourite places to eat there?
For something quick I love Rice, there is a few of them popping up all over the place but they never seem to taste quite the same as the one in Piccadilly Gardens. For more of a proper restaurant vibe I love Italian food and like both San Carlo and San Rocco. I also quite like to go to the Brazilian restaurant Bem Brasil which is an all you can eat meat place.
And the best places to go out?
South and Gorilla... but I am biased as I run nights there – Limbo is at South and I run it with my good friends H2. The night will celebrate its third birthday on 4th October with Phil Weeks & Joss Moog. At Gorilla I run Underground & Friends, which is focussed around booking the artists that are on my booking agency The Underground.
Apart from these I used to regularly go to Sankeys until it closed, nobody really knows for sure if it will re-open but I hope so. For the last 3 months of the year it’s all about The Warehouse Project, it’s an amazing experience, pretty much like an indoor festival!
For someone about to come to the city for the first time, what are the three things they must do before the year is out in the city?
That’s a tough one because there is so much to do here, I would say sample some of the great food here, but I couldn’t pinpoint it to one restaurant. Definitely go and see Manchester United play or at keast check out their stadium tour. Finally check out its night clubs and bars, there is pretty much a place for everyone, all music tastes are covered in Manchester (don’t forget Limbo and Underground & Friends – yes I love a cheeky plug).
What’s the city’s greatest hidden secret?
There is a street in Ancoats that my mates used to live on called Anita Street, it was the first street in Manchester to have drains, it used to be called Sanitary Street but the residents asked for it to be renamed! That’s about the best I have on that front!!
And finally, what one bit of advice would you give someone hitting the city for the first time?
Bring a coat and an umbrella!
If you want to follow all the events Kal puts on join the Underground Group.
Like this? Check out our other Insiders Gudie to Manchester with Jamie Scahill’s 2022NQ here.
Tickets are no longer available for this event
Read more news
Here are the next 4 upcoming events At Gorilla, Manchester