10 women-led businesses in Manchester

Located in the Northern Quarter, this friendly neighbourhood bistro and bar is the place to avanti if it’s a taste of traditional Sicily you fancy – from authentic street food snacks through to big plates of pasta to desserts and holiday memory gelato, eat in or take away.

Amy-sha Mother of Hairdressing is a laid-back, family-friendly, independent salon in the heart of Didsbury. It’s relaxed and welcoming but their cuts have a bit of an edge to them. Everyone will ask where you had it done. Other loyal clients will know at once where you had it done. Every cut is unique but there’s a signature cool confidence about each one.

The second city centre Evuna, open since 2013, bagsies a corner spot in the Northern Quarter that provides the outward-facing window seats with a prime people-watching position. Wood panelling, Moorish tiles and rustic blackboards offer atmosphere, perfect for cosying up over those authentic small plates.

If you want to experience Northern Quarter cafe culture in its purest form, head to Ezra & Gil Hilton Street, just off Stevenson Square. With its loft-style decor, brunchy food, and cool-casual vibe, it’s a self-proclaimed ‘neighbourhood hangout’ which has been popular since day one.

Founded in May 2019 by Manchester sisters Nikita and Kanika, The Green Lab is described as a health and well-being lifestyle store. Upstairs it’s a cafe specialising in juices and salads, while downstairs, it’s a health studio, called The Health Lab, which focuses mainly on reformer pilates.

If you’re looking for a hairdressers that will take your rainbow-coloured, spiky mullet dreams and turn them into reality without a bat of the eyelid, Hex Hairdressing off Cross Street is the one.

Everything here is designed to look luxurious and high-end, from the chandeliers to the gold trimmings to the martinis at the bar. If you like a salon trip to feel like a real treat rather than just a maintenance chore, House of Evelyn will suit you.

MadeForMORE gym opened in Monton in autumn 2023 and has fast established itself as one of Greater Manchester’s best gyms for small group personal training. 

With a bunch of prestigious awards to its name, Melissa Timperley Hair Salon is one of the top places to go for haircare in Manchester. 

Shallows is a beauty and tattoo studio on the corner of Princess Street, aiming to tear down the standard formula, disrupting what is considered the beautiful ‘norm’ to create an inclusive and friendly salon for all.

Established in 1985, Snippers 2 hair salon on Victoria Station Approach has withstood two bombs, two recessions, and the complete transformation of this part of the city. And it’s still going strong.