How a Greater Manchester suburb went from 'worst night out' to number one party town

It’s a town that has been praised worldwide for its booming nightlife.

The party vibe in Altrincham is attracting visitors from far and wide, thanks to its excellent transport links with the Metrolink and its train station dovetailing perfectly at the interchange in heart of the town centre.

No surprise therefore when it scooped the prestigious Purple Flag accolade, awarded to areas that make exceptional efforts to create a safe, diverse and enjoyable night time experience.

It’s an international gong granted by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of towns and city centres between 5pm and 5am. The accolade is awarded to towns which offer an excellent night out.

High praise has also come from Sacha Lord, the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, who described Altrincham’s achievement as ‘fantastic’.

He hailed the work of the Altrincham Purple Flag Working Group and the Altrincham BID team, who led on the application, as well as Trafford council, Greater Manchester Police, Transport for Greater Manchester and the property company Bruntwood.

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Anyone looking for clues as to the secret of its success could start at Altrincham Market - a hub for street food and drink operators - where people love to congregate at communal tables and get chatting to strangers.

We went down to Altrincham on a busy Friday night to find out what all the fuss was about.

Altrincham Market's co-founders are Nick Johnson and partner Jenny Thompson, who have reinvented the historic market over the last 10 years.

“Altrincham was really rock bottom 10 years ago,” said